Another explosion tore through the cavern, this time bringing down tons of rocks and blocking the tunnel between the fleeing ECHO team and the subs in the first cave.
Hawke raised an eyebrow. “You were saying?”
While aware of the explosions and the conversation between Hawke and Scarlet, Lea’s mind was still focussed on Ryan. She watched in awe as the bullet holes in his stomach began to fade and heal over, almost like watching a wound heal on fast-forward.
“That’s what it looked like when we gave you the elixir back in the Tomb of Eternity,” Hawke said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “But not as fast.”
Lea stared at the process in amazement. “So whatever’s in this flower must have similar qualities to the elixir.”
“Which is why we’ll be taking the flower back to Elysium for analysis,” Scarlet said, turning to Ryan. “How’s the patient?”
“I’m feeling much better,” he said, while still obviously weak. “Another kiss from you should see me right.” He pouted at her and closed his eyes.
“In your dreams, boy.”
“Ah — but what dreams…”
“Urghh!”
“Okay,” Hawke said firmly. “Time for us to get out of here. Ryan — can you walk?”
Ryan nodded. “I think so, but I’ll need help.”
“Good job you’ve got your mates here then,” Hawke said, helping the younger man to his feet. “Let’s get back to the lake.”
“Great plan,” Lea said. “The only problem being the hundreds of tons of rock that are now in our way.”
“Not a problem,” Ryan said quietly. “But we’re going to need the Tyrfing.”
“The what?” Scarlet said.
“The Tyrfing,” Ryan repeated. “It’s a magical sword…” he stopped and opened his eyes wide. “I don’t know what’s going on inside me right now but it feels…weird.”
“The sword, Ryan,” Lea said. “Focus on the sword.”
“Ah yes — the Tyrfing. It’s a magical sword mentioned in what’s called the Tyrfing Cycle. Svafrlami was none other than Odin’s grandson, and after trapping Dvalinn and Durin, the two dwarves, inside their cave…”
“Are you going to recite the whole of Lord of the Rings?” Scarlet asked impatiently. “Because if you are we really don’t have time and I don’t see the relevance.”
“It’s not the Lord of the Rings, it’s Norse mythology, which means it’s real, and the relevance is that Odin’s grandson ordered the dwarves to forge him a sword that could cut through iron and stone — capiche?”
Scarlet gave him a look. “I think I preferred it when you were unconscious.”
“And how do we recognize this sword?” Hawke asked.
“Luckily, neither Sala nor Victoria got around to swiping it — it’s over there!”
Ryan pointed a trembling finger to a heavy sword leaning against a pile of gold coins.
Hawke snatched it up and weighed it in his hands. “Pretty solid piece of kit.”
He stepped over to the fallen rocks and swung the sword above his head, preparing to strike the rock. It made a whistling sound as it cut through the air.
“By the Power of Grayskull!” Scarlet shouted.
Hawke lowered the sword and gave her a look. “Really? Now?”
“Sorry. It’s a problem I’m working on. Ask Lea.”
Hawke shook his head and swung the sword again, this time bringing it crashing into the newly fallen rocks. They burst apart as if he had shelled them with a heavy-duty mortar cannon. He swung again and a third time, each time smashing his way deeper into the rock, then with the final swing the rock-face burst open and water rushed through the crack into the cave.
“Ah…”
Rapidly the tunnel flooded with water.
“What is it with you and water, Joe?” Scarlet asked as she desperately clung on to a rock.
“What do you mean?”
“Wherever you go there always seems to be an increased risk of getting caught in a flooded cave.”
“Rubbish!”
“It is not rubbish. If Sammy Cahn were writing lyrics for you instead of Sinatra we’d all be walking around singing Come Drown with Me.”
“You know what, Cairo?” Hawke said, pushing water out of his eyes, “If you were twice as funny as you think you are, you’d still be absolutely and totally not funny.”
“Hey!” Lea snapped. “Maybe a little more looking for an escape route and a little less hilarious banter?”
“Hilarious?” Ryan said. “I’ve seen more hilarious documentaries on the bubonic plague.” He tried to laugh at his own joke but the pains in his arm and stomach brought him up hard with a wheezing cry.
“Don’t you start, you pathetic little ferret!” Scarlet said.
“Hey! I am not pathetic!”
“Everyone, can it!” Hawke said. “Lea’s right — we need to focus on getting out of here… I think I see a way!”
With the torrent of spray in his face, Hawke strained to climb through the waterfall and clamber up inside the narrow fissure at the top of the cave. Looking into the rushing water he could just make out the vague but indisputable pattern of very dim lights up ahead. “Must be the glow sticks in the cavern with the subs,” he said.
Hawke pulled himself up and through the narrow crack, straining his eyes to find an exit from the chamber. Forcing himself through the water he pushed his head out the other side and saw the Triton sitting innocuously in the water.
“All right!” he called back. “Follow me — we’re back in the first cave with the subs. This water is draining out of the lake.”
They followed behind him and found themselves in the large cave at the start of the complex. Sure enough — there was the Triton.
They moved over to it as fast as they could go while carrying Ryan.
“We have a problem,” Scarlet said, looking above her head. As she spoke an enormous crack appeared in the roof and a massive jet of water rushed down into the cavern. “Just like Sala threatened — the place is flooding with sea water!”
The crack grew wider and the water increased in velocity. Now it was up to their knees and rising fast.
Hawke looked at the water rapidly approaching his waist. “We have lots of problems Cairo. Tell me yours.”
“The Triton’s full of Victoria’s loot. It’s gold, Joe. It weighs a ton and we haven’t got time to unload it. There’s only room for two people in here.”
Hawke thought fast. “Not a problem — you and Ryan take it and Lea and I will take the Migaloo.”
“I thought Victoria said that needed a crew?” Ryan said.
“Nah, she was talking out of her arse.”
“Great plan,” Scarlet said. “Except I don’t know how to drive the Triton.”
Hawke shook his head. “SAS…” He climbed inside and activated the Triton, quickly explaining how to control it. “It’s simple, and we don’t have time to piss about so hurry up!”
“I saw a TV show on this,” Ryan said. “I know what to do.”
“God help us,” Scarlet muttered.
They climbed inside and Scarlet gripped the controls as Ryan closed the hatch and sealed it. Hawke and Lea watched it slip beneath the surface of the underground lake and then they swam toward the Migaloo.
Scarlet followed Hawke’s instructions to the letter. She had never piloted a Triton or any other kind of mini-sub before and knew this wasn’t the time to screw things up. It was, he had explained, only a case of steering the thing through the tunnel with the diving planes and horizontal rudders and then blowing the seawater out of the ballast tanks with compressed air when you wanted to surface. He had shown her how to do that and it seemed simple enough, she hoped. That plus Ryan’s helpful Discovery Channel contributions meant they were able to make their way to safety.