THE EBBING TIDE

The ebbing tide eventually carried them onto a small island strewn with giant turtle
shells, on the far side of which a narrow strait of water flowed.
This, the final gulf between them and the subterranean mainland.
The island appeared alive, as geysers of hot steam forced their way through crevasses
in the salacious sandstone, creating hot springs wherever the ground had sunk to form
natural basins.
They watched in fascination as plumes of vapour rose majestically into the air,
creating heavily-laden clouds from which each returning droplet assumed the
prismatic colours of the rainbow.
As the warm humid air gently eased the pain of their aching limbs, the three weary
travellers fell exhausted to the ground, where they slept.
As they slept, they dreamed of the world they were now part of.
A world within a world.
Time within time.
A dream within a dream.

b. THE ELECTRIC STORM

They were awakened by the noise of an electric storm.
The waves had destroyed their raft and the sea was a raging torrent, racing a great
speed along the strait, which now took on the appearence of rapids.
Each taking refuge inside one of the giant turtle shells, their chances of survival
lessened by each passing second as huge waves swept them along the narrow
strait toward an enormous gapin black hole, into which the anguished water
poured at an alarming rate.
All around them forked steaks of lightning plunged and attacked in every direction,
some of which metamorphosed into globes of fire, which, for inexplicable reasons
beyond their understanding, began to chase the turtle shells as they plunged
violently, one by one, into the black hole.
After falling for what seemed an eternity, they were suddenly shot sideways at terrific
velocity into a tunnel which had barely enough room to spare between the shell and
the ceiling above their heads.
Although they were many leagues beneath the earth's crust, the tunnel behind them was
bathed in white blinding light, as, despite their being given both guidance and
propulsion of great speed by the rapid flow of water, the globes of fire had chosen the
same route.
The chase was on as they prepared for the ride of their lives.