SURVIVORS
Chaptre 61. Could This Be a Tomb?
By day everyone was tired and hungry. They missed breakfast today. So without command, all gathered to fill the stomach.
As always, eating is a time of discussion. There is a lot to talk about because of the change in situation.
"Dean, 2 sick sheep this morning, I was forced to cut one because it looked very weak" Sunil reported.
"That's better." Dean nodded in agreement.
Last morning we looked at the vegetable garden and the meadow, there were no traces of animal footprints like running last night" Alan said.
"Yes, there's like nothing happened. We even checked the wheat fields" continued Widuri.
"really? ask the Goddess wonder.
"Where is the commotion? Her voice was like all the animals in the forest were running in fear," added Dewi again.
"Could it have happened at the top of the cave?" ask Nastiti.
"That's possible. Anyway, we haven't explored this place yet. We don't know how vast and inhabited any animal" replied Dean.
"I and Nastiti had tried to find wood to make the shelter, but to be honest, without adequate equipment, the wood was just like that" Dean pointed at the pile of wood he had collected with Nastiti.
"It seems that we can't possibly use it as a shelter." Alan said his opinion.
The others agreed.
"Can't we go to that cave anymore?" ask Goddess.
"While able. But we have to make another dwelling safer" Dean replied.
"Is the cave not safe?" ask Nastiti wonder.
"It looks like there's a fine crack in the roof of the cave. It makes the water seep down." Widuri said what she saw this morning.
"Yes, there may be a crack. It's safe if there's no more earthquakes. But if last night's events repeat themselves, fearing that the ceiling of the cave will collapse" Dean explained.
"All right, so while we're staying in the cave before there's a shelter. But how do we build it if we don't have strong woods for poles and walls?" ask Goddess.
"How about we get up with a rock?" ask Nastiti.
"Yes.. Inside the bat cave were many rocks. We can get it out." Sunil.
Dean nodded his head.
"That's a good idea" Dean said.
"Well, after we eat we carry the stones out." Alan was excited.
"The urgent cleaning of the stone is the space in which we live. So later tonight we can rest comfortably" Dean suggested.
" okay." Alan and Sunil answered almost simultaneously.
"Goddess, what are your wounds?" asked Dean who saw the scratches of bat scratches on the face of the Goddess.
"It's okay. It doesn't hurt anymore" replied the Goddess while holding her face.
"Does my face look ugly?" ask the Goddess to the Widuri sitting next to her.
"No. Just a thin wound. If there's no infection, then it'll heal soon without leaving a mark." Widuri calms the Goddess.
"Widuri, after eating, come with me to check out the new cave passage." Dean got up from his seat and walked into the cave. Alan followed from behind.
"Later when moving the stones, collect our belongings left here. We've lost almost all the light crystals." Dean pointed out the only crystal of light in his hand.
"okay."
Alan inspected the spacious cave that looked messy and started to work. Sunil and Widuri followed inside.
"Too much dust. It looks like we have to water this place to be dust-free" Sunil said.
Dean carried a spear and entered the cave hall followed by Widuri. They used the dimly glowing purple crystal as a path light. The road was like a slope down without stairs. About 50 meters there are opposite branches on the right and left of the hallway. Dean left his spear near the foot as a direction marker.
Viduri followed him from behind. He noticed Dean who continued to feel the wall while walking. Trying to touch the wall, Widuri was shocked but immediately smiled.
"The walls of this hallway are cold" murmured Widuri.
"Yes, it's pretty cold. It's been cold since then, but in this hallway it's colder." Dean chimed.
Before long, there was the sound of water. The clear sound of water falling one-on-one sounded like hypnotizing music. Dean stopped and listened carefully. There was no sound other than the sound of water spots sounding loudly in the cave. Dean stepped back slowly and carefully. Widuri walked restlessly in the back. He held onto the edge of Dean's shirt which made Dean stop and look back.
"Fear," said Widuri.
