Descending Road - SMALL FIRES by Dana W. Paxson

SMALL FIRES

1563 4D

“Babiar,” Andrew repeated. He looked down the long corridor, which seemed to have been dug for the single purpose of intersecting with the liftway. Silence.

Martin stirred. “I never wanted this.”

“You’re useless,” Ezzar said to him. “You keep away from me and Grendel, and shut your damn mouth.”

The suffocating reek from the bodies made Andrew gag. “Let’s move,” he said. They gathered up the guns and moved on into the dark. Grendel limped.

“The leg hurt?” Ezzar said.

Grendel said, “When I raised the car, something popped. It needs time to heal.” The light dwindled to a vague point behind them. They began to feel their way along.

Five hundred shuffling steps into blackness, Andrew hit a barrier with his hand. “Stop,” he said. The rock wall ended against a flat metal face that barred their way. A faint orange gleam came from a spot at floor level. Andrew found a handle and turned it, and they stepped out into a smoky understreet lit by small fires.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	SMALL FIRES 1563 4D “Babiar,” Andrew repeated. He looked down the long corridor, which seemed to have been dug for the single purpose of intersecting with the liftway. Silence. Martin stirred. “I never wanted this.” “You’re useless,” Ezzar said to him. “You keep away from me and Grendel, and shut your damn mouth.” The suffocating reek from the bodies made Andrew gag. “Let’s move,” he said. They gathered up the guns and moved on into the dark. Grendel limped. “The leg hurt?” Ezzar said. Grendel said, “When I raised the car, something popped. It needs time to heal.” The light dwindled to a vague point behind them. They began to feel their way along. Five hundred shuffling steps into blackness, Andrew hit a barrier with his hand. “Stop,” he said. The rock wall ended against a flat metal face that barred their way. A faint orange gleam came from a spot at floor level. Andrew found a handle and turned it, and they stepped out into a smoky understreet lit by small fires.