Chapter 58—River That Couldn’t Be Crossed

Fortified, the team trudged on, drawn ahead by the dim blue light. It was quiet except for the sounds of boots dragging and equipment clanging.

"Freeze," Jojo said. Now used to his commands, everyone stopped in their tracks.

"What is it?" Tip called from the back.

"Water," Jojo said. "It could be a river."

"A river?" Tip's foggy glasses tilted on his freckled nose.

"Well, yeah, we are underground," Taylor said. "Water has to go somewhere."

"I know that," Tip said.

"These lower caves are notorious for their waterways," Jojo said. "We might have to cross one. Lucky for us it's winter; spring would be worse. The water sounds close, so we'll know soon." He peered into the darkness. "Let's go."

The team continued along the tunnel and soon heard the sound of rushing water. Then the narrow channel flared open into a large chamber filled with hundreds of stalactite columns hanging from the ceiling, each one a home to thousands of glowworms that turned the columns blue. The glow radiated onto the walls and lit up a moving river that filled the bottom of the chamber—an underground grotto. To the left a tall waterfall gushed, the source of the river that flowed under a wall off to the right.

"Amazing," Chaz said. "I wonder which side the stones are on."

Jojo walked around the chamber shining his flashlight over every inch of wall and ceiling. He looked back at the others. "We'll have to cross, mates. There's nothing on this side."

"I guess that's good news and bad news," Chaz said. "Good news, the stones are close. Bad news, we have to cross a rushing river with no bridge." He watched Jojo walk to the waterfall and lean out over the river.

"Why is he looking through the waterfall?" Chaz asked. "Is something behind it?"

"Could be," Taylor said.

Jojo walked to the near edge of the fall and then disappeared.

Chaz rubbed his eyes with his good hand. "What in the world?"

"It's a backwater cave," Taylor said.

"Nice," Tip said. "I've read about them."

"Can we use it to get to the other side?" Chaz rubbed his head and winced. Taylor smiled sympathetically. She trained her eyes on the waterfall as Tip and Chaz took in the blue room.

Tip stared at the glowworm formations. "Chaz, look at the stalactites real close," he said. "See anything interesting?"

Chaz saw nothing unusual. Everything in the room gave off the same blue glow. Then, yes, he did notice something—some columns were flashing while the others held a steady light.

"You're right on, Tip," Chaz said. "Right on, right on," the echo responded.

"I might be right but have no earthly idea what it means." Tip removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Then he rubbed his forehead as if attempting to stimulate brain cells. Jojo appeared on the other side of the river.

"Bloody—" Taylor punched her brother's arm before he could swear. "Heck," Tip said. "You found it, Jojo, a way across." Tip clapped his hands together in a deafening applause. Taylor covered her ears. "Ouch, geesh, Tip."

Once the sound died down, they heard Jojo say, "It's a little tricky, but everyone can do it." Do it...do it," the echo returned.

Chaz ran to the edge of the waterfall and peered behind it. "What's tricky? Can't I go right now?" He was flirting with carelessness to get this search over with.

Jojo dropped his heavy pack. "Hang on, mates. I'm coming back to show you." He walked to his side of the fall and disappeared. After several minutes Jojo popped out on their side.

"What took so long? The waterfall's no more than ten feet across."

"You'd think so, Chaz. But the pass is a stone bridge inside a cave that detours into the mountain. The footing is slippery with a drop-off on both sides. It'll give you the collywobbles if you're not careful." Chaz wasn't sure what "collywobbles" meant, but it didn't sound good.

The team lined up behind Jojo and, with headlamps high, stepped tentatively behind the waterfall. Thick mist hung in the air, and a musty smell pervaded the pitch-dark environment.

Once everyone was behind the fall, Jojo stopped. "Let your eyes adjust," he said.

Chaz stood and looked around. Weepy, green walls came into view as he flashed his headlamp. He looked down to see that he was standing on a narrow rock surface with nothing but black on either side. His stomach plunged. "Is this the...drop-off?"

"Right so," Jojo said. "But no worries, we won't be going down there."

"I hope not." Chaz glanced at Tip, whose face looked a bit yellow.

"Can you breathe okay, Tip?" Taylor asked. Tip nodded, thinking his bigger challenge was to be able to see with his glasses fogged up.

"Okay, mates," Jojo said. "Follow me. Tip, you first, then Taylor and Chaz."

The little procession pushed in deeper, passing other cave openings along the way. Chaz could see how easy it would be to enter the wrong one and get lost inside the mountain—and maybe never be found. The thought made him dizzy, and he swayed but caught himself. His wrapped wrist was definitely throwing off his balance, making him feel like a cat with clipped whiskers.

Tip hated this part of the trek; in fact he hated the entire expedition. His glasses were so foggy he could barely see. He could make out arm right in front of him, and had reached out to grab it when something brushed his arm. Instinctively pulling away, he lost his balance and stepped down into nothingness.

"Ow—ouu—h—hel—p!"

Taylor heard her brother's cry of horrified panic and snatched a backpack tie just as Jojo spun around and grabbed an arm. Together they held Tip as he dangled precipitously over the drop-off. Tip's heart raced, and he could hardly breathe.

"We've got you, mate," Jojo said, and lifted Tip back to safety on the stone path. With both feet planted securely, he let out a gurgling sob.

"I was going down there," he whimpered, looking into the black yaw and wishing his stomach would return to where it belonged.

"Relax a minute, everyone. We're almost there." Jojo's solid voice was reassuring.

Just when Chaz was about to scream in terrified frustration, they all stepped from behind the waterfall on the other side of the river. With heavy sighs, Chaz and Tip sat down on their packs and mopped their damp faces. Taylor grinned up at the gleaming blue stalactites, and Jojo disappeared.

"Watch out for hanging snakes," Tip called after his sister.