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Lexington Fox and the Cavern of the Kismet
Lexington Fox peered into the cavern. Thick cobwebs covered the entrance. He hated spiders, had done ever since he was young. He found himself thinking back to the time he’d climbed into the splintered truck of a dead tree, only to find hundreds of tiny spiders dropping onto his head. He ran, but tripped on an old root. When he looked back, he thought it was a snake. He hated them too. As he lay there in fear of spiders and snakes a wasp had started to buzz around his head, he remembered swatting at it, thinking it was gone, then feeling a sharp pain in his neck. Pretty much all of his major phobias could be traced back to that day, except for rats, heights and latex gloves, but that was another story altogether, back when he was in college…
Before his mind could wander any further he felt a shove on his arm from one of the men that surrounded him. He turned to look at Fortuna Black, held with a gun to her neck by Montevallo Lopez. Montevallo nodded his head towards the entrance. Lexington grabbed a flaming torch from the henchmen who’d shoved him, sighed, and chased away the cobwebs with the flame. He crept into the cavern, his eyes taking time to adjust to the flickering light. With each step he was wary of the uneven floor, not for fear of tripping, but for fear of some kind of pressure point that could set off a trap. There were enough corpses around in varying stages of decay to suggest there would be plenty to trouble him here.
As he took the next step he felt his foot go down too far, hitting something hidden beneath a thick layer of dust. There was a creak, followed by the familiar sound of cogs turning. Lexington Fox spotted a crack low down on the cave wall, and jumped just as a log swung out at knee height, designed to fell an intruder. The cogs continued to grind. Expecting a twist in the trap, Lexington Fox took a step back. A heavy rock fell to the floor from a hidden gap, in about the place his head might have been had he fallen over the log. He puffed out his cheeks in relief. The rock, having failed to hit its usual target started to follow the slight incline and roll deeper into the caverv. As it rolled further in, more cogs started to whir. Stones came crashing down and darts flew out of tiny holes. Lexington smiled as the rock rolled out of sight, doing all of his work for him, until the grinding of rock against rock made his pulse quicken. He recalled the map on the stone tablet he’d found – and remembered Parker Macarthur’s words “You have to get into the inner-chamber before the door seals, or it will be lost forever”. He thought of Montevallo holding the knife to Fortuna’s slender neck. There was way too much at stake. He ran through the cavern, thankful that most of the traps had not had time to reset themselves. Maybe that thought had come a little too soon, he considered as he ducked under a dart that flew towards him. He collected another in the top of his battered trilby. An axe crashed out of the wall to his left, putting another nick in his dusty leather jacket. He turned the corner to see a huge stone door sliding down towards the ground. He dived through the ever shrinking gap into the next chamber. The rock had come to a stop against the far wall. He pushed it back into the doorway with a grunt, and the falling slab came to a stop on top of it, leaving barely enough room to squeeze back through.
The chamber was small, with intricately carved figures adorning the wall. In a small alcove at eye level was the last quarter of the stone plate. Lexington Fox reached out to touch it, but as his hand entered the alcove he felt a rumble. He’d not eaten since breakfast, but there was more to it than that. He withdrew his hand and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. He held the torch close and surveyed the rubbing he’s taken from the third quarter of the stone plate back at Parker Macarthur’s museum and put his hand back into the alcove. A warm blast of air spread through his fingers as he touched the plate. He closed his eyes tightly as a blinding light poured out of the alcove. He muttered the words he’d just read, “El mumra habibe tey”. The light went out, but the rumbling continued as he took the piece of plate and put it inside his jacket. He looked at the paper again, wiped a crumb away from it revealing the ‘t’ was just an ‘l’, and he cursed.
The wall was shimmering, as if the whole thing was alive. At first Lexington Fox thought it was a trick of the torch light, but as he moved the torch closer to the wall he found the figures carved into it were backing away. To prove what he was seeing, he did it again, chasing a figure along the length of the wall until he felt a tap on his back, followed quickly by another, then a third. He turned to see a small group of the figures had left the wall altogether, and were stood firing catapults at him. He held the torch down low, chasing them into the corner of the room. He chased the remaining figures from the walls, causing them to jump free and out into the open. He took off his hat, and placed it over the lot of them in the corner.
