Under Underwater World

The cavern air became warm, then balmy as we descended. I watched the man in front of me unbutton his shirt and wipe his forehead. The line seemed to stretch for infinity in both directions. Perched on my father's shoulder, I turned around and watched the long row of men, women, and children fade into the darkness behind me. Ahead I could detect a warm red glow illuminating the heads of the tallest men. I was starting to get hungry, and looked at my watch. It was well after noon, and our tour was advertised to include a light lunch.

My mother and sisters stood silent. Over the first hour the promise of sharks and eels had grown from giddy anticipation, to frustration, to subdued outrage. I wasn't bothered much...too curious. There was a dampness shimmering on both sides, and drops flashed tiny specks of light among the bleak darkness. Several landed on my head. We seemed to have walked for miles into the earth. The cavern had grown narrow and the adults stood single file. There could be movement in one direction only...down. The very fat man behind us left no doubt of that.

We shuffled toward the exhibit and wondered what emergency had possibly trapped us. I imagined an asteroid or other cataclysm had annihilated the earth far above and we were miraculously spared because we happened to be in line for Underwater World. I knew the reality was likely mundane...a cracked aquarium or something that required a detour. The exhibit exit was far off on the other side of the mall.

I felt sorry for my sister Jane. It was her birthday, and she began to cry as mother held her against her shoulder, stroking her hair. She always loved watching fish swim among the reefs on the Discovery Channel, and dad had teased her all week about our upcoming trip to this place. "Fish day is coming! WEEE!," as he spun her around, "it will be the fishiest day all month!"

I was less enthusiastic about sea life, and found the alternative scenario much more mysterious and interesting. We had no contact with anyone. Our cell phones had no signal, and we had received no announcements or word from folks in front of us or behind us. There was a circular chatter: "Do you know what's going on?" "Nope, you?" "Not at all." The man in front of us tried to push his way back toward the entrance, but could not fit around the man behind us. Things got a bit unsettling as he started to freak out...claustrophobic I guess. Dad shut him up with a few calm words. I didn't hear what they were, but they worked.

Over the next hour the glow became more intense, the heat, beastly. Removed from my throne atop dad, I could see nothing but legs and arms through the red. I remember thinking the emergency lighting was poor, leaving our feet to stumble on the shallow steps. The cavern grew silent and eerie, and I wanted desperately to know what lay ahead. It was probably in the third hour that the line stopped moving entirely. As much as I resisted, fear started to overcome the boredom.

Finally, the stillness jumped as a thunderous bang echoed through the hallway. To our great relief, within minutes the line began to move slowly forward. Jane was no longer interested in seeing a live Ahi Tuna, she just wanted to get out of there and back up to the mall. We couldn't agree more.

A dry heat began to blast as we moved forward. There were red lights on the wall and the hallway widened. We walked around a corner and were delighted to see an open passage into a larger space. Jane might see her Ahi after all, I thought. Before I had even entered I saw little chance for Ahi, or even an aquarium, but something nonetheless incredible...

Orange and red light danced among the clean stone walls on all sides, lit by burning braziers. The ceiling was high and rocky with stalactites hanging freely among the towering pillars. It was expansive, with a sleek marble staircase up the middle and then leading in both directions to a balcony on both sides. The railings were masonry and featured gargoyles on the ends. Men in dark robes with hoods loomed above on all sides with arms folded into their large, hanging sleeves. There was not an eel or even a catfish to be seen.

We entered and found a vacant slab of polished floor to stand on. Jane was smiling. Mom held her hand. The room became gradually littered with colorful shirts. Roving bipeds of all shapes and sizes ambled about aimlessly, cameras around their necks. I saw the large man who had been waiting behind us draw his head back to admire the balcony, exposing his hairy gut.

"Must be the lobby," a young man reported. Most people were casually meandering about as if they were in a gift shop or museum. They took pictures of each other against the murals painted on one of the walls.

More folks hobbled in behind us, many gracing the area with an opinion: "I will be getting a refund." "A Refund? This is kidnapping! I'll be seeing the owner in court." Mom and dad stood still among us kids, looking around. Dad seemed more quiet than usual, I think he may have been concerned.

