ASECRETGIFT

TO
MANKIND
PartOne
TheDiscovery

AScienceFictionstory
WrittenandEditedby
JOHNBAXTER

PROLOGUE
Aswearenowwellandtrulyintothetwentyfirstcentury,ourunderstandingandacceptancethatthere
areotherworldsinouruniversewhichcansupportlifeisfarmoreacceptabletousasaraceofbeingson
aplanetourselves.RecentcalculationsmadeusingfindingstakenfromdatasuppliedbytheHubble
Telescope,andotherslikeitmorerecentlylaunchedandevenmoreuptodatehaverevealedcountless
millionsofplanetsrevolvingaroundtheircountlesstrillionsofstars.Varioustheoriesareusedto
calculatethepossibilityoflifeonquitealotofthem,andusedagaintocalculateintelligentlifeonsome.
Thenumberofpossibilitiesoflifeatleastequalorevensuperiorinintellecttous,existinginthestars
isnotamatterforustodismiss.Mathematically,itsacertainty.Wejusthaventseenanyyet,ornot
thatweknowof,andnotallofuswouldknowwhattheywouldlooklikeanyway.Wearenottalking
abouttheallegedUFOsightings,butrealhardevidenceofanysuchraceofaliensactuallybeinghere,
andindeedlivingamongusundetected.Thisiswhatislacking.Thehardevidence.
Tohavethetechnologytobeabletocomethemillionsoflightyearsfromwheretheylivejusttosee
us,andthentostarttoprobeourbodies,andcutusopen,thenharmandhurtuswithridiculous
experiments,inthenameofscience?Idontthinkso.
IftheyhavethetechnologytogetthemselvesallthewayheretoEarth,theywouldalsoknowallthey
neededtoknowaboutuswithoutgettinganywherenearusphysically.Iwouldthinkalowprofilewould
bethewayanymovementamonguswouldbedone.Unseenandundetected.
Thefollowingnarrativeissetbackin1977,whenpeoplesknowledgeofthesekindsoffactswerenot
commonknowledge,andpeoplewerenotquitesoopenmindedtothesepossibilities.Theywerealsoalot
lesssolidintheirbeliefofbeingsfromotherworlds.ThiswasthedomainoftheScienceFictionpeople,
thestorywriters.Toownuptoknowinganythingevenremotelyconnectedtomattersextraterrestrial,or
thelittlegreenmenastheyweresometimesdescribed,wastakenasalmostmadness.Itwasthetimefor
themenintheirlittlewhitecoatstoarriveandtakeyoutoaprivatepaddedroom.Thismeantthatifyou
didhappentoseeanythingremotelyextraterrestrial,well,itwasthegovernmenttestingsomething.Itwas
aconspiracytheory.Ithadtobe.Thesethings,andthesebeingsjustdonotexist.
Ordothey?Letmetakeyouthere.

1977/2006/2012/2015

CHAPTERONE
Icanrememberwhenthisnewcouncilhousingestatewasbeingbuilt.
Thereweretworeasonsbroughtupintheplanningmeetingsastowhyitwasbeing
builtatthistime,andalsowhyitwasbuiltwhereitwassited.
Thefirstwastomakeupthelargeshortfallofplacesfortheelderlyinsheltered
accommodationwithintheimmediatearea,andbycreatinghousingdesignedforthe
moreelderlytenants,givingthemallstateoftheartultramodernbungalows,designedto
helpthemintheiradvancingageandtheproblemsthatinitselfwouldbring.Theywould
alsohavetheluxuryofaresidentwarderlivingwithintheirlittlecommunity,andnot
milesaway,beingactuallyonsitetooverseethecareandsafetyoftheresidentsonthe
wholeofthisestate.
Thesecondreasonwasthelanditself.Thelandwhichhadbeenearmarkedforthis
developmenthadbeenatonetimegoodarablefarmland,alargelevelplot,withasmall
streamborderingitaroundthenorthernedge,thestreamthenrunningoffatrightangles
intopartofthesmallwoodedareanearby,wendingitswayintothecopse,passingunder
thetreeswhichcoveredmostoftheadjacenthillside.
Thisareahadatonetimebeenafavouritepicnicspot,manyyearsago,forthesame
groupofpeoplewhowouldnowbemovingintothehouseswhentheywerebuilt.Most
ofthemcouldrememberdoingsomeoftheircourtingupthere,bringingthemtogetherso
tospeak,andIsuppose,alittleironicperhaps,thattheywouldpermanentlypartfrom
eachotherfromthissamespotinthefuturetoo.
Thislocalbeautyspotwouldstillhavebeentheretodayhadnottheoldcoalmine
workingsunderneathsubsided,almostovernightsometwentyfiveyearsago,andtaken
thestreamanditssource,withit.Notlongafterthathappening,thefarmerwhoowned
thefieldhadgivenuptryingtogrowanycropsofanykindinit,sayingthathecould
easilygrowmushroomsortoadstools,butverylittleelse.Thecopseoftreesonthebank
sideofthemissingstreamwhichforsolonghadbeenthehideawayofthemanycourting
couplesinthepast,wasalsostartingtothinoutanddie,theirrootsslowlydecayingand
theirwoodprovidingafeastforthemanyinsectsthatlivedthere,leavingnotraceofthe
realnaturalbeautythathadoncebeenonthisspot.

Isupposethecouncilchosethissitebecausethesmallnearbytownhadgrowninsize
overtheyears,andnowborderedthesouthernedgeofthisoncefertilefarmland.They
alsoknewtheywouldbeabletobuyitquitecheaplyfromthefarmer,asitwasofnouse
tohim,whichtheydid,andtheythoughttheyhadbaggedabargain.
He,ontheotherhand,wasoverheardmorethanonceinthelocalpub,notlongafter
thesale,braggingthatthecouncilmustbestupidtopaythatsortofmoneyforuseless
landlikethat,andhefeltreallysorryforallthoseratepayerswhosemoneyhenow
possessed.Hedidntreally.Hejustwantedtomouthoffabouthisnewwealth.
Workbeganonbuildingthesenewresidences,thelandbeingalreadyquitelevel,the
miniestatewasmarkedout,andthenthefoundationswerelaid.Thearchitectwhohad
designedthesenewdwellingshaddoneareallygoodjob,makingthewallsandwindows
fullyinsulated;soastokeeptheheatingbillsdown,andineachhouseeverysingle
amenitywasinstalledtoassistboththeelderlyandinfirm.Insome,aspecialbathwitha
liftingmechanismhadbeeninstalledsothattheresidentscouldraiseorlowerthemselves
intooroutofitwithouttheneedofassistancebythespouse,whichreallywentalong
wayinpleasingtheresidentsastheycouldkeeptheirindependence.
Lowersinkswerefittedaswellasstandardones,soeitherawheelchairuser,oranable
bodiedcouldusethebungalowwithouthavingtoalteritagain.For1977,thiswas
forwardthinking.Theelectricsocketswereallfittedaroundthewallsatwheelchair
heightinsteadoflowdowntothefloor.
Thecouncilworkerswouldturnupeachspring,andeveryfortnightafterthat,till
autumn,withtheirlittlesitonmowers,andcutthegrasswhichsurroundedthepathways
tothebungalows,thegrassbeinginstalledonplotswheretheresidentwaseithertooold
orinfirmtoworkthelandasagarden.Wherethemoreactiveoneslived,theywere
makinggooduseoftheirplotswithanyflowerandvegetablepatchestheycouldcreateto
brightenuptheirplacealittle,andeatfreshvegetablestoo.Makeitmorehomely,soto
speak.
Theresidentswhowerephysicallyabletoworkagardenstillhadproblemsthough,as
verylittleofwhatwasplantedwouldgrow,exactlyasthefarmerhimselfhadsaid,and
moreoftenthannot,largepiecesofturfhadtobereplacedregularlybythecounciltothe
grassedlandscapedareas,torepairthedarkbrownareasofgrass,dyingfromasyetan
unknowncause.
Theythoughtatfirstitwasperhapsachemicalcontamination,butonhavingthesoil
analysed,thesampleitselfwasfoundtobequitetheopposite,richinhumusand
nutrients.Anidealgrowingmedium.Itwasoneoftheselittlepuzzlesthatweregoingto
bedifficulttosolve.Noonehadanyanswers.Notyetaway.
ThelocalElectricityBoardpeoplewereseenaroundtheestatequitealottoo,testing
thisandthat,lookingatthemeters,shakingtheirheadsandwalkingaway.Ifoundout
latertheywerecheckingallofthehousesformeterrigging.Theyhadfoundthatfrom
thebillingthatthesepensionerswereusingverylittleelectricity,andhadtocheckthat
therewasnofiddlinggoingonhere.Havetheyneverheardofthrift?Doyouknowa
pensionerwhothrowsmoneyawayonwaste?
Wewereintothesecondwinteroftheexistenceoftheestatewhenthefinalcluecame
tolight,anditwasamostunusualphenomenon.