As turned back towards the door the rumbling returned, followed by a grinding sound. He first thought the door was coming down again, but was relieved to find it holding steady. He turned to see something else coming out of the wall. Two legs edged out first, then another two, and part of the body. Lexington Fox backed up against the wall, feeling a lump form in his throat. He was paralysed as the stone spider pulled its final legs free, and scurried towards him. Beads of sweat formed on Lexington Fox’s brow as it climbed onto his foot, and its first leg explored the inside his trouser leg. He kicked out, sending it into the far wall, where it slid down onto its back. He wiped down his leg, trying to get its disgusting feel off him. As he saw it flip over, and creep back towards him he quickly tucked his trouser legs into his socks. He held his torch close to the ground, causing the spider to rear up onto its back four legs. He backed the spider into a corner, then lay the torch on the ground, with the spider trapped. He wiped the sweat from his brow, puffed out his cheeks, and looked to the gap underneath the stone door.
He crawled down onto his front and edged underneath. As he forced his chest forward he felt the plate dig into his ribs. He shuffled back and pulled it out, holding it in his hands as he wriggled forward. He felt heat against his face and was momentarily blinded by a flaming torch held close to his face. Montevallo Lopez crouched down in front of him.
“The plate, Mr Fox,” he said, holding out a hand.
Lexington loosened his grip on the piece, and let Montevallo take it. Fortuna placed an arm on his shoulder and laughed.
“How could you?” said Lexington. Fortuna was silent.
“It was you, wasn’t it? Taking things from the dig?”
Fortuna turned away, raising a hand to a henchman as she disappeared from sight. A burly man holding an axe approached. He raised the axe up high. Lexington Fox edged backwards and felt a rush of air on the top of his head as he was given a new hair parting. He pulled himself back into the chamber. The henchman ducked down to peer in. Lexington kicked at the boulder, which popped out and slammed directly into the man’s face. He fell to the ground, causing the whole cavern to shake. The door started to grind its way back to the ground. Lexington Fox could do nothing to stop it completing its descent. The torch in the corner, holding the spider in place was fading. Lexington Fox picked up his hat and placed it back on his head as the last of the fire died out.
Lexington Fox peered into the cavern. Thick cobwebs covered the entrance. He hated spiders, had done ever since he was young. He found himself thinking back to the time he’d climbed into the splintered truck of a dead tree, only to find hundreds of tiny spiders dropping onto his head. He ran, but tripped on an old root. When he looked back, he thought it was a snake. He hated them too. As he lay there in fear of spiders and snakes a wasp had started to buzz around his head, he remembered swatting at it, thinking it was gone, then feeling a sharp pain in his neck. Pretty much all of his major phobias could be traced back to that day, except for rats, heights and latex gloves, but that was another story altogether, back when he was in college…
Before his mind could wander any further he felt a shove on his arm from one of the men that surrounded him. He turned to look at Fortuna Black, held with a gun to her neck by Montevallo Lopez. Montevallo nodded his head towards the entrance. Lexington grabbed a flaming torch from the henchmen who’d shoved him, sighed, and chased away the cobwebs with the flame. He crept into the cavern, his eyes taking time to adjust to the flickering light. With each step he was wary of the uneven floor, not for fear of tripping, but for fear of some kind of pressure point that could set off a trap. There were enough corpses around in varying stages of decay to suggest there would be plenty to trouble him here.
As he took the next step he felt his foot go down too far, hitting something hidden beneath a thick layer of dust. There was a creak, followed by the familiar sound of cogs turning. Lexington Fox spotted a crack low down on the cave wall, and jumped just as a log swung out at knee height, designed to fell an intruder. The cogs continued to grind. Expecting a twist in the trap, Lexington Fox took a step back. A heavy rock fell to the floor from a hidden gap, in about the place his head might have been had he fallen over the log. He puffed out his cheeks in relief. The rock, having failed to hit its usual target started to follow the slight incline and roll deeper into the caverv. As it rolled further in, more cogs started to whir. Stones came crashing down and darts flew out of tiny holes. Lexington smiled as the rock rolled out of sight, doing all of his work for him, until the grinding of rock against rock made his pulse quicken. He recalled the map on the stone tablet he’d found – and remembered Parker Macarthur’s words “You have to get into the inner-chamber before the door seals, or it will be lost forever”. He thought of Montevallo holding the knife to Fortuna’s slender neck. There was way too much at stake. He ran through the cavern, thankful that most of the traps had not had time to reset themselves. Maybe that thought had come a little too soon, he considered as he ducked under a dart that flew towards him. He collected another in the top of his battered trilby. An axe crashed out of the wall to his left, putting another nick in his dusty leather jacket. He turned the corner to see a huge stone door sliding down towards the ground. He dived through the ever shrinking gap into the next chamber. The rock had come to a stop against the far wall. He pushed it back into the doorway with a grunt, and the falling slab came to a stop on top of it, leaving barely enough room to squeeze back through.
