10

by James Phelan

  ‘There’s not been a split of the Council like this in my lifetime,’ he replied. ‘It shouldn’t matter to us too much, things are moving so quickly now. The loss of some of the Councillors and their connections and abilities is disappointing, nonetheless.’

  Sam and the Professor watched as the Council regrouped. A lull had descended on the assembled Dreamers. The nine remaining in the Leadership rallied together and called upon three of the senior Councillors to step up and assume Leadership positions. Remarkably, no-one seemed to object.

  Looks like all the troublemakers just left. Maybe it’ll get easier now …

  ‘May I ask a question?’ a Councillor to Sam’s right said. He was a tall African man dressed in an impeccable white suit with a brilliant blue tie. ‘What more have we learned about the Dream Gate? Our notes here before us are little more detailed than those we learned from when we were at the Academy as students ourselves.’

  Another member of the Leadership stood up to reply, discussing what little light had been shed, with a few more Councillors chiming in with their opinions.

  ‘We’re not ready for it!’ one man said, standing so as to get attention and be heard. ‘The Egyptian Guardians are right when then say that we must be wary. The power beyond the Gate may be too much for humanity at the moment. Look at all the mistakes we still make, even here today in this very Council, full of so-called enlightened minds.’

  ‘You may not be ready,’ the African Councillor said. ‘But we are! The last 13 arising is proof of that, my friend.’

  Cheers rang out, but the argument continued back and forth, a few on each side of the fence, although the anger Sam had seen before with Mac was now gone.

  ‘Looks like they’ll be at this for a while,’ Sam said quietly to the Professor.

  ‘A healthy debate, to be sure,’ the Professor conceded.

  The discussion shifted to whether the ultimate power should be used, shared, hidden once more, or even destroyed.

  I’ve been so busy just trying to work out where to go and what to do in this race, I haven’t even considered these kinds of questions.

  ‘If the Dream Gate leads to such a vast power, perhaps we’re better off never finding it,’ an older woman at the back said.

  ‘What are you suggesting?’ the Chairman asked.

  ‘That we don’t piece together this machine of da Vinci’s,’ she replied. ‘That we hide the Gears as they come—that way, we control the race.’

  ‘And then have the Gate be lost forever?’ the Professor interjected.

  ‘Better lost than falling into the wrong hands,’ she replied. ‘We’ve survived well enough without this treasure.’

  ‘Survived? We could thrive!’ the African Councillor said loudly. ‘This is our chance to reach our full potential.’

  The argument rumbled on and Sam found it hard to stay focused on the discussion.

  They can talk all they want. I’ve gotta get out of here and do something. We have to get to Zara.

  ‘Don’t these people realise the race is going on out there, right now?’ Sam whispered to the Professor. ‘The time for talking is over.’

  ‘They’ll come around, Sam,’ the Professor said. ‘I’m afraid it’s going to be a long day, and this Council needs all the voices of reason available. What do you think about leaving and trying to make contact with Zara?’

  ‘On my own?’

  ‘I need to make sure we’re all in this together. We need the Council and their global influence to stand a chance.’

  ‘Well, sure,’ Sam said, checking his watch. ‘I’ll meet Zara, leave it to me.’

  ‘You, and some Guardians to watch out for you.’

  Sam hesitated. ‘You’re sure they’re OK?’

  ‘Larry and Harry, the two who stood guard outside your room this morning,’ the Professor said, ‘I’ve known them since they were your age, you can trust them.’

  ‘OK, thanks,’ Sam said. ‘So what should I do?’

  ‘Get Jedi to help you find Zara. Then bring her with you to the hotel. Hopefully she’s had her dream about the next Gear. If not, it won’t be too far away.’

  The Professor squeezed Sam’s shoulder. ‘I believe in you, Sam.’

  Sam smiled and slipped out of the Council room, happy to leave the arguments to the so-called grown-ups.

  Larry and Harry were waiting outside the second door. They must have been advised of the new plan by the Professor as they escorted Sam out of the tunnel and into the bright afternoon outside the cafe without hesitation.

  ‘Where are we headed?’ Larry asked.

  ‘The Louvre, Harry.’

  ‘I’m Larry.’