Allofthehouses,includingthatoftheresidentwarden,remainedataconstant
temperatureofaboutseventytwodegreesFahrenheit,eveninthecoldestofwinters.
Someoftheresidentshadtheirouterdoorsopen,evenonfrostydaysiftheywereusing
theircookers,asthetemperatureinsidebecameuncomfortable.
Thecounciltriedtoexplainthatthiswasbecauseofthesuperiordesignandbuildof
thehouses,whichweallknewwasaloadofbalderdash.Theirsuperiordesigndidnt
shovelawayanysnowthatfellonthepathsandlawnsinthewintermonths,andwhen
thesnowdidfall,itwasallgonewithinanhour.Theyneverhadtosaltandgritanythe
roadsorpathwaysfortheelderlyinfreezingweather.Theiceandsnowjustwent.The
councilassumeditwastheactiveresidentsclearingit,andtheresidentsthoughtitwas
thecouncilworkcrews.Noonebelievedinfairies.ThatswhereIcameintothepuzzle.
Myjobwastosortoutwhodidwhat,andwhatdiditcost,andwhopaid.Purelyasa
consultantofcourse.
Istartedbyhavingalookatthegenerallayoutoftheestate,andtherewerenoclues
there,soItackledtheresidents,whowereextremelydefensiveoftheircheapheating,
whichmeantIdrewablanktheretoo.
ItwasasIwasleavingtheWardenshouse,andturningtowalkbackthroughthe
estatetomycarthatithappened.
Ifoundtheanswer,orshouldIsay,ananswer.Ontheground,justoutofsightofthe
pathwasalargepieceofwood,possiblyputtherebyeitheracouncilworker,ormaybea
vandal.Thatfactdidntmatter;itswhathappenedthatisrelevant.
AsIturnedtolookupalongthesideofoneofthebungalows,Ifailedtoseethistree
trunksizepieceofwood,andtrippedoverit,comingdownheavilyontothegrassatthe
sideofthepath.Inthisgrasswaswhatappearedtobeasmallpoolofwater,andmy
handwentintothepool,anduptothewrist.Itwassmall,butdeep.Somethingelsetoo
though.Itwaswarm.Thestoneatthebottomofthislittlepoolwaswarm.Thedirtall
thewayupmysleevedidntmatteranymore,asIthoughtIhadgotoneanswerastowhy
thingsdidntgrow,andwhythepensionersdidntusemuchelectricitytoheatthehouse.
Thewholerockbed,underthehouseswasbeingheatedsomehow,thefoundationsfor
thehouseswereactuallyrestingonthisbedrock.Thegardenswouldntgrowbecausethe
plantshadnowaterattheroots,plentyatthesurface,butevaporatingbeforedoingany
good.Snowcouldlie,butonlyforashortwhile,tillthemeltedwaterwouldhitthe
bedrock,theheatthenturningthewaterintoawarmsteam,whichwouldmeltthesnow
frombelow.Unseen.
Astothesourceofthisheat,thistooksometimetoworkout.Welookedatmany
possibilities,andafteragreatdealofresearch,therecouldbeonlyoneexplanationwe
couldagreeonasapossiblecause.
Theoldmineworking,unseenandunusedforalmostahundredyears,hadseamsthat
wouldrununderthesiteofthenewestate,anditwaspossibletheymustbeburningina
sortofundergroundinferno.Onceagain,thisalsofellintomyscopeandfieldofworkin
HealthandSafety,so,Ihadtogatherupmyteam,dosomemapresearchatthelibrary,
andworkoutwheretogofromhere.Thiscouldbetrickyaswellasdangerous,forall
concerned.

CHAPTERTWO
Imademypreliminaryreportofmyfindingstothelocalcouncilmeeting,andstatedmytheory
aboutthepossibilitythattheseundergroundworkingscouldbeonfire,andwouldatsometimein
thefuture,havingdestroyedanysupportsthathadremained,causethelandtosubsideagain,and
thiscouldbecomeamajorhazardtoallofthepeoplelivinginthearea.
Myreportwasmetwithwhatseemedlikealmosttotaldisinterest,thoughtheydidaskmeto
carryonmyinvestigations,justincase,andaslongasitdidntcostthemtoomuch.
Theyjustdidntwanttoknow.Ididmanagetogetanassurancethatifweneededanything,
andtheycouldhelp,weonlyhadtoask.Theysuggestedthattheoldstreamcouldnowbeahot
spring,andthiswaswheretheheatwascomingfrom,andthatitwoulddotheresidentsnoharm,
andofcourse,didntcostthemanything.
Ihavetoadmitthatbytheendofthemeeting,mypatiencewasalmostatanend,whichiswhy,
inapartingshot;Iturnedtothecounciltreasurerandsuggestedthatsincetheheatiscomingfrom
somewhereoncouncilland,maybethecouncilshouldchargeforit!!Igotthesatisfactionof
seeingtheirfaceschangeasIwalkedoutofthedoorindisgust.
Thefirstplacetovisitaspartofmyresearch,wasthelocallibrary,myideabeingtostudythe
plansoftheseoldmineworkingswhichIhadbeeninformedmoreorlessranunderneaththe
wholeofthetownandsurroundingarealikearabbitwarren,althoughtheworkingsthemselves
werebeingminedatdifferenttimesinthehistoryofthetown,andatdifferentseamlevels.This
meantthatcheckingtheplanswasessentialtofindoutthepossiblelocation,oractualposition,of
thisvisualisedfire.
Imetupwithmyteamcaptainatthelibrary,amanbythenameofBobTaylor,amatureperson
innotjusthisageandknowledge,butinhisweatherbeatenfeaturestoo.Hewouldbeimportant
tothisinvestigationashehadqualificationsinundergroundwork,havingservedasanNCBpit
deputyearlierinhisworkinglife,beforegoingintoundergroundrescuework,andthentoHealth
andSafety.
Wepouredoverasmanyoftheplansthatwereavailabletous,bearinginmindthatsomeofthe
earlieroneswerenotentirelyaccurate,andwerenotnecessarilydrawntoanyscaleeither,and
startedlookingforanyoftheworkingsthatmayhaverananywherenearthebedrockwherethe
newestatenowstood.
Therewerenone.
Nothingshownonanyofthesemapswentanywhereneartotheestatesite,atanyseamlevel.
Allofthemapshoweverborethesameindicationsastowhytherewerenoworkingsthere.The
minershadhitwhattheyhadcalledLodestone,whichisanaturallyoccurringmetalbearingore,
theironpyritesofitsday,andtheycouldnotminethroughit,notbackinthosedayswiththe
equipmenttheyhadavailable,infactitwouldbeverydifficulttominetoday.ThisLodestone
deposit,whenweoverlayeredourcopiesofthemanymapswehad,itseemedtoalmosttotally
surroundtheworkings,intheroughshapeofahorseshoe,whichwaswhytheminewasfinally
abandonedinitslaterlife.ItoldBobmytheoryofthefireintheworkings,andhelaughed.Out
loud,inalibrary.

Heremindedmeaboutthestream,andthesubsidence,overtwentyfiveyearsagonow,andthe
streamwouldstillbepouringintotheseamsandfillingupallofthoseworkingsforthewholeof
thatperiod.Healsoremindedmeofhowdeeptheminesactuallywere,andthatiftherehadbeen
afireinanyoralloftheseams,theywerewaytoofarunderthegroundtohavethatkindofeffect
onthesurface.Hehad,singlehandedly,blownallofmytheoriesoutoftheframe.Timetothink
itoutagain.
Returningtotheseold,openedmaps,Ilookedagain,thistimeforanythingthatcouldgiveany
cluetousofanythingatalloutoftheordinary.Theearliermaps,drawnonoldparchmentwith
pigmentink,werefaded,butstilllegible.Therewasnothingthere.Evensomeofthelaterones
gavenoindicationastowhatweshouldbelookingfor.Theonlysmallanomalywefoundwasan
inclusionaddedtooneofthemapssometimeafterithadbeendrawn,astheinksweredifferent.
Theaddendumlookedlikesomekindofextension,andonlyappearedononeofthemorerecent
maps.
Itfeaturedwhatlookedlikeasmallshaftclimbingafewmetresupwardsandthenanew
roadwaybranchingoutfromitatrightanglestotheshaft,asifanewseamofcoalwasgoingtobe
opened.Thisnewroadwaystoppedsuddenlyafteracoupleofhundredmeters,inthemiddleof
nowhere,atthisfamiliardottedlodestoneline.Itwentnowhere,andasthisappearedtohavebeen
alateradditiontooneofthegeneralmaps,itflaggedupassomethingofinterest.Theminers
knewthattheLodestonewouldbewithinthe200metresorsoofthisshaft,so,whatwasthepoint
ofdevelopingit?Itwasntventilation.
Itcouldhavebeenthemoremodernminerstryingtoseeifthislodestonecouldbebreached.
Otherthanthat,therewasnothingtobegleanedfromstudyingtherestofit.Wetookcopiesof
themapsweneeded,justincase.
Inmymind,anotherplanwasformulating.
Wewouldhavetoentertheoldworkings,andphysicallyseethistunnelforourselves,andthen
drawourconclusionsfromthat.Thelegalities,andtheformalitiesforthisinvestigationwouldbe
very,verydifficulttosortout,andtherewouldbeanawfullottoconsiderbeforeevenanentry
couldbemade.Wherewasthereanentrance?Therewerenoshaftsanymore.Theyhadbeen
filledinforsafetyalongtimeago.
Timetogetmyteamtogether,andburnalittlemidnightoil,andeatafewtakeaways.This
shouldbequiteinterestingifweeverworkoutananswer.

CHAPTERTHREE
Redtape,andmoreredtape.Whoeverdesignedtheconceptofredtapeshouldhaveputa
patentonit.Theywouldhavemadeafortune,justfromtheamountwenowhadtowadeourway
through.
Itstartedwiththeapplicationtoentertheoldworkingswhichwesubmittedtothelocal
authority,andsuddenly,itappearedthattherewasnumerousotherpermitsfromnumerousother
bodiesthathadtobeappliedfor,andpaidforofcourse.Whilethismountainofofficialpaperwork
wasbeingprocessed,wesetourselvesthetaskofworkingoutsomeofthepracticalitiesthatwould
berequired.

