They found all the letters that makes VACCINE. They could all see the vaccine hung from the roof but again taking it was the difficulty. There was a very deep pit in the middle of the room with poles on both insides which one must walk on to get the vaccine. It was a very dangerous act walking on the poles for the hole was not only dark, it was also deep and dangerous, whatever falls in it will never come out.
Rickie was the only hope of getting the vaccine. Dina and Sonia weren’t willing, moreover they will claim to be girl and can not take that responsibility when a guy is in their midst. Nobody will expect that of Bond for his weight may be too much for the poles. Dylan was already dying, he wasn’t included. Emily would have done it if it was just she and the girls.
“Let’s do whatever we have to do fast before we loose somebody” Sonia urged.
“You think it’s easy? Come and do it. Go and bring the vaccine” Bond said indignantly.
“How do you expect me to walk on these traps without falling?”
“So who do you think will walk on it and nothing will happen?”
“Why speaking shamelessly? Will you really watch me do that?”
“Are you not a human? What makes you different?”
“Say you are scared and stop putting the anger on me”
“You better watch your mouth” Bond said approaching her.
“Or what will happen? Will you beat me? You have the courage right? Why don’t you used it wisely by bringing the vaccine than wasting it here on me”
“Hey guys it’s enough. That’s not what we come here for. This shouldn’t be a course for quarrel. Since this is the case I will go but first let’s apply this idea. You all will remove your jackets and tie them together, one end to my waist and you will hold the other end so that even if I slip off you will pull me out” Emily said.
“Wow, nice plan” Dina approved
“But you?” Sonia asked.
“But me? Are you willing to do it?” Emily asked.
“I mean you are a girl”
“So? Why do you let that notion eat away your conscience? Do as I say, I am going not you. Don’t complain for me” First time Emily sounded with much confidence.
They donated their clothes. The guys were left bare chest while Sonia and Dina still have bra to cover there Breast. The others were joined together and tied as suggested. Emily said a short silent prayer and started walking on the poles carefully with her hands spread apart while the other ones held the cloth tightly.
“Please, watch well before taking a step. Don’t look in the pit” Rickie encouraged.
She walked shaking side by side until she crossed.
“Oh yes!” Dina shouted. “You are better than me Emily. You have saved us. We will save you too”
“They are all the same here, how many bottles will do?” Emily asked not knowing which of the bottle to take. There were about three hundred small bottles. None looked old. The glass was still neat apart from the dust that clothed them.
“Ten or more” Bond suggested.
“No, that’s much” Rickie opposed
“Much?”
“Yes, no, I mean they are many to be carried across. They can make her..”
“It’s okay. How many do you suggest she take?” Dina asked.
“Four or five”
She threw four but one rolled into the pit. Dina rushed to Dylan to test the vaccine on him. He was still breathing but his health had abysmally deteriorated. She parted his lips and forced the green bad smelling liquid into his mouth while Bond and Rickie tried helping Emily out. But their attention was divided. And not just that the plank was cracking and almost wrecked. Emily almost fell off if not that she was close to the finishing and she jumped out.
“We made it!” Sonia embraced Emily tightly.
“We are grateful Emily. You saved us” Rickie thanked.
“Don’t mention it. We are family”
“He Is not shaking” Dina complained. They gathered around Dylan watching him closely.
“Maybe this is not the right vaccine for snake bite” Rickie said.
“But they’re all same color and size. I am not supposed to know if there are difference”
“We are not blaming you or asking you to go back. Let’s make sure this one goes down his stomach. If we wait for five minutes and he didn’t shake I will go”
“Again?”
“Do I have a choice? This is the only hope I have. All my brothers are gone”
“We will find them”
“How? Remember here it’s not written how to find lost friends. It’s only how to find light, vaccine, tools, exit and what else?”
“Treasures” Dylan answered surprising all of them. “Which is our next mission” He added rising with not difficult. He looked even stronger than those helping to bring him back to life. The girls hugged him while the guys stood smiling bewildered.
“Of course we can not suffer hear and go with nothing”
“Do you feel any pain?” They asked to confirm the healing.
“No, I feel nothing” He answered stretching and flexing to confirm.
“This vaccine is very powerful. Dina keep the remaining ones safe, we will need it” Bond said.
“You shouldn’t tell me that. Something someone sacrificed her life to get”
As they wore their clothes, though Bond finished before the rest because he started earlier. He took the search book and was turning the pages. He passed many pages without stopping. Emily’s attention was there too. She thought the page for treasures is what he was looking for but he passed the same page even after seeing it clearly.
“What exactly are you looking for?”
“I am famished. I want to know if we can find food through this book. But I am not seeing it” Bond’s answer made everyone turn to him.
“So, if you see food in this dungeon you will take it and eat?”
“If there’s vaccine in this cave to restore life why will I fear to eat from the same cave? Even if the food is poisonous we still have the vaccine. We will drink, but already we are filled”
“Unfortunately it’s not as you want it. There’s no food here. Let’s go see what the book calls treasures. I am sure whatever it is must be very old and rusty now” Dylan said.
“Maybe not, for none of what we have found looks old. Age had no effect on them” corrected Rickie.