“Lord Xerxes, has Ms. Carter found her way into more than the first chamber?” Councilman of Agriculture Demeter asked.
“No, she will have to dig around the Pyramid and excavate downward to do that, by then we hope to have our agents in place,” Xerxes explained. He would gladly tell his Council all, but not with Marcus in the room.
“My Lord, you seem to have matters well in hand,” the Councilwoman of Interiors Heras commented. “It would seem Atlantis’ security will remain intact if all goes well and should something unexpected occur I feel sure you will deal with it.”
“Thank you. Then I shall dismiss for the day,” Xerxes said. “If there are no further comments,” he knew, he should not have asked.
“I do,” Councilman Marcus stood up. “I demand you terminate them both. This has gone far enough. If you really cared about the security of Atlantis you would eliminate the risk altogether. Had you gotten rid of this woman to begin with no one would have been the wiser.”
“Marcus Trident, I remind you. You do not demand here. Atlantis’ security is my first priority, unlike some. However, I do not condone murder,” Xerxes stated clearly, his aquamarine eyes blazing.
“Nor does anyone else here Marcus, if anything, these two young people would prove a great benefit to Atlantis if brought down here. We could use them,” the Councilman of Utilities, Zephr spoke up and looked pointedly at Marcus, the poor condition of his Department was the source of widespread gossip.
“Thank you Councilman,” Xerxes said with a winning smile. “Council is dismissed. Marcus please remain.” The others filed out quickly.
“At your service, my liege,” Marcus bowed.
Xerxes ignored his flowery bow, “Marcus it has come to my attention that the Department of Antiquities is in shambles. I will, in one month inspect your Department. I expect it to be in an orderly fashion, please see that it is. You are dismissed,” Xerxes turned and left him standing alone. He heard Marcus leave and the doors bang hard against the solid walls behind him. Xerxes shook his head.
Marcus returned to his offices, he did not intend to do anything to improve his Department, in one month or six. Either he would be gone or Xerxes would. After that? Marcus thought about his plans and the new contacts he had made the last time he had been in West Palm Beach. He paced his office like a caged wild animal. He could not leave Atlantis and he needed to communicate with his upper-world contact to put more pressure on him. Marcus was anxious for information on this dig at Okeechobee. It was time to risk taking one of the public use subs to the surface. This way he could contact Florida’s Head of the Department of Interior, Anthony Sutherland, on the cell phone he had purchased. If caught, explaining such an action would be difficult at best. However, it was his only way of communication with his upper-world contact - the only way he knew he could find out what was happening at the dig. Marcus knew the time would come soon when he would have to go ashore again and take the risk of detection. Perhaps it would be his last trip before he revealed the location of Atlantis. Marcus laughed and no one heard.
Chapter Four
In the two weeks since the discovery, the lump of mud had gone from obscurity, to novelty, to notoriety, in the small South Florida City of Okeechobee. The local press had proved a minor problem handled by the State’s public relations team; they assured the curious reporters the dig was an Indian excavation site. As promised, security, and the funds available, had been adequate to keep the locals away and hire a few non-professional diggers to do the heavier work. Mainly Jessica and Bruce hired the local migrant workers. They were readily available and worked for the more than a fair wage Jessica and Bruce paid over the wage usually paid for harvesting crops. However, since the drought had been severe, the harvest was low and the workers were plentiful. Neither Jessica nor Bruce noticed several of the workers watched more than they worked.
Jessica and Bruce could have brought in one or two professional archaeologists on the budget the state allowed them, but they both jealously kept their finds to themselves. It would not have mattered in any case since the only two professionals they could agree on would not be available for several weeks. Because of the construction company they had hired, instead of thigh deep muck, they worked on a cleared scaffold base. Fully into the first chamber, carefully documenting each artifact found as they progressed was one of their highest priorities, but neither could agree on the time frame of the Pyramid. Bruce discovered the location of the entrance to the second Chamber but neither had yet found the device to trigger the door. As they cataloged their artifacts, they argued about the period of their finds.
