At first the tunnels were eerily quiet, but then a tap-tap-tapping sound revealed that Turkish soldiers were close by, digging mines to fill with dynamite to blow up the city. Realising this, Sir Oliver Starkey ran back to fetch other Knights who stopped the Turks’ cunning plan in a bloody ambush.
Alone again, the children ran deeper into narrow passageways that opened to reveal hidden chambers. Each chamber told a different story of the island's valiant past – the Phoenician sailors who used Malta for their rich trade and the Romans who built fortified towns, temples and fine villas filled with art. Another room showed the progress that the Arabs brought in water supply, agriculture, literature and maths. Here, in the heart of Malta's underground, they more about their homeland than they had learnt above.
As they delved deeper into the labyrinth of tunnels, a new decision loomed before Marija, Pawlu, and Isaac.