“Hey!� he called after her, “You going back to your apartment?�
“Yeah, I’m tired,â€� Jessica, replied.
“Let me drive you?� Pericles offered.
“No, I’ll be fine,â€� she tapped her sidearm.
“Okay,� he waited a minute until he saw her leave, then followed her, signaling three of his squad to accompany him as backup.
Pericles’ intuition paid off; as Jessica pulled into her driveway, an old truck pulled across the drive and blocked any exit. Two huge men got out. She saw them, pulled her gun, and un-betrayed by her frayed nerves, calmly swung behind the Jeep’s door for cover.
Unbeknownst to Jessica, two more Aztecs had hidden in the heavy foliage that surrounded the apartment, and came from behind her before she could drop the first two, wrestling the gun from her hand. For his efforts, one received a hard boot kick to his right knee, a loud crunch issuing from the blow, causing him to drop to his left knee, almost dropping Jessica’s pistol as she tried to wrench it from his hand. His companion knocked her to the ground, pinning her.
Captain Curtis arrived, gun in hand, in time to shoot the two in the truck with deadly aim as they turned from Jessica and approached him. From behind the apartment came two more Marines as the other two Aztecs started to drag Jessica kicking and yelling toward the back of the apartment she had rented. Lieutenant Merk, a particularly large Marine, snapped the neck of the man who had held Jessica to the ground with a quick twist of his powerful arms. The final Aztec, the Marines wrestled to the ground, alive but badly beaten and unconscious for the sheriff to question later.
“Thank you again, Perry,â€� she said catching her breath. “I won’t turn down another escort home from you or your men. Guess I’m not as good at self-defense as I would like to think.â€�
“Jessica, you do a fine job, but with odds like that, even we’d have a difficult time,â€� Perry told her as the other three Marines joined them and gave her a little hug. All four waited with Jessica until the sheriff arrived. Ms. Simon arrived moments later, having heard the call on her scanner.
“Ms. Carter,â€� Merk, one of Pericles’ squad told her. “We think you do a great job at self-defense, but we all would be a great deal less concerned if you would allow one of us to be nearby at all times.â€� His handsome caramel face turned a deeper coffee and his golden eyes sparkled, reminiscent of his mixed Creole ancestry, “that is when you are, ah…â€�
“I know what you mean Merk, and thank you.� she lightly patted the highly muscled back of the Marine Lieutenant she had come to think of as one of her seven brothers. They always were there when she needed them and always ready to lend a hand. Jessica wondered again about the air of mystery that surrounded the tightly knit group of seven Marines.
“Why did you follow me, Perry?� Jessica asked, thankful he had.
“I wanted to tell you the General is going to move the artifacts the day you’re going on the dive, he wanted to know if it was going to be a problem for you.â€�
“Oh, no, I don’t need to be there.â€� Jessica told Perry.
“No, you really don’t.â€� Perry agreed.
The sheriff finished their report. They had the dead bodies of the three Aztecs removed to determine next of kin and one badly beaten who would be unconscious for a while. Jessica and Perry both denied knowing who they were or why they kept trying to get Jessica. Her only theory was in connection with the dig. Perry knew but they would never have believed him.
“Did you tell Bruce when the artifacts are being moved?� Perry asked Jessica later.
“No, he doesn’t need to be there. Anthony Sutherland might want to know, but it isn’t necessary. General Grill wants it kept on a need to know. The forms have been filed.â€� Jessica told Perry. “It’s in the military’s hands now. The state has been out of the loop since we discovered the room with the flying craft.â€�
“Jessica,â€� Meredith said when the Marines had left, “I was just closing up my office here. I sure didn’t expect you to be attacked again. Are you sure you’re okay?â€�
“Yeah, Meredith, I’m fine.â€� Jessica laughed. “Those guys are really determined. I hope this is the end of it. I would hate to go through the rest of my life with them on my tail.â€�
“If so, you are going to need a guard dog,â€� Meredith laughed. “Well, if you’re in the Navy, they will have a tougher time of it.â€� They both laughed.
