Gates of Neptune by Gilbert L. Morris

has his mariners out searching for us, we run the chance of being found.”
    â€œI don't care,” Sarah said. “We've got to go find some of it.”
    Josh said, “Tell me what it looks like. I'll go.”
    But Val shook his head. “You'd never find it, Josh. And if you did, you probably couldn't find your way back here.”
    Sarah was waiting for Val to offer to go, but the young man merely turned and walked down to the beach,where he stood staring moodily into the still, green waters.
    â€œI'll go talk to him,” Sarah said. “You stay with Reb, Josh.”
    â€œAll right, I will.”
    Val turned to meet her. There was a strange look on his face, and he appeared to be more sober and thoughtful than usual. He stared at her as she began to speak, telling him how she would do anything—she would go herself.
    â€œJust tell me what it looks like—we've got to try something.”
    Val pressed his lips firmly together. Finally he said, “It's not that I'm afraid to go—although it is dangerous— but I can't.”
    â€œWhy not, Val? He's going to die if we don't get help.”
    â€œHe may die anyway. That was a huge ray that got him, and he took a big dose of the poison. I'm not sure that he would live even if we got help, even if we got the medicine.”
    â€œBut we can't just let him die.” Sarah's eyes pleaded with Valar. She came closer. “He's such a fine boy, and he's been through so much. Please, Val, help us.”
    There was a long silence, as Val turned back toward the sea and appeared to forget about her. Sarah could do nothing but wait. Finally, he wheeled around and said, “I had a dream last night.”
    â€œBut what has that to do—”
    â€œYou've told me several times about your dreams, that Goel appears to you and tells you what to do. Isn't that right?”
    â€œYes, of course. It's happened more than once. And not just to me, but to Josh as well, and the others.”
    Val rubbed his forehead, covering his eyes for a moment. “I never believed much in dreams. At least I neverbelieved they meant anything. But while I was dozing a little while ago, I had one. Never had anything happen to me like that before. It was real.”
    â€œWhat was it? What did you see?”
    â€œWell, I didn't see anything, but I heard something— a voice. I don't know whose voice it was, but it said, ‘You are the closest to the throne, and when Aramis is gone, you are of the royal blood and will rule over Atlantis.’”
    Sarah stared at him. “I don't know what that means.”
    â€œWhy, it means what it says, Sarah. Didn't you know that I'm the nephew of King Cosmos, the only living male heir to the throne? Aramis has gone. He probably would have been king, but he's forfeited that now. His rebellion has cut him off forever from the throne.”
    Sarah listened to the waves lap the sandy beach. She was shocked by what she had heard, although really she had known it. “What would you do if you were king?”
    â€œIf I were king? First, I'd execute all the traitors and the rebels. Kill this rebellion dead in its tracks.”
    â€œBut a ruler should be kind, shouldn't he?”
    â€œI could be that too.” Val smiled. “There's a time for each, isn't there? I mean, in a war when you're fighting to save your country, is there really any way to be kind?”
    â€œNo, no, I suppose not. Though I hate the thought of it. But Reb—”
    â€œYou Sleepers,” Val said suddenly, “are very important.” He suddenly reached out and took her by the shoulders, asking, “Can you do magic?”
    â€œNo, of course not!” Sarah said. She was embarrassed by the question, and somehow the touch of his hands was sending a sort of strange signal to her, something she had never felt before. He was so tall, so fine looking, and his eyes burned as he looked at her.
    â€œNevertheless,