by James Phelan
Sam reluctantly stepped away from the Professor as the other man hauled him up and over his shoulder.
Outside, the sun was shining and Sam squinted against the brightness, so at odds with the deadly situation. He was marched toward a helicopter, parked defiantly on a lawn in the middle of the cemetery. A groundsman ran up to them, waving his hands and protesting in Italian. But he stopped short at the sight of the armed men, turning to flee to the shelter of the crypts, where Sam could see other tourists cowering.
Solaris seemed not to notice, looking neither left nor right as they approached the helicopter. “Get in,” he barked to Sam, swinging himself into the pilot’s seat, motioning Sam to the rear.
Sam climbed in ahead of Solaris’ men, who strapped him in tight, tying up the still unconscious Professor in the seat next to him.
“You won’t get away with this,” Sam said, almost to himself.
Solaris turned around in his seat as the rotors began to spin. “Oh, I think you’ll find I already have,” he laughed. “Enjoy the flight.”
The man nearest to Sam leaned over, a thin smile on his face as the dart from his gun sunk into Sam’s leg.
Sam felt a sense of helplessness wash over him as his world faded. The last thing he saw was Solaris taking the controls and the helicopter rising into the air.
15
ZARA
“I am Imam Fadil Abasi,” the man said, “and you are?” The man standing in front of them smiled warmly, no trace of concern in his voice. His face was covered by a wiry beard, his simple long black robes skimming the floor as he stood before them, an open book in his hands. The small office was crowded with full bookshelves, the early morning light casting its rays on them from a round window set high up above their heads.
Zara stepped forward. “We are so sorry to disturb you,” she said, “but there are people looking for us, people who would … hurt us if they find us.”
Do I tell him more? Say who we are?
She turned to see Issey flashing his red-carpet smile, trying to win over the old man. But his nerves were as shot as Zara’s and his smile came out like a frightened grimace. There was a long pause as the imam considered them carefully. He closed the book, setting it down on the desk next to him.
“I believe you are telling the truth, child,” he said. “Clearly, you have both been on a long journey. It must be time for you to rest and take shelter.” He came forward, gesturing to them both to sit down in the chairs lining the office walls.
“You are very kind,” Zara replied, letting out a long sigh, collapsing into the nearest chair. “We came back, and the Agents should have … but we were too late, and then he was firing and …” she choked on the words as she recalled the horrific scene at Dr. Kader’s house and their desperate escape through the city.
What are we going to do?
How do we find the others?
Are they even still alive?
Issey sat down next to her, squeezing her shoulder. “It’s OK, we’re OK …”
The imam came beside them, crouching down to take their hands in his own. “I do not know your troubles, but you must stay here until we can make a new plan for you. It is dangerous now,” he paused for a moment, “for Dreamers, yes?”
Zara startled and looked into his kind eyes.
Not all the world is against us.
“Thank you,” Issey said, “we need all the help we can get. I don’t suppose you have a phone? We need to make a very urgent call and this,” he pulled out his mobile phone, “seems to be dead.”
The imam stood up. “Of course, but we’ve had problems with our phones also. Cairo is in real trouble, but let us see what we can find. And then some food and time to clean up, I think.”
Zara looked down at her dirty clothes and realized how hungry and tired she was. She felt light-headed as the thought of rest washed over her. “Thank you,” she said quietly, sinking further into the chair. “Thank you.” Zara also silently thanked her lucky stars that she took the chance to ask a stranger for help.
Maybe there’s hope for the world still …
“We cannot stay any longer,” Zara said. She saw Issey nod but knew he was just as anxious about leaving the safety of the mosque as she was.
They’d been there for hours, sleeping on couches in a back room, eating nourishing local food brought by the woman who’d been cleaning the steps earlier that day. The search for a functioning phone had been fruitless, Imam Abasi unable to find one that could make an international call. Even local calls were struggling to connect.
The imam told them that the city was becoming unhinged, the uncertainty of the race causing simmering tensions in the city to boil over. “You must be careful,” he cautioned. “We need you to be safe so you can stop this madness.”
He knows who we are.
As they made their way to the door of the mosque, Zara turned to grasp the imam’s hands.
“I know,” he said before she could even speak. “Go now. We will be praying for you.”
Issey and Zara slipped out the door of the mosque, down the steps they’d raced up hours before. The city noise seemed even louder after the hush of the mosque. There was a nervous edge to the atmosphere as people rushed by, heads down and faces drawn.
They made their way back toward Dr. Kader’s house, as they’d agreed, hoping to see that the others had come back or if anyone else had arrived.
Issey took Zara’s hand as they walked through a thronging market just around the corner from Ahmed’s workshop. They were surrounded on all sides by merchants selling their wares and customers bartering for the best deal.
Zara felt safer in this large crowd and wanted to linger there. She dreaded returning to the house where they’d found the slain Agents.
But where else can we go? How else will anyone find us?
She pushed on through the crowd, focusing on keeping Issey directly in front of her. But a man with a cart banged into her and she felt Issey’s hand slip out of her grasp as she faltered in the square. Issey turned back, reaching out for her. But his mouth fell open in shock as he caught sight of something behind her.
