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intruders? Or do the walls close in like that garbage compactor in the first Star Wars ?”
    “It was actually Episode Four ,” Alexander corrected.
    “First for me,” Xavier said. “So, how do you know there aren’t hidden blades that might come out and slice us to pieces?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “How about fire? A release of natural gas and a spark? And after the inferno your mom can come down here and sweep up our ashes?”
    Alexander grimaced. “I don’t know, but I’ve dreamed of stuff like that.”
    “Have you now?”
    “Traps just like that taking care of people like you.”
    “And what kind of person am I, Alexander?”
    Without pause he said, “A thief.”
    Montross smiled. “You know, your Uncle Robert came here with me. Is he a thief, too?”
    “I don’t believe he’s really with you, but I guess he is if he came to take something that doesn’t belong to him.”
    “He did, and let this be an early life lesson for you, kid. Some people will do anything for power. Anything. And the kind of power promised by that artifact in there, it can make friends turn against friends, family against family. You just can’t trust anyone. Can’t trust your mom and dad, can’t trust them even to come home and see you again after a night out. Can’t trust the world, can’t trust God or Fate or anything. The only thing you can trust are your visions, and sometimes not even those, not until you’re really sure your head’s not fu—” He smiled, catching himself. “Your head’s not playing games with you.”
    “What are you talking about?” He looked to the stairs at the other end of the room, and thought he might be able to make it if he burst into a run, sprinting with Dash-like speed, but then he was struck with the thought that if he left, the treasure would be defenseless.
    He was its protector. While it was true he hadn’t quite figured it all out, he had spent more time down here in his short life than anyone else had. He was closest to it, and sometimes he felt that just by being outside of the entrance, in this testing room, he could feel its power. Feel it calling to him, feel it changing him. Making him stronger. And he could be more patient, since he knew it was there, his birthright.
    “Never mind, kid. We’re going in. Sorry to cut short your lesson and interfere with your dad’s teaching plan, but I’m going to cheat and give you the answer.” He started pulling out pegs and resetting them. Alexander tried to look around his broad shoulders to see where he was inserting the pegs, to see if it made any sense.
    “What have you figured out so far, my boy?” Montross said after placing the third peg in a new position on the lower shelf.
    “I learned that I’m not to share what I’ve learned with thieves.”
    “Very good,” Montross said, shaking his head. “But I’m guessing you at least understand the basic concepts of alchemy, one of the key tenets which is ‘As Above—’”
    “‘—so Below,” Alexander whispered, completing the mantra he had learned years ago.
    “Correct. All that mumbo-jumbo about recreating the heavenly aspects down on earth, in architecture as well as literature, reflecting the orientation and movements of the heavens onto the earth, but also doing the same thing spiritually. Becoming more than mortal, achieving the immortality promised by heaven.”
    Alexander swallowed. “So is that what you’re here to steal? Immortality?”
    Montross began work on the middle shelf. “You wouldn’t understand my motives, Alexander. Not until you’re a little—no, a lot older.” He took one peg from the middle and moved it two holes to the right, then he stood back, nodding.
    “My dad,” Alexander whispered, “did you hurt him?”
    Montross turned, regarding the boy quietly. “Did you see something?”
    His eyes filling with emotion, Alexander nodded. “Under the ice.”
    Montross turned away, lowering his head. “I think he’ll be okay. Sorry,