[IC] Mining Amusement

[Tyler Night]

A large 80's chevy pickup truck rolls up to the gates of an amusement park. Stopping the gate opens up slowly. The truck rolls through and into the park, the gate closing behind it. The truck drives deep into the park until it reaches an employee's only sign on a gate. The gate slowly opens and the truck rolls through that one, driving up to 2 other trucks. It pulls up to the owners only parking spot and shuts off, soon after a man jumps out and walks into a building. 2 secretaries sit behind the desk, one is busy with work to notice him, the other looks up and says. "Good Morning Jason, the coffee is ready." Jason smiles and nods walking over to the conference room with the coffee.

As he gets there he lets out a yawn, grabbing his personal coffee cup he pours in a good bit of baileys coffee creamer and heats it up before filling the cup the rest of the way up with coffee. "Traverse City Cherry coffee, right?" Jason calls out. Together the secretaries answer back. "Yes." The two giggle. Jason smiles and takes a sip of the coffee and sits down at the table drinking it before setting up a pc on it. He hooks up the keyboard and mouse then plugs it in, in the middle of the table. He turns it on and waits for it to boot. After booting up he opens up a program to design a roller coaster, after some time people begin showing up to the conference room with their own pc's and hook them up. They all begin working on different coaster and ride designs.

Several hours pass before the park is ready to open for the day, Jason logs off of his computer and heads out to the park to get set for the tours. As he walks down towards the tour area he see's several regulars waiting and some people that will either become new regulars or just be 1 time patrons.

"Welcome everybody to The Caverns Amusement park, The only amusement park with its own natural hot spring cave tours. My name is Jason Cruz, some people call me lumberjack, Lumber Jase or Cruz. You can call me whichever sounds cool to you. Before we head out on this tour, a few things you must know. The springs that we will go by range from lukewarm to boiling. For obvious reasons, we put up barriers around the boiling springs though they can be reached, from the barriers but for even more obvious reasons, don't. Several times a year it happens, god only knows why people would want to do that. if you would like to try cooking in the springs, we will provide you with food at the base of the springs and containers to cook them in. Most the food cooks in under 5 minutes. The main tour lasts about an hour, after which you are allowed to return to the springs or anywhere else in the park you desire. Lots of people enjoy relaxing in the hot springs so you can always do that. Now that we got that out of the way we can start the tour." Jason turns around waves for everybody to follow him towards the caves.

[writingrin]

Perna exited the car and supervised her daughter as she climbed out, making sure she didn't take off in excitement.

"Will that be all, madam?"

"Yes, Harold. Return in two hours to pick us up."

"Oh, momma! That isn't long enough!"

"Yes, Mrs. Sugita."

As always, Perna stifled a sigh at her late husband's last name. She patted Devonnie's back, indicating she needed to calm down. Then she replied to her daughter.

"Darling, of course it is. The tour is only going to take half that time and afterward we'll still be able to do whatever we want for another hour," she explained as they entered.

"Oh yeah, the tour..." she murmured.

Perna looked around and then tugged her daughter forward.

"Look, here are some people waiting for it too."

Perna smiled slightly in acknowledgement of the strangers and then stood resolutely patient. Devonnie sighed and came along. She saw another kid and smiled at him. But he gave her a disdainful look and adjusted his glasses as his face turned away.

"Well, fine!" Devonnie huffed. She looked up at her mother. "Is the tour guide late?"

Perna glanced at her shiny watch and shook her head. A moment later she spotted him coming. He was the only one striding over with a purpose in his step. He was not a typical tour guide. He looked more like a wood cutter. But then again, considering where they were perhaps he had been a miner.

Lately she didn't notice so much, but it crossed her mind that he was attractive. It just didn't phase her emotionally.

Ah, he was a "lumberjack." Yes that's the word, not "woodcutter." She sniffed slightly at his speech, knowing she, for one, wasn't going to call him anything but his proper name.

"Lumber Jase!" exclaimed Devonnie.

Perna smirked in spite of herself. Devonnie liked the nickname at least.

Then he went on with his introduction.

"You cook FOOD in the hotsprings?" she spoke increduously and louder than she'd intended to. She immediately recognized her misstep. The mother of the disdainful boy, so cheerful a moment ago, frowned and turned to look at her. She looked her up and down and actually SCOWLED at her. Perna hadn't felt overdressed until that moment. Suddenly she was self-conscious. She knew she was already making herself unpopular here. Oh, wonderful.

"I mean," she smiled tentatively and turned to her daughter for rescue, "Doesn't that sound delightful, darling?"

