Eleanor Chamberlain frantically deleted
all the computer files and tossed any important research notes and documents
into the garbage can, soaked them with chemicals from the lab and set them
alight. The fire spread quickly. She prayed that the flames wouldn’t trigger
any alarms, and regretfully watched as all her research turned into ashes.
All that remained was the camera itself.
As she studied the device, Eleanor
marvelled that something so unassuming could possess such extraordinary power.
The camera was an incredible discovery, but Eleanor knew that it was far too
dangerous to fall into the wrong hands. She knew what she had to do.
All the designs and blueprints had been
burned beyond recognition, and Eleanor prepared to drop the camera itself into
the fire.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Eleanor spun around to see her research
partner, Magnus Sinclair, standing in the doorway less than twenty feet away.
“I already told you, Magnus,” Eleanor
replied, maintaining a firm grip on the camera, “this project is too
dangerous.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked,
edging toward her.
“You know what I mean, Magnus,” she said
sternly. “You said as much yourself.”
“But think of the possibilities,
Eleanor! We could both be rich beyond our wildest dreams. You know as well as I
do, this isn’t about the past. It’s about the future. About the technology and
all the inventions still to be discovered. It could all belong to us.”
“It’s still theft, no matter how you
look at it.”
“But no one would ever know,” Magnus
retorted. “How could they?”
“I can’t allow it,” insisted Eleanor,
shaking her head. “I already burnt all the research notes and deleted all the
computer files. We need to end this – right now.”
She turned to drop the camera into the
flames still burning in the garbage can, but Magnus lunged at her. In the
struggle, Eleanor’s elbow knocked over the chemicals by the computer, spilling
them onto the fire, which erupted in a tower of flame.
In the confusion, Magnus grabbed the
camera, seconds before an explosion ripped through the lab. When the smoke
cleared, he could see Eleanor trapped under a heavy steel filing cabinet.
“Magnus!” she cried. “Magnus, help me, I
can’t move my legs!”
But he put the camera into his pocket
and backed away toward the door.
“Magnus!” she screamed. “Don’t leave
me!”
Suddenly there was a second larger
explosion. Magnus was thrown through the laboratory doorway and landed in the
hallway. He struggled to his feet, stumbled into the shattered lobby and rushed
outside to safety.
Fabulous Fantasy Realms - Classes with Northern Hills Community Association at Cardel Place - November 15 to December 20, 10.00 am to 11.30 am 
