Two In A Flash.
Ray Jaxome
Published by Ray Jaxome at Smashwords
Copyright Ray Jaxome 2012
Smashword Edition License Notes
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Chapter One – The Volcano
The smell of sulphur filled Tim’s nose. He stood at the edge of the cavern, watching the red molten liquid far below as it bubbled slowly towards the surface. Occasionally the earth shuddered like someone had just rubbed its back with cold hands. Tim could hear them calling behind him, but he did not turn his head, he just stood right at the edge and felt the heat scouring his face. Suddenly, a hand grabbed him from behind. He instinctively strained away from it, and started to lurch forward. For a second he thought he would fall into the pit, but the hands were stronger and were pulling him back.
“What the hell are you doing?” the hands were rough, creviced, strong, and shaking him. He turned around to see the man. Old, maybe thirty five, wearing an unfashionable blue shirt and trousers that were slightly too tight for him. He’d expanded over the last six months. Ever since Tim’s mother had –
“I’m sorry,” Tim said a lopsided smile on his face. He could feel the tears wanting to come. He wanted to turn back and stand there.
“I should never have brought you,” said the man. He stood there holding his son for a few seconds, then he pulled the boy towards him and gave Tim a giant hug, one that threatened to crush his vertebrae it was so tight. A minute later he let go, “I need to do my job,” he said, walking Tim by his hands towards safety. There was an olive green cloth on the ground, and on it were dozens of strange mechanical objects, plus a picnic hamper. One of them looked like a winch. Tim’s father wasted no time hooking up a rectangular object onto a long rope, then walking to the edge of the volcano. He threw it in, and the volcano rumbled as if it had indigestion. “This is it, Tim, the moment of proof” his father said. Once the object was free the winch started to drop it slowly towards the fire below. Tim’s father ran back towards the laptop. “Come and watch, Tim!” he shouted.
Tim could see the inside of the volcano for the first time. The camera had a torch attached which shone a tight beam of light fifteen metres into the cave. The sides were dark grey rock, but as the camera swung round he saw a ledge –
“What’s that?” Tim asked. On the ledge was an object. It looked like a round ball. But as the camera swung round again, Tim gave a small gasp. He could a skull almost grinning at him.
“It’s not her,” said Tim’s father, “It was a man. See the skull? It looks like a man,” he added, but Tim couldn’t help but look at him. Whoever he was hadn’t had a chance. The poisonous gas would have killed him long before thirst or hunger. The camera started to move down again but this time Tim didn’t want to watch. Something kept on drawing him back to the laptop. He didn’t want to watch, and he did want to watch, and he couldn’t help but watch. Then, the winch gave a loud whirring sound, and it squealed to a halt. His father walked over to it and hit it with a hammer. “Stupid damn equipment,” he said. He fiddled with a wrench trying to get the engine to work again.
“What’s wrong with it?” Tim asked.