The Valleys — Big John’s Mine

The twelve trapped miners deep within the mine had made themselves as comfortable as they could. The wounded had been attended to — mostly cuts, bumps, and grazes. A careful stocktake of food and water supplies had been made, but even with strict rationing they knew they only had about three days’ supply. Another consumable with a finite supply was light. Tsomo had instructed the miners to use their headlamps only when absolutely necessary. The main ventilation fan for the mine was located on the other side of the cave-in, so while there was no fresh air being pumped in as usual, there were still sufficient small cracks in the strata to allow some air to reach the area where the miners were confined. It was a bit stuffy, but they’d live.

Tsomo’s head was full, going over and over a multitude of potential scenarios, both good and bad, in his mind. He had walked back down the tunnel to the site of the cave-in about a hundred metres or so from where they had set up their makeshift camp near the end of the new tunnel.

He stood for a few moments and surveyed the twisted mess of broken timber and rock completely blocking their way out.

Tsomo walked over to Makai, who had been working alongside another miner, making a start to shore up the roof and clear some of the rubble.

The miners then turned to head back up the tunnel, using only one headlamp between them on low power to conserve their batteries. As they made their way carefully up the tunnel, a sudden blinding flash of light appeared from off to one side. The miners were momentarily dazzled and blinded by the sudden glare of light aimed directly at their faces. Tsomo was in no mood for any of his team to be wasting precious resources.

The offending light suddenly deflected away and turned off. Near darkness returned, with the miners needing a few moments for their eyes to readjust to the gloom and low light of the single headlamp.

Tsomo was confused. The voice was not one that belonged to any of the burly, deep-voiced miners. It was a small voice — it sounded like a boy — but that couldn’t be right — there weren’t any boys on his team…

Tsomo shook his head. He thought he must be hearing things. Then slowly, as their eyes readjusted, from out of the darkness they saw who the small voice belonged to.

It was a small, dusty boy. A small, dusty naked boy.

Tsomo was slowly getting to grips with the incredulous fact that a small naked boy had just popped out into the tunnel of a totally blocked mine and was now standing there chatting away to them as if it were just any other ordinary Tuesday.

Tag then explained all about coming through the lava tubes and losing his shorts in the last tube because it was so tight. He also told them that his friend Jaak was waiting with food and water just on the other side of the squeeze he had just come through. The miners would not be able to get out that way, but at least they would now be able to establish contact with the outside world and get enough food and water to last them until the main rescue team could dig through the cave-in and get them out.

For Tsomo and his team, a very bad day had just got a little better. Then, assuring them that he would be right back in a few minutes with the food bag, Tag disappeared into the crack in the wall, leaving three slightly stunned miners wondering if what they had just seen and heard was actually real or if they had imagined the whole thing.

Several minutes later, a bag plopped onto the floor of the mine, followed by Tag.

Without further ado, just like that, he was gone.

---

The Blue Cavern

Jaak had been waiting patiently for Tag to return for the second time after sending him back with the food and water. He had drifted off into a pleasant daydream, mesmerised by the soft blue glow of the cyan stones surrounding him. Words began to form in his mind.

Surrounded by the light of cyan,
Three tri-harmonic rhythms combine.
A pulse that beats — power drawn from deep,
the ordinary transformed,
into something new.

It drives away darkness,
danger and fear,
and floats lighter than air,
through space — through time.

All three together are strong;
apart, they are weak.
Unite all, and rest.
Stand firm,
against those who oppose.
For therein lies victory.

Both the stone in Jaak’s pocket and all those around him pulsed and glowed brightly.

Tag’s head, and then his body, squirmed its way back into the cavern.

---

Forward Operations Base

The boys re-emerged into the bright sunlight to be greeted eagerly by the waiting rescue team. On hearing their news, a loud cheer erupted when it was learned that all the miners had been found safe and alive.

Over the next few days, steady progress was made from the main portal to dig through to where the miners were trapped. Each day — that is, after Tag’s mammy had stopped having conniptions about the whole going-into-tight-dark-caves thing — Tag and Jaak took more food and water into the miners while they waited to be dug out. Eventually, on the eighth day following the collapse, all twelve miners emerged back into the outside world to the rapturous applause of the waiting community.

The biggest applause, however, was reserved for Tag and Jaak, who received the valley’s highest honour at the next fire circle gathering.

The full respect of the community.

Previous: Episode 28: One Small Voice
Next: Episode 30: Awake