Dean, David - [SS] The Wisdom of Serpents [v1.0].htm

THE WISDOM OF SERPENTS

David Dean

* * * *

David Deanis Avalon, New Jerseys new chief of police. EQMM has had stories fromcops who also write fiction before, but this may be our first contributingchief. Chief Dean has worked full-time on the force through all of his manyyears of writing. Yet he rarely writes about cops, and even when he does, histales are not procedurals.

* * * *

When Josh spied the writhing ball ofserpents that he was being lowered into, he cried out to his best friendbelaying him into the cave from above, and his descent was mercifully halted.He dangled some twenty feet above the knot of snakes that glistened in theshaft of sunlight that pierced the aperture through which he had entered, andcalled out in a shaky voice, Snakes, Paul! Theres a bunch of snakes in here!

After a momentspause, his descent was resumed.

Paul! Paul! Did youhear me? Pull me up ... theres snakes down here, Josh pleaded.

As Paul continued tofeed the rope through the pulley on the tripod, he contemplated just letting goand allowing Josh to hurtle the remaining distance to the fate that awaited himin the snake hole; packing up the caving gear and leaving. But his plans hadfailed to take into account that as it required two hands to lower Josh to hishideous death, his ears remained open to his friends piteous cries, and so hefaltered and the pulley squeaked to a halt once more. Then he remembered thehome pregnancy-test kit so carelessly discarded by Vanda in the bathroom wastebasket and thought, All you have to do is open your hands ... just release.Within his gloves, water began to seep from his palms.

Paul, can you hearme? What are you doin? Its not funny, dude! Pull me up right now! I mean it,man! Im gonna kick your ass if you dont!

The voice that waftedup through the hole in the earth was fainter now. Paul guessed that Josh nowhung a scant twenty feet above the torpid nest of vipers that lay below.

Pull me up ... please!I think they know Im in here! Theyre starting to move around a lot. Werebest of friends, for Gods sake! I dont know what youre thinking, Paul, butits not true! Weve been friends all our lives!

It was true, fromboyhood to manhood, twenty-eight years worth of friendship lay between them.Compared to their lifetime relationship, Vanda was a recent addition. Paul hadmet and fallen in love with her his senior year of college, and they hadmarried the following year. Five years of marriage. Seen in a certain light,she was almost an interloper, and considering the recent events that hadbrought Paul to this lonely place in the mountains, a poisonous one, not unlikethe hibernating snakes that lay waiting at Joshs feet.

In keeping with hisnature, Josh had been a most pliant victim; never questioning Pauls story ofprehistoric pictographs inadvertently discovered while on a winter days ramblein the mountains. Paul had found it almost distressingly easy to convince theeasygoing Josh that todays trek was simply to be a sneak preview inpreparation for a detailed exploration of the cavern when the weather warmed,hence, there was no need of rappel racks or ascendersJosh had only to relaxand play tourist as Paul lowered him into the pothole for a quick peek at theirdiscovery.

Of course, there wereno cave paintings that Paul knew of, even though the story of his chancing uponthe vertical cave was entirely true. He had only just missed falling throughthe flush opening the day before. No one could have been more surprised, asthis was an area of mountains well known to Josh and Paul ... Vanda, too. Whenhe had lowered a flashlight down to have a look, he had at first thought he waslooking at a floor of boiling mud. Once his eyes had adjusted, however, he hadunderstood what he was seeing and contemplated for several moments flinginghimself down amongst them.

The rope began toswing violently from side to side and Paul guessed that Josh was attempting toclimb back up under his own steam. Without ascenders, this would be aformidable task, even for someone as strong as Josh. Suddenly, he was aware ofthe tremendous strain on his own arms, shoulders, and the great muscles betweenhis shoulder blades. His gloves were staining with the moisture squeezed fromhis palms as he struggled to maintain stasis against Joshs exertions.

From below came astrangled cry; silence; then the rope snapped taut, nearly snatching Paul offhis feet. Josh had lost his grip and fallen back to the end of the rope, gainingnothing for all his effort. From deep within the earth, Paul could hear hisfriend groan. It was impossible to tell whether it was from pain or despair.The line that suspended Josh swayed gently from side to side, and after a fewmoments there came the unmistakable sound of weeping.

Youre a bastard,Paul, Josh called up. I dont know why youre doing this, but its wrong! Shesjust messed up your mind ... mine too, for that matter. Paul could hear thetears of self-pity in his friends voice. He had always been the weaker of thetwo, even if he was the larger and stronger. But its not like you think, ifthats what this is all about. Not at all, man. Is that what you think? Paul? Iknow you can hear me up there. Answer me, damn it ... please. Paul could hearhim crying again.