The chamber was small, with intricately carved figures adorning the wall. In a small alcove at eye level was the last quarter of the stone plate. Lexington Fox reached out to touch it, but as his hand entered the alcove he felt a rumble. He’d not eaten since breakfast, but there was more to it than that. He withdrew his hand and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. He held the torch close and surveyed the rubbing he’s taken from the third quarter of the stone plate back at Parker Macarthur’s museum and put his hand back into the alcove. A warm blast of air spread through his fingers as he touched the plate. He closed his eyes tightly as a blinding light poured out of the alcove. He muttered the words he’d just read, “El mumra habibe tey”. The light went out, but the rumbling continued as he took the piece of plate and put it inside his jacket. He looked at the paper again, wiped a crumb away from it revealing the ‘t’ was just an ‘l’, and he cursed.
The wall was shimmering, as if the whole thing was alive. At first Lexington Fox thought it was a trick of the torch light, but as he moved the torch closer to the wall he found the figures carved into it were backing away. To prove what he was seeing, he did it again, chasing a figure along the length of the wall until he felt a tap on his back, followed quickly by another, then a third. He turned to see a small group of the figures had left the wall altogether, and were stood firing catapults at him. He held the torch down low, chasing them into the corner of the room. He chased the remaining figures from the walls, causing them to jump free and out into the open. He took off his hat, and placed it over the lot of them in the corner.
As turned back towards the door the rumbling returned, followed by a grinding sound. He first thought the door was coming down again, but was relieved to find it holding steady. He turned to see something else coming out of the wall. Two legs edged out first, then another two, and part of the body. Lexington Fox backed up against the wall, feeling a lump form in his throat. He was paralysed as the stone spider pulled its final legs free, and scurried towards him. Beads of sweat formed on Lexington Fox’s brow as it climbed onto his foot, and its first leg explored the inside his trouser leg. He kicked out, sending it into the far wall, where it slid down onto its back. He wiped down his leg, trying to get its disgusting feel off him. As he saw it flip over, and creep back towards him he quickly tucked his trouser legs into his socks. He held his torch close to the ground, causing the spider to rear up onto its back four legs. He backed the spider into a corner, then lay the torch on the ground, with the spider trapped. He wiped the sweat from his brow, puffed out his cheeks, and looked to the gap underneath the stone door.
He crawled down onto his front and edged underneath. As he forced his chest forward he felt the plate dig into his ribs. He shuffled back and pulled it out, holding it in his hands as he wriggled forward. He felt heat against his face and was momentarily blinded by a flaming torch held close to his face. Montevallo Lopez crouched down in front of him.
“The plate, Mr Fox,” he said, holding out a hand.
Lexington loosened his grip on the piece, and let Montevallo take it. Fortuna placed an arm on his shoulder and laughed.
“How could you?” said Lexington. Fortuna was silent.
“It was you, wasn’t it? Taking things from the dig?”
Fortuna turned away, raising a hand to a henchman as she disappeared from sight. A burly man holding an axe approached. He raised the axe up high. Lexington Fox edged backwards and felt a rush of air on the top of his head as he was given a new hair parting. He pulled himself back into the chamber. The henchman ducked down to peer in. Lexington kicked at the boulder, which popped out and slammed directly into the man’s face. He fell to the ground, causing the whole cavern to shake. The door started to grind its way back to the ground. Lexington Fox could do nothing to stop it completing its descent. The torch in the corner, holding the spider in place was fading. Lexington Fox picked up his hat and placed it back on his head as the last of the fire died out.
Thank you very much for reading.
