1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: Hello. I'm welcome stories all the time. Glad you are here. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,519 Let's get into it. I'm going to do you a 3 00:00:11,519 --> 00:00:13,519 favor by telling you this story does not end well. 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,519 Nobody's getting out alive. I'm not trying to spoil the ending. 5 00:00:18,199 --> 00:00:20,559 I assure you there are plenty of regrettable surprises to 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,280 unwrap before we get there, but I don't want anyone 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,039 making themselves sick just to find out what happens. There 8 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,320 are no plot twists, no miracles, no fairy Godmother's biddy 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,439 boppty boopino characters to a happy ending. Two men are 10 00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:35,799 going to die deep underground in horrific circumstances the end 11 00:00:36,439 --> 00:00:38,600 for though strong or sick enough to handle them. I'll 12 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,159 spell the details, but it's up to you to decide 13 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,039 if you can hack it. Listen, if the room starts spending, 14 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,159 or the coworker at the desk next to you says, hey, 15 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,240 you're not looking so good, just remember there's no suspense 16 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,000 surrounding the outcome. Here. There's no mystery. It's okay to 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,159 finish your day without ever hearing the gory details I'm 18 00:00:55,159 --> 00:00:58,119 about to share. If you're worried somebody's going to corner 19 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,479 you at the coffee station and ask, hey, did you 20 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,759 hear what happened to those spelunkers in Unao? Or here's 21 00:01:03,759 --> 00:01:07,120 what you can say, Margaret, I know what a terrible 22 00:01:07,159 --> 00:01:10,439 way to go problem solved? Or if you want to 23 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,560 sound super impressive, you can say you'd call those guys spelancers. 24 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,079 I call them idiots. Can't say I'm surprised they met 25 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,079 the end they did. The second option will intimidate your 26 00:01:20,079 --> 00:01:22,519 co workers, who will be too astounded by your superior 27 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,200 knowledge of bescaving practices to press any further and expose 28 00:01:25,239 --> 00:01:28,000 their own ignorance on the subject. And if you're upset 29 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,799 to hear me speaking ill of the dead, I don't 30 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,519 know what else to call them? Sad idiots? What else 31 00:01:32,519 --> 00:01:34,599 can you call a pair of inexperienced man who attempt 32 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,400 to explore a marked caverns without taking precautions. Brave bravery 33 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,760 is only respectable when it's necessary. Risk takers are only 34 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,840 sexy when they survive. If you die taking a stupid risk, 35 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,000 you're just, YEP, an idiot. I just don't want other 36 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,760 folks going out and making the same mistakes. Kakanema did 37 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,920 nobody and yes that does include the subjects of our story. 38 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,599 Deserves to go out the way they did? What way 39 00:01:57,719 --> 00:02:00,560 you ask? While I suppose it's time to tell you. 40 00:02:01,159 --> 00:02:03,079 Kirk and Emmett met when they were assigned as random 41 00:02:03,159 --> 00:02:06,439 roommates in their freshman year at Iowa State University. They 42 00:02:06,439 --> 00:02:08,520 didn't become best buds right away, but over the first 43 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,400 semester they discovered they each had interest in outdoorsy activities. 44 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:13,919 Kirk was an avid hunter and hiker from Boone and 45 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,400 emme at a Cambridge native, love khaking along I was 46 00:02:16,439 --> 00:02:20,000 numerous rivers. When they parted ways for their first holiday break, 47 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,439 they agreed if they were still friends after walking across 48 00:02:22,479 --> 00:02:24,479 the stage to receive their diplomas, they would take a 49 00:02:24,479 --> 00:02:27,360 trip together to celebrate. They had grand visions of hiking 50 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,879 their Palation Trail, or perhaps the Pacific Coast Trail. This was, 51 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,319 of course, before they realized how college would suck their 52 00:02:33,319 --> 00:02:35,479 youthful vigor out and replace it with a sinister dread 53 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,919 otherwise known as student debt. After graduation, the beaten down 54 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,879 exhausted graduates cat there were. Kirk had lined up a 55 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,520 nice starting position at an architecture frem and Ames and 56 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,919 Emmett had landed an audition with Bloody Crops, a semi 57 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,080 local deco band who had just lost their drumma to 58 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,680 a fentanal overdose, not his, but his cousins. Drummer himself 59 00:02:53,719 --> 00:02:55,479 was clean as a whistle, but he awed when he 60 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:57,759 tried giving his unresponse of cousin mouth to mouth, and 61 00:02:57,759 --> 00:03:00,960 swallowed some of the extra powder in his mustache. Emmett 62 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,719 had decided his degree in business management systems would only 63 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,879 lead him down a path of self hatred and regret. 64 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,280 He would use the degree if he had to, but 65 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,240 he thought he might try his luck in the yarts first, 66 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,599 starting with Bloody Crops. So before Kirk's first day in 67 00:03:13,599 --> 00:03:15,800 Emmitt's audition, the pair decided to drive out east for 68 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,520 a weekend of wilderness exploration. Eastern Iowa is no a placire, 69 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,000 unlike the majority of the state, it does have some 70 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,759 interesting topography, though towards Illinois things get a little craggy. 71 00:03:26,319 --> 00:03:29,240 There's a lot of limestone which is soft and easily eroded. 72 00:03:29,759 --> 00:03:32,120 The rivers and rain have carved out a handful of caves. 