Paul tried to thinkof the answer he could give that would adequately explain why he was killinghis best frienda succinct indictment of a friends betrayal and a wifesinfidelity. But the words remained bound up in a heart seething with hurt andanger, and oddly, with the loss of a companion that was yet to come. A greatwave of aloneness washed over him and rendered him mute with futurebereavement.

Big, athletic,handsome, not-too-bright Josh. Always the bachelor; the perennial third wheelat Paul and Vandas dinner table. Six years after college and he still openedcans for dinner. Hapless, helpless Josh, and the women loved him for it. Everthe affable catch to whom married women loved to introduce their single friends,and who remained their friend long after the affair was over and marriage neverproffered. The high-school star athlete who simply grew into the game-winningcoach. The friend Paul had tutored through every grade, including college, andshared more meals, beer, and adventures with than he could possibly recall; thenear constant companion of countless camping trips, hiking excursions, raftingexpeditions, mountain-climbing forays, and caving adventures. The steady,strong arm that had shielded Paul from harm on numerous occasions and hadprobably saved his life more than once. The same friend that gravity andexhaustion would soon snatch from his grasp whether he willed it or no.

The rope began toswing wildly and Paul knew that Josh was attempting to save himself once more.He could discern his steady, exhausted huffs as he pulled himselfhand-over-hand up the rope. Paul wondered if Josh had thought to divest himselfof the heavy backpack he wore. The pulley swayed from side to side as Joshattacked the rope and, alarmingly, the motion began to be mirrored by the metaltripod that it hung from and that straddled the hole in the earth that he hadbeen lowered into. The stakes that anchored the frame to the stony soil beganto work themselves loose and the violent motion transferred itself to Paul aswell, causing him to rock from foot to foot. He understood instantly that hewould not be able to hold on much longer if this was allowed to continue, andthe choice of saving or killing Josh would no longer be his.

Josh! Stop climbing!Youre going to rock the whole frame over if you keep it up! The ropecontinued to switch back and forth like a windshield wiper as Paul struggledfor purchase. Josh, stop it! Do you hear me?

Slowly, the ropesmovements began to subside and Paul was able to relax somewhat, in spite of thefire that was spreading through his muscles. From below he could hear that Joshhad started to cry once more and detected within the sobs that note of despairthat denotes extreme exhaustion. The line shuddered once, twice, and then athird time. Josh had dropped back to the end of the rope by degrees.

Help! Help me,somebody, please! Joshs tired voice echoed up from the cavern.

Paul could stand itno longer. Josh, Im gonna pull you up! Shed the pack and Ill pull you backup!

There was a pause,and then through the blood singing in his ears, Paul heard a distant thump. Thesnakes didnt like that, Josh called out. Not even a little bit! Josh beganto laugh as if it was the funniest thing in the world, and Paul pictured theriled serpents striking the rucksack again and again in their impotent fury,and found nothing funny about it.

Hold on, Josh, heregoes! And with that, Paul began to back away from the hole, digging the heelsof his boots into the flinty soil with each wrenching step, red-faced andpanting with exertion, and inch by gut-straining inch began to reverse theunequal tug-of-war with Joshs two hundred pounds and unrelenting gravity.

Then the pulley gaveway.

In an instant gravityregained the upper hand and Paul was being pulled rapidly toward the lip of thehole. Even as he registered that the eyebolt that had connected the pulley tothe tripod had snapped, sending the heavy pulley sliding down the rope towardsthe helpless Josh, he also saw the hole yawn wider to receive him as well.Freed from the fulcrum provided by the frame and pulley, the rope snappedagainst the lip of the aperture and began to hum and smoke against the roughedges, dropping Josh ever closer to the angry, waiting snakes, even as iteffortlessly dragged Paul to the same fate. From beneath the earth, Paul hearda sharp cry of pain as the pulley struck Joshs hands where they clasped thelifeline.

Without consciousthought, Paul sat suddenly and spread his legs, at once lowering his center ofgravity and allowing the dirt and stones gathered painfully between them in hisheadlong rush to further slow him with additional weight and drag. The nowuseless tripod appeared to rush forward and he lined up the soles of his bootswith its legs. With a jolt of agony to his knee joints, he impacted, and held,even as the line went slack and a low wail drifted up from the snake pit,punctuated by almost comical hoots of unrestrained terror. Josh was in amongstthe snakes.

* * * *

When Paul haddiscovered the hole the day before, murder had not been in his thoughts, butonce he saw what lay within, the plan had sprung full-blown into his head. Justlike that, he had gone from wronged husband and friend to murderer, when a meretwenty-four hours before, it had been he who was the victim.

