From the Beginning: The Old World Read Online Free PDF

before. I peeked inside. In spite of the darkness within, enough light came through for me to see a huge cave inside the mountain top! I didn’t dare enter the cave by myself, so I called for Roan. Excited, I revealed my discovery to him.
    “We have to check out this cave. Think about it, Roan! If the ground is solid inside, we could settle in it. I first thought we could stay shaded by the cliffs, but if the cave is stable...we have to check it out! We have about half an hour before the sun sets, and I am sure everyone will be happy to huddle together in a safe warm place.” Roan didn’t hesitate for a second. He instructed to pass the flashlights on to us, and as soon as we were equipped with lighting, we both entered the cave.
    A narrow path led to a larger space. A few stone steps that seemed man made helped us climb to the upper level. It is here where the entire cave was revealed to us. We sighed with relief when we saw that the space was big enough for the entire group. Another gust of wind, just like the one that had revealed this cave, swooped before us forcibly.
    “Roan, if the wind is blowing in here it means this cave has another opening. Judging by the force of this wind, it should be quite a large opening,” I assessed, “and I think it’s coming from this direction.” I approached the farther side of the cave. “According to the amount of light that is coming in, it should be right here…” I mumbled as I carefully felt my way on the rocky ground towards the light and the wind.
    “AAHHH!!!” I tripped and my leg caused a few stones to fall into a big hole that had opened at the edge of the cave.
     
    “Grace! Are you o.k.?” Roan leaped at me as he heard my shriek. “Yes, I am fine. I almost fell. There’s a big hole here. I wasn’t wrong. There’s really another opening here. You can see the water. We need to check if there is a better access to the sea from here,” I updated him and leaned forward to check the bottom of the pit.
    “Grace, do me a big favor and try not to fall,” Roan begged. “I will not be able to withstand losing you too.” He came over and grabbed my ankles to secure my position. “Losing Eddie was more than I could handle and I am guessing for everyone else too. I don’t want more –”
    “Eddie!!!” Another cry escaped me and shattered the air. At the bottom of the pit, on the edge of a rock protruding just a few centimeters above the sea level lay Eddie. He was motionless and unconscious, with the water gently caressing his still body.
    Even with the distance between us, I could see he was breathing heavily due to weakness.
    “I don’t believe this!!!” Roan quickly leaned too to witness the miracle…
    * * *

Chapter 6
    We rescued Eddie with joint forces. Anyone who was able, volunteered to assist and not long after I was holding Eddie in my arms, wrapping him with a blanket that we pulled out of one of the supply crates we managed to salvage. Everyone gathered around us inside the cave, and we were now waiting impatiently for Eddie to regain consciousness so we would be able to assess the extent of his injuries. On him only a few abrasions were visible, but when we wanted to move him from where he was lying, he moaned with pain. This implied there were possible fractures within, and I didn’t want to think of worse. The pain was so intense that he immediately lost consciousness again and passed out into my loving arms.
    Outside darkness had started to engulf the world, but inside, in our new fortress, we felt safe and protected for the first time in many long weeks. The slither of hope, awakened in us with that first burst of laughter was getting stronger now that we had found Eddie, our group’s leader.
     
    In the dimming light, I observed, riveted, how Eddie’s presence affected people. What charisma this man had! Even passed out and helpless, when no one knew when or if he would recuperate, and even then, what his condition would be—just the