We roped up. Ren explained that sudden drops were probable. We would cross slippery, wet rocks and ford small icy streams. As we go further inta the caves we will come across vertical shafts, like the one we came in by. There will be tight squeezes where we will have to remove our backpacks and slide them ahead of us as we crawl on our bellies. We were ready for all of those challenges, or so we thought. Gee had prepared us as best he could. We understood the mechanics of our equipment. He drilled us on that. What he couldn't do is give us the real life cave experience.

Shouldn't all this preparation make me less worried, and not more? I telepathed Gee. Gee didn't answer back. Gee told us that once inside the caves he would be the only one that could hear us. That concerned me. "Ren, Freck, have either of you tried ta make contact with Gee?"

"No," Ren answered, "but I'll try now." His eyebrows went up in mild surprise. "I am not getting a response either. Maybe he is in the worldwide council's mind-mesh."

Behind the clear face plates attached ta our helmets I could see that Freck was shaken ta hear this news.

Ren had to talk some sense into us. "We must not let this temporary communication block with Gee deter us. There is probably a very good reason this is happening. We have to put it completely out of our minds and focus only on the journey. If we do not direct all of our awareness to the task ahead mistakes will happen. Caves do not forgive errors of judgement. Our survival depends on full attention."

I don't know about Freck, but that was what I needed to hear. It woulda been impossible to anticipate danger if our minds were flittin' 'round thinkin' 'bout sumpin' othervthan where ta place our feet. B'sides we's gonna stop for meal breaks. I would try ta reach Gee then.

"Thank you Ren," Freck mind-spoke, "I was workin' m'self up inta a real tizzy. I'm really glad you are with us on this trip ta he'p."

With that we was off. We spent the next few hours tryin' ta keep our balance on the bumpy and slick, cave floor. It was all downhill. We had to walk pretty close to each other to allow slack in the rope. Otherwise the taut rope jerked and chaffed with every bump or slip. That's one of them things you can only learn by doin'.

In another hour Ren stopped. He said it was time for a break. "There is something fascinating I want to show you." He pointed to a pond that was partially und'a an overhangin' rock. "You may have heard of  blind cave fish. If you shine your lights into the corner over there you will see them."

Just as Ren said, there they were. The places where their eyes should be were covered up with scales. They warn't just blind, they didn't have no eyes at all.

Freck was excited, "You cain't beat that with a stick. How the heck did blind fish get in here?"

"I am not sure how they got here. Some say that maybe fertilized fish eggs slipped through. Or maybe a spring melt swept them into the cave. However when they arrived they were certainly not blind. But their eyes were useless in the total dark, so they had find other means to survive. A few managed to thrive. They bore baby fish, and over time they began to be hatched without eyes. These fish you are looking at are the result of hundreds of generations of evolution.

"Life always finds a way to make peace with the environment. No matter how harsh the conditions, some will thrive and those not up to it will pass away. Mother nature is a very exacting mistress."

While were getting a bite to eat and drink I thought about Gee again. I sent out a thought askin' if ever'thin' was okay. Nothin'. This time I didn't say anything about it, but you could be darn sure I was gonna keep tryin'. Bein' cut off from Gee was like a baby bird fallin' out of the nest. Their mommas and daddies cain't rescue it, and it cannot climb back in.

The next leg of our journey was uphill. It took more exertion but warn't as slippery.

What Ren said got me ta thinkin'. The fish evolved ta fit their new environment. Ain't that kinda like what we're doin? For the good of the Kingdom, and Topside too, we've been pushed ta master Cigam. The Keepers are intentionally puttin' us in situations where our survival, like the blind fish, depended initiatin' Cigam. It's a sort of forced evolution.

Uncle Ren heard my thoughts. "You are correct Wishes. This adventure has two purposes. First, to find and open communication with the Arianni. The second, is to give the two of you more opportunities to experience Cigam.

"You both know how to swim, ride a bike, and roller skate—correct?"

I said, "I cain't skate as good as Freck."

"Yes, but ya swim better'n me," she replied.

"Remember when learning how to do those things was very difficult? There were times that it seemed impossible, right? You believed you could do it because you saw other children doing it. If they could then you could too. Belief was the basis for your achievement. How many times did you fall off your skates or bicycle? How many times did you swallow water and come up coughing before you learned to swim? After you acquire the feelings of balance and buoyancy you always retain them. It is known as muscle memory. There is inside of you an open channel to that skill that never closes. For example, you can now ride any bike, at any time. Success does not come from success. Success is only achieved through failure.

"It is the same with Cigam . You have experienced it, but you cannot yet control it. The ability to draw it out at will and direct it requires repeated exposure."

The bestest thing about mind-speakin' is that no matter what, ya can always hear every word, just as if they were standing right in front of you. I wondered if mind reading was like that too.

"Mind reading is different Wishes. If you are too far away from the person it becomes nearly impossible to sort out the thoughts from the thoughts of others in the vicinity.

"It took me a long time to learn the skill of mind reading. There is too much interference, but I would be very surprised if the two of you cannot do it within the year, if not by the end of this trip."

"Really Ren?" Freck asked. "That would be the coolest thing ever, but I'm not half keeper like Wishes. He used Cigam ta stop a panther attack."

Ren told her, "Do you imagine that your belief in mind reading is any less than Wishes'?"

"No, I'm sure that we're the same in that."