It had been thepregnancy test that had finally opened his eyes, though why it should havetaken that, Paul could not fathom. Surely, everything that he had needed toknow had lain before his eyes for some time, yet it had required a small,mass-produced medical device that was sold over the counter in every localpharmacy to provide the spark that burned away his blindness. It was like Vandato be so careless.

She had blown intotheir lives like some primal feminine force during the first month of theirsenior year, as Paul and Josh sat hunched over a map of their next backpackingtripa whirlwind of long black hair and colorful scarves, dog-eared textbooksand swirling skirts, that suddenly commanded their secluded spot in the studentcenter. With a great sigh, she had sunk onto the sagging sofa next to Paul,allowing her books and papers to cascade onto the coffee table and theirterrain map, her great silver earrings tinkling as she threw back her head tostare at the ceiling. After a moment, she had raised herself to regard the twoyoung men she had intruded upon, fixed her grey eyes upon Pauls, widened themdramatically, and announced, Professor Rais is going to be a problem.

Paul had no idea towhom she was referring or what his expression must have been that day, and hehad not bothered to look over at Josh for confirmation of this apparition. Ithad been enough, at that moment, to simply look back into Vandas eyeseyesthat had sought his and, remarkably, not Joshs. I believe he expects me tostudy in my senior year, she added; then, turning to the map, she askedabruptly, Whats all this?

Were going ...planning, Paul had corrected himself, a backpacking trip.

Really, she hadsaid. Id like to do that sometime.

For the briefest ofmoments, Paul had studied her profiled face, strikingly white and smooth asporcelain, her ebony tresses tangled in amongst the dozen necklaces that hungover the tabletop from her slender neck. An image floated unbidden before hisminds eye of her wildly dancing in a lonely clearing, naked but for heroutlandish jewelry and glowing beneath a hunters moon. That had been it. Wannacome? he had asked.

She had regarded himquizzically for several heartbeats, an animal sensing a trap, and then calmlynodded while reaching over and removing a smudge of chocolate, the remnant ofan earlier energy bar, from his chin with her tongue-moistened thumb. Herunexpected touch had paralyzed him, even as she had deigned to finally noticeJosh, who had sat slack-jawed throughout this spell-weaving. With a broadsmile, she had offered him her hand, which he clumsily grasped.

The three were seldomapart from that day forward, except during the prophesied interference of thedemanding Professor Rais, her anthropology teacher and chair of her department,and something of a local celebrity for his travels to distant jungles where heimmersed himself in the culture and rites of primitive societies. That year hadflown by, filled with countless hikes and climbs, and even a week spent in thewilderness of the Great Smokies during a heartbreakingly beautiful spring.

Vanda was everythingPaul had fantasized on that first meeting, unremittingly feminine, yetelemental, in some indecipherable way. She seldom had to be helped along, evenon the most arduous journeys, and her joy in nature was unbridled andinfectious. It had seemed to Paul that she had subtly influenced his view ofthe natural worldno longer did he see it as a primeval struggle betwixt manand nature, one in which he and Josh were challenged to master, but slowly andthrough her eyes, he began to perceive it as some type of cooperative venture,a partnership between the three adventurers and the untrammeled land. She haddashed about from one to the other of them, tirelessly pointing out thesalubrious properties of hitherto unnoticed flowers, ferns, and leaves,laughingly providing unlikely foods from mosses and mushrooms for her reluctantfollowers. That which Paul and Josh had marched forth to conquer with theiryouthful strength and bravado, they found to have willfully surrendered totheir enchantress. Paul would not have been surprised to have seen birdsperched on her shoulders or wolves lying at her small, booted feet, as he toohad been snared without the least violence.

Like everything elsein their relationship, it seemed their marriage had come about as surely andnaturally as a new season. It had appeared to simply unfold before Pauls eyeslike the warm sun that rose above the treetops and reflected off the still,blue lake on the shore of which they took their vows. Josh, uncomfortablystuffed into a rented tuxedo, had nervously acted the part of Pauls best man.The bride had worn green: a diaphanous layering of gossamer materials thataccentuated her ample bosom and tiny waist while trailing to the earth abouther ankles even as her delicate green shoes peeked out from the foliage. Shehad worn her dark, luxuriant hair up in a complicated arrangement of braids andribbons, surmounted by a crown of tiny wildflowers, which only served tosomehow accentuate the superabundance of her shining tressesa raven-hairedTinker Bell arrayed for the Solstice Ball.

The only jarring notethat Paul could recall was his mothers rather shocked comment on first viewingthe bride on her wedding day. With a small cry, she had raised a white-glovedhand to her mouth and gasped to his father, Oh my Lord, Edwin, she looks likea heathen princess, just loud enough for Paul to have overheard as he awaitedVanda at the makeshift altar.