Firstofall,wehadtobeabletogetintotheactualmineitself,andastheoriginalshaftshad
beenfilledinalongtimeagotofacilitatearoadbeingbuiltoverit,albeitaminorone.Idont
thinkthehighwayspeoplewouldtaketookindlytousdigginguptheirroad,unlesswewere
utilitypeople.Theycangetawaywithiteverytime.Thefactthattherehadonlybeenoneshaft
forthisminedidgiveusanotherideaofwhattolookfor.
Everyworkingmineneedstwoormoreentrancesorexitssothat,intheeventofanaccident,
andoneofthemeansofegressbecameblocked,theworkforcecouldleavebytheother.This
meantotherentrancesorexitssomewhere.Thingsweregettinginteresting.
Pouringovertheplansinthelibraryyetagain,thoughthistimeknowingalittlemoreofwhat
wewerelookingfor,wefoundadriftroadwaycomingupfromtheworkingsandbreakingsurface
inasmallmanmadevalleysometwomilesfromthehousingestate.Theoldcoaltubswere
hauledtothesurfaceupthisinclineddriftwhenfull,unloaded,andsentbackdown.Theremust
havebeensomesortofprocessingplantatthisentranceatonetime.
Thelibrarianwasquicktopointoutthatthislittlevalleyhadbeenusedasarubbishlandfill
withinthelastfifteenyears,andifthemineentrancestillexisted,itwouldhavebeenboardedup
beforethelandfillrubbishwasdepositedagainstit,andthewholeareawouldmostlikelybynow
becompletelyovergrown.Thewholetopographyofthelandscapewillhavecompletelychanged,
soitwouldbeextremelydifficulttoidentifyeventhesmallestoflandmarksorfeaturesshownon
thesemaps.
Whatthelibrariandidntknowwasthatweweregoingtoidentifythelargestfeaturesfirst,and
triangulatefromthere.Noteasy,butnotimpossible.
Inthethreemonthsthatfollowed,whilewaitingofthenumerouspermitstobeissued,we
organisedourteam,bringingtogetherexpertsinundergroundworkings,andthevarioussafety
measureswewouldhavetoundertake.Wediscussedanythingandeverythingwecouldwiththe
informationwehad,andformulatedaplan,assumingthatwewouldeventuallyhavethepermits,
andthatbythenhadfoundtheentrancetotheValleyDrift,somewhereinthevalley.
TheplanwastoentertheminebytheValleyDrift,makeourwaydowntooneofthemain
roadwaysofthemine,assumingitwasntunderwater,ortheroofhadntcollapseddown.
Remember,itwassubsidencethatcausedthestreamtovanishinthefirstplace.
Wewouldthen,ifallwentwell,makeourwaytothisshortshaft,andhopefullyfindsomesort
ofaladder,climbuptothisunusualtunnelandtakealookforourselves.
Weexpectedthatthiscouldtakealongtime,aswewouldhavetogoveryslowly,taking
extremecarealloftheway.Weevenworkedoutroughlyhowmanylittlecampswewouldneed
ontheway,andwhattoleaveateachofthese,forthereturn.
Thepermitseventuallyarrived,thoughwiththemanylittleclausesthatwereincluded,it
seemed,aswereadandinterpretedthem,asthoughitwasnotgoingtobeworthalloftheeffort.
Anexampleofoneoftheseclauseswas,andthisisgenuine,ifintheeventthatweweretofind
mineralwealth,whichIassumetobesomethinglikegold,silver,orsomethingsimilar,itbelongs
totheissuerofthepermit,andwewouldreceiveonlythefindersfee.Goldandcoalneveroccur
inthesameseams,andsilverwouldbetoothinsincesilverseamsrisevertically,nothorizontally.
Thefirstrealproblemwehadtosolve,andthelibrarianhadbeencorrectinhisassumption
abouttheovergrownland,wastolocatetheValleyDriftentrance.

Ittookalmostthewholeweekforourteamtoeventuallylocateasmallholeinthesideofthe
hill,areallydifficultfind,madeeasieronlybecauseofmossgrowingaroundit,andaminute
trickleofwaterappearingtobecomingoutfromit.
Weslowlyremovedmostofthelandslipmudfromaroundthehole,andfoundthatthewater
wastherunofffromabove,channelleddownthroughthemudtillitreachedthehole,andthen
drippeddowntothebottom.
Thiswasagoodsign.Itmeantthatthedriftitselfmaynotbefullofwaterasfirstexpected,the
waterwehadseenwasnotcomingoutofthedrift,butfromthebankabove.
Theentranceholewasonlyaboutshoulderwidthatthispoint,possiblyduetocalcification
fromthewaterrunningdownfromabove,makingsomethinglikecircularstalactites.Thismeant
wecouldonlycrawlintoit,andnotwalkin.
Justinsidethehole,thefloordroppedawaysteeply,openingupintoalargeroadway,easily
aboutsevenfeethigh,andabouttwentyfeetwidetostart.Thisholewaswhatwasleftoftheold
entranceofthedriftbutwasnotatthefloorlevel.
Wedecidedtoshipourgearintotheareajustinsidethedriftentrance,anduseitasabase
camp,savingthelongtrekstotheLandRoverseverytimeweneededtocollectanything.We
wereaboutready,andthepermitswereabouttostart.Weallfeltalittleexcited.
Intotheunknown,butnottotallyunknown,ifyouknowwhatImean.

CHAPTERFOUR
Todaywasourfirstofficialdayofinvestigation.Wekittedourselvesup,thenranthroughthe
signalsweweretouseincommunication,bothvisualandaudible,beepinglittlehorns,thesound
ofwhichwouldtravelmuchfurtherthanavoiceinthemutedsilenceofthemine,andtheflashing
lightsofvariouscoloursaswarnings.
BobTaylorwastoleadtheparty,allofusbeingropedtogetherlikemountainclimbers,for
safety,withBobonalongleadline,checkingwellahead,andthensignallingtheallcleartothe
restofus.Hehasamazingbodystrengthtoo,shouldhehitanylittleproblemsontheway.
Onourbelts,weallcarriedanarrayofequipment,carbonmonoxidedetectors,methane
sensors,andothernaughtygasscentmonitors.Tothink,theoldminershadcanaries,wehavethis
lot.Canariesmayhavelookedandsangbetter,butourequipmentwasalotmoresensitive.
Westartedout,downthedrift,expectingallmannerofproblemstobewaitingaroundthenext
corner.Therewasneitherofeither.Noproblems,andnocorners.Thedriftwentinastraight
line,tiltingdownwardsatasteadyangle,thetrackwaysleepersstillintheirposition,therailswell
rusted,andflaking,butstillthere.
Thesidesofthedriftwereofsolidstone,andIwonderedhowmanymenhadworkedreally
hardtohewoutthisdriftpassage.Amonumenttotheoldminers.Thismusthavetakenthema
longtimetodo.Thesidesofthepassageway,thoughnotperfectlyeven,werestillquitesmooth.
Icouldimaginetheponiespullingtheoldminecarsfullofcoaluptheinclineofthedrift.
Weweremakingverygoodprogress.Wehadbynowarrivedatthefirstbranch,whichwould
leadustothemaintrunkroadwayoftheoldmine,andwewerewellaheadontimefromtheplan.

Fromthispoint,BobTaylorwouldgoonahead,testingandchecking,andsignalbackwhenitwas
safetoproceed.Thiswas,tous,ourmostvulnerablepartofthemine.
Itseemedasthoughwehadmadereallygoodprogressalongtheseroadways,andhadarrived
atthemaintrunkroadwellaheadofthetimewehadoriginallyestimated.Timeforabreak,anda
sandwichortwo,thenadiscussionofwhathadgonesofar.
Wehadafulllunchinstead,anditwasveryshortdiscussion.
Therehadnotbeenanyoftheobstacleswehadbeenpreparedfor.Theexpectedflooding,the
presenceofanygas,andanycollapsingoftheroofoftheworkingshadnottranspired,Whilewe
rested,BobTaylorwentonahead,scoutingthenextsectionofthisminearea,thenreturnedwith
somestrangenews.
Hehadgoneahead,andfoundasumphole,aplacewheretheminewaterwouldbechannelled
toandcollected,readytobepumpedouttothesurface.Thesumpwastotallyempty.Bonedryin
fact.Wherewasthestreamwater?
Accordingtotheoldmaps,andtheinterpretationofevents,theplacewherewewerenow
sittingeatinglunchshouldbeunderatleastsixfeetofwater.
Thingsdidntseemtoadduphereatall.
Thewallswerebonedry,thefloorswerecoveredinfinedust,inchesthick,anditwasntheat
thathaddriedthem,asitwasonlyacoolfortytwodegreesFahrenheitinthechambers.Usingthe
oldplansasreference,intheorythestreamshouldhavefallenthroughfromthelevelsabove,and
floodedtheroadwaywewerenowin,butithadnt.
Why?
Thiswasyetanothertopicofconversationwhileweateoursandwiches.BobTaylordecidedto
goandseewhatelsehecouldfindout,sohe,withacoupleofothers,setoutonafactfinding
mission.Therestofussatandanalysedatourprogresssofar.
Wewerewellaheadofourplannedposition,mainlyduetotheclearandsaferoadways,which
hadmadeourprogresssomucheasierandquicker.Wewerealsoquitepleasedwithourprogress
sofar.
Thatis,tillBobTaylorandthecrewarrivedback.
Helookedpuzzled,andyetpleased.
Hestartedbyexplainingthatheandthecrewwentlookingforthisstream,oranydampness
betrayingitswhereabouts,incaseitwasbehindawallandcouldburstthroughatanytime.They
didntfindit.
Theythenwentlookingforthesubsidencethatcausedthestreamtodisappearinthefirstplace.
Theydidntfindthateither.
Everyoneofthosewoodenroofsupportsthatwereputinallthoseyearsago,bythoseold
miners,werealmostallstillinplace,andsomeofthemmustbeover200yearsold.Thewhole
placewasintact,asithadbeenforsome200years.Therehadbeennogroundmovement,either
upordown,nosidewaysmotion,noroofcollapse,nofloorheave,just,well,nothing.Itwasasif
thewholeplacewasbeingheldinagiantretainingvice.Solidasarocknowtookonanew
meaning.
Wemovedon,alongthetrunkroads,withgreaterspeednow,feelingalotmoreconfidentabout
theareasinwhichweweremoving.Inwhatseemedlikenotimeatall,wearrivedatthemystery
shaft.Wehadreachedourfirstgoal.

