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Outside, a huge, bright yellow truck with tank treads and large stencilled letters proclaiming
Amundsen-Scott Station—USA
was waiting for them. Sam and Lora piled in after the Professor and Dr. Kader. Alex paused at the door and looked back at the mountain that was becoming a volcano right before their eyes, then climbed aboard.

“The others?” Sam asked. “Eva and Gabriella and Arianna?”

“They’re all fine,” Lora said. “I left them at the US station—it’s safe there. We were chased by some guys on bikes, we still don’t know who they were, but once we made it to the base, they disappeared.”

Sam nodded and stared out the window.

“We’ve got the Gear,” Alex said. “That’s what counts, right?”

Lora nodded, smiling.

“No sign of Solaris?” Sam asked.

“No,” the Professor said.

“And the others?” Sam asked. “The rest of the last 13?”

“They’re in Egypt, with Dr. Dark,” the Professor replied. “Your mother’s there too,” he said to Alex. “She’s been worried about you. You must call her as soon as you can.”

“What are they doing there?” Alex asked.

“Laying low at Dr. Kader’s workshop,” the Professor said, “and waiting for us. We’ll get there soon enough.”

“I suspect,” Dr. Kader said, “that Dark and your friends are having a good dig through my papers and research, looking for clues about the location of Bakhu.”

“Bakhu?” Sam asked. “Stella mentioned it too. So it’s also a place? But how do we know we need to go there? To Egypt, I mean.”

“Bakhu,” the Professor replied, “
is
the name of a place, Sam. But most believe it is more of a legend or myth. It is the mountain from which the sun rises, giving birth to the day.”

Sam remembered the sunset from his dreams before, how it had been comforting. He couldn’t remember a dream about the sun rising.

“And the machine was named after it?” Alex asked.

“We now believe so, yes,” the Professor replied.

“It does kinda make sense now …” Sam said, looking at the key that dangled from around his neck.

“What does?” Alex asked.

“That this all ends in Egypt,” Sam replied, looking at the hieroglyphics cut into the key, which he now knew spelled out the word “thirteen.” “It started there, with this key—inside the Star of Egypt. Remember? I went to the pyramids and I didn’t know why. It’s like I went there because I had to.”

Sam paused, looking out the thick glass window of the truck as they rumbled up to the American station. The volcano behind them erupted with an ear-splitting bang. Bright red and orange lava spewed from the top, dark smoke battling the white snowy winds of the superstorm. “Us going to Egypt? It’s like we’re going home.”

XAVIER

“I can make that,” Xavier said, looking across the gap.

“Dream on,” Cody said, standing next to him. The missing chunk of floor, just in front of the maze entrance was just that bit too big to jump.

“That gap wasn’t there before,” Dr. Dark muttered. “How strange.”

“You don’t think I can make it?”

“I know you can’t,” Cody said, crossing his arms.

Xavier looked at him, standing there.

Right
.

“Fine,” Xavier said, pacing away. “Stand back.”

“Xavier, no!” Poh said.

“I’ll be fine,” Xavier replied. “Just keep back, I need a run-up.”

Phoebe caught his arm as he unspooled the rope.

“Xavier, you don’t have to do this,” she said. “We can get the Agents standing guard up at Dr. Kader’s workshop to come down and help us.”

“Actually, I’m not feeling so great,” Zara piped up, stepping forward. “The darkness, I find it …”

“I can take her back to the workshop,” Issey volunteered. “She needs fresh air, I think.”

“Thank you,” Zara said, looking relieved and leaning on Issey as she took deep breaths.

“Sure, that’s a good idea,” Phoebe said. “I’d better—I’d like to stay with everyone else.” Her eyes flicked to Dr. Dark and Xavier could see she was anxious not to leave them down there alone with him.

In case he really does flip out
.

“We’ll see you guys later, OK?” Issey said. “Stay safe and we’ll send down the Agents with equipment for you.” He and Zara started walking back as the others called out their goodbyes.

“And who knows what we might find on the other side,” Rapha said. “Maybe it’s better to wait anyway.”

Xavier shook his head, handing an end of the rope to Phoebe.

“Why delay?” he said, tying the other end of rope around his waist. “Besides, this is a walk in the park.”

Xavier looked over to his father, who was smiling like he was enjoying the show—that what his son was about to do was something to marvel at and be proud of.

At least one of us is confident
.

“Good luck,” Maria said to him.

Xavier nodded. His father gave him a thumbs-up.

Great, my dad’s lost his marbles from lack of sleep, and I … I can do this
.

Xavier closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.