Devonnie began to bounce in place. "Yes!" she burst out. She raised shining eyes to the tour guide and the watching crowd.

"Lumber Jase, what kind of food?" she asked curiously.

Perna overcome with relief, placed her hand on the back of Devonnie's hair and stroked it fondly once.

Then she lifted her eyes back to the guide.

[Tyler Night]

Walking towards the cave he hears the question. He turns to the girl with a smile. "We have many types of noodles, sauces, veggies, meats and cheeses. I usually grab a package of vermicelli and alfredo or hollandaise then cook it with shrimp and a poached egg."

Jason turns back around and walks towards the shop and grabs a bottle of water, a package of vermicelli and some hollandaise sauce a half pound package of shrimp and 2 duck eggs. Grabbing 3 spring safe cans he tosses the noodles in with the water in one, the shrimp with some butter in another and the sauce in the last then screws on the cap. "This will be your only opportunity to get food, so if you wish to cook in the hot springs, do it now."

He shakes the cans to make sure it is sealed completely a few times then heads back up to the front giving everybody an opportunity to get some food before heading back out. They walk down the path for a little while until they reach an opening in the hillside, he walks inside and turns around. "Word of warning, deeper we go, the hotter it gets, entrance is always a toasty 80 degree's deep inside we could potentially pass 100. Some of you came prepared with shorts and t shirts, some of you are wearing pants. My only question to you. Why?" Some of the people laugh, most of them because they are wearing the pants.

He heads inside deeper, the humidity already making Jason Sweat. The tunnel begins widening after some time, the widening leads to an open area that is covered with pools of water. "I will let you know, recently we came across a hot spring near the end that does not boil because it has gotten so hot that it has destroyed all particulates. We have it blocked off. Inside that area is well and truly sauna type temperatures, 180 to 200 degree's and another thing to tell you all is that we are working on harnessing that pool to make a natural sauna for everybody to use. It should be done in about 2 months. Now this area we are in is wonderful, one thing I enjoy about being owner is I can walk off my back porch hike through the woods and be here in about 10 minutes and relax in these springs, they are perfect for releasing tensions. If you enjoy a good hot bath the hotter the better, this place is for you, these pools get up to about 130 degree's. They range from 1 to 4 feet deep and are very popular with dates, big enough to fit 2 to 4 people. Now onto the next area."

Jason walks down the path, as he gets to the next tunnel. "Alright all the tall people here know my pain, I am 6'1, these next 2 tunnels are from 5'6 to 5'10. Meaning, watch your head. First time I did a tour of this place I walked too fast and stood too tall and ended up needing 4 staples." He lowers his head and parts his hair showing the scar from the incident. "The amount of blood would make you think somebody was beaten in here or an animal was killed. Let this scar be a caution to everybody, do not forget about the dangers in here." he bends over and walks down the tunnel making sure to go slowly. He finally exits that tunnel into a large cavern with a single large pool that is bubbling.

"Here is your chance at cooking." he walks up to the barricade and ties a string to the can and tosses it over the edge and hooks it to the barricade. "Under 5 minutes for everything." He stands with his back to the barricade waiting for his noodles to cook.

[writingrin]

Perna glanced at her clothes. She'd read the instructions on the website about what not to wear. So she and Devonnie were in light clothing. But Perna didn't know the meaning of "casual wear," practically. She still looked a little too classy for this place, even if she was toned down.

They all began to sweat the deeper they got. Perna kept a close eye on her daughter in case any of this started to be bad for her health. She wasn't a particularly healthy child.

Perna thought the super heated pool that didn't boil was rather interesting. Although she supposed it wouldn't be much to look at. Next the guide casually dropped in the fact that he was also the owner. She was surprised to hear that. But alright, good for him. As for getting into these springs... Perna wouldn't say "never." Because she'd been on vacations to exotic places and gone to spas and hotsprings before. But this was no spa and she had a jacuzzi and privacy at home.

Perna shuddered at the scar and the visual image of all that blood. Devonnie's eyes went wide with childish morbid interest. Perna was 5'5" and wearing one inch heels so that had her just grazing the roof of the tunnel. She had to lean forward. Devonnie just walked along happily.

Finally they reached the "cooking pool" and witnessed the lumberjack dropping his food in. Perna helped Devonnie with hers and then they dropped two cans in by their strings. Devonnie was very adventerous with her choices. Perna's can was just a backup in case her daughter's concoction was disgusting. While they waited they finished their first water bottle, what was left after partially filling the can that had noodles in it.

