Chapter 16 — Points of View

           Thelightgrewstrongerasweadvanced.InalittletimeitwasnearlyasstrongasthephosphorescenceonCavor’slegs.Ourtunnelwasexpandingintoacavern,andthisnewlightwasatthefartherendofit.Iperceivedsomethingthatsetmyhopesleapingandbounding.

           “Cavor,”Isaid,“itcomesfromabove!Iamcertainitcomesfromabove!”

           Hemadenoanswer,buthurriedon.

           Indisputablyitwasagreylight,asilverylight.

           Inanothermomentwewerebeneathit.Itfiltereddownthroughachinkinthewallsofthecavern,andasIstaredup,drip,cameadropofwateruponmyface.Istartedandstoodaside—drip,fellanotherdropquiteaudiblyontherockyfloor.

           “Cavor,”Isaid,“ifoneofusliftstheother,hecanreachthatcrack!”

           “I’llliftyou,”hesaid,andincontinentlyhoistedmeasthoughIwasababy.

           Ithrustanarmintothecrack,andjustatmyfingertipsfoundalittleledgebywhichIcouldhold.Icouldseethewhitelightwasverymuchbrighternow.Ipulledmyselfupbytwofingerswithscarcelyaneffort,thoughonearthIweightwelvestone,reachedtoastillhighercornerofrock,andsogotmyfeetonthenarrowledge.Istoodupandsearcheduptherockswithmyfingers;thecleftbroadenedoutupwardly.“It’sclimbable,”IsaidtoCavor.“CanyoujumpuptomyhandifIholditdowntoyou?”

           Iwedgedmyselfbetweenthesidesofthecleft,restedkneeandfootontheledge,andextendedahand.IcouldnotseeCavor,butIcouldheartherustleofhismovementsashecrouchedtospring.