CHAPTERFIVE
Weallgatheredtogetheratthebaseofthisshaft,theonewehadsocleverlyisolatedfromthe
restonthemapswhileinthelibrary.Weallhadhadvisionsofwhatitwouldlooklike,howbigit
wouldbe,andhowhighitwent.
Inreality,itwasdark,itwasnormal,itwasexactlywhatitshouldbe,ashaft.
Theoneredeemingfeaturethatliftedourspiritswastherewasaladderattachedtooneofthe
walls,and,oncloseinspection,itseemedtobeingoodconditionwithnovisiblesignofrustor
corrosion.
BobTaylorsetouttoclimbup;checkingthatallofthefixingsweresecurelyattachedtothe
walls,andslowlydisappeareduptheladderintotheroofspace.Thesecurityropetiedtohimonly
wentafewmorefeetbeforeitstoppedplayingout,andBobwascallingustoclimbup,oneata
time.Hewasinthismysterytunnelthatwenttonowhere,orcamefromnowheredependingon
whichdirectionyouweretravelling,Isuppose.
Iscrambleduptheladderandintothisreallyunusualtunnel.Isayunusualbecause,unlike
mostoftheotherswedseenorbeenin,thisonewasaperfectsquare,andreallysmoothsidedtoo,
almostpolished,theheightandwidthbeinganaccuratesquareofabouttenfeetorso,andit
carriedonintothedarknessinaperfectlystraightlinetoo.
Amachine,thoughnotacirculartunnellingmachine,hadcutthis.Normally,atunnelling
machinegrindsoutacircle,anditleavesscoringandscrapingmarksonthewalls.Thiswasa
square,thesidesalmostlikeamirroritwassosmooth.
Inhonourofthefirstmemberoftheteamtoenterthistunnel,InameditTaylorsTunnel,a
gesturethatalmostbroughtasmiletoBobTaylorsface.Nameashipafterhim,hesaid,no
problem,butno,whatdidwedo?Weusedhisnameforabloodyholeintheground!
AsthewholeteamwerebynowupandinTaylorsTunnel,weturnedandfolloweditto
whateverlayattheotherend.
Whenwegotthere,whichwasonlyacoupleofhundredmetres;wefound,well,nothing.
Theroadwaycametoanabruptendwithasolidwallofmetalliclookingsmooth,unmarked,
kindofstopper.
Thereisnootherwaytodescribeit.Theroadwayappearedtohavebeencompletelysealedoff
atsometimeinthepast,thoughthemapswehadmadenoreferencetoanysealingorplugging
havingbeendoneatanytime,andthistypeofsealwouldusuallybeusedforventilationpurposes,
sowouldhavebeennoted.Therewasonlythisfeintdottedlineonthemap,andthewordLODE
writtenonit.
NowIcouldunderstand.
LodewasanOldeEnglishwordforiron,andtheoldminersmusthavecomeacrossthiswall
whilemining,andwouldhavefoundittobeimpossibleforthemtocutthrough.Accordingtothe
map,thiswallwasherein1855,andpossiblybefore,sinceitwasmarked,thoughnotindetail,on
evenearliermaps.
Laterminingmayhavetriedtopassthiswall,buttheydidntsucceedeither.Icouldnowsee
why.Thewallinfrontofuswasnotironore,butahighlyrefinedmetal,likealuminiumor

stainlesssteel,andwhenwehadwipedoffthecoatingofdustandgrimeleftovertime,ittoo
polishedtoahighshine,reflectingourcaplightswithasortoflightbluecolour.
Bobtookouthishandaxeandtappedittoseeifthemetalwouldring.Hewashittingquite
hard,butnoringing,onlyadullthud.Thiswallwasthick,andextremelyhard,asBobsaxe
didntevenmakeascratchonthemetal.
Thereweresomanyquestionsherethatneededanswers,andsomeanswersthathadnthada
questiontoputtothemyet.Weneededtositdown,inthewarmlightofourhouses,orpreferably
thepub,orwherever,butnothere,anddiscussthemany,manypossibilities,andtoplanoutour
nextstep.
Ihavetoadmit,Iwasverycuriousastowhythatwallwasthere,asitseemedsooutofplace,
somoderninsomethingakintoamuseum.Everypieceofequipmentwehadpassedontheway
inbelongedtothetimeframeof,andtheageof,themine.Thisbitdidntfit.
Thetunnelstillhadonemoresecrettorevealtousthatday,andaswemadeourwayouttothe
ironladderreadytodescendtheshortshaftleadingdowntotheworkings,Iaccidentally
discoveredit.
We hadbeencarryingallofourgearwithus,onourbacksinrucksacks,soastobereadyfor
whateverweencounteredonourtravels.Forspeedwedecidedthatsomeoftheteamshouldgo
downtheshaftladdertothebottom,andthenwewouldmerelytieonandthenlowerallofthe
bagsdownonaropetothem,savingustime.Aswemadereadythebagsforlowering,andthe
teambelowreadiedthemselvestoreceivethebags,Iwanderedtotheedgeofthetunnelitself,and
therediscovereditshiddensecret.Theouteredgesoftherock,wherethetunnelmettheshaft
weretornanduneven,unlikethewallswehadjustwalkedthrough,andbentoutintotheshaft
itself.Theuncutkerfsfromtheedgesalsojuttedslightlyoutintotheshaft.
Therealisationhitmehard,asdidtheimplications.TaylorsTunnelhadnotbeendrivenfrom
thisshaftalongtothemetalwall,butfromthemetalwall,backTHISWAY!!

CHAPTERSIX
Thepubwon.Thatswhereweallendedup.Sittingaroundalargetableinthebackroom,out
ofearshotoftheotherpatrons.Thedrinkcameinhandytoo.
TaylorsTunnelwasmadebysomething;itwasnotanaturaloccurrence,whichwehad
established.Wehadallseenit,wehadallagreed.Thatwasafact.Whatwedidntknowwas
whyitwasthere,whatwasitsactualpointoforigin,andhowitwaspossibletocutitinaperfect
square.Forthefirsttimeinthisinvestigation,answerswerenotreadilyavailable.
WhenwehadsurfacedfromtheValleyDriftearlierintheday,therehadbeenacoupleoflocal
reportershoveringabout,justincasetherewasastorytobehad.Astheleaderofthecurrent
investigation,Itoldthemthattheroadwayswehadtriedwereimpassable,andthatwewouldtry

anotherroute,usingdifferentroadwaystomorrow.Thiswouldensurethattheywouldnotbother
uslaterwhenwemetuplaterinthepub.WeneededtoknowmoreaboutTaylorsTunnelbefore
thepressgotinvolved,justincaseitwasarealmajordiscovery,andwehadnoanswers.Thatis
whyweallagreedtogiveourselvestimetothink,andagoodstrongdrink,thoughnotnecessarily
inthatorder,inthebackroomoftheSwanatseventonight.
Wesatthere,likethelegendarywisemonkeys,silent,justlookingateachother.Theonly
spokenwordwastoordertheroundsofdrinks.Bobstartedtoexplainwhathemadeoftheday,
andhowheinterpretedit.Tohim,thatblankedendofthetunnelwastooperfect,toosmooth.
Noonespoke,everyonejustnodded.Wewentbacktosquareoneoftheinvestigationtoseeifwe
hadmissedsomething.
Theheatontheestate,westillhadnoanswer.Thesupposedsubsidence,whichwenowknow
fromourvisit,didnthappenasall,asalloftheroadwayswerestillintact.Thedisappearanceof
thestreamwasstillamysteryalso,asonceagainasalloftheroadwaysweredry,andfinally,the
tunnel,whichappearstohavebeendrivenbackwardsintotheworkings.
Welookedagainatthecopiesofthevariousmaps,overandover,tryingtofindanymine
workingsinanytimescalebeyondwhereTaylorstunnelhadbeensealed.
Therewerenone.Notatanyseamlevelwithinthemine.Therewereonlythesefadeddotted
lineswiththewordlodescrawledalongit.
Iopenedthemapfullyforabetteroverallview,andjoinedtheothersectionstoittoforma
muchlargermap,toseeiftherewassomekindofpattern,tryingtousethemapslikeathree
dimensionalplan.Almoststraightaway,havingstrippedbacktheviewoftheunneededworkings,
wefoundsomethingofinterest.
Thislodestonemarkappearedtobeintheshapeofahorseshoe,notonlyaroundtheoldmine
butthesurroundinghillstoo,foraboutthreetooversixmilesorso.Itwascommonknowledge
thatthelodestonelimitwasthereasonforthemineclosing.Theminerscouldntminethroughit.
Reason,itwastoohard!
Wespenttherestoftheeveningalmostinsilence,eachtotheirownthoughts,and,atclosing
time,returnedtoourcampoutattheValleyDrift,aswehadallagreedthatthewayforwardwas
totakeanotherlookatTaylorsTunnel,brightandearlytomorrow.
Sleepcameandwentallthroughthenight,asitdoeswhenyouarecampingout,andatdawnI
wastheonlyonestillawake.Ihadtossedandturned,tryingtoworkoutthemanyimplicationsof
thepreviousday,butdecidedtowaitandseetheresultsofthesecondvisit,inthecoldlightof
day,sotospeak.Isatoutsidemytent,watchingtheshaftsofsunlightfromtherisingsun
illuminatethemouthoftheValleyDrift.Itseemedbiggersomehow,moreinviting.
Astheteamawoke,wehadacookedbreakfast,sinceweknewitsallpackedfoodfromnowon;
IwentoverthebasicplanforthedaywithBob.Heseemedquitehappywithwhatweneededto
seeanddotogettherealotquickerthanyesterday,becausewenowknewtheconditionofthe
roadways.Thegeneralmoodofusallwas,togetinasquicklyaswecould,andspendasmuch
timeaspossiblegettingtheanswerswewanted.Wealsodecidedthatwecouldcutdownonthe
amountofgearwewerecarrying,aswewouldnotneedmostofit,andfilluptheemptyspacein
thebagswiththingslikebatteries,food,andmoreessentiallongerstaystuff.
Bythetimewewerekittedupandreadytogo,thesunhadnotclimbedmuchhigherinthesky
thanitwaswhenIhadgotup.Wewereallquitekeentoputthisinvestigationtobed,sotospeak,
andreturntoournormalenvironmentstuff.

Thecuriositywasdrivingusallmadthough.

