Atlantis - Return of the Nation

Atlantis - Return of the Nation Page 42

by Steven Cook

  Minotaur and M’Varak faced each other and squared off.

  *

  The altar of Zeus 27th May

  ‘Let’s get this ceremony started,’ said Danny.

  He moved over to stand beside Agesilaus.

  ‘How can we? We don’t have him.’ Craig jerked his thumb in the direction of M’Varak.

  ‘We do not need him,’ said Sophia.

  ‘What?’ asked Craig.

  Danny pointed behind Craig, who turned and looked. Hernet paused in his grooming.

  ‘What?’ He looked at everybody staring at him.

  ‘There is, unless I am sadly mistaken, one of the exiled races.’ said Danny.

  ‘How did you figure that out?’ asked Craig.

  ‘Have you ever seen one before?’ smiled Danny.

  ‘But I thought we needed the other.’

  ‘M’Varak is hoping to distract Minotaur long enough for us to get through the ceremony. Take your positions.’

  Craig and the others returned to their pedestals.

  ‘When did you become a priest?’ he asked as Danny waved Agesilaus aside.

  ‘I’m not; I want to make sure we change the right things. It’s a computer of some kind. The pedestals are DNA interfaces of some kind. Ready?’

  He waited as they placed their hands on the pedestals. Hernet sat on his haunches and placed his front paws on the dome.

  ‘Zeus, hear our prayers.’ said Agesilaus

  The lights in the temple dimmed for a moment.

  ‘THIS IS ZEUS. WHO DISTURBS ME?’ A deep voice boomed out, filling the chamber.

  ‘I am Agesilaus, Priest of your Temple.’

  ‘Can we have a list of what we can change?’ asked Danny

  ‘WHO IS THE SECOND PERSON SPEAKING?’

  ‘Zeus. I am Daniel Morehouse of H.M.S. Daring.’

  ‘ASK YOUR REQUEST.’

  Danny and Agesilaus looked at each other.

  ‘It may have something to do with standing on this side of the altar,’ proposed Agesilaus.

  Danny shrugged.

  ‘I request clarification of the parameters of the Island of Arcanadia.’

  Agesilaus and Danny exchanged glances.

  ‘PARAMETERS ARE AS SHOWN.’

  Danny and Agesilaus looked down at the surface of the altar to see that its surface, previously opaque stone had changed. It had morphed into a glossy black screen across which a plethora of facts were displayed.

  As he scanned them Danny realised that several were changing.

  ‘Zeus, what is the intended final destination of Arcanadia?’

  ‘What’s up Danny?’ asked Craig.

  ‘ARCANADIA IS RESUMING ITS INITIAL LOCATION. COORDINATES OF 35 DEGREES 58 MINUTES NORTH, 6 DEGREES 14 MINUTES WEST.’ Zeus intoned.

  ‘That’s just near the Straits of Gibraltar,’ mused Craig.

  ‘Zeus, can you display a map of Arcanadia’s initial location overlaid on the current geography.’

  The screen changed to show a view of the coastlines of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsular. The Island of Arcanadia was displayed. It fitted snugly into the area of sea between the two landmasses. A thin ribbon of water could be seen to separate the continents.

  ‘What’s the distance between the island and the mainland?’

  ‘THE MEAN DISTANCE IS TWELVE MILES.’ Zeus boomed.

  ‘It’s going to block the entrance to the Med,’ gasped Craig.

  ‘I know,’ said Danny.

  He thought for a moment, doing a quick calculation in his head.

  ‘Zeus, reset final coordinates to 35 Degrees 58 Minutes North, 8 Degrees 14 Minutes West. And…’ He let his eyes scroll through the rest of the parameters.

  ‘What would you like changing?’ Agesilaus asked the others.

  ‘Can you get rid of the protective field?’ asked Craig.

  ‘Yes,’ he replied

  ‘That is not fair on us,’ countered Sophia. ‘The world has moved on but we have not. We will be at the mercy of the world. I am sure they will wish to exploit us.’

  ‘It would leave them defenceless,’ said Danny.

  ‘As a compromise it would be wise for us to have some advantages of the new world. Can you pull it back half a mile from the beaches? That way your vehicles and some of your technology could come onto the island but would not be able to hurt us inland,’ said Coran.

