The captain raised his voice and asked for Tiro. When the hologram materialized, he asked, “Any news about the mountain that we should know?”
“The prediction has not changed, and I have been unable to make it more exact. Sometime in the next three months, there is a good chance of a significant eruption.”
Everyone in the room had heard the dire prediction before, but hearing it again sent chills up their spines. Except, of course, Al.
The captain stood and addressed the group. “I think we had better step up our efforts. Al, can you help Chris get the boat ready?”
“I would like to do a little more exploring with the Watcher. After that, I’ll be free to help Chris,” answered Al.
“All right, that’s not a bad idea. See if you can find a way past those cliffs, and if the forest floor is clear under those giant trees. Other than those two obstacles, it looks like it might not be too difficult a trip.”
Elizabeth suggested, “Is there any way we can get one of the shuttles here? Flying there would be so much easier.”
The idea of Al and her son being placed in danger again caused her to speak out. Her son, the shuttle engineer, answered, “It would take too long to disassemble and transport. A shuttle has some complex systems that must be taken apart carefully. I think the boat is our quickest and best option.” He smiled and continued, “Besides, I have always wanted to go on a long sea voyage.”
“How long before it is ready?” asked the captain.
Chris thought for a second, and replied, “If Doctor Florida can have the drive unit ready in a week, and with Al’s help added to the people helping me now. I think we can have our first trial in about two weeks.”
Something else occurred to Chris. “People are asking about the boat already, and all our activity in the outpost. What should we tell them?”
The captain had a quick answer, “Tell them we are motorizing the fishing fleet. With all these people, we are going to need more fish.”
****
The people occupying Thera were kept busy, and a new settlement began forming a mile from the base of the volcano. They abandoned the houses close to the mountain and moved the residents to temporary housing further away. All three groups combined to move the town to the new location, and the small number of people that knew the truth about Atlantis redoubled their efforts to secure the future of the people on it.
Edward slept little and worked tirelessly on the full sized version of the nautical drive. The computer simulations pointed to a strong, durable, design with more than enough power to propel the ungainly contraption that Chris was building.
It was equipped with a modified energy cell from one of the salvaged machines from Avalon and recharged by the sun with a four-foot square solar panel. He was amazed at the simplicity of design until he began building the square box at its heart. The workings inside were beyond his understanding and required Tiro’s help. For the benefit of time, the alien avatar told him how to program the machines, and he executed them. Edward decided that understanding how it worked was something he could pursue during less trying times.
He became obsessed with its completion and slept in the shop, only eating when Kira brought him food and made him eat.
A week after the discovery of the mainland, he carefully crated the finished drive units and had them transported to the dock via dune buggy. When Edward and the drive arrived, both Chris and Al walked over to greet him. They opened the boxes and spent several minutes marveling at its deceivingly simple design.
Chris asked, “This is it? All I have to do is bolt it down and run these pipes out of the hull fore and aft? What about the controls? How do you turn it on and more importantly, how do you make it stop?”
Edward carried a small box and pulled from it a device remarkably similar to a video game controller attached to a mounting plate. A game controller for boats.
“I scrounged it from our surplus electronics. Unfortunately, we can no longer play the racing boat games—but it will control both direction and speed. We will have to wire the power cell down below to the solar panel on deck, but this is wireless and has its own power supply. I also have the servos we can attach to the rudder for steering and the discharge nozzle for controlling speed.”
Chris was pleased. “You make it sound simple, and I like the sound of that. Here Al, give me a hand, and we’ll get this down into the hold.”
Al grinned, and said, “Okay boss. I’m right behind you.”
The ship was coming together. Chris located two hollow tubes with pointed bottoms they used as outriggers. Long alloy pipes inserted through the hull were used to attach them. Once he had the intake and discharge pipes in place for the drive, he could finish sealing the bottom of the craft. If they hurried, the boat could be returned to the water in a week. Chris and Al hoped it would float.
****
Falkor lived with Darius and Dusty. He was content with his new surroundings and twice a day Dusty would take him into the forest, where he would graze and eat until full. He was growing and gaining weight, replacing the small starving lizard he was with a happy and healthy six-foot dragon.
He was so friendly that anyone they came across in their travels would stop and talk to him. They would speak to him in their child-like voices, and he would gesture at all the appropriate times. Many commented on how smart he seemed.
The one thing missing was Al Clark. Falkor understood that Al was a busy human, but he missed the man that saved him. When Al did manage to stop by for a visit, the dragon would flap his wings twice, and be in Al’s arms. The growing bulk of the animal and the enthusiasm of his greeting would try Al’s balance. If he were anyone else, he would have been forced to the floor. Falkor treasured those visits and spent many hours glued to the window waiting for him to come walking down the street.
Sometimes they would go down to the beach and watch Kira swim.
“Doctor Cody tells me it is good therapy, to help me learn how to use my legs. Plus it is great fun,” she would say.
