Chapter Summary Of The Cave Alternate Ending

The wind nearly picked little, Nancy up off her feet as they entered the cave. If it had not been for John and Uriah grabbing her arms and dragging her inside, the wind would have siphoned her right back out the cave entrance as it seemed to do with all the air in the space.
A moment later the air returned and they could breathe, but then they heard hellacious noises outside as the whirlwind wrecked havoc around them. The noise was deafening as it seemed to put pressure on their eardrums so that they couldn’t fully distinguish between the sounds - It was a roaring, grinding wood sound, that was very loud at times, and definitely scary; especially for the younger children.
“At least, I think we’re safe in here,” she told the children.
“But
what about the wagons and animals, Mama?” asked Uriah, the most logical thinking of her sons.
Right about then, it got quiet. The sounds of the winds, seemed to be dying down. When they went to the front of the cave, there were branches and other debris covering the entrance. They cleared them away, as they made their way outside - they saw their belongings scattered about the ground and one of the wagons was laying sideway's against the walls of the canyon.
“Where did the horses go?” John wondered aloud.
“I’ve heard of the whirlpool winds, but I haven’t ever seen anything like that,” she told the children. “I know that along the coast, in places like Savannah, they have hurricanes that come in off the water, I remember one blowing a tree down near my grandparent’s cabin when I was young, but this was different.”
“Mama, listen!” exclaimed Nancy. “I hear chickens!”
Sure enough, they soon were rounding up the animals and outside the narrow passage into the small canyon, was the other wagon, completely intact, with the team still harnessed to it! Charity was very thankful; it was the main wagon they needed; It held all their foodstuffs and bedding.
Most of the stuff, from the other wagon, was salvageable too; even the wagon. Her and the children picked up all their stuff they could find, then shooed all the loose animals into the boxed canyon, then dragged a fallen tree across the entrance hoping to keep them contained.
Charity told John and Uriah to search the surrounding area for the other team that had been harnessed to the now, upside-down wagon.
By the time the boys returned with the other team, and the cow, she and the smaller children had straightened and sorted most of their stuff.
Charity asked the boys if they saw a creek while they were searching, so they could get some water.
“There's water in the cave,” said Charles.
“Is there?” Charity asked.
“I could hear it, Mama, when I was in the cave, exploring,” he replied.
“I don't want any of y'all going in there without a lantern!” she scolded them. “It's not safe. Remember what happened to Tokola,” she warned.
“But the earth swallowed him up!” reminded Aaron.
“Yes, right it did; right down into the belly of a cave,” Charity reminded him. “Now, let's take a couple of lanterns, and then we can all explore the cave. I think it best we go ahead and make camp here tonight- it‘s too late to try go further today- besides, we don‘t know which way that whirlpool wind went and I wouldn‘t want to meet it again today.”
“At least, the wood has already been chopped; that whirlwind, made a quick task of it,” John remarked.
“It looks like it cut a trail through the woods. I wonder where it went?” asked Martha
Jane.
“I don't know,” answered Charity. “I just hope it keeps on a going, somewhere besides the direction we need to go.”
As they entered the cave, this time with the lamps. They could see that it was huge! It smelt damp and musky. It was also, very cool inside the cavern.
“Can we live here, Mama?” asked Charles, adding, “It would make a great place to live, wouldn‘t it!”
“I don't know about living here, but we can definitely spend the night,” she answered. “Right now, we need to find water. Our water barrels, all spilled out when the wagon, was overturned; our stock needs water and so do we.”
“Here's a pool!” yelled, John from somewhere deeper in the cave.
The pool was crystal clear along the edge, but a little way out, it was as black as smut.
“Y'all don't get too close, it looks to be very deep,” she said, reaching down and scooping up a handful to taste.
“It tastes kind a funny, like it has iron in it or something, but it's not too bad,” she said, adding, “I think it will be alright for us and the stock to drink.”
As late afternoon neared, it clouded up and began to rain. This time, taking no chances, they brought all the animals into the cave, tying them off between several long poles that must have crusted over with rock, Charity thought. The boys managed to tie the chicken coop back together; that kept the chickens confined. Charity figured it would be several days, before they settled down enough to lay eggs again. There were a lot of strange things in the cave, even a few ferns grew close to the entrance. She also saw several small plants growing that she had never before. The boys brought in some wood and started a fire so that Charity could fix them some supper. Once the fire burned down at bit, She raked the coals over, and prepared a simple supper, of salvaged eggs, ham, and hoecakes. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to fill their bellies.
Just before Charity drifted off to sleep that night, she heard the rain and wind pick up in intensity outside. She dreamed she was flying through the air to Henry, but everywhere she looked, he wasn't there. A panic consumed her. Then, suddenly, she was beside Tokola.
“Why are you in my dream?” she asked,
“I have gone to the land of, Anis’gina, with the Ga’nodu; I no longer walk among the living. Come, Wind-walker, let me guide you to where you search.” Away they flew; and, in a split-moment of time, she saw Henry, chained, and locked away in a shed. Without any hesitation, she went to him…