CHAPTERSEVEN
AsweenteredtheValleyDriftonceagain,andstartedtomakeourwaydowntothemain
roadwaysbelow,IrememberthinkingthattheonlythingmissingwasthesongfromSnowWhite,
thoughIdontthinkwecouldhavesangHeighHoverywellanyway.Westillhadtocarryalot
ofoursafetyequipment,asgas,orfallingroofsdonotknowwhentooccur,theyjustdo,whether
wewerethereornot.Wedidntbreakintoasprinteither,oranythingsillylikethat;wejustmade
verygoodsteadyprogress.OursandwichlunchwaseatenatthebottomoftheshafttoTaylors
Tunnel,anditwasanearlylunchtoo,asitwaslongbeforemidday.
Bobstarteduptheladder,withmebehind,andtherestofthecrewfollowing,onebyone
behindus.Thesightthatgreetedmewasexactlythesameasyesterdayonlythistime,itwaswhat
itwas.Asquaretunnelwithshinysides.Thatsall.
Asoneofthelastoftheteamclimbedtheladder,becauseofthebulkofhisbackpack,hehadto
goslightlytohisleftinordertoswinghimselfupintoTaylorsTunnel,sohehadtosteady
himselfbyputtinghishanddownonthefloorofthetunnelentranceforbalancewhilehestarted
theswing.Hefeltasharppaininthepalmofhishand.
Onthefloor,underhishand,buriedbylayersofdust,waswhatappearedtobeajaggeredlump
ofmetal,theraisedarrowheadshapedsectionsbeingsharpenoughtohurthimwhenhishand
presseddownonit.ItlookedlikeacrudeletterT,withlotsofraisedandsharpbits,asthischap
describedit.
AshefinallygothisfeetsetinsideTaylorsTunnel,hetookaviciouskickatthislumpofscrap
metal,whichskiddedalongthefloorofthetunnel,and,asasortofrevengeforthepainithad
causedhiminhishand,hewalkinguptowhereitnowlay,hekickeditagain.Thistime,itwent
airborne,andstoppedonlywhenithittheblankwallaheadofthem,inthesectionthatbothBob
andIwerenowlookingat.Ithitthewall,andSTUCK.
Afteramomentortwo,andafterremindingthisteammemberaboutsafetyandbadtempers
dontmix,Iremovedthismetalartefactfromthewall,hadaquicklookatit,andputitback.It
stuckagain.Itdidntappeartobemagnetic,orevenelectronic,ithadbeencastinsomeverylight
metalalloyintheshapeoftheletterT,thatsaboutit.Nothingspectacular
Thefactthatitwasnotmagnetic,andextremelylightweight,likeverylightaluminiuminits
appearanceandconstitution,andthefactitstickingtoanonmagneticwall,alsoseemingtobeof
thisaluminiumkindofmakeup.Thiswassomethingdifferent.IonlywishIknewexactlyhow
different.
IturnedtospeaktoBobatthesametimeashemovedovertojoinmetogetabetterlookat
thisobject,andinthisconfinedspacewephysicallycollided.Ihatetosaythisindisrespect,but
BobisconsiderablyrounderandheavierthanIam,soIsortofbouncedoffhim.Hesgoingto
hatemeforsayingthat.
Ibouncedagainsttheblankwall,andsliddowntothefloor,catchingmyarmonthisobject
stucktothewallonmywaydown,rotatingittomoreorlessanupsidedownpositionfromwhere
ithadbeen.Welookedateachotherwaitingtoseeifsomethingwasgoingtohappen.

Somethingdefinitelyhappened.Itmostcertainlydid!
Silently,acentresquaresectionofthewallmovedforwardtowardsthemouthofthetunnel,and
weweresuddenlyfloodedinlight,andquiteabitofheattoo.Asthewallcameforward,a
platformunfoldeddownbehindit,andsomestepsunfoldingat90degreesoneithersideofthe
platform,allofthisstructureunfoldingfromwithin.Itcametoahalt,silently,andwecouldsee
thewalkwaydisappearingintothegapinthismetallicstructure,thetwostepscompletelyunfolded
eithersideofthecentreplatformwhichhadmovedforwardtoenableus,orwhoever,toenter.
Wewerealittleshocked,infactalotshockedatthis.
Ourfirstthoughtswereofbeingcaughttryingtobreakintosomesecretgovernmentinstitution,
andaftergettingcaught,beingchargedwithtreason,orsomethinglikethat.
IgrippedthisTpieceagain,turningitintotheoriginaluprightagain,andthisdoorsilently
closed,withnotsomuchasacrackshowingwhereithadcomefrom.Thewallwastotallywhole
andpolishedagain,asithadbeenbefore.
Thiswassomethingdifferent.
Thiswasnotwhatweexpected.
Thiswasfascinating.
Thiscouldalsobeverydangerous.
Iinvertedthemetalpieceagain,obviouslynowknowingthatthismustbesomesortofkey,and
thewallslidforwardstowardsusagain,silently.Noalarmbells,nosirens,nothingbutsilence
andlotsoflightfloodingoutfromwithin.
Westoodforashortwhile,basicallyalittleapprehensive,takingthisallin,Infrontofuswasa
wallwhichbecameadoorbyslidingforward,withstepsthatunfoldeddownthesidesasitwent.
Itwaswelllit,wellheated,andwell,inviting.Theplatformatthetopofthesestepsdisappeared
intothestructure.Ihadtolook,Ihadto.
Walkingupthetwostepsontherighthandsideoftheplatformwhiletheotherswatched,I
lookedtomyright,alongthisbrightlylitcorridor,whichnowlayinfrontofme.Iknewthiswasa
bitofarisk.Theplatformseemedtoleadtoalongcorridor,whichwentoninsidethisstructure
forquiteadistance,bendingslowlyaroundtotheright.Onlyasectionbeforemewaslitupfrom
above,andIcouldonlyseeuptothepointwhereitwastoodark.
Thishadtobesomesortofentrance.Towhat,orwhere,Ididntknow.Notyetanyway.I
mademydecisionthereandthenthough.Wehadcometoofarinthisinvestigation,andwe
neededtogetsomeanswers,andIfeltthoseanswerswerealongthiscorridor.Weallentered.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Onceinsidethisverybrightlylitcorridor,wecouldfeeltheheatonourfaces,andseethe
enormouslengthofthecorridoritselffadingintothedarknessahead.
ItwasaboutthesameheightasTaylorsTunnel,butalotwider.Itwaslitfromaboveby
diffusedlightingofasortofbluewhitecolour,thelightitselfdiffusingthroughoutthewholeof
theupperhalfofthecorridor.Circularinshape,thewalkwayInowstoodonwasflatandlevel,
thebottomofthecircularpassagedisappearingunderthewalkway.Allaroundwassilence.
Thisiswhenthedoubtsstartedtoappear.

Hadwetrippedsomesilentalarm,andtheCIA/KGBorMI5wouldcomerushingalongthe
corridors,gunsdrawn,shoutingforustoliefacedownonthefloor.
Ormaybethiswasatopsecretsciencestation,workingonmajortopsecretprojects.Either
way,wecouldfallfoulofthesecurity.
Asasortofatest,wedecidedtositdownonthefloor,andwaitforthemtocometous,after
all,ifweappearedpassive,anddidnttrytoseeordoanythingthatwouldbreakanyrules,we
maystandabetterchanceofgettingout.
Theydidntcome.Almostanhourpassed.Noonecame.
Wedecided,asagroup,thatweshouldmoveslowlyalongthecorridors,sothatifthesecurity
cameraswereworking,theycouldseeus.Stillnoonecame.
Justinsidethedoorway,moreorlessbehindus,asmallpanelinthewallwasflashingred,soI
carefullyremovedthisTkeyfromtheoutside,andplaceditontheflashingpanelinside,turning
ittheoppositeway.Thedoorclosed.Justtomakesure,Iinverteditagain,andthedooropened.
Atleastwewerenottrapped.Thiswasnotrocketscience.Thesedoorsweremeanttobeoperated.
Thedooritself,fromtheoutside,whenclosed,feltcoldtothetouch,eventhoughinsidehere
wasquitewarm.Notwarmenoughtoheattheestate,whichwasstillagoodtwomilesaway
aboveus,buthotenoughtobringusalloutinasweat.Whetherthatwaswiththeactualheat,or
fear,Idontknow.
Itcertainlywasnothotenoughtokeeptheoldminedry.Thisdoorwouldhavehadtoremain
openconstantly,anditstillwouldnothavebeenenough.
Wespentourtimewhilewaitingfortheappearanceofthesecurity,whichdidntcome,
examiningthisTshapedkey.Itappearedtohavebeenmadefrombrass,yetwasincrediblylight
inweight,andquitedecorative.
Onitsfaceside,thedesigns,takenatfirsttobearrowheads,sopainfultoouryoungteam
memberatthetunnelentrance,weredesignswhichwerealotmoreintricatethanwefirstthought.
SomeofthedesignswereknowntohavebeenusedbymankindbackinprehistorytoearlyStone
Age,thoughtherealoriginormeaningswereneverdiscovered.Theyappearedonlotsofarticles
andmonoliths,evencavepaintingsbutwerenevertakenasanythingotherthantribalmarkings.
Wenowknew,hereinthisplace,thatthiswasnotso.
Thesemarkingsactuallymeantsomething.Somesymbolicmeaninglosttousovertime.Upto
now,wedontknowwhattheyaresaying,butthatwillhavetowaittillanothertimetodecipher,
aswehaveenoughforustobegoingonwith.
Thekeyitselflookedbrandnew,eventhoughweknewitwasnt.AsBobmentionedmany
times,thislackofageofjustabouteverythingseemedtobeaconnectiononthisinvestigation.
Nothingwasgettinganyolder,nothingdeterioratingormoving.
Asthischamberandthewalkwaywereverywelllit,wewereabletoturnoffourcaplampsto
conservethebatteries.Wecouldalsoleavealotofoursafetygearheretoo,so,wedid.My
shoulderssaidthankyoumanytimesforthat.
Takingthiskeywithus,incaseweneededit,weveryslowlyadvancedalongthiscorridor,our
torchesatthereadyaswelefttheilluminatedsection.Asweapproached,anothersectionwould
lightup,andthefirstwouldgoout.Thiswaspowerconservationbeforepowerconservationwas
everthoughtof.
Thefirstbarrierwemet,apairofdoors,slidsilentlyintorecessesinthewallsaswe
approached,asdidthesecond,thesetsofdoorsbeingsometwohundredmetresapart,andallof

whichopenedautomaticallyasweapproached,silentlyslidingintotheircavitiesmadeforthemin
thesidewalls.
Thepassagewayafterthesecondsetofautomaticdoorsnowbecameasortoflargecorridor,
withlotsofdoorsleadingoffeithersidefromit,someofwhichhadtheredkeyplateseenearlier
attheouterdoorway.ItestedtheTkeyonacouple,aswehadonahunchitmightunlockdoors.
Yes,itworked,thedoorsopened,torevealsomeverylargestorerooms.Theroomswerestillfull
ofstorestoo,buttryingtoreadthelabelsonthehugeboxesandcrates,ortheverylargetanks,
wasatotalimpossibility.
ItresembledaChineseorJapanesesymbolicstyleofwriting.Numeroushugedrumsof
whateverthelabelsaidwerestackedrighttotheceiling,andtherewererowsandrowsofthese.
Thisplacewasmassive.Thisonestoreroomwasbiggerthananaircrafthanger,andfullright
fromfloortoceiling,with,well,stuff.Whatstuff,Idontknow.Youtellme.Wecouldnot
understandthelabels.ThethoughtsoftheRussianKGBcamebackintomymind,andthe
possibilitythatwewouldbecaptured,andneverheardofinourworldagain.
Weleftthisstoreroom,lockingitwiththiskey,andmovedon.BobTaylorwasmuttering
aboutMrSpock,MrSulu,andalltheStarTrekpeople,andIaskedhimwhyScottiehadnt
beamedhimupyet.Thisbrokethetension,andwealllaughed,forthefirsttimesincefindingthe
blankwallinTaylorsTunnel.

