Read Online Writers of the Future, Volume 29 by L. Ron Hubbard - Free Book Online Page A

short way ahead of me. As I rounded a corner, the creature scuttled down a side shaft at surprising speed. A check with my sensors indicated the shaft led out of the cave. I yelled over the suit comm, “Lester, it’s a trap!”
    I heard the rockslide and hurried toward Lester. He emerged from a cloud of dust. “I’m all right, but the entrance is covered.”
    â€œThe alternate entrance is also.”
    Lester and I sat down and used our sensors to determine how much rock was blocking the opening. It looked like a good five meters. “Can’t blast our way out,” I said. “We’d either fry or bring the cave down. Time for some spelunking.”
    We made our way farther into the cave. It opened to a large chamber. The floor was covered with neat, six-meter wide piles of rocks. I examined one. “Burial.”
    â€œToo bad they don’t put these outside. We could have declared them intelligent without getting stuck in this cave.”
    â€œWe’re not done for yet, kid.”
    Several openings led off the chamber. I told Lester to stay as quiet as possible. Then I sampled the sounds from each opening. We headed down one where I heard water and felt airflow. The tunnel sloped downward, ending in an underground stream. I pulled up a topo map on my helmet display. “Looks like there’s a lake close by. It has a stream coming out, but no inflow.”
    â€œSpring fed,” Lester said.
    â€œRight. I’m betting this is the source of the spring.”
    Lester took a long look at the churning water. “You’re betting our lives on that hunch.”
    â€œGot a better plan?”
    Lester thought for a while. Flowing water isn’t something you find much of in a mine. “No.” His voice was resigned.
    â€œLet’s go for a swim. Keep your helmet light on. Don’t get hung up on any rocks. If this works, we’ll be out; if not, we’ll have a hell of a time getting back here.”
    I jumped in. It was a good-sized stream with a strong current. I like a good thrill ride: getting pushed down a rock tube trying to avoid obstructions definitely qualifies. Lester wasn’t having as good a time. He bounced off a couple of rocks and started tumbling. I slowed myself. “Grab my feet.” Lester grabbed one and nearly set me tumbling. “Straighten your body.” He did and grabbed my other foot. I headed into the current. The extra drag made it easier to avoid hazards. “Close your eyes. I’ll steer.”
    After a couple of minutes, the water stilled. I saw light coming from above. “Open your eyes and make for the surface.”
    I had scouted the area by the time Lester finally dragged himself on shore. He sat on the bank panting. The pool formed one end of a steep-walled, narrow canyon. A stream lined with trees flowed out of the pool.
    â€œWe’re in a box canyon,” I said. “I’m detecting some of the creatures in our path. If we try to climb out, we’ll be sitting ducks if they have any kind of weapons. The only way out is to follow the stream. We should head out as fast as we can. Don’t want them bringing in reinforcements.” I got Lester to his feet.
    The place was a defensive nightmare. A group of the creatures moved onto a ledge after we had passed and began throwing stones at us from behind. They used their tentacles like slings; they put a lot of power behind those stones. One struck me in the shoulder. My suit held, but my shoulder broke. Lester fired once at the edge of the ledge. The creatures scurried into the underbrush. Then Lester blew the ledge off.
    I switched on the auto-doc in my suit. It deadened my pain without putting me to sleep. “Nicely done. We’re safe and none of them are dead.”
    Lester checked my suit’s internal sensor readings on his helmet display. “How are you?”
    I transferred my gun to my free hand. “Injured. Immobilize