The Tunnel

By Chris B.

Lee Crane, stalwart and fearless captain of the NIMR great submarine Seaview looked apprehensively down the long and poorly lit tunnel trying to steel his nerves to make the perilous journey that lay before him. He looked back behind him towards his companions, his eyes almost pleading that they try and talk him out of this trip. His hesitant and somewhat fearful gaze was returned by those around him. Finally coming to the realization that no one was going to step forward to take on this hazardous task he sucked in a deep breath and slowly entered the tunnel.

The thing that hit him first was the feel of the tunnel floor and walls; it was simultaneously sticky and slimy with some unnamable ooze slowly making its way down one of the walls as he inched his way into the opening. The next sensation to assail him was the smell; it was a mélange of odors that had no business mixing together. It was sickly sweet and sour with an overtone of decaying flesh and vegetable matter and he fought mightily to beat down the gag reflex that threatened to overwhelm him and undo his resolve.

Lee inched his way slowly forward not at all anxious to find what would greet him at the other end. This was all Chip’s fault he thought sourly, if he hadn’t been so inattentive even derelict in his duties, he wouldn’t be in this situation. Many times his superiors and even his men had pleaded with him to forgo taking risks and leading missions such as the one. In the past he had always felt that he should not send anyone to do something he was unwilling to do himself, but now given his current situation he was giving serious consideration to backing off and enjoying the privileges that rank and position allowed. Even as he had that thought he chided himself for taking the easy way out and that just wasn’t within him to do.

As he made his way further down the tunnel he found himself thinking back to the movie The Shawshank Redemption and the scene where the hero made his bid for freedom crawling through a sewage pipe leading from the prison. He thought surely that pipe had to smell better than the festering hole he now found himself crawling through.

It was getting lighter now as he neared the end of the tunnel. He was greeted by screams and howls that grated on his nerves and eardrums. A shiver of fear skittered quickly up his spine and he fought with all his will to drive it back into the box from which it had escaped. No one would ever accuse Lee Crane of being a coward but the multiple assaults on his senses and the growing sense of dread that crept slowly from the pit of his stomach almost made him turn tail and return to the entrance. Through sheer willpower alone he held his position as he realized there would be no return if he didn’t recover the item he was after.

Finally he reached the end which let out over a roiling mass of colors and odors that once again had him fighting back the nausea and vertigo. He starred at the pit below; the multicolored surface rippled and undulated as unseen creatures moved beneath. Perched precariously on the edge, trying to decide how best to gain entry without tipping off the things underneath, he was unprepared when a hand reached up and grabbed his tie. In an instant he had a full appreciation for why police officers wore clip-on ties as he was pulled unceremoniously into the roiling, surging mass below him. As he felt himself go, Lee curled into a defensive ball to avoid hitting what had snagged his tie and to avoid its sticky grasp.

Once he hit the surface he sank quickly towards the bottom. He had never been one to suffer from claustrophobia but in that one instant as he plunged into the seething cloying mass in the pit he felt as though he’d been buried alive. Fighting the rising panic, Lee realized his prize was most likely lying somewhere on the bottom of this pit and he rolled onto his stomach and forced himself lower. He scanned the area as best he could but between the things surging around him and the limited light he had a difficult time seeing beyond his nose. When he finally hit bottom he scurried and scrabbled across the pit floor feeling desperately for the thing that would grant them their freedom from this place.

His lungs were beginning to burn from the lack of oxygen, but the last thing he wanted to do was draw in a breath of that revolting air. He focused on calming his nerves and quelling his panic as he methodically scoured the pit floor. He employed all the techniques he had learned through the years as a master diver to conserve his air and make his movements as efficient as possible. Suddenly his hands brushed over his goal; he spun quickly back and snatched up his prize. Now it was time to get out.

The way he came in was not really an option and the other tunnel leading in the opposite direction held minimal appeal as well. There had to be another way. He once again began running his hands over the floor and walls of the pit looking for the back way out. His lungs screamed to him to take a breath but his rational mind fought the urge to draw in the fetid air that smothered the pit.

Deciding to try one more sweep of the pit walls he rapidly moved his hands over them and was finally rewarded with the discovery of a recessed handle. He pried up the D-ring handle and twisted it viciously to the right. He heard and felt the click as the latch released and suddenly he was awash, spilling out onto the floor beside the pit. As he hit the ground he pushed himself upwards with all his might and surfaced like a drowning man gasping for the air his body so hungrily needed.

He shoved himself to his feet with all the dignity he could muster and triumphantly thrust his trophy into the air. He was greeted immediately with cheers of relief, joy and admiration for having withstood the horrors of the pit; they would be able to get out of here now and head for home.

Standing there in the center of the room working hard to control his breathing he felt someone clap him heartily on the back. “Way to go Lee,” Chip said cheerfully. “I knew you would get us out.”

Lee turned slowly and glared at Chip, letting him know just how unhappy he was at having had to venture through the tunnel and into the pit to recover what Chip had so carelessly lost. Retribution and payback would be severe and well deserved. Chip flushed bright red and averted his gaze. “I’m really sorry. I know, it was all my fault I should have been watching him more closely.” Chip offered contritely.

“You’re damn right it was!” Lee fired back as he wiped the sticky detritus from his face and clothing. “Next time you let your nephew grab your car keys and take off for the Burgerland ball pit you get to go in after them.”

The End.