Aconite -
Yes, Anode's name, as well as the names of all the other Gnomes, comes from scientific terms. The reasons; the Gnomes are the science folk on the planet - and, if I would be so lucky as to have the book published, young folks may learn some scientific terms - if they take the time to look them up.
Other names used can be seen at:
http://www.thequeenofparadise.com/main_characters.html
Here's the entire excerpt:
“You two can go,” said Bebay. “I’m staying right here where it’s warm and dry.”
“Oh, let’s go in a little ways, Bebay,” said Chemar. “It should be fun.”
The entire group coaxed Bebay until she relented. “Okay – but just for a little ways,” she groaned. “There may be animals in there.”
The gang-of-four got the torches from the wagon and carefully led the girls in under the waterfall and into the cave’s entrance. “Wait a minute,” said Chort. He ran back under the waterfall and came back shortly with a large hoop of rope draped around his neck. “You never know,” he said, while patting the rope.
Once everybody was inside, Rukbat lit his torch and led the way, followed by Anode. The cave opened up into a huge area and as they made their way deeper into the cavern, they noticed the sounds of the waterfall fade off into the distance.
“It stinks in here,” complained Bebay.
“It’s a cave, not your mother’s kitchen,” retorted Chort.
They could hear the sound of water trickling over the walls of the cave and the musty smell of mushrooms filled the damp air. After going several yards deeper inside the cavern, Chort lit his torch. They noticed that the floor of the cave started to descend rapidly, and then drop off into a large gorge. On the left, running along the cave’s wall, was a wide ledge that seemed like a path that wound along the deep pit at their right.
“This is far enough,” barked Bebay. “Let’s get back before something bad happens.”
“Nothing bad is going to happen,” said Chort. “You’ve got us to protect you.”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about,” snapped Bebay.
The flickering of the orange-yellow light from the torches caused eerie reflections to be cast from the wet walls of the cave and the shadows of the rocks seemed to move as if following them.
“I’m going back, with or without any of you,” declared Bebay. “Come on, Chemar.”
“Oh, just a little further,” coaxed Chemar. “Don’t you think this is exciting?”
“No, I don’t!”
“Listen!” Rukbat said, as he stopped dead in his tracks. They could hear the scurrying of small feet in the pit to their right. Rukbat leaned over the ledge holding his torch out over the precipice. He could see small beady eyes looking up at him from another ledge, and then heard the yipping sound of what seemed like a small dog.
“What’s that?” demanded Bebay, excitedly.
“It’s just some foxes,” said Rukbat. “We probably woke them up.”
Bebay stomped her foot down of the hard rock path and folded her arms across here chest. “That’s it!” she shouted. “I’m not going any further. You all can just go on without me.”
“Have it your way,” Bebay,” said Chort. “But it’s going to get very dark standing here all by yourself.”
“Yeah, pitch black dark,” said Anode.
“This path has to lead somewhere,” said Rukbat. “I’m going to follow it and see where it goes. I think it must have been important at one time. It’s too smooth and wide just to occur naturally.”
“It definitely did not occur naturally,” said Anode. “It was cut on purpose. Look at the tool marks on the wall.” Anode pointed to what looked like chisel marks on the wall adjacent to the walkway.
“If anybody wants to go back, they can – but I’m going to see where this leads,” said Rukbat.
Bebay finally relented, and the group started heading deeper into the cavern; with Bebay complaining about every new strange sound and smell.
Rukbat noticed the walls of the cave getting closer together, tapering down rapidly as they advanced deeper inside. The torch light revealed that they had reached the end of their journey. The path led to a large flat floor. At the end of the cavern was a flat wall, chiseled from the stone. In the center of the wall was a large door. It had no handles and looked as if was part of the rock wall, only recessed about six inches into the wall of the cavern. On each side of the door were torch holders.
“We’ve definitely found something,” said Anode. “I don’t recognize the material that this door’s made of.”
Rukbat kicked at the door which gave a dull thud while Anode started looking around the door frame that was built into the rock. “I think it slides,” offered Anode. “Somehow it slides either left or right – or up or down to open – unless it’s hinged from the inside. But that wouldn’t make sense, since there’s no handles on this side.”
“Lets put these torches in the holders,” said Rukbat. “Enif, get up on my shoulders.” Rukbat handed Chort his torch and Enif climbed up on his brother’s shoulders, then Chort handed Enif his torch who placed it in the holder. Rukbat carried Enif to the other side of the door and he put the other lit torch in its holder. The glow of the torches revealed a half-circle over the door with an inscription of strange markings in a semi-circular pattern.
“I sure don’t recognize those markings,” said Anode.
“My father needs to know about this place,” said Bebay, finally breaking her silence. “We must've found something of some importance.”
“What do we do now?” asked Chemar.
“We find out what’s on the other side of this door,” answered Rukbat. “Anode, do you have any suggestions?”
“Shhh – what’s that noise?” said Chort.
“It sounds like it’s coming from down in the pit,” squealed Bebay.
“I’m afraid I have a very good idea what it is,” said Anode. Anode lit his torch then went over to the edge of the floor and held the torch over the pit.
“Snakes!” yelled Enif, as he held on to Anode’s arm and peered into the pit. “Hundreds, maybe thousands of em!"
Wicked Patti -