It’s only a jump. Think of it as the long jump at athletics day. Piece of cake
.

He opened his eyes and ran faster than he ever had before.

And jumped.

“That was cool, man!” Cody said to Xavier. Cody high-fived him as Xavier grinned. They waited as the others followed Cody across on the rope.

“This way,” Dr. Dark said, consulting the map. “This is the way I should have come in the first place. Not long now.”

Xavier watched as his father led them into the maze, side tunnels shooting off in each direction.

“For what it’s worth,” Cody said, walking next to Xavier, “I’m sorry for what I said about your father. He’s not crazy.”

“Ha!” Xavier laughed. “Cody, don’t apologize for that. Right now, I think he
is
a little nuts. So long as he doesn’t get us lost.”

Xavier looked ahead to see his father a little off in front, shaking his head and muttering to himself.

“Um, guys,” Xavier said, “can you give me a minute with my dad?”

The others nodded and waited patiently as Xavier approached his father. As he came closer to him, Dr. Dark moved farther away, disappearing around a corner.

Xavier jogged to catch up to him. “Dad? Where are you going?”

Dr. Dark turned around.

“Dad—what’s happening? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Xavier …” Dr. Dark’s voice trailed off.

“What? You’re worrying me. Are my friends going to be OK down here?”

“Yes, they will be.”

“Tell me what’s going on,
please
.”

Xavier could see his father looked conflicted.

What is it? What’s so hard for him to tell me?

“This race,” Dr. Dark said, sitting down, “it’s about to end.”

Xavier sat next to his father. “I know that.”

“You don’t know it all,” Dr. Dark said. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“Then tell me,” Xavier said. “I’m listening and I want to know.”

Dr. Dark looked to his son. “It’s about Solaris.”

“What about him?”

“He’s … he’s …”

A deep metallic voice came out of the darkness.

“I’m right here.”

Be sure to read the next thrilling adventure in The Last Thirteen series:

SAM’S NIGHTMARE

I snap my fingers,” Solaris says, getting to his feet, “and all your friends die.”

His black body armour is dull, no longer shimmering, as though seen through a heat haze. But the menace in his voice remains as frightening as ever.

I gasp for breath, doubled over in agony. His shadow looms over me as he stands, prepared to resume the fight. I take a step back, struggling to get upright, and almost slide over the edge of the dusty stone surface. I glance backwards over my shoulder, trying to see another way out. We are so high up, it seems as though thousands of rough stone steps cascade away beneath us.

I look down, searching for my friends. I can see them, standing in a circle at the base of this impossibly high pyramid. They look up, watching us.

Why aren’t they climbing up? Why don’t they help me?

But I catch sight of something else down there, shock coursing through me. It’s a body, lying sprawled on the ground. I can’t make out who it is.

Are they unconscious or … dead?

“See, Sam?” Solaris says, his sick humour evident in his voice. “Don’t think I won’t do it … again.”

I turn to stare at the soulless black mask. “I’m not afraid of you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.

“Your Gears,” Solaris says, with another, different edge to his voice now. “Give them to me. Don’t play games with me, boy. Be thankful that I am giving you this chance.”

I touch the straps of my backpack, feeling the weight of the precious Gears inside.

“And then what?” I ask, still defiant. “Then what will you do with us?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Solaris says, walking around the top of the pyramid. I mirror his movements, keeping as much distance between us as I can. “Cold desert night like this, I could give you all a little … heat.”

He shoots a stream of fire at the stone at my feet. I feel the unwelcome warmth running up my body. I force myself not to react, but I’m tense, frozen to the spot. I am overwhelmed by visions of all the fire that has ever scared me. I clench my fists and grit my teeth.

“Sam, Sam, Sam …” Solaris says. “Still frightened of a little fire?” He laughs.

Another jet shoots out, this time rushing by my head. I turn and duck. The heat flushes my neck. I open my eyes and in the early evening sky, I see the moon. It’s full, its glow both beautiful and haunting.

“Are you really going to keep me waiting, boy?” he says.

I say nothing.

A kaleidoscope of images flashes through my mind—from another time, another place.

I’m dreaming, but is this really my dream? Is he manipulating the dream, manipulating me?

Solaris lunges at me and I move quickly, more easily now, keeping out of his way. I close my eyes and blink out the gritty sand that’s been kicked up.

“You
are
dreaming, Sam,” Solaris says. “You’ve managed to figure that out. But ask yourself—whose dream is this? Hmm? Maybe you should have stayed in school at the Academy a little longer … oh, that’s right, you couldn’t, could you?”