CHAPTER 9Matt suddenly stopped yelling and stared at what seemed to be an explosion of light—a light flaring out white and blinding as it fell. It blazed up higher near Matt, behind a forest of helictites, making weird rock formations jump into brilliant focus. Grottoes of mysterious shade alternated with slabs of crystalline glitter. Matt kept staring and blinking suspiciously.
His breathing was slow and heavy, and he was afraid to move anything but his eyes. Finally, though, very slowly and gradually, his doubts began to give way. It was the light of a dropped flare.
Total darkness was total nightmare. But a little light made a great difference—you could see. A vast relief welled up, and he wanted to yell and laugh and run. No, that would be wasting time, he decided; and now that he ha
