Hurrying Through the Cave

“Keth,” Genus said. “How much longer is this cave?” He leaned on his weather-beaten staff, pressing against the cold wind that blew from below.

“It goes on forever and ever!” his grandson replied. “It'll be almost dinner time when we get there!” The child ran ahead and back twice in the time it took Genus to cross the stone archway over the chasm. “We'd better hurry!”

“You'll have to forgive these old bones,” Genus replied. “I can't run like I used to.” He took a deep breath as he stepped onto the other side. It was harder every time he took a trek. There wouldn't be many more summers where he could walk with Keth on his own.

“It's alright, grampa,” Keth said, his tone suggesting that it wasn't really but he knew enough to try to be polite. “They'll wait for us.” The boy slowed down a bit now, taking time to investigate some mushrooms growing along a drip in the wall.

“What's your hurry to get to the other side, Keth?” Genus asked. He leaned against the wall, grateful for the short pause. “Is there something special at the grove? You know I've never been there myself.”

“Tochin!” Keth replied, mushrooms forgotten. “Tochin tochin tochin!” He jumped up and down several times, causing Genus's heart to flutter with their proximity to the chasm.

“Is Tochin a friend of yours?” Genus asked.

“No! It's a fruit! It only grows in Siler's Grove and you can make the best stuff with it like dessert and if we don't get there in time the tochin ice will be all gone or melted.” Keth looked up desperately at his grandfather, obviously suggesting that this event would be a tragedy beyond words.

“I see,” Genus said with the sincerest gravity. “Well, we should do our best to hurry then.”