"You mean the 'open sesame' in fairy tales?"
"Okay, let's use our fine brains. First where did this metal box come from? Who made it? When was it made? How was it made? Why was it made? And last of all where was it made?"
"One more Tall Man, how the hell do we open it?"
"I'm going to try something and don't laugh at me, okay?"
Gwen said, "I promise not to laugh."
Matt looked and guessed where about the middle was and punched the side of the door near the edge. Gwen sucked in a lung full of air as the door popped open. Matt fell over laughing but quickly came back to see what was inside.
Matt reached in a pulled out a leather bound book about 3 inches thick. Later they would measure it and it was about 16 inches wide by 20 inches long. It was dry as a bone. Without opening it he handed it to Gwen. Matt noticed her hands were shaking but she held it firmly. She said, "Let's get it out of the salt air Matt. God only knows what the paper is made out of. Matt shut the door and raced down to turn on the a/c. Gwen followed him holding the precious book to her chest. While Gwen sat there at the table, Matt hauled in the anchor and set sail for up the coast at dead slow. He set the auto pilot and switched on the radar. He had a radar screen down below that would detect any traffic nearby. Coming back he found Gwen still sitting with the book held to her chest starring at the wall. Matt dug a half opened bottle of wine and poured both a large glass half full. This was not the time to savor the taste but to wake up with a burning in the throat. "Drink this my love. Take a healthy shot to find some strength."
She drank off a healthy swallow and began coughing. She sat the book down and quickly recovered. He sat next to her waiting patiently for her to open the book. Gwen used her finger nail to open the cover. The paper, if it was paper, was thick but hardy. The first page had a logo expertly drawn. "What is this," Gwen asked.
Matt was leaning into her shoulder looking at an image of roughly concentric circles within circles. Also in between the circles were, at first glance, a facsimile of cuneiform writing. Matt said, "Looks like we need some help here my fortune teller."
Gwen turned the page to reveal a very neat script in Old Latin. She could read this very well. "The first part says, 'Welcome to Contentment.'" She looked at Matt who in return looked at her.
"Is that to mean the place where they are or their state of mind, I wonder?"
"I think what I need to do is to translate this into English the best I know how. It'll probably take a group of linguists to determine what some phrases or idioms are all about."
"Let's take a page by page picture and after that I'll take a small piece of a page to have it dated. Then we best place this in safe keeping in a location that is hermitically sealed for the future. I've a feeling we have the evidence to affirm the existence of what was known as Atlantis."
Gwen could feel his excitement and relished in his sense of happiness. However, one thing nagged at her and that was this could really complicate or change the way we viewed the evolution of mankind. With the evidence of ancient cuneiform writing this civilization could rock the anthropologist's former evolutionary beliefs.
Matt said, "Contentment could mean a number of things, but I think we must be careful not to read too much into the first sentence. What do you think my lucky piece?"
"At first glance here and my first impression is the writer is very appreciative of life and where they are. It's almost poetical and or a land of enchantment. I'm sure after I've read this ten times I'll have ten different impressions of what the writer is telling or writing about. Why don't you, Tall Man, take us to port and let's fly somewhere private."
"I like that idea and I'll leave you to your reading."
Gwen decided to go through the book quickly and then reread with thought. She felt the yacht gain speed moving quickly to port. Matt came down and adjusted the air con then went back up. Gwen never heard him coming or going. She was so wrapped up in the story. An hour later she closed the book and sat back while the yacht cut its speed. She felt the yacht bump up against the dock but never moved. She told Matt later that her head was so full of information and questions she felt paralyzed unable to move.
Matt must have known he was on his own securing the yacht to the dock. It wasn't like this was the first time, but it had been a long time since Gwen didn't help him tie up, put the fenders out and double check the moorings. Once all was good to go he came back in to sit down next to her. She looked up at him and smiled. He waited patiently for her to speak.
Gwen said, "I'm not sure what the hell is written here and what it's trying to tell me, but one thing I do know Matt Holmes, we've discovered something rather profound, is the word I'm looking for. Before we leave this boat today, you must read the contents using your speed reading technique. Do an overview and let's talk about it. I'm going to take a shower and while you're reading, I'll do some serious thinking."
From the shower Gwen could see Matt hunched over the book with one hand rubbing his forehead and the other set to turn the page. They'd grown so used to each other over the last two years it felt like two were one. She didn't know why but she soaped up twice and rinsed off twice as if to clean the thoughts out of her mind by using her body to substitute for her brain. By the end of her shower Gwen had verified what people had wanted to know for centuries. When it became known, 'The Land of Contentment' would be on everyone's lips for a long time to come.
Chapter Three
After leaving their yacht in long term parking, they flew to Chicago. Gwen's parents lived in South Chicago. Both her parents were happy with their unimportant life. He was a postman and she kept the house as a good German woman would: spotless. South Chicago was not noted for its high social class, but her parents enjoyed the melting pot of different races scattered throughout their neighborhood. Indeed some rough folks inhabited the area, but it was clearly known that the Sharlott family really didn't have anything of much value so they were left alone. Matt had on more than one occasion suggested they might like to move to Arizona or Florida, but they just smiled and said thank you but we like it here.
Matt flew to Arizona to have the book carbon dated. The University of Arizona is perhaps the premier place for carbon dating. After he dropped off the sample, Matt continued on to LA where he would meet Gwen in few days. They decided to hang around UCLA for a week and see what developed. Besides the fact Gwen had a warm relationship with her mentor Dr. J.B. Wallace.
