She and Bruce both noticed that neither Lieutenant dropped back on their pace but neither were experienced riders either. Ms. Simon was struggling from the beginning. Jessica gave Bruce a knowing look, Meredith would be moving slowly the next day.
Their conversation was limited and stilted. Any discussion about what they really had found would have to come at another time. The five made up an unusual looking group that drew curious glances from the few other riders they passed, mainly the occasional tourist family and the locals who rode daily.
A group of Central American migrant men who rode the Levy Trail for transportation saw Jessica, as they did daily, today with a Marine escort. However, the Marines weren’t in uniform and the group made an impressive Peloton. The migrants, Aztecs really, assigned by their Pagan Priest to watch Jessica, stopped their peddling to stare. Jessica and Bruce didn’t notice the group, but the two Marines and Ms. Simon did. Now Marines guarded Jessica when she rode her bike. Turning around they rode in the opposite direction to inform their High Priest. Current abduction plans would no longer work. The group also begged a blessing of their priest as protection from the evil eye the Marines cast upon them.
Forced to alter their pace to allow Ms. Simon to keep stride, their ride took longer than the expected three hours. Lieutenant Merk communicated the delay to Captain Curtis discreetly over his cell phone. After the first few miles, the Lieutenants came up on either side of Bruce and Jessica and joined their conversation. Their interest in the dig revealed an unusual perspective on the site, causing both scientists to wonder what their real interests in the project was.
By the end of the ride, Ms. Simon was the personification of exhaustion. She left soon after they returned to camp. Unceremoniously, as if to show her contempt, she left her new bike at the site not bothering to secure it. Jessica and Bruce put the expensive bike in with their bikes and with the two Treks of the Marines. After a short dinner, both scientists went back to work on their project.
Despite the secrecy, Jessica and Bruce knew this was the find of a lifetime and considered themselves extremely lucky. General Grill was insistent about strict security protocols. After the discovery of the last room, only scientific and military personnel had on-site clearance. Local diggers and migrant help found themselves unemployed. This last incident during the ride, though unnoticed by Bruce and Jessica, but dutifully reported to General Grill and Xerxes by Captain Pericles Curtis after his Lieutenants furnished a full account to him served to cause General Grill to heighten security. Both Xerxes and Pericles knew these people were highly superstitious and wondered why they were watching Jessica. What was it that concerned them? Both General Grill and Xerxes asked the same question, though neither knew the other.
Anthony paid Jessica and Bruce another visit the next morning, but his manner seemed distant and cool. Jessica had always known Skip to be a happy person and with his first child coming, she expected him to be glowing, but he wasn’t.
“Well, Jessica how is the dig progressing?â€� He asked in a depressed tone. “I heard you are going to have some pretty impressive company.” He tried to be his usual up, good-natured self and failed.
“As all digs progress, Skip, slowly.” Jessica gave him a generic answer and shrugged.
Jessica could tell something serious was troubling him. A new person at the site brought Meredith to join them, “Anthony Sutherland, Department of the Interior for the State of Florida.” She introduced him. “This is Ms. Simon with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
“A pleasure, Ms. Simon,” Anthony greeted her cordially.
Jessica could tell though Skip greeted her amiably, the woman made him nervous and she wondered about that. Skip was, after all, a State official and had been in on the dig from the beginning. Ms. Simon did not seem to notice, she shook his hand and left to return to her office in town with not much more than a hello.
“It has slowed down some, Skip, but that is to be expected. After that last room we found I don’t think we could ask for much more.â€� Jessica elaborated some.
“Oh!� He had brightened a little. “What was in it?�
“Skip, I can’t, the General would kill me, and Ms. Simon would put both of us in jail. I don’t think it is fair not to be able to tell you since you have been in on this since the beginning but they have made it clear, no one outside of Bruce, and the immediate military. I couldn’t even tell the Governor without permission.â€�
“I understand, Jessica, I’ve got to get back to Tallahassee, tell your parents I said hello when you talk to them.â€�
“Skip,â€� Jessica said in sad, apologetic tones. “I’m sorry.â€�
“Don’t be. It is for the best. Believe me. Talk to you later in the week.â€� Skip climbed back in the State’s helicopter and returned to Tallahassee.