  ‘Right,’ Sam said, eyeing the two hulking guys striding along beside him. ‘I was just saying, let’s go to the Louvre.’

  Sam’s phone beeped. It was Zara.

  Sam–change of plans, meet me at the bookshop. Hurry.

  ‘Or not …’ Sam said.

  ‘What is it?’ Harry asked.

  ‘Change of plans, Larry.’

  ‘I’m—’

  ‘Just try and keep up with me!’ Sam said, taking off at a sprint.

  25

  ‘I’m glad you called,’ Sam said as he and Zara sat by the window of the cafe near the bookstore. ‘I worried that you might not. How did you get out of work early?’

  ‘I couldn’t concentrate on what I was doing,’ Zara said. ‘Everything you told me last night, it’s buzzing in my head. I could hardly sleep. But then … I had a dream.’

  Zara told Sam what she could remember, then paused, adding, ‘When I fell back asleep, I saw more—we met at the Louvre, at five o’clock, as planned. But the man was there, in black clothes, who chased us—shooting fire at us. The whole of the Denon Wing burned to the ground. But then I saw him somewhere else. It does not make sense, does it?’

  Sam swallowed hard.

  If that was due to happen at the same time I was supposed to meet her—five o’clock today, then Solaris is probably already in Paris.

  Sam instinctively looked outside at the two Guardians, Larry and Harry, standing on constant alert. He felt a little better.

  ‘So now you know why I wanted to meet earlier,’ Zara said. ‘I wanted to change something. I couldn’t let that happen. I’m right, non? That was one version of the future?’

  ‘Yes, you’re right. I’m glad you trusted your instincts,’ Sam said. ‘Does the dream mean something to you? Do you know where we have to go?’

  ‘It was strange,’ she said. ‘After the fire, it’s like I—how do you say, faint?’

  ‘Fainted,’ Sam said, ‘like, you blacked out?’

  ‘Oui, yes. And in the dark I was scared …’

  Sam could see in her expression that recalling the dream was still terrifying to her.

  ‘But I did see something else. Not at first, but this morning, when I looked through my father’s da Vinci books again, it brought back a memory from my dream.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I’m sure I was at the manor house Clos Lucé where da Vinci had his last workshop. He spent the last three years of his life there. It is a museum now.’

  Sam’s face lit up. ‘Could the Gear be there?’

  Zara smiled. ‘It is there—I believe I have seen it!’

  ‘Seriously?’ Sam said, sitting up, his heart rate going crazy. ‘It’s at the workshop?’

  ‘But not in plain sight. In the dream, it is hidden, in a secret room. I thought my mind is playing tricks on me, but slowly I realise maybe it’s not so crazy. It feels so right.’ She shrugged. ‘I cannot explain it.’

  ‘No explanation necessary, trust me. We need to get there,’ Sam said. ‘How far away is it?’

  ‘A few hours’ drive,’ she said. ‘My papa can take us.’

  ‘Your father, right …’ Sam looked out the window, absently, wondering how to tell Zara what he knew about her parents.

  Zara, the people you love, who raised you—they may not actually be your pare
nts.

  ‘Maybe it’s best you leave them out of this,’ Sam began.

  ‘I can at least tell them where I am going, non?’

  ‘Well …’ Sam said.

  Maybe that dart first and explain later technique of Sebastian’s wasn’t so bad after all.

  ‘What do you think of your parents?’

  ‘Think? I do not understand,’ she said.

  ‘You know … do you like them?’ Sam tried.

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Right, erm …’ Sam gazed out the window. ‘Why don’t I introduce you to the Professor first?’

  ‘Now?’ Zara said. ‘Look, Sam, I believe you, right? You told me about all this da Vinci dream stuff yesterday, then—then you change your clothes right in front of me. I dream of some secret da Vinci Gear, of an evil man called Solaris, just as you said I would. So what now? If we wait, maybe Solaris gets to us before we can get to the Gear?’

  ‘When you put it like that …’

  ‘My parents are so close by now, and you have the protection of those two thick-necked guys out there.’

  ‘You know they’re with me?’

  ‘A little obvious, and I have seen bodyguards before at VIP events at the Louvre—they have a look about them.’

  Sam had to admit, Harry and Larry certainly stood out.

