Following Lyra’s advice, the group began their trek upstream. Theseus, John, Joel and Lyra were confident enough to wade through the river itself, while those who refused to brave the knee-deep water were forced to shuffle single-file along an uneven path that ran alongside it. Theseus was at least chivalrous enough to walk alongside them in case someone slipped on the congealed slime that dripped from the ceiling, or lost their balance while scrambling around one of the path’s rocky outcroppings.

“Stop!” said John, holding out his arm, “I’ve got some lasers showing up on infra-red up ahead. Scanning now… Looks like…probable alarm system, no sign of weapons or explosives,”

“Least that means we’re heading in the right direction,” said Theseus, “Take it you can handle them?”

“Already sent a jamming signal out,” replied John, “Wires are down…now! No further sign of traps,”

As they continued onwards, John offered his opinion on the traps, slipping into his lecture voice he’d picked up from his father. “These ‘shaman’ can’t have much technological expertise if they’re using archaic tricks like that. It’s only one step up from putting a literal wire across the passage,”

“We have no idea what they could be capable of, so stay on your guard,” said Phoenie.

“Yeah, they might be trying to fool ya!” said Joel, as if offering his opinion made him feel useful.

“Unlikely,” said John, “If they had more advance tech, why wouldn’t they use it to eliminate intruders straight off? This isn’t a game. Besides, the older the tech, the easier it is to acquire and maintain – why do you think we use so much of it outside the cities? Chances are—“

Lyra grabbed him by his sweater and pulled him back. “Don’t youse be moving another inch, Smith! There’s something up ahead that none of ye fancy sensors is gonna be detecting,” – she held up her gloved hand – “Unlike mine,”

“Is this another ‘faerie’ sort of thing?” moaned Theseus.

“I’m certainly not picking up anything,” said John, lifting his own technological gauntlet as if to compare it to Lyra’s own, “What exactly have you found?”

Lyra waded forward through the water. “It’s another alarm. Magical, this time. Pretty basic too, just like your techie thing. Be giving me a second, I’ve gotta focus for this…”

The former vagrant stood with her gloved palm outstretched and eyes closed, water flowing around her stick-like legs as her fingers caressed the underground air, like she were feeling for some invisible force. Phoenie nodded to Katrina, but the photographer’s camera was already clicking away.

“Yeah, this ain’t be nothing much. A bit too basic if ye be asking me,” said Lyra, “Just gotta overpower the spell with me chi, short-circuit it if ye wanna be getting techie about it all,”

Phoenie heard Theseus whispering to Joel. “Is she always like this?”

“Man, you dunno the half of it. She’s proper tribal,”

“That’s done it,” she said, opening her eyes and relaxing. She plucked one of the gems from her glove and slipped it into a pocket. “Youse lot be safe to be getting on again,”

“Stay alert team,” said Phoenie, “If these people are using both technological and magical traps, they must be serious!”

“You don’t say…” remarked Theseus.

“I’d be getting more worried about what they’ll spring next,” said Lyra, “If these are the ones messing around with people’s heads I’d be worried why that magic alarm were so basic. They oughta capable of a lot worse,”

“Not to endorse the magic talk or anything,” said John, “But maybe they’re trying to conserve their ‘chi’ – or whatever it is – for this ceremony?”

“It’s probably best we don’t try to second guess everything,” said Andromeda, “Let’s just have faith in the two of you to get us through here,”

Chapter 49
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