Jessica was concerned about Skip. She didn’t feel right about excluding him, but after speaking to General Grill on his weekly visit, found him unmovable in this one area.
“Ms. Carter, it has come to our attention that there are matters of security you may not be aware of. On the level of State Government, we have detected a leak of information to an outside source. We have been unable to determine to whom the information is going. It probably isn’t Mr. Sutherland, possibly someone under him. Ms. Simon’s assignment to this dig came about because of this leak. Until we can find the problem, this is officially a closed dig. After the recent terrorist events, any security breach, no matter how minor, is under greater suspect. Therefore, until we can determine whom the information is going to, no one outside the immediate need to know - will know. This is one reason you are escorted when you ride.â€�
“General Grill,� Jessica asked, a bit offended, “are you insinuating that I am leaking information, or possibly Mr. Lance?�
“No, Ms. Carter, of course not!â€� The General said firmly. General Grill had paced a few steps, then he dropped his surprise on her, “Ms Carter, you may expect to be reactivated from your reserve status. I am issuing you a sidearm and I expect you to wear it whenever you are on-site.â€� General Grill had become concerned about her safety after the incident on the ride with the workers and other information he did not disclose. He knew Jessica had gone through ROTC and was a Naval Reservist. She had worked on several contracts for the government, which afforded her a high security clearance. It was his job to protect this dig and to protect the two young scientists on it.
“Of course, General Grill, if you feel the need I will wear a sidearm, I am qualified. As far as being reactivated, that too, is up to the Navy. Might I inquire as to why? I cannot see where any of these artifacts are National Security sensitive.� As puzzled as she was by this sudden turn of events, she would abide by them, attributing the increased concern to the unusual nature of her find.
“Ms. Carter, your expertise on these artifacts answers that question, and yes, Ms. Carter, some of them are considered just that. National Security sensitive.â€� General Grill told her, which didn’t really answer her question. He left her with that answer though, got into his government-issued car and returned to West Palm Beach, leaving Jessica in a quandary.
Bruce laughed at her when she told him, doing her best interpretation of General Grill. They had caught Captain Curtis smiling at it also, while eavesdropping. “I’ve got to get back to Gainesville,â€� Bruce said when he got back in his car to drive to the airport in Okeechobee.
She stood next to his car in the camp parking area. “I’m sure Ms. Simon isn’t going to be pleased, I think she has taken a liking to you. I’ve seen her checking you out when she thinks no one’s looking,â€� Jessica laughed. “When will you be back?â€� Jessica asked him.
“Jessica, whether it’s Professor Black or Ms. Simon, neither holds an interest for me while you are around,” Bruce told her half-teasingly, and then answered “Couple of days. Profess
or Black wants me to date some artifacts she found on an Indian mount up near Cherokee,â€� he laughed “and Ms. Simon isn’t my type.â€�
“Professor Black wants you,â€� Jessica teased, “Ms. Simon is definitely not going to like that. I’m sure she will think Professor Black is a security risk.â€� That got a laugh from Captain Curtis who was trying his best to mind his own affairs while he checked the engine systems in his Command Truck.
“Maybe,� Bruce laughed and drove off.
Across the Levy, two ex-diggers watched Bruce’s departure with interest while they fished. Both knew it would leave Jessica more vulnerable while he was gone. Though she was unaware, the Aztec guard watched Jessica at all times now by order of their High Priest.
Jessica talked to her parents again, this time on the secure phone. She told them as much about the dig as security allowed. Without direct disclosure, Jessica used a code talk, long established with her parents to explain. Again, she caught Captain Curtis within listening distance. He wasn’t spying exactly, but always seemed to be present whenever Jessica talked with anyone about the dig outside the need-to-know staff.