CHAPTERNINE
Afterwedtravelledalonganumberofthesecorridors,andexaminedacoupleofthe
storeroomsalongthewayforawhile,westoppedandhadabreak,completewithflasks
andsandwiches.Oneoftheteamsuggestedthatweshouldntdrinktoomuchasitwould
bealmostimpossibletofindatoiletifweneededone.Stillnosecuritystaffappearing,
orachallenge,ofanykind.Weletourselvesrelaxalittle,andlookinmoredetailatwhat
wecouldlearnfromwhatwecouldsee.
Thisplaceusedelectricity,thoughtherewerenowiresorswitchesvisibleand,aswe
leftasectionofthecorridorsbehindus,thelightsinthatsectionwouldgoout,soweall
assumedthatthelightswerecomingoninthenextsectionaheadofusjustbeforewegot
there.Wewerealmostprayingthatthewholeplacewasautomatic.
Itwasthefinaldoorwecametothatmadeusthink.
Thisonehadaportholetypeofwindowinthecentraltoppartofit,anditappearedto
usthatitwasdarkontheotherside,thoughnottotallyblack.Itswhenitslidback
silentlywegotashock.
This,wehadneverexpected,orcouldneverhaveevendreamedof.
Thewalkwayontheothersideofthisdoorcarriedonoutintonowhere,orsoitfelt.
Thetreadswehadbeenwalkingonwerenowreplacedwithameshtypeofmetalfloor
whichextendingforwardfromthedoorpositionforabouteightfeetorso,toahandrail,
andthennothing.

Thelighttherewasappearedtobecomingfrombelowthisgantry,sowhenwestood
ontheplatformwecouldlookdownintowhatwesawasanenormouscavern,litfrom
powerfulfocussedspotlightshighaboveinthedark,domedmassiveceiling,looking
almostlikestars,makingthethingsbelowappeartobefloodlit,similartohowabilliard
tablewouldbelitfromacanopy,shiningdownonwhatlaybelow.
Westared,intotaldisbeliefatwhatwesaw.
Belowuswaswhatcouldonlybedescribedasasmalltownorcity!
Lotsoflittlehouses,lotsoflittleroads,andlotsofdisbelieffromallofus.
Whoonearthwouldputsomethinglikethisdownhere?Wasthissomesortof
experimentalstation,forquarantineorsegregationpurposes,orsomethingliketheuseof
acontrolledenvironmenttobringupsuperbabies?Thislistwasendless,aswereallof
thequestionsthisthrewuptous.
Lookinground,wesawthestepsthatwouldtakeusdownwhatlookedlikeablack
cliffface,andaswemadeourwaydown,thestepsstoppingandturningonasmall
landingatthenextlevel.Thereweremanylevels.Iftherewasalift,weneverfoundit.
Wewerethisfar,whystopnow?Timetostartandgetsomeanswerstothemultitudeof
questions,andrightnow.

CHAPTERTEN
Ithinkitwasmoretheexcitementthantheactualwantingtogettothebottomofthestepsas
soonaswecouldthatmadeusreallygetamoveon.Innotimeatall,wewereononeofthe
pathwaysthatcrisscrossedthelandinfrontofthiscitylikestructure.Thegrass,whichneatly
borderedthepaths,wasinfactartificial,aswereallofthesmalltreesinthesmallparkwepassed
throughonthewayin.
Theywerecopies,andextremelygoodonestoo.Itwasaboutthenweallbegantonoticethe
absenceofbothwind,andsound.Allwecouldhearwasourownfootsteps,soundingverydullon
theroads,withouttheexpectedechoinsomewhereashugeasthis.Weevenrevertedtoalmost
whisperingtoeachother.Thefountainsinthevariousparksquareswereworking,madenowhere
nearasmuchnoiseastheyshouldeither.Wewereinthishugemetropolisofwhatlookedlike
concreteandgreenery,withoutasinglethingmoving,ormakingmuchofasound.
Thiswasanearperfectcopyoflifeinamodesttownorcityaboveground,thoughwithoutthe
noise,orthepollution.
Onlookingmorecloselyatthefountains,theywereshoweringoutnotwater,butsomething
morelikewaterglass.Thepavementswereofmetallicorigin,butmadetolooklikepavingstones.
Inthelargercentralarea,neonsignsadvertisedsomeproducttoanyonewhocouldreadand
understandthelanguageglyphs.ThewindowswerenotglassorPerspex,oranyotherplastic,or
transparentsubstancewehadseenbefore.Itwastransparentenoughthough.

Thisplacehadbeendesignedasafuturisticsortofcity,wheretheplantlifehadtobefalse
otherwisewatervapourwouldhavecausedmajorproblemswithinthisenclosedenvironment,and
wouldalsoneedirrigationandsunlighttoo.
No,thisplacewasaCOPYofalargetown;thoughwedidntknowwhichtownitwasacopy
of.
Wepausedatoneofthedwellings,asortofbungalow,andfoundtheroomstobesimilarin
layouttoanystylewehadseenalmostanywhereintheworld,livingroomswiththeposhsettees
andchairs,diningroomwithtableandchairs,andevenaverywellequippedmodernkitchen.
Thickcarpetingcoveredthefloor,andluxurywasevidentinallofthefittingstoo.Thehousenext
doorwassimilar,thoughwithslightchangestothedcor,itwasaluxurypadforalargerfamily.
Oneofourparty,oneoftheyoungeronescalledEddie,washavingalookatthegadgetsinthe
kitchen,openedthewastedisposal,anddroppedinanapplecorefromtheapplehehadjusteaten.
Whathappenedwasdifferent.Thecoredisappeared,completely,beforehiseyes.Nowhirring,
nogrinding,justasmallbluishflash,andgone.Anamazingdisappearingact.Itriedwith
somethingalittleharderthanacoreofanapple.Iusedacoin.Thesamethinghappenedwhenit
justvanished.Ilookedunderthemachine.Nowastepipe,nobag,andnodrain.Curious.We
turnedourattentiontosomeoftheothergadgetsabouttheplace,forpureresearchofcourse,and
nothingtodowithgrownmenplayingwithtoys.
Iexaminedthehandsetofwhatlookedlikeatelephone,butwithouteitheranearpiece,ora
mouthpiece,Ifoundmoreofthosesymbolsunderneathonakeypad.Poppingintonextdoor,I
memorisedthesymbolsonthathandset,returnedtotheoriginalhouse,pickedupthathandset,and
pressedthekeysforthosesymbols.Thewholewallinfrontofmesuddenlybecameascreen,and
IwaslookingatBobTaylorsback,ashetalkedtotheotherteammembersIhadjustleftnext
door.Imusthavebeenjustasvisible,andaudibletothem,judgingbythecolourofBobsface
whenheturnedaround,andsawmeonthewholewallinfrontofhim.
This,togetherwithotherthingswefeltwecouldoperatesafelywetriedout,provedtousthat
thiswasacityofthefuture,butweknewithadalongpast.Wemanagedtofindoutafewthings
aboutthisplace,butsometimeswehadtoletsomeofthethingsride,astrialanderrorcouldhave
beendangerous.
Ithoughtthatifthiswasacopycity,thenthereshouldbeacopylibrary,wherewecouldmaybe
gleansomeadditionalinformation.Theteamagreedwithmyreasoning,and,aslibrariestendto
beinthecentreofatownofcity,thatswhereweheaded,moreintothecentre.
Wepassedlotsoftownhouses,bungalows,shops,butnothingthatevenresembledofficesor
workplaces,pausingonlylongenoughtorecordwherewewere,sowewouldbeabletoreverse
ourwaybackoutifwehitanyproblems.Wealsonoticedthelackoftransport,eventhoughthe
streetswerewideenough,therewerenoparkedvehiclesanywhere,ofanydescription.Wehadto
useourlegstogetabout,butitmeantwecouldtakeourtimetocheckoutthingsifwewere
unsure.Inashortwhile,wewereatourdestination.Theplacewherewehumansstoreour
knowledge.Thebooks,thecharts,therecords,justabouteverything.
Thehumblelibrary.
Tobeonthesafeside,wecheckedoutalloftheroomsorannexeswhenwefirstentered,and
thenstartedwiththeinspection,roombyroom,thefirstofwhichhavingmapsonthewalls,some
oftheworld,andothersinamuchlargerscale,ofourlocalarea,allofthemhavingthesestrange
whitelinesdrawnacrossthem,andalloftheselinesconvergingonroughlywhereweallnow

