Canoes & Catacombs — 4: The Long Shot

After removing any unnecessary items from their backpacks and placing them in small piles on one side of the cave entrance, everyone shouldered their lightened packs and checked the water bottles at their waist. They switched on their flashlights and bent slightly to enter single file through the passage on the right.

Just inside, they were able to straighten. Trace estimated the height at eight feet. Tall enough, but he still could feel the usual claustrophobia from being under the weight of the rock above. The space was wide enough for them to walk double. It wasn’t enough to concern him, as he had explored a number of caves. Only twice had he needed to take one of his antianxiety pills, always kept with him in his backpack. Everything would be fine.

Everyone was quiet, their shoes scuffing the floor the only noise, until Shelly spoke up.

“Damn! I forgot my snacks back there.”

Becky’s voice echoed through the elongated tunnel space ahead of them.

“That’s okay, we have plenty,” she said. “You got yours, right, Trace?”

“Hell yeah,” he said, his teeth white in the beam of his light.

“We got extra, too,” Miranda said.

“Well, let’s go, then,” he said.