We begin climbing Nancy first and me following behind and yet another opportunity to practically apply math surfaces.
“Nancy, so we are climbing at a rate of about 2 foot per second and I estimate that the distance to the surface is approximately 1500 feet, how long will it take us to reach the surface.”
“Dad, I am going to drop this container of military issue peanut butter on your head.”
“Well, I never.”
Avoiding peanut buttery retribution, I quickly calculate that we should reach the top in approximately 12.5 minutes. Climbing silently, with no mishaps, we reach the top of the ladder in exactly twelve and a half minutes. My forearms and calves are burning, but take solace in that my story problem acumen is in tact.
“Nancy, do you see a latch or lever to open up?”
“I think I see something, it looks like another digital lock with a number keypad. I’m going to try 7438628427, it worked on the other one and I’ll remember to hit enter this time.”
I am amazed at Nancy’s memory, I know 7438628427 is the number we figured out for the last lock because Nancy said it, but she did not have to look it up or anything. As I look on still amazed, Nancy punches in the number followed by enter and sure enough we hear an audible click and the hiss of pressure changing. I see a sliver a light around the edge of the top of the tunnel.
“Nancy, can you push up on the hatch and see if you can get it open?”
“Sure thing dad, as long as you don’t try to get me to do anymore math.”
“Nice.”
Nancy pushes up and the hatch opens and we are instantly blinded. We have after all spent the last 24 hours in an underground tunnel with what I would say is sub standard lighting. Which reminds me, whatever did we do with the photo luminescent fish? I’ll wait to ask Nancy until after we have exited the tunnel, but first we wait a minute as our eyes adjust. Nancy, being in front climbs out first.
“Nancy, it looks like we are in a grassy clearing surrounded by a stand of Quercus kelloggii, the California black oak, also known as simply black oak, or Kellogg oak, is an oak in the red oak section (Quercus sect. Lobatae), native to western North America. It is a close relative of the black oak (Quercus velutina) found in eastern and central North America..”
“What? I mean, how do you know so much about trees.”
“Well, I would like to tell you that I am a walking talking encyclopedia of useless knowledge, but I actually just read it off that sign over there by one of the trees.”
“Dad, you are weird.”
“I will not dispute that, but you can still call me Mr. Knowitall. Hey, I saw that eye roll. By the way, how are the PFL doing? I hope they did not turn out like the turtle I got you.”
Nancy checks the bag and sure enough the little buggers are swimming and glowing as brightly as ever.
“I’ve been feeding them peanut butter.”
“What?”
“Peanut butter, you know the jar of military issue peanut butter I almost dropped on your head a bit ago.”
“You’ve been feeding the fish peanut butter?”
“Yes, sometimes dad you can be pretty dense.”
Not bothering to dignify that with a response, I make further survey of our surroundings and it looks like there is a path to the Northwest that does not look like it has been used recently, but has gravel mixed in, so more than just an animal trail.
“Nancy, I think there is a path to the Northwest, let’s close the hatch and see if we can find some transportation.”
“Before we close the hatch, should we find the locking mechanism so if we have to go back this way, we can get back in.
“Great idea.”
Nancy closes the hatch part way and notices that the top of the hatch blends in with the ground cover perfectly. We do not see anything on the top of the hatch that looks like a keypad for the locking mechanism.
“Dad, I do not see anything on the hatch, I’m going to leave it open for now.”
“I think I see something on the sign for the oak trees. It looks like it has a small solar panel on it, I wonder.”
Examining the sign more closely, I find a latch on the side which slides open a panel and sure enough there is a number keypad matching the others we have seen in the tunnel.
“Nancy, go ahead and shut the hatch, I found the keypad.”
Nancy closes the hatch and I secure the keypad on the sign so once again it is hidden.
“Dad, before we head on, let’s grab something to eat, I’m pretty hungry after all the running and climbing.”
“You’re right, I’m hungry too.”
We dig through the military rations, thankfully we did not bring any with the frozen herring in them. The protein bar was filling even if it did taste a little bit like sweaty chocolate mixed with nuts.
“Nancy, how’s your protein bar, mine tastes like sweaty chocolate with nuts, but not actually in an unpleasant way.”
“Mine has some sweaty fruit taste as well, but you’re right not completely unpleasant. At least there is no herring in it.”
“Exactly.”
“Finish your food, make sure we do not leave behind any wrappers or other evidence we were here.”
“Dad, you would have made an awesome Girl Scout, you know ‘Leave no Trace.’”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. So which way do you think we should go?”
“Let’s head South, it is as good a direction as any and it seems to be slightly down hill which I think would head towards a road.”
“That makes as much sense as anything.”
We head South and Nancy was right as we are going down hill and I can see what looks like a road off in the distance.”