Fantastic read that. Wish it wasn't quite so good at conjuring images in my mind about stone spiders though: I hate them too and could do without that one haunting my dreams! But I did really enjoy that a lot.
Lexington Fox and the Cavern of the Kismet
Lexington Fox peered into the cavern. Thick cobwebs covered the entrance. He hated spiders, had done ever since he was young. He found himself thinking back to the time he’d climbed into the splintered truck of a dead tree, only to find hundreds of tiny spiders dropping onto his head. He ran, but tripped on an old root. When he looked back, he thought it was a snake. He hated them too. As he lay there in fear of spiders and snakes a wasp had started to buzz around his head, he remembered swatting at it, thinking it was gone, then feeling a sharp pain in his neck. Pretty much all of his major phobias could be traced back to that day, except for rats, heights and latex gloves, but that was another story altogether, back when he was in college…
Before his mind could wander any further he felt a shove on his arm from one of the men that surrounded him. He turned to look at Fortuna Black, held with a gun to her neck by Montevallo Lopez. Montevallo nodded his head towards the entrance. Lexington grabbed a flaming torch from the henchmen who’d shoved him, sighed, and chased away the cobwebs with the flame. He crept into the cavern, his eyes taking time to adjust to the flickering light. With each step he was wary of the uneven floor, not for fear of tripping, but for fear of some kind of pressure point that could set off a trap. There were enough corpses around in varying stages of decay to suggest there would be plenty to trouble him here.
As he took the next step he felt his foot go down too far, hitting something hidden beneath a thick layer of dust. There was a creak, followed by the familiar sound of cogs turning. Lexington Fox spotted a crack low down on the cave wall, and jumped just as a log swung out at knee height, designed to fell an intruder. The cogs continued to grind. Expecting a twist in the trap, Lexington Fox took a step back. A heavy rock fell to the floor from a hidden gap, in about the place his head might have been had he fallen over the log. He puffed out his cheeks in relief. The rock, having failed to hit its usual target started to follow the slight incline and roll deeper into the caverv. As it rolled further in, more cogs started to whir. Stones came crashing down and darts flew out of tiny holes. Lexington smiled as the rock rolled out of sight, doing all of his work for him, until the grinding of rock against rock made his pulse quicken. He recalled the map on the stone tablet he’d found – and remembered Parker Macarthur’s words “You have to get into the inner-chamber before the door seals, or it will be lost forever”. He thought of Montevallo holding the knife to Fortuna’s slender neck. There was way too much at stake. He ran through the cavern, thankful that most of the traps had not had time to reset themselves. Maybe that thought had come a little too soon, he considered as he ducked under a dart that flew towards him. He collected another in the top of his battered trilby. An axe crashed out of the wall to his left, putting another nick in his dusty leather jacket. He turned the corner to see a huge stone door sliding down towards the ground. He dived through the ever shrinking gap into the next chamber. The rock had come to a stop against the far wall. He pushed it back into the doorway with a grunt, and the falling slab came to a stop on top of it, leaving barely enough room to squeeze back through.
The chamber was small, with intricately carved figures adorning the wall. In a small alcove at eye level was the last quarter of the stone plate. Lexington Fox reached out to touch it, but as his hand entered the alcove he felt a rumble. He’d not eaten since breakfast, but there was more to it than that. He withdrew his hand and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. He held the torch close and surveyed the rubbing he’s taken from the third quarter of the stone plate back at Parker Macarthur’s museum and put his hand back into the alcove. A warm blast of air spread through his fingers as he touched the plate. He closed his eyes tightly as a blinding light poured out of the alcove. He muttered the words he’d just read, “El mumra habibe tey”. The light went out, but the rumbling continued as he took the piece of plate and put it inside his jacket. He looked at the paper again, wiped a crumb away from it revealing the ‘t’ was just an ‘l’, and he cursed.
The wall was shimmering, as if the whole thing was alive. At first Lexington Fox thought it was a trick of the torch light, but as he moved the torch closer to the wall he found the figures carved into it were backing away. To prove what he was seeing, he did it again, chasing a figure along the length of the wall until he felt a tap on his back, followed quickly by another, then a third. He turned to see a small group of the figures had left the wall altogether, and were stood firing catapults at him. He held the torch down low, chasing them into the corner of the room. He chased the remaining figures from the walls, causing them to jump free and out into the open. He took off his hat, and placed it over the lot of them in the corner.