“Jessica, these are from the Fifth Dynasty.” Bruce disagreed, referring to a statue of the god Osiris that seemed to preside over the chamber as if it welcomed more than one guest to the underworld. “But exact period?” he shrugged.
“I’ll agree, of course, they are Egyptian, but I say they are earlier than the Fifth Dynasty.” Jessica contested. She gently wiped off a gold and lapis lazuli scarab of royal size, decorated with hieroglyphs, and strangely did not name the pharaoh of the period. This she laid next to two gold fans that stood on long black ebony polls that had guarded either side of the entranceway near four ebony chairs that suggested a waiting area. Jessica paused to take digital pictures of the wall that retained the vividly painted cartouches for later translations. “And,” she drew a breath of the still stale air and felt a little of the same dizziness she had the first day, “This is not a tomb, you and I both have already established that.”
“Let’s take a break, Jess.” Bruce suggested, seeing her pallor, and he put his arm around her waist to steady her.
“Okay.” Jessica did not argue and they both left the chamber. Her radio squawked and she answered it.
“Ms. Carter,” it was the foreman from the construction crew.
“Yes, go ahead.” she said into the portable radio and stepped away from Bruce.
“We’ve found something over here on the west side of the dig…“there was a long pause, “Well Ma’am, I think you and Mr. Lance should come over here and see this,” his South Florida accent sounded heavy over the radio.
“We will be right over, George.” Jessica told him. She looked at Bruce and they started over toward the small group of construction workers who were just finishing putting the last of the water retention barriers up before they completed their part of the job.
While clearing the area around the Pyramid, which had turned out to be half the size of the smallest Pyramid at Gizah, the construction crew had unearthed the remains of many of the builders of the Pyramid, slaves. Jessica and Bruce joined the eight workers and several of the diggers who stood staring in silence down into the pit. Finding these precious remains changed their time structure considerably. It altered their schedule also, a timetable that could be ruined by a natural event that threatened Florida every year. Hurricane Season, a storm that would come close to, or pass over Okeechobee, would flood the dig, and ruin their efforts.
Jessica drew a sob of air and Bruce put his arm around her. All these remains in one general area now became a specialized dig of its own. These were the remains of Hebrew slaves and that would help date this Pyramid Jessica knew, but it instantly depressed everyone on the site.
“This will certainly end any doubt that this is an Egyptian Pyramid,” Jessica said quietly. “I would estimate at least 1300 BC or earlier?”
“Neither you or I had any doubts of that, but yes, now any skeptics won’t be able to argue,” Bruce agreed as Jessica stepped away to survey the open pit from a different angle.
“How can you be sure they are Hebrew slaves?” George asked.
“A good question, George,” Bruce told him. “We will have them dated and their DNA tested to be sure. However, judging from what is left, the soil and conditions did a good job of mummification. I would make a good guess from what is left of their physical make-up and what is left of the cloth of their clothing.”
Jessica to
ok over in the explanation, “They are too tall to be natives though their backs are bowed. As Bruce said, the conditions have done an excellent job of preservation and I can see their facial features are not those of natives either, nor are their hands and feet those of natives.â€� Jessica withdrew the cell phone Skip had given her and moments later, she was talking to her friend.
“Skip, we’ve made another discovery down here I think you should know about.”
“What is it, Jessica,” Skip said and Bruce stood close enough to hear the conversation.
“The construction crew unearthed a mass grave and we are within a high degree of certainty they are Hebrew slaves.”
“Oh God, this is going to escalate the situation.” Anthony said, his voice deadpan.
“We need to get a DNA expert down here fast, I’ll take care of getting a Rabbi to bless the grave then get it resealed, but we can’t leave this open long. It would be… well wrong, even if they are natives.” Jessica said, her voice betrayed her sadness at the discovery.
