Two American scientists are lost in the swirling maze of past and future ages during the first experiments on America's greatest and most secret project - The Time Tunnel. Tony Newman and Doug Phillips now tumble helplessly towards a new, fantastic adventure somewhere along the infinite corridors of time...

It was an arrival in darkness. As their eyes, blinded by the rainbow dazzle of the time vortex, gradually adjusted to the gloom, the two time travellers got to their feet.

"Looks like a mine," Tony suggested, turning, but seeing no glimmer of light to betray an exit.

"Or a dungeon," commented Doug gloomily. He had bumped his head on arrival and was rubbing it gingerly. Further speculations were drowned by a dull roar which echoed down the passage. The sound was moving towards them, amplified by the stone walls.

"An earthquake?" Tony asked.

"Or a cave-in," Doug's face was grim in the darkness. "We'd better move off."

But even as they began to move they were frozen in their tracks by a blood curdling scream. Instantly Tony was in action, running towards the deadly sound. Doug followed more sedately, cautious in the darkness. As they rounded the corner they came on an area of relative brightness. There were burning brands in ornate sockets on the wall. Despite this, Tony stumbled and tripped over something soft and warm, and Doug cannoned into him. As Tony picked himself up, Doug was tentatively moving his hands over the obstacle.

"It's a body, Tony. It's covered in blood, and it's fresh."

"What killed him?"

"Hard to tell in this gloom, but it looks like the wounds could have been made by some kind of animal. There are scratches and tears all over him."

Tony shuddered, then lifted his head as the roar echoed again. There was no mistaking it now. It was an animal all right, and it sounded big and mean...

In the Time Tunnel complex the scientists were watching the screen in disbelief. Ann had just fixed the time in which the travellers found themselves.

"Did you say 1400 B.C. ?" Kirk asked, his forehead wrinkled with worry.

"And the place is Crete, in the Mediterranean," added Ray, checking his controls. "I think we all know what that means." He looked at the General.

"Crete. The Labyrinth. The Minotaur. Surely not."

Ann cut in. "But General, that's just a myth. There's no basis for the belief that..."

"I'd say that roar, and the dead man, are a pretty good basis, Ann. There's some kind of monster down there." Ray's face was serious.

"And Doug and Tony are in there with it!"

All three looked at the screen in horror.

The two time travellers were progressing down the passage. The roars had subsided into a kind of low buzz. Doug and Tony had decided to investigate. Rounding yet another corner they came to a sudden stop.

"There Tony." Doug whispered. "There's the animal." He pointed to a large shape lying by the wall of the corridor ahead.

"Is it ill?" Tony questioned as he made to move forward.

"More likely asleep, judging by the sound." Doug stated, a hand on Tony's shoulder in warning. Together they moved cautiously forward, until they could see the beast more clearly. Despite the gloom and the flickering of the light, they could make out its shape.

"Doug!" Tony exclaimed quietly. "It's..." Doug turned and fetched a torch from a nearby sconce. By its light there was no doubt. The creature had horns, huge and deadly, and the head of an enormous bull. But the body was the shock. Instead of four legs, the creature had arms and two legs, and the muscled torso of a man.

"There's only one creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man, Tony."

"The... Minotaur!" Tony gasped. In his shock and fear his voice rose in volume. With a snort the creature awoke. As it began to move the men realised that this was no lumbering animal. With the swiftness of an athlete it was on its feet and lunging towards them.

Back at the complex Ann gave a little scream, her hand clapped to her mouth. Kirk barked at her. "Ann! A transfer, now!" Ann was alert in a second. She hurriedly pressed the buttons and dials in sequence and a gasp went around the room as Doug and Tony vanished from the screen, just as the Minotaur pounced on them. Left alone on the screen, it roared in frustration and dashed around the passage looking for its prey.

Meanwhile Doug and Tony picked themselves up from the floor of another area of the Labyrinth. Here the light was brighter, with many torches lining the walls, illuminating a vividly coloured mural. Doug began to examine it.

