Askew's game motif
Askew's game is a recurring motif in the text. The game is introduced in the beginning of the text and culminates at the end in a final game between Askew and Kit. The game represents Askew's attempt to connect to his past. It also represents Askew's inability to let go of the darkness of the past, and how this darkness consumes him.
Silky
Silky is perhaps the most significant symbol in the text and recurs frequently. We first hear about Silky from Kit's grandfather, who tells Kit that Silky was a ghost in the mines. After this, Silky is often present in Kit's dreams and also inspires a short story written by Kit. Silky represents Kit's attempt to connect with his personal heritage, and how he includes this into his identity by writing. This symbol also represents the persistence and presence of the past in the present.
Askew's den
Askew's den is described as being dark and damp. The den is visually and atmospherically similar to the old mines that Kit's grandfather describes. Indeed, Askew's den is often described as being a "pit." As such, Askew's den represents the mine the children's grandfather used to work in and is their attempt to reconnect with their past.
The ammonite
Kit's grandfather teaches him about the items he has kept from the mine, which includes a piece of tree bark, and the ammonite. He tells Kit that: "When we dropped down in the cage we dropped through time. Million years a minute. Pitmen. Time travelers." Kit cherishes the ammonite, calling it "a treasure from my grandfather. A gift from the deep, dark past." As such, the ammonite symbolizes Kit's close relationship with his grandfather, and the relevance of the past.