“I definitely agree. I’ll have a State Forensics expert fly down this afternoon,” Skip cleared his throat. “Jessica, would it be too soon for the Governor to visit say in three days?”
“No, it won’t be a problem,” Jessica paused, “He may be in the middle of having the grave blessed and sealed though. Would he have a problem with that?”
“I doubt it. Would the press being present cause you a problem? Although Anthony didn’t want the press involved, they couldn’t deny them access either.
“Not as long as they stay on the levy and don’t try to come on the dig site. It just isn’t big enough. We wouldn’t want to have a reporter fall in the marsh and get eaten by an alligator or bitten by a snake,” Jessica laughed a little, her voice watery.
“No problem,” Anthony smirked at her droll humor.
“Tell him…” Bruce drew her attention.
“Hold on a minute,” Jessica told Anthony and turned to her associate. “What, Bruce?”
“I have a Rabbi friend in West Palm who, I am sure, will come out and bless the grave. Tomorrow we can go into West Palm and make arrangements.”
“Did you hear Bruce?” Jessica asked Anthony.
“Yes and I think that is a good idea if we can get identification that fast on the poor souls in that grave,” Anthony agreed.
“I don’t think it is going to be difficult,” Jessica assured her friend. “From the excellent state of preservation it is obvious they are Hebrew from their characteristics and the remains of cloth.”
“Okay keep in touch; I’ll call the Forensics Department now,” Anthony clicked off only to have the device ring in his hand. Without a second thought, Anthony answered thinking it was Jessica and she had forgotten to tell him something.
To his shock, it wasn’t Jessica but Marcus. He had never given the crazy Chilean Professor this number and wondered how he had gotten it.
“How did you get his number?” Anthony immediately asked him, his voice incredulous.
“Why would you care?” Marcus snapped. “What information do you have for me, Sutherland?” Marcus demanded.
“Information on what?” Anthony asked abruptly. He saw no reason to be polite to the man. He could not tolerate him.
“Sutherland! I am no fool. I want information on that new dig at Lake Okeechobee. Ms. Carter and Mr. Lance are far too inexperienced. They will ruin a dig of that importance. They need an archaeologist of my expertise on site and I want you to arrange it,” Marcus demanded arrogantly.
Anthony had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at Marcus, knowing if he did what the lunatic would try to do. “Marcus, I may have a great deal of authority with the State of Florida but not that much. The Governor has the final say on such matters and he is going to visit the site in a few days. He has already appointed both scientists to that dig and there isn’t a thing I can do about it. As far as their experience, both are well experienced.”
“I will tell you once, Sutherland, you better arrange it,” Marcus demanded.
I cannot do what the law does not allow,” Anthony said in a firm voice, “and your fake papers can’t change that. All you can do is get me fired, then you will have no one to get information from at all.”
“Very well, but I expect you to keep me well informed,” Marcus hung up in a huff.
Anthony wondered how he had learned about the Pyramid,” he sat pondering the events taking place in his life. To himself he reaffirmed he would tell Marcus nothing about Jessica or anything she was involved with. Now, though, he had his own family to consider, Cathy and their unborn child. Skip rested his head in hands and rubbed his eyes. He was tired. Anthony called the State’s Forensics Department.
“How soon will we know if these mummified remains are Hebrew slaves or possibly local natives from that time period?” He asked the head of the department over the phone.
“It shouldn’t take long. DNA will take a week or two but the initial determination should be easy enough. However, I doubt they will prove to be Hebrew.” Her voice was full of skepticism. “In Florida? In that period of time? It just isn’t possible, that would be hundreds of years, over a thousand and more before Columbus,” Anthony could hear contained laughter.
“Don’t be so sure of your old historical theories, Doctor,” Anthony told the woman. “I know this archaeologist and she is highly knowledgeable and the other archaeologist who is working with her is equally as good. By the way, this is a confidential matter.”
“I’ll go myself,” the woman said “and get the initial results back to you by tomorrow.
