Trials of Death. Darren Shan

swimming.

      I searched in vain for another glimpse of border wall but the next two turnings both led to other corridors, not the wall. My oxygen was running out. It was getting harder and harder to move my arms and legs.

      The next turn didn’t lead to border wall either, but I had no time to swim ahead and look for another turning. Summoning all of my energy, I swam down the short corridor and took the right turn at the end. That led to another short corridor. As I started down it, the rock slipped off my belly, scratching me as it fell. I yelped without thinking. Water rushed in and air rushed out.

      Coughing, I struck for the ceiling to draw more air, but when I reached it, I found the water had beaten me to the punch — there was no more air to be had!

      I trod water, silently cursing the fates and vampire gods. This was the end. I’d given it my best shot but it wasn’t to be. The best thing now would be to open my mouth, gulp in water and make as quick a finish of it as I could. I would have, too, except this corridor wasn’t well lit, and I didn’t like the idea of dying in darkness. So, painfully, I dived again to the floor, gathered the rock, turned over on to my back, placed the rock on my belly, and swam ahead to find somewhere brighter to die.

      As I made the left turn at the end of corridor, I spotted the dark stone of border wall. I smiled weakly, remembering how excited that would have made me a few minutes ago. I rolled over on to my belly, so that I could die on my feet — then stopped.

      There was an X on the wall!

      I stared at it stupidly while precious air bubbles popped out of my mouth. Was this another trick of my mind? Another false crack? It must be. There was no way I could be this lucky. I should ignore it and…

      No! It was an X!

      I was out of air and strength, but the sight of that X gave me a new lease of life. Making use of resources I hadn’t known I had, I kicked hard with my legs and shot towards the wall like a bullet. I bumped my head against it, recoiled, then rolled over and studied the large, rough X.

      I was so delighted to find the X, I almost didn’t think to push the button at its centre. What a farce that would have been — to come so far and fail at the very end! But, thankfully, I was spared that indignity. Of its own accord, my left hand crept out, ran its fingers over the button set in the X, then pressed it. The button slid inwards and the X vanished as the stone slid back into the wall.

      With a huge slushing roar, water gushed out through the gap. I was carried along with it, coming to a jolt just beyond the door when my rock caught on something. My eyes and mouth were shut, and for a while it seemed like I was still submerged in the maze, as water flooded out over my head. Gradually, though, the level diminished, and I realized I could breathe.

      Following the deepest single breath of my life, I opened my eyes and blinked. The cavern seemed a lot brighter than it had less than half an hour ago, when I’d been led down to it by Vanez Blane. I felt like I was sitting on a beach on a warm summer’s day.

      Cheers and hollers reached my ears. Staring around like a fish on dry land, I noticed delighted vampires streaming towards me, splashing through pools of water, whooping with excitement. I was too tired to identify their faces, but I recognized the orange crop of hair on the vampire leading the way — Mr Crepsley.

      As the water subsided, I struggled to my feet and stood outside the door of the Aquatic Maze, smiling foolishly, rubbing the bump on my head where I’d connected with the wall. “You did it, Darren!” Mr Crepsley roared, reaching my side and throwing his arms around me in a rare display of affection.

      Another vampire embraced me and yelled, “I thought you’d had it! So much time had passed, I was sure you’d failed!”

      Blinking water from my eyes, I made out the features of Kurda and Gavner. And, close behind, Vanez and Arra. “Mr Crepsley? Kurda? Vanez? What are you doing on a beach in the middle of the day?” I asked. “You’ll sizzle in the sunlight if you don’t watch out.”

      “He’s delirious!” someone laughed.

      “Who would not be?” Mr Crepsley replied, hugging me proudly.

      “Think I’ll sit down a while,” I muttered. “Call me when it’s time to build sand castles.” And, collapsing on my bottom, I stared up at the roof, convinced it was the wide open sky, and hummed merrily to myself while the vampires fussed around me.

      CHAPTER FIVE

      I WAS shivering like a bedraggled rat when I woke late the next day. I’d been asleep for fifteen hours or more! Vanez was there to bid me good morning. He handed me a small mug full of a dark liquid and told me to drink.

      “What is it?” I asked.

      “Brandy,” he said. I hadn’t tried brandy before. After the first mouthful, which made me gag, I decided I quite liked it. “Steady on,” Vanez laughed as I poured it freely down my throat. “You’ll get drunk!”

      Laying aside the mug, I hiccuped and grinned. Then I remembered the Trial. “I did it!” I shouted, jumping up. “I found the way out!”

      “You certainly did,” Vanez agreed. “It was a close-run thing. You were in there just over twenty minutes. Did you have to swim towards the finish?”