“Guess so. Where is your base office at, Meredith?� Jessica asked.
“Miami, now,� Meredith answered, a little dejected.
“Keep in touch, and keep riding your bike.â€� Jessica told her. “That was too much money to spend on a bike just for a few short rides. You know there are some great off-road places to ride around the Miami area. You might grow to enjoy the climate down here after you get accustomed to it.”
“I’ll look into those, I promise, and I’m looking forward to seeing the Keys,â€� Meredith said. “See you.â€�
“Yeah,� Jessica waved as Meredith drove away, wondering if the woman really would continue to ride and if she would ever find Florida the wonderful place to live she did. The last few rides she had seemed to enjoy herself.
Jessica planned to move back to her parents’ home over the weekend. Monday she and Bruce would go on their dive, after that she would take care of some unfinished business. Finally, she would fly west to Edwards Air Force Base. Jessica had hoped to have some time to visit Hawaii with her parents; now that would have to wait. Absently Jessica wondered if the Edwards facility was the correct facility for the artifacts, possibly the isolation for security and the desert air would help preserve them. Strange place for Navy personnel, Jessica thought as she unlocked her door and went inside. An uneasy feeling assailed her, everything was in place and secure, but somehow seemed out of place slightly. She shivered, chills going down her spine. Jessica picked up the strange metal maps and studied them for a long time and her thoughts dwelled on the inexplicable Xerxes Kallias.
Absently she found his entrancing aquamarine eyes staring back at hers from a place deep in her subconscious. She even now could feel his lips on hers after he had pulled her, at the last second, from the altar of death on the night of the hurricane. Jessica became angry with herself, her pulse rate rising with the memory of that event - she wasn’t sure if it was because of the closeness of her own death or of his nearness. She forced the feeling of the safety his arms from her mind. Tossing the metal maps into her briefcase, she packed her few belonging and headed to her parents’ home in Jupiter. It was a long fifty-minute drive back to Jupiter, and the thoughts of the handsome warrior who had saved her came back again this time with the memories of the other times she had seen him. Now Jessica was sure she had seen Pericles and his squad of Marines there too. A veil remained over parts of her memory. Something about Xerxes Kallias was affecting her and she did not know what it was.
*
Marcus had taken the risk of using the cell phone he had purchased on his last trip to the surface. In order to use the cell phone, he checked out one of the public use subs and taken it to the surface. This wasn’t considered a crime, but not exactly proper either. However, it had become the only way he could contact Anthony Sutherland. What Anthony told him, or didn’t tell him, enraged Marcus, almost pushing him to the point of past his current level of insanity, only his back-up plan had kept him from slipping further.
Marcus was in a rage! Again! Only his wife, Helena observed his temper tantrum. His first plan to ruin Xerxes was not going to work, Anthony had confirmed it. This was his best plan, the one that involved the least risk to him. Now Marcus knew he would have to begin to implement his second plan.
It wasn’t killing the two Obelisk guards that bothered him; he had kille
d before, or stealing the Vortex Stones, but Marcus had hoped not to leave Atlantis again. Marcus laughed. He would use Anthony for his dirty work when he got to West Palm Beach. He enjoyed using Anthony. He laughed again, and his sudden mood swing drew Helena’s attention.
“Marcus, what is wrong with you?� Helena asked him, worry over his sudden mood swings plain on her face. Marcus looked at her with disgust. She was still a beautiful woman, and several years younger than Marcus was. Helena cared for Marcus but theirs had been an arranged marriage. Marcus had never forgotten it or forgiven either his parents or hers. His wife should have been Astraea, the High Lady of Atlantis, not the daughter of a Councilman from Pacifica, and he should have been High Lord of Atlantis and Pacifica.