73 00:03:32,719 --> 00:03:35,560 Most Iowands know about the Macoka Caves, and many also 74 00:03:35,639 --> 00:03:38,120 know about Cyril's Cave, which is also located along the 75 00:03:38,159 --> 00:03:41,000 Macota River. What Kirk and Emmett wanted to know was 76 00:03:41,039 --> 00:03:43,400 if there were any other less touristy caves in the area. 77 00:03:44,039 --> 00:03:46,240 They wanted to find somewhere the floor hadn't been robbedsmoth 78 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,599 by new balanced sneakers. They went past Macork Cave State 79 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:51,599 Park and turned down a dirt road that led up 80 00:03:51,599 --> 00:03:54,080 a forested hill. When they were far enough into the 81 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:55,960 trees to hide Demitz car, he shut it off and 82 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,919 got out. They were pretty sure they were trespassing, so 83 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,000 they didn't want the car to be visible from the road. 84 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,280 They tore matching camera back water bladders on their backs, 85 00:04:04,479 --> 00:04:06,360 canned with a straw that wraps around your heads so 86 00:04:06,439 --> 00:04:09,039 you can drink, and had their trusty phones in their pockets. 87 00:04:09,719 --> 00:04:11,759 They had brought a collection of cliff bars and jerky, 88 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,000 but they left it in the car. They were not 89 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,399 planning on staying on the hill more than a few hours. 90 00:04:17,079 --> 00:04:19,639 That might sound like some kind of ominous foreshadowing, but 91 00:04:19,639 --> 00:04:22,279 food would not have saved those boys, not where they 92 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,879 were going. They hiked up the rocky hillside, taking in 93 00:04:24,879 --> 00:04:28,279 the peaceful atmosphere. They couldn't hear any passing cars, no 94 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,800 planes or helicopters flying overhead, No whining kits or screaming 95 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,920 babies to soil the ambients. A couple squares watched them 96 00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:37,240 from a tree branch, like two old ladies sitting out 97 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,040 on their front porch. What are these two up too? Shure, 98 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:44,040 nothing good, Gretchen, nothing good. They both started to wonder 99 00:04:44,079 --> 00:04:45,680 if they had made the right coal when they reached 100 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,439 the peak of the stony hill and still found no 101 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,680 sign of any caves, large or small. Some seeing the 102 00:04:50,759 --> 00:04:52,920 hill took almost two asos, which meant it would take 103 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,639 at least that long to get back. Some people might 104 00:04:55,639 --> 00:04:58,000 think going downhill is quicker and easier, but the only 105 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,120 thing that gets easier is breaking your uncle. Gravity is 106 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,399 not your friend when it's s buffered by uneven limestone. 107 00:05:03,879 --> 00:05:06,560 Neither Kirk nor Emmitt felt like giving up, yet, they 108 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,600 decided to split a pop while they descended the other 109 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,560 side of the hill in order to cover more ground. 110 00:05:11,079 --> 00:05:13,120 They would stay with an ear shot and only spend 111 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,120 thirty minutes going down. When the thirty minutes were up, 112 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,240 they would turn around, return to the top and start 113 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,000 the track back to Emmett Carr. The clear blue sky 114 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,680 had started turning orange ahead of them and gray behind them. 115 00:05:23,759 --> 00:05:26,279 When they began the descent. It would no doubt be 116 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,040 dark by the time they returned to the car, but 117 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,120 they calculated they would have just enough light to climb 118 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,319 down the hill about twenty minutes until they agreed upon thirty. 119 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,240 Emm It was starting to think about the beef jerky 120 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,560 stashed in his glove box. It was terryaki flavor, his 121 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,680 second favor. His stomach growled almost loud enough to block 122 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,720 out Cook's for a shouting to him from across the hill, 123 00:05:44,319 --> 00:05:48,959 he finds something. Emmitt shouted back, come see, Kirk called back. 124 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,800 Emmett followed his friend's voice until he could see Kok 125 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,639 stooped over something on the ground. Kerk looked up and 126 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,319 waved him over. Emmy expected Kerk's discovery to be a snake, 127 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,680 or maybe a snake's nest, perhaps something gnarly like a 128 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,800 half eaten corks dropped by a hawk or an eagle. 129 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,959 But what Kerk had found was far more interesting. He 130 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,279 had discovered a narrow crevice in the limestone tie. Emmett, 131 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,600 it looked like the crack went straight down, more like 132 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,879 a well than a cave, but Kerk showed him that 133 00:06:14,879 --> 00:06:16,639 when he shone the light on his phone down into 134 00:06:16,639 --> 00:06:19,560 the crevice, the light reflected off in angled, smooth floor. 135 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,759 The crack went straight down. Yes, but there appeared to 136 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:24,800 be a small cavern running into the hill beneath them. 137 00:06:25,319 --> 00:06:28,639 Do you Emmett started to ask, but Kerk suddenly jumped 138 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,120 and shouted. The unexpected movement and sound startled Emmitt badly 139 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,680 enough to knock him on to his rear. He almost 140 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,439 mushed his camel back against a rock, but caught himself first. Still, 141 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,360 he was pretty sure he had bruised his tail bone. 142 00:06:40,959 --> 00:06:44,879 Somewhat angrily, he demanded, what what the hell was that about? 143 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,920 Kirk's face looked like a Halloween mask or two golf 144 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,319 ball stuffed into the eye holes. He shivered, then shook 145 00:06:51,319 --> 00:06:55,120 his head and offered Emmett an embarrassed closed lip smile. Sorry, man, 146 00:06:55,319 --> 00:06:57,519 I just there was a rat right over there, he 147 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,040 pointed past Emmett, who instinctively looked over his should it's 148 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:06,879 gone now, never seen a rap before, Emmett asked, still irritated. No, actually, 149 00:07:07,439 --> 00:07:10,199 not one like that anyway. That one was as big 150 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,279 as a rabbit. I swear sorry, what were you saying? 