Chapter Seven

They were led deeper and deeper beneath the palace. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Susan wondered why the enormous pressure that surely existed at this depth wasn't crushing them.

Just be thankful it's not, said the rational part of her mind.

She'd noticed that the decoration on the walls had become less and less elaborate the lower they got. She'd also noticed that the Elders' faces had grown less certain and more confused; obviously, they didn't come down here very often. After a while, they came to a dead end.

There didn't seem to be anything obviously different about this dead end- apart from the fact it was a dead end- and yet Susan felt there was something strange about this part of the palace. Then she realised what it was.

Unlike the rest of the palace, this part was lit by ordinary candles instead of crystals.

Jalem stepped forward and held out a crystal, it's blue light appearing green in the yellow light of the candles. He touched the wall with it, and it slid open.

"Nice," muttered the Doctor, making Susan jump; no one had spoken the whole journey down. "I wonder, what else can these crystals of yours do?"

"We use them for light and assistance in healing," Sani replied. "I've never seen them used as keys before."

Jalem and Kaelah prodded their captives forward, the blobs quivering around them.

They found themselves on a cliff edge in a huge cavern. Below them, water lapped against the rock they were clustered upon, and ahead, a huge crystal floated above the water. Actually, it reminded Susan of the LED "crystal" mobile that the care workers in her old home hung up in the games room every Christmas. Somehow, she didn't think the Atlanteans and water blobs would be too pleased with her comparison. Beside her, the Doctor whipped out his glasses and leaned forward to get a better look at the huge crystal glowing in the middle of the cavern. Susan automatically grabbed the back of his jacket to keep him from falling over the edge.

They became aware that the crystal was flickering, just like the light crystals in the palace above.

"The Heart of Atlantis."

Susan and the Doctor turned to look at the Elders. They were standing stock-still, transfixed. Their eyes shone brightly… glowed, in fact. They turned to face the Doctor and Susan.

"Err… Grandfather…"

"I know."

DW

Donna braced her legs and back in the pipe she was climbing and pushed her hair out of her face. Holding it there with one hand, she dug around in her pockets with the other in search of a hair bobble or something, but there was nothing except the crystal she'd pinched from her cell. Sighing, she forced herself further upwards-

-and banged her head. Rubbing it, she pulled out the crystal and held it up so its blue light illuminated the pipe around her. She'd reached a bend in the pipe; it was now horizontal.

At least it'll be easier going.

She crawled along the dark tunnel, a section gave way, and she fell through.

DW

The Doctor didn't know what had hit him, but from the expression on Susan's face, he could guess.

"Donna?" he croaked, wincing.

"Sorry…" He felt her get up, and got to his feet, holding his bruised back.

"No problem." He peered at her sopping wet hair and clothes and grinned. "Glad to see you're feeling better."

"Grandfather!"

He spun round, just in time to see a water blob heading straight for him. He ducked, and it sailed right over his head and into the water. The other ones followed, including the ones inside Jalem and Kaelah, and the glow left the Elders' eyes. In the Doctor's pocket, Plato banged ineffectually against his jar.

The group gazed in fear and wonder as the water rose, gathering itself around the crystal, forming a shape around it.

Forming the shape of a man.

He was as tall as the cavern, and composed entirely of the water that had once filled the cavern. Where the heart should have been in his transparent body, the crystal glowed eerily, the light casting rainbow colours over the spectators.

I am Atlantis. I am the Sea.