Jessica doubted the Captain understood what she had told her parents. Their lines of communication, long established, would sound natural to anyone who overheard. Jessica underestimated Pericles, he reported the conversation, again she would have never have expected to whom, Xerxes. Already Xerxes was a large part of her life, yet she was unaware of his existence or importance. He dismissed her conversation with a laugh. Xerxes failed to appreciate how much her parents already knew, or how close they were as a family, and he didn’t understand their significance in her life. Jessica was as close to her family as he had been to his own.
Pericles paused a moment, then explained again to Xerxes about the Central American men who had stopped and watched the riding party on the Levy and the ones who had watched Bruce leave. Pericles was more observant than Bruce was or the “Aztecs,� the name given them by the Atlantians, expected.
“Why do you think they are so interested in Jessica?� Xerxes asked his head of upper-world security and the man who was in place to oversee the security on this important dig.
“I haven’t any idea, Xerxes.â€� He shook his head, at a loss for their behavior. Pericles arrived the afternoon after Jessica had found the Aztec statue. Neither Atlantian Pericles nor Xerxes had any knowledge of the evil-looking god or its significance.
“I only wish I were in a position to more closely monitor Jessica myself,� Xerxes expressed in concern. “My first attention must be on Atlantian security here. Therefore, my future brother-in-law, I leave this to you.�
“Xerxes, you know I will guard Jessica with my own life. It gives me less to worry about knowing Alena is on Alpha-Centauri as Ambassador for Atlantis and Pacifica and safe,� Pericles said seriously, then signed off to turn his attention to more local matters. Overseeing security due to the increased number of reporters who flocked around the Levy where their camp was located in hopes of a story was becoming one of his greatest concerns. A nosy reporter who stumbled on the right facts could be a real problem.
Okeechobee’s popularity with the press didn’t make Ms. Simon’s job any easier. Although security was increased, and leak detection rigidly controlled about the newer discoveries, the rumor mills were staying healthy. Locally, the businesses were doing well and had it not been for the dig, the town’s economy would have suffered because of the drought.
Normally this time of year, their greatest industry was tourism, so the locals were accustomed to the great influx of tourists from sport fishing. With the lake at its current level, that would have not taken place and they would have suffered. But the townspeople were not familiar with the type of tourists that flocked to an archaeological find, and it sometimes caused friction and kept the Sheriffs’ deputies busy as it did Ms. Simon. This helped keep her out of Jessica and Bruce’s way, but Ms. Simon was becoming more of a problem for Captain Curtis. Jessica had overheard them one afternoon as she passed the Command tent. Ms. Simon was a bit irate, demanding several reports from Captain Curtis that were what she considered late.
“Ms. Simon, ma’am,â€� he said, his tone respectful, but less so than it was with Jessica. “You will have those reports as soon as my clerk has them completed. Unfortunately, they are not as important as several other items on his agenda,â€� he paused, “Good day, Ms. Simon.â€� Captain Curtis walked out of the tent while putting on his cover, almost bumping into Jessica as she passed. She smiled up at him in a comforting way, trying not to laugh. Jessica was amazed, rarely had she seen Captain Curtis angry. He managed a pained smile back at her.
NASA, Kennedy Space Center, a scant two hours away, sent personnel several times to examine the pictures in the cartouches and the vehicles on the frescos. Their expert personnel made detailed films and records of the walls of the star map room. Jessica welcomed their company. Whenever the NASA scientists visited, Captain Curtis accompanied them and kept a watchful eye on everything they documented.
Jessica assumed General Grill had assigned him this duty. Captain Curtis was, at first, very detached. He always carried an assortment of instrumentation that looked highly advanced. Jessica had sneaked a peek at them and wondered what the strange-looking devices were. He only carried them when the NASA people were around.
“What are all those instruments?� Jessica inquired of Captain Curtis.
“Ma’am, they are light meters and such, so the NASA people can obtain proper photographs.â€� Captain Curtis answered in his official Marine mode.