151 00:07:13,879 --> 00:07:16,160 Emmett picked himself up and tenderly brushed the seat of 152 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,279 his jeans clean on knee when sing once when his 153 00:07:18,319 --> 00:07:21,279 pum nudged his aching tailburn, he said, I was going 154 00:07:21,319 --> 00:07:22,800 to ask if you were sure you wanted to go 155 00:07:22,839 --> 00:07:27,439 down in there. Now I'm even more skeptical. Oh yeah, man, 156 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,360 that was like the whole point in coming out here, 157 00:07:29,639 --> 00:07:31,879 wasn't it? And it pushed past him and sat with 158 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,720 his legs dangling into the cavern. He looked back over 159 00:07:34,759 --> 00:07:37,759 his shoulder and smirked. He looked away, shaking his head 160 00:07:37,759 --> 00:07:40,839 and clucking his tongue. He said, four years, man, four 161 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:42,839 years we lived together and I had no idea you 162 00:07:42,839 --> 00:07:44,399 were so scared of rats? Do you see where this 163 00:07:44,439 --> 00:07:46,759 is going yet? I'm just going to pause here for 164 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,800 a second to let everything sin can blend it altogether, 165 00:07:48,879 --> 00:07:51,439 will you. I've already told you these guys are going 166 00:07:51,519 --> 00:07:53,199 to die. They're going down into a cave now, and 167 00:07:53,279 --> 00:07:55,279 one of them is deathly terrified of rats. This isn't 168 00:07:55,279 --> 00:07:57,279 for shadowing. This is for warning. If you're too squeamish, 169 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,160 or if your nightmares are too vivid, do not proceed 170 00:07:59,199 --> 00:08:02,680 any further. The rest of you follow me. Let's rejoin 171 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,839 our idiot as they enter the unmarked cave, Beeuf, it's 172 00:08:05,879 --> 00:08:08,639 colder already, Kok remarked as he dropped down beside Emmett. 173 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,160 His eyes shot upward. He felt an oppressive certainty that 174 00:08:12,199 --> 00:08:13,879 the lips of the cave were about to snap shot 175 00:08:13,879 --> 00:08:15,680 above him, and the rock on which they stood would 176 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,519 curl back like a tongue and swallow them into the 177 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,759 dark rout of the cave. Of course, the crevisobove remained open, 178 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,319 but the darkness ahead of them was to hopelessly understate 179 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,959 it intimidating. We didn't bring very good lights, Emmett said, 180 00:08:26,959 --> 00:08:28,680 as if the whole purpose of the trip hadn't been 181 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,199 to find a cave. I only have my phone. Did 182 00:08:31,199 --> 00:08:35,000 you bring something else? Cook asked, No, that's what I mean, 183 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,399 said Emmett. Our phones are all we have. He turned 184 00:08:38,399 --> 00:08:41,559 his phond's flashlight on and shown it into the channel ahead. Well, 185 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,200 from here, it doesn't look too bad. We can always 186 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,080 backwick if things get too tight, or if it drops 187 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,600 off of something. You want to go first, Emmett asked, 188 00:08:49,639 --> 00:08:52,960 as he stared into the triangular passageway. How no, are 189 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:57,360 you serious? Kirk replied. Emmett shrugged, said suit yourself and 190 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,080 slid sive ways into the cave. It was better that 191 00:09:00,159 --> 00:09:02,960 Emmitt went first of the two. He took up more space. 192 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,960 His forty four minus thirty six jeens had an inch 193 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,360 of clearance in his front and back, which meant Cook's 194 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,159 three thousand, thirty twos at umbel room. As long as 195 00:09:11,159 --> 00:09:14,200 Emmett fit, Kirk would be just fine. That's what he 196 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,440 told himself as the shuffle deeper into the hill. Ironically, 197 00:09:17,519 --> 00:09:19,960 even though the narrower passage gave him more grace than Emmett, 198 00:09:20,039 --> 00:09:22,960 Kirk was by far the more claustrophobic. Already he was 199 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,759 feeling tested. When they had agreed to look for a cave. 200 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:28,399 He had been picturing something more like Mackworkter, just with 201 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:31,759 other other people, vague open mouths illuminated in their full 202 00:09:31,799 --> 00:09:35,600 depth by the sunlight alone. No special equipment needed, no lights, 203 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,960 and certainly no bravery. This strange narrow crack in the 204 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,799 earth he had found was pushing him to the cliff's 205 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,960 edge of his fear it widening out up here, Emmett announced. 206 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:46,639 He bobbed for the nipple on his camel back straw, 207 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,159 but missed. He couldn't raise his arms up to put 208 00:09:49,159 --> 00:09:53,480 it into his mouth yet. How much, asked Kirk, A 209 00:09:53,519 --> 00:09:57,639 good amount. You're doing all right. Emmett noticed Kirk sounded 210 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,799 a little shaky. He hoped his friend going to turn 211 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,559 around and ditch him down there all alone. I'll be 212 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,120 good when I can move. Really, I think how far 213 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:10,000 ahead looks like? Just a few more yards. Within a minute, 214 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,960 they were standing in a cavern wide enough for each 215 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,840 of them to move freely. The ceiling brushed em his hair, 216 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,559 but having lateral space available was comfort enough. Cook's enthusiasm 217 00:10:18,639 --> 00:10:20,840 returned as he took pictures and walked about the space. 218 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,399 We should tell somebody about this when we get back, 219 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,240 he said. This would actually be a pretty cold place 220 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,799 for people to visit. Emmett stepped in front of him, 221 00:10:28,799 --> 00:10:31,879 blocking his phone from taking another picture. He put both 222 00:10:31,879 --> 00:10:34,120 of his hands on Cook's shoulders and gave him a stern, 223 00:10:34,279 --> 00:10:37,559 bodily look. He said, don't freak out, and don't look now, 224 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:39,600 but there's a small rat next to the wall behind me. 225 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,039 Kirk looked tepidly past Emmett, but emmittt shifted to block him. Look, man, 226 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:45,919 I really want to keep going in I don't want 227 00:10:45,919 --> 00:10:48,799 you freaking out, so don't look at it, okay, I'll 228 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,440 tell you when it leaves. Where did it come from? 229 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,679 Kirk asked, I don't know. It probably lies down here, 230 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,759 but like, did it come from up ahead? Are we 231 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,039 going to find more? If we keep going? How? So 232 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,840 would I know? Kirk heard the frustration in Emmet's voice 233 00:11:02,879 --> 