  ‘So,’ Zara said, standing to leave. ‘How are we doing this?’

  As they opened the door to Zara’s apartment, Sam felt sick to his stomach.

  We shouldn’t have come here …

  Furniture was overturned, drawers were emptied all over the floor, the cupboards were open, papers were scattered everywhere.

  ‘Wait here,’ Harry said, moving past Sam and into the apartment, dart gun in his hand. Larry stayed in the entry hall with Sam and Zara, who seemed frozen in the moment, shocked.

  ‘My mother …’ Zara said. ‘She was here this afternoon.’

  ‘Place is empty,’ Harry said, coming back to the entry hall. ‘Every room’s been turned over.’

  ‘What were they looking for?’ Zara said.

  ‘You’, Sam said. He turned to her. ‘They were looking for you.’

  ‘Me?’ Zara said, tears in her eyes.

  26

  The Sorbonne was busy, hundreds of students leaving as afternoon classes finished.

  ‘I will go check—’

  ‘Zara, wait!’ Sam said, chasing after her and pulling at her arm. Zara turned around. Worry was etched on her face. Neither of her parents were answering their phones. ‘Let’s go together, the four of us, OK? Stick with us, just to be safe.’

  She looked from him to Larry and Harry. ‘OK, but we run!’

  The four of them ran inside, down a corridor that twisted and turned and then up two flight of stairs to the second level.

  ‘It’s up here,’ Zara said, panting.

  ‘This one?’ Sam asked, pausing by a door.

  Zara nodded, getting her breath back.

  Sam gave Harry a nod, and the huge Guardian took the command. He went through the door, dart gun drawn.

  ‘It’s OK guys, come in,’ Harry called.

  Sam and Zara went inside the classroom, while Larry stood guard in the hall outside.

  ‘Papa!’ Zara ran to her father and the two embraced. ‘I went home, someone has—’

  ‘I know,’ her father said. ‘Your mother just rang me, she’s home now, packing some things and will meet us out of town. I’m sorry I missed your calls, I didn’t mean to worry you.’

  ‘She’s OK?’ Zara was relieved.

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘She came back to find the apartment had been broken into.’

  He looked at Sam and Harry.

  ‘Papa, this is my friend, Sam,’ Zara said.

  Sam could see recognition flit across the man’s eyes. He also saw kindness, and someone who seemed trustworthy, Agent or not. Zara’s father came over and shook Sam’s hand. ‘So, you are the one,’ he said.

  ‘That’s what they tell me,’ Sam replied.

  ‘And Zara?’ he asked.

  Sam nodded, said, ‘She’s special too.’

  Zara’s father beamed a smile. When he looked back at his daughter, she had confusion in her eyes.

  ‘Darling,’ he said, ‘there’s something that I must tell you.’

  ‘Papa?’ Zara said, tears in her eyes.

  ‘It is true.’

  ‘Which part?’ she asked. ‘That I’m created? That I’m a Dreamer? That you are … you are not my father?’

  Sam watched her tears fall as the man’s silence confirmed most of it, but then he said, ‘You are our daughter. It is—we were part of a program, having you.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘To see if we could raise a powerful Dreamer.’

  ‘You’ve lied to me my whole life!’

  ‘Zara, please …’

  Sam paced the room, uncomfortable to be witnessing this conversation again.

  This is just as terrible as when Xavier had this fight with Dr Dark.

  Zara banged her hand down on the table.

  ‘For what?’ she said. ‘So that you could raise me until my dream and then hand me over to the—the Enterprise when I started having these dreams?’

  ‘What dreams have you had?’ Mr Armand said.

  Zara looked to Sam, uncertain whether to say more.

  ‘It started with my dream,’ Sam said. ‘My dream led me here. It leads me to the others when they are ready.’

  ‘Ah, that’s why you are the one,’ Mr Armand said. ‘Yes, you are the key, the one who will bring them together, to get to the Gate. And this is a Guardian, of course.’

  ‘I’ll be waiting outside, but we shouldn’t stay here for long,’ Harry said, leaving the three of them there.

  ‘He’s right, we should keep moving,’ Sam said. ‘But first I have to ask … Mr Armand, are you with us or against us?’