A second moment hadoccurred at the giving-away of the bride: The exotic Professor Rais, lookingtall and rather elegant in his tailored tux and with swept-back,shoulder-length graying hair, had stumbled slightly on the way to the lakesedge, betraying his somewhat advanced stage of inebriation, and managed to stepon the brides hem. The sound of rending material was only just matched by thesuppressed groan from the feminine members of the assembled. Yet the brideappeared to take no notice and proceeded with her unsteady stand-in (Vandasfather had not been heard from for many years) to her waiting groom. Rais,flushing somewhat, manfully squared his narrow shoulders and hastened to keepup.

Once their goal hadbeen reached and the bride safely delivered, if somewhat the worse for wear, hebreathed the noxious fumes of his earlier imbibements over the happy couple,then attempted to kiss the bride on the lips through her veil. With a smallshove from Vandas gloved hand, he had disengaged and stumbled hastily away,suddenly visibly and obviously intoxicated. Her smile for Paul, radiant behindthe green veil and like some exotic and beautiful creature glimpsed within itslair, had swept away the awkwardness of the moment, and Paul as well. He hadwished to never be free of her from that time forth.

* * * *

Paul crouched at theedge of the hole and listened, but no sounds came from within. Far below, inthe patch of sunlight that reached the cavern floor, he could make out Joshsbackpack, but his friend was not with it. Josh, he called down. Josh!Silence, laden with reproach, wafted up to him with the cold draft from thecavern. The pack shifted slightly and appeared to tip to one side; somethinglong and sinewy gathered itself atop it to better enjoy the meager shaft ofsunlight, and appeared to stare up at him. The cavern floor undulated withinthe circle of illumination, the snakes so thickly intertwined that only whenones triangular head or sharp tail separated from the writhing mass could Paulcomprehend that it was not one living, multi-tentacled creature in uneasyrepose. He drew back from the edge, grateful there was no tension on the rope,then thought of Josh still tethered to the other end down there in the dark, inthe midst of serpents. Josh! Paul cried out once more as remorse and terrorfor his friend flooded his heart. Im coming down. Im sorry ... so sorry! Doyou hear me?

Yeah, I hear you ...and you should be. Joshs voice, by a trick of the subterranean acoustics,sounded as if he were just beneath the lip of the caves opening, and startledPaul into falling back. By the way, Im gonna kill you when you get down here,you sonofabitch.

Pauls relief was soprofound that tears welled in his eyes and he hastily wiped them away with hissleeve. Where are you? I cant see you from up here.

Im about ten feetsouth, I think, of my ruck ... and the snakes. They seemed to want to stay inthe sun, which is fine by me. When the pulley snapped and the rope whipped upagainst the lip, it swung me clear of them ... at least for now. Its the onlyluck Ive had today ... the pulley broke some of the fingers on my right hand,Paul.

Paul understood thisto be bad news indeed; it meant that Josh could do very little in his ownrescue. Thats okay, he answered, attempting to sound sure of himself. Howmany feet is it, do you think, from the cave opening to the floor?

A slight pausefollowed this question, as Josh calculated. Thirty, give or take a few feet.

Paul trusted Joshsjudgment in this matter ... he was always the better climber. All right then,weve got plenty of rope here. Can you unhook yourself?

Yeah, right, Imgonna untie and let you pull up the rope. That would be real intelligent.

Paul knew he deservedthat, but sighed with exasperation nonetheless. Listen, Josh, if I wanted toleave you, Id just untie my end and drop it down the hole, dismantle thetripod, and go home.

There was anotherpause as Josh digested this piece of obvious truth. Thats what you were gonnado, wasnt it?

Yeah, Paul repliedhonestly. Yeah, it was.

My fingers arebroke, I told you. I dont know if I can.

Paul could hear thepain and fear in Joshs voice. Josh, I wont leave you, I promise. Just stayin your harness and send the rope up.

After a few moments,Paul could feel vibrations in the woven fibers he held, then Josh called out, Allright! Its free.... You better not leave me, you sonofabitch. Im still gonnakick your ass when this is all over!

Paul began to haulthe line up and coil it at his feet. Once he had Joshs end he quickly routedit over the top crosspiece of the tripod and left several feet to dangle overthe hole. The other end he secured around the bole of an old-growth oak thatleaned over the shale-covered clearing. He knew their rope to be one hundredfeet long, which was just enough, with a little extra, he hoped, for hispurpose. Returning to the tripod, he carefully rigged the dangling line beneathhis armpits, cursing himself for not having brought any of his own gear, andknelt down once more.

Josh, what are thesnakes doing?

