In the beginning, Geology Professor Michael Abrams thought the message was a joke. An old friend sent him an email about a story from Arizona.
Apparently, a worker described hearing music at the bottom of a Copper mine. The mining company did an investigation and could find no logical reason for the sounds in the mine. Abrams did a little investigating himself and found out the story was true, although the cause of the "music" could be any number of things.
After all of his classes were over, Abrams decided to contact the mining company. The mining company agreed to let him look into the mystery.The weekend was coming up and it would be a nice change from the routine.Michael arrived in Phoenix on Saturday morning and after checking in to his hotel he rented a car and drove the 50 miles to the mine.
The mine administration gave him a tour of the grounds and Michael did not find anything geologically unusual about the site. Abrams then asked if he could go down in the mine to hear the sounds himself. The management was a little reluctant, but after he signed a safety release, they decided to let him go.
Michael, the mine foreman, and a couple of workers entered an elevator that slowly descended into the depths of the mine. After the mine stopped, the group traveled along a lighted corridor for about half and hour until they reached their destination.
The mine shaft where the music was first heard ended in a pile of large rocks. For several minutes, Michael heard nothing and then it started. The sounds emanating from beyond the rocks were unlike anything that he had ever heard before and he hit the button on a tape recorder. Michael once and for all dismissed the idea that there might be a natural explanation for the phenomenon. The beauty and complexity of the music suggested a composer.
When the group returned to the surface, Michael went to talk to the site manager and tried to convince him to let Michael explore the mine shaft further. The manager was reluctant to allow any more exploring, but relented after Michael suggested that it could bring some favorable publicity to the mining company.
Professor Abrams spent the next several weeks preparing for the exploration of the mine shaft. He recruited several of his best students as helpers and compiled the latest scientific and safety equipment.
Before the group left for Phoenix, Michael received a message from the mining company that the rocks had been cleared away and there was now a visible tunnel at the end of the mine shaft where the music was first heard.
Michael was excited as a little kid when he and his students descended into the mine. Professor Abrams was the first one through the newly uncovered tunnel. The music was louder now and he eagerly followed the sound.
After about half and hour, the tunnel widened into a large cavern. The music was much louder now and Michael could feel that they were getting close to the source.
The cavern ended in another tunnel and Michael and his group cautiously followed the tunnel. Whatever was making the music was right up ahead.
The tunnel led to another large cavern, but this one was occupied. Michael and the student's lights exposed some kind of musical instrument that occupied half the cavern. Several colorless humanoids were "playing" the huge instrument. The lights from Michael and the others startled the creatures.
They left the instrument and cowered in a corner of the cavern. Michael tried to tell them not to be afraid with gestures and a quiet voice, but it did no good.
Suddenly, The ceiling of the cave shimmered and cracked. Tiny pieces began to fall. Michael and his group backed away while the cave disintegrated in front of them. Even while he was watching the destruction, Michael realized that it was the explorer's presence that triggered the catastrophe. The New World was gone.
Apparently, a worker described hearing music at the bottom of a Copper mine. The mining company did an investigation and could find no logical reason for the sounds in the mine. Abrams did a little investigating himself and found out the story was true, although the cause of the "music" could be any number of things.
After all of his classes were over, Abrams decided to contact the mining company. The mining company agreed to let him look into the mystery.The weekend was coming up and it would be a nice change from the routine.Michael arrived in Phoenix on Saturday morning and after checking in to his hotel he rented a car and drove the 50 miles to the mine.
The mine administration gave him a tour of the grounds and Michael did not find anything geologically unusual about the site. Abrams then asked if he could go down in the mine to hear the sounds himself. The management was a little reluctant, but after he signed a safety release, they decided to let him go.
Michael, the mine foreman, and a couple of workers entered an elevator that slowly descended into the depths of the mine. After the mine stopped, the group traveled along a lighted corridor for about half and hour until they reached their destination.
The mine shaft where the music was first heard ended in a pile of large rocks. For several minutes, Michael heard nothing and then it started. The sounds emanating from beyond the rocks were unlike anything that he had ever heard before and he hit the button on a tape recorder. Michael once and for all dismissed the idea that there might be a natural explanation for the phenomenon. The beauty and complexity of the music suggested a composer.
When the group returned to the surface, Michael went to talk to the site manager and tried to convince him to let Michael explore the mine shaft further. The manager was reluctant to allow any more exploring, but relented after Michael suggested that it could bring some favorable publicity to the mining company.
Professor Abrams spent the next several weeks preparing for the exploration of the mine shaft. He recruited several of his best students as helpers and compiled the latest scientific and safety equipment.
Before the group left for Phoenix, Michael received a message from the mining company that the rocks had been cleared away and there was now a visible tunnel at the end of the mine shaft where the music was first heard.
Michael was excited as a little kid when he and his students descended into the mine. Professor Abrams was the first one through the newly uncovered tunnel. The music was louder now and he eagerly followed the sound.
After about half and hour, the tunnel widened into a large cavern. The music was much louder now and Michael could feel that they were getting close to the source.
The cavern ended in another tunnel and Michael and his group cautiously followed the tunnel. Whatever was making the music was right up ahead.
The tunnel led to another large cavern, but this one was occupied. Michael and the student's lights exposed some kind of musical instrument that occupied half the cavern. Several colorless humanoids were "playing" the huge instrument. The lights from Michael and the others startled the creatures.
They left the instrument and cowered in a corner of the cavern. Michael tried to tell them not to be afraid with gestures and a quiet voice, but it did no good.
Suddenly, The ceiling of the cave shimmered and cracked. Tiny pieces began to fall. Michael and his group backed away while the cave disintegrated in front of them. Even while he was watching the destruction, Michael realized that it was the explorer's presence that triggered the catastrophe. The New World was gone.
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