'Come to the rec-room. I recorded it for you.'

At the UN health summit for AIDS, held in Geneva the previous day, the ICA put forward several proposals aimed at controlling the disease. The first of which was compulsory AIDS testing on a world-wide scale. By the year 2020 every man, woman and child on the planet would be carrying a card that stated they'd been examined. This card would be required to gain employment, health care and benefits, travel visas etc.

'ID cards,' Ray was most annoyed. 'They may as well be!'

Doc Alexander gave a very convincing spiel on why this drastic measure was necessary. The rapid spread of the disease, especially in third world countries, would never be contained unless isolated and removed. If this policy was not embraced by every single nation, even this attempt to defuse the situation would prove useless.

A visual presentation on a new clinic incorporating all the most up-to-date medical technology, currently under construction in northern Alaska, was shown. But this was more than just a hospital for AIDS victims.

This was a whole city, where everyone who was diagnosed with the disease would be sent.

At first, the assembly was outraged, as this was reminiscent of the old leper colonies. With the announcement that the ICA had discovered a cure, Doc turned the opposition into a standing ovation.

This clinic was the only place where the remedy would be administered, at no cost to the sufferers. Every government who wished to be rid of this threat would contribute to the projects funding. As the antidote was a series of treatments, rather than just one injection, Doc maintained that it was safer to remove the victims from society altogether so there was no risk of them infecting others before they were cured themselves.

Once the sufferer had physically and psychologically recovered from the disease, they would be returned home. Or they could choose to stay to help with the rehabilitation of others.

Doc wrapped up his proposition with a quote from The Book of Revelation of St John the Divine: ' And the second Angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul in the sea died ... Esteemed colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I am offering you the chance to put a stop to this menace, before this is truly the case. The decision is yours.'

Brian let the tape run long enough for Tory to get some idea of how great the applause was, then switched the screen off.

'This is his first step towards controlling a world economy, you just wait!' Ray was fuming. 'Who needs weapons to rule the world?'

'I think he means to find us, the immortals.' Tory looked to Brian. 'Our blood is like no other.'

'Well, how the hell does he even know we exist?'

Brian reasoned, becoming agitated again.

'I suspect Doc may be an immortal himself.' Tory restrained Brian to get his full attention. 'He murdered Miles because he mistook him for Maelgwn.'

'Murdered?' Brian's eyes narrowed.

'I don't know how he knows, or why he seeks us. I just know he does.' Tory wished she had more of the puzzle figured, but there were still so many pieces missing.

'Well, why don't we pay Alexander a visit and find out why?' Brian thumped his fist into the palm of his hand, fed up with guesses and hearsay.

'First things first. We have to find a safe haven for the Goddess, so Ray can get cracking on her modifications.' Tory headed for the door.

As it seemed she was forever charging off somewhere, leaving him to cope with the flak, Brian pursued her. 'Where are you going now then?'

'To get changed. I'm going to Uluru.'

Brian ceased his chase, realising this was about as much information as he was going to get. 'What is the use of taking a deep sea submersible into the middle of a bloody dessert?' he put to Ray. 'I must be mad to listen to her.'

Ray smiled to disagree. 'Well, that would be the last place I'd be looking. And besides, once I get finished with this vessel, it will be a hell of a lot more than just a bathyscape.'

After a quick shower and change, Tory felt herself ready for her next exploration. She was sensibly attired in jeans, a cool, long sleeved shirt, hiking boots and a wide-brimmed hat. She also decided to carry a jacket with her, as the temperature in the Australian outback was known to plummet come nightfall.

Tory was on the verge of transporting herself to the Red Centre, when Rhiannon arrived. She was of the mind to accompany her mother. As Rhiannon had never been to Australia and was dressed sensibly for the trip, Tory couldn't see any reason why she shouldn't tag along.

Tory had never actually been to Uluru, nor did she know anyone there, but she'd seen so many images of the immense red earth formation that locating it was not difficult, for there was none other like it in the world.