Nothing much ...waiting for you, probably, he answered with a lame attempt at humor.

No, seriously, havethey moved at all? Im thinking they might move with the sunlight. Paulglanced up at the sun edging its way into the western sky. The day was gettingon.

Yeah, Josh calledback excitedly. Yeah, I think they are. Theyve moved away from the pack some.

Thats good, Paulsaid. Cause Im going to drop a big coil of rope down there and I dont wantto rile them up too much.

Oh shit ... wait,wait, let me get a handful of rocks or something. Paul could hear Joshscrabbling amongst the stones with his good hand for missiles. Okay, go ahead.

Reaching beneath thetripod and across the two-foot aperture, Paul tugged the heavy coil to the edgeand let gravity pull it in. This was followed by a muffled thump and a slighttug on his chest. Without waiting, lest his nerve fail him, Paul seized therope that dangled opposite him and gave it a good tug, satisfying himself withthe corresponding pull on his armpits, and began to lower himself into the snakehole. As he sank into the darkness, Josh began to yell. Jesus Christ, Paul,youve really stirred em up! Theyre going everywhere!

From his loftyvantage point, Paul could now see the beam from Joshs helmet lamp swingingwildly about the cavern floor, and just discernible beneath his friends wildshouts arose the dry, rasping murmur of hundreds of scaled bodies intertwiningand disengaging simultaneously, in menacing petulance.

Josh, Paul calledout. Dont move around! Stay where you are and throw rocks at those that comenear you! Theyll settle down in a few minutes and go back to the sunlight.

Paul could see Joshwith his back against the cave wall, futilely chucking stones with hisuninjured left hand, but as he was right-handed, his efforts were having littleeffect other than to gain the snakes interest. Each rock that landed amongstthem received several cursory strikes. Paul, dry-mouthed and sweatingprofusely, continued to lower himself, hand over hand, to the floor of thecave. Now that he was much closer, he thought these reptiles to becopper-heads, but wasnt sure ... Vanda would have known at a glance; sheseemed able to name every creature that crawled, swam, or flew. Josh, settledown and try not to move your feet ... theyre attracted to the vibrations inthe earth ... thats how they hear you. Vanda had taught him that, as well.

As Joshs lightwhipped from side to side, Paul made out a possible solution. Josh, theres abig rock to your left. Just ease over and step up onto it.

Like a small child atan adults command, Josh did as he was bidden, sliding his feet ever socarefully as he edged along the wall, and hooting like an owl at each movementon the ground around him. With almost comic exaggeration, he took a slow, giantstep up upon reaching the rock and placed one booted foot on top; then with afinal hoot, snatched the other up to join the first. Once he was sure of hisbalance, he aimed a sickly, frightened grin up at Paul and then froze intospelunking statuary.

As Paul hungsuspended ten feet above the surface of the cavern, the serpents did, indeed,begin to lose interest in the previous commotion and began to make their waysingly and in writhing knots back towards the waiting patch of late-wintersunlighta thousand crawling exclamation marks coalescing into a rustling heapof drowsy venom. Fortunately for Pauls plan, that saving ray of warmthsteadily, if almost imperceptibly, moved further into the recesses of the caveand drew the cranky reptiles with it. Paul resumed his descent and gingerlyplaced his feet upon the earth. Without untying the rope, he softly walked theshort distance to where Josh perched like some lonely, subterranean lighthouse.

Come on, hewhispered. Lets get you the hell out of here.

Placing a tremblinghand on Pauls shoulder to steady himself, Josh stepped carefully down andallowed himself to be led to where his backpack still lay. Once there, Paulunrigged himself and quickly and expertly tied a bowline knot in the end of therope and clipped the carabiner on Joshs harness through the loop.

All right, then, hesaid, giving the line a slight tug. Josh, Im going to haul you up, but youregoing to have to help even though youve got a busted paw. Heres how it willwork: Using your good hand, you pull with me each time I say Heave. Inbetween, release while I hold down here, and reach up for another handful forthe next heave. Got it?

Yeah, Josh answereduncertainly. But what about you?

Once you are up top,drop your end back down to me; Ill tie myself off and haul myself back up thesame way I came down. Nothing to it.

Josh looked dubious. Youthink this is going to be easy?

No, Paul answeredtruthfully. No, I dont.

Whos to say I wontjust walk off and leave you, once I get out? Youd deserve it.

Here are my car keysso you dont have to walk all the way back to town, Paul said, fishing themfrom his pocket and making to hand them to the other man. You can just tellVanda we got separated down here and you couldnt find me. That should make youboth happy.

Josh studied Paul forseveral moments, then roughly folded Pauls fingers around the keys with hisgood hand. Just get us out of here before those snakes get curious again; Illstraighten your sorry ass out when we get up top.

