Page 107 of The Promise
The Promise was easily four or five times bigger than the little tunnel where'd she'd first met Michael. And a heck of a lot darker. Peering into blackness, she imagined she could see the light from the opening she knew was at the far end of the tunnel. The one leading to the tramway. Granted it wasn't much of an escape route—unless you counted the high-wire slalom—but it was better than being trapped in all this darkness.
The candle-holder was interesting. A wrought iron affair, with a hook just below the candle, and a long pointed stake coming off of the hook. The stake allowed a miner to thrust the holder into the wall. The hook formed a handle for carrying or a convenient way to hang the candle from any protrusion. Efficient, if somewhat lacking in luminary capability.
Michael was lighting candles in similar holders for himself and Owen. She looked back up the black hole they'd descended. The tail end of the rickety ladder was just visible. Again, she marveled at the courage and tenacity of nineteenth century miners.
Owen and Michael had stopped a little way down the tunnel, conferring about something. She hurried to catch up.
"…but without a level number, the directions could be for any one of six tunnels, and that's assuming Duncan got his directions right." Owen was saying, waving a hand in exasperation.
"Calm down." Michael's voice was patient. "I'm pretty certain he was referring to this level. Most of the silver was found here and besides, it'd be quite a chore to lower all those bars down a shaft with a mucker's bucket."
"Yes, but you're assuming Amos's hiding place was on this level." The Englishman's features looked sharper, almost sinister in the flickering light.
"Well, basically, I'm assuming a hell of a lot. But all I know to do is start looking. Come on, Owen, have a little faith in my father." Michael patted the man on the back and turned to Cara. "How are you holding up?"
She smiled at the concern in his voice. "Fine. I'm a little sore, but all in all, I'd say I'm up for a treasure hunt."
He bent and pressed his lips lightly to hers. "That's my girl."
It was absurd how such a simple phrase could bring so much joy. "Where do we start?"
They'd been walking as they talked and now Michael came to a halt in front of a narrow fissure in the tunnel wall. "Here."
"In there?" Cara was incredulous. "Nobody could squeeze through that."
Owen held his candle closer to the opening. "The shadows make it look smaller than it is." Sure enough, the small crack enlarged as if by magic. It was still tiny by doorway standards, but it did look navigable—barely.
"Are you sure this is the right tunnel?" She eyed the crack skeptically.
"It's a drift actually, but I'm fairly certain this is the right one. Northwest tunnel three should be just up there." Michael motioned ahead with his candle.
"How can you be sure?" Owen still sounded frustrated.
"You forget that I helped to dig most of these tunnels. It's been awhile, but I still remember where most of them are."
Owen nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Well, no time like the present, I always say." He started toward the fissure.
"Wait." Owen stopped, turning back at the note of authority in Michael's voice. "I think it would be better if you let me go in there. It's a tight fit, but I'm used to it."
"So you want us to just stand here and wait?" The idea obviously didn't excite Owen.
It pleased Cara no end. She'd had about all the adventuring she could take. Frankly, she was beginning to think the silver wasn't worth all this effort.
"Why don't you and Cara go on and check out the other tunnel? It's just up there." He met Cara's mutinous look and smiled. "It's a lot wider."
"Right." Owen started off in the direction of the other tunnel, calling over his shoulder. "We'll meet back here."
Cara held her ground. "If I have to go into one of these things, I'd rather go with you."
Michael placed a hand on her shoulder. "This isn't an easy tunnel. It widens out pretty quickly, but the first fifty feet are narrow and low. If I remember right, there are places where you have to crawl."
She shuddered, memories of the cave-in flashing in her head. "Well, if it's so tricky maybe you shouldn't go either."
"I'm a prospector's brat, remember? I've been crawling around mines since I was a kid."
"Well," she looked him up and down pointedly, "I'd say you're a little bigger now." He shot her an I'm-going-to-do-what-I-want-no-matter-what-you-say smile. So much for arguing. She blew out a breath. "All right. But I'm staying right here, in case you need me."
He grinned, his mind already on the fissure. The man was actually enjoying himself. "I'll be back."
