The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 112: Down We Go

"Somewhere in here is a concealed passageway that leads to a hidden chamber." Uncle Griff had entered the cave first and turned to Sam. "I've read about it. Searched every inch of this place, but never have found the entrance. Sam, that's where you come in."

Sam gawked at the masses of mighty rock columns that made up the cave's walls. Some looked like stair steps while others reached all the way up to the cave's ceiling. It reminded Sam of a city   The columns being the buildings standing along a river front. He remembered a trip to New York City when his parents took him on a boat ride out into the Atlantic Ocean.  He remembered the skyline and how it looked like a mish-mash of uneven stair steps.  The ceiling was rough and rocky.  Icy waters washed into the back of the cave, foaming along the rocks. Pieces of ice floated, like boats on a river, crashing into the walls.

Uncle Griff motioned to Sam, but he was still gawking.  Sam saw everyone looking at him.  All shivering from the damp cold.

“I’m sorry,” said Sam.  “This is so amazing.”

"Sam, we need you to try and recite the location incantation and see if it works for you," said Rose. "Remember you're the first one in our recent history to be able to use incantations the best."  She handed him a piece of paper with the words: Viam monstrabit. Fac iter. Ostende porta.

"You can do it," said Mrs. Steers, encouraging him.

Sam stood perfectly still and recited the incantation.  Everyone looked around in every direction, watching for a sign of movement. Nothing happened.  No rocks moved.  No hidden passage revealed itself.

“Keep trying,” said Mrs. Steers.  “It may take a couple of times.

“OK,” said Sam.  “Maybe I should face another direction?”  Sam turned around.  The wind picked up; the icy water became rougher.

“We better hurry,” said Rose.  “That storm is starting to get worse.”

Sam recited the incantation again and again.  “I don’t think it’s working.”

Just as he finished his sentence, Uncle Griff pointed to a small grotto in the furthest back corner.  There was a faint glow in the shape of an arch.  A column of dark stones began to move.  A door slowly swung open and an opening appeared in the cavern's wall.

“There!  Look there!”  Ari shouted.  Everyone turned to where Uncle Griff was pointing.

Sam’s eyes widened.  His excitement rose. “I did it.  I made the incantation work. There it is.”

Slowly and carefully, Ari and Uncle Griff climbed over to the newly exposed entrance.  Uncle Griff pulled a flashlight out of his coat pocket and shone it into the darkness.

“What do you see?” said Mrs. Steers.

“It slopes down.”  Ari went first with Uncle Griff right behind.   Everyone else climbed over to the entrance.

“This is awesome.”  Sam felt like an explorer seeking lost treasures.  His imagination went wild for a moment, day-dreaming that he had discovered the last resting place of some long-ago legendary king.

“Sam!”  Rose broke his day-dream.  “Come this way.”  Rose entered the passageway before him.  She took his hand.  Sam didn’t mind, holding her hand, as he faced the dark entrance.  Darren and Lewis brought up the rear.  Uncle Griff held up the flashlight. Darren formed a bright pink orb.  Its light reflected off the damp walls.

From somewhere, a glowing light illuminated the entire ragged passageway.  Everyone came to a stop and turned to look for the light’s source. Without thinking, Sam had formed a bright white orb about the size of a grapefruit and was holding it in his free hand.  Rose turned and shaded her eyes.

“Well done,” said Rose.  “You must be concentrating hard to keep it like that.”

Sam shook his head.  "Not really."  The orb remained steady.  Darren and Lewis looked over Mrs. Steers’ shoulders, amazed at Sam’s ability.

“Sam, come up here with me.” Uncle Griff waved him forward.  Reluctantly, Mrs. Steers let go of Sam’s shoulder and Rose let go of his hand.  Sam looked at them.

“Go ahead,” said Mrs. Steers.  “He wants you to help lead the way.”

Treating the orb like an egg on a spoon, he moved past Rose then Xavier then Ari and stood next to Uncle Griff.

“Mighty impressive there, Sam.” Uncle Griff had to shade his eyes.  He positioned Sam next to him.  “Now hold it out in front of you so we can see better.”  By now, Uncle Griff had extinguished his own orb.

Resuming the journey with Sam as co-pilot, they followed the passageway that widened and continued to slope downward. The path twisted and turned in front of them.  Stalagmites had formed over centuries.  Dripping water echoed from somewhere.  Maybe in front of them.  Maybe from another passageway.

Sam began to feel like a real explorer as he took the lead, taking the Time Travelers into a place that only a few had ever been.