When she strapped flippers to her feet, she swam like a fish. If she used one of the Kuthra rebreathers, she could join the sea creatures and explore the ocean bottom for extended periods of time. It was a freedom she had never experienced, and it gave her great joy.
“Don’t you get tired?” asked Dusty.
“I do get tired…after a while. But my legs do not. Because I have them, I can swim for many hours.”
Dusty was infatuated with Kira. She was everything he dreamed of in a girl with her long auburn hair and mysterious brown eyes. Sometimes she made him forget Falkor was with him, which frustrated the dragon. At these times, he would lie down in the shade just off the beach, in the cool shadow of the trees, and rest.
****
A week later, the boat was ready to put into the water. They used an ancient technique of removing a vessel from the water, winching it up two greased rails. When they were ready to launch, the boat was slowly allowed to slide back down the rails into the waiting water.
“We need to give it a name,” said Chris. “How about Excalibur II?”
“I never did like that name,” answered Al. “It was that name that allowed Tammy’s people to believe it was a battleship instead of a colony ship.”
Al thought for a moment, and a name came to mind. An old name that fit the odyssey they were about to attempt. “I have a name that might do. It means bright, shining, and swift—and in a way, we are searching for a golden fleece.”
“I know the story you mean, my father read it to me when I was little. I don’t remember how it ends.”
“It ends happy, Chris; At least in this version it does.”
Chris had a bottle of wine donated by Timothy, and as the shiny white vessel rocked in the waves beside the dock, by mutual consent, they christened the craft Argo.
It was a plastic bottle filled with local wine so they wouldn’t leave shards of glass to litter the beach, but the bottle made a satisfying display after s
haking it, giving the lid a half twist, and smashing it against the bow. When the ceremony was complete, Chris picked up the empty bottle and tossed it to one of the many children standing on the beach. It would become a souvenir of the momentous occasion.
A ladder was hung from the railing, and the responsible parties climbed aboard for the trial run. The tiny vessel appeared bigger with the addition of the outriggers and the netting that filled the space between. Al was pleased to see that Elizabeth and Tammy would have no trouble finding space to outfit the boat with all the items necessary for their journey.
The little boat sat high in the water, with more than ten feet separating the deck from the waterline. The controls were mounted and waiting in the small pilot house and after a thorough search for leaks, they deemed Argo ready to get underway. Chris was understandably proud. The ship was everything he imagined.
Al asked Chris, “Are you ready for this?”
He answered without hesitation, “You betcha.”
The captain insisted on accompanying the mission crew on their maiden voyage, and made a complete examination of the fittings and seaworthiness of the vessel; as did Elizabeth and Tammy because it was their husbands that would be making the long voyage. Doctor Cody, Edward, and Ana were there, as well as Darius and Timothy representing the local contingent. The boat quickly became crowded, but nobody cared. This first trip around the island was an event to share, and they were ready to celebrate.
A large crowd gathered on shore, believing they were watching the beginning of a new chapter of fishing, while the people on board knew the truth. They were taking the boat on a leisurely jaunt around the island to test the viability of the vessel that might save them all.
Chris asked, “Who gets the honors? Someone has to take this thing out. Captain, how about you?”
The captain knew how hard Chris worked to get the boat ready, so with a bow, he stepped aside and motioned for Chris to take the lead. “I believe the honor is yours Mister Morris. Go ahead. Take her out.”
Chris stood in the pilot’s position, flipped the switch giving the drive power, and pushed the T-bar on the controller forward. The water churned behind the boat, and it jumped towards the beach. Chris, a little embarrassed, said, “Oops. Our little Argo is more powerful than I thought!”
He turned the tiny wheel on the game controller all the way to the right, and tried again, this time easing the throttle forward. The strange looking craft came about and headed away from shore. Out into the ocean.
It was a beautiful sunny day, with a cloudless sky and a calm sea. Chris took the boat out a few hundred feet and turned to follow the shore. It was an ungainly craft, and turned slowly while underway, but it powered ahead with authority.
“Go ahead and open it up. Let’s see what she will do,” suggested Edward.
Chris was waiting for just such an order and pushed the throttle bar all the way forward. The boat surged ahead, leaving a turbulent wake behind it and everyone aboard grabbed something to keep from falling. The wind whistled across the bow.
There was a gleam in Edward’s eye when he asked, “How fast do you think we are going?”
Chris glanced at him and replied, “Judging by the movement of the shore, I would guess about twenty miles an hour.”
“Want to see something cool?”
“Sure,” said Chris, puzzled by the question.
Edward smiled, anxious to reveal his surprise. “See that little knob at the bottom of the controller? Turn it all the way to the right.”
Chris did as Edward asked and something changed. The boat lifted out of the water and began to skip over the waves, smoothing out the ride and increasing their speed. Before long they were flying over the water at speeds he hadn’t imagined.
“What just happened?”
“That control turns the discharge nozzle downward. When it is only the three of you, the boat will ride higher and go even faster. “What do you think?”