00:11:04,879 and felt sorry, sorry for making his friend put up 234 00:11:04,879 --> 00:11:06,840 with his issues. He felt sorry for not thinking through 235 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,000 the various ways in which cave exploration could trigger some 236 00:11:09,039 --> 00:11:11,279 of his phobias, and he felt sorry to himself for 237 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,679 putting himself in this situation. This trip was supposed to 238 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:17,000 be a celebratory adventure, not a petty potty for Quirky Kirk, 239 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,360 a high skill nicknamed herein for being unable to shower 240 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,840 in the locker room stalls because one getting naked around 241 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,080 the other people scared him, and two the stalls felt 242 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,159 like they were closing in around him. He decided not 243 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,120 to tell Emmett that he really wanted to turn back. 244 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:30,559 He decided that if Femet was okay, he could be too. 245 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:32,600 He wouldn't worry about the tat spaces or the ruts 246 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,440 or the fact that they were probably standing beneath one 247 00:11:34,519 --> 00:11:36,519 hundred feet and god knows how many magic tones of 248 00:11:36,519 --> 00:11:39,679 limestone and heading deeper. Oh oh, I see, Emmett said, 249 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,480 breaking Kirk out of the prison of his own vault. 250 00:11:41,519 --> 00:11:43,600 There's a small crack over there. That's where it came from. 251 00:11:43,639 --> 00:11:45,480 He moved aside so Kok could see it. There wasn't 252 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:47,240 a rut there anymore. But Kok did see the small 253 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,200 tunnel Emmett was talking about. It was only about a 254 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,759 foot tall and half as wide. Kok said, well, let's 255 00:11:51,759 --> 00:11:54,200 get moving before he comes back. I'm feeling good now, 256 00:11:54,279 --> 00:11:56,240 but if he comes shooting out of the thing, I'll 257 00:11:56,279 --> 00:11:58,840 be finished. Roger emm appointed his front, where their channel 258 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:00,679 continued on the other side of the cavern. Looks like 259 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,159 it stays pretty wide. Keep following me and you'll be fine. 260 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,799 The channel continued to widen before it started closing in again, 261 00:12:05,799 --> 00:12:07,799 about one hundred feet deep. Imm It didn't say anything 262 00:12:07,799 --> 00:12:10,600 that might have said. Kirkiz's shoulders folded back around his 263 00:12:10,639 --> 00:12:13,639 water bladder started rubbing against the cool, slick a limestone. 264 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:15,960 As long as he could fit. Kirk could fit, and 265 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,399 as long as he kept moving, their venture will continue. 266 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,559 It wasn't until the ceilings started to shrink that Emmitt's 267 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,879 low damp has it looking, Kok asked behind him, It's 268 00:12:22,879 --> 00:12:24,879 starting to tighten up a little bit, but I can 269 00:12:24,879 --> 00:12:27,120 still move you. Okay, I've still got room. Good. They 270 00:12:27,159 --> 00:12:30,399 pressed on, besides expanded slightly even as the ceiling angle downward. 271 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,000 The extra horizontal room allowed Emmet to hunch over. Soon 272 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,080 even Kirk was bending his neck to fit. He didn't 273 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,240 say anything until Emmett was forced down onto his hand 274 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,000 and knees by a low ceiling. I don't need to 275 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:40,879 remind you, and nobody's going to come looking for us 276 00:12:40,879 --> 00:12:43,720 out here, do I, Cook, ask sarcastically. No, definitely not. 277 00:12:43,799 --> 00:12:45,639 Emmett laughed, But do I need to remind you that, 278 00:12:45,639 --> 00:12:47,759 as long as I can fit, you do a minute 279 00:12:47,799 --> 00:12:50,519 filled with nothing but hunting and sliding past them. By now, 280 00:12:50,519 --> 00:12:52,559 they were both crawling along the channel as a telescope 281 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:54,759 smaller and smaller. What if he caves in? Kok asped, 282 00:12:54,759 --> 00:12:57,080 in the tone of a somewhat disinterested observer. He didn't 283 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,039 want him to notice. Fear was really eating at him 284 00:12:59,039 --> 00:13:00,799 from the inside out. Do you this thing must have 285 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,600 taken centsureus to form what are the odds that it 286 00:13:02,639 --> 00:13:04,799 would happen to collapse in the same day we show up? 287 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,519 Fair enough, Kirk replied, but he was not placated. They 288 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,240 were now in a section of the tunnels so narrow 289 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,279 it forced Koke to keep his arms out ahead of himself, 290 00:13:11,279 --> 00:13:13,559 and he wondered how emmittt was managing to slide himself along, 291 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,399 how far was his friend going to take them? How 292 00:13:15,399 --> 00:13:17,759 long before he decided it wasn't worth continuing. They had 293 00:13:17,759 --> 00:13:19,320 no idea if there was more to this cave or 294 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,440 if it was just going to be dead end, forcing 295 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,000 them to warn their way out backwards. Thinking along these lines, 296 00:13:24,279 --> 00:13:26,759 Kirk finally asked the sensible question, what if we can 297 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,399 turn around? Emmett paused Kurt, could hear him breathing? How to? 298 00:13:29,399 --> 00:13:31,440 The sound was tibuler and round, as if Emmett were 299 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,840 breathing into a deep empty cap. Emmett feat slid backward 300 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:35,879 a couple of inches, followed by his bat you know what, 301 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,039 he said, You're right, it looks like this thing only 302 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:39,799 gets narrower. I wish we knew if there was going 303 00:13:39,799 --> 00:13:42,000 to be somewhere to turn around up ahead. Well we don't, 304 00:13:42,039 --> 00:13:44,200 so think we should call it. Emmett was quiet again, 305 00:13:44,279 --> 00:13:46,200 and Kirk knew he was fighting the urged to push on. 306 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,559 That was immit Free, never one to give up, never 307 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,320 went to back down from a challenge. It was his 308 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,519 personality trait which empowered him to dream of being a 309 00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:54,600 metal drummer instead of using his degree. It was this 310 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,080 tenacity which had on more than one occasion, inspired of 311 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,559 character to complete his engineering degree, even when some of 312 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:01,639 his friends back home or boasting of new six figure 313 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:03,799 salaries right out of trade school. And they both knew 314 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,960 that if had been calling through the channel alone, he 315 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,039 would have continued. But he had cuck to think of yet. 316 00:14:08,039 --> 00:14:10,399 Emmett finally said, let's get out of here. Kirk avoided 317 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,200 saying anything to console Emmett. No words could raise the 318 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,159 feeling of defeat eating at his friend. He slid his 319 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,720 legs backwards, then pushed his torso back through the channel. 