AK-47’s, bundles of dynamite, sliver-tight crevices, and now an earthquake…  In the words of Samuel L Jackson, “Hold onto your butts…”

But maybe the “ceiling” will come done such that it opens up to the sky… but it would be too lucky to have that happen and not bury anyone in the process…  ceiling- is that what we call the cave surface above us but below ground?  Sure, ceiling is fine, but consider that from another perspective it creates a sinkhole– if the collapse extends to the surface…  and could be their ticket out.

That’s right, Gabe, you take the first stroll across the rock bridge- being held up by what appears to be a couple of strategically placed (by Nature of course) keystones… one wrong move, one slip and you would never to be heard from again!  Except for your scream as you fall further and further down into the blackness…

As much as I like to dis Mr. Allen about his dialogue, here’s proof that it’s harder that it looks… Seeing the varied expressions this morning inspired me to do a bit of editing, but I have to admit it’s a weak attempt at best…

Take your best shot, people…

Earthquake, huh?  Let’s re-orient ourselves, shall we??  We are supposedly in the Chihuahuan Desert in West Texas…

And it certainly appears that there are active fault lines running throughout the area… so I give this a rating of ‘plausible‘ to ‘likely…’

There are even a couple of 6.0 magnitude quakes on the map, so who knows…  Can we blame this on the fracking going on in Oklahoma?  Probably!

And once again, let me remind all of us that we are UNDERGROUND.  Sorry, I can’t get over that…  it’s almost like there is a lighting crew following them around… sort of like how nervous should we really get with all these “man vs. nature” shows and documentaries when it’s quite clear they are dragging an entire film crew around with them…

And unless the ledge ending is somehow at their feet and out of sight, I don’t see where it actually does…  And it’s Carina taking the lead and describing the situation and Mark sharing his “feelings,” bad or otherwise.  Reminds me of one of my favorite scenes… Jack Nicholson in “As Good as it Gets…” I’m drowning here and you’re describing the water…“

Ha, ha…  Yea, and what about all those bats?  I am beginning to think that they don’t even exist…  if nothing else they would be pointing to a way out of this…

Nice finger, though, Gabe.  Not stubby like Donald Trump’s…  OK, kids… I have (mostly I think) avoided Presidential Politics in my ministrations… but really?  This is what it comes down to?  With the fate of the Free World hanging in the balance we can only talk about Marco’s ears and Donald’s fingers??  And other school-yard jabs?  I forced myself to watch some of the “highlights” from last night’s “debate,” and I had to stop after 3 minutes.  This is is embarrassing.  We are about to nominate a Narcissist and a Bully on one side? And a Liar and Criminal on the other?  We know that many  of our Presidents throughout history were (are??) damaged people.  We have come to expect this to a certain degree.  Maybe the only saving aspect of a Trump candidacy and presidency is that he wears it all on his sleeve without apology…  Sorry, but I think that is a slim consolation…  But as Esquire has pointed out (and when, btw, did that magazine become so incredibly left-leaning??) According to them, on the Republican side, it’s come down to a choice between Ted Cruz and a Vulgar Talking Yam…

Still bathed is plenty of natural light of unknown origin, our intrepid travelers forge ahead… this time on a “slight ledge…”  Mark is looking inappropriately cheerful as he suggests that it might lead “around to the other side!”  Other side of what, Mark?  Please… everything you have suggested so far has driven this party deeper underground and further and further from any hope… Carina is game, but only because she has fallen under your spell… but even she is starting to realize the hopelessness of the situation.

Meanwhile in the third Panel, it appears that all this work has caused Gabe to slim down considerably!  He could probably make it “back through that narrow passage” if he wanted to… And of course the situation has to become even more dire with the entry (stage left) of some no-doubt venomous eight-legged creature… Arachnid Ho!

Yes, let’s see how deep this thing is… And Mark, are you planning to take into account Terminal Velocity in computing time and distance relative to counting Mississippi’s?  Sort of like counting the time between a lightning flash and the related Thunder??

Carina, as with all women in the Trail-verse is filling her role nicely in panel three… providing the “Oh Lawdy-Lawd” expression when things are going particularly well, or not…  Again, Gabe will not even get a nod for supporting actor in this whole debacle… more like Supporting Foil- providing needed contrast for Mark Trail- men of men…

Bones, I bet.  Piles of bones.  El Cueva del Muerto… again, no thanks… I’ll stay top-side if you don’t mind.  Buried Alive.  Like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill… Where she had to punch her way through a pine box buried under (thankfully) sandy and loamy soil.  But still.  Or Uncle Duke in the Doonesbury re-runs of late…

So yes, Mark, take the flashlight… because you are clearly the only one who could properly assess the situation… but it’s my job (again) to remind us all that you were the one that suggested the current course of action that seems to be leading to nowhere but bad… or worse.