The Prometheus Project (14 page)

“We understand,”
they replied.

“Good,”
thought the Teacher.
“I realize you have already been asked to keep this city a secret. I hate to burden you with even more secrets. But I know you are up to the task.”
The Teacher paused.
“Well, I’m afraid it is time. Goodbye children, and good luck. It has indeed been an honor.”

Ryan and Regan thanked the Teacher warmly once again for all its help. It was hard for them to imagine how things could have turned out much better.

“Can I just ask my brother one quick question before you go,”
asked Regan.

“Certainly.”

“Thanks,”
she thought happily. She turned her attention to her brother who had no idea what was coming.
“Ryan,”
she began innocently.
“Did you really say that I have more courage and more brains than most kids far older than me? Am I remembering that right?”
she teased.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure that’s what I heard,”
she continued, laughing in her mind.

Ryan groaned.
“Just my luck,
” he complained.
“I say something nice about you one time and it comes back to haunt me. We were supposed to vanish so you wouldn’t remember that.”
He pretended to be horrified, but his thoughts were filled with obvious mirth.

“I can still arrange for you to vanish if you would like,”
offered the Teacher playfully.

“Ah, that’s okay,”
Ryan quickly replied.
“No need to go to that trouble.”
He paused.
“I guess I’m stuck with what I said then. I guess I’m never going to be able to live this down,”
he finished lightheartedly.

“I don’t know, Ryan,”
came his sister’s equally light-hearted reply.
“As a very wise Teacher once said, never is an awfully long time, Ryan. Never is an awfully long time.”

Chapter 27

Part of the Team

Dr. Harry Harris walked over to the spot from which Ryan had vanished and examined it with raised eyebrows. Only his memory and the still startled and awestruck looks on the faces around the room told him this had not been a dream.

He shook his head in wonder. “Amazing! Simply amazing! How in the world did these kids learn so much in such a short period of time? And the heroic way that Ryan saved your life, Amanda. Outstanding. And who knows what would have happened in our panic if we hadn’t been warned about the nano-robots. I almost had a heart-attack even
after
being warned.”

Dr. Harris turned toward the kids with a new respect. “Thank you both. You were wonderful. I realize that now that your mom has been saved you won’t ever accidentally activate a time doorway. And because of this, I also realize you will never accomplish what I just thanked you for. In fact, the two of you won’t even know
how
you managed to accomplish these things.”

Ryan and Regan glanced at each other knowingly and barely managed to suppress a smile. Dr. Harris couldn’t possibly imagine that the Ryan and Regan who had accomplished all of these things were still very much in the room.

“But it doesn’t matter to me,” continued Dr. Harris. “For we have witnessed a demonstration of your enormous potential. We know for certain what you are capable of achieving. We have seen the strength and courage that you both have inside. Clearly, your skills and problem-solving abilities are good for more than just defeating security measures. And just as obviously, you are quite capable of handling yourselves in this city, without supervision and in desperate circumstances. Not only did you save the life of a critical member of the team, but the information that Ryan provided us is incredibly valuable. Incredibly valuable. We owe you kids quite a debt of gratitude.”

They both beamed as Dr. Harris rubbed his chin in thought and then smiled. “And I think I know just how to repay you,” he continued. He glanced over at their parents questioningly, and they quickly returned nods of approval.

“You mean . . .” said Ryan eagerly.

“That’s right,” said Dr. Harris warmly. The corners of his mouth turned up in a small but delighted smile
.“Welcome to the team.”

The Resnick siblings were giddy as they surveyed the room full of smiling and encouraging faces.

What an opportunity. They were being offered the chance of a lifetime.
More
than the chance of a lifetime. Who knew what awaited them inside this strange and fabulous city? Who knew what adventures? What dangers?

Snooze-ter Pennsylvania was turning out to be not such a boring place, after all. They might not know just what awaited them in this alien city, but they knew this for sure; it would be interesting. And exciting. And fun.