A man walked up a couple steps and yelled up at one of the stoic gentlemen "hey, Zoolander, what's the best way out of here?" He remained still and silent, face barely noticeable within the shade of his large hood. "Hey, I'm talking to you, peaches."

Suddenly, a steel slab crashed down over the passage we had just walked through. It's concussion shook the stone floor and was followed by a chorus of screams. A voice penetrated the area:

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Under Underwater World. I am your guide, Mel, and I'm so glad you took time out of your busy schedules to join us today. Please place both feet along the black circle on the floor."

A man responded immediately. "Uh, we're her for the marine life, man. But, we've been trapped in a cave for four hours. We are ready to go home now."

Another chimed in. "Oh, and you validate parking, right? I mean, it's been all afternoon."

The voice roared: "Stand on the black circle!"

There was a dark marble strip that formed a large circle. It occupied the area between the entrance and the bottom of the stairs. The several dozen of us grumbled as we did what we were told. Soon everyone was positioned in a circle, most facing inward. Mom and dad stood on either side of us kids.

The creepy druid-like characters turned and walked around the balcony and down the stairs. There were four of them, and two walked within the circle and began distributing what looked like small, white tokens. They gave one to each individual. I took mine and began to play with it, flipping it into the air and catching it, as if playing heads and tails. It wasn't very fun...both sides were plain.

"Congratulations, brothers and sisters, each of you has been given one token. In this place you will find no mercy for any soul lacking a token. As such, each of you has actually been given precisely one life. You have complete equality. I suggest you care for your token accordingly."

Mom placed her hand on my shoulder. I still didn't know if this was a game or what. Dad just stood there, looking around anxiously.

A man on the other side of the circle raised his hand, then began speaking...

"Um, sir, my name is Harmon, and I'm afraid this is a big mistake. We all came for Underwater World, not Under Underwater World, and must have taken the wrong tunnel. Can you let us out of here, please so we can all just go home? I have a very important engagement to attend this evening."

"Oh, absolutely, Harmon. Anyone may leave at any time, of course. I only ask that you to return your token."

A druid stood in the middle of the circle with his hand out, ready to accept the token. Harmon slowly walked toward the center of the circle. He held the token over the druid's hand. He thought about the words spoken earlier, and wondered what was meant by "mercy."

Suddenly, the druid snatched the token from Harmon's hand and instantly impaled him through the chest with his staff. Harmon uttered a terrifying screech and fell to the ground dead.

Everyone in the circle began to panic, screaming and crying. I couldn't see a thing after that. Dad covered my eyes. But, after the ruckus settled down a bit, I could see the trail of blood. Apparently someone dragged him off somewhere. The voice rumbled back to life...

"Now, we have one extra token. Who wants it? Remember, one token gets you out of this place. But, now you know what happens without one."

The druid tossed the extra token into the middle of the circle.

Almost without hesitation, two young men dashed from either side and dove to retrieve the token. One man touched it first, but fumbled it, and the other grabbed it and held it tightly against his chest, curling into a ball. The man who fumbled the token walked back to his place in the circle. He pulled his own token out of his pocket and rubbed it between his fingers.

"Congratulations, sir, what is your name?"

He held a token in each hand. "I'm Andrew."

"Well, Andrew, you have an extra token. You may exchange it for passage out of here and back to the mall above. Once you exchange your extra token, it will be destroyed."

A woman spoke up from across the circle. "Wait, this isn't equality! Andrew has two tokens. Didn't you promise us equality?"

"You all still have your original token. I am sad about the misfortune of our fallen friend, but safe passage from this place costs exactly one token."

"But this isn't fair," an older gentleman bellowed. "Some of us never had a chance to acquire that extra token in the first place!"

"Who said it was fair. I only promised equality..."

"But all of us should have an equal opportunity to acquire the token. That is equality..."

"The token was dropped directly in the center of the circle. Do you believe you deserve Andrew's token?"

"Maybe I do."

"Well then, I think we can all agree that you deserve the token and Andrew does not. However, giving you the token instead does not make our situation any more equal, does it? Besides, if you have the right to take one token from Andrew, what stops others from claiming the right to take one token from you?"

