by James Phelan
Hopefully that’ll hold the water back long enough for us to get clear down there.
I hope this is what Ramses had in mind. I hope this is meant to be the escape route.
Sam coughed loudly in the dusty confines of the tunnel. He had to brace with every step, slipping from ledge to ledge, careful not to drop too fast to give Poh enough time ahead of him. As he scrambled down, scraping hands, arms, knees as he dropped, suddenly he felt water splashing onto him.
“Go! Poh, quickly!” Sam urged. His flashlight beam caught his face as he looked up and felt the water beginning to cascade around them.
“The water!” Poh climbed down even faster, urging on the others below him.
Sam could feel his clothes getting soaked as more and more water rained down on him, drenching him and making it harder to keep a grip on the rocky walls.
We’re out of time … we’re going to drown!
Sam felt hopelessness wash over him.
Focus, Sam. Don’t give up. Tobias wouldn’t give up.
With renewed energy, he forced himself to cling to the now muddy walls, concentrating on not falling onto those below him.
A few seconds later, strong hands reached out to him, pulling him close to the wall and into a side tunnel.
“We’ve got you!”
Sam sprawled onto the floor, Eva and Alex still holding onto him. Water gushed past them as they huddled together, watching the water fall farther down the main tunnel.
“Looks like there’s an underground reservoir,” Lora said, wrapping her jacket around Sam’s shivering shoulders. “In any case, the water isn’t going to be following us along here. Come on, Gabriella and Cody are scouting ahead with the Professor and Jedi.”
It turned out that they didn’t have far to go. They caught up with the Professor and the others in a few minutes. The path underfoot changed from rough-hewn rock to a smoother path, finally turning into paving stones. As they wound around a long bend, they came abruptly to a set of large doors fixed squarely across the tunnel.
“Are these made from copper?” Eva asked, stepping forward to touch the heavy doors, casting her flashlight across them, the reflected light bouncing around the dark tunnel.
“Where are we?” Alex said.
“Somewhere no one has been for over three thousand years,” Sam said. “These doors are made of gold,” he said, running his hand over them. “They’ve been shut all this time, waiting for us.”
Everyone stared at Sam as he turned to face them, pointing at a hole halfway down one of the doors.
A hole in the shape of a star.
36
Sam carefully pulled out the broken pieces of the key, holding the stem in one hand as he slipped the blade of the key into the lock.
Everyone held their breath as Sam delicately nudged it round with the remaining jagged piece of stem, just barely sticking out from the lock.
CLICK.
With that tiny, gentle sound, the door swung open.
“Sam, I think you should do the honours,” the Professor said, encouraging him forward.
“OK, time to see what Ramses left us,” Sam said quietly. He grabbed both doors and heaved them wide open, stepping across the threshold and across millennia.
A steep staircase of wide steps greeted Sam and he walked down slowly, picking out his way with his flashlight. The air was cold and stale and he shivered as he reached the bottom. He swept the light here and there, quickly realizing this was an enormous cavern as the flashlight beam was swallowed up. In the far corners, objects sparkled and glittered invitingly.
As Sam moved farther in, the others spreading out behind him, he heard their cries of wonder, calling out what they found—gold and jewels and objects dating back to the Ancient Egyptians and even farther.
“This is unlike anything we have ever seen and on such a scale,” the Professor said, joining Sam at the front. “These artifacts are from the time of Ramses.”
“Check this out!” Alex called over, pointing to a crystal sarcophagus, inlaid with sapphires and diamonds, sparkling in the light of his flashlight.
“The pharoahs didn’t bury their treasure in the pyramids,” Eva added, “it’s all here!”
And there was more to come. At the far end of the cavernous hall was another set of doors. This time, there was no lock.
“Professor?” Sam said, gesturing before him.
They fell silent as the Professor carefully turned an ancient iron handle to push open the ornate doors now in front of them.