"Tony, I just can't figure it," he began, his voice filled with disbelief. "The Minotaur was just a myth. This simply can't be happening."

"Maybe the myths were true, Doug. Legends often turn out to be..."

"Not this one, Tony, the Cretans heard sounds they believed were the bellowing of an animal, but really it was just the roar of earthquakes. The Cretans sacrificed people to appease the `bull' and performed bull-leaping ceremonies. Look at this wall."

As Tony came closer he could make out images of people, naked except for loin-cloths, leaping over the horns of a charging bull.

"But Doug! We saw the Minotaur! You have to believe the evidence of your own eyes!" Doug was silent. He could not dispute this. As he shook his head in resignation, Tony clutched his shoulder.

"Doug, did you hear that?" Doug listened, his head cocked.

"Yes Tony, it's voices." The sound echoed in the passage from far away. Together they hurried off towards it.

As they progressed along the corridor they passed many side branches of the Labyrinth, but always the sound beckoned them. At last they were rewarded with the sight of a metal grille in a door ahead of them. From the grille came the sound of human voices raised in despair. Tony hurried to the door.

"Hello?" he called. "Can we help you?" There was a hush, then a voice responded, fear clearly apparent.

"Who is it?"

"We're friends," replied Doug. "We're here to help you."

"No-one can help us, friend. We're all dead, and so are you."

Tony stepped forward. "There's always hope," he said confidently. "Doug, can we open the door?" Doug was examining the lock.

"Maybe, Tony," he said. "There are bolts this side. If we open those, maybe the lock will give." The bolts opened easily. It was obvious the door was used frequently. And to the surprise of the two scientists, it had been left unlocked.

"The door is designed to open from the this side!" Tony shuddered. The Minotaur could open it himself whenever he wants food." Doug nodded grimly. Then Tony spotted something on the other side of the corridor. "Doug!" he called. "Look at this." Doug moved towards him.

"What is it, Tony?"

"Another door." Tony pointed. "Maybe the jailers open the jail door then go back through that."

The captives were moving out into the corridor now. As they milled around, Tony noticed how young they all were, both men and women.

"Doug, they're just kids," he whispered.

"Yes, Tony. Don't you remember the story? Seven young men and seven young women were sacrificed every year to the Minotaur. They were sent from Athens as tribute."

"We've got to help them, Doug. Maybe we can escape through this door." But even as he moved to try it he saw the door begin to move.

"Doug! Get away!" he whispered frantically. "It's opening." But Doug was not quick enough. Even as Tony's words died away a hand came from the doorway as fast as a cobra's strike and grabbed Doug. Doug, taken by surprise, was pulled backwards in a trice and disappeared through the doorway. The door slammed shut. Tony pushed at it but to no avail. It was locked.

"Doug! Doug!" he shouted. There was no reply. Tony turned and looked at the youths that filled the corridor. They were silent.

Ann thumped her console in frustration. We've got to help them!" she cried.

"Ann, get on the computer," Ray ordered. See if you can find out any historical facts that might help us. Maybe there's a plan of the Labyrinth."

"Yes, Ray." Ann was subdued as she moved over to the computer. She knew that she must control her strong feelings for Tony and especially for Doug, if she were to keep a clear head. Only then could she help them.

Tony spoke to the group of Athenians. "Do you have a leader?"

"Yes." A tall, handsome youth stepped forward. He had short curly hair and a calm determined face. His eyes drew Tony's attention. They were the eyes of a leader, charismatic and intelligent. "I am Theseus," said the youth. "I will not allow my people to die."

Tony was excited. "Theseus!" he cried. "Of course! So there is hope after all."

Theseus looked at him in surprise. Tony went on. "I mean, together, I'm sure we can escape. We just have to look for another door." There was a murmur of approval from the group.