"Well, it's my only one. I have none to spare."

"Neither does he, mate."

The man scoffed and threw his hands up in the air. The voice grew stronger...

"Andrew, look around you," the voice rumbled. "In order to leave, you need to hand one token to the druid, and then exit the circle. One of these people must let you through, despite the fact that they cannot join you. Once one of them does, you are free to go. If no one volunteers to allow you passage, you will rejoin the circle, retaining both tokens."

Andrew looked around at the grim faces around him. They were horrified with what they had seen. He wanted to bring them all with, especially the children. Then he thought about his own children. He decided he had no choice but to proceed. He handed the druid his extra token and walked to the edge of the circle. In front of him stood a large man with arms crossed, a fortress. He moved to the side and found a woman with an equally stern disposition. The older gentleman also stood his ground. They would simply not let Andrew pass.

I watched as he slowly came my direction. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. One after another, each person blocked him from leaving. How could it be? I wondered how folks could be so stubborn. I started to tremble, hoping he didn't make it all the way to me. How could I bear to keep him trapped? Such a thing was unthinkable.

Finally, he was standing in front of dad. I looked around and saw the menacing faces fixated on my father. I knew dad would let him pass. Dad was a good man, probably the best man ever. He looked at mom and then me. I looked at him calmly...I knew he would do the right thing. He smiled at me.

Then he did something I'll never forget. He did not budge, crossing his arms.

Before I knew it Andrew was standing in front of me. I was shaking. I looked at dad, then mom. I knew what was right. I knew it. Dad must be testing me. "Not one bit of harm could possibly come of anyone here by simply letting Andrew pass," I thought. "He had everything to gain and we had nothing to lose...after all, everyone still had their token." I stood back and let Andrew pass to the outside as gasps echoed around the circle. (I'm still sorta confused about that.)

The voice erupted. "Thank you, young man. Alright, you are all free to go now. Hermon, you cleaned up yet? Show these folks out of here so they can see some fish. Oh, and someone fix that heater. It feels like a furnace in here."

Alternative ending 1:
Before I knew it Andrew was standing in front of me. I was shaking. I looked at dad, then mom. I knew what was right. "Not one bit of harm could possibly come of anyone here by simply letting Andrew pass," I thought. "He had everything to gain and we had nothing to lose...after all, everyone still had their token." Still, I had to stand my ground. I decided to follow dad's lead. After all, what did I know about right and wrong compared to him?

He approached the last man in the circle. His eyes were closed. He was deep in thought.

"Yes, Andrew, I will let you pass. But, you owe me $10 if I ever get out of this."

They shook hands.

The voice erupted. "Thank you, gentlemen. Alright, you are all free to go now. Hermon, you cleaned up yet? Show these folks out of here so they can see some fish. Oh, and someone fix that heater. It feels like a furnace in here."

Andrew handed the man $10. "Should have asked for more..."

The man shrugged. "Well, could have done worse, I guess."

Alternative ending 2:
Before I knew it Andrew was standing in front of me. I was shaking. I looked at dad, then mom. I knew what was right. "Not one bit of harm could possibly come of anyone here by simply letting Andrew pass," I thought. "He had everything to gain and we had nothing to lose...after all, everyone still had their token." Still, I had to stand my ground. I decided to follow dad's lead. After all, what did I know about right and wrong compared to him?

The man continued around the circle. Not one person let him through. He returned to his place along the circumference. He had two tokens, but one was entirely useless. He tossed it into the middle of the circle and all immediately jumped to grab it. The man who had fumbled it earlier managed to pull it out of the hand of another.

All returned to the edge as this man stood for a while in the center. He walked up to the man who had been denied exit...

"Sir, I ask you if you will graciously allow my passage."

"Why should I let you through? You refused me."

It was no use. He held the tokens in his hand. He recognized the complete hopelessness of the situation. They all did.

And therefore, they remained in their circle until all but one died of heat exhaustion and/or dehydration. Mom lived, and got to see Underwater world on her way out. She held Jane's emaciated corpse as she walked feebly through the exhibit.