Paul pocketed thekeys, then took a good two-handed grip on the rope. Josh did the same with hisleft hand. Ready? Paul asked. Josh nodded. Heave! Josh rose several inchesinto the air. Ready ... heave! Another few inches were attained. Inch bystraining inch Josh began to ascend. With sweat running freely into his eyesand down his ribs, Paul wondered if he was truly up to this task; even if hewas able to get Josh to the surface, he now doubted he would have the strengthremaining to haul himself out afterwards.

He neednt haveworried, for when Josh was only about ten feet from his starting point, theyboth became aware of a new sound that now seemed to have entered the snakelair. Josh noticed it first and called down, Whats that? You hear something,Paul?

Paul, grateful for achance to rest, belayed the rope and listened. In the echoing silence there wassomethinga faint, repetitious ping, the sound of a pipe expanding with theheat or contracting with the cold. Paul threw his head back and peered upwards.Josh, he began, then was cut off by the squeal of fatigued metal unwillinglyassuming new form. With a great clang of alarm the tripod surrendered its onlyuseful shape, tossing Josh back into the darkness in rebuke. The cavern floorreceived him with even less ceremony, driving the wind from his lungs with itsunyielding soil, while from behind them the dry agitated hum of shifting scalesfilled the darkness once more.

* * * *

After graduation, thethree of them had simply returned home to the small city nestled in thefoothills of the Smoky Mountains where they had all grown up. Paul had found itremarkable, and somewhat mysterious in a pleasant kind of way, that Vanda andhe had never crossed paths during those early years. She had attended publicschools, he had attended the parochial schools of his diocese; she had lived ina blue-collar enclave surrounding the now defunct mills, he had been brought upin an old, leafy, upscale suburb; she had spent her first two years of advancedschooling at a community college, out of financial necessity, he, and Josh, ofcourse, had gone straight to university out of high school; whereas he had beenthoroughly indoctrinated in his Catholic faith, she was vague on the subject ofreligion and checked No affiliation on the few forms that requested suchinformation. Everything about her, in his eyes, was spontaneous and her own; asunlike the carefully prepared Paul as he could want. She was the wildness thathe unconsciously sought on his and Joshs many journeys into the great forestsand mountains yet could never release within his own soul.

It amused and pleasedhim that she had, for his parents sake, agreed to be married within theCatholic faith, which required out of religious necessity that she be baptizedin the same. Even the months of instruction that preceded this sacrament drewnot one word of complaint. If anything, she had appeared to devote to it thesame studious inquiry as she had her primitive-cultures courses, though with abemused tolerance that was sometimes coupled with astonishment at some of themore esoteric mysteries of the Church. Yet, for Pauls sake, and moreimportantly his parents, she had submitted cheerfully enough. Her onlyrebellion had been her insistence that the wedding Mass be celebrated out ofdoors, and in her choice of colors in bridal wear. These expressions of herselfhad delighted Paul, and he didnt care a penny that her conversion was lessthan genuine.

However, as to herfathers absence on the day of their wedding, and indeed, as to hisdisappearance from her family altogether, her candor disappeared. It was theonly subject that Paul could not draw her out on. Though in Pauls eyes Vandawas often mysterious, as all natural creatures are, it was only in the matterof her father that he glimpsed a furtive side of her personality, and ittroubled him as a limp in a pet might worry its ownerthe suffering animalcannot speak and explain the source of its pain, therefore the loving master mustcarefully knead its muscles and bones and probe its paws until the source ofdiscomfort is discovered and relieved. He did so with wine one night.

It was after dinner,towards the end of their first year of marriage, as they lay curled together onthe living room sofa. The night air was soft, as it sometimes is in earlyspring, laden with the scent of honeysuckle and the warming earth, and playingover their naked bodies as it billowed the curtains gently to and fro. Theywere on their third glass of wine, celebrating the end of a work day for noother reason than they were young and still in the first blush of their love.Paul lay snug against his young brides backside, his arms wrapped tightlyround her. Do you ever miss your old man? he had asked softly.

He was answered withan immediate tension in Vandas body, and silence. He could feel herwithdrawing from him and regretted the question but could not call it back.Then, after what seemed a very long time, she had replied in a quiet, levelvoice, Of course I do, Paul, hes my father. Every girl needs a father.

Yeah, he had saidjust as quietly, desperately thinking of how to continue the exchange he hadencouraged.

But she had slid fromhis arms like mercury and padded across the bare wooden floors towards thebathroom, supremely indifferent to her nakedness and all the more magnificentto Paul because of it. Then she had turned and faced him, her only adornmentsher ever-present bangles, necklaces, and jangling earrings, and said, Hewanted to be more than just a father, Paul.