"There is another way." Theseus' voice was commanding. "We have met our rescuer. Ariadne, daughter of Minos, King of this place, will help us. She is beautiful and resourceful. She will save us, as she promised." The group murmured again, even happier. "But we must help her to help us," Theseus continued. "As the stranger says, we must seek a door. We want to be close to the exit when Ariadne comes. For she told me that the door was near a sacred painting, and there is no such here."

Tony at once became interested. "A painting? I've seen it! Come on, it's this way."

Doug was flung onto a tiled floor. Picking himself up, his eyes met those of a man who sat on a throne in front of him. They were terrible eyes, full of fanatical light. The man was in his fifties, dressed in rich robes.

"Minos!" breathed Doug.

"So, you have heard of me," Minos pronounced. He looked around the room, which was filled with richly dressed courtiers, bare breasted and bejewelled, with kohl emphasising their beautiful eyes. They took the cue and began to laugh uproariously. Everyone had heard of Minos, it seemed. "So I should hope," the King continued. For there is no king so powerful as the King of Crete." A roar of approval went around the room.

Doug recovered himself. "Yes," he began, "Minos is great. So he must know the truth."

"Of course," the King declared confidently.

"The truth of the Labyrinth, not the lies spread by the Athenians."

The King looked mystified. "What lies?" he asked. Doug had obviously caught his attention now.

"The lies spread by the Athenians, that there is a beast in the Labyrinth, which kills their people. You know the truth, oh King, the true nature of the roaring sounds you hear."

"You speak nonsense," Minos replied. "There is a beast, all know it."

"The beast is the beast of the earth," Doug explained. "It is an earthquake, the shaking and the roaring are caused by the movement of the earth."

The people laughed. Looking around Doug knew that they would not be convinced.

"The Minotaur shakes the earth," Minos roared. "He is angry, and wants blood. I will give it to him."

Doug tried again. "You don't need to give him sacrifice. It's a needless slaughter that must stop."

"He blasphemes! Take him away. The Minotaur will soon cure him of his mad ideas." The courtiers snickered. "The beast will eat well tonight!" Minos, pleased with his joke, laughed louder than any of them.

Doug was hustled away into a corridor, but once round the corner a voice halted the progress of the guards and prisoner.

"Stop!" The imperious order came from a beautiful young woman with the unmistakable aura of royalty. "Let him go!" she ordered. The guards released Doug's arms, but remained behind him, ready with their bronze weapons.

Doug looked admiringly at the young woman. "You are the Princess," he said.

"I am Ariadne, daughter of Minos," she replied. Doug smiled. "It seems I can't win here," he said to himself.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"Nothing, your Highness," he replied. "Why did you stop the guards?"

"I cannot save you, stranger," Ariadne said sadly. "For my father is too powerful. But I have something that I want you to deliver for me." She held out a ball of twine, and something long wrapped in black cloth. Doug took them and looked at them with recognition.

"Give these to Theseus. He is the leader of the Athenian group in the Labyrinth now. He will know what to do with them." Then, before Doug could speak again, she was gone. Instantly the guards grabbed Doug's arms again and he was hauled off down the corridor.

Ann's face was prim as she approached the General and Ray, waiting for her by the control consoles. "Bad news, General," she stated bluntly. There is no plan of the Labyrinth."

"That horse won't run," Kirk sighed. Then he ordered decisively, "Ray, it'll have to be a transfer."

"I don't know if we have the power, General," Ray said in consternation. "We used so much in the first transfer."

"Try, Ray!" barked Kirk. "You've seen that monster, it's their only hope." Ray nodded dumbly and settled to his controls. Ann, beside him, silently wiped a tear from her eye, and prepared to assist him.

Doug walked slowly backwards along the gloomy passage, unrolling the ball of string as he went. He hoped that he would meet Theseus and the rest before it ran out! Then the subdued sound of voices echoing down the corridor ahead of him told him that he had indeed found his quarry. Rounding the last corner, he came on a group of disgruntled people sitting in various positions of dejection along the wall of the passage. Doug noticed the wall paintings he and Tony had previously found. As he approached, two figures sprang up and peered towards him.

