Curse of Atlantis (15 page)

Nearly an hour had passed and the three had covered most of the mountain top. With several targets to investigate further, they set out with the ECM device to take further readings.

Jack picked up the ECM unit by its carrying strap and held a small computer in front of him. Guided by Javier, the two walked slowly over one of the points of interest with Darrien trailing behind. Suspended from the strap was a three-foot long rectangular beam that contained transmitters and receivers. Suspended inches above the ground, Jack watched the computer for
fluctuations
that signaled objects below the surface.

“Let’s make a few passes over the top of
the
location we’ve marked. Once we’ve collected the data, we’ll upload it into the computer and map out the substructure of the mountain,”
he instructed.

“Do you have a gut feeling about what’s down there?” Darrien asked.

“Unfortunately, it’s not looking very good. The general deviations I’m seeing on both devices are consistent with yesterday’s findings,”
Jack said, sadly.

“So you think it’s all dirt under us?” Darrien asked.

“Rock… limestone to be specific,” Javier said, still watching Jack as he took in the data.

“What size do you think the blocks are that make up this pyramid?”
Darrien asked.

“Good question, Darrien. The Egyptian pyramids had many different sized blocks, made from limestone. If this pyramid is anything like the Egyptian’s pyramid, I’d say that on average t
he blocks will probably measure
four foot by four foot by seven foot, on average,”
Javier explained.

“Wow, that’s a heavy stone,” Darrien said.

“Over nine tons, Darrien,” he replied.

Thinking further about the measurements, he
asked, “Where do you think the Atlanteans
got all those stones from?”

“Right here on the island. With all these mountain made up of limestone, they had a very large supply of it readily available,”
Javier replied.

“Huh, I would have guessed they carved them from the sea cliffs,” Darrien responded politely.

“Why’s that, Darrien?” Javier asked, focusing more on Jack than his answers to Darrien.

“Well, I don’t see any large ditches in the mountains where they would have carved the blocks from. I just figured they must have carved the blocks from the
sea cliffs
. They kind of look like they’ve been carved anyway,”
Darrien speculated.

“I’m sure any quarries that had been carved out to make the pyramid were filled in after the tsunami,” Javier responded.

“Ah, that makes sense… I guess,” Darrien replied, still sounding confused.

Javier was about to responded, but became distracted. Looking on with Jack, they noticed a larger spike registering on the computer screen.

“Was this one on the GPR readout
?
” Jack
asked
.

“Not like that,” Javier said, now focusing intently. “Let’s make another pass, a little slower this time.”

Moving back along the path, Jack slowed his pace at the painted mark that located the spike. Crossing over, once again the readout registered another spike.

“Hmm, that’s interesting. If you look close, that reflection is only few feet below the surface,” Javier said.

“You think it
could be the top of the pyramid?
” Jack said, excitedly.

“It’s too early to tell, but whatever it is, it’s big… real big. The area it displaces is huge,” Javier said, still focused on the display.

“A few feet is nothing. Let me dig down and see what’s there,” Jack said, now becoming anxious.

“Jack, we can’t do that.
We’ve been over this already,”
Javier responded.

“I know, but this could be it
,
Javi. We might be standing on the pyramid right now. We could buy Serena more time,”
Jack continued.

“Patience
,
Jack. No one wants this more than
I do
, but finding the pyramid is only the tip of the iceberg.
We can’t jeopardize our mission.
”

“Alright
,
Javi, we’ll wait,” Jack responded with reluctance.

“Good man,”
Javier said.

