truth

The ocean’s deep, indigo waves clawed at the coastal rocks of Slurramfok.  In the dark cave tunnels, which began in places along the shore, James A Forthright and his assistant Mr. Bennington crept low and quiet.  Torchlight hovered above them in Mr. Bennington’s strong hair clad hand, lighting up pools of color on the cave walls.  The Doctor held a handkerchief to his nose to ward off the vile smell of the place, but Mr. Bennington didn’t mind.

"It reminds me of mother’s house." he had told Dr. Forthright a half hour ago, "Mother always was a magnificent cook."

Two pairs of boots ground slowly through Mrs. Bennington’s Beef Stew Surprise.  Two pairs of boots held shaking feet and quivering toes. Two pairs of boots kept two pairs of legs from taking flight out the small cave mouth and across the loud sea.

Two sets of upset and twisted innards.

The Doctor fell to his knees, making a loud squish in the thick, green muck.  The torchlight swept down after him.

"Here!" the Doctor peered closer with wide, white eyes, then turned his head, lowered his ear into it, and said in a low whisper "Right here, Bennington, hand me the torch and take up your pick."

The sound of iron against rock rang through the long jagged tunnel. The muck splashed, drenching them to their waists.  "Faster" growled the Doctor.  Mr. Bennington roared and struck harder.  Chips of rock began to fly, nicking their knees and breaking their skin, especially Dr. Forthright’s soft, tender flesh.

With two more clanking blows they fell through the cave floor and into the earth.  All around them there was fire, below them a wide gaping mouth.  The fire’s wind took them round and round.

"What-this!" screamed Bennington as he fell, half his words garbled by the roar of the inferno.
"This-it" the Doctor’s eyes were aglow with the flames’ reflection.
"You-what-why-sonofabitch!" Bennington wailed as their paper doll bodies spun and plummeted.
"Down-go-forever!"
"I-family-children-belligerent-thirty-five years!"
"Faithful-always!"
"Why-Why-Why" Bennington started to cry.
"Thank-all-work"
"I-live-want-die"

The beasts’ teeth snapped shut above them.