Depths of the Mine

When I stepped through the door, I found myself in a white swirling mist, seemingly lit from within. Barely seen muted wisps of colors slid by me in this mist and I grasped at them as they went by, only to find that they were insubstantial and slipped through my fingers. I went deeper into the cavern and the mist lightened a little bit. Now I could see flashes as of gold along the wall, dimmed by the thinning mist. I ran over to them, but they were not really there, either. They were just illusions, fed by desire, born from idle wishes for quick results, no more than fairy lights.

So I went deeper into the caverns, following a trail that I felt, rather than saw. The mist grew thinner and the cavern grew darker. I followed the cavern deep into the heart of the mountain. Finally, it grew so dark that I had to light my candle. (Funny, that- I had been in caves before, and usually when you pass the second bend, all, and I do mean all, the light is gone. Here, it went away slowly and gradually, along with the obscuring mist.)

By candle light, I slowly worked my way deeper and deeper into the mine, checking the walls as I went for signs of gold. The way grew narrow and the walls grew rougher. I was seeing bands of quartz in them, though, which was a good sign.

Finally, with my candle half gone, I squeezed through an opening into a small room that seemed to be a dead end. The milky quartz that formed it gleamed in the light from my candle, throwing reflections everywhere. It was fairly dry in here, and warmer than I had expected. There was a sandy spot in the middle of the floor with a smooth rock behind it, and I went over and sat down, leaning against the rock. For a few minutes, I watched the light from my candle skitter around the walls and then quite suddenly, my candle went out.

I was startled, but didn’t panic. I could relight it when I was ready. Instead, I sat in the complete darkness. I listened to my own breathing, felt my heart beating. I began to breath slowly and felt myself relax and slow down. I closed my eyes and then laughed at myself. It was so dark that having my eyes open or shut would make no difference, so I opened them again.

Breathe in, breathe out. Relax. Let your mind flow.

Then I saw it. A flash of gold. And then another. Flash after flash of gold came from around the room.

I got up, slowly, carefully, and went over to one of the golden gleams. I touched it, and it was real. I pried the nugget loose from the wall, and then went on to another. Nugget after nugget was added to my load.

Finally, with my hands and pack weighed down with the precious resource, I sat down again, in the deep darkness, feeling my way back to where I thought I remembered the sandy spot and rock being. Leaning back against the stone, I breathed slowly and deeply once more, and calmed myself from the excitement of finding so much hidden gold.

Then, feeling like I had done enough for one day, I lit my candle again. Once more the room glistened with the light dancing on the quartz vein. There was no gold to be seen, although I knew it was there. I had the proof in my pack and in my hands. Heavy, rich gold- I looked at it in the dim candlelight and marveled.

Slowly, I made my way back to the surface of the mine, following long passages that grew progressively lighter and brighter, easy passages filled with the false promise of quick riches, away from the true source of wealth hidden deep in the darkness of the mine.

When I reached the surface, the sun was setting in a crimson blaze and the air was crisp and fresh. I showed the keeper my gold, and she smiled at me, and nodded. I was exhausted, and slowly made my way back to town, to my host home.

 

Posted by She Wolf