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Some twenty minutes later they stopped at a vaulted doorway that looked exactly like countless other doorways they had passed.

Oliver checked the locator. “This is the exit point.”

Leona followed him into a cavernous, high-ceilinged quartz chamber. She stopped and looked around. “This is amazing. But then, I say that a lot in my work.”

Oliver’s mouth twitched in brief amusement. “So do I. Hazard of the job.”

“Yes, it is.” She smiled. They really did have a few things in common.

A deep channel of crystal-clear water some nine or ten feet wide flowed out of an opening in one wall, curved gently across the floor of the vast space, and disappeared into a tranquil pool on the far side. Twin rows of quartz pedestals topped with faceted crystals lined both sides of the waterway.

Elegant little footbridges crossed the indoor river at various points. Blocks of quartz that looked a lot like park benches were placed near the edges.

A graceful, gazebo-like structure stood on the far side of the water feature. Inside, a tightly wound spiral staircase twisted upward and vanished into the ceiling.

A crystal-clear sculpture the size and shape of a one-person canoe was displayed on a platform anchored in the wall above the opening where the river emerged. Two sets of quartz steps, one on each side of the channel, led up to the artifact.

“This place looks like a city park or a space for contemplation,” Leona said.

Oliver walked toward one of the little footbridges. “I’d like to take a closer look at that crystal canoe, but we need to keep moving. Let’s find out what’s at the top of that staircase.”

She started toward the footbridge. Belatedly it occurred to her that Roxy had gone uncharacteristically silent. She looked around.

“Roxy? We’re leaving. Where are you? This isn’t a good time to play hide-and-seek.”

A faint chortle sounded from the far side of the chamber. Leona turned toward it and was just in time to see Roxy vaulting up one of the flights of steps that led to the crystal canoe.

“She’s got a thing for boats, doesn’t she?” Oliver said.

Leona ignored him. She hurried along the river’s edge, heading for the steps that led to the canoe.

“Roxy, no .”

Roxy was already inside the canoe. She waved a paw and chortled.

Leona was almost at the steps. There was no handrail, so she flattened one palm against the wall to steady herself as she climbed toward the platform.

“Roxy, we don’t have time for this. Please, sweetie. Get out of the boat.”

A faint hum sounded from inside the wall. The platform with the crystal canoe and Roxy began to move.

“Shit,” Leona yelped. “Stupid talent.”

She yanked her hand off the wall but she knew it was too late. She had accidentally activated a mechanism concealed in the quartz.

The platform glided downward and lowered the canoe into the water.

She tried to grab Roxy out of the vessel but she missed. The canoe settled gently into the artificial river, where it was immediately carried gently away by the current.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” she said.

“She’ll be okay,” Oliver said. “She’s probably just going to get wet again.”

“Do something,” Leona said, scrambling back down the steps.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Oliver walked toward the far end of the river.

The slow current was carrying the canoe toward the opposite end of the chamber and the serene pool.

“Jump off, Roxy,” Leona shouted. She ran alongside the river, but she knew she would not be able to catch the canoe.

Roxy chortled, buzzed, and ducked as the vessel floated under first one footbridge and then three more. There was only a single bridge left before the river flowed out of sight into the unknown.

Without warning, a section of the quartz wall on the far side of the pool dissolved. As if a dam had been breached, the once-calm water abruptly rushed through the opening.

Leona glimpsed a nightmarish blue energy storm on the other side. Lightning flashed in the depths of the wild currents. Paranormal fire flared and roared.

The canoe was headed straight into the hellish furnace. Roxy would not survive the terrifying flames. Even if she jumped overboard now it would be too late. The once gently flowing river had become a fast-moving torrent.

For the first time Roxy seemed to realize that she might be in trouble. She was no longer chortling. Her fur stood on end and all four of her eyes snapped open.

Oliver walked out onto the middle of the last footbridge, crouched, and deftly plucked her out of the canoe just before it passed underneath.

Roxy chortled ecstatically, thrilled with the conclusion to the game. Oliver turned to watch the crystal canoe glide into the fiery blue energy storm. The gate closed, once again becoming a solid quartz wall.

For a moment Leona stared at the blank wall where the canoe had just disappeared. Then she took a deep breath.

“So, I’m going to take a big leap here and go way out on a professional limb,” she said. “The first rule of para-archaeology is, don’t assume anything, and I absolutely agree that we have no way of knowing how the Aliens used this chamber. Nevertheless, I don’t think that what we just witnessed was a theme park ride.”

Oliver walked off the little footbridge, Roxy on his shoulder. “Speaking as one professional para-archaeologist to another, I’m inclined to agree. Got a feeling we’re in an Alien funeral parlor.”

Leona swallowed hard. “That crystal canoe?”

“A coffin.”

“And the blue firestorm?”

“The crematorium.”

Leona shuddered. “If you hadn’t grabbed Roxy—”

“Try not to think about it,” Oliver said.

“Right.” Leona strode toward the gazebo and the spiral staircase. “Like I’m not going to have nightmares about sailing into a crematorium. Let’s get out of here.”

Roxy chortled and looked back at the river to Alien hell.

“No,” Leona said. “You don’t get another ticket for that ride. But I promise that when we get home I’ll take you on a very cool boat cruise.”

“How are you going to do that?” Oliver asked. “Illusion Town is in the middle of the desert.”

“I’ve got a plan.”

He smiled. “Plans are good.”