Oh, was all hecould think to reply, as he did not understand her meaning; and with that shehad withdrawn into the shower.

He awoke in the smallhours of that night with his heart beating like something caged and furiouswithin his chest, and turned to his wife. The shadows of branches outside theirwindow played restlessly across her glowing skin in the moonlight and Paul hadreached out a hand to touch her, then held it back in pity. He had not wishedto wake her and have her see his face, for he had come upon the meaning of herearlier statement in the black depths of a dreamless sleep and would not haveher see the horror and pity he feared might be mirrored there. Instead, he hadlain back on his pillow once more and waited for his heart to slow its pace,and knew that he loved Vanda all the more for having the strength to createherself into the lovely, free-spirited woman that he so adored, in spite of herfathers unnatural attentions and the stain of darkness that must surely dwellwithin her as a result.

* * * *

Josh lay groaning andclutching his rib cage with his good hand; the light from his helmet lamp awill-o-wisp playing restlessly on the thin rocky shell that separated Paul andhim from the lighted world above. His companions face appeared above him, greyand etched with lines of strain and fear. Youve killed us, Josh informed himthrough gritted teeth.

Paul knelt beside himand, uncharacteristically, seized his hand. Im so sorry, Josh. Im so sorry.I havent been thinking right. Ever since I found ... did you bust a rib? heasked, suddenly aware of Joshs labored breathing and grimacing face.

Yeah, I think I did.But never mind about that now; thats the least of our worries. Help me over tothose rocks before they find me lying here.

They had been drawnby the impact of Joshs fall, and as Pauls head whipped up in alarm, the soundof their approach was made all the more sinister by the stygian darkness thatlay outside their faint circle of light. With a gasp, he heaved Josh to hisfeet, ignoring his moans, and the two men shuffled as silently as they couldtoward a heap of rubble that lay at the foot of a nearby wall. As gently as hecould in their haste, Paul helped Josh up onto a large, flat-topped boulder,and quickly joined him. Breathing hard, they looked back to the spot where therope still dangled beckoningly in the dimming illumination of Joshs lamp, andbecame aware by degrees that the floor was no longer flat, but heaving and alive.Jesus Christ, Josh breathed.

Theyll go away,Paul promised, only half believing it himself. Theyre just irritated with thecommotion. Theyll go back to the sunlight; they have to ... for the warmth.He glanced back hopefully to the patch of sunlight that had lain at the back ofthe cave, and found that it had wandered to the caverns limits, and would soonbegin to climb the far wall where the snakes could not follow. The sun wasrapidly descending in the winter sky and both men shifted closer to one anotherin the gathering chill and gloom.

How much longer doyou have on those batteries? Paul asked, meaning the miners lamp.

Not long, Joshreplied tonelessly. An hour, maybe.

Any spares? Paulpersisted.

Yeah, Joshanswered. Right over there, he pointed at the backpack smothered in reptilianlife. Wanna get em?

They fell intosilence.

After a while Joshspoke again, After you found what, exactly?

Paul answeredimmediately, his thoughts never far from the discovery that had inspired theircurrent circumstances. The pregnancy test ... it was positive. Shes going tohave your baby.

My... Josh began,then started to laugh; the echoes flying back and forth in the darkness.

If you keep that up,Ill kill you for sure, and right now. Unseen by Josh, Paul fingered the hiltof the survival knife he wore on his belt.

No, no, Josh began,winding down. Not me ... not mine ... no way!

Paul turned amiserable face toward his friend. Oh, and whys that?

Had em snipped,thats why. Ive been neutered! Josh began to cough with a liquid sibilance;caught his breath and resumed. No way I was gonna get snagged into marriageand kids. Thats not for me ... never will be. Besides all that, Ive nevermade it to first base with her. If were gonna be truthful, and we may as wellat this point, I would have if shed have let me. She makes me a little crazy,I guess, always has really, but it never happened, Paul. So, if you wanted tokill me for being a bad friend with impure thoughts, then I guess youve got medead to rights, but if its for this baby, then youve got the wrong man.

Paul stared at hisfriend in stunned silence as the implications of what he had said began to makethemselves felt. He knew that Josh was telling the truth; he had known him longenough to know. Then who... he began.

What about you, forstarters? Josh interrupted him, still chuckling and coughing uncomfortably.

Paul turned away fora moment before speaking, then drew a deep breath. Cant ... we tried for along time, but nothing. We both went to the doctor and had a few tests run. Itwas me ... I cant. He lapsed into a shamed silence.

Well, whos thelucky man? Josh said.

Pauls head sank ontohis drawn-up knees. Shut up, Josh. Just shut up.