were.Fromtherewewereabletolookatthetopographyoftheland,astherewerenohouseson
thesemaps,orroads,carttracks,anything.Thestreamwastheonlylandmark,andwasshownas
stillthere,withthewoodonthesideofthehillalotlargerthanitisnow,thecontoursshowingthe
hillwiththecopsetobemuchhigherthanitistodaytoo.Thismapmustbequiteold.Thestream
ranintotheValleyDrift,andprobablycutitoutortherockoverthemillenniabyerosion,and
thenturned,thecoursenowrunningbelowwherethenewestatestood.Thishelpedusunderstand
more,butstilldidntgiveanyanswers.
Movingintothenextroom,whichseemedtoresembleaclassroom,theseatsarrangedin
orderlyrows,eachhavingitsownlittlemonitorscreenbuiltintothedesk,withheadphones
placedonthearmsofeachoftheseats.Thisplacewasalmostregimentalinitsperfection,which
setoffouralarmsinourheadsthatwemaybeinsometopsecretmilitaryestablishment.
Ineachdeskwasasmallbox,withasmallslotinthefrontofit,whereasortofvideocassette
wouldgoin,butthisslotwaswaytooslimforavideo.Thecontrols,likeplay,andfastforward
werethesameasIhadseenonanycassettemachine,soIpressedtheejectbutton.Asmallsilver
coloureddisccameoutoftheslotabove.Muchthinnerthanavideocassette,anddefinitelynota
floppydiskusedincomputers,andnotevenaDVD.Ipusheditbackin.Itstartedtorun.Was
thisoneofCaptainKirksDataCrystalDiscs?
Thescreenilluminated,andthesoundtracktotallyconfusedme.ItwasalanguageIhavenever
heardbefore,theonlywayIcoulddescribeit,nottakingtheclickingsoundsintoaccount,was
likeaScandinaviantalkingbackwards.Thepictorialimagesonthescreenwereabitofscience
fiction,withvolcanoesspewingoutthelava,andthevoiceovernowsoundinglikecondensed
Chinese.Therewasasuddenflashofwhitelight,andthecamerapulledbackwards,showing
darknessaroundthisballoflava.Itpulledfurtherback,revealingmoreballsofhotsomethingor
another.Itthenzoomedontoaverysmallpiece,overinonecorneroftheset,whichseemedto
splitintoalargepieceandasmallpiece,thesoundtrackbabblingon,totallyincomprehensible,
untilthetworockscooled,andtookshape,thelargerstartingtoshowgreenandblue.Iwas
watchingapictorialhistoryoftheplanetEarth.Isatthere,transfixed,watching.Thespecial
effectswerebrilliant,asIwatchedtheEarthformtowhatitistoday,orneartotoday.Itcooled
andtheoceansformedfromasteroidsoficefromspace,theoxygenatmosphere,thelandmasses,
everything.
Thiswasonebrilliantlessoninnaturalhistory,andIfeltatingeofjealousytowardsthepeople
whocameheretowatchthisamazingstuff,everyday.This,oneffectsalone,couldbeusedin
schools,colleges,andevenuniversities,asaneducationaltool.Itwasverywellmade,even
thoughsomeofthesetheoriesshownwereasyetunproven.
AsIwatched,spellbound,thepicturechangedagain,andindicatedononeofthemapsIhad
seennextdoor,thecontinentofSouthAmerica,andactuallyshowedtheIncacivilisation,in
worshipoftheirgods,withareallycrueljokefilmsplicedintotheoriginal.Acompletespacesuit,
hangingbythedoortothetemple.
ThepicturechangedtoEgypt,andthepyramidbuilders,whowereseenusingcranestoliftthe
blocksofstone.Thismustbepartofthespooffilm,Ithought,asIletitrunitscourse.Ihadno
ideawhatthenarratorwasbabblingonabout,butIkeptwatching.Somethingwasntright,butit
wastotallycorrect.Quandarytime.Thewholeteamwere,bynow,watchingthisshow,whichwas
beingprojectedsomehowontothewall,and,someofthesubjectmatterbeingdealtwithwere

onlybasictheoriesatthispointintime,andhadnotbeenproven.Onthisfilmtheyappearedasif
theywerealreadyfact.
Whilewemusedattheaccuracyofwhatwecouldactuallysee,thecamerastartedtopullback,
andback,andfurtherback.Weleftoursolarsystem,theretreateveraccelerating,outtothe
galaxy,andawaytosomewhereelseIhavenoideawhere.
ThisfilmIhadwatchedwassoaccurateabouttheevolutionoflifehereonEarth,andaboutthe
civilisationsthatfollowed.IthadbeenaccurateaboutthebirthoftheEarth,sowhydiditgooffat
atangent,andleave,orappeartoleavethesolarsystem,andthenthegalaxy,becausebydoingso,
ithadforsakenitsrealityandaccuracy.WhileIsat,Irealisedwhatwehadactuallyseen.
Wewerenotwatchingasimulation,buttherealthing,recordedbysomeunknownrace.The
evidencewasoverwhelming.Themetaltheouterwallsweremadeof,thestrangekey,the
dwellings,thevegetation,theautolighting,andtheunreadableglyphs.ThiswasnotChineseor
Japanese.ItwasnotevenRussian.Itwasextraterrestrial.SinceenteringTaylorsTunnel,allof
whatwehaveseen,ordone,pointedtosomethingnotofEarthsnaturalorigin.Thiswasnotthe
answerIhadexpected,butitwastheonlyonethatfit.
Wehadstumbleduponsomeheadquarters,oroutpost,ofaraceofbeingsthathadbeenvisiting
usforatleast5000yearsthatweknewof,andpossiblyalotlongerthanthat.Thesevisitors,who,
judgingbytheirequipmentwehadfoundanditsusemusthavebeensimilarinappearanceand
staturetotheindigenouspeopleofourplanet,documentingourhistoryasasortofstudy.
Therewasasmallafterthoughtcametomymindatthispoint,andthatwas,iftheyhad
monitoredusthen,aretheynotmonitoringusnow.Thiscouldbedoneremotelyfromagreat
distance.Or,aretheyhere,now?

CHAPTERELEVEN
Isupposewefeltlikethosegreatexplorersyoureadaboutinhistorybooks,similartothat
CarterblokewhodiscoveredTutankhamenintheValleyoftheKings,withthetombs,complete
withthemummies,andallofthehistoryheldintactwithinthem.Therewasonemajordifference
betweenthemthenandusnow.
Theyknewtheiroccupantsweredead.
Evenwiththatfactattheforefrontofourminds,andithadneverbeenfarfromthefront,we
stillfeltquitecomfortablehere,andwedidntfeelthatwewereinanywaythreatened.Wewere
carryingplentyoffoodandwater,thoughthedwellingshadrealwaterontap,andwealsohad
heatandlightinanyshelterofourchoosing.
Mycuriositywasstillinoverdrivethough.Iwantedtoknowmore,alotmoreaboutthisplace.
Howdoesitallwork?Itmustbeundersomeautomaticcontrolcomputer,whichmustalsobe
huge,andyetthereisnosignofithere.Maybetherewerecontrolroomsalongpassages,similar
totheoneswehadseenusedasstorerooms,butattheothersideofthesmallcity,alongtheother
pathswehadseenleadingawayintothesurroundingdarkness.

Grabbingourbackpacks,wemadeourwaytotheouterareasofthesmallmetropolis,looking
bothoutwardandupwardforanysignofamonitoringstructure,orroom.Ittookawhile,but
eventuallywesawwhatappearedtobeslopingdarkenedwindowsjuttingoutfromtherockface
aboveus,andanumberofdoorsinthecliffatgroundlevel.Theseweregettingdifficulttoseeas
wewerenowoutsideofthebilliardtablelightingeffect.
Thiswaslookinggoodtogetsomemoreanswers,afterall,wehadakey,andwecouldliterally
blunderonthroughtheplace,notknowingifweweredoinganyharm.No,wehadtotakeour
timewiththis,smallstepsagain.Wecouldseethedoors,andweknewwecouldopenthem,but
whatifourmummieswerelaidoutinthere?Wehadtobereadyforeveryeventuality.
Wereachedthefirstofthesedoors,openedit,tofindalargeroom,fullofwhatappearedtobe
supplies,butotherthanthat,itwentnowhere.Wefoundafewmoreroomslikethat,untilwe
approachedoneofthoseslidingtypeofdoors,thetypenotneedingthekey,whichopenedaswe
approached,andtheheatwhichcamefrominsidehituslikeawaveontheocean.Itwasreally
hotairthistime.Notscaldinghot,butuncomfortablyhot.
Aswemadeourwaythroughthemazeofcorridors,androoms,weeventuallyfoundone
absolutelyhugeroom,packedwithsomekindofelectronicmachinery,alltickingandworking
away,amyriadoflittlelightsonthenumerousconsolesflashingawaytonooneinparticular.
Thisappearedtobeacontrolroom.Therewerehugelayersofdiscsinsidewhatlookedlike
uprightfilingcabinets,thediscsoneontopoftheother,witheachrotatingatdifferenttimesand
speeds,withnoapparentsequencethatwecouldunderstand.Itwouldhavebeenarealfind,ifany
ofuscouldactuallyunderstandwhatwehadreallyfound.Thisroomwouldhavetobeexplored
later,whenwehadmoretime.Duringourlittlecursoryinspection,wenoticedoneofthedials
wasalittleoutofsequencewiththeothers.Possiblyamalfunction.Wecarriedon,followingin
thedirectionofwherethishotairwascomingfrom,andsoonfoundit.Wefoundtheanswertothe
heatontheestateatthesurfacetoo.Thiswasnotwhatweexpected.
Weopenedthelastdoorandenteredabrightlylit,andabsolutelyenormouschamber.Infrontof
uswerehugewhiteindustrialsizepumps,withcoilsofpipingperhapstwofeetacross,risingout
ofthem,anduptowardstheceiling,wayupoutofsightitwassofaraway,thencomingback
downabouttwohundredyardsaway,circlingbacktoasortofhugecentraltank.Theremusthave
beenatleastahundredofthese,alllinedupintwoneatrows,forasfarastheeyecouldsee,their
soundalmostsilentforbeingsomanyoftheminthesameroom.Attheverytopofthecoilfrom
thefifthpumpalongontheleft,wecouldsee,andhear,thereasonfortheheatontheestate.
Superheatedsteamwasescapingfromthispipeatenormouspressure,andbeingforcedintothe
groundabove.Aroughestimateoftheheightofthesepipeswouldputthemveryclosetothe
surfaceabove,thoughwecouldnotseeanyphysicalsupportfortheroofofthiscavernousroom,
sotheremusthavebeensomethingsupportingtheupperlevel,otherwisethegroundabovewould
havecollapsedintohereyearsago.Wasthisthesubsidencefromallthoseyearsago?Wherewas
thestream?
Westood,inaweofthisfeatofengineering.
Eventhoughwedidntunderstandwhateverythingwasfor,orevenitsfunction,wecould
followthebasiclawsofphysicsbehindit,andthatwaswheretheproblemlay.
Wehadachoice.
Leaveasitis,gooutoftheplace,forgetwedeverbeenhere,andtellnoone,whichcould
eventuallymeanthatatsomefuturedate,thesemachineswouldrunoutofsteamorwateror

