"Oh please, let us turn back. I Fear for your health!" I mocked, "don't you want to turn back? no? okay, let us continue."
"The Cider!" Shouted my friend, not yet recovered from his amazement.
"True," I replied; "The cider."
As i said those words i brushed myself among the piles of bones, Of which i have before been to, and throwing them aside, i soon uncovered a quantity of building stone, and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I Began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the recess.
I Had quickly laid the first tier of bricks and mortar, when I discovered that my friend's drunkenness, had worn off, the first clue was that a moaning cry from the darkness of the recess called out. It was not the cry of a drunken colt, there was a long and deadly silence, I Soon finished the second layer, and the third, and then, I heard the furious vibrations of chains, Screaming. The noise lasted for sever minutes, during which, i yelled back to my own satisfaction, I stopped laying the bricks and sat down upon the mossy cold stone, but i gave it no mind, i wanted to hear his screams.
When at last, the clanking of chains stopped, i started walling up again, finishing the fifth row, the sixth, and seventh. The wall was now nearly upon a level above my breast, I again paused, and Helt my head up high, throwing a few pitiful rays of light upon the dark figure within.
A sudden moment of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained colt, seemed to thrust me back, Scared. I Trembled, holding the trowel in defense, but the thought of the wall reassured me. I Placed my hand on the solid walls of the catacomb, and i felt safe. As i approached the new wall I replied to the yells of him. I even copied his words, and surpassed him in volume and in strength, I Did this...
And the yells stopped.
It was now about midnight, and my job was drawing to a new finish, I Had finished every layer, and two bricks are left to place, to my discomfort i was presented with a voice, a voice that made my Maine stand on edge. This voice was recognized as that of the Noble, and great Coltunato. The voice spoke -
"Ha, Ha ha! -He he- A very good joke! Maintresor! indeed!- We will have such a good laugh with our friends , in the park! Hah! hah! Over, our wine! He he hah!"
"The Cider!" I said.
"Hah hah! Yes! the Green Apple Cider! But, is it not getting late? They will be waiting for us at the park, My wife, and the rest. Let us go there!"
"Yes," I Said, " Let us go..."
"For the love of Celestia Maintresor!"
"Yes! for the love of Celestia!" I Yelled.
But those words i screamed in vain. No reply, i grew impatient. I Called aloud-
"Coltunato!"
No answer...
I Shot a small orb of fire through the remaining hole and let it fall within, Hoping there would be rustling to put it out, instead came the jingling of bells. My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it like that. I Quickened my pace, finishing the last brick and plastering it, Against the new masonry I Re-erected old walls of Skulls, and remains. For half of the century no equine has disturbed them...
In pace requiescat!