Story [Firefly] The Guns of Yamenmiao (updated 05-12)

Cripes, I should just make a lolpic with 'Invisible Fanfic' for a caption.

Okay, one last pot.

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The steel-grated steps from the ground level to the carved path, hewn perhaps three feet into the wall of the quarry, were rusted and worn but still passable and Mal aimed to prove it. The moniker of fearless leader seemed especially appropriate to his pointed advance down the creaky steps, knowing as he did that none of the others were keen to risk it. Even the narrow path - devoid of any fence, handrail, or other appurtenance designed to prevent the traveler from leaving it - put no damper on his determination, and more than once he had to pause to gauge the distance between him and the others. Robert seemed to have minimal trouble putting one foot in front of the other, but he still lagged more than ten feet off: behind him, River, though cautiously watching her step, seemed otherwise unaware of the perilous nothingness to her left. Wash, bringing up the rear, was all but hugging the wall.

Mal's exasperation was unavoidable and he forged on ahead - until before he knew it the escape passage had gulped him and his companions into its murky maw. In less than a minute the starlight outside was completely lost to view.

"You know, something doesn't add up here," Wash said, trying to cut the uncomfortable silence. "Say the train is buried back there, and this escape passage is intact after all these years ? how come no one ever got out to tell the tale?"

"Ain't far from findin' out, methinks," Mal muttered, marching on.

Inside the tunnel the blackness, not to mention the cold, was all the more penetrating. Wrapping his coat around him, Mal persevered: he marched on, playing his lantern about the rugged walls and floor, eye constantly peeled for tripping hazards or rocks ready to fall. Robert was steadfast at his flank, finding River's closeness somewhat unnerving. Wash held to the rear, footfalls matching those of the other three as closely as was humanly possible.

After a little more than a mile, Mal's stride was somewhat less than full: the further they hiked, the more uneven became the tunnel floor. High were some of the ridges rising along the walls: the foursome overstepped a fair portion of stone heaps, fallen from the ceiling over the years under the forces of time and gravity. The ceiling was nonetheless in remarkably stable condition, as well it should be in a mine escape passage. The deeper they went, Mal noted, the cooler and drier the air became, making his breath visible before his face.

Over the next half mile the tunnel began to slope gradually upward. Ducking under a low outcropping, Mal paused and pointed his lantern ahead: before him the floor ended by all appearances, angling sharply up along a jumble of large stones that topped out at a small aperture.

"Almost there," River's grin was faint but excited.

"Almost where?" Wash asked worriedly.

Bent on finding out, Mal surged forward, slung his lantern over one arm and flung himself upon the rocks. Upward he hauled, gasping and grunting audibly, hand over hand and foot upon foot higher toward the small chink in the rock. At last, his shins and forearms sored by the climb, he wriggled through the opening and spun himself about, calling for River.

With Mal pulling from above, Wash and Robert boosting from below, River's ascent was akin to Serenity in vertical take-off. Robert followed, reliant on his own strength and a tug from Mal to haul him through the opening not too far above his head: Wash continued to bring up the rear. After the few minutes that saw him to the top of the climb all four stood upright, examining their vast surroundings. The aperture had conveyed them into a gigantic cavern whose ceiling was visible in only the faintest of light from the two lanterns.

"Always wanted to try caving," Robert said loftily. He lowered his lantern to illuminate the floor: sweeping it from one side to the other, preparing to set foot, he quite suddenly and unexpectedly illuminated a charred, rotted corps

 

Absolutely loving this. Can't wait to see what sort of trouble Mal and his crew get themselves into when they try for moving this train.
Great story Sebulba. I'm eagerly awaiting your next chapter.