Escape from Undermountain - Mark Anthony [35]
There was a hiss of stale air, followed by a low grating sound. The floor vibrated beneath their feet, and the three stared around the room in surprise. At first it was not apparent what was happening-until Corin voiced the truth.
"Look at the walls!" the nobleman cried. "They're closing in!"
Artek swore in alarm. The young lord was right. The chamber's two long walls were slowly but inexorably moving inward. Artek gripped the figurine, turning the head back around. It was no use. The trap had been sprung, and the walls continued to close in. Artek guessed they had no more than a few minutes before the slabs met and crushed their bodies to a pulp. The open stone mouths of the writhing damned no longer seemed to be screaming, but laughing.
"Quick!" Artek shouted over the rumbling. "There's got to be another trigger, one that will stop the trap!"
Hastily, he began searching one of the walls as it pressed forward. Needing no other inducement besides fear, Corin and Beckla leapt toward the other wall and did the same. As they searched, they were forced to keep stepping backward as the walls closed in. There were fifteen paces between them, then ten, then five. Frantically, Artek kept searching. He felt something brush his back. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Beckla staring at him with wide eyes. The walls were no more than two arm lengths apart.
"That's odd," Corin announced. "The arm on this figurine looks almost like a lever."
"Well, then pull it!" Beckla cried urgently.
Corin put his hands behind his back. "Oh, no. Not before Artek checks it. You heard what he said before."
Artek craned his neck, gazing with wild eyes at the nobleman. "Pull it, Corin!" he shouted.
The lord shook his head. "If I pull that lever, we may find ourselves in worse trouble yet. You told Beckla not to…"
"Never mind!" Artek barked. His back was against one wall, the other just four feet away. Three feet. Two. "Just pull the lever!"
Corin sighed in exasperation. "Well, this is all very contradictory. But here goes…" He gripped the stone arm and pulled the lever. The floor dropped out from beneath their feet, and the three plunged downward, screaming. The two walls met with a clap of thunder above their heads, grinding together with bone-crushing force. For a moment more they continued to fall through darkness. Then, with three grunts, they struck a hard stone floor.
Artek groaned as he sat up. Magically restored though it was, his body still wasn't used to all this falling and landing, if it ever had been. He probed gently with his fingers, wincing as he found numerous tender spots. However, nothing seemed to be broken.
Pale blue magelight flared into being. Beckla slumped against a wall, gripping her staff, grimacing but whole. With painful effort, Artek turned around, wondering how Corin had fared. He stared in amazement as the nobleman leapt easily to his feet, briskly dusting off his tattered finery.
"That was positively thrilling," Corin said exuberantly. "The danger! The excitement! The narrow escape!" His blue eyes shone brightly. "I don't suppose we could do it again?"
"Are you sure we can't kill him, Ar'talen?" Beckla grumbled, slowly pulling herself to her feet with the help of her staff.
"Don't tempt me." Joints and muscles protesting, Artek stood.
Corin eyed the others speculatively. "You know, I'm beginning to get the distinct impression that neither of you likes me very much."
"Wherever would you get such an idea?" Artek replied facetiously.
"Oh, I don't know," Corin mused. "I suppose it's all this talk about wanting to kill me. One might construe that as an indication of dislike."
"Really? What a fascinating interpretation."
The nobleman beamed. "Why, thank you, Ar'talen!"
Artek and Beckla exchanged meaningful glances. There was no need for words.
By the glow of the magelight, the three stood at the beginning of a corridor. Smooth stone walls rose to a flat ceiling high over their heads. Artek could see the trapdoor through which they had fallen. It was now blocked by the