The massive opening swallowed the three as they stepped forward into a new section of cave. The troll seemed impatient with the pace of Campy and Vic who, with only the light coming from their candle lanterns, looked about as they followed Boogabob.
With a hurried wave every few steps, the troll motioned them on, "Come, come. Not much further."
Already Campy missed the daylight, the smell of a fresh breeze and the song of birds. In the bowels of the earth, it smelt dank and the only light came from a single candle. And instead of songbirds, the eerie high pitch whistle from bats with the flutter of their webbed wings whizzing by.
After a while, they took a turn into a smaller tunnel, narrow and curved. It seemed they went in circles and caused Campy's gut to cringe with anxious interpretation. The troll seemed to feel right at home and they had to tell him to slow down a bit, in case they missed a turn. But when the three made the next bend, a room appeared glittering with light, as if the stars were caught and brought down deep underground. The chamber shimmered in light and colors.
"Ain't it pretty?" The troll asked.
With their mouths dropped opened, the boys agreed it was while they gazed at all the lights. Some pools of water formed here and there and when a stalactite dripped water onto the still surface from above, it glowed in iridescent light until the pool went quiet and the light dimmed to await another drop. Other pools though changed colors with the drip, and yet others glowed on and on as another drop followed close by.
"What a show," Campy said and Vic nodded in approval.
"Yeah, I kind of like it myself, " Boogabob said smiling as he looked around too.
The troll walked over to one of the glowing pools. He reached into the pool and fished around before pulling out a crystal and then brought it back to Campy and Vic.
"Something I've been working on, " he said before he held it up for their inspection.
The crystal was different colors on each side and yet clear enough to see through. Boogabob held it out but didn't let go of the crystal, "I'm still working on it so it's kind of delicate."
"You make these?" Campy asked.
"I think a better word is that I design them. The cave's water actually makes the crystals," He said before holding up the gem to inspect it very closely.
"It's amazing. To grow crystals that beautiful." Campy said.
"How do you design them?" Vic asked as he gazed in a pool of colored light.
The troll laughed and then placed the crystal back in the pool. He took from a pocket a vial of some kind of liquid the color of blood and poured a few drops in the pool before he said, "If I told you, I'd have to kill ya."
He then chortled in a very sick way and looked menacingly at the boys.
To be continued.....
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