The Professor walked in to find a vast stone gallery. “Scrolls,” he said, moving down the main aisle, discovering high shelves covered almost every part of the enormous chamber, “thousands of scrolls and carved tablets. And look here—a stele … this is a library!”
“Like the one that was lost at Alexandria, in the famous fire?” Eva asked, marvelling at the rows and rows of scrolls.
“Yes,” the Professor replied, “but still here, intact, safe and waiting all these years. Imagine what knowledge, what secrets they must contain!”
“All the secrets lost from ancient civilizations?” Alex said. “Hans was right, and Ahmed.”
“Even Dr. Dark talked about technology that had disappeared through history,” Maria added. “Sorry, Xavier,” she said hurriedly, turning to look at him, apologetic for having brought up Xavier’s father.
“It’s OK,” Xavier said, “I can’t pretend he didn’t exist. I don’t think I even want to, if that doesn’t sound crazy.”
“It doesn’t,” Zara said, taking his arm.
“To think, all this was just sitting underground, all these centuries,” Sam said, “put here by Ramses, by Dreamers, to protect it, for us.” He sighed, sitting down among the rows of shelves, stacked with ancient knowledge, stretching away into darkness, farther than their lights could illuminate.
He was suddenly weary.
The world is saved. And I’ve saved who I can.
We’ve found the treasure.
I’m done.
“Me too,” Eva said, anticipating his thoughts as she sat down next to him, her arm over his shoulders. The others gravitated toward them—tired, spent, wanting the comfort of each other. Jedi hugged Lora as Shiva grinned and turned to the Professor.
“It has been an incredible journey,” the Professor said, “an incredible race. And now we’re here with all this knowledge. Lost, and now found. Like us.”
He turned to the last 13, smiling at them. “Finding the Dream Gate is not the end, my friends. It is only just the beginning.”
37
EPILOGUE
“I’m joined today by the world’s most famous Dreamer, probably it’s most famous person right now,” Nora said, “none other than Sam Williams, the leader of the last 13. Thanks for speaking with us today, Sam.”
“You’re welcome, Nora,” Sam smiled, looking at the reporter on the small monitor propped up next to the camera in front of him. “I promised you when our paths crossed in Antarctica that you’d get the world exclusive interview, I’m just pleased we’re all still here to do it.”
“Well, of course, our audience may not realize that we’ve previously met,” Nora cooed, “and my cameraman, Clive, and I were only too happy to play a very small part in your race for the Dream Gate. So tell us, can you explain how the amazing ‘free power’ phenomenon that has transformed the world came about?”
“I wish I could explain it properly,” Sam began, “I might need to leave the mechanics of it to the science expert I know you’re talking to after me, but for my part, all I know is that the prophecy led us to the Bakhu—”
“That’s da Vinci’s machine that you had to put together, the thirteen of you dreaming of a piece of the machine each,” Nora chipped in.
“That’s right,” Sam continued. “We needed to put together the machine so we could uncover the location of the Dream Gate.”
“Which turned out to be just north of Cairo,” Nora carried on, “close to where
historians believed Ramses the Great, the creator of the Dream Gate and the prophecy, had his palace and ruled over Ancient Egypt.”
“Exactly,” Sam said.
“Although it must have been an unimaginable shock to discover that Solaris, the agent of so much death and destruction during the race, was none other than Sebastian McPherson, the son of the beloved headmaster of the Dreamer Academy …”
As a photograph of Sebastian flashed onto the monitor next to Nora’s face as she spoke, Sam tuned out, memories rushing in like the waters swirling around the Dream Gate that fateful night.
“Sam?” Nora asked gently. “Are you still with us? I was just saying how doubly shocking it was that the real mastermind was Dr. Xavier Dark, the pre-eminent psychiatrist and philanthropist. With his son, Xavier, being another of the last 13, that must have been very—”
“Yes, Nora,” Sam said, cutting her off. “I’m sure you can appreciate what a sensitive subject that is.” He smiled, his eyes trying to communicate to her through the lens of the camera.
Xavier’s been through enough. Move on.