Jessica knew photography, she used the art in her science, and Captain Curtis was not truthful with her. Jessica couldn’t resolve the question and wondered why? She had tried to get a closer look at his equipment and Captain Curtis entered his Command Tent as she closed the equipment bag.
Captain Curtis caught her, but allowed Jessica to believe he had not seen her. All this he reported to Xerxes. As Pericles knew he would, he took this in stride.
Xerxes laughed, soon enough Jessica would be in Atlantis and under his authority, out of harms’ way. Xerxes was not one to brood. When faced with a problem, he preferred to take action, solve the problem, and then be done with it. Waiting until the proper time to take Jessica was wearing thin on his enormous amount of patience, a virtue his father gently instilled in him from a young age. An unknown subversive in his midst only served to make it more difficult since he could not solve that problem quickly either. He allowed his mind to become lost in the undersea motion provided by the view through the massive glass, coral-encrusted window of his office.
His thoughts were of the woman he had chosen as his wife. Jessica was high-spirited, and though the physical attraction was strong between them, he knew it would take more than that to hold her. Xerxes could not with a clear conscience, keep her a captive for the rest of her life, nor could he force her to share his bed. After all, he reminded himself, he was not a despot ruler of old. He rubbed his temples, his head hurt, too many long hours awake - sleep didn’t come easily for him now. When he closed his eyes, he saw her face the night at the camp or the day at the mall.
“Milord?� Geb, his assistant, said discreetly.
“Yes Geb, what is it?� Xerxes turned to face him.
“Your lunch, and I have taken the liberty of bringing two headache pills.� Geb smiled, he knew his sovereign well.
“Thank you, my friend.� Xerxes smiled, Geb was truly more of a friend than an assistant. He always seemed to know what Xerxes needed.
“Geb,” Xerxes said with some hesitancy “Why would the Aztec guards be so interested in Jessica? What opinion would you have?”
“My Lord knows I have studied these people,” Geb reminded him.
“Of course, that is why I asked. I know you have ancestors that came from that area.”
“Not a pleasant thought.” Xerxes said with his head in his hands.
“No, my Lord, it isn’t, and Ms. Carter is a beautiful and vulnerable victim for them. Perhaps she has unearthed something at the dig,” Geb suggested. “Something before Lord Pericles arrived.”
“Thank you, Geb, your insight is helpful I will have him look into it,” Xerxes said gratefully. Xerxes now had to wait until Pericles contacted him the next time. I hope that by then he will have solved this mystery.â€� Geb quietly left Xerxes to his lunch.
Chapter Eight
Immediately Jessica’s Marine escort knew it would be a long ride. Mr. Lance had returned to school for a few days and Ms. Simon had not ridden with them for several days. Both knew the FBI agent did not have the stamina Jessica did. Today, however was different in other respects, Ms Carter was unusually quiet. With a shrug they glanced at one another and stayed slightly behind her, it was obvious her mood was not talkative.
After being caught examining Captain Curtis’ photo equipment, she spent that afternoon’s bike ride in contemplative silence as the miles clicked off. Jessica was not a fool, she knew the Marine Captain had caught her and chose to ignore it. All of Captain Curtis’ team seemed similar in mold, if different in appearance. When Jessica first met them, it struck her as unusual that they were all officers, as it did Bruce. Still they were a special team put together just for this situation. However the more she considered their presence, the more convinced Jessica became that something was peculiar about them. They arrived on the dig the day the Governor requested them. That just did not happen no matter how well connected the politician was. It was as if the Military knew about her discovery beforehand or soon after. She and Bruce both suspected danger involved, and today General Grill confirmed that. The weight of the nine-millimeter pistol on her hip served to remind her. From the beginning, she had known they were under surveillance and not just by the military. Possibly another Government agency or another Government altogether - she wondered which suspicion was correct. Jessica admitted to herself that she did feel safer with the two Marines who rode with her. She glanced at the two slightly behind her, both smiled back in a pleasant manner.
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