The Power of Five Oblivion

was a Gatekeeper. He was here to save the world.
    The Traveller must have decided that this had gone on long enough because suddenly he was bounding down the stairs, making for the nearest workstation, where a TV monitor was flickering with a black-and-white image. Jamie and I followed. There was a young woman there, only a few years older than me. She was quite small with shaven hair.
    “How are you, Linda?” the Traveller asked. “I hardly recognize you. You were only twelve when I left.” His eyes flickered to the screen. “Has it worked?”
    She nodded. “I think so. They’re in the water but they’re looking in the wrong place.”
    I looked at the television, fascinated to see the canal and the moving figures. The last time I had seen a TV I had been six years old, and that had been a long time ago. There must have been cameras concealed close to the canal because we could see everything. The fly-soldiers seemed to have gone but the police were still there, standing on the bank on the other side of the tunnel or wading through the water. The image changed and I saw what was left of the Lady Jane . Only the front section had survived in one piece and smoke was still billowing out. The rest was either floating on the water or scattered over the ground. The image changed again and I saw the policewoman in her long coat, watching pensively, her elbow resting on her hand. In front of her, one of the policemen was slipping into the canal.
    “They’re going back into the tunnel,” Jamie said. “What happens if they find the ladder?”
    “There’s nothing unusual about a ladder set in the ceiling,” the Traveller replied. “When the canals were built, there were no engines and the horses that pulled the barges couldn’t go through the tunnels. So the crew would lie on their backs on the roof of the boat and use their feet to propel it forward.”
    “What about the shaft?”
    “It’s already locked,” the girl – Linda – said. She gestured at a set of controls in front of her. “As soon as you climbed up, a panel slid across behind you. The second door is locked too. Even if they light up the entire tunnel, they’re not going to see anything.”
    “You knew we were coming,” I said.
    “We’ve been watching you for the last few miles.”
    Watching us? How? There must have been more cameras concealed along the way. “Why didn’t you come and help us when we were being chased?” I asked.
    “I can explain that, Holly.”
    Another woman had appeared, this one older, with white hair, holding a thin cane. Her eyes were covered with black glasses and because I had never met anyone who was blind before, it took me a few seconds to realize that was exactly what she was.
    Next to me, Jamie started. “Miss Ashwood!” he exclaimed.
    “Jamie…”
    “You know each other?” I asked.
    “We met once, ten years ago.” The blind woman smiled. “At least, it was ten years for me. We’re safe, I think. The police won’t find anything and they’ll assume that you died in the boat. Don’t worry. We’ll keep an eye on things. What matters now is that the three of you get some breakfast. You need a shower, a change of clothes and some sleep. Then we can talk.”
    “Miss Ashwood…” Jamie wasn’t moving. “What is this place? Is this the Nexus? Have you really done all this for me?”
    “Yes, Jamie. We’ve been waiting for you for an awfully long time so another few hours won’t hurt. Eat something and get some rest. It isn’t over yet.” She turned and walked away, tapping her cane on the concrete floor ahead of her.
    “Something to eat,” I said. “That sounds like a good idea.” I yawned. “Then bed. Then a shower. I don’t care which comes first.”
    The next twelve hours were among the most blissful in my life. First we ate … real food. Meat and fresh vegetables, then chocolate pudding and custard. Chocolate! For me it was just a faint memory, but even smelling the warm, brown sludge in my bowl was like opening a treasure chest. I don’t think I’d ever felt full before. Every meal I’d eaten in the village had just taunted me, leaving me almost as hungry as when I’d sat down. But I was completely stuffed when I made my way to the sleeping quarters, where a room had been specially prepared for me.
    I had a bed with clean sheets and a decent pillow. But first came the total luxury of a warm shower. Not hot but not icy cold either – and strong enough to cover my head and