Oh no!
Zara spun around, bringing up her arms defensively. She feared the worst. But she found something completely unexpected.
16
ISSEY
“Jedi!” Issey’s shout could be heard even over the din of the market. He came forward to give him a high five, Zara still locked in a bear hug with him, tears of relief streaming down her face.
“And Shiva,” Jedi laughed, stepping aside to reveal Shiva standing behind him.
“We … are … so happy,” Zara sobbed, “to see … you.”
“Hey, hey,” Jedi said, “it’s OK. We know what happened at Ahmed’s house. But thank goodness the two of you managed to get away. We’re going to stick together from now on, OK? We’re tracking the others, don’t worry.”
“But—they were underground, with Dr. Dark and Phoebe,” Issey said.
“We’ve got our tech working,” Shiva explained, “and we’ve located the others.”
“Come on, the Director and Ahmed are arranging a jeep around the corner. Let’s get out of here,” Jedi said, leading them out of the marketplace.
A few streets away, they found the Director and Ahmed deep in conversation, standing next to a battered dark blue four-wheel drive with dirty windows and a broken aerial.
“Zara! Issey!” the Director called out as he saw them approach. “You’re not with the others?”
“No, we came back because Zara needed a break,” Issey said, “and then we found … at Dr. Kader’s …”
“It’s OK,” Ahmed said, grasping Issey by the shoulder, “we have been to my house. Whoever attacked the Agents is long gone, there is no one there now. We will talk of this later, but we must go. Your friends need you to complete the prophecy.”
They were bundled into the car, Ahmed behind the wheel, the Director beside him. Jedi and Shiva cracked open la
ptops as Ahmed eased into the chaotic traffic, horns blasting all around.
“Where are we going?” Zara asked.
“Here,” Jedi said, looking at a GPS marker on his screen. “Well, technically, inside there.”
Zara and Issey craned to see the screen. They saw where he was pointing—at the Great Pyramid of Giza.
“They’re in the pyramid?” Issey asked.
“Well,” Jedi tapped the screen, “actually they’re under it—about thirty metres under it to be more precise.”
“Look here,” Shiva said. He pulled up schematics on his screen.
“There’s a chamber down there, which was cut off from public viewing years ago.”
“What is it?” Issey asked. He clutched the side of the jeep as they bounced down the ancient streets. Ahmed threw the steering wheel this way and that, the car weaving through the crowded roads with impossible ease.
I should challenge Ahmed to a race one day.
“No one knows what the room was for,” Shiva was saying.
“How do we get in there?” the Director asked, turning in his seat to join the conversation.
“We can access the ascending chamber through there,” Shiva said, pointing to the entrance. “But it’s sealed off by a metal gate. There are more gates like that inside. The Egyptian authorities have not granted access to the chamber for a long time.”
“You think maybe they’re stuck down there?” Issey said.
“Could be,” the Director said. “With the prophecy about to be realized, the world is getting crazier by the minute.” He looked out the window to the sun in the sky. “There are only a few hours to go.” He turned back to talk to Ahmed, who was muttering as he tried to navigate around a broken-down car in front of them.
The engine groaned as Ahmed revved the car, edging out into the intersection. “Come on!” he yelled. “We have to—”
SMASH!
The jeep was flung sideways through the intersection as a truck slammed into them from the right, brakes screeching over the crunch of metal that filled the air. Issey felt the world collapse around him for an endless second before the car ground to a halt against a side street wall. It was crumpled like a tin can, dust clouds billowing around them as the horn blared out in one long, angry scream.
Issey lay crouched on the floor of the car, Zara rolling over to meet his shocked gaze. A trickle of blood snaked down her face.
But she’s in one piece.
We have to get out of here.
C’mon Iss, get up!
He unfolded his body, pushing back against the passenger door, which fell open when he kicked it. He pulled Zara by the arms, dragging her out into the street. Jedi and Shiva appeared on the other side of the car, dazed but upright.
We’re still alive, we’re all OK.
But they weren’t.
17
RAPHA
“Think of it as a game of chess,” Phoebe whispered to the others. “We have to think several moves ahead to win. We lose our focus, it’s all over. We have to stay calm and work as a team. OK?”
“OK,” Rapha and Cody said in unison.
“Agreed,” Xavier said. “And I am a champion at chess.”
“OK,” said Poh.
“Maria?” said Phoebe.
“Yes,” Maria said slowly. “Solaris won’t kill us, right?”
“No, remember, he needs us,” Rapha said, looking at his friends with what he hoped was a convincing smile.
I know the prophecy says we all have to be there to open the Gate, but does Solaris believe it?
Rapha turned to look at Dr. Dark, who was crouched behind a crate, watching the masked men working away.
“But we have to try to escape,” Xavier was saying. “And on the way, maybe we can make a difference, put a hole in Solaris’ plans, whatever it is that they’re setting up—”
“Some kind of trap?” Poh said.
“Yep,” Xavier said. “So …”
“Just remember, these guys are armed,” Phoebe cautioned.