“Ahem, quite, well said,” Nora said apologetically. “I imagine it must be hard to think back on those events, I know you lost several people close to you during the race.” She waited, giving Sam time to compose his thoughts.
We won the race, we did the right thing, did our best.
But there was a price to be paid.
“I’m sorry,” Sam said, looking directly at the camera once more, “it’s still a fresh wound in many ways. One of the last 13 bravely gave her life so that I could fulfill the prophecy for the good of humanity.”
“That would be your Russian friend, Arianna,” Nora said. “But her sacrifice made the ultimate difference—you were able to reverse the terrible effects of the Dream Gate being opened by Solaris. There isn’t a single person who won’t remember those long terrifying minutes when we were assaulted by our worst nightmares. And the chaos that erupted around the world as power cut out everywhere, with devastating results.”
Sam nodded, a sad smile flickering across his face. “Arianna, and others—Jack Palmer, the head of the Enterprise, countless Guardians and Agents, my friend and teacher, Tobias Cole …”
“Ah, yes,” the reporter said, her voice low. “Tobias Cole, the science teacher from your high school, tragically killed in hostilities in Cambodia.”
Sam paused. “Tobias was a great man—a great scientist, and he would have loved what the Dream Gate has provided for us.”
“That’s right,” Nora replied. “When the nightmares stopped, everything had changed. Suddenly there is power in the air, all our electrical appliances are working purely from the energy around us. Lights, phones, even our TV camera and sound equipment there with you.”
“Einstein was a Dreamer, you know,” Sam said, “and Tesla. Many of our greatest scientists theorized about tapping into the energy within the planet. They would have been amazed to see it at work in the world today. Turns out the technology was there all along, left behind for us by the Ancient Egyptians. It took the last 13 prophecy and the Dream Gate to unleash its potential.”
“And the effects of that will be unimaginably huge,” Nora enthused. “No more need to mine the planet for fossil fuels, no more harmful emissions. It’s certainly a massive victory for the environment and something that’s given access to knowledge, information and resources to people who’d otherwise never have them.”
“In many ways, it’s a rebirth for us as humans,” Sam said. “Ramses hid the Gate, the power, all that knowledge, waiting for the prophecy to be fulfilled when we were ready for it. That time is now, we need to act on that, use it as a springboard to do better, be better. Look after this beautiful planet, and each other.” He stopped, embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to preach,” he laughed nervously. “But you take my point.”
“I do, Sam, I really do,” Nora smiled. “It’s a great message and one that I hope everyone watching is hearing loud and clear. And if I could ask you one more question?”
“Yes?”
“We know that Gabriella has returned to Italy and is planning to resume her very successful singing career. Likewise, Issey has announced he will be competing in the upcoming international gaming contest in India. But what of the other remaining members of the last 13? What does the future hold for them?”
“Well, Rapha is intending to go back to Brazil. I think he misses the trees,” Sam laughed. “And Maria has already gone back to Cuba. She was reunited with her father while the race was happening and wants to spend time with him for now.”
“And the others? What of your closest friends, Alex and Eva?”
“They’re here with me, along with Xavier, Zara, Poh and Cody. We’ve got a lot more to learn about being Dreamers, so for now, school’s in session.”
“Ha! You save the world, but you still have to go to school, just like any other teenager,” Nora smiled. “Well, you’re an extraordinary young man and I just want to thank you again for taking the time to tell us a little bit about the amazing journey you’ve had,” she said, wrapping up. “I’m sure this is just the first of many interviews you’ll be asked to give and I’m sure you’ll be very much in demand.”
Sam gave a final wave as Nora signed off and pulled the earpiece out. He stepped down from the high stool he had been perched on in front of the camera and the lights set up in the room.
“Thanks, guys,” he said to the film crew, Clive coming around from the camera to shake his hand.
“Nora was sorry she wasn’t able to travel here to meet you in person again,” Clive said. “Thanks for keeping your word about the interview, man. Good luck, eh?”
