The radium pool

A trio of science-fiction tales blends subterranean adventure, scientific detective work, and a venture into an unsettling alternate realm. In the first narrative two men follow the trail of a missing woman into a gem-studded cavern beneath volcanic sands, where an iridescent, radium-like pool, alien guardians, and the promise of immortality test their courage and morality. The second story frames a methodical investigation of a seemingly supernatural menace that yields scientific explanations and surprises. The final tale examines the consequences of crossing or perceiving an anomalous red-hued dimension, mixing speculative technology with existential peril.