As turned back towards the door the rumbling returned, followed by a grinding sound. He first thought the door was coming down again, but was relieved to find it holding steady. He turned to see something else coming out of the wall. Two legs edged out first, then another two, and part of the body. Lexington Fox backed up against the wall, feeling a lump form in his throat. He was paralysed as the stone spider pulled its final legs free, and scurried towards him. Beads of sweat formed on Lexington Fox’s brow as it climbed onto his foot, and its first leg explored the inside his trouser leg. He kicked out, sending it into the far wall, where it slid down onto its back. He wiped down his leg, trying to get its disgusting feel off him. As he saw it flip over, and creep back towards him he quickly tucked his trouser legs into his socks. He held his torch close to the ground, causing the spider to rear up onto its back four legs. He backed the spider into a corner, then lay the torch on the ground, with the spider trapped. He wiped the sweat from his brow, puffed out his cheeks, and looked to the gap underneath the stone door.
He crawled down onto his front and edged underneath. As he forced his chest forward he felt the plate dig into his ribs. He shuffled back and pulled it out, holding it in his hands as he wriggled forward. He felt heat against his face and was momentarily blinded by a flaming torch held close to his face. Montevallo Lopez crouched down in front of him.
“The plate, Mr Fox,” he said, holding out a hand.
Lexington loosened his grip on the piece, and let Montevallo take it. Fortuna placed an arm on his shoulder and laughed.
“How could you?” said Lexington. Fortuna was silent.
“It was you, wasn’t it? Taking things from the dig?”
Fortuna turned away, raising a hand to a henchman as she disappeared from sight. A burly man holding an axe approached. He raised the axe up high. Lexington Fox edged backwards and felt a rush of air on the top of his head as he was given a new hair parting. He pulled himself back into the chamber. The henchman ducked down to peer in. Lexington kicked at the boulder, which popped out and slammed directly into the man’s face. He fell to the ground, causing the whole cavern to shake. The door started to grind its way back to the ground. Lexington Fox could do nothing to stop it completing its descent. The torch in the corner, holding the spider in place was fading. Lexington Fox picked up his hat and placed it back on his head as the last of the fire died out.
Lexington Fox peered into the cavern. Thick cobwebs covered the entrance. He hated spiders, had done ever since he was young. He found himself thinking back to the time he’d climbed into the splintered truck of a dead tree, only to find hundreds of tiny spiders dropping onto his head. He ran, but tripped on an old root. When he looked back, he thought it was a snake. He hated them too. As he lay there in fear of spiders and snakes a wasp had started to buzz around his head, he remembered swatting at it, thinking it was gone, then feeling a sharp pain in his neck. Pretty much all of his major phobias could be traced back to that day, except for rats, heights and latex gloves, but that was another story altogether, back when he was in college…
Before his mind could wander any further he felt a shove on his arm from one of the men that surrounded him. He turned to look at Fortuna Black, held with a gun to her neck by Montevallo Lopez. Montevallo nodded his head towards the entrance. Lexington grabbed a flaming torch from the henchmen who’d shoved him, sighed, and chased away the cobwebs with the flame. He crept into the cavern, his eyes taking time to adjust to the flickering light. With each step he was wary of the uneven floor, not for fear of tripping, but for fear of some kind of pressure point that could set off a trap. There were enough corpses around in varying stages of decay to suggest there would be plenty to trouble him here.
As he took the next step he felt his foot go down too far, hitting something hidden beneath a thick layer of dust. There was a creak, followed by the familiar sound of cogs turning. Lexington Fox spotted a crack low down on the cave wall, and jumped just as a log swung out at knee height, designed to fell an intruder. The cogs continued to grind. Expecting a twist in the trap, Lexington Fox took a step back. A heavy rock fell to the floor from a hidden gap, in about the place his head might have been had he fallen over the log. He puffed out his cheeks in relief. The rock, having failed to hit its usual target started to follow the slight incline and roll deeper into the caverv. As it rolled further in, more cogs started to whir. Stones came crashing down and darts flew out of tiny holes. Lexington smiled as the rock rolled out of sight, doing all of his work for him, until the grinding of rock against rock made his pulse quicken. He recalled the map on the stone tablet he’d found – and remembered Parker Macarthur’s words “You have to get into the inner-chamber before the door seals, or it will be lost forever”. He thought of Montevallo holding the knife to Fortuna’s slender neck. There was way too much at stake. He ran through the cavern, thankful that most of the traps had not had time to reset themselves. Maybe that thought had come a little too soon, he considered as he ducked under a dart that flew towards him. He collected another in the top of his battered trilby. An axe crashed out of the wall to his left, putting another nick in his dusty leather jacket. He turned the corner to see a huge stone door sliding down towards the ground. He dived through the ever shrinking gap into the next chamber. The rock had come to a stop against the far wall. He pushed it back into the doorway with a grunt, and the falling slab came to a stop on top of it, leaving barely enough room to squeeze back through.
