Chapter 10 (Through the Tunnel)

Chapter 10 already! We're in the double digits!

Chapter 10:

The follower army marched after Nolan, Ben, and the others as they made their way through the main tunnel. The Captains were very good at keeping the men in ranks, and everything was orderly despite the small space. Learka and several other men carried torches to illuminate the way.

Ben walked alongside Nolan, slightly awed. A few weeks ago, he had not even known that Elandai and Adonai and Nolan and everyone else existed, and here he was, leading an army into a battle. He shivered with exitement.

Many hours later, Ben didn't know the exact time, Nolan called for a halt. Everyone unpacked their haversacks to eat supper. Anyone who had been walking down the tunnel at that time would have seen many soldiers, as well as women and children, all propped up against walls, enjoying flat bread that looked a lot like hard-tack.

Ben was sitting next to Nolan. Everyone in their little group--Learka, Kaela, and the others--were already finished with their supper, but others were still eating. A stern leader would have just made them continue the march anyway, but Nolan was soft-hearted.

Sometime along the journey, Nolan's wife and children had joined them. The children were very exited, to them it was a game. The wife was more sober, knowing that they would have a battle soon.

For the sake of conversation, Ben asked Nolan, "Did you grow up in the tunnels, sir?"

Nolan turned toward him. "No. My family and I moved down here when I was about ten. I've not been above ground but a few times since. And you don't have to call me sir, I prefer simply Nolan."

"Alright, si--I mean, Nolan. Why did everyone move underground instead of go into another country when Daran took over?"

"Well, he, Daran, has 'ruler-ship' over every country. Fleeing would hardly solve things. And Adonai told us to stay here. He is, after all, true king."

Ben nodded. "He is. What did you do above ground?"

"Oh, nothing terribly interesting." Nolan shrugged. "We were farmers. We had a lot of animals, and we had crops. We had to leave them all behind though, when we went underground. And then we just survived, and waited for the right time to rise up. During that time I met Elinor--" here he smiled at his wife, who smiled back. "--and we raised a family. Enough about me, now you tell me about yourself."

Ben told him of the cul-de-sac he and his family had moved into, of his Mom and Dad and friends, of how they got into Elandai, and of everything else.

Nolan's eyebrows jumped. "You mean to say that there are other worlds than this? And you got into here by crossing a creek?"

"We sure did. It was a little scary though, suddenly finding yourself in another world. Gave me a turn, though I guess the next time it won't."

"How do you like our world?" Nolan asked.

"It's certainly...different." Ben told him. "The food's different, and so are the clothes--" he momentarily glanced down at the tunic and leggings Yev had out-fitted him in a few days prior. Kaela and the rest were wearing something like it. "--the living style..."

"The food is not the same?" Nolan stared at Ben. "What do you eat?"

"Well, we have hot dogs--"

"What are...whatever you said?" Nolan looked very confused.

"Hot dogs. They're like sausage. You put it in a sort of bun with a split down the middle, and you can put ketchup on it. I don't suppose you know what ketchup is?"

The leader shook his head.

"It's tomato paste. You have tomatoes, don't you?" Ben asked anxiously. Tomatoes were his favorite vegetable.

"We have something called, tormeka. They're like red balls. The middle is filled with pulp and seeds."

"Yeah," Ben assured him. "Those are your version of tomatoes."

Just then Captain Gawain strode up to Nolan and his group. "Everyone's ready to march, sir." he reported, saluting military style. "Shall I call a march?"

"Certainly, Captain." returned Nolan. "You may call it."

The Captain called back at the men. "Alright now, forward march!"

They started out again down the winding tunnels.

They must have marched for hours more before Nolan called again for a halt. The sun had set outside, and it was time to bed down for the night. Ben had no clue how he knew that it was night-time, but he didn't argue. He plopped down wearily on the tunnel floor and was asleep in an instant.

He was awakened all too quickly by Kaela. "It's morning, Ben," she informed him. "Time to march."

Ben slowly got to his feet. Nolan's children, Sori, Jon, Cassie, and Mary, were watching him. They giggled and ducked their heads when he looked at them. It became a sort of game as they marched, he would suddenly look their way and they would start laughing. Ben never figured out what was so funny.

They had marched almost until lunchtime when several men walked toward them. They were the diggers that had been sent before to tunnel further. They had done their job well, it appeared.

The followers traveled on until they reached the point where the tunnels ended. Directly above was a large hatch, not unlike the one in Klii, Learka, and Yev's old dwelling. One of the diggers pointed up to it.

"That," he said, "Is the way up to Mahal."
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There. I have to go fold laundry now.

Izori