I waited for two days before I followed the clue. I did not want to go under the ground. I was afraid of those white bodies. They looked like white worms. They were very cold to the touch. The Eloi felt the same way. They hated the Morlocks. I began to understand their fear.
I did not sleep well the next night. I was confused and I had many doubts. Sometimes I felt a very strong fear. I went into the big hall where the little people slept. Weena was there among them. I felt better when I was near the Eloi.
I knew the moon was getting smaller. Soon the nights would be very dark. Then the Morlocks would come out of their holes more often. I knew I had to go under the ground to find my Time Machine. But I was very alone. I was afraid to climb down into the dark.
I explored the land far away because I was restless. I saw a huge green building in the distance. It was larger than the other ruins. The front of the building was a pale blue-green color. It looked like a Chinese bowl. I wanted to see it, but the day was late.
I went back to Weena. The next morning, I realized something. I was only looking at the green building to avoid the well. I was making excuses because I was afraid. I decided to go down the well immediately. I walked to the well near the stone ruins.
Weena ran with me. She was happy until she saw the well. Then she was worried. I kissed Weena and I started to climb down. She cried and she tried to pull me back with her small hands. I shook her hands away and I went into the shaft (a deep, narrow hole in the ground).
I saw Weena's sad face at the top. I smiled at her because I wanted her to feel safe. Then I looked down into the dark. I had to climb down about two hundred meters. There were metal bars on the sides of the wall.
The bars were small because the Morlocks were small. My body was too big and I became very tired. One bar bent under my weight. I almost fell into the black hole. I held on with one hand. I was in pain, but I climbed down as fast as possible.
I looked up and saw a small circle of blue sky. I saw one star and the shadow of Weena’s head. The sound of the machines below became very loud. Then Weena disappeared from the opening. I was in great pain and I wanted to climb back up.
But I continued to go down. Finally, I saw a small opening in the wall. I climbed into it. It was a narrow tunnel where I could lie down. I rested there for a long time. My arms and back hurt very much. The air was full of the sound of machines.
A soft hand touched my face in the dark. I jumped up and I lit a match. I saw three white creatures. They were the Morlocks. They ran away from the light. Their eyes were very large and they reflected the light like the eyes of a cat.
The Morlocks could see me in the dark, but they were afraid of my match. They ran into dark corners and watched me. I tried to talk to them, but their language was different. I wanted to run away, but I walked forward into the tunnel.
The noise of the machines became louder. I entered a very big cavern (a very large cave under the ground). I lit another match. I saw big machines in the dark. They made long, black shadows. The air was very hot and it was hard to breathe.
I smelled fresh blood in the air. I saw a small table made of white metal. There was red meat on the table. The Morlocks were carnivorous (animals that eat meat). I wondered what animal they killed for food. It was hard to see everything in the dark.
I was not ready for this adventure. I did not bring any weapons or medicine. I did not even have enough matches. I only had my hands, my feet, and my teeth. I had only four matches left in my pocket.
I wasted many matches before because I wanted to show them to the Eloi. Fire was new to them. Now, I had to save my matches. I stood in the dark and a hand touched my hand. I felt long, thin fingers on my face.
I smelled something very bad. I heard the breathing of many Morlocks around me. They tried to take the matchbox from my hand. Other hands pulled at my clothes. I shouted very loudly at them. The Morlocks ran away, but then they came back.
They were more brave now. They made a strange laughing noise. I was very afraid. I lit a match and a piece of paper. I ran back to the narrow tunnel while the match was bright. But the light went out quickly.
In the dark, I heard the Morlocks behind me. They sounded like rain on the leaves. Many hands grabbed me and tried to pull me back into the cavern. I lit another match. I saw their pale faces and their big, pink eyes.
They looked terrible and they were not human. I did not stay to look at them. I ran to the opening of the well. I lit my third match. I reached the metal bars. Then someone grabbed my feet and pulled me very hard.
I lit my last match, but it went out immediately. I kicked my feet and I got away from the Morlocks. I climbed up the bars very fast. One Morlock followed me for a short time. He tried to grab my boot, but he failed.
The climb felt very long. I felt a strong nausea (a sick feeling in the stomach). It was hard to hold the bars and my head was spinning. I felt like I was falling. Finally, I reached the top of the well.
I walked out of the ruins and into the bright sun. I fell on the ground because I was so tired. The earth smelled very sweet and clean. Weena kissed my hands and my ears. I heard the voices of other Eloi. Then, I fainted.