"Doug!" Tony hurried towards his colleague, grinning with relief, his arms outstretched. "Am I glad to see you! I thought..."

"I'm fine, Tony," Doug smiled as he reached forward to clasp arms with Tony.

"The gods be praised!" Theseus came forward. "We had feared that Minos had executed you."

"No he sent me here instead. And I have a gift for you, Lord Theseus."

"For me?" Theseus took the proffered twine and package of cloth. "How came you by these?" he gasped, as he unwrapped the cloth to reveal a gleaming bronze sword, the golden hilt and pommel adorned with complex engravings and beadings.

"They were given to me by the Princess Ariadne," Doug smiled. "She wishes to help us escape."

"From Ariadne!" Theseus breathed as he admired the sword, the bronze and gold twinkling dully in the torchlight. Then he considered the twine, and observed the trail behind Doug, leading back into the darkness. He smiled. "A clever device indeed!" he said. "But I am convinced that the twine should be anchored here." He pointed to a barely visible door in the fresco. "For Ariadne told me that help would come from the sacred fresco."

Doug smiled. "I simply wanted to make sure that I could retrace my steps if necessary," he said. "The twine is for you to use as you feel is right."

"Thank you my friend," Theseus replied. "And now I shall face the beast with the sword of Minos in my hand." He raised the sword. A look of hope filled the faces of the thirteen Athenians, now gathered around their leader.

"We'll come with you," said Tony immediately. Doug looked at him with concern. "we must, Doug," responded Tony. "We may be able to help." Doug looked doubtful, but concurred, and the three set off down the passage. As Doug passed a burning brand, he took it from out of its socket and carried it above his head. Theseus unrolled the twine, which he had anchored to the door behind them. The Athenians remained by the door, awaiting their destiny in silence.

General Kirk paced the control room like a restless panther. "Ray!" he snapped, where is that power?"

"Building, General," Ray replied.

"Four minutes to peak," Ann confirmed.

"Well it had better work," Kirk said gloomily, "Because I don't rate Doug and Tony's chances against that Minotaur. They're not armed." The General turned to look at the viewscreen, which showed Doug, Tony and Theseus making their way down darkening passages. The gaps between torches was growing longer as they approached the heart of the Labyrinth.

"I hear something!" Doug clutched Tony's shoulder. "It's the Minotaur."

A low rumbling could be heard in the near distance. Theseus gripped his sword tightly. "Come," he said, and made his way cautiously around the next corner.

Sure enough, there in the darkness the three could make out the form of the Minotaur, swaying and moaning in the centre of the Labyrinth, a round room with eight passages converging on it.

"What's it doing?" Tony whispered.

"It's a sad creature, Tony," Doug replied. "In legend the Minotaur was the son of Minos' Queen, and a bull, and was cast into the Labyrinth by Minos, in his rage and jealousy. It is a Prince by birth, but it is doomed to be imprisoned for life."

"But Doug, I thought you didn't believe in the Minotaur."

"I don't believe that Theseus slew it either. The theory in our time is that Theseus was captured from Athens, enslaved, and trained as a bull dancer in order to leap bulls on Crete. He led the other dancers to freedom through the Labyrinth, which was merely a complicated palace corridor design, and no Minotaur inhabited it."

"But here he is," said Tony.

"Yes, here he is." Doug smiled grimly.

As Theseus approached the beast, it gave a startled roar and squatted before him, ready to leap. Tony shouted, "Doug! Help me to distract it." The two time travellers began to shout and circle the creature, clapping and waving at it. The Minotaur gave a shriek of frustration and turned frantically to follow them. Theseus raised his sword.

Back at the complex General Kirk watched the screen in alarm as the Minotaur leapt towards Tony. "Ray! Transfer! Now!"