  ‘That’s fair. However, how about dropping the zone after a few years?’ Danny suggested.

  ‘I suggest twenty-five,’ said Sophia, ‘except for the immediate area around the temples.’

  The rest nodded.

  ‘OK.’ Danny nodded at Agesilaus.

  ‘Zeus, reduce the defensive zone by one mile from its current extent, but maintain the height of two thousand meters. After twenty-five years reduce the defensive zone to an area of two hundred metres around the Temples of Zeus and Poseidon.’

  Danny looked at each of them in turn then looked beyond the pillars where M’Varak was keeping his distance from Minotaur.

  ‘Zeus, the final change is to lock the amended parameters as Read only. Nobody is to be able to change them,’ he said.

  The others nodded.

  ‘THESE CHANGES IN PARAMETERS REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF ONE OF THE RULING CLASS, ONE OF PURE BLOOD, ONE OF OUTWORLD BLOOD AND ONE OF THE OUTCAST RACES.’

  ‘We have the necessary representatives,’ said Agesilaus.

  ‘I do not believe we have,’ said Sophia, raising her hands from the pedestal.

  ‘Shit!’ said Craig explosively.

  ‘I was born in America,’ said Sophia in explanation.

  ‘Oh dear,’ said Coran.

  *

  The Temple 27th May

  Minotaur and M’Varak hunched forward, facing each other. Slowly they stepped from side to side, looking for an opportunity to attack. Minotaur had his head turned slightly to favour his good eye.

  M’Varak was hoping to stall the fight as long as possible to provide Danny and the others time to carry out the ceremony. He had his smaller size and youth as an advantage. However, he knew his fathers reputation as a warrior, and knew that any prolonged conflict with him would swing the fight towards the older Minoan as Minotaur’s size and stamina would win out.

  Minotaur took a sudden leap forward, his arms outstretched, fingers splayed in an attempt to grab hold and bring his opponent into his grip. M’Varak skipped backwards, slapping the outstretched hands away.

  ‘Afraid to fight?’ taunted Minotaur.

  ‘I have patience. I will fight when I need to.’

  ‘It is time to fight now.’

  ‘I disagree.’

  Minotaur feinted a lunge again, causing M’Varak to skip backwards again.

  Minotaur laughed harshly.

  ‘A Minoan who does not want to fight is hardly good king material,’ he spoke for the crowds benefit.

  There was some mumbling agreement. M’Varak flicked his eyes towards them.

  It was all Minotaur needed. In a flash he leapt forwards, covering the ten feet between them in a fraction of a second. M’Varak reacted to the motion but Minotaurs clenched fist knocked aside his hastily raised arm to smack into M’Varak’s jaw.

  M’Varak was thrown from his feet by the strength of the blow. Minotaur stood silently then looked at M’Sorta, waiting for the confirmation.

  ‘Strike to Minotaur.’

  As M’Varak struggled to his feet Minotaur slowly turned and calmly walked over to pick up his axe. He gripped it in his right fist and slowly swept it through the air in a series of elegant arcs.

  Slowly the King of the Min
oans walked back towards M’Varak. He altered the grip on the axe to take it in both hands. With a bellow he swept it back behind him and swept it over his head towards the exposed back of his son.

  M’Varak rolled off his knees sideways out of the axes range and struggled to his knees. The axe struck the ground, throwing up a spray of sparks. Minotaur’s muscles absorbed the massive shock.

  M’Varak levered himself to his feet and ran his hand across his mouth. His knuckles came away bloodied. Working his mouth he swilled and spat out a wad of blood. He looked evenly at Minotaur who was standing with a wide bovine grin on his face.

  ‘Does it hurt?’

  M’Varak spat again, the gob splattering near Minotaurs feet. He reached into his mouth and tugged free a loose tooth. He looked at it briefly before flicking it away.

  ‘No, that tooth needed to come out.’

  Minotaur leapt forward again, jabbing his axe at M’Varak. The younger warrior twisted to one side and grabbed the axe behind the head with his left hand. As Minotaur pulled the axe back towards him, M’Varak jumped with the motion, ending the action by smacking his fist down onto Minotaur’s snout.

  He bounced past as Minotaur lashed out with the axe, missing him entirely.