320 00:14:17,799 --> 00:14:20,159 He moved like a caterpillar in reverse. Em it'scooted backward 321 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,240 in the same manner. Reversing proved far more difficult than 322 00:14:22,279 --> 00:14:24,399 either of them had expected. That they realized how much 323 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:26,720 more space the act of slinking backward required. Neither of 324 00:14:26,759 --> 00:14:28,159 them would have pressed on as far as they had. 325 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,799 Does it feel skinnyer to you this time? Kerkat half joking. 326 00:14:30,799 --> 00:14:33,039 Ammtt only grunted in response. Kirk was used to emmic 327 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,639 cracking jokes in bad situations. Emmitt typically had a humorous 328 00:14:35,639 --> 00:14:39,120 outlook on everything. Hey man, you doing okay? Kirk asked 329 00:14:39,159 --> 00:14:41,799 the souls of Emmett's boots. Emmit gral, just keep going? 330 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,840 Yeah okay. Kirk slid backward. The channel was so narrow 331 00:14:45,919 --> 00:14:47,600 here that he couldn't move one leg at a time. 332 00:14:47,679 --> 00:14:49,399 He had to hold them tightly against each other and 333 00:14:49,399 --> 00:14:51,639 push them back in a single movement. He catapulled his 334 00:14:51,679 --> 00:14:54,240 tauser back, then tried to slide his legs again, but 335 00:14:54,279 --> 00:14:56,799 one refused to move, trapping the other. Emmet's boot kicked 336 00:14:56,799 --> 00:14:59,279 into Kirk's face. Hey hold up, Kirk shouted through the 337 00:14:59,279 --> 00:15:01,519 dirty rubber SMI ushed into his cheek. Are you stuck? 338 00:15:02,159 --> 00:15:05,519 Emmett asked, no, I just got her. Kirk shifted himself 339 00:15:05,519 --> 00:15:07,919 slightly and tried again, but his leg wouldn't much. I 340 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,879 think my. He pulled his knees up maybe half an inch. 341 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,080 It was all he could manage, and pushed again, but 342 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,360 was impeached once more. Ah, I think my beard leg 343 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:20,519 is caught. Are you serious? Emmett asked, Does it sound 344 00:15:20,559 --> 00:15:24,759 like I'm joking? Kirk's bat His voice bordered on hysteria. 345 00:15:25,519 --> 00:15:27,679 So much anxiety tore through the small space between the 346 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,200 two men that them it felt it invade him in 347 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,240 an intoxicating rush. Okay, what if I give you some 348 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,639 room to move forward? Emmett asked, try it, demanded Kirk. 349 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,919 Emmett scuffed both elbows as he awkwardly slid them along 350 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,519 through the rough limestone. It had been wet the first 351 00:15:42,559 --> 00:15:44,759 time they had come through, but after both he and 352 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,879 Kirk had slid through it twice, the rock was dry 353 00:15:46,879 --> 00:15:49,840 as bone and as gritty as sandpaper. Emmett didn't even 354 00:15:49,879 --> 00:15:52,320 sense the pain as his elbows were ground down, leaving 355 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,960 thin trails of blood eagerly lapped up by the spongy stone. 356 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,399 The channel felt height than ever. In Emmett's mind, the 357 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,759 stone was closing in around them, swallowing them. In reality, 358 00:16:01,799 --> 00:16:04,519 his mushrooming panic was causing him to use base less efficiently. 359 00:16:05,159 --> 00:16:07,559 It's too tight, that's all I got, he informed Kirk. 360 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,320 He listened to Cook's boot scuffle against the stone, and 361 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,120 as his friend tried kicking the trap boot off. Oh man, 362 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,480 it's really stuck, Kirk said, So reach back there and 363 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,159 fix it. Emmy shouted, How am I supposed to do that? 364 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,879 Kerk snapped. He tried again to free himself while he 365 00:16:22,879 --> 00:16:25,960 took a long, comforting sip from his camel back. At 366 00:16:26,039 --> 00:16:29,039 least he still had water. In between SIPs, he heard 367 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,000 a faint nose behind him, a scratching sound more harsh 368 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,120 than the sound of his rubber soles and the limestone. 369 00:16:34,679 --> 00:16:39,080 What is that, Kerk asked, What is what? Emmett sounded 370 00:16:39,159 --> 00:16:42,919 dangerously impatient. There was a sun behind me. How the 371 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,759 hell would I know what it is? What could it be? Though? 372 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,240 Kirk asked, he was really trying not to think about 373 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,159 the small raud Emitt claimed to have seen in the cavern. 374 00:16:51,759 --> 00:16:54,240 Might it have followed them into this tunnel? Are you 375 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,679 seriously stuck? Emmett asked, as if the previous few seconds 376 00:16:57,679 --> 00:17:02,279 hadn't happened. Yes, I told you, man. Kerkyelt ahead. Something 377 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,000 nibbled at his boot. He couldn't feel it, but he 378 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,960 heard it. It sounded curious, like a toddler nibbling at 379 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,640 a strange new cracker. Hey, get back get back you, 380 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,200 little Kerk stamped the nibblefoot. The rats squaked before retreating, 381 00:17:15,279 --> 00:17:18,640 confirming Kerk's worse fear. Somehow, he would have been less 382 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,519 afraid of a raccoon, or certainly of a square. There 383 00:17:21,559 --> 00:17:24,000 was just something about rats that ate at him. Is 384 00:17:24,039 --> 00:17:27,319 the rat you saw? He told Emmett somewhere behind me. Now. 385 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,720 Emmett didn't care. His only aim was to get out 386 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,519 of this cave alive. His friend blocked the way back 387 00:17:33,559 --> 00:17:36,400 and apparently couldn't do anything to help himself. In his 388 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,119 paralyzed position, Emmy couldn't do anything to help Kirk either. 