The chamber was small, with intricately carved figures adorning the wall. In a small alcove at eye level was the last quarter of the stone plate. Lexington Fox reached out to touch it, but as his hand entered the alcove he felt a rumble. He’d not eaten since breakfast, but there was more to it than that. He withdrew his hand and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. He held the torch close and surveyed the rubbing he’s taken from the third quarter of the stone plate back at Parker Macarthur’s museum and put his hand back into the alcove. A warm blast of air spread through his fingers as he touched the plate. He closed his eyes tightly as a blinding light poured out of the alcove. He muttered the words he’d just read, “El mumra habibe tey”. The light went out, but the rumbling continued as he took the piece of plate and put it inside his jacket. He looked at the paper again, wiped a crumb away from it revealing the ‘t’ was just an ‘l’, and he cursed.
The wall was shimmering, as if the whole thing was alive. At first Lexington Fox thought it was a trick of the torch light, but as he moved the torch closer to the wall he found the figures carved into it were backing away. To prove what he was seeing, he did it again, chasing a figure along the length of the wall until he felt a tap on his back, followed quickly by another, then a third. He turned to see a small group of the figures had left the wall altogether, and were stood firing catapults at him. He held the torch down low, chasing them into the corner of the room. He chased the remaining figures from the walls, causing them to jump free and out into the open. He took off his hat, and placed it over the lot of them in the corner.
As turned back towards the door the rumbling returned, followed by a grinding sound. He first thought the door was coming down again, but was relieved to find it holding steady. He turned to see something else coming out of the wall. Two legs edged out first, then another two, and part of the body. Lexington Fox backed up against the wall, feeling a lump form in his throat. He was paralysed as the stone spider pulled its final legs free, and scurried towards him. Beads of sweat formed on Lexington Fox’s brow as it climbed onto his foot, and its first leg explored the inside his trouser leg. He kicked out, sending it into the far wall, where it slid down onto its back. He wiped down his leg, trying to get its disgusting feel off him. As he saw it flip over, and creep back towards him he quickly tucked his trouser legs into his socks. He held his torch close to the ground, causing the spider to rear up onto its back four legs. He backed the spider into a corner, then lay the torch on the ground, with the spider trapped. He wiped the sweat from his brow, puffed out his cheeks, and looked to the gap underneath the stone door.
He crawled down onto his front and edged underneath. As he forced his chest forward he felt the plate dig into his ribs. He shuffled back and pulled it out, holding it in his hands as he wriggled forward. He felt heat against his face and was momentarily blinded by a flaming torch held close to his face. Montevallo Lopez crouched down in front of him.
“The plate, Mr Fox,” he said, holding out a hand.
Lexington loosened his grip on the piece, and let Montevallo take it. Fortuna placed an arm on his shoulder and laughed.
“How could you?” said Lexington. Fortuna was silent.
“It was you, wasn’t it? Taking things from the dig?”
Fortuna turned away, raising a hand to a henchman as she disappeared from sight. A burly man holding an axe approached. He raised the axe up high. Lexington Fox edged backwards and felt a rush of air on the top of his head as he was given a new hair parting. He pulled himself back into the chamber. The henchman ducked down to peer in. Lexington kicked at the boulder, which popped out and slammed directly into the man’s face. He fell to the ground, causing the whole cavern to shake. The door started to grind its way back to the ground. Lexington Fox could do nothing to stop it completing its descent. The torch in the corner, holding the spider in place was fading. Lexington Fox picked up his hat and placed it back on his head as the last of the fire died out.