“Carl,” said Dr. Harris. “Can you contact the president for me when you get back outside.”

“What should I tell him?”

“Tell him I just recruited two capable new team members for the Prometheus Project,” said Dr. Harris.

He smiled broadly. “And tell him that I expect big things out of them.”

A brief history of The Prometheus Project

Thanks for reading
The Prometheus Project: Trapped
. If you are an adult, please note that each book in the
Prometheus Project
trilogy increases in length and sophistication (with the third book about twice as long as
Trapped
). 

A number of years ago when my two kids, Ryan and Regan, were in middle school, I was looking for some science fiction for them to read. Science fiction with amazing plots and cool, mind-blowing science—the kind that had inspired me when I was a kid (i.e. when dinosaurs roamed the earth). While plenty of great fantasy offerings were readily available, I never did find the books that I was looking for—so I decided to write one of my own.

The result was
The Prometheus Project: Trapped. 
My goal was to write a fast-paced adventure that would keep kids glued to the page. One with accurate, mind-expanding science, a fun plot, and short chapters that each would end in a cliffhanger. The original version was twice as long as the version you’ve just read. In the original, Ryan and Regan were friends, not brother and sister, and Ryan had a younger brother named Kevin. Kevin wanted to be a detective, and so was instrumental in discovering his parents involvement with this top secret project. I really, really liked this version, but in the end, I decided it wasn’t streamlined enough.  I was diabolical in pursuing my goal of hooking young readers and never letting go. 

So I cut half of the book out, had the kids discover their parents’ involvement in the Prometheus Project practically from page one, made Ryan and Regan brother and sister as they are in real life, and held my breath.  I had no idea if kids would love it or loathe it.

I’m happy to report that the reaction to
Trapped
has been positive beyond my wildest dreams.  The book was immediately embraced by educators around the world, and was designated as “recommended literature” by the California Department of Education, among other honors. An editor at
National Geographic KIDS
magazine read the book, loved it, and asked me to write for the magazine, which I did for several years. 
Trapped
has now been used as a read-aloud in hundreds of classrooms around the country, is part of the curriculum for a Master’s level program in teaching, and has been translated into Korean.  And after reading
Trapped
, the board of San Diego Comic-Con International invited me to speak at the Con in 2010 as a special guest, truly one of the highlights of my life.

What continues to astonish me to this day is that the book seems to appeal to both reluctant readers and advanced readers alike, appearing on lists for gifted students as well as lists for those who are struggling.  I have also been delighted by the reaction from adults, many of whom seem to enjoy all of the
Prometheus Project
books a great deal. 

I’d like to think I’ve grown as a writer since I wrote this book, but as the first of my books to ever be published,
Trapped
will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope that you had as much fun reading it as I had writing it.

Douglas E. Richards 

May, 2012

The Adventure Continues . . .

The Prometheus Project, Book 2: Captured

A Fantastic Alien City

Ryan and Regan Resnick are the youngest members of a top-secret team exploring the greatest discovery ever made: a vast alien city buried deep underground—as potentially deadly as it is astonishing

A Devastating Invasion

When the city is captured by highly trained soldiers led by a ruthless alien, the adult members of the team are taken hostage. Now, Ryan and Regan are the team’s only hope of survival.

A Diabolical Plan

With the future of the world at stake, the Resnick kids must do the impossible: outwit the brilliant alien, free the prisoners, and thwart an unstoppable invasion. But not everything is as it seems. And time is quickly running out . . .

The Prometheus Project, Book 3: Stranded

Ryan and Regan Resnick are trapped on a treacherous alien planet, surrounded by vicious predators, and in the path of a raging river of lava. And their troubles are only beginning. . .

When the Resnick kids become stranded on a primitive planet, they are plunged into a nonstop fight for their lives. But surviving on the deadly planet might be the easy part.  Because if they can get back to Earth, they will have to face a ruthless adversary who controls a mysterious alien device. A device that is the most powerful, dangerous, and unstoppable weapon the world has ever known . . .