The Mikota Story

And then Humphrey threw the switch.

Chapter Three

A DISASTROUS SUMMER AFTERNOON

            The children were just gathering to move toward the doors when a shock wave vibrated the rock surrounding them and then a deep rumbling was felt as much as heard.  Perhaps no other sensory stimulus can so rapidly invoke instant fear and disorientation to most people as what they perceive to be an earthquake.  This tremor was not enough to knock things down or even move them in the Sentinel rooms.  Had there been stalactites they would have been undisturbed for this was a rock stratum with fault lines much like that found in the very stable Mammoth Cave.  It was a relatively short manifestation which hardly lasted a minute and had begun a few seconds after 1:55.

            Jojo was startled for a few seconds and then must have got the idea people had done it for fun because it tickled his feet.  He clapped his hands and said, “More.”  Juliet imitated him, but Bernie stepped aside to John and asked, “Don’t you think we ought to get out of here fast?”

            John replied so the bigger ones heard him, “If this is a seismic shock from an earthquake somewhere, there may be some after shocks.  We’re probably much safer hear than out in the open under the cliffs. Things might fall.  We’d best wait a few minutes in here.  Mitch and your mothers would never leave without you.”

            Hardly had he spoken when at 1:58 there was a tiny tremor followed a minute later by more rumbling and then a sound as of battering rams beating on the door.  The thickness of the doors as well as the tight seal of their closure prevented most outside noise from being heard within so this sudden invasion of sound was very alarming.