now, but
each must do what was in his own thoughts and heart. Then he asked Bruno
if he was coming with us, and Bruno shook his head no, and did not say
anything.

Theodor thought for even a longer time than Ralf and Mari. He kept
biting the nails on his fingers and every little while his eyes would
look at Bruno. I knew he was afraid to come with us; but also he was
afraid to be alone with Bruno with only Ralf to help him if anything
happened. Finally, in a very low voice, he said he would come with us.

Doctor Dorn said fine, now there was one more thing we must do before we
started. We must take the oil from one of the lamps and put it in the
other six lamps so there would be the same amount in each one. Then each
group would take three lamps.

Theodor said this was not fair. There were four of us so we should have
four lamps. Doctor Dorn said four people needed no more light than three
people.

It was very sad when we had to separate. Mari and Nina cried a little.
For a long time after we found Surface Passage and were climbing in it,
no one said anything. Perhaps after next sleep, our sadness may be less.

* * * * *

Twenty-First Awake, 22 Juli 2207

The passage is still climbing and we rest often. I write a little during
some of our rests.

* * * * *

There is very little oil left. Doctor Dorn says we must take a dangerous
chance. No lamp has gone out for a long time. If we burn only one lamp,
we can have light for almost four more awakes and sleeps. If this is
really a Surface Passage, and if what is written in the forbidden books
is true, this time may be enough for us to reach Earth Surface.

We have been burning only one lamp since our last rest. How bright does
the light from the two lamps seem now. Nina says she feels she can reach
out and touch the blackness.

Theodor is very frightened. Over and over he says we must go back and
take the other passage, that if we go on we shall all be dead bones. I
think Doctor Dorn would become angry if he did not understand how
frightened Theodor is.

During rest, Theodor spoke words that made Nina feel very sad. He said
it was because of her that we would all die. I became very angry, and
told him if he said anything like that again, I would finish what Bruno
had started. He knows I would not do this, but now he talks very little.

* * * * *

Twenty-Second Awak