389 00:17:39,759 --> 00:17:42,680 His only option was to forge ahead. He wasn't helpful 390 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:44,839 about what he might find aya, but moving sounded a 391 00:17:44,839 --> 00:17:46,720 lot better than laying still and waiting for Kirk to 392 00:17:46,759 --> 00:17:49,759 maybe free himself. I'm going to push forward again, he 393 00:17:49,799 --> 00:17:55,319 told Kirk. Kerk once more felt ignored. What No, man, 394 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:57,759 don't leave me here. I don't want to be alone 395 00:17:57,799 --> 00:18:01,000 with this thing. Listen, Emmett said, if I can find 396 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,119 somewhere up ahead to turn myself around, I can come 397 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,799 back through head first. I'll help get you free so 398 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,480 we can both get out of here. What about the rat? 399 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:10,880 It's not like I can do anything about it now, 400 00:18:11,039 --> 00:18:15,880 is there? That's not Kirk. Emmitt commanded, that's enough, I'll 401 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,880 be right back, Leaving Kirk whimpering to himself. Emmit called forward. 402 00:18:20,559 --> 00:18:22,720 Having a plan leveled his emotions and allowed him to 403 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,119 control his movements better than before. He used the available 404 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,880 space efficiently and allowed his anxious feelings to propel him 405 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,039 rather than hint to him. They were fuel for his 406 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:34,920 exhaustive mind and drain body. Soon he found himself starving 407 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,279 into the sin telescope in section that had convinced him 408 00:18:37,279 --> 00:18:40,319 to retreat, It appeared to get down further into the hill. 409 00:18:40,839 --> 00:18:42,599 He could only see perhaps a dozen feet of the 410 00:18:42,599 --> 00:18:46,079 passageway ahead. If he wasn't careful, he could get himself 411 00:18:46,079 --> 00:18:50,039 stuck like Kerk had. And then what they each died alone, 412 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,839 unable to move. Would they run out of oxygen or 413 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,920 starve to death? Probably neither. Most likely they would die 414 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,839 of thirst. M It had but two options. Crawl back 415 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,079 and be trapped with Kirk, or forge ahead and maybe 416 00:19:03,079 --> 00:19:05,720 find a way to free them both. He chose the latter. 417 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,440 Half way to the downward curve in the channel, Emmett 418 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,480 knew he was rapidly reaching the end of his journey, 419 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,039 he could no longer the use's legs or hips at all. 420 00:19:13,599 --> 00:19:16,559 He had to drag himself along by his elbows if 421 00:19:16,599 --> 00:19:18,480 he could even make it to wear the passage ship down. 422 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,480 He doubted he would make it much further unless the 423 00:19:20,519 --> 00:19:24,960 channel expanded, but still he dragged himself forward. Finally, the 424 00:19:25,039 --> 00:19:27,440 channel grew so narrower emm it could no longer move. 425 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:30,559 Before he resigned completely. He pointed his phone ahead to 426 00:19:30,559 --> 00:19:33,799 survey the upcoming to rain. He saw with some surprise 427 00:19:34,039 --> 00:19:35,720 that what he had thought was a downward curve in 428 00:19:35,759 --> 00:19:38,359 the channel was actually a mouth, or perhaps the other end, 429 00:19:38,519 --> 00:19:40,599 since the place they had entered would likely be considered 430 00:19:40,599 --> 00:19:43,200 the mouth. The craggy Ain is let out into another 431 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,240 wide cavern. This was exactly what Emmett had hoped for. 432 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,599 Getting to the cavern would involve hundreds of minuscule movements 433 00:19:49,599 --> 00:19:52,480 and probably a kind of physical agony he had never experienced, 434 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,119 as the flesh of his arms was rubbed away on 435 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,000 the rocks. But he had to try. Kerk allowed himself 436 00:19:57,079 --> 00:19:59,920 to believe Emmett would return and save him. Time passed 437 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,960 slowly in the cave. However, Kirk thought Emmett had been 438 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,200 absent for twenty minutes when he had only been gone 439 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,240 for six. At the six minute mark, Kirk began to 440 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,359 lose his cool again. He started telling himself Emmett would 441 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,000 never come back. He pictured his friend in the same 442 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,559 predicament as himself, just fred the head where the tunnel 443 00:20:16,599 --> 00:20:19,440 was even skinner. At least Emmett wouldn't have to worry 444 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,480 about rat creeping around his feet. The rat returned after 445 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,200 Emmett had been gone for eight minutes. Kirk held his 446 00:20:25,279 --> 00:20:27,440 breath when he heard his scurry up to him. He 447 00:20:27,519 --> 00:20:30,680 laced ill, hoping it would leave him alone. It didn't work. 448 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,160 He soon felt the creature tugging at his laces. He 449 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,519 could hear the thirds tearing each time his foot jerked. 450 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,319 If only the rat had focused on the other foot, 451 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,079 the laces that were caught, the creepy animal had the 452 00:20:42,079 --> 00:20:44,240 power to free him, and that only made Kirk angry 453 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,319 on top of being disgusted and terrified. He tried nudging 454 00:20:47,319 --> 00:20:49,319 the rat toward the trap foot, but it kept returning 455 00:20:49,319 --> 00:20:52,720 to the free one. Soon Kirk gave up. He thought 456 00:20:52,759 --> 00:20:54,680 maybe if the rat enjoyed the lace from one boot, 457 00:20:54,759 --> 00:20:56,799 it would eat up the other one. Once it was finished, 458 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,279 we shall think king instead. When the ras u was 459 00:21:00,319 --> 00:21:02,599 dune playing with the brute lace, it explored Kirk's leg. 460 00:21:03,279 --> 00:21:05,759 He could feel it studding him. Its paws occasionally scratched 461 00:21:05,759 --> 00:21:09,160 at his pants. Then one sharp little rat par slept 462 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,359 beneath Kirk's jeans and found his tacky, sweaty skin. The 463 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,480 rat chirp and another rat responded it out of here. 464 00:21:15,599 --> 00:21:18,559 Kirk shouted as he kicked. The rats squeaked in pain, 465 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,519 bescurreed right back to his leg. A second set of 466 00:21:21,559 --> 00:21:24,000 paws ran up the length of Kirk's calf, then back down. 467 00:21:24,559 --> 00:21:26,440 The two rats chirped back and forth to each other 468 00:21:26,559 --> 00:21:29,480 like mating birds. One of them slipped it once out 469 00:21:29,519 --> 00:21:33,160 into Kok's punt le like no. Kirk screamed. The rat 470 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,920 wriggled in further No. Its nose rubbed his skin, it 471 00:21:37,039 --> 00:21:39,960 at it sunk its teeth into the flesh of his calf. 472 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,160 Whatever Kerk's green necks was entirely unintelligible. The other rat 473 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,440 run up his shaking leg to escape the violent defense. 