“Glad you’re back, you two, but there was a cave-in, we are trapped,” I said.

  I tried to lift a nearby boulder with all my might. But it wouldn’t budge. It was not as wide as me, but it still felt as daunting and ominous.

  “We talked to the Water Spirit, and she gave us an oil lamp. She told us a story about the evil Zarlock,” said Janice, “now we have a way to defeat him. We must return to the king and tell my father Goin.”

  “Good news for the kingdom of Atlantivanne. Tell me all about it. But what good is an oil lamp?” I said. “Is there water in it? I am thirsty.” I took the lamp, ripped it from Janice’s hands, and removed the cork. Then poured the spout from the handle down my mouth. Only steam came out. I gagged. I was willing to drink oil if it might save my life. I was parched.

  “Give the lamp back Ledge, you’ll never be a hero like me. And what if you swallowed oil?” said Janice.

  “No, I will hold onto it for now.”

  “That is what you get for drinking all of the ale,” Janice said feeling defeated.

  I examined the lamp after I removed the cork. Then I looked for Janice and Rune, they were gone.

  Murky clouds of smoke were pulled in, faster and faster all around me, until it was all sucked-up, and I gasped. I plugged the spout and the vacuum stilled, but no sign of my dwarven friends.

  “Where did Sir Rune and Lady Janice go?” I panicked in fear.

  I best consult the Water Spirit, who is my only option now. But how would I climb down the chasm if they died with no one to hold the rope? Maybe if I snag the rope around a rock it will hold, it's my only chance. I must hurry.

  I painstakingly undid the knot again, tied the rope around my mountainous girth and the other end around a boulder, then I began to descend with the oil lamp in my pack.

  The rope slipped from the rock and now it was hanging from me. I tried to climb back up. I was lucky to not tumble to my death like Rune and Janice must have. But I did not hear them fall.

  There were other earthquakes and a boulder above me began to loosen. So, I placed the rope where it would fall and took the risk of it crashing down upon me. A rock twice the size of my belly fell onto the rope. This time I tested the rope. It held.

  I planted one foot at a time and held on for dear life, until I reached the bottom of the fissure, then I loosened the tight knot, and the rope came off like straps.

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  I walked along the course of the rocky ground in the dark cavern. Flickering in the shadows was a torch. I put my hands into the black murky pool. I wiped my face and guzzled the water. I regretted that it was bitter and not cold. I shuddered at the taste of sewage.

  Suddenly, a green head with pointy ears bobbed on the water “Who dares disturb my pool?”

  “I am Ledge, you talked to my friends, Rune, and Janice Windart, well, now they are gone, and I’m trapped in this cavern from a cave-in. Where are they?”

  “Rub the oil lamp.”

  “Why?”

  When I did. Suddenly, a murky smoke emerged out of the lamp in two strands. It was Rune and Janice to my surprise.

  “What happened to you guys?” said Ledge. “I thought you had fallen, and I couldn’t find you.”

  “We did not fall or die. It turns out we were genies all the time. But not free genies, anymore, because you pulled the cork, and we were sucked in,” said Rune laughing at Janice.

  Janice was angry that she was sucked into the lamp, and even more terrified that Ledge would rub it. She was hoping he would not touch the lamp, but that the Water Spirit would wish her free. Now she was Ledge’s servant, possibly for a lifetime. A dwarf that mooched off her wealth for years because of Rune. She felt her life was over.

  “You trapped us in here, now we need you, Ledge, to save Atlantivanne with this magical lamp, can you do it?” asked Janice despicably.

  “Me? But I don’t stand a fighting chance against the Lord of Dragons, how can I save Atlantivanne?” Ledge said pitifully and looked down in defeat.

  “You are my dragon tamer," said Rune.

  “Don’t tell me you're giving up before you start,” roared Janice.

  “You have three wishes, Ledge,” said the Water Spirit. “Want my advice before you make the first one?”

  “Fine, but why did you tell me to rub the lamp? Why not wish yourself free from that wretched pool instead? You can be the hero instead.” I smirked.

  “I can best help you from here Ledge,” said the Water Spirit, besides, Janice and Rune are new to making wishes, and it could have disastrous effects. Now, ask for strength to move the boulders to clear a path.”

  “What about me, do you think I want to be the Hero of Atlantivanne, and take the risk of being turned into a spider? Enjoy your grotesque pool.” Ledge rolled his eyes.

  “Ask only from me,” said Janice.

  “What about me?" said Rune.

  “I will ask you both: Janice and Rune, I wish to be strong enough to move any boulder.”

  The genies placed their palms on Ledge. There was a murky black mist of sparks with yellow electricity that surrounded the dwarves like static. Ledge’s muscles ached in agony and tripled in size, then the smoke dissipated, and the two genies departed back into the oil lamp.

  “We must rest now, Ledge,” said Janice.

  “Aye,” said Rune.

  “I need my rest too,” said Ledge, being exhausted and dizzy.

  I fell asleep near the pool in the murky chamber. My head upon my arm. When I awoke there were slimy tentacles on me, I carefully removed them in disgust and quickly climbed up the chasm to get away. The line was taut. The rocks were light as pony saddles as I moved them to the side and walked down the cave. I forgot to hold my shield up, and a few bat droppings splashed on me. They were squeaking like rats. I was as quiet as possible.

  Several zombies from Dunharn were in the cavern that was also used as a mine by the dwarves. I was a bloody mess for slaying so many of them. When I got out, I didn't see sunshine for nearly one day. Zombies bit me on my legs and shoulders, but my armor protected me. I found no trace of Goin and the Dragon Slayers, and the rickshaw was left with the peasant inside, devoured by zombies. I trekked north to Atlantivanne with the lamp in my pack.