title: Beyond the Deep: The Deadly Descent into the World's Most Treacherous Cave
author: William Stone
description: Set in stygian gloom, this account of a 1994 caving expedition in southern Mexico produces what adventure readers crave: danger, dissension, death, and ultimate success. Led by author Stone, the spelunkers sought the furthest reaches of a cave system, the Sistema Huautla, which plunged a kilometer and a half down and stretched out for tens of kilometers. To go the deepest, the coveted "booty" in the caving community, Stone developed a special "rebreathing" apparatus for swimming through submerged passages called sumps. As the saga unfolds (dramatically assisted by admittedly reconstructed dialogue), the riskiness of the enterprise becomes apparent as the cavers survive various snafus, which rattle some group members who come to resent Stone's hard-charging style. A cheerful wisecracker named Ian Rolland is not daunted--but soon pays the final price for this adventure. After much acrimony about whether to continue, Stone and his then-girlfriend press on, their course marked by helpful diagrams of their progress. The technicalities of this death-defying recreation, and the raw honesty with which this episode is depicted, will win over extreme-sport fans. <i>Gilbert Taylor</i><br><i>Copyright &#169; American Library Association. All rights reserved</i>
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  ![](../images/00001.jpeg)
  
  
  By Rider Stracy
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  REIDAR SYVERTSEN BOOKS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **REIDAR SYVERTSEN BOOKS**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © 2017 by Reidar Syvertsen
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  All rights reserved.  
  No part of this book can be reproduced in any form  
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  ## CAVERN OF DEATH
  
  
  "Holy mother—" Rockson muttered as he led the Freefighters into the large
  underground cavern with glowing stalactites of immense size hanging down from
  the high ceiling. He saw movement behind one of the pillars of black lava.
  
  
  "Company!" he yelled and reached for his shotpistol.
  
  
  The figures began running toward them shrieking wild guttural cries. They were
  covered with black lava-like scales. Their weapons were primitive, but Rockson
  knew a lot of things could kill a man.
  
  
  Somehow the band of Freefighters had stumbled into a colony of volcanic
  beings. And from the way they were closing