After the Expedition 

 by Paul Kesler

 

I

You've entered the pyramid. 

A black tunnel.

The rope follows, dragging. You crawl, breathing dust. 

From outside, a tug. You crawl on.

Metal - you feel it. You strike a match.

A grating.

You bang at it. It crumbles. You crawl through.

Small room. 

Sarcophagous. Footprints.

You lift the lid. 

Empty. 

Look around. No exit. Except where you entered.

Crawl in, close lid. Stuffy. 

Get up.

Stuffy. Get up.
 

II

They're restless. One tugs at a rope. It comes out, empty.

He grabs the rope. Coils it. Goes to opening. 

Crawls in.

Crawls. For hours. 

Metal. He strikes a match. 

He crawls through. 

Sarcophagous.

Lifts the lid.

Sees the colleague.

No exit. Except where he entered. 

He leaves for tunnel. Tugs rope. 

They pull him back. They leave. 
 

III 

You see him occasionally. At night, on the hills. 

Ancient bandages. Ancient face.

Breathing heavily. Dust in lungs. 

Tottering. Lost. 

Looking for a way back to town.