As the image in her mind manifested before her, Tory was rather surprised to find herself standing in a field of lush green bushy scrub. Hundreds and thousands of yellow and pink wildflowers covered the flat red earth leading to the massive rock, their spicy, sweet scent filling the air. The distinctive smell of the Australian flora was so familiar that Tory took a deep whiff and savoured it with a smile. 'Home.'

'Mother, it's lovely.' Rhiannon eyed the terrain before them. 'Though I have to tell you, I was expecting a desert.'

'You're not the only one,' Tory said. 'It looks as if the weather conditions here may have altered somewhat of late.' She was spellbound by the timelessness of the landscape. 'There's more than a few ley lines running through this place. It's literally oozing Otherworldly energy.'

'This is a crossroads of many a dreaming track.'

Tory and Rhiannon spun around to find a tall Aboriginal man of about thirty years of age, wearing the uniform of a park ranger.

'I hope we're not trespassing.' Tory knew there were several Aboriginal sacred sites in the area that were forbidden to foreigners.

He laughed at this. 'Hardly, you're standing in the middle of Uluru National Park.'

'Are you a ranger here?' Tory approached him to introduce herself.

'Nah, I'm just visiting. Just north of here is my territory.' He informed her, a huge smile on his face as he viewed her more closely. 'The name's Pete ... Pete Nangina.'

'G'day.' Tory returned the friendly greeting, holding her hand out to shake his. 'I'm -'

'Tory Alexander,' Pete answered for her, his smile broadening as the two women looked absolutely flabbergasted.

'How did you know?' Rhiannon found her voice before her mother did.

They were even more flabbergasted by his reply.

'Well, Rhiannon, a little dragon told me.'

Did he mean Maelgwn? It was Maelgwn who'd instructed Cadfan to direct her here in the first place.

Tory cocked an eye and put it to Pete ... 'So, am I to assume this dragon sent you to find us?'

'Down to the very square inch of land and moment of your arrival,' he advised her, casting a probing eye across the landscape. 'But if my understanding is correct, you're a little pushed for time ... so, if you'll just follow me.' He did an about face and headed off through the scrub.

'Hey Pete, wait up.' Rhiannon bounded off after him, excited by the development. 'Where are we going?'

'Watarrka,' he advised as she caught him up.

Still stunned by these events, Tory was slower off the mark. Did this mean Maelgwn was here? Was this man leading her to him at this very moment? She caught up to him. 'Pete ... by any chance, does Watarrka have a European name?'

The tall bushman stopped and turned back to her, still wearing his knowing smile. 'King's Canyon.'

The information sent Tory's heart leaping into her throat.

On this afternoon the temperature in the Centre was a comfortable twenty degrees, though by midnight it could be expected to have dropped to around the five degree mark.

Pete had a four-wheel drive. From what he told them, it seemed that around here just about everyone in-the-know did. Not all of the tracks were sealed, and even parts of the bitumen roads had been coated with dirt during the heavy rains. The many large puddles and mudslides made for a tough ride, and at one point they lost sight of the road altogether.

'Are you sure this is wise?' Rhiannon queried as the wheels spun round in the mud until they found traction, and their vehicle was thrust on its way towards the next deep hole.

'She'll be right, mate,' he winked. 'The conditions are pretty good today.'

Pete got them as close to the canyon as they could get by road. The place was all but deserted.

'This is Watarrka,' Pete announced, throwing some climbing gear over one shoulder. 'I hope you two are fit.'

'We'll try and keep up,' Tory assured him.

Rhiannon and Tory followed him up a track that led them along the northern rim, towards the head of the canyon.

After the initial uphill climb, the rocky red land was reasonably flat, although there were short jumps to be made over wide cracks. This huge monument of nature stretched out towards the horizon on all sides. One couldn't help but feel rather insignificant in comparison. Their trek led them past an area of strange, domed rock formations that were about nine metres high and between ten to fifteen meters in length. These resembled abandoned houses and streets; the site had thus been dubbed by Europeans 'the Lost City'. Passing over a small and rather dicey footbridge that spanned a deep cleft in the rock, the track passed dangerously close to the edge of a sheer cliff top.