  ‘Strike to M’Varak,’ called M’Sorta impartially.

  M’Varak jogged towards where his sword harness lay on the ground. As he stooped to collect it Minotaur launched at him, axe sweeping low and level.

  M’Varak rolled with the stoop, snatching the harness and dragging it out of harms way. In a smooth movement he came to his feet and settled the harness over his shoulder. Automatically his left hand reached behind to grab the bottom of the scabbard as his right hand jabbed over his shoulder, grabbed the hilt and drew the sword with a ringing noise.

  Minotaur watched as M’Varak settled his feet in a steady stance and gripped the long, heavy blade in both hands. He moved forward cautiously, aware of the reach of the blade and its user’s familiarity with it. He altered the grip on his axe to change his tactics.

  M’Varak carefully stepped around to the right and closer to the altar. With a slight twist of his wrist he angled the blade to reflect the glaring white light from the top of one of the pillars directly into Minotaur’s good eye.

  As Minotaur twisted his head to avoid the beam of light M’Varak attacked. The sword flashed down. It was barely met by the axe blade raised at the last second. The clash of steel rang through the chamber.

  For a few blows Minotaur was on the defensive. However, with a particularly strong parry he threw back M’Varak and responded with sharp, controlled jabs and sweeps of his axe. For a few seconds they traded blows and parries until M’Varak broke the exchange and stood back. He dragged in a deep breath, flooding his lungs with oxygen in an attempt to regain some energy.

  He knew of Minotaur’s love of the axe as a weapon, but had never realised how adept, indeed masterful he was with it. It was handled with ruthless efficiency, each swing and jab at the optimum of weight and distance. He wondered whether he was capable of beating him, never mind holding him off long enough for Danny and his friends to carry out the ceremony.

  Minotaur was surprisingly pleased at the way his son had fought so far. The initial attack had been close to breaching his defences. However, he knew that the heavy blows struck by the axe would be draining the stamina from M’Varak and would be weakening his sword.

  After a slight pause the two Minoans began trading blows again. To M’Sorta the speed of the exchange was frighteningly fast. The axe was slowly but surely making more attacks, with the sword parrying later and later. He decided it was only a matter of time before Minotaur triumphed. Oddly this didn’t fill him with joy.

  *

  The Altar of Zeus 27th May

  ‘We need Eraz or Saraph,’ said Coran.

  They all turned to look through the columns to see Minotaur and M’Varak trading blows. Beyond the two they could see a large group of Minoans clustered around the remaining prisoners.

  ‘That looks easy enough,’ said Craig.

  ‘Tell me to shut up if I am out of place,’ said Hernet quietly.

  ‘Go ahead,’ said Danny.

  ‘If I am a replacement Outcast Race, would it not follow that Agesilaus could be a replacement Pure Blood?’ The sphinx licked his paw and resumed his grooming.

  Slowly they turned to look at, first the sphinx, then Agesilaus.

  ‘I suppose he is correct. I am a pure blood Atlantian. All priests are.’

  ‘Quick, get to the station.’

  Agesilaus hitched up his robes and scuttled around to the pedestal. He smiled and nodded as Sophia stepped aside and moved to one side.

  ‘Zeus, we are ready.’ Danny spoke to the air.

  ‘THE CHANGE IN PARAMETERS REQUIRES THE CONSENT OF ONE OF THE RULING CLASS, ONE OF PURE BLOOD, ONE OF OUTWORLD BLOOD AND ONE OF THE OUTCAST RACES.’ Zeus reiterated.

  ‘We have the representatives,’ Danny replied.

  ‘THE REQUESTS FOR CHANGES IN PARAMETERS ARE THREEFOLD. ONE, FOR THE RETRACTION OF THE DEFENSIVE FIELD BY ONE MILE FROM ITS CURRENT EXTENT FOR A PERIOD OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, FOLLOWED BY A REDUCTION TO TWO HUNDRED METRES FROM THE TEMPLES OF ZEUS AND POSEIDON. TWO, THE AMENDMENT OF THE FINAL LOCATION OF ARCANADIA TO 35 DEGREES 58 MINUTES NORTH, 8 DEGREES 14 MINUTES WEST. THREE, THE LOCKING OF ALL PARAMETERS FOR PERPETUITY.’

  ‘That is correct,’ said Danny.