Maybe we can ask herourselves before long; she knows where we are.

Pauls head snappedaround. She does? I didnt tell her ... under the circumstances, he finishedlamely.

No ... but I did.She called me last night, said you were acting strange and for me to keep aneye on you. So when you showed up this morning wanting to go caving, I gave hera call while you were loading the car. She knows this area as well as we donow, and I pinpointed it pretty well, based on what you had told me. Shellcome looking soon and see the equipment up top.

Will she? Both menglanced uneasily at the dwindling patch of sunlight that now had climbed thewall of the cave and threatened to vanish altogether in the greater shadows ofthe distant ceiling. Sundown was upon them and they could feel the temperaturedropping perceptibly.

Josh switched off hislamp to conserve the batteries and the two men sat in shivering silence staringup at the hole they had descended through. As they watched, the sky dimmed andgrayed, leached of color by the retreating sun, until the small opening fadedinto the surrounding blackness of their subterranean prison and vanishedaltogether. Paul and Josh shifted ever closer until they were sitting back toback in the darkness to ward off the dank cold.

Just divorce her,Paul. Shes not worth all this, Josh spoke into the silence.

No, I cant; youknow that ... and so does she, he finished in a whisper.

Josh mulled thisover, thinking how he had never been as serious as his friend in religious-studiesclass. In fact, he had never been as serious as Paul about anything. Forcrying out loud, exceptions can be made; even by the almighty Church. Shespregnant with somebody elses baby, for Christs sake! He regretted the harshchoice of words as soon as they were uttered.

No, its not justthat, Josh. I just cant ... or wont, I guess. I love her.

I feel sorry foryou, Paul, Josh said gently. And you dont even know who shes been seeing.

No, Paul agreed. NowI dont have the slightest clue. Nothings changed, you see. Thats why Ifigured it had to be you; youre always around. Weve gone along in the samepattern for yearsshe goes to work; I go to work; two nights a week she drivesback up to college for her graduate studies. And before you ask, I pay thetuition bills and Ive helped her do research work for Professor Rais, so, yes,she really is... He left the sentence unfinished; remembering the first wordsVanda had ever spoken to him. A rush of familiar scenes swirled through hismind; memories now made unwholesome by the poison of unwelcome revelation.While above them, somewhere in the distance, arose the faint growl and grind ofan approaching four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Listen, Joshwhispered. You hear that?

They both stoodsilently in expectation. The motor coughed and was extinguished. Paul guessedthat the vehicle had arrived at the spot where he and Josh had parked, whatseemed like a lifetime ago. Whoever they were, they would have to make the restof the way on foot.

Josh hastily switchedon his helmet lamp and aimed its failing beam at the caves entrance; then bothmen waited, listening intently for the scrabble of loose stone that mustaccompany their rescuers arrival. As they stared upward, Paul became aware ofthe cold, winking stars that were now visible in the distant firmament, whileat the very limit of their portal to the living world, a slice of the moonpeeked over the edge like the eye of a mischievous giant. From above, therattle of stone and scree announced the arrival of their salvation.

Josh began to hop upand down and shout, Hey, were down here! Were down in the cave! The crackedrib pressing into his lung prevented him from continuing and he lapsed into afit of painful coughing that silenced his pleas. Paul said nothing and waited.

Far above, he couldjust make out the hiss and murmur of voices in subdued debate. The softer,higher voice appeared to be demanding something of the other. Then, after apause, the rope that led to the surface was released and fell to join Paul andJosh in the pit.

Even as Joshstruggled once more to his feet to cry out in consternation, Paul could justmake out the silhouette of someone peering down into their tomb. The cold glowof the moon framed the long hair of their executioner, making it shimmer withsilver streaks, even as Joshs lamp captured the flushed face. With a cry,Professor Rais vanished from their sight, and shortly thereafter, the clankingof the metal tripod could be heard as its wreckage was dragged down the slope,and the last evidence of Paul and Joshs plight was removed.

Josh began to weep,and Paul sat down next to him and placed his arm over his friends shoulder,but said nothing. He had hoped to see Vanda one last time, and was dumb with sorrowthat she had deprived him of even this final consolation.

Drawn to the onlyheat remaining in the cave, the serpents washed up against the foot of theboulder upon which the two friends waited in a restless sea of scales, and thelargest amongst them reared up from the press of the others questing forpurchase. Paul leaned back and closed his eyes, instantly conjuring thefamiliar vision of Vanda dancing naked but for her Gypsy jewelry beneath abright, pitiless moon, though this time there lay at her feet the prostratevictims of foreign and merciless gods.

From EQMM March-April 2008 .txtA N.E.R.D's Release

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