Ray and Ann worked at the controls, effort showing on their faces. "Ready General," announced Ray. "Now Ann!" Ann pressed a button and there was an explosion inside the Tunnel. Smoke billowed towards the control staff, who peered into it anxiously. Then a terrible sight met their startled eyes. As the smoke cleared they could see the gigantic form of the Minotaur, striding towards them! It bellowed, turning its head from side to side as if in bewilderment. Ann screamed.

Kirk banged a button on the console with his fist. "Security!" he barked. An alarm began to wail throughout the complex. The sound of dozens of booted feet rang along the corridor outside, the huge double doors opened and a team of men poured in, led by Sergeant Jiggs. At a word from the General they approached the mouth of the Tunnel, where the creature stood, threatening to leap into the control room at any moment.

"We've got to get it back into the Tunnel!" shouted Kirk. "Flame-throwers!"

Jiggs gave a brief command and several men rushed over to a locker, from which they hauled the long black weapons. They took up a position a few yards in front of the Tunnel, and aimed. "Fire!" commanded the General, and flame spat from the weapons. The creature immediately began to back away, screaming and frothing at the mouth.

"It's terrified!" said Ann in wonder.

"It's just a wild animal, when all's said and done," commented Ray.

By now the Minotaur was well into the Tunnel. "Ray!" shouted the General, over the spitting roar of the flame-throwers. Be ready to make the transfer, at my mark."

"Aye, General," responded Ray.

The creature continued to back into the Tunnel. When it was far enough back, Kirk barked the order. Ray manipulated the controls and the Minotaur vanished with a last mighty scream.

There was silence in the room, as the scientists and soldiers looked at one another in awe.

From Doug and Tony's point of view, the Minotaur vanished for what seemed only seconds. Then it was back, roaring its confusion. The two time travellers ducked and weaved to avoid its swipes. Doug brandished the burning torch in its face. It bellowed in fear. Then Theseus moved in, and as the Minotaur concentrated on Doug and Tony, the Prince thrust forward and plunged his sword into the terrifying creature. It howled with rage and went into a frenzy. Doug and Tony backed off. Theseus clung on, digging the sword in further. Then the Minotaur gave a roar, and sank to its knees. It fell forward onto its face, gave a final twitch, then was still. There was a silence, but for the panting of the three men. They wiped the sweat from their faces and grinned at each other. Doug slapped Theseus on the back.

"You did it lad, well done."

Theseus nodded. "My people are safe. We will escape by the painted door, take Ariadne, and flee this island."

Then Doug bent to the silent corpse. "Look Tony!" Tony leaned forward to where Doug was fingering a dull grey metal device. He lifted it from the Minotaur's neck. "This is not the technology of 1400 B.C. Tony."

"No, it looks alien."

"I'm sure it is," said Doug grimly. "We may be on the track of the truth at last." He pocketed the alien device, and the three left the chamber.

Forty minutes later the group of Athenians, the scientists, and the Princess Ariadne were gathered on the harbour's edge. Ariadne had guided them there after opening the painted door on Theseus' request. They had avoided Minos' guards and now they had only to take the boat which lay waiting.

"We will have one main danger to face," Ariadne told Theseus as the boat left the wharf. "Talus will not let us go unchallenged."

"Talus?" Tony questioned.

"A red hot giant which according to legend protected the shores of Crete for Minos," said Doug. Then, as Tony looked concerned, he added, "But don't worry Tony, I'm sure it's only a myth. The theory is that it explains the presence of hot springs off the coast of Crete." Tony looked relieved, but immediately there was a cry from the prow.

"My lord Theseus!" They rushed forward to witness an unbelievable sight. Ahead of them and to the right was a huge rock, and around the rock was striding a huge man, red and glowing, one hundred feet high. Ariadne gave a frightened little scream and clutched Theseus' arm. The Prince looked grim. The faces of the Athenians were white as a sheet.

"It can't be!" shouted Doug.

"It is, Doug, it's a giant."

