Extreme Difference by D. B. Reynolds-Moreton Page A

I’ve heard, so don’t try those.’ Nan was now looking worried, and wondered how he could side-track the persistent Sandy.
    ‘Perhaps Ben and I could have a little look around, just to see if there are any passages leading up. We won’t go up, until we’ve cleared it with you. I don’t see any harm in that.’
    Nan knew when he was beaten, and gave in as graciously as possible, little knowing what the outcome of such an expedition would bring about.
    Ben grinned broadly when Sandy told him of his intentions, and set off down the passage towards his store room.
    ‘There’s a small hole in one corner which has an up draft, I’ve noticed dust being sucked up into it when I disturb some of the materials down there. It might be a way up, but we’ll have to enlarge the hole somewhat to get in.’
    The store room was quite well lit compared to some of the other caves, and it only took a few moments to clear the corner fully to expose the hole.
    ‘There you are, see the dust going up?’ Tiny dust motes in the air drifted towards the hole, and then sped up to disappear into the darkness beyond the reach of the lamps.
    Sandy put his arm in the hole, and could feel the steady cool flow of air agitating the hairs on the back of his hand.
    ‘That air is going somewhere. If we could make some smoke down here, we could then go outside to see if it comes out higher up. If it doesn't, then that means it’s coming out on the other side of the rim.’
    ‘Or so high up we can’t see it,’ Ben added, ‘but it’s worth a try.’
    A rummage through several caves produced a collection of very dirty and smelly rags, Sandy assuring Ben that no one would miss them. Using a bar of metal and the lump of stone they had previously used as a hammer, the hole was enlarged enough for Sandy to get his head and shoulders in. Ben passed him the rags, and he piled them up in a heap as far back into the cavity as he could reach.
    ‘We’ll tell Nan what we are about,’ said Sandy, feeling pleased that they had made a start on the project, ‘and then we can light the rags when the sun drops below the rim, it should be safe to go out then to see where the smoke comes out, if it does.’
    ‘There’s something we’ve not thought of,’ said Ben respectfully, as they made their way back up to the main cavern, ‘and that’s how will we be able to see where we’re going in this new tunnel?’
    ‘I had thought of that,’ replied Sandy, ‘but so far haven’t solved the problem. What we need is a burnable oil, but so far I haven’t seen any oil-like substance here. Do you know of any?’
    Ben, after querying what oil was, thought long and hard, but could not recall having seen anything like it. It was decided to ask Nan, and if that failed, they would approach the groups on either side of their complex.
    ‘Although many things you mention are familiar words to me, I don't know what they mean,' said Ben, ‘but you seem to know, like the oil, how do you explain that?'
    ‘Can’t really, I just seem to know. It might seem unbelievable to you, but I think we have been sent here for some reason, and our memories have been tampered with so that we can’t find out about it.’ Sandy paused for a moment, wondering if he should continue with his theory. Although Ben was more accepting of new ideas than Nan, there might be a limit past which he would lose Ben’s co-operation.
    ‘What you say makes sense, sort of, and certainly answers a few questions, but why would anyone want to do that to us?’ Ben’s interest was aroused.
    ‘That’s one thing I want to find out,’ Sandy replied. ‘I think the method of our arrival here might be something to do with it. Have you ever seen the so called Great Lights?’
    ‘No, only Nan goes out to collect the new people, and anything left for us. He’s very secretive about it, and never tells us when he’s going. Do you think they’re people like us, and not the Creator as Nan says?’
    ‘Damn sure