“Thank you, we would like to get this mass grave recovered and blessed,” Anthony explained.
“Yes I am sure you would,” she said dryly. “Will you have the helicopter at my disposal or will I have to drive?”
“The helicopter will be waiting for you at the airport. I’ll call ahead now.” Anthony promised her.
“I’ll leave within the hour,” she told him.
“Thank you, Ms. Chandler. I appreciate your cooperation,” Anthony said and terminated their connection.
Anthony called Jessica back and explained he arranged for the head of their Forensics Department to come down this afternoon and to be sure and meet her.
“We aren’t going to West Palm until tomorrow, Skip,” Jessica explained.
“Good, Ms. Chandler should be there in about two hours.” Anthony told her and clicked off.
*
Jessica and Bruce gave the construction team and the diggers the rest of the afternoon off. Jessica and Bruce opted to take a short bike ride on the levy. As they rode, they discussed what their theories were on what they had unearthed.
“What do you think we’ve found?” Jessica asked Bruce.
“Out here with no one to hear,” he paused, “I think we’ve found a very old Pyramid built by the Egyptians as a western entrance. To what, I don’t want to say - yet.”
“Do you think they may have been thinking of colonizing west?’ Jessica threw out a theory.
“No and neither do you,” Bruce laughed in a sarcastic manner.
“No, I really didn’t,” Jessica said softly, her mind on aquamarine eyes from the dream that had allowed her to sleep in peace the last few nights.
“Possibly an entrance to an under-world… ah,” Jessica said afraid to say what she really thought, not yet. They both danced around their own theory.
They returned as the state’s helicopter settled on the levy and the Forensics expert stepped out. Jessica rode her bike up and greeted the woman. Bruce took both bikes and locked them up in the supply tent.
“Our construction crew found the common grave this morning,” Jessica explained.
“That is what Mr. Sutherland said,” Ms. Chandler nodded. “You really must have some pull to get the state to react this fast.”
“Not really, I’ve just know Mr. Sutherland for a long time and this is an important find.” Jessica explained simply
without any egotism in her tone.
“You cannot really believe this is an Egyptian Pyramid,” Ms. Chandler stated.
Jessica looked at her and grinned, “Come on and I’ll show you.â€� Jessica took the woman into the first Chamber, the only one they had managed to open so far. She showed her the artifacts and the Hieroglyphs.
Awe came over the woman’s face as she realized it was an Egyptian Pyramid, “My God it is,” was all she could say. “Take me to the grave and let me see that.”
Jessica escorted her over to the roped off site. It saddened her to look at the scene as it did the Forensic expert. “Well, what do you think, are they Hebrew?”
Ms. Chandler turned and looked at Jessica, a tear slid down her face, “Yes I think you are correct,” She took several pictures. “My name is Judith, by the way.”
“I’m Jessica,” as they went to first names.
Judith was surprised when Jessica accompanied her and helped with the gruesome task of taking samples, accomplished with gloved hands, as quickly and efficiently as possible. Measurements and other needed scientific evidence entrusted to a handheld recorder with Jessica beside her for assistance. At last, they climbed out of the open pit, both women shaken.
“Come with me.” Jessica told her after they had washed up, and led her to an air-conditioned tent where they could sit in some comfort and relax. “You are Jewish?”
“Yes.” Judith confirmed, “But that would have been difficult for anyone.”
“It was for me, and I’ve been on some pretty rough digs before.” Jessica conceded.
“Jessica, are you in?” Bruce called.
“Sure come on in and join us” Jessica invited him. “Bruce, you really didn’t get a proper introduction, this is Ms. Judith Chandler head of the Department of Forensic Science for the State of Florida. Ms. Chandler, this is my associate, Bruce Lance.”
Bruce, always a gentleman in the presence of a pretty lady, extended his hand and welcomed her before he grabbed a cold drink and joined them. “Well Judith, what is your opinion?”
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