The Curse of Kalaan

Chapter 3Beyond the tunnel

The deafening uproar brought about by the earthquake slowly gave way to Kalaan and Jean-François' coughing. However, in the shadows prevailed another sound, that of slow turning gears.

Kalaan quickly pulled out his lighter and felt around on the ground for the torch. After several attempts, the flames finally caught, crackling and hissing from the sand it had picked up from the ground.

"You take it," Kalaan ordered as he handed the torch to Champollion before pulling out his pistol and cocking it.

Jean-François' annoyed expression simply made the count shrug his shoulders and smile nonchalantly.

"I'm far better at shooting than at fighting with a torch."

Heavens, but the man can be so arrogant! Jean-François was raging inside. Now in the weak light of the torch and with a newly found silence, the two friends could see an extraordinarily ingenious ancient mechanism. So, that was where the sound of gears came from! It had most certainly been triggered by the lapis-lazuli button and now, the thick wall which had blocked their route was slowly descending into the ground and would soon completely disappear.

Suddenly there was another loud moan similar to the one the building made when it first opened; and air swirled around the men before being sucked into the dark hidden underbelly of the earth.

"I thought our time had come and we had fallen into a trap."Jean-François' voice was barely a whisper.

"As did I," mumbled Kalaan, thinking of his shout of alarm when the darkness fell down on them.

"Can you feel that draft?" Champollion asked, once again breaking the silence.

"There must be an opening somewhere ahead of us. That would be the most logical explanation." Kalaan moved slowly forward as Champollion held the torch.

The flames seemed to be fighting the shadows, which were trying at all costs to keep their secrets. Kalaan carefully crossed the threshold where the wall had completely disappeared. He proceeded slowly, aware that the place could be rife with traps. Champollion wanted to do the same, but was stopped in his tracks by the count's deep voice.

"Whatever you do, do not stay in front of me. I do not wish to put a bullet hole in you."

In reply, the only thing Kalaan could hear was muttering, which sounded much like swearing and he smiled to himself. The longer he knew Champollion, the more he liked him.

They took a few careful steps forward and realized they had entered what appeared to be an antechamber. The torch flames were not bright enough to light the whole area and shadows surrounded Kalaan and Champollion. Despite the darkness, they both sighed with pleasure at being able to finally stand up straight and unhindered.

"The flames are showing signs of fatigue," observed Jean-François who waved the torch in all directions trying unsuccessfully to pierce through the darkness that surrounded them. It was simply impossible to continue in these conditions.

"We will have to retrace our steps to get more torches and a few able-bodied men," replied Kalaan. He released the hammer on his pistol and put it back in his belt. When those lily-livers see us return, they will buck up and won't hesitate to join us," he added as he turned around to leave.

But the exit was no more!

"Champollion! Shine some light in the tunnel!"

Jean-François swore once again, then turned around and raised the torch in direction of the tunnel.