Gwen's mother Ruth was tickled pink to see her daughter. Her mother had learned a long time ago to give her daughter Gwen lots of space and don't ask too many questions. Her father, a portly man with a sense of humor simply wanted some grandkids. Gwen had resigned herself that her father would keep asking until such time he had a drooling baby resting on his ample belly stretched out on his sofa. He wasn't demanding; just waiting patiently like most parents of retirement age for the grandkids to invade the house for Christmas.
Gwen did feel a little guilty and she confided in her mother that if she was to have a baby it would be from Matt. Matt had never broached the subject, but obliquely made it known kids would be welcome in his or their lives. At thirty one Gwen realized she was on borrowed time, but certainly now was not the time to become a mother. Or so she thought.
At dinner time the three of them sat around the kitchen table eating a pot roast. Pot roast was her father's favorite dish. Gwen was happy to see her father fairly healthy and happy. She tried to be upbeat even though the information she possessed would rock her parents and send shock waves reverberating around the world. Her mother said, "Gwen how long can you stay this time?"
Gwen knew that question was coming so she said, to make it sound a long time, "I can leave tomorrow night on the red eye to LA. That should give us some time mom to go shopping for some things I really need. Are you busy tomorrow mom?"
"You know very well I'm not busy most days of my life. I've lots of time to spend with you. What things in particular are you looking for?"
"Let's go to the mall then my dear. I haven't been there for ages and what about us having lunch somewhere nice?"
Father said, "Check out the maternity fashions while you two are out and about," Gwen almost choked on her roast then laughed so hard she almost threw up. Ruth had her head lying on her arm trying not to laugh while Walt's face portrayed a million dollar smile. When dinner was over it kind of seemed like old times being with her parents in her small house. If ever the word 'cozy' was appropriately used it was in a South Side neighborhood of blue collar working folks.
After a long day shopping Gwen and mother arrived home at the same time her father got off work. They ordered a pizza from a well known tavern that boasted that their pizza was not to be surpassed. It always took an hour or more before it was delivered. Gwen loved it and her short visit was mostly complete. At 10 pm she took a taxi to the airport; from there to LA and to meet Matt at the Holiday Inn. By the time she arrived at the hotel it was daylight and she was ragged out. She found Matt on his laptop and held a cell to his ear as she entered their room with the porter lugging her bags behind her. Matt left the laptop and tipped the porter while Gwen went directly to the shower.
Gwen hated airplanes mostly because of the fake air and the slimy feeling after hours of being stuck in a metal cylinder defying gravity. She still marveled at the fact a 747 weighing over six hundred thousand pounds could lift off and fly carrying three hundred thousand pounds.
The hot water was streaming through her blonde hair. Steam was rising and she felt life returning to her stiff body. A short time later she was toweling off listening to Matt talking to someone. She was not eves dropping but she just loved to hear his voice. It made her feel secure listening to his soothing voice most professors would die for. His reputation had been gaining in stature and with this discovery, they would be flooded with invitations to lecture or make a presentation. Gwen had on a new tank top and shorts. She fully intended to take the day off with some naps and love making.
Matt had just hung up when she stepped out of the bathroom. He never tired of looking at her beauty. If anything, he thought, our love grows stronger every day. He stood up and wordlessly took her into his arms burying his face in her still wet hair. Her hair smelled like almonds. He kissed the top of her head and said, "How's the folks?"
"Fine. We had a nice time. Mom and I went shopping, had a nice lunch and we talked more than we usually do. She did give me a surprise and said dad had prostate cancer, but the doctor said he should be fine. I hope so. Now, what's new on the Atlantis front or maybe I should say, the Land of Contentment?"
"The guys at U of A did a great job for us. The book dates--and are you ready for this-- roughly 12 thousand BP. As you know that box was of some kind of metal and way back then nobody that we know of was even making tools of bronze. I'm not going to go any further, but the evidence is growing and sooner if not later we'll have to mention the 'A' word."
Gwen flopped onto the king size bed and let out a groan. How are we going to reveal our find Tall Man.? As we both know, secrets are only kept in graveyards. We can keep it under wraps for a little while, but sooner or later ---well----shit will hit the fan."
"I'm listening and waiting for any ideas that you might have. I think we need to share our find with someone of like interest and who has both feet on the ground. I'm thinking about your old mentor JB at UCLA. His wife died last year and I remember you telling me he was very lonely. Shall we arrange a meeting with him?"
"I can't think of anyone else right now. I'll call him and maybe we can have dinner tonight. I need a long nap and some soft loving if you don't mind. My father got me all flustered always telling me he needs a grand kid. What say we put in a practice round Tall Man?"
After a long nap Gwen placed a call to her friend and teacher JB Wallace. He picked up on the second ring. Gwen said, "Professor JB this is Gwen. I'm sorry so long out of contact."
"Never mind Gwen. I can't remember yesterday anyway and today is a blessing you have called your dear old friend. What can I do for you and that tall good looking man of yours?"
"We'd like to take you to dinner JB. We've some things to share with you that I think will make you feel 20 years younger. No, not a blind date either!"
JB laughed and they named a restaurant for a 7 pm dinner date.
+++++
Matt was sitting at his laptop just staring at it when Gwen said, "What's wrong or what are you so deep in concentration about Tall Man?
"I was just thinking that all we did, or all that I did, was place a tarp over that metal box. I'm thinking how could I be so stupid. I need to call Senior Sid and have him lock that box up someplace safe."
Gwen stood still while he talked. She too felt like they had let a valuable archeological find for anyone who might take