The Eye
Early in the morning, the Eye roused Taylor from his sleep.
"Come on boy. We have work to do today."
They were in Perth, Australia. And The Eye was planning on taking Taylor to the cave where he had found the bomb to translate the writings. He felt it was going to be easier than he expected to have Taylor co operate. He was so... fearful.
Taylor
Taylor awoke with a start, blinking rapidly and trying to focus.
He looked up and saw Craig, then sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Where... are we going?" he almost yawned.
The Eye
"Out," the Eye replied. "We'll get breakfast on the way. Now, hurry up."
Having gotten up before Taylor, the Eye was already dressed and ready to go. He now manourved Taylor to the bathroom.
"And no funny business," he warned sternly.
Taylor
Taylor groaned as he leant against the basin, hanging his head. He'd guessed the Eye had wanted something translated already, but he had no idea what. And Craig was being overly informative.
He went about his business and washed his hands, then washed his face. If anything, he knew Craig wouldn't make the same mistake twice by letting him escape.
But then again, they were in Australia. Did he really want to?
He opened the door and stepped out cautiously.
The Eye
"About time," the Eye said.
He gathered up with things he had, then took Taylor's arm and led him out of the room. He locked the door and then guided Taylor over to the car he had acquired.
"Get in."
Taylor
Taylor jumped as the words left his mouth, but got into the car as he was told.
When he closed the door he put his seatbelt on, then leant his elbow against the window and covered his mouth with his hand.
His best hope at the moment was probably for someone to recognize him.
The Eye
The Eye got in as well and began the long drive to the cave, with a detour to pick up breakfast.
When at last they arrived, the Eye locked up the car and blindfolded Taylor.
Taylor
Taylor's heart leapt into his throat as the blindfold went on, not for the first time wondering what Craig was going to do.
He wouldn't have brought him all the way to Australia just to kill him, would he?
He gulped again, his breath coming in frightened gasps as he spread his hands a little.
The Eye
The Eye then lead Taylor to the cave. He had blindfolded him because, should he ever leave Taylor in the cave by himself, he didn't want him to be able to find his way out.
He weaved through the tunnels until at last he reached the cavern. Then he took the blindfold off.
"Is this not an interpretters delight?"
Taylor
Taylor swayed a little on his feet, blinking as his eyes tried to get used to the light.
Then he saw them.
His eyes darted across the room from wall to wall, to the ceiling, and to the sphere in the centre. His mouth hung open a little as he turned slightly, trying to find some beginning to the writings and illustrations.
He gulped a little, shaking his head slightly.
"This is... this..." he began, almost out of breath.
"This is amazing."
The Eye
The Eye smiled.
"I thought you might think so."
He pulled pen and paper from his bag.
"Care to elighten me?" he asked, handing them to him.
Taylor
Taylor eyed the paper and pen and sighed.
"This is going to take me forever."
He looked back towards what seemed to be a door - perhaps the way they'd come in - and where everything seemed to start. He took the paper and pen from Craig, then made his way over to it.
The Eye
"Well," said the Eye, "if it's any incentive, I'm willing to strike a little deal with you. Give me a truthful interpretation of these walls, and I will let you go home alive and unharmed. If you fail to meet your end of the bargain, your family will suffer."
He patted Taylor on the shoulder.
"Take all the time you need."
Taylor
Taylor shrank away from him like an abused dog as Craig's words brought him back to reality.
He closed his eyes for a moment as he put his hand to his forehead, then ran his fingers through his hair. Opening his eyes again, he fell to his knees in front of the door and let his fingers trace the carvings at the bottom.
After a moment, he sighed.
"It's so... cryptic," he frowned a little, "but it was meant to be. They meant to make it hard to understand."
He tilted his head a little in order to see something a foot from the ground a little better.
"But it wasn't meant for us. They don't know we're here. On Earth."
The Eye
"Nonetheless," replied the Eye. "I mean to know what it says. If I leave this cavern, can I trust you not to try to escape? It would be unwise - the tunnels here are much like a labyrinth, and you're more likely to get yourself lost than leave."
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, his eyes falling to the floor.
"Why would I even try when you've threatened the people I love?" he voice shook, "I'm not... as strong as I was last time."
He looked up at the carvings again, and frowned slightly as he considered one of the illustrations.
The Eye
The Eye nodded.
"Good. I'll be back later to check on your progess. I imagine you'll concentrate better without me breathing down your neck, as it were. If you get hungry there's some food and water in the bag. Any questions?"
Taylor
Taylor just shook his head, then slid back from the door a little so that Craig could get through.
He looked across at the sphere again, guessing it was the bomb. Someone had already defused it, he could tell.
The Eye
The Eye departed, a smile still playing on his lips.
At last the secrets would be his!