Dean nodded. Hand held Widuri to drain the calm. They walk back side by side. Before long it seemed at the end there was something unusual. Widuri shriveled in fear and took refuge behind Dean's back which eventually stopped.
"What is Dean?" Widuri whispered.
"It's like people are sleeping" replied Dean hesitantly.
"Or is he dead? Could this be his tomb?" Widuri's getting scared.
"We went out yuuk. If it's a tomb, I'm afraid there's a trap nearby." Widuri didn't want to take any chances. After all, they were neither ancient tomb thieves nor archeologists interested in such a thing.
"You wait here, let me check. If there's really a trap, you go back and tell Alan and Sunil," Dean said, releasing a firmer Widuri grip.
Widuri. His eyes looked so worried. His hand was clutching tightly to the end of Dean's shirt.
Dean sighed then went back to observing the end of the passageway. The place is quite bright. There was a dim white light illuminating above the stone box where there was something that looked like a human lying down. Right on the wall at the end of the hallway, came out water droplets that sounded very clear and soothing in the silence of the cave passage.
Tick. tick..
Dean took Widuri's hand off. His eyes were sharp and firm, a sign he would not be denied. Dean stepped back under Widuri's agitated gaze.
"If there's anything, I'll run Dean straight away" Widuri threatened.
But Dean doesn't care. He had to know what exactly was on top of that stone box. Maybe it could be a clue for them to get out of that place. Ten steps later, Dean stopped. The one in front of it was already very clear. The distance is about 7 to 8 steps away.
'There's no way it's a statue, because the sculpture looks so detailed, exactly real human. The person with long white hair was slightly tied up in accessories overhead, wearing very unfamiliar clothes. Her clothes were grayish white plated in a long brown robe with crossed golden edges plus a black belt. On his chest was a golden star motif. Wearing black pants and dark brown leather shoes that looked very old.
'Is it possible that he would freeze to death here?' dean thought as he looked at that figure's face that looked pale white.
From that distance it was seen that around the stone box where the figure lay, surrounded by water. Yes, the falling water was gathered in the stone tub. Dean looked at the walls on his left and right, not looking anything strange. Dean also checked the floor, if anything seemed suspicious and might trap him. But Dean didn't find anything. Dean swept his hand over the left wall. The wall was extremely cold, but there was no trap mechanism. Dean swept back the right wall to check, and there was nothing.
Dean stepped carefully. His heart beat hard. If there were a microphone near the chest, it would be heard by others like the sound of rock music drums. One by one he stepped up, but nothing happened. Dean stood in relief right beside the water bath that surrounded the stone box where the figure lay.
Widuri saw that the place was safe, started following Dean's steps and approached on Dean's right side.
"Huh?!" Widuri's face paled and instantly clumped behind Dean's back.
"I. Is that a person?" tanya Widuri horrified.
"It seems so," replied Dean who was still observing the front wall where the dripping water fell. There was a faint star-shaped carving around the water dripping out.
'What does the star symbol mean? It can't be just a picture, because the symbol is also in his cloak. Dean thought hard.
"If this is human and dead, how can the body remain this durable?" Mumbled Dean.
"Maybe because this room is cold. If the cave door is not destroyed by the earthquake, should the temperature of this room be stable and not much different from the freezer?" Widuri.
Dean nodded in agreement with Widuri's thought. 'Maybe this water is cold too' Dean thought.
Then touch the surface of the tub with the fingertips to make sure. As soon as Dean's finger touched the surface of the water, the space trembled slowly, the surface of the tub's water rippling smooth. Widuri was strangled and lay down in fear. Dean immediately pulled his finger from the tub water, but it was too late.
There were rattling noises and mechanisms on the left and right walls. Dean was on standby, clasping Widuri's hand ready to jump to save himself.
Drakks.. Clik.. Click. krakk.. Krakk.. Srett..
"Dee!" yelled Widuri with a body shivering in fear. Dean crouched down hugging Widuri's back to protect her in case there was an attack on top of them.
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