  There was a pause.

  ‘RULING CLASS, GIVE ME YOUR CONSENT,’ ordered the booming voice.

  Coran was bathed in a beam of solid light from the ceiling. He looked up in shock then flinched as he felt the needles puncture his flesh.

  He looked at Agesilaus.

  ‘What do I say?’

  ‘Say your name, that you are of the Ruling Class and that you give consent.’

  ‘I am Coran, of the Ruling Class. I give my consent to the changes.’

  Agesilaus nodded.

  The light flipped off, leaving Coran feeling chilled. He looked around in wonder.

  ‘PURE BLOOD, GIVE ME YOUR CONSENT.’

  At his pedestal Agesilaus was flooded with light. He stood rock steady as the needles jabbed into his palm and his blood was sampled.

  ‘I am Agesilaus, a pure blood. I give my consent to the changes.’ The Priest has his head tilted back; obviously basking in the attention he was under.

  He relaxed as the light disappeared. He and Coran turned to look at Craig.

  ‘OUTWORLDER, GIVE ME YOUR CONSENT.’

  Craig was bathed with the light. As the needles pricked his palms he smiled.

  ‘Just like getting a tattoo.’

  ‘Craig, say the lines.’ Danny admonished.

  Craig looked at his friend.

  ‘Ok. I am Craig Bradbury. I am considered an Outworlder. I give consent to the changes.’

  The light switched off. Craig raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his brow, leaving a bloody streak.

  ‘OUTCAST, GIVE ME YOUR CONSENT.’ The disembodied voice of Zeus boomed out.

  Hernet looked at the others, a big grin on his youthful face. He looked back at where the gathered Minoans were watching the fight between Minotaur and M’Varak and stuck his tongue out at them.

  *

  The Temple 27th May

  M’Varak realised that his chances of winning were slowly slipping away. It was becoming harder and harder to raise the sword to a position where he could deflect Minotaurs blows. The previously pristine blade was now nicked and dulled.

  Minotaur paused in his attack, giving chance for M’Varak to step back and draw breath. The king was barely breathing hard, unlike his son, whom was more accustomed to skirmishes then stand up battles.

  ‘You may choose exile,’ Minotaur said.


  ‘What would you do if I did that?’

  ‘I would continue as I have planned.’

  ‘You would kill the prisoners?’ M’Varak breathed in hard.

  ‘They will be the start of Minoan dominance.’

  ‘Then I will carry on fighting. I have stood beside the humans and they have treated me as an equal. They have not belittled me or put me down. They have seen my faults and weaknesses and they have not exploited them. I consider them my friends.’

  Minotaur looked at M’Varak in disgust.

  ‘They are unworthy to look at us. By treating them as equals you have demeaned our race.’

  Minotaur gripped the haft of his axe tightly.

  ‘All knowledge of you will be stricken. The name M’Varak will no longer be given to Minoans. What was once a proud name will now carry only shame.’

  Minotaur snapped his jaws shut in finality and rushed forward to attack.

  M’Varak raised his sword and defended himself from the first flurry of jabs and sweeps. Between one jab and another Minotaur altered the grip on his axe, slightly changing the angle of attack. In his exhausted state M’Varak missed the switch and parried as usual.

  The blade of his sword deflected the blow, but instead of slipping away it got caught between the blade of the axe and the haft. With a twist of his thick wrist Minotaur put sudden pressure across the flat of the blade.

  The blade shattered, throwing the majority of the blade into the air. The concussion passed through the remainder of the weapon into M’Varak’s hands, numbing them and causing his to drop the useless weapon.

  Minotaur followed though by charging at M’Varak and bundling him from his feet. The larger Minoan followed him to the floor, driving the air from his lungs as he landed on top of him.

  In desperation M’Varak managed to grab the shaft of Minotaur’s axe as it was pressed down towards his throat. Minotaur shifted his position to bring more of his weight to bear. As he did he pressed on M’Varak’s sword harness, driving a hard object into his chest.

  ‘RULING CLASS, GIVE ME YOUR CONSENT.’ Zeus’ voice boomed in the background.

  M’Varak absently noticed that Minotaur’s ears twitched at the sound.

  ‘PURE BLOOD, GIVE ME YOUR CONSENT.’

 

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