Chapter 5 -- Caverns of the
Doomed
The fall from the cage ended with a
splash. Once again Scruffy found himself in water, but it was
dark and the current's momentum carried the little skunk far before
he could grab his trusty flashlight. With a flick of a switch
the light revealed that scruffy was in an underground
culvert. He rode it out like a water slide for miles until he
emerged into a massive cavern. The current calmed to a slow
pace and the seemingly fresh air was a welcome
change.
As Scruffy travelled further the cave
widened. The little skunk was once again able to walk on dry
land and he began to look for a way out. It was a scary
place. Every footstep reverberated through the maze of
tunnels. Every breath scruffy took seemed to echo.
Every sound Scruffy made was transformed into a ghostly
noise. The flashlight's glow caused the stalactites and
stalagmites to cast eerie shadows. All the time, the drip
drip drip of water was heard
everywhere.
Scruffy was becoming more disoriented with every
step. He was desperately lost. Every tunnel split into
two and then three. It was a wicked maze most cruel. At
a bend in one of the tunnels he saw the remains of extinct
animals washed up by an ancient flood. Stalagmites creeping up
through their bones.
Finally from one of the many passages scruffy heard a song.
Someone was singing in the distance and scruffy bent his ear at
each tunnel entrance to see if he could decipher which tunnel led
the way, for if he could find the person singing, he might find the
way out. Through the echoes scruffy wandered until he saw
light. Then scruffy ran ran ran as fast as he
could.
Scruffy emerged from the caverns to find a lumberjack bathing in a
creek pool -- an old wooden log flume acted as his shower.
The strange man happily scrubbed his sides and preened his long
beard. But when he saw little Scruffy he immediately shot out
with a warning. "Here here skunk. I have just washed
the dirt from me. I don't want you to go lifting your
tail!"
"Oh no, I would never do that," Scruffy
replied. "I am a good skunk"
"Ah, then come keep me company. You look
tired and hungry. Join me for dinner." Scruffy was ever
so pleased. For he had not eaten for a very long time and was
absolutely famished.
As the two sat down to eat they both told
stories of their quest. Scruffy, of course, was searching for
Aurora Island. The lumberjack, in turn, was looking for his
ancestral home. The ancient homestead was said to be
somewhere nearby. If only he could find a grave, for that was
the first sign he was on the right track. Scruffy's ears
perked. Grave? Did you say grave. I know exactly
where it is. I'll show you. And after a healthy meal
the two walked together into the
sunset.
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