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DANCROW CART

When I heard the voice, I thought it was the girl who had the dog speaking. Of course, it wasn’t, because as soon as the glowing orb was thrust up to the ceiling, I was able to see. I jumped back and went into a defensive stance: one foot back, hand on gun, other arm held in front of my body protectively. When I realized that it wasn’t a bomb about to blow us up to our Maker, and that no one else seemed concerned, except Gavril, I resumed my feigned casualness. But when I saw the little guy, my jaw nearly dropped, and my eyes went wide. What is that? I wasn’t even able to comprehend his joke and minor insult. I just wanted to go over, pick him up, and examine his tiny features — but going off of that shining ball, it was probably a bad idea.

With the newfound light, I roved the cave with my eyes and studied those in it. Several were wounded, and all seemed as if they really were “mis-fits.” None belonged, counting myself. One sassy girl, with black hair, told us that we shared everything (would make more sense if I knew what was going on), and the boy clinging to her must have been her younger brother. He had a pink-glow-in-the-dark-pony which I found extremely odd and very out of place. Besides, pink? The girl with the dog, I saw, seemed to be listening to Liorah and Gavril, but not really seeing. Then I put two and two together. I felt like I needed to go over and apologize — imagine not being able to see any of this crazy stuff! I wouldn’t be able to stand it — but I really had no idea how to go about doing that. Besides, my mind was running too fast:

Who is that tiny guy? Who are these people? How did we all get here? How will we get food? Water? HELP? WHY ARE THEY SO DAMN CALM?? 

I had to remind myself to be calm, just like they probably were. Gawking around at everything and everybody, I didn’t know Liorah was gone until I heard the blind girl pipe up:

“Where is she going?”

“I, I dunno,” I stammered involuntarily, turning around just as Gavril’s cape disappeared into the hole in the wall left by the mirror. I stood there dumbly for a second, not sure what to do. But I wasn’t really sure how to go about introducing myself, and I really did just want to get out of there. However, as I turned my back, I got a sick feeling in my gut. They look like they need help. But how can I possibly help them? My first-aid kit is limited, and it seems as if all of them can walk. They’ll follow behind us. And if I stand here arguing with myself, I’ll never get out of here and we’ll all die anyway!

Even so, as I crept along, I still felt a twinge of guilt. I got to the back of the passage just in time to hear a brain-splitting shriek and catch myself against the wall before falling over in fright. After letting my rapidly beating heart slow down, I saw the gap above the wall — from behind which was coming a loud string of curses. I tucked several of them away in my mind: good for insulting Vergs, they would be.

“Ok, Danny,” I whispered to myself, “here goes nothing. Just make sure you don’t squeal like a pig-like as she did.”

I leapt and caught the opening with both hands, then pulled, feeling the painful strain in my shoulders. I tried to pull myself up, but to no avail. I let go, then tried again. Grunting, I managed to pull up a leg and hook it on the ledge, then roll over onto my side, just catching myself before I rolled off of it completely. Wiggling around, I managed to get my feet over, and I hopped down.

The walls were the same reddish clay stuff, but there was a large arch leading out of the room. It was dim, and I blinked to adjust my eyes. I turned to Gavril and Liorah, hoping they didn’t mind that I had followed. I was still sore with the girl, but I needed to get over it. I had learned that without grace, I would get nowhere. And now was not the time to make enemies.

“Hey,” I said, rubbing my temples. “I didn’t thank y’all for gettin’ me outa’ that spot. And thanks fer finding this place.” After a moments pause, I added, “should we let the other’s know ‘bout it? I can go back for ’em.”