“But we have the element of surprise on our side,” Xavier said. “Isn’t it like what you said, a chess game that—”
“Shh, look,” Maria said. There was commotion as the Solaris figures gathered together, their conversation too quiet to be overheard. Abruptly, they turned and left the room, heading out the main entrance, which could just be glimpsed around the corner. One figure remained.
“OK,” Xavier said. “Change of plans. We just have to get that one guy.”
“What if that’s the real Solaris?” Rapha said, looking at the man. He stood with his back to them, a dart gun in his hand, facing the doorway as though he was expecting trouble. “Even with all of us, we’re no match for him.”
“That’s not Solaris,” Dr. Dark said, watching him closely.
“You sure?” Xavier asked.
Dr. Dark nodded. Then—quicker than a heartbeat—he leaped out to rush the figure. He ran fast, but the distance was too far to make such an open attack and not expect to be heard on the approach.
If he’s going to have any chance, he’s going to need help!
“Plan B—scatter!” Xavier whispered to his friends and they ran to separate corners of the chamber, making as much noise and commotion as they could along the way. The guard spun in all directions, confused at their sudden appearance, not knowing where to fire first.
“Hey!” Rapha yelled to the Solaris figure. “Over here!”
The man flew round to face him, raising his dart gun just as Dr. Dark crash-tackled him from behind. The others rushed to help, pinning the Solaris figure down. Dr. Dark pulled off the mask to reveal an angry-looking young man. Fit and strong, Rapha thought, but nothing like the menacing threat he imagined Solaris to be.
“He’s an Agent,” Dr. Dark said. “A rogue, working with Stella.”
“You’ll never stop her!” the Agent said. “When she—”
WHACK!
Phoebe shot the guy with his own dart gun.
“Help me move him and tie him up,” Phoebe said. “Arm yourself with whatever you can find in the crates. The rest of them might be coming back. We can barricade ourselves behind their equipment and take them out as they come in.”
“No,” Dr. Dark said, “no barricade. We hide this guy back near the ladder and we hide too.”
“Then surprise them once they all come into the chamber?” Xavier said. “Nice thinking.”
“OK,” Phoebe said. “You heard him, let’s do it.”
“It pays to be a step ahead,” Dr. Dark said as they picked up the unconscious Agent to move him out of sight.
“By the way, Dad, welcome back,” Xavier smiled.
“Thanks,” Dr. Dark said. “I have to admit, I feel much more like myself again.”
“That’s good, because we need you,” Rapha said, Maria and Poh nodding in agreement behind him.
“Exactly,” Xavier said, “if we’re going to win, we need to be two steps ahead, and who do you think taught me to play chess?”
18
ZARA
Ahmed was slumped over the steering wheel, the horn still blaring as he lay there, unmoving. Zara and Issey pulled open the door as passers-by crowded around them, trying to offer help. Zara put her hand out to Dr. Kader’s neck, searching for a pulse. But there was none. Steeling herself, she took him by the shoulders and gently pulled him back onto the seat.
We have to be sure.
She gasped and turned away. His jovial features were frozen in his last moment.
Dr. Kader’s dead!
She felt Issey pull her around the car, and blindly followed him to the other side where Jedi and Shiva were tending to the Director. He was laid out on the dusty ground, gasping for breath.
Shiva was bent over him, his arm cradling his head as the Director whispered something to him. Jedi looked up, their shock mirrored in his face. “He’s not going to …”
Shiva turned to them, his eyes watering. “I can’t believe it, he
’s gone.”
This can’t be … I don’t want to be here.
I can’t do this.
“We have to go, now.” Jedi stood up abruptly, pushing back the crowds surging around them and the battered car. “It’s not safe here and we still have a job to do.”
“Jedi, we can’t leave them here,” Issey said, wiping his own tears away with a shirt sleeve. “The police will be coming and—”
“Exactly,” Shiva interrupted, getting up and brushing himself down. “And we can’t be here when they arrive. Follow me.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Issey yelled, now angrily pushing back against the people around him in his frustration. “Leave Dr. Kader and the Director in the street? Run from the police?”
“We have no choice,” Shiva said, grabbing Zara’s arm and nodding to Jedi to follow him. “We can’t afford to get entangled with the local authorities now. We have to leave them here, to go and fulfill the prophecy.”
Zara shook her head. It was all too much to take in. The heat, the dust, people shouting on all sides, the small street full of noise.
And the Director and Ahmed not with us anymore.
“Zara!” Jedi said. “Come on! You have to come with us, you too, Issey.” Jedi started to pull them through the crowds, some of them pointing and becoming hostile at the sight of them leaving the crash.
“Wait!” Zara said. “What did the Director say to you? Just now, before …”
Shiva sighed. “The last thing the Director said … he said we have to beat Solaris. Like it or not, now you really do have to save the world.”
Zara and Issey looked at each other.
“OK, lead the way,” she said.
19
EVA
Eva looked out the window of the small Enterprise jet. They were flying over Spain. The sky was clear but for a few wispy white clouds against a bright blue sky. Alex was asleep next to her. Arianna and Gabriella were talking together quietly in the seats behind. Lora slowly sipped a coffee, deep in thought, her eyes far away.
I bet I know what she’s thinking about.
