Yevgeny waited until several hours after dark before slowly dragging the body out through the cavern entrance and part way along the ledge. It was tempting to keep the man’s rifle and ammo but that would have removed the mystery. He smelled smoke as soon as he was through the tunnel entrance. There was a dying fire 100 meters up from the canyon face, just where the canyon narrowed. A strong wind muffled the sounds he made in dropping the body head first down the wall. He heard the thump when the body hit the canyon floor. He watched. No sign of men moving. He sat on the ledge until the darkness began to fade and crawled back through the tunnel. It was good to be out in the fresh air.

Shortly after dawn, Yevgeny heard loud voices and men shouting. He crept to the entrance so he could hear some of the conversation. He could make out the sergeant’s voice.

“Yes, I know it looks like Alexandrov fell, but he didn’t. That bastard is here. I can feel him. Alexandrov didn’t fall headfirst off the ledge. Yes, I know he has all of his equipment and even his weapon. But where did he disappear to? He was talking to us and then silence for almost ten hours then he shows up here below the ledge dead. How do you dummies explain that?

“Okay. You can’t. I want someone to go up there and find out what happened. What, no volunteers? Okay, you’ll all draw straws. The short straw goes up on the ledge. But first, four of you go cut two 20-foot trees and some cross branches so we can make a ladder. The first 20 feet of the climb looks to be the hardest. Be back here in two hours. Then I’ll decide who volunteers.”

Yevgeny heard noises outside the cavern but couldn’t make out what was happening. He was sure someone was climbing the wall but the sounds didn’t fit in. There was no effort to be quiet. The noise stopped and he crawled to the entrance. There were no voices. The scraping sounds had stopped.

On the floor of the canyon 25 meters from the end wall, the sergeant was briefing his men. “Here is the plan. Our best climber, that would be you, Vasily, will climb the wall carrying our rope. Once you are on the ledge, Georgi and Ivan will climb the ladder one at a time. When they get to the top of the ladder, Vasily will lower the rope and help you join him on the ledge.

“There must be a cave, a hiding place or maybe even a way out of the canyon. People lived here in very ancient times. Who knows what could be here or what Alexandrov saw. This time there will be no periods of silence. If he is there, he knows we are here. No need to try tricks. Just kill him. He will not be captured. Shoot on sight. Now go get him. Remember Alexandrov.”

Using most of his homemade candles, Yevgeny went deeper into the cavern. He explored three short side tunnels that narrowed until they were impassable. He found three skulls in one of the tunnels and put one in his pack. There was no question people had lived here in primitive times. The smoke from his candle drifted away from him, down the main part of the cavern. He sensed the cavern continued on for some distance but with his light supply limited, he had to start back. He doubted his ability to make his way back in total darkness.

Yevgeny’s timing wasn’t perfect. Fortunately, he had put out his candle as soon as he could see a glimmer of light from the entrance tunnel. Unfortunately, he could see three men silhouetted in the dim light by the entranceway. They couldn’t see him with the darkness of the cavern cloaking his movements. He brought the .30-40 Krag to his shoulder and shot the man who was closest to the entrance tunnel. The second man was down before he could fire a shot. The third had dropped to the floor at the sound of the first shot and returned fire at the flash of Yevgeny’s second shot. His snap shot hit Yevgeny in his side just above his hip. He recovered, moved to his right, and fired the remaining three rounds in his magazine.

One of Yevgeny’s shots ricocheted off the stone floor just inches from Georgi’s head and hit him in the side of the neck, rupturing the carotid artery.

I’m in serious trouble, Yevgeny thought, dropping his rifle. This wound may not be fatal but it is very dangerous. I’ve seen abdominal wounds and recovery is rare, even in the field hospitals. I need to check the downed men. I don’t want to get shot again. My ammunition is almost gone, food for only two more meager meals. He cut a piece of soft leather from his shirt and forced it in the wound. There was not a lot of external bleeding.

Yevgeny cautiously approached his hunters. He found no pulse, but he did find enough food for a few more days and weapons with plenty of ammunition. Exploring his wound, he discovered the bullet went through and through, but he was bleeding more from the exit wound. He cut another piece of soft leather and strapped it over the wound. He took things he could use for bandages from the bodies. Each man was also carrying a few candle stubs.

Before moving deeper into the cavern, Yevgeny placed the skull in his pack in the center of the entrance tunnel. He was feeling weaker and struggled to get back to one of the side tunnels where he had found a perfect hiding place. He checked constantly to make sure he wasn’t leaving a blood trail. Yevgeny knew the sergeant would never give up. More men would appear tomorrow or within a week, depending on how many men were close.

All of Barry Kelly’s novels are available in print in digital formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your local bookstore. Visit www.factsandfictions.com for more by the author.