Swallowed Alive

   Unusual noises were coming from under his cabin for a long time. Some rumbling sounds, especially at night laying on the bed trying to fall asleep.
   Gary bought this shack a few years back. It caught his eyes once when he hiked on this mountain side and, though It was old, he wanted it anyway. The size, style and character was something he was looking for, he said at the time. Besides the view, and surroundings were breathtaking.
   It is well known to people of this area that in this valley, there is a rockface that harbours a huge hole a few hundred feet up, only visible from distance. It is said that at the foot of the rock, rain never stops falling, due to a river gushing out of the cave above. The vegetation is almost impenetrable, and when the sun peeks through the ridges, nonstop rainbow fills the valley.
   Today the noise was more intense than usual. It is late spring, the melt water from the glaciers high on the mountain peaks swelled the brooks, and the vegetation bursts in brilliant color. The only thing that muted the rumble is the mating calls of the birds.   
     

   There were other houses spread, few and far in-between, on the sunnier side of Gush Hole mountain. Gary seldom saw his neighbors, driving by to the end of this old dirt road.
   He put down the book and listened to the ever amplifying noise from below. Strange squeaks and crackles were coming from the walls and the door opened unexpectedly. Looked out the window and saw the mountain ridge move up and down in the frame. It's an earthquake -he thought- better get out. The cabin drastically dropped, listed toward the corner he was sitting close, knocked him out of his chair, and landed on his back, like a rag-doll. Pinned in the corner all the little furniture he had, followed piling on top of him. Between the coffee table and the armchair, he could see the light from the window getting darker, as the cabin sank deeper into the abyss. After the first big thump it slowed some, and the walls started to give way to pressure from the dirt. It happened so fast that he couldn't even grasp the gravity of the situation he is in. 
   I can move my legs and arms, so all is good- he thought, then he realized he is not going to be able to save himself. Panic set in even more when the window broke, dirt poured in, and darkness enveloped him. He felt the soggy dirt sneaking up his legs, so suffocation is a real possibility, before anybody could find him. Will anybody even notice his disappearance?
   Then there was another thump. The little cabin sunk deeper in the crevice and from top nothing showed, not even the roof. The walls begin to collapse and more dirt poured in. Gary had no idea how long he was laying there, with his back to the corner of the cabin. Air was getting scarce, his limbs motionless and sore. He remembered his youth, a time when he was locked in a closet by his friends. This fear stayed with him, and now he is going to die abandoned, in complete darkness and cold.
   He was at the end of his wits. The corner behind him gave way, split and he felt wet dirt crawling up his spine. Wonderful, at least it will be quick -he thought- so lets get over it! An unmistakable loud rush of water was coming from under his back. It came ever closer, and soon the dirt washed away. Yet another thump shook the lump of lumber and dirt he was part of in the sinkhole. The corner walls parted even more, he fell through and landed below in knee deep, free flowing, bone chilling water. He was able to stand up in the cavity, then something touched his knees and got stuck there for a while. He reached down and realized that a piece of lumber is the culprit. Great, -I'm going to feel my way with this- so he started to poke in all directions. By his judgment, this water has to come from somewhere and, at some point has to exit to the surface. It may be his chance of salvation to go with the flow! 
    It is an underground river that carved it's way through the rock for thousands of years, and now he is going to be part of it's history. Gary found himself in a, who knows how long watery tunnel, to fight for his life. Exhausted, wet and very cold, he has to rest and gather strength, and as long as alive, he can't give up! He felt his way to the side of the waterflow, found the wall and curled up in fetal position to worm his extremities.
   Time didn't seem to matter for him at this point. Must be a day or two, by the hunger he felt. Water wasn't an issue, though he couldn't drink from the river. It is time to leave the relative safety of this spot. Following the wall and avoiding the water is preferable, given the sound of occasional debris floating by. The piece of lumber proved to be a good tool to avoid obstacles and the occasional pool of water.
