It was a strange noise: a cross between a bark and a hiss that seemed to come from behind us and rush around us into the depths of the mines, where it reverberated back up, slithering along the floor, enveloping the tunnel entirely. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as one. Our marching, so purposefully drum-like mere moments before disintegrated into a chaotic pitter-patter of panic. Raised voices rang out, bouncing from wall to wall. There was pushing now; the whole seething mass of bodies began to thrust and shove in a frenzied confusion.

I fell.

My breath was pushed from me as I felt foot after foot stand on me as the bodies pushed down on me. Like a stampede, they charged over my body. I tried to push myself upright, but it was impossible; it was like trying to stand with the weight of a mountain pushing down on me. Then suddenly, there was nothing but a faint ringing in my ears. I pushed myself up, staggered a few paces, and fell back to the rocky floor of the tunnel. Again, I pushed myself up – slowly this time, first to my knees then standing. As I regained my balance, the ringing in my ears subsided and I blinked in the darkness. I could see nothing. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my breathing. Then there was the sound - a cross between a bark and a hiss. Where was it coming from? I couldn’t tell. It seemed to be getting closer. I opened my eyes. Still, I saw nothing. The ominous barking hissing sound came closer still.

I screamed.

As the scream left my mouth, the rocky walls of the tunnel suddenly burst into a dazzling white light and I saw where the noise was coming from. A pack of six shlangunds – each of them comfortably four times my size – were frozen in surprise at the sudden illumination. They could be no further than ten feet away from me. If they’d leapt, I’d have been dead already. I looked at them, crouching down; their muscular legs ready to pounce forward. Their huge yellow eyes staring hungrily at me, saliva dripping from their narrow mouths. Their mouths hissing and panting as they stared hungrily at me. Their black scales shining maliciously in the light of the walls. The light of the walls that I noticed now was beginning to fade. I was going to be left in the dark with six beasts. Six beasts salivating at the prospect of eating me. I tried to scream; I tried to turn and run. I couldn’t; all I could do was stand there petrified, staring at what seemed more and more likely to be the last thing that I would ever see. But, what was that? I heard something. It sounded like a faint whistling. And, I could feel something, a faint breeze coming from somewhere deep inside the mines. Yes, it definitely was; I wrenched my head around to see Mother, Father Leiter, Brother Dezent and Sister Gutig charging up the tunnel. Palms stretched in front of them. A furious wind following them up the tunnel. An ominous creeking filled the air and a huge chunk of the tunnel floor flew past me and smashed into one of the shlangunds sending it flying backwards.

“Scheren” Father Leiter’s voice, ringing with a righteous fury. “Take your child and run!”

I felt myself being lifted and carried away from the fading lights. I saw the shlangunds advancing on the three short figures illuminated by the tunnel’s response to my fearful scream. Three short figures, who I’d never known before that night. Three short figures, who I meant nothing to. Three short figures, who stood strong to turn back the approaching threat.

As my mother carried me further away, I saw one of the shlangunds leap hissing at Sister Gutig, knocking her to the floor. Another thudded into Brother Dezent. I saw Sister Gutig throw the shlangund that had pinned her to the floor high into the air. But it wasn’t enough, another was on her immediately. Then just before the mayhem went out of sight, I heard Father Leiter roar. “It’s a fine thing we’re doing. The best of things. Make no mistake.”

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