4, p.12
4, page 12
A gunshot rang out. The sound echoed around the chamber, buffeting them from all sides.
‘Where did that come from?’ Ahmed whispered, rolling up his wax rubbing and tucking it into his pack.
‘I’m not sure,’ Hans said, taking a dart gun from his belt. ‘We should go—’
‘Wait!’ Alex said. ‘Listen!’
There was the thrum of an engine, growing louder, then a bang rang out and the engine noise returned.
‘The boat has come back, that’s all,’ Ahmed said. ‘It’s just the old engine playing up.’
‘No matter, let’s go!’ Hans said, leading them out at a run.
‘No!’ Alex called out from behind them. ‘Something’s not right!’
The three of them stopped. Alex pointed towards the dull glow of the entry, and he followed the light and the engine noise. They slowed to a walk, wary.
The Guardian was there in the boat. But he’d clearly not been to get more supplies. He was slumped over the outboard, unconscious, the engine still at full throttle and the bow pushing hard up against the rocks.
‘I have a feeling that we’re in trouble,’ Alex said, stopping his advance.
Hans patted Alex on the shoulder and pointed into the shadows near the mouth of the entrance, an area visible from this angle but not when they entered earlier. A camouflaged net had been covering it.
There were crates stacked up there—dozens of them. There were weapons too, boxes of ammunition, stacks of grenades, along with all kinds of electrical items, communications gear, audio-visual equipment—a bounty of looted goods.
‘What is all this?’ Alex asked as the three of them inched closer.
‘Pirates,’ Hans said, worried. ‘They must have been using this place to hide their stolen goods and weapons. We have to get out of here.’
Real pirates!
Alex heard noises to their right. Voices, nearing. ‘They’re here!’
41
SAM
Sam stood in the foyer of the United Nations General Assembly. The American President stood next to him. With them were the British Prime Minister, the Premier of China and the presidents of France and Russia. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council—all there, for him. Supporting him before he walked inside.
And Prime Minister Hashimoto of Japan, who’d arranged this special moment, was right by Sam’s side.
‘Ready, Sam?’ Yutaka asked.
‘Yes,’ he replied.
‘Remember,’ the American President said, ‘just relax up there—talk to us like we’re your friends, like we’re here just to hear you.’
Sam nodded, feeling anything but confident.
‘Pretend that the world is not watching,’ the Russian President said then laughed and slapped Sam on the back. ‘You are strong, young Sam. A hero. You will be fine up there.’
‘Remember,’ Yutaka said. ‘Once you finish, we will address the Assembly, together, to reinforce what you have said. We are all behind you.’
The French President smiled at Sam, and his Chinese and British counterparts patted Sam on the back as he walked in.
Sam looked back at Yutaka, who’d managed to persuade the Dreamers among the world leaders to arrange this meeting. He gave him a thumbs up and it actually made Sam choke on a laugh.
Inside the Assembly Hall, the imposing green room somehow reminded Sam a little of the granite Dream Universe room in Japan.
Times about a thousand in size.
The crowd was enormous, far bigger than any school play or other live audience that Sam had ever had to appear before. It was the United Nations General Assembly, representing all one hundred and ninety-three member states.
I’d like to visit them all some day.
The General Secretary made the introduction. ‘A special guest speaker …’ was all Sam heard.
How many of them know about Dreamers? How many will believe what I have to say?
Sam thought his legs would go out from under him, felt his panic rising.
Then he heard Tobias’ voice inside his head, encouraging him, telling him that he was fine, that he’d be OK.
This is my destiny. I was born to do it. It’s going to be alright.
Sam took a deep breath and gripped the lectern hard. ‘Good morning,’ he said, forcing himself to look up and out into the room, taking in all the eyes upon him.
There was complete silence in the room. Hundreds of faces turned his way, delegates, aides and the press.
All of them watching and listening to me, to what I have to say. Wow.
‘I stand before you today,’ Sam said, ‘to talk about the terrible plight of the world right now. The world has become gripped by conflict. In some ways this is not new, but I’m here to tell you that there is another reason for what is happening now. It is a terrible time, but I believe we can make it right—all of us, together.’
The silence in the room was deafening. Sam was sure that they’d heard such a thing said in this space before. Rhetoric, rallying cries, sound-bites, good intentions—and dreams.
‘I stand here today, with you, to tell you a secret,’ Sam said.
The silence in the room was eerie.
The world is watching me. Listening.
Sam could see several little red lights on the cameras pointed at him, broadcasting and recording his message.
‘The secret is what you see before you right now,’ Sam said. ‘The secret is me. Although, I should state, that it’s not just me—I am not alone.’
Sam looked around the room. He took another deep breath and smiled.
This will change the world. Some here would have heard about Dreamers before, or maybe just rumours. But for others, this will be a shock and almost too much to believe.
But, hopefully, many will believe, many will be moved to act, to help, to make a difference.
‘I am here to reveal to you today, and to the world at large, the existence of people with special abilities …’ Sam read from the notes that he’d made in Tobias’ little notebook. ‘I like to think that we are on the precipice of a brave new world. We live in a big, fast paced, complicated and often scary world. I’m here to tell you that it’s all that and more—but there’s hope. My name is Sam. I’m a Dreamer—a true Dreamer. One of the last 13. And I’m telling you that our time is now, and that our choice is exactly that—it is ours. Today, we can choose to move forward, together, and beat the odds. Or, we take the other path, remain divided, self-interested, and see what becomes of the world.’
Silence.
Sam looked over to the six heads of the world’s most powerful nations who had encouraged him moments before. They were all there, standing resolute, there for him.
But there’s one person who’s not here for me anymore. I must make him proud.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the world …’ Sam said, looking around the room and then directly at a camera pointed his way. ‘I’m here to tell you that we have fourteen days left to save the world.’
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