474 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,680 It found itself trapped where Kok's comeback was pres flushed 475 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,759 against the stone ceiling. But if you know anything about rats, 476 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:57,200 you know their creative creatures, their survivors. In the sixteenth 477 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,400 and seventeenth centuries, some people placed rats inside a automous 478 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,240 metal cage upon the stomach of a person who was 479 00:22:02,279 --> 00:22:05,359 suspected of this crime or that. The interrogator would put 480 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:07,319 hot coals atop the cage, one at a time until 481 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,279 the heat became unbearable to the rat. It would burrow down, 482 00:22:10,559 --> 00:22:13,160 forging an escape through the flesh and organs of the accused. 483 00:22:13,759 --> 00:22:16,480 The rat required no training to perform this torturous act. 484 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:20,079 The burrow was in their nature. To dig, to claw, 485 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:21,440 to bite is at the very core of what it 486 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,640 means to be a rat. The stone tore em it 487 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,599 shot in his shoulder and stomach regions. His back felt 488 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:28,759 wet with more than swist, so he assumed his camerback 489 00:22:28,799 --> 00:22:31,160 had been torn open as well. He now hurt his 490 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,079 head and arms through the opening. Like Winnie the prew 491 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,799 trying to get home after eating too much honey, his 492 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,240 lower two thirds was still wedge tight inside the tunnel. 493 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:41,640 Old balda with a tremendous heave, which strained one of 494 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,000 his drobbing elbows. He managed to pop his camel back 495 00:22:44,039 --> 00:22:46,480 out of the hole. The rest of him followed easily. 496 00:22:46,519 --> 00:22:48,799 Once that was out of the way, he fell three 497 00:22:48,799 --> 00:22:51,079 feet to the slick floor, landing ungracefully on the side 498 00:22:51,079 --> 00:22:53,599 of his face. He allowed himself a minute to move 499 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,359 about freely. His chest heaved as he took an air 500 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,440 he hadn't had enough room for back in the channel. 501 00:22:59,039 --> 00:23:01,640 He let his arms swing at his sides, resting his 502 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:05,319 sore shoulders and lads. Regrettably, their job was far from over. 503 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,960 Once he felt like he could raise his arms without 504 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,559 agonizing his muscles, he removed his torn camel back and 505 00:23:10,599 --> 00:23:13,519 tossed it away, empty and useless. He was gud to 506 00:23:13,519 --> 00:23:15,440 be rid of it, and for the immeasurable value its 507 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,200 absence would afford him. Emmett was still not ready to 508 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:20,680 return to the channel, but he heard Cook's echoing voice. 509 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,079 He had heard his friend yelling at the rat before her, 510 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,480 but now he sounded lonesome and nervous. Emmett wondered if 511 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,920 maybe Kok's fawn had died, or maybe he just couldn't 512 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,400 handle a few minutes on his own. He supposed he 513 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:34,039 himself was only handling the separation so well because he 514 00:23:34,039 --> 00:23:37,440 could move freely. It was Kirk's second cry, a stomach churning, 515 00:23:37,599 --> 00:23:40,319 gurgling sword of sound, which sent Annet back into action. 516 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,680 He had never heard such a sound come from a 517 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:46,039 person before. It was no agitated wail, but a primal 518 00:23:46,039 --> 00:23:49,079 bellow of agony, like a rat. Emmett's curried back into 519 00:23:49,079 --> 00:23:52,279 the tunnel head first. Without his camel back, Emmitt could 520 00:23:52,279 --> 00:23:55,440 move much freer and more quickly. His progress did not 521 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,519 come without pain, excruciating at times, but it was progress 522 00:23:58,559 --> 00:24:01,680 none the less. As he need Kirk Kerk's horrible screaming 523 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,680 grew louder and more frequent. Emittt directed all of his 524 00:24:04,839 --> 00:24:06,759 energy into his limbs as he called and kicked his 525 00:24:06,759 --> 00:24:09,960 way forward, occasionally breathing deeply enough to call out and coming. 526 00:24:10,559 --> 00:24:13,240 Kerk's gargling screams were intermixed with brief words like no, 527 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,839 stop and most desperate of all, please, but mostly his 528 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:20,400 noises were unintelligible. Soon Emmitt reached the section where the 529 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,079 tunnel widened slightly, so he knew he was getting close. 530 00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:26,559 Kuk coughed a wet sound, and a grotesque spatter echoed 531 00:24:26,559 --> 00:24:29,200 to Emma. He tried not to think about crawling through 532 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,319 his friend's vomit and pressed on no more words famed 533 00:24:32,319 --> 00:24:35,559 and Kok's screams. The screams themselves were beginning to wane, 534 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,319 as if Kirk were falling asleep. Emmit could not have 535 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,160 him passing out. If Kirk blacked out, if Emmit could 536 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,559 not wake him back up, their phones would die and 537 00:24:43,599 --> 00:24:45,680 they would run out of light before they could escape. 538 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,200 His own phone had less than twenty percent of its 539 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,680 battery left. He shouted, stay awake, stay with me. He 540 00:24:51,759 --> 00:24:54,119 expected to gobble gibberish screams, to mo off back into 541 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:57,359 human noises words, but Kerk still sounded a utterly void 542 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,400 of humanity. He coughed again, which was followed by another 543 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,839 splatter of food on cold stone. Hang on, Emmett shouted, 544 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,799 he was close now. He could smell kirk sweat, He 545 00:25:07,799 --> 00:25:12,119 could smell the vomit. He could smell something metallic too. Blood. 