The Boy From the Shadows

By James Harvey Stout (deceased). This material is now in the public domain. The complete collection of Mr. Stout's writing is at http://stout.mybravenet.com/public_html/h/ .

Hugh and Tuza stepped carefully through the cave, past rocky stalagmites pointing upward from the ground and rocky stalactites hanging from the ceiling. They looked like flowers rising to the sunlight, and sunlight reaching down to cause those flowers to grow.

And they looked like the mountain that Hugh would climb to reach toward that singing star, while the star sent its light and its voice down. But in this cave, all were just stone, dark stone. Yet these stones reminded him of the world of light outside. And for that, Hugh felt good.

A faint glow reflected from the tunnel's blue surface, and the glow became brighter. Soon the tunnel widened into a room where torches flickered light onto the walls. And the walls gave a beautiful blue reflection.

Hugh and Tuza stood quietly listening to the cavern wind as it chanted, "Huuuuu." A small voice started to sing a soft harmony, and then Tuza joined him in the song.

Hugh smiled at the man and sang, too. The walls echoed gently.

And the voices went on for a moment, wonderfully together, with the same sound of "Huuuuu." Then the people stopped, and just the wind continued.

A young boy stepped from the shadows of the cavern, and greeted them with the greeting, again, "Huuuuu."