'Great views, eh?' Pete slapped Tory's shoulder, nearly startling her out of her wits.

'Well, you've got to give him that.' Rhiannon dared to lean over to view the floor of the canyon about one thousand feet below them. 'The view is spectacular!'

Further on, they came to a deep chasm where they stopped while Pete rigged up a line to take them down into the head of the canyon.

'Are we allowed down there?' Tory wondered; the terrain seemed somewhat precarious.

'Trust me.' Pete motioned her to the rope and harness.

Known as the 'Garden of Eden' the well-watered, sheltered floor of the deep ravine was a regular little oasis with its towering gum trees and abundant lowlying native plants. Wildlife abounded here, and trickling streams led to larger freshwater drinking holes.

It was as Tory approached one of these large pools that she spied something with a metallic shine catch the sun.

'What is it?' Rhiannon spotted it too, and pursued her mother to investigate. 'Why, it's a sword!'

Tory withdrew the blade from the soil, wielding it around herself in a figure of eight motion before eyeing it over with recognition and delight. No doubt about it.

This was Maelgwn's weapon, which she'd entrusted to her son when she left ancient Britain for the twentieth century.

' Rhun ...' Tory breathed, sensing his presence close by.

'Hello, Mother.'

Rhun manifested before her, though Tory hardly recognised her boy in his modern attire - a vest and shorts of army green, and a rugged pair of hiking boots.

'Praise the Goddess!' She embraced him in earnest. 'It took you long enough to find us.'

He hugged his mother until she recovered from the shock. 'I've been waiting for you.' Rhun kissed her forehead, then looked to the other beauty Pete had brought down into the canyon. 'Please don't tell me this is my sister.'

Rhiannon was eyeing this warrior-like figure of a man, also wishing this was not the case. His shiny dark hair fell dead straight to his shoulders, and his large dark eyes were akin to her own. 'Looks that way, wouldn't you say.' It was like staring at the male version of herself.

'At long last we meet.' Rhun bowed. 'I bid you welcome, Rhiannon, to your new home.'

She eyed the surrounding area, yet there was no abode within view. 'Home?' Rhiannon quizzed, confused.

'Allow me.' Rhun offered her one of his hands and Tory the other. 'Thanks Pete. I owe you one.'

'Rubbish,' Pete waved it off, then waved goodbye.

'We owe you many.'

As his friend disappeared into the trees Rhun looked at his mother, flashing a cheeky grin. 'You're going to be so proud of me.' He closed his eyes to focus on their destination.

10.

GLIMPSING THE.

FUTURE.

Moments later, Tory and Rhiannon found themselves in a small earthen sleeping cave.

It had no windows, and judging by the rough red texture of the walls, Tory imagined they were somewhere underneath the canyon.

'It's a little cosy for all of us, don't you think?'

Rhiannon commented shyly, not wanting to offend their charming host.

'This is only my room.' Rhun ruffled her hair. 'I didn't want to overawe you with too much at once.' He backed up towards a heavy timber door. 'Are you ready for this?'

'I think so,' Tory granted, yielding to her son's excitement. 'Impress me.'

'Open,' Rhun instructed, and the door vanished.

'Hey!' Rhiannon neared him, intrigued.

'Particle control.' Rhun shrugged it off as an insignificant detail, motioning with his finger for them to follow.

Stepping onto a solid red earth walkway, both women were struck speechless by the sheer size of the thriving community they beheld. They were not so much under the canyon, as inside its walls. Stairways and pathways lined the huge red earth walls, leading to abodes which looked similar to the one they'd just exited. The floor of the enormous dug-out cavern looked like one big BBQ area, with fires for cooking.

The cavern was artificially lit. The lighting became dimmer towards the top of the huge cave, increasing in intensity as it reached the floor.

A thousand questions sprang into Tory's mind.

'Power, water, food? How did you ever get the Aboriginal people to agree to this?'

Rhun looked smug. 'Come on, I'll show you around.'