"Because you are equal in your belief it only makes sense that you will probably achieve it at about the same time. Also, the two of you are very close. You have a bond. It would not take much to penetrate the thin barrier and open up to each other. Once that happens it will be simple for you to do it again, and with others."

"Neat-o!" We both said at the same time. We do that often. I suppose it's 'cuz we knows each other so well.

Ren said, "See you are on the same wavelength. It will not take long."

◽️◽️◽️

Our long uphill climb ended at the lip of a drop off. To continue we would hafta go straight down a hundred feet or so. This is where our ropes, descenders, carabiners, and bolts would be used. Ren stood back and watched as we put into practice what Gee showed us. Once we were all rigged Ren tested everythin' to make sure it was solid. He pulled, pushed, and tugged then mind-said, "Excellent! Gee taught you well.

"Okay, it is time to proceed. I will go down first to clear off loose rocks and find the best route to avoid sharp stones that might fray the rope. I will also mark any course adjustments with chalked arrows. Even still, be sure to take caution. You keep your eyes on me, and when you descend I'll be watching out for you. It is a law of caving every member of the group is responsible for every other.

"Freck you should go next. Use your descenders the way Gee taught you, you will be able to go as slowly as you want, or stop as needed. If you feel anxious, just take a breath, and try to relax. Your mind is the naysayer. Trust your body over your brain."

Freck and I had secured the rope around a large boulder. Ren attached his descender to the rope, walked over to the edge, and turned 'round facing' the shaft wall. Then he shoved off. He did as he said by removing loose rocks so's we wouldn't step on 'em, and lose our footin'. If he came across sharp edged rocks he scootched over either ta the left or right to prevent the rope from gettin' frayed. It took him longer than it would take us because he was the pathfinder. We watched him intently. A couple of times he stepped on loose rocks, but he didn't fall because of his tight hold on the rope. It looked scary as an axe-murder nightmare ta me. I was glad he went first. If I'd stepped on one of those loose stones who knows what woud'a  happened? I might've gotten rattled and fell. Ren made it look easy. That's the way it is when someone masters a skill. They appear to do it effortlessly. I know better. I know that when it's my turn it will be way more challenging, but overthinkin' woud'a froze me up. I was gonna hafta let my body run the show. That's easier said than done.

When he reached bottom he shouted up ta Freck askin' if she was ready. She was. I noticed that Ren kept a hold of the rope even though he was on the other end. As Freck started her descent he helped her find the safest way by pullin' the rope ta the right or left. It worked so good that Freck was down lickity split. "Wow-wee, I made it." She was happier than a pig in slop and it showed in her toothy grin and the little jig she did. That kind of joy is infectious. 'Stead of bein' all afraid I got excited for my turn.

As I was repellin' off the cave wall I had a notion. How do we get the rope off from around the boulder?

"We leave it where it is." Ren responded to my thought. "We will need it there when we return."

Okay, although climbin' up the rope was goin' ta be a whole lots harder than goin' down. I wondered if I was strong enough.

"Do not get concerned with that, Wishes. I will go up first. Then you will tie the rope around your waist and as you climb I will assist you by pulling. It will be, how do you say it? Oh yes—a snap."

Once I got to the bottom, Ren took out his knife and cut the rope at the ground. He wound up the excess and tucked it inta his pack. He then instructed us to put our descenders away.

I looked at the path. The ground looked level for a bit. So far it had been mostly downhill, some uphill, and of course, the drop off. Some easier walkin' would do my dawgs good. It seemed we had been on the move for quite some time.

Freck said, "Ya know, I'm tired as a hound chasing rabbit in August. I just want to curl up on the porch and go ta sleep."

"Well, we have covered a lot of ground today," Uncle Ren mused as he removed a glove and ran his hand through his dark hair. He looked around. "This is as good a place as any to spend the night, but we must move further into the tunnel away from the shaft. We disturbed a few rocks in our descent. Some loose stones might break free. Waking up to a cracked skull is a really bad way to face the day."

"That's for danged sure!" I could just picture m'self takin' a conk on the head and not even see it comin'.

A few hundred feet down the corridor we found an alcove. It was large enough to lay out our sleepin' bags without havin' to be squeezed together like carrots on a farmers truck. We formed a triangle. In the open area Ren sat down sumpin' resemblin' a hockey puck. He snapped his fingers over it and a one inch blue flame popped out of the center. Before you could say Jack Robinson the cave chill was gone. The warmth was welcome. He had another surprise for us. He took out a four sided wire frame and placed it over the little flame. On top of it he sat a thin foil bag. As the bag heated it grew. Before long we could smell the fragrance of a delicious stew cooking. Our canteen tops were cups with handles like mugs. When the stew was done he ladled it into our cups. Boy, I didn't realize how hungry I was. I slicked it all right down and was itchin' for more.

Uncle Ren saw. He said, "Cave exploration burns lots of calories. Would you like some more stew Wishes?"

"I hope ta shout," I said.

Freck spoke up, "I could use a bit more too, if'n there's enough."

There was enough for all of us to have seconds. After dinner we stretched out in our sleepin' bags. These bags were nothin' like the ones I used topside. They were made with a thin light weight material. I had my doubts 'bout bein' warm enough. When I climbed in it felt really good. It was warm. I had a pleasantly full stomach. When we we switched off our lights it was darker than a pitch black cat in the coal bin at midnight. Ren did a good thing when we started out. He showed us how dark the inside of a cave was. But, ya know when ya close yer eyes and fall ta sleep it can get dark as it wants. It don't matter a bit.

That's how we spent day one of the quest.