whatever,andcouldblowup,layingeverythinginalargeareaabovetowaste.Lookingatthesize
andscaleinfrontofus,about300milesinalldirections.Couldwebearthisresponsibilityof
knowingthatthiscouldgoatanytime,killingmillionsofunsuspectingpeople,withoutany
warning.
Wehadtodosomething,so,werevertedtooursmallstepsplanagain.Weknewwherethe
leakwas.Whatwedidntknowwashowtogetupthere,andhowtoactuallyfixit.Firstthings
first,timeforascoutabouttoseewhatwecouldfind.
Wefoundaworkingcradle,whichwecouldusetogetusupthere,andsowemoveditalongto
apointbelowtheproblempipe.Weexaminedthemetalofthepipesthemselves,whichwereat
roomtemperaturetothetouchontheoutside,eventhoughweknewtheycontainedsuperheated
material,so,wehadtoassumeitwasnotametalwehadevercomeacrossbefore.
Thenextrowofpipeworkalongfromourinterestwasshowingsignsofhavingbeenrepairedat
sometimeinthepast,becausethemetalpatch,ofaslightlydifferentcolourandtexturetothepipe
itselfhadbeenstucktoitandmustthereforehavebeenstuckonwithsomekindofadhesive,as
therewerenovisibleboltsorfixingsholdingitinplace.
Therepairwasatinybituntidy,withtheedgesoftherepairstripnotquiteflushwiththepipe
itself,andwhenIpushedthemdownflat,flushtothepipe,anamazingthinghappened.The
bandagebecamethepipe.Itsortofweldeditselftoit,leavingnosignofajoin,otherthanthe
slightdifferenceincolour.Wenowknewwhattolookfor.Thismetalbandage,about18inches
wide.
Wefoundit,andtherewererollsandrollsofit,inarackovertoonesideoftheroom.Wehad
whatweneededtoaffectarepair,butwehadtodecidewhowasgoingtoactuallydoit,toreally
standnexttosuperheatedsomethingassumedtobesteam,andsticksomethinmetalplatefroma
rolloverthetopwithoutgettingburnedorscalded.Theyoungeronesvolunteered.Weolderones
didntobject.
Thegantrywasloadedwithacoupleofrollsofthepatchmetal,large,butextremelylightin
weight,andtwoofthemechanicalpeoplefromtheteamstartedtheascent.Weremainedbelow,
asasortofabackup.Theygotthere,andthenalmostimmediatelyafter,theywereontheirway
backdown.Wethoughttheremustbeaproblem.
Bitofananticlimaxherebecause,astheygotthere,theyfixeddownoneedgeofthetapeatthe
oppositesideofthehole,thenbykeepingthispressingtothepipe,threwthereeloverthetop
wheretheholeitselfwas,anddowntheotherside,grabbingandpullingthetapedownandbound
itroundthepipeitself,anditrepaireditself,instantly.Nodrama,nofuss,just,well,repaired.
Theyusedaboutacoupleofsquaremetresofthisstuff,andtheysaiditjustdidit.Dontknow
how,butitjustdidit.
Callingbackintothecontrolroomonourwayout,themachinerywasstilltickingaway,discs
turning,butthedialswerenowallshowingthesame.Asortoforganisedcalmthistime.
Wemadeourwaydowntowardsthelittlecityarea,planningtoovernightthere,noticingthat
thelightinghaddimmedfromearlier,andthestreetlightinghadcomeon.Imused,whyhave
streetlightingwhenthewholecomplexislitartificiallyfromaboveanyway.Musthave
somethingtodowiththecopyingoftheenvironmentonthesurface.
Oncesettled,andameallater,wediscussedtheeventsoftheday.
Wehadfoundoutwheretheheatontheestatewascomingfrom,andrepairedthecausesoas
nottoriskahugeexplosionatsomefuturedate.Howwouldweexplainthistotheoutsideworld.

Shouldweexplainit?Howcouldwetelltheoutsideworldwhatwehadseen,andwhatwehad
done?
Itriedafewmorediscsinthelibrarymachines,butlearnednothing.Noneofuscouldtruthfully
saywhatwewereactuallyinsideof,ortowhomitbelonged.Itcouldstillbeanadvancedmilitary
trainingcentre.
MakingourwayoutofTaylorsTunnelthenextday,closingthedoorinthewallwiththekey,
climbingdowntheshortshaft,wewereallalittledownsad,asortofanticlimax.Thewalkupthe
ValleyDriftseemedalmostboring,tillasweemergedfromtheholewherewemetbytheone
remainingreporteratthetop,whoweinformedforhisexclusivestoryforhisnewspaper,thatwe
foundonlyslurry,water,andlotsofrooffalls.Wehadalldecided,beforeweourwayout,tokeep
theexistenceofthecityasecretforthetimebeing.Justincase.Inthewronghands,whoknows?

CHAPTERTWELVE
AswesatinthatbackroomoftheSwan,wehadtimetoreflectonthediscoveriesandthe
actionswehadtakenoverthelastfewdays.
Firstofall,wehadfoundthecauseoftheheatontheestate,whichwehadnowrectified.No
doubtthepensionerswillnotlikeit,butitsbetterthanthem,andafewmillionotherpeopleinthe
area,tohavegoneintospacewithoutarocket.
WealsonowknewthatTaylorsTunnelwassomekindofemergencyexitfromthecomplex,
and,whenitwascut,itmettheventilationshaftfromthemineworkingsbelow,ithadhaltedat
thatpointasitcouldusewhatwasalreadythere.Thedebrismusthavefallenintotheroadway
below,andtheminerstreateditasarooffall,andclearedawaythedebris.Itwasanumberof
yearslaterbeforeTaylorsTunnelappearedonanyoftheoldminesmaps.
Thedrynessofthemineworkingsisalittlemorescientific,theheatcreatedintheupperlevels
nearthesurfacewouldevaporatethewaterfromthere,andacapillaryactioncoulddrawthewater
upthroughthesoilfromthelowerlevelstoreplaceit.Tryputtingthecornerofatowelintothe
bathwater,andwatchthewaterclimbupthetoweltothetopandovertotheoutside,before
soakingyourfloor.
Theoldworkingsremainedintactbecauseoftheoutershellofthecitycomplex,whichwent
aroundtheareainasortofhorseshoeshape,theminebeingsunkinthemiddleofit.Thiswould
havetheeffectofclampingtheoldworkingsagainstanygroundmovementinsidethearea.The
oldminersdidntknowitatthetime,buttheywereworkinginthesafestmineintheworld.
Thesmalltown/cityitselfwasthesubjectthathadthemostunansweredquestions.We
understoodwhythefoliagewasfalse,asortofplastic.Thiswasbecauserealoneswouldhave
neededsunlight,ofwhich,downthere,therewasnone,andalsowater,whichwouldhave
evaporatedthroughtheleaves,andcreatedhavocwiththecity,bothincondensationand
corrosion.
Thedwellingswerebuiltforbeingssimilartoourselves,thedoorsizesbeingaboutthesame,
andtheoperationcontrolsusingsomesortofdigitsorfingers.Theysatupright,asthefurniture
indicated,andcouldhearandseethesameaswedo,asthediscsinthelibrarydemonstrated.Itall
pointedtothenormaloccupantsbeinghumanoid,orsomethingneartohumanoid.

Whywasthecityhere?Thatquestionwillhavetogounansweredforthetimebeing.We
knowithasnotbeenusedforalongtime,otherwisetherepairwecarriedoutwouldhavebeen
done,andwewouldstillbetotallyunawareofitsexistence.
Whywasitstillswitchedon?Didtheownersexpecttoreturnatsometime?Itcertainly
appearedso,aseverythingwaskeptworking.
Themajorquestionnow.
TaylorsTunnelwasasortofemergencyexit,sowhereisthemainentrance?Theminemaps
wereoflittleornohelpinansweringthat,astherewasnorecordbeyondaboutthreemilesfrom
theouterrim.Ifitwerebeyondthat,theonlywaytofinditwouldbefromtheinside.We
suspectedthatitwouldmostlikelybeattheendsofthehorseshoeshapes,butwithtotallynew
landscapesfromwhenitwasbuilt,these,fromtheoutside,wouldbeverydifficulttofind.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
TherearemanytimeswhenIthinkaboutreturningtothiscitycomplex,totrytounderstanda
littlemoreabouttheownersofthiscomplex,buttodosocouldbetrayitsexistencetopossibly
thewrongpeople,andtheunknownpowercontainedwithin,perhapsinthewronghands,could
haveseriousconsequences.Ishuddertothinkwhatkindofarmamentordefenceaplacelikethat
couldhave,thoughinrealitywedidntseeanythingofthattypeofthing,butthatdoesntmean
thereisntany.Wewouldntknowwhattolookforanyway,butothermilitarypowerswould.
Thekey,foundinTaylorsTunnelis,atthemoment,safelydepositedinabankdepositbox,in
aninsignificantbranchofanequallyinsignificanthighstreetbank.Anyotherboxeswouldmakea
bettertargetforthieves.Someoneoncesaid,hidevaluablesinplainsight.
Ihavegoneover,manytimesinmyhead,whatIthinkwouldbethequestionsaskedofme
shouldthisplaceeverbediscovered,andprovedthatIknewofitbeingthere.Ithinkitwouldbe
toaskmewhyIthoughtweshouldnotshareitsmanysecrets,forthegoodofmankind.
Ihaveonlyonereplytothis.
Ifmassesofpeopleweretoentertheundergroundcity,Ifeelsurethattheownerswouldbe
awareofit,fromhowevermillionlightyearsawaythismaybe.Somealarm,orrecordwouldbe
made.TherecouldevenbehiddenCCTVcamerasoneverycorridorandlevel.If,however,on
theoffchancethattheydidntreceiveanysignalfromthecomplex,andreturnedtovisitit,
bearinginmindthatthecomplexisonlyempty,stillrunning,andisnotswitchedoff,thiscould
createeitherafailuretomakefirstcontact,becausetheywouldseethetrespassandwithdraw,
unseen.Wewouldhavelearnednothingandtheymayanger,andstartsomesortofwar,awarwe
havenowayofwinning.
Wedecided,aswewereleavingTaylorsTunnel,thatalltwelveofuswouldswearourselvesto
secrecy,toallowtherealoccupantstoreturnontheirterms,andtomaketheirpresenceknownto
mankindwhentheywerereadyto,oriftheyevenwantedto.Iftheyhadmeanttoharmus,they
wouldhavedonesoallthoseyearsago,whentheybuilttheplace.Allwehavetodonowiswait.

1977/1991/2006/2010/2015
Quotefromthewriter:Ifyoucanprove,beyondanydoubtthatthiscitydoesnotexist,thenI
willproveitdoes