  Zara flashed an angry look at Sam. ‘What are you saying?’ she demanded.

  ‘Non, ma cherie, Sam is right to be suspicious,’ Mr Armand soothed. ‘He knows the Academy and the Enterprise have not had the same agenda.’ He turned to Sam, came close to him. ‘But I promise you this, Sam. I will never allow harm to come to my daughter and I see now that the Academy wants nothing but to protect her. And there are others who might seek to hurt her.’

  ‘So you won’t call it in?’ Sam insisted.

  ‘Non. The prophecy of the last 13 is more important than any loyalty to an employer. I think the time has come for all of us to make Signore da Vinci proud.’

  As Mr Armand’s phone chimed, Harry rapped his knuckles on the open doorframe and motioned to Sam that they should go.

  Zara’s dad had answered the call, speaking quietly for a moment before hanging up.

  ‘Your mother is headed out of town,’ he said to Zara. ‘She noticed that she was being followed, so she’s leading them out on a scenic drive to Normandy.’

  ‘We must leave,’ Zara said. ‘We should help her.’

  ‘Your mother has been trained for situations such as these. I know that’s hard to imagine, but she is stronger than you think,’ her father said to her. ‘Your job is to help Sam now.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Zara, but he’s right,’ Sam said. ‘We should go to the Professor, then to da Vinci’s workshop.’

  Zara quickly told her father about her dream.

  ‘Through the fireplace …’ he said, his eyes distant, picturing the adventure ahead, the possibility of discovering a secret room of da Vinci’s not seen since it was sealed up and lost to history. The afternoon sunlight was now so low it beamed in through the open curtains and he went to the window to close the blinds.

  ‘You shouldn’t be here …’ Mr Armand went on. ‘It’s too dangerous, there’s so much at stake. Your lives are too important. Go now.’

  ‘But Papa—’

  ‘No,’ Mr Armand said, turning around. ‘Right now, you are two of the most wanted people on the planet. There are enemies that will sto
p at nothing to get at you. Please, go now. I’ll stay here and make a distraction should anyone be following me to find you.’

  ‘Papa, I think you are overreacting a little, non?’

  ‘No,’ he said, looking out the window and down at the street. ‘Look here.’

  Down in the leafy avenue, two SUVs had pulled up at the curb and burly men were piling out of every door.

  ‘Who are they?’ Zara asked. She pulled away from the window, startled.

  ‘Not friends,’ Mr Armand replied.

  ‘Hans,’ Sam said, recognising him. ‘And the German Guardians.’

  ‘Traitors …’ Larry said, appearing by Sam’s side and looking down to the street.

  Mr Armand went to his desk, opened a drawer and flicked a switch. Behind him, the blackboard slid up, a shiny steel panel behind it folding open to reveal an assortment of weapons.

  Sam and Zara just stared, stunned.

  We are way out of our league.

  ‘Go meet up with Sam’s people,’ Mr Armand said, clipping a canister of tear gas into a grenade-launcher. ‘Be safe with them and meet your mother near Clos Lucé. She can help you at the da Vinci workshop and then take you someplace safe.’

  ‘What about you?’ Zara said, her voice wavering.

  ‘I’ll hold them off here.’ He passed Sam a couple of stun grenades.

  ‘But you might …’ Zara pleaded in vain.

  ‘Never forget I love you. Now, go,’ Mr Armand said, hugging his daughter and then pushing her away. ‘Take the stairs to the roof and run across to the west wing. Go down to the street from there.’

  ‘Papa?’

  ‘Go!’

  ‘Harry, Larry,’ Sam said, ‘stay here with Zara’s father.’

  ‘We have to protect you,’ Harry said in protest.

  ‘And if you hold off Hans’ guys here, then you are protecting us,’ Sam said. He turned to Zara’s dad. ‘No offence, Mr Armand, but even with all this,’ he waved his arms at the weapons behind him, ‘you don’t stand a chance here alone.’

  Mr Armand nodded.

  ‘And Hans’ guys will think we’re still here because you two are here,’ Sam said to Larry and Harry. ‘Zara and I will slip out and go to the Council headquarters, you know we’ll be safe there. And besides, you two know better than anyone how to deal with Hans’ team of Guardians.’