“I believe we have a winner. That’s what I think.”
They could not hear the crowd on the beach over the sound of the drive, but they could see them jumping up and down and throwing things into the air as they sped out of sight; riding the tops of the waves.
****
After their successful trial run, the crowd dissipated and most returned to their labors. The people close to the project formed a line to load the craft with supplies. When the sun sank below the horizon, the boat was anchored to the dock, the power cell charged and ready, and everything they needed stored and lashed down. The teleporter components were safely stowed down below in the hold and strapped in place. Weather permitting, they would be departing in the morning.
Elizabeth and Al were having a late dinner in their cubicle and talking. The topic was the journey he was about to undertake. She had some things she wanted to say.
“I know why you are going. You have to be the great savior. I know why Kira is going. She has robotic legs and can swim better than anybody. But why does my son have to go? Can’t you find someone else to complete the crew?”
Chris was the first person he found when he awoke on the Excalibur. Together they revived the colony. But every time they were about to go into danger, she was the voice of reason, trying to keep both her husband and her son reigned in and safe. But Al had thought this through, and had an answer ready. “I trust Chris. He is young and bright, and I can count on him to have my back.”
“Yeah, but if anything were to happen, I would lose you both. I don’t know if I could take that.”
Al cupped his hand under her chin, looked her straight in the eyes, and said, “Having Chris with us gives us the best chance of success. I need him.”
“I know, but—.”
Al tried another strategy, “Liz, if you really want him to stay behind, I’ll find someone else. But you have to be the one to tell him he can’t go.”
She sat back and frowned, shaking her head. “You know that is not going to happen. I don’t think anybody can talk him out of it. You will be careful, though—right?”
“You know me. I’m mister safety.”
She knew he tried to stay out of trouble, but his past record left her with doubts.
Chapter Fourteen
They slipped down to the dock before daylight, dressed in bright orange coveralls with matching life vests. The captain was proud of his success in mastering the replicator and produced the uniforms in the little spare time he had. “If anyone falls from the boat, you’ll float and be seen for miles. Plus they are insulated and waterproof to keep you warm and dry.”
“And fashionable too,” a smiling Chris retorted.
The captain acted offended. “To tell you the truth, they fit better than I thought—and you look like travelers.”
Al grimaced at the reference to travelers while Kira twirled around, testing the fit, her long hair swinging behind her. She declared, “I like them. It makes me feel like an explorer and is very comfortable.”
“Thank you, Kira, at least someone appreciates me.”
They stood at the bottom of the gangway. The party boarding the Argo and the people they were leaving behind were aware this mission could fail, and they might never see each other again. Their farewells were made earlier. Now it was just an awkward goodbye. Tammy kissed Chris; Elizabeth kissed Al, and the captain gave Kira a peck on the cheek. He put his hands on her shoulders and said, “Take care of these two. They have a tendency to get into trouble.”
Kira gave him a crooked smile, and replied, “I share their problem, but do not worry Captain. We will find our way to this new land, and make it so everyone can join us.”
“There is an old Earth custom of putting a lamp in the window for seafarers. I will do that for you.”
“A lamp?”
“Yes. So you can find your way home.”
“Captain, we will never see this island again,” declared Kira, “You will be joining us in the new land.”
The three seafarers walked up the
ramp and boarded the boat with mixed feelings. Their misgivings, however, did not stop them from securing the gear they carried, firing up the drive, and slowly making their way out to sea.
Chris, the only one with any experience, took the boat out where their wake would not affect the other vessels, turned it towards the West and put the throttle down. The little boat jumped forward and rose onto the outriggers. Riding high in the water, she eagerly headed out.
About a mile from shore, Al’s sensitive hearing picked up a rhythmic thumping. Coming from behind them, flapping his wings in long powerful strokes, was Falkor. He flew high and fast until he was overhead, then he dived straight down, swooped, and performed the prettiest landing Al had ever seen. When Al saw his face, he could have sworn he was grinning.
They were too far out to take him back, and time was precious. The dragon timed it perfectly and was going with them. He curled up in the front of the boat, the walls of the prow breaking the wind, secure in his stowaway status.
Now they were four. Four determined Argonauts in search of a new home. Behind them, a light but steady stream of gray smoke left the mountain peak; to be scattered by the winds. An ominous reminder of time slipping away.
****
The boat performed flawlessly, powering ahead mile after mile. The compass feature on their data pads kept them headed West, following the path the watcher had taken. They would be underway at full speed from now on, the power cell carrying them through the night. The island shrank in the distance, and soon they were surrounded by nothing but water. Water in every direction, as far as the eye could see.
An eight-hour rotation was established, and they took turns keeping them pointed in the right direction, while the other two prepared food, slept when they could, and watched for danger. They slept down below to get away from the wind in hammocks that followed the movements of the boat. Al did all he could to assure they would not be tossed around as they were in his dream.
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