Sam shook Clive’s hand and slipped out of the room.
The corridor was full of students as Sam mingled in among them. Many called out greetings to him.
“Hey, Sam!”
“How’s it going?”
“Love your work, dude!”
Alex and Eva pounced from around a corner. They’d been waiting for him to finish the interview.
“How’d it go?” Alex asked. “Bored of being famous yet?”
“I think I was bored of it before,” Sam replied. “You can have it, Alex.”
“Cool, thanks!” Alex thumped his shoulder. “Now if you could just put in a good word for me, maybe I’ll be on the front page with you next time. At least I made page four.” He laughed, showing Sam a page torn out from a newspaper. The headline read, LAST THIRTEEN: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
“Eurgh, why’d they have to use that photo of me?” Eva complained.
“Hey, don’t worry, everyone would have been looking at me,” Alex teased.
“Yeah, whatever. But where’s your mom, anyway?” Eva said as they came out into the courtyard, pulling on their winter coats in the frosty alpine air. “I thought she was meeting us here today.”
“She’s on her way with Shiva,” Alex said. “Apparently, now that she’s head of the Enterprise, she has lots of very important meetings to go to. Rather her than me!” he said. “But at least with the Enterprise and Academy working together now, I don’t have to pick a side.” He pulled a face at Eva.
“Well, I’m just glad they’ve managed to fix up so much of the campus already,” Eva said, ignoring Alex’s crossed eyes. “London’s OK, but I much prefer it here.” She paused, looking around the Swiss campus, students filling the yard, their noisy chatter rising into the cold air. “There may be sad memories here,” Sam knew she was thinking of Pi, “but now there’ll be lots of happy ones too.”
“Agreed,” Sam said, hugging her.
“Your interview all done, Sam?” the Professor called out from across the courtyard.
“Yep,” Sam replied, the three of them walking over to join him. “Nora went easy on me, I knew she would. But I know there’ll be more to do. Just not today. How did you get on at the UN? Everyone behaving themselves with the Dream Gate, playing nicely?”
“Aha, quite so,” the P
rofessor laughed. “It is a bit like that, but fortunately the UN taking control of the site has gone remarkably smoothly. I have high hopes for the excavation of the global treasures and the library. Although these things take time—it will be months before it can all be brought back up. But now the water has receded, they no longer have to use the long tunnel exit we found in the library, and their work can begin in earnest.”
“And Dr. Dark and his men?” Eva asked nervously.
“Still not found,” the Professor said. “Unfortunately we may never fully know the extent of Dr. Dark’s treachery but it’s clear now that he was pulling the strings from afar from the beginning. Stella was probably not aware of his role in it all and Matrix continues to deny all knowledge.”
“I hope he’s enjoying prison,” Alex said, a dark look in his eye. He’d never quite forgotten Matrix’s explosive wristbands. He and Shiva had barely escaped with their lives.
“So many unanswered questions,” Sam said. “But I’m not sure I really want to hear the answers anyway.” He sighed and looked at the Professor.
Does he want to know more about why Sebastian did what he did, or is it better to not know?
“Your face gives you away, Sam,” the Professor chided him. “You’re thinking about Sebastian—about how he became Solaris.”
Sam flushed. “Sorry, Professor.”
“Don’t be,” he replied. “I have the same mixture of curiosity and revulsion about it. Did Sebastian somehow eject from the jet in New York? Or else how did he survive the crash? And just how did he and Dr. Dark come together?”
“At least we know why Solaris always wore a mask,” Sam said. “So Sebastian could hide his identity all that time by taking on the disguise of the mythical enemy from the prophecy.”
“I’ve no doubt Sebastian at first used the idea of Solaris to stay hidden,” the Professor said, “but even he could not have known that it would ultimately be his destiny to be the incarnation of Solaris, to be the last Dreamer and complete the last 13. As the light rose up to claim the Dream Gate, so the darkness rose up to fight against it.” It was the Professor’s turn to sigh.