As the three turned to their next location, Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a shiny coin. Tossing it on the ground, he smiled and followed the other two.

~~~~~  ~~~~~  ~~~~~

Many hours later, as the sun began to set, Jack, Javier
,
and Darrien finished the last of their tests at the lower elevations. Hiking back to the car, Javier’s pace slowed and soon he was trailing behind the two younger men. Looking back, Jack could see the exhaustion on his face as his arms hung low by
his side
, no longer swinging with his natural gate. His clothes were coated with dust and sweat and his exposed skin had reddened from the sun. Even with his light pack, he could see Javier was struggling under the strain.

Jack slowed to a stop and waited. With his head hung low and in deep thought, Javier approached, nearly crashing into Jack before he even realized anyone was blocking his path.

“Hold up there, big guy,” Jack said, humorously. “Let me take that from you.”

Reaching for the straps, Jack
pulled the small pack from
Javier before he had a chance to protest.

“Jack, I can handle it. You don’t have to carry my load. You’ve taken too much as it is,” Javier said, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“I know I don’t have to take it. I
want
to take
it
,” Jack replied firmly. “It’s going to be another half hour or so, hiking around to the other side of this mountain. You’ve got enough to think about without adding exhaustion to the problem.”

“Thank you, Jack. That’s very thoughtful of you,”
Javier smiled.

As the two started to walk again, Jack asked, “So, what are you thinking about back here all by yourself
?
”

“I was wondering about Burt Samuelson. He’s supposed to be here in the morning to help broaden our search. I just hope he makes it,”
Javier said, worry on his face.
“It would be a bad sign if he d
idn’t
.”

“Why’s that?”

“If he doesn’t show up, it’ll be because he ran into problems with the state department. We just can’t afford any more delays,”
Javier explained.
He became quiet for a moment, then added, “Berta’s been calling daily. The poor woman’s a nervous wreck. It just breaks my heart. I keep hoping to give her some encouraging news, but every day, there’s none to give.”

Jack nodded simply as they walked.
He could see the pain in Javier’s eyes and feel it in his voice. He wanted to offer words of hope, but fell speechless. He reached out and rested his hand on Javier’s shoulder as a consoling gesture.

Catching up to Darrien, the three men walked silently, only their footsteps could be heard.

Breaking the quiet, Javier said, “I miss Serena.”

“I know, me too,” Jack replied, sympathetically.

“I keep wondering if she’s ok, if they’re hurting her, if they’re feeding her,” he said, his voice cracking slightly as he struggled to hold his emotions in check.

“In my mind, I see her smiling face. That’s what I concentrate on. It helps keep me strong,” Jack said, in a soft tone. “If I visualize her hurt or scared or somehow mistreated, my mind becomes paralyzed with worry and I can’t do what needs to be done.”

“You’re so strong Jack, mentally. I wish I had your strength,”
Javier said.

“You do
,
Javi, you just don’t realize it. If I had a daughter who was kidnapped, I’d probably go to pieces, but you’ve held it together. You’re running tests and analyzing data, all the while keeping our mission organized and focused. I’d like to think I’m helping, but it’s you who’s saving Serena’s life,”
Jack said, encouraging Javier.

Javier thought about Jack’s words for a moment. He still felt worry and anxiety for Serena, but Jack’s message made sense and gave him strength.

“Thanks
,
Jack, I really needed to hear that,”
he responded.

Jack nodded in simple modesty. Staring straight ahead, he tried to hide the guilt of his
hypocrisy
. Unbeknownst to the two men beside him, Jack’s mind struggled as Javi’s did, and he hoped he would have the strength to follow his own words.

~~~~~  ~~~~~  ~~~~~

As the three rolled into the shortened driveway of Javier’s and Jack’s rented stone villa, they heard a loud voice shout from the homes front patio.

“Burning the candle at both ends
,
I see,” Burt Samuelson shouted over the sound of the car engine.

With a roof
of the car removed
, the three easily heard Burt’s call.

“Burt, you son of a gun, I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow. Are you b
e
aring good news
?
” Javier said, smiling with anticipation.

Burt’s warm smile faded and in its place was a saddened stare.

“I’m sorry, Javi. I tried to close the deal today, but the person I’m working with just wouldn’t commit. He said he’ll have an answer for me in a couple of months,”
Burt responded, grimly.

“
TWO MONTHS
? Burt, we don’t have two months. The Russian’s were pretty clear about the timetable. They gave us roughly a month,”
Javier responded in panicked tone.

“I know, Javi. I’m doing my best, but you know it’s near impossible to get a permit without going through the legal process. We’re lucky to know someone who’s even considering doing this outside the law, let alone actually getting it done,”
Burt replied.

“Burt, do you think the permits will eventually be approved?” Jack asked.

“I do… it’s just going to take a couple of months,
” he replied.

Turning to Javier, Jack said, “Ok, remember what we talked about this morning? Let’s ge
t on it. It’ll buy us more time.
”

“I hope you’re right,”
Javier said, his expression turning hopeful.

“What plan?” Burt asked.

Looking over to Darrien, Javier said, “Thanks for driving… same time tomorrow?”

With a simple nod from Darrien, the three entered the small home and continued their discussion in privacy.

~~~~~  ~~~~~  ~~~~~

Jack’s alarm sounded. Snapping
to a sitting position
in bed, he
then
quickly donned some clothes and stepped out into the hallway. With the light still on in the living room, he quietly tiptoed out to see if anyone was still awake.

Looking around the room, it was apparent Burt and Javier had stayed up late, pouring over the recent data. Reams of paper, printouts of photos, soil
samples,
and reference books were roughly spread out everywhere.

Looking at his watch, Jack noted the time: “
2am
.”

He quietly opened the front door and stepped out onto the moonlit patio. Grabbing a pick ax and shovel, he walked out to the street and headed up the gravel road. Moments later, he spotted headlights heading toward him. As the car neared, Jack stopped and waited.

“Right on time,” he said to himself.

As the beat-up old Range Rover with the missing top pulled up next to him, he smiled
at
Darrien.

“I really appreciate this,” Jack said in a hushed tone.

“If Mr. Arista knew I was helping you, I’d be in a lot of trouble,” Darrien said, his face expressionless.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell him… unless I find the pyramid, that is,” Jack replied with a slight grin.

Jack thr
ew
his tools in the back and hopped in. As quietly as he could, taking care not to rev the engine, Darrien turned his car around and headed in the opposite direction.

The evening air had cooled to sixty-five degrees and the wind in their faces felt chilled as they drove south toward the coast. With the moon nearly full, the landscape took on a beautiful iridescence that eventually blended into the blackness of the sea.

Within fifteen minutes of picking up Jack, they pulled into the dirt road that led to the mountain. Thirty minutes later, they had gone as far as they could go. The two grabbed their tools and hurried up the familiar path they had hiked down just six hours before. Moving fast, they used the light of the moon to guide them. A half hour later, the two stood at the apex of the mountain and scanned for the point of interest.