“Nothing is wrong, except we are governed by a child who has risked our security for the youthful lusts of an adolescent.�
“Marcus what are you talking about?� Helena asked him. “Lord Xerxes is clearly in love with this woman, and he is certainly not an adolescent. Atlantis is in no danger, if anything he has provided well for us, as did his father. Why are you making such an issue about this?�
“Because he is too young to rule, because he isn’t fit to rule, I should be ruler!â€� Marcus yelled at his calm spouse.
“Marcus, you speak treason, and you are not being reasonable. If you had a logical reason, the Council would agree with you. Lord Xerxes has in no way put Atlantis at risk. He has always put our security and well-being first. You championed this issue since his father’s reign. Please, Marcus, let this go before you lose everything we have worked to have.â€�
“Leave me be, woman!â€� Marcus stormed out of their home. He wandered through the streets of Atlantis despondently. Finding himself surrounded by the peaceful and clean metropolis of a near perfect utopian society only served to enrage him further. His anger quickly turned into animosity and his second plan became clearer in his mind. After Xerxes’ sister celebrated her wedding, he would steal two of the Vortex Stones and leave Atlantis. When he reached West Palm Beach, he would contact Anthony and enlist his aid. He would need help from his two nephews who still had a few days before they were to report for military duty.
They could not really refuse and Marcus would not tell them what he was doing. Afterward he would be secure in the upper-world and Atlantis would be uncovered; he would use Anthony to make the big announcement to the upper-world press. At last they would discover there really was an Atlantis, thriving and alive and in their very own backyard, so to speak.
Then Marcus remembered his other contacts, the more recent ones. If the locals would not buy his information, the Middle Eastern ones seemed interested enough. For now, they thought he had information to a secret Navy base - but what irony, the very people who first wrote about Atlantis would be ones to release the secrets of the real Atlantis. If they were the people he did business with, he would keep the Vortex Stones, and those alone would make him a wealthy man. His mood changed for the better, as suddenly as it had become dark. Yes, it would work, Marcus thought, either way. He walked back home in a much better mood. Marcus began to laugh, people turned to look at him. He stopped, smiled, and looked embarrassed.
Marcus didn’t know his behavior added to the rumors that had been circulating about him. People moved away. A person with Marcus’ problem was uncommon in Atlantis. Atlantians usually sought professional help for such illnesses, and sought treatment early, but Marcus refused to see he needed help. His fellow citizens felt sympathy for him but, more so for his wife. His condition did not appear to have reached a disruptive stage yet, therefore public intervention was not warranted.
Helena watched him carefully when he came back. His mood swings always worried her, but lately they had become more drastic and now she was just plain scared. Until now, Helena always wanted children, now she was relieved they had not been able to have them. Marcus was planning something and she was afraid to consider what it might be. They kept separate rooms now, since she had become suspicious of his infidelity on one of his upper-world trips. They had never became close, love never developed between them, nor affection, but they managed to live together - rather they co-existed in the same house.
“Marcus,â€� Helena said to her husband, “I heard from my mother in Pacifica while you were out. She isn’t well. Tomorrow I am going to visit her for a while - she needs me. I hope you don’t mind?â€�
“No. By all means Helena, go.� Marcus could not be more pleased than to get rid of her for a while. Perhaps she would stay there; nothing would please him more.
Helena decided to accept Lord Xerxes’ offer while Marcus was out and contacted Geb, his assistant, to arrange transportation to Pacifica. Normally such arrangements would require several days, but true to his word, Xerxes had left instructions with his aid and Helena could leave at her convenience. She left the next morning,
Marcus rose and left their home before Helena. He had not taken the time or cared to bid her goodbye. This hurt her feelings somewhat, though they were no longer intimate, he could have had the courtesy to say farewell.
Helena was more than surprised that Xerxes had put one of his own Royal yacht-subs at her disposal and that she was the only passenger. Helena gratefully enjoyed the stress-free voyage, her departure noted by the agents Xerxes had assigned to watch Marcus.
