* * *
Elly joined Bray as he studied the barricade that barred their path. The wear of time and the gathering of airborne particles were a testament to its age, making it apparent this wall had always been part of the original construction. It appeared this archway—that they assumed had a practical use—was intended to be solely decorative.
Bray was convinced it was functional, and studied the surrounding area for hidden indentations or triggers, while Elly seemed more content to observe with a slight smile she thought was hidden by the shadows. He knew there would have been a means to open, elevate, or lower it, but whether by design or age it seemed the ancient mechanics were lost on him. The presence of the tribes and their markings suggested that, at some point, someone had found a me