546 00:25:12,759 --> 00:25:15,599 He told himself he was imagining this, or maybe smelling 547 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,279 his own blood. He could not imagine Kerk had bled 548 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,079 enough to create an odor more powerful than puke. Emmett 549 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:22,880 tossed his phone a few feet ahead to free both 550 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,480 of his hands for a final horst. It landed at 551 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,440 the flask light pointed down, and for a moment the 552 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,680 tunnel was pitch black. Kerk's final scream faded, and the 553 00:25:30,759 --> 00:25:34,559 darkness became silence as well. Kerk. Emmett yelled, dragging his 554 00:25:34,599 --> 00:25:37,480 aching body forward. He felt around until he found his 555 00:25:37,519 --> 00:25:40,200 phone and lifted it. The light reflected off of Kerk's 556 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,839 open eyes and pale face. His head had dropped side 557 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:44,640 was into the puddle of blood and vomit which covered 558 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,079 the stone in front of him. Spouted blood flecked the 559 00:25:47,079 --> 00:25:50,200 corners of his mouth. One of his bulging eyes was red. 560 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,880 Emmett wriggled his way closer. Kerk's jaw moved weakly, as 561 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:57,359 if he were trying to whisper something. Kerk, buddy, I'm here. 562 00:25:58,039 --> 00:25:59,920 I'll get you out so we can go, Emmett said. 563 00:26:00,599 --> 00:26:03,039 He looked into his friend's eyes, one vacant, the other 564 00:26:03,039 --> 00:26:05,759 blood shot. He assumed all the screaming had broken the 565 00:26:05,799 --> 00:26:09,720 eyes blood vessels. Kerk's jaw moved again. Come on, just 566 00:26:09,759 --> 00:26:12,440 tell me what it is. I'm here, Emmitt said. Kok' 567 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,680 slipped parted slightly in it, slid closer and turned his 568 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,279 ear towards Cook's parted lips. A small squeak escaped his mouth. 569 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,519 That's all right, emm It assured him. I'll just see 570 00:26:22,519 --> 00:26:25,200 if I can reach around you, and Kerk's mouth split 571 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,359 open and his bloated black tumnelolled out. Emmitt shouted in 572 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,680 surprise and disgust and pushed himself back. The tongue dripp 573 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,960 blood into the ever growing puddle as it wigged back 574 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,799 and forth. Emmett shone his light directly and the blackened 575 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,640 organ and saw it wasn't a tongue at all, but 576 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:40,920 the head of an enormous rat calling out of Kok's mouth. 577 00:26:41,519 --> 00:26:44,759 The creature's fur was saturated with dark blood. It barely 578 00:26:44,759 --> 00:26:48,000 fited between Kerk's red teeth, while its tail slid out 579 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,200 of Kok's frot like a needle being swallowed backwards. A 580 00:26:50,279 --> 00:26:53,400 second ruined peered in Kok's mouth. This one carried his 581 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:55,839 real tongue between its own teeth as it passed through Kok's. 582 00:26:56,519 --> 00:26:58,480 As he screamed, Emmitt watched he had the third rout 583 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:00,559 emerged from the tunnel they had created through his friend 584 00:27:00,759 --> 00:27:03,839 his room made of four years. They emerged ready discovery 585 00:27:03,839 --> 00:27:05,839 through the tunnel, only to find a blocked by yet 586 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,920 another flashy obstacle. They stood three in a row on 587 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,119 their hind legs, stirring at Emmett, and he stared back. 588 00:27:12,799 --> 00:27:14,640 A fourth rot dug its way out of Kirk. Then 589 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,960 a fifth. Emmett started backing up, but the ruts kept coming. 590 00:27:18,519 --> 00:27:20,240 They had heard that a Cajo had meet Buffett, had 591 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,200 come to their home, and they were ready to feast. 592 00:27:22,839 --> 00:27:25,079 Soon the rats had filled the space between him and Kirk. 593 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,079 They were crawling over his head, smearing his face with 594 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,759 Kirk's blood. One of them poked its nose into his 595 00:27:30,799 --> 00:27:34,000 mouth and he chomped at it into fence, squeaked, and retreated, 596 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,880 only to be replaced by another. A third ratbit at 597 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,240 his nostril, while fourth chomped off his ear lob. Emmett retreated, 598 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:42,839 ignoring every painfully and rob in his abuse body as 599 00:27:42,839 --> 00:27:45,720 he desperately reversed away from the horde of Rudence. But 600 00:27:45,839 --> 00:27:48,519 unlike the exhausted man, the rats were fresh and invigorated. 601 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:51,319 Even as he pushed some away from his ears, others 602 00:27:51,319 --> 00:27:54,319 were gnawing at his nose. He kept his mouth close tight, 603 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:56,599 but they started biting and clawing at his soft cheeks. 604 00:27:57,279 --> 00:27:59,839 One lunge for his right eye. He managed to close 605 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:02,039 it just in time, but his thin eyler did little 606 00:28:02,039 --> 00:28:04,640 to slow the creature. They grew so thick around his 607 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,400 face that he couldn't breathe. No matter how quickly he 608 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,559 moved backward, they filled in and smothered him. Soon he 609 00:28:10,599 --> 00:28:12,720 had backed up to where the channel grew narrow again, 610 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,000 which fatally slowed his progress. By the time they knowed 611 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:17,960 their way to his second hyble, Emmett could also feel 612 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,279 them entering his mouth through his cheeks, behind his molders. 613 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:24,279 When they started chewing at his gums, consciousness mercifully abandoned him. 614 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,880 So there you have it, didn't I warn you? Don't 615 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,880 say I didn't. I don't want to hear any complaints. 616 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:33,440 I told you at the beginning, and warned you again 617 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:36,000 in the middle. I gave you every signal, every sign 618 00:28:36,039 --> 00:28:38,440 possible for the few of you that made it this far. 619 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:41,480 I hope you've received this warning. Well. The wilderness is 620 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:46,279 in a playground. It's a harsh, desolate place, beautiful but merciless. 621 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,039 It can be in joy, but it has to be respected. 622 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,039 If you don't take it seriously. If you don't respect it, 623 00:28:52,039 --> 00:28:55,680 it might just eat you alive. And that is the end, 624 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:57,960 thank you for listening and I will see you in 625 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:11,039 the next one.