Xerxes couldn’t blame Helena, he had known her since childhood, and she was always rather sad. Now he understood why. Xerxes truly felt sorry for her. If what he now knew of Marcus did not implicate her, he would take care to see that Helena would not be charged and be left as unaffected as possible. Xerxes felt sure she was innocent of her husband’s intrigues. Later the yacht’s stewards, one of which was a medical technician, reported Helena slept almost the entire journey. Exhausted, overwrought and near collapse, Xerxes suspected Helena might need medical help and sent the medical personnel along as a precaution. Her mother, who lived in Pacifica, met her upon her arrival. It had been a tearful reunion reported back to Xerxes moments after their departure from the Pacifica marina to return to Atlantis. Fortunately, Helena’s health had not been an issue.
Chapter Fifteen
Pink clouds in the morning, sailors take warning! Sailors have followed this advice for centuries. However, this morning was otherwise so beautiful, the pink so fleeting and the meteorologists predictions so good, Jessica and Bruce figured they would be back before any storms would come their way. Yet any east coast Florida native knows the Gulf Stream that runs through the Devil’s Triangle determines its own weather.
Glancing back at the dock on their way out of the Palm Beach inlet they both waved at Ms. Simon who was waving at them from the dock. She was actually waving for them to turn around and come back. Neither Jessica, nor Bruce, intended to do that.
“She wanted to come with us,� Jessica said and took a deep breath of the clean salt air heated by the morning sun.
“Yeah and had she known in time, she would have,â€� Bruce said as they passed out of her sight. Both laughed and turned to set up their dive gear. Neither saw the angry and frustrated look that was on Ms. Simon’s face as she turned back to her car, as they were too far from the marina.
“We still haven’t discussed what we are looking for, Jessica.â€� Bruce said nonchalantly as he checked his dive equipment for the third time an hour later. “Or where you obtained the coordinates you gave the boat Captain.â€�
“I can’t tell you, Bruce. If we find anything, then I will tell you. If we don’t, then we will have had a nice dive.â€� Jessica said keeping her voice low and level as she too checked out her dive gear. She flashed him one of her knowing smiles.
“Just remember we still didn’t finish that little conversation we started before you were kidnapped by those weirdo Aztecs during the hurricane.â€�
“I haven’t forgotten.â€� Jessica assured him.
Their boat captain started to slow his boat engines.
“Get ready you two, we’re just about on top of your location. We are in about ninety feet of water that drops down to one hundred ten feet. You can calculate your dive tables for that depth. I’m going to anchor, there isn’t much of a current, and you should be able to go down the anchor line.â€�
“Thanks, Bob.� Jessica yelled up to their Captain. She and Bruce had dove with him several times and knew him to be a responsible and dependable Captain.
To save time and energy underwater, both rented underwater scooters and carried spare air supplies for decompression stops after they completed their exploration. Since their depth was a little greater than comfortable for sport diving, they chose to use mixed gases to extend their down time with less risk of the bends.
Entering the water, they checked their communications radios. “Okay, Bruce.� Jessica called, “Radio check.�
“I hear you five by five, Jess.â€� Bruce’s radio came in clear.
“Read you the same.� Jessica radioed back.
Both gave their boat Captain the traditional Okay and started their descent. Igraine had ventured back into the Gulf of Mexico instead of crossing the State and the Atlantic waters hadn’t been stirred up badly. After passing a thermocline at forty feet they found seventy-five feet of visibility and the bottom rushed up to meet them as if a curtain had been lifted. They paused to check their compasses and take fixes on their directions.
Jessica and Bruce both were feeling a bit disappointed, they expected to see perhaps an underwater Pyramid, instead they saw the usual beauty of lush corals and exotics fish, moray eels and a small shark or two.
“Bruce,� Jessica called, her voice sounded a bit mechanical. “Up ahead,� she pointed, checking her compass, “See that big coral outcropping?�
“Yes!� Bruce answered his voice sounded metallic and monotone.
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