The Legend of the Phantom by Jacob Nelson Page A

sound. A faint call of “I’m alive… don’t worry about me but help Miya!” repeated itself.
    As Caribo backed away from the edge to descend the tower, Kit began tapping his ring against the volcanic rock. Bit by bit he made his way around the circle of the ledge. Little by little he found himself a bit more dejected, a bit less sure. As he was to give up hope, he located it: a hollow sounding spot. A natural small side chamber formed by a gas bubble when it was closed over as the lava continued its course. It was too high to kick, which would have been best, as legs are stronger than arms, but having no other option he started hitting the hollow spot with his fists. Cracks started to appear as the metal rings struck the face of the wall until his hand finally went through the surface into a dark nothingness. 
    Working on the opening, he made it large enough to crawl inside. On the other side of his opening he uncovered a tunnel that was large enough for a seven-foot tall man to walk through. To one side was a small opening into a larger chamber that led into an immense cave. But he didn’t care about that. (What he looked for and what caught his eye) was at the far side of the opening: where a small pinpoint of light shone. Kit nearly cried.
    He returned immediately for his burden, the other man who fell down with him. Hoisting him up into the small chamber, Kit climbed back up beside him. Then , thinking it through, Kit lay on his back against the pinpoint of light and using his legs and feet kicked against the rock. It did as he had hoped: a large piece broke free and suddenly he could see green.
    The green came from a large plant that took advantage of the water below to grow healthy and strong against the side of the Eyrie. He pulled free a few more pieces of the crumbling stone and made an opening that was wide enough to allow him to carry the man out of the chamber.
    As he stepped out of the chamber past the bush, he looked back and realized that the bush effectively hid the opening in such a way that it was impossible to know there was even an opening there. The heat from the sun immediately warmed him, and picking up a small piece of broken obsidian, he held it close to the other man’s nose. There he saw the tell tale marks of his breathing as he fogged up the cold black stone. Hoisting up his burden again, he headed off in search of Miya.
    “Miya! Where are you?” Kit called out, as he rounded the corner to where he had left her.
    Without warning a band of men arose from a low spot in the ground. They all stared at Kit and then prostrated themselves on the ground.  One of them, remembering Miya, slipped back and cut her free, pleading for her forgiveness.
    Miya spat out the soggy leather gag from her mouth and ran to Kit.
    Kit meanwhile laid the unconscious brave down and, as he saw Miya, ran forward and swept her up into his muscular arms. This time they kissed, and there was nothing and no one that they were aware of to interrupt them. As their kiss ended, a call was heard from above.
    “Kit?” came a voice from high above. Hanging like a fly on a window pane Caribo was steadily making his way to the ground.
    Kit looked up. “Hello, Caribo!”
    “‘Hello!’ you say! I should shoot you for scaring me like that!”
    “So, what are you waiting for? An invitation? Come on down!” Kit called out. “I made it in less than five minutes, with him on my back most of the way. Beat that record!” he taunted.
    “I believe I’ll just continue to climb!” called back Caribo.
    As Kit and Miya untangled themselves, an old man approached Kit and bowed himself to the ground.
    “Kit, do you know the language of the Pueblos?” asked Miya.
    “I do not. I am familiar now with the tongue of the Cubans, and the tongue of the Mayas, but have not had a chance yet to learn the tongue of this people. Do you speak it?” Kit responded.
    “I know Natuahl, an Aztec dialect. I will try that and see if he speaks it as