interesting part is the new section. He said we mustn’ t miss it.”“ Where is it?” Catherine asked.
“ Over there.” Larry took her arm and they walked toward the rear of the cave and stood in front of the gaping black chasm.
“ We can’ t go in there,” Catherine said.“ It’ s dark.”
Larry patted her arm.“ Not to worry. He told me to bring a flashlight.” He produced it from his pocket.“ And— voilà— see?” He turned it on, and its narrow beam lit up a long dark corridor of ancient rock.
Catherine stood there, staring at the tunnel.“ It looks so big,” she said uncertainly.“ Are you sure it’ s safe?”
“ Of course,” Larry replied.“ They bring schoolchildren here.”
Catherine still hesitated, wishing they could stay with the other tourists. Somehow this seemed dangerous to her.
“ All right,” she said.
They started into the passage. They had traveled only a few feet when the circle of light from the main cave behind them was swallowed up in the blackness. The passage made an abrupt turn to the left and then curved to the right. They were alone in a cold, timeless primeval world. In the beam of Larry’ s flashlight Catherine caught a glimpse of his face in the reflection of light and she saw that look of animation again. It was the same way he had looked on the mountain. Catherine tightened her grip on his arm.
Ahead of them the tunnel forked. Catherine could see the rough stone on the low ceiling as it split off in separate directions. She thought of Theseus and the Minotaur in the cave, and she wondered whether they were going to bump into them. She opened her mouth to suggest that they turn back, but before she could speak, Larry said,“ We go to the left.”
She looked at him and said in what she hoped was a casual voice,“ Darling, don’ t you think we should start back? It’ s getting late. The caves will be closing.”
“ They’ re open until nine,” Larry replied.“ There’ s one particular cave I want to find. They just excavated it. It’ s supposed to be really fantastic.” He started to move forward.
Catherine hesitated, casting about for an excuse not to go farther. After all why shouldn’ t they go exploring? Larry was enjoying it. If that was what it took to make him happy, she would become the world’ s greatest— what was the word?— spelunker.
Larry had stopped and was waiting for her.“ Coming?” he asked impatiently. She tried to sound enthusiastic.“ Yes. Just don’ t lose me,” she said.
Larry did not reply. They took the fork that branched to the left and began walking, careful of the small stones that slipped under their feet. Larry reached into his pocket, and a moment later Catherine heard something fall to the ground. Larry kept walking.