| 28 Pain racks your body as you fall heavily against the floor of the tunnel opening. Behind you the rift is obscured by the dust raised by your ungainly and clumsy landing. Sweating profusely you prop yourself up against the wall of the tunnel and search the floor for your equipment. The torch sputters quietly in the dust and in its light you quickly find your pack and weapon. Unfortunately the force of your backpack slamming against the tunnel wall has caused your provisions to fall into the filth that covers ever part of the floor, spoiling most of them. Only one meal remains edible. ( Record this on your status sheet.) The loss of most of your food does not cause you as much concern as the pain coming from your left ankle. Although you know it is not broken you have jarred it badly and it will take a few hours rest before you will be able to stand on it. Taking some cloth from your pack you bind it and apply a cold water bottle against it to try and reduce the swelling. (This injury, while only minor, will reduce your endurance rating by 2 points. Record this on your status sheet. This reduction will apply until you take your next meal). With no pursuit behind and no noise coming from further down the tunnel you rest quietly and consider your immediate dilemma. You cannot go back, the way is blocked by both the rift (which you couldn't jump now even if you wanted to) and the remnants of the impaler trap. You determine that the only way can be forward. With your ankle now feeling much stronger you collect your belongings and slowly make your way further down the sloping tunnel. As you move forward the tunnel gets smaller and smaller, the rough hewn walls closing in on all sides until you cannot go any further. The way is blocked by a small round metal door, locked solid and immovable. For a moment you consider the door and then begin rummaging through your pack. Amongst your eating utensils is a small peeling knife that fits neatly into the keyhole you find in the centre of the door. Perhaps you can pick the lock with this knife? Crouched up against the door in the closed and cramped confines of the narrow tunnel you desperately attempt to pick the lock. The door is of ancient construction and very well made, but after an hour of effort the barrel deep in the doorlock turns and a loud thunk heralds the drawing back of the heavy bars holding the door firmly in place. Hands still greasy from the sweat of your endeavours you put your weight against the door and push. With almost no resistance the door springs backward taking you completely by surprise. Before you have any opportunity to regain your balance you are pitched forward, straight out into...
| Turn quickly to section 81.
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