   In the distance is a sound of waterfall, and it's getting closer. That isn't a good sign, and his heart started to beet faster the closer he got. He felt the edge of the drop, and by the sound, didn't appear to be too deep. He threw a rock to test it, and to his disappointment in about two seconds he heard a splash with echo. He wasn't keen to get into cold water again. It seems that there is an underground lake in the cavern at the bottom of the shaft. If I ever want to survive I have to take a leap of faith. After several stone tests he concluded that the shaft is relatively straight down. Dark or no dark he decided to jump.
   Gary is a mediocre swimmer and he never had to use his skill so far. He didn't want to lose his loyal friend either, -the piece of lumber- so he threw it down the shaft, and then he jumped. The water is horribly cold and penetrated his bones. Franticly he waived his arms around to find the piece of wood. His commotion echoed off the walls of the cave, and by the sound it appeared to be huge. If this is where all the water ends up, he's doomed. A faint slurping  sound came to his attention, and started to swim towards it. He found the mouth of the drain shaft completely submerged.
   This proved to be a harder decision to make. Stay here and die of hyperthermia, or take a deep breath and hope to have a short trip to the other side, be it life or death. This could be a long tube filled with water and... He couldn't finish his thought, because he was caught by the suction force of the drain, spun around and swallowed. He tumbled helpless, got hit, cut and bruised in the rock pipe, and just about to run out of air, when he was spit out, in an ark, into even deeper water.
   Banged up he is about to give up the fight. No more energy, and a lot less hope. Motionless, with his limbs stretched out, put his chin on the piece of wood he hung onto, just floated freely waiting for the inevitable. His tormented mind wondered about this wonderful substance called 'water'. Contains so much oxygen, and yet can suffocate you. It is a paradox, that one that gives life to so many, can take it away just as well. Now he curses it to his last breath.
   Gary detected a faint brightness behind his eyelids. -Do I hallucinate? Is this it? Am I dying? They say, you see a bright light in a distance, that draws you in at death. Just in case, I will try to open my eyes!? -He saw a glimmer of light on the side wall, around the corner of the ever increasing cave. -No, I'm not dreaming, it is light! -With light came the sound of falling water that became ever stronger. Then the cave opened, the river was calmer, wider and he could see it's edge. It was dry and rocky. -I've got to get there! -He gathered the last of his strength, and with numb limbs managed to pull himself ashore. Out of the water he felt the life saving warmth of the air. He laid there for a long time, perhaps he even fell asleep. When he came to, rats were sniffing his nose. A constant squeak of a million bats filled the air, and the mouth of the cave in the distance framed a beautiful pale blue sky. -I'm alive!
   It's been five days since his disappearance, but nobody seemed to notice. His turbulent journey took him to the Gush Hole Cave from the wrong end. People visited this area just for this strange cave and unparalleled landscape, but nobody scaled the rock yet.                    
   -Mom...there is a man in the cave!- said a child looking through binoculars, standing on the trail below the rock.
   -Let me see!- his sister took the binoculars. -Yes mom, there he is! -pointing with her finger.
   -You are both crazy...give me that! -said mom. -Hey George...come back here! Have a look at this!
   -My god...he looks terrible. -said George. Does anybody know about this? I'll go ask the area warden.
   Gary was standing on the edge of the cave entrance waving his hands. It's his last ditch effort to get help. His clothes ripped, his body bruised and swollen, his face bloody.
   -Help!...Anybody!... Help! - and the valley echoed his cry.
   He was called 'Gush Hole Valley Superman' in the local newspapers. Reporters rushed to that place, and competed to interview him. He talked in detail about his ordeal, the hunger, challenges and state of mind, the rescue by helicopter, the people, and the piece of wood that saved his life. It got an honorary place in the Hole Valley museum for everyone to admire.
   Gary rather wanted to forget about this experience. His friends encouraged him to write a whole book about it, but all he could come up with, is a short story, and this is it!