General Kirk clenched his fists in frustration as he watched the giant bearing down on the tiny ship.

"What is that thing, Ann?" he demanded.

Ann hurried back from the computer. "It's not alive, General," she said confidently. "It's some kind of robot."

"A robot?" Kirk turned to her in amazement. "But this is 1400B.C.! They had no such technology."

"It's an alien device, General," put in Ray. "We saw Doug find a device around the Minotaur's neck, and this is another one."

"You mean, Doug and Tony have stumbled on an alien invasion? Why is there no record of it?"

"I don't know, General. But we can destroy the robot. The Tunnel can generate an electrical charge which will melt down its circuits."

"Get onto it, Ray, now!"

On the boat, Theseus sprang into action. He held his sword like a javelin and launched it up at Talus. The sword lodged deep into the giant's chest. Talus looked down in amazement. Inside the hole ripped in the huge man by the sword, circuits could clearly be seen. Then the giant plucked the sword out as if it were a pin and threw it down into the sea. The ship's crew began to back away. Talus strode towards the ship, water foaming around his knees. The little craft began to seem tiny and fragile as matchwood. The giant leaned down and made to pick up the boat by its rigging.

"Doug!" cried Tony. "It's some kind of robot!"

"Yes, Tony. If only the Tunnel has a fix on us..."

But Doug's words were drowned out by an explosion as the giant was suddenly haloed in light. White and blue, the electricity flashed around it, then disappeared. The giant sank into the sea and was gone. Hot bubbles rose where it had been.

"The hot springs!" breathed Tony.

"Yes. It seems that they really were formed from the body of Talus." Doug smiled. "Legends can be true, Tony."

But Talus was a robot."

"Yes, and I think it is part of the same technology as this." Doug took the grey artefact from his pocket.

"Alien technology," said Tony.

"I think aliens must have landed here, Tony, and left Talus behind when they went home. It could have been faulty, and so was abandoned."

"And the Minotaur?"

Maybe he was one of them. Or the son of Minos' Queen, as legend said, but the father was not a bull but an alien. The Cretans must have imprisoned him in the Labyrinth."

"He wasn't intelligent though, Doug. He can't have been one of them."

"He lost his mind, Tony. Who wouldn't, trapped here for years on end."

"I wonder how long he was there?"

"We'll never know, Tony."

The viewscreen showed the lovers Theseus and Ariadne, clasped in each others' arms, as the boat headed out to sea.

"What will happen to them?" asked Ann.

"Sadly, Theseus will leave Ariadne on the island of Naxos. But at least she escaped Minos," said Kirk.

Ann looked appalled. "But why did Theseus abandon her?"

Ray and Kirk looked at each other. Ann was angry. "You mean because he was tired of her. Men can be so cruel." She got up and went over to the computer. Ray followed her with his eyes, and knew she was thinking of Doug.

"Try for a transfer, Ray," ordered Kirk.

On the boat, the crew settled back to the voyage to Athens. Doug nudged Tony. "I've just remembered," he said. "We must remind Theseus. His father is waiting for the ship to return. The arrangement was, if the sail is still black, it's a message that Theseus is dead. If it's been changed to white, he's alive and has returned in triumph. In the story, Theseus forgot to change the sail, and Aegeus killed himself by plunging from the cliff at Sounion, into the sea."

"And that's how the Aegean Sea got its name," finished Tony. "When we warn Theseus we'll change history. I wonder what the sea will be called then?

They started towards Theseus on the prow, but as they walked they thinned from view until they were gone. Above the deck where they had stood, fluttered a black sail.

TIME TUNNEL and associated names, titles, trademarks and photographs are (c)
1999 IRWIN ALLEN PRODUCTIONS. No infridgement of copyright is intended. No
monetary profit is made from this story by the author, and has been posted
for the enjoyment of Tunnel fans everywhere. Please do not distribute or post
this story elsewhere without the specific permission of the author, Jill Rooney.
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