Matt bet both men were wondering how the hell they’d accomplish that feat with a couple of crowbars, if the many-ton door started to close.

All flashlights came back on as Adira led them in and then along a stone passage to a set of stairs climbing out of the water. There was little or no growth, testifying to just how tightly the door must have been sealed – many ocean plants, sponges and algae started out as microscopic spores easily able to fit into the tiniest of cracks. That seal, coupled with the size of the machinery, meant it was no wonder other divers had been unable to detect anything other than a deeply embedded block of stone, Matt guessed.

Ancient Greek writing was carved into the corridor walls, but when Matt became spellbound by a certain phrase or image, Adira yanked him forward – they had minutes, and already time was becoming a scarce commodity.

Adira came to the steps first, and, removing the fins from her feet, climbed them, lifting herself free from the water. Matt, Abrams, and Tania followed. The Mossad agent carefully took the breathing apparatus from her mouth, and sniffed. She winced and wrinkled her nose, but then nodded.

“Stale, very, but I think not toxic,” she said, waving her light around.

“I hope so,” Matt said. “Because those guys sure didn’t die of old age.”

Piled like corded wood just past the edge of the steps were half a dozen skeletons, all in the robes and gold-fiber belts of Alexandrian scholars.

Tania kneeled beside them. “Ptolemaic clothing; must have been the curators.” She turned one of the skulls. “Healthy, at least before they died. Wonder whether they decided to stay – the caretakers for eternity.”

“Job for life,” Matt said grimly.

Adira clicked her fingers twice. “Or they were slow and became sealed in by the door mechanism. I have no desire to be one of the next skeletons.” She spun. “Professor, we need to find that book, now. Everyone spread out.”

The flashlight beams lifted higher. Tania gasped, her mouth hanging open as she slowly panned her large light. “This is truly the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.” She laughed softly, tears, not salt water making her eyes wet and shining in the darkness.

They found themselves on a walkway built into the side of the hollowed-out island. A huge central room was sunk into the floor, and now it became clear why the ocean had to be kept so thoroughly at bay – inside was bone dry, and contained a treasure trove from the ages.

Matt didn’t know where to start – he could see magnificent statues, some of Greek gods intermixed with Egyptian and Roman. There were rulers, other great figures of the time, in marble, polished granite and coated in gold. There were onyx sphinxes, milky alabaster Anubis sculptures, many startlingly different when compared to each other, and not possibly done by the same artist or even in the same era.

Tania held her arms wide. “The riches of all the known world.”