Perna's eyes drifted around the cave and the crowd of people.

[Tyler Night]

A couple kids walk up to Jason while the food is cooking. Jason turning around notices them and says. "You have some questions?" One nods his head. "Yeah, I heard that you have a half mile long water slide. Is that true?" Jason Chuckles hearing the question. "Absolutely, we are getting it prepped right now for the day, it should be ready at the end of the tour." an adult comes up to him carrying a young 3 or 4 year old girl. "Any rides for the little one here?" Jason nods his head. "We actually have 8 rides specifically made for young children including a low speed 8th mile long water slide. The vertical descent is only 28 feet over the entire slide. Only reaching a top speed of 8 miles per hour and even then it only stays at that speed for a few seconds."

After a bit of time the questions stop coming in and all the people cooking food finish, some start eating or drinking their food and Jason goes back into tour guide more. He walks into a cave and kneels down in front of a small mineshaft. "This next area is only accessible by crawling. it is about 6 feet long, 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Most of you will get through with little effort but the larger folks like myself will be a little uncomfortable. I promise though, once through you will see it is well worth the tight confines."

Jason crawls through the tunnel, standing up as soon as he is able to do so. He stands there for a moment while the tour group enters the room. The cave looking like 1 giant continuous crystal. He begins talking as soon as everybody appears. "This is the reason why this mine was opened for over a century. Originally the miners discovered the springs, both hot and cold, and used it for irrigation and surprisingly enough for heating and cooling. As more people built homes in the area the demand for the springs increased and they had to find ways of extending the use of the springs. This lead to drilling into the mine and creating more ducts into the homes. They continuously mined the place but they started losing drill bits at an alarming rate. 1 drill bit generally lasted a crew 6 weeks before needing to be replaced, they started losing them at a rate of 1 a week, either sheering off the bit or grinding itself smooth. These crystals were the reason for the destruction."

Jason walks over to the wall and grabs a hammer and chisel, sticking the chisel in and driving it in. He twists the chisel and moves it around popping out a crystal. "The miners discovered these brilliant gems, they began seeing more and more of them and thought that they were common quartz. Seeing how many were actually here made them believe they were dealing with something without real value. It took them nearly 10 years to realize they had a cash crop." Somebody pulls a crystal from the wall and begins looking at it. "If they are so plentiful how are they valuable?" Jason looks at the man. "They are unique to this mine. They are absolutely common to this mine, but they are found nowhere else in the world. None of the other mines in the area, active or inactive, have these crystals. They are Rofer crystals, named after the original owner of the mine, Theodore Rofer. When he finally figured out the crystals value he started selling them, gold back at this time was going for $21 an ounce a diamond was trading at 7 to 8 dollars a carat, for several decades the Rofer crystal was selling between 50 to 75% more than a diamond. Even to this day, you can still sell one of these larger crystals like I hold for nearly a grand, everybody here will be getting one to do with what they want. We have a jeweler here on the property that will set your crystals however you want for a price or you can just keep it raw."

Jason turns and begins heading towards the next area. "Word of warning, this next area is over 100 degrees and since it is a hot spring it is sticky with the heat, I guarantee you will be sweating but we only stay in this area for 2 minutes. The pools are somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 to 160 degrees on average. Think about a sink full of hot water, that is how hot it is." Jason steps into the cave and surrounding the group are blue and green hot springs that steam slightly. "The hotter the water gets, the more blue and green the water becomes, 2 more areas until we reach that cave with the hot spring that is super heated."

As he moves through he wipes his forehead off and breathes heavy. "This is really hot." he chuckles, his shirt beginning to stick to his body from the sweat. "We have 4 more caves until the end of the tour but 1 is massive, it is less a spring and more of a underground lake, we have a seating area for you to relax and check out some of the many features of the cave, we have a cold spring in there that is nice and cold so we can cool down there. It will be the next area."

Jason continues walking through the cave pathway for several hundred feet. One of the tourists speaks up. "How big is it?" Jason turns around, walking backwards knowing he still has a way to go. "We are looking at about an acre and 3 quarters. Lots of mini caves in there though so it could be a fun time for the children to play hide and seek." Lots of the children's eyes light up with that prospect. Jason turns back around and enters the cave. "Please have a look around, this is our only stop from the actual tour until the actual end which should be about 20 minutes after we renew our quest." Some of the children take off to play in the mini caves, the adults mostly find some places to sit and eat their food, Jason opens his food and mixes it all together eating it slowly while the tour group rests in comfort, knowing the next area will be unbearably hot.