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said.
       Ramira flopped down. “Yes!”
       He built a fire and in its light they could see what appeared to be the same type of fungi that had been growing on the flowstone, a pale yellow, stringy organic matter. It was a species of lichen, so far undiscovered.
       “What is that?” Ramira asked rubbing her hand across it.
       “Some type of lichen, I think. Lichen is a combination of algae and fungus. I remember reading that only about two million species of flora have been discovered, yet there are probably between five to one hundred million species in existence.” Zaac sat down beside her.
       “I have a feeling that we’ll see a lot of things down here that other people haven’t seen.” She tried consciously to relax her body which was getting stiff with all the exertion she had to put out.
       Zaac got some water out of his pack and handed it to Ramira. They both took a few swallows, looking up at the ledge. They could see an opening a few feet back from the edge where the cave continued.
       “Do you think we can reach it?” Ramira asked.
       “I think so. I’ll try jumping up and get a hold on the edge. Then I’ll hoist myself. I can help pull you up.” Zaac stretched, trying to relax. He had been sitting only for a moment when he jumped back up, jerking off his jeans.
       “What are you doing?” Ramira asked, astonished.
       “Something is biting me.” He saw several ants crawling on his legs. They had a white exoskeleton with a tan pigmentation. They were fierce.
       “Where did these come from?” He brushed at them frantically.
       Throwing a couple more pages on the fire, he could see that he had stirred up a colony. Making sure no more were crawling on him, he shook his pants and turned each leg inside out to scrutinize it. Reaching the conclusion that they crawled on him and not the material, he put the jeans back on. Going to the opposite side of Ramira, he sat back down.
       “All of these creepy crawlies seem to be hungry down here. Someone forgot to tell them that we are above them in the food chain.”
       “We can designate you to instruct them in the proper order of nature.” Ramira laughed.
       Zaac got up. “Let’s give this a try.”
       Ramira stood back, allowing him room to jump. He took a couple of bounds and leapt. His fingers missed the edge by a good eight inches. Going back further, he tried it again, jumping even higher. This time his fingers barely touched the tip of the ledge. He crashed against the wall and fell back. Trying it one more time, he reached the same spot as before, allowing his fingers to graze the edge but not enough to grab hold. There had to be a way.
       “If I intertwine my hands and give you a boost while you jump, do you think you might be able to reach it?” Ramira asked.
       “It’s worth a try.”
       Ramira stepped up to the wall, interlocking her fingers. Bending over slightly, Zaac placed one foot in her hands. “On the count of three—one, two and three.”
       Zaac jumped as Ramira shoved upward. He was able to grasp the ledge with the edge of his fingers. With this hold, he pulled his body up, getting first his elbows and then his knees onto the ledge. She passed him the packs and was soon beside him.
       After a moment to catch their breath, they forged ahead up the passage with what little light the cellphone afforded. Zaac pointed the phone at his feet and held one hand up, moving it back and forth in front of his face to avoid any obstacles.
       Suddenly Ramira spoke up, “I think we need to take the fork to the left.”
       Zaac paused, “What fork to the left?”
       “The one just ahead.” Ramira pointed with her hand.
       Taking four more steps, Zaac reached a fork that branched to the right and left. He gave Ramira a look, lifting his eyebrows. Without a word, he took the fork to the left.
       They continued for another hour before the cellphone’s light dimmed.