The blast from the bridge-layer rifle was surprisingly quiet for the size of the weapon and the fact that four projectiles sizzled out of its barrels. The first two miniature missiles shot out from behind the weapon and lodged into the stone. They clicked and spikes blasted out the sides, securing the rear footings into the floor.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. The two wire spools whizzed as the forward rockets peeled out line. When they struck the wall above the exit on the other side of the snake pit, sparks and stone chips rained down on the apron. The snakes below hissed, fangs bared, tongues lashing in hungry licks.

When the twin cables tightened, the wires twanged like guitar strings until they became so taut that the vibrations ceased. Lacey pulled a secondary trigger, and the bridge-layer barrels snapped open and disengaged from the newly strung cables.

Brain and Edgars carried the sled over, and Lacey and Napalm clamped the wheels onto the wire. Simon looked back into the tunnel where they'd come from the Spike Chamber. He narrowed his gaze into the darkness.

Drawn by five curious slits of light set into the tunnel ten yards in, he stepped into the passageway to investigate. Click-thunk. Stone grinded upon stone as the tunnel began closing.

"Now what?" Edgars chided Simon. "Can't we just cross the pit of deadly snakes in peace?"

"I didn't do anything. The tunnel was glowing. We must've tripped something when we passed through."

Edgars pointed the flashlight attached to his machinegun down the tunnel. His beam caught the last glimpse of the other side as the passage irised shut. Spears lanced out in the tunnel, crossing in a group of five and spitting sparks, forming a pentagram that blocked any hope past.

"Be ready to move," Edgars warned.

A couple of yards closer, another pentagram formed as five more spears basted out from their hiding places. A third trap sprung, and then a fourth. Five, then six.

Vents in the sides of the tunnel flicked open like gills.

"Move?" Lacey eyed the hissing serpents below. "Move, where?"

The team huddled on the stone ledge. Brain hooked the last pair of rubber wheels attached to the sled onto the wires and jabbed one of three buttons on its rudimentary control panel. The remaining buttons lit, one illuminating an arrow pointing to the exit across the snakes and another arrow pointing back into the cordoned tunnel.

"Why is the tunnel moving?" Simon asked, stepping back.

Captain Edgars shined his light at the ground in the passageway, over the vent slits on the sides that had opened when the spears were triggered. "More snakes. Coming our way, and fast."

Napalm nudged Brain with his elbow. "Strap in and haul ass across. I'll stall."

Edgars and Simon parted at the tunnel and let Napalm pass.

"Double time, Brain." The captain jerked his chin at Lacey. "Then Lacey, and then Napalm."

"What-why, Cap? I've got our six."

Edgars shook his head. "Not this time, hotshot. You're wounded and it's not up for debate. Shift it, people. Now!"

Napalm dropped the duffel bag in his hand and took the fuel rig off his back.

Snakes hissed, squirming and slithering over each other, heading straight for them.

"Let's see if snakes really are warm blooded," Napalm quipped.

The team's pyrotechnic expert unstrapped one of the two fuel bottles off his backpack, laid it on the ground, each of his flamethrowers specially designed to be used in tandem or as separate weapons. He opened the valve and juiced the compression in the line. When he pulled the trigger, a jet of unlit fuel streamed down the corridor.

"Everybody stay back and get low." Napalm cut the spray and took a knee. He angled his flamethrower and lit the pilot light. When he pulled the trigger this time, roiling red and orange flames blasted down the passageway.

The fuel-drenched snakes caught fire. They thrashed wildly before twitching and shriveling up into heaps of burning black char.

But more snakes flowed from the vents, crawling over each other in stacked hordes of twisting, hissing scales.

Napalm adjusted the pressure flow to a steady stream powerful enough to hold the surging mass at bay. "We've got ten minutes before the tank runs out. I'd rather not expend my secondary tank, so let's get going, if you don't mind."

Brain was already strapped under the sled, upside-down, cinched securely by the three woven nylon belts. He tested the last buckle and gazed across the pool of snakes. When he jabbed the forward arrow on the control panel, the sled lurched.

The serpents below hissed at Brain as the sled traversed the cables. A black cobra flared its hood and swayed in the air. It struck up at him but fell short by a foot. Brain continued across the chasm, peering over his shoulder at the snakes in the pit.

Sixty seconds later, Brain stopped the sled on the other side, and unstrapped. He pressed the reverse arrow, and the sled started back to the others.

When the sled returned to the ledge, Lacey strapped in and was off in under ten seconds. The snakes snapped and sprang at her, but she stayed just beyond their range.

Brain helped her off at the other stone apron, and they sent the sled back for Napalm.

When Napalm pressed the forward button and the sled began to shuttle him across, he looked back at his trusty flamethrower. "Sorry, baby. I'll be back for you. I promise."

The sled's wheels squeaked under Napalm's greater weight, and it moved noticeably slower. After he crossed the pit, Lacey and Brain rushed to unstrap their teammate.

"They'll be time for reunions later," Edgars barked. He checked the fuel level and found the tank less than a third full. "Get the sled moving!"

Simon exhaled audibly when the sled neared. Captain Edgars strapped him in and pressed the forward arrow to start him across.

Below in the pit, the snakes had accumulated under the cables. They wrapped and wound and climbed on each other, building a growing stack toward the wires.

Thin, green asps shot up. One struck a nylon belt and latched on.

Simon started praying but could hardly move in the harness to do anything about it. Moments later, he crossed the edge of the platform and disembarked.

Captain Edgars switched his attention between the returning sled and the fuel gauge. The flamethrower's torch began sputtering when his ride arrived. That's cutting it close.

He hastily belted in and stabbed the forward arrow. The sled jolted ahead a few yards and then stopped.

The snakes hissed below.

"Shit!" Edgars turned the power button off and then rebooted the sled. When he pressed the forward arrow this time, the sled sped off along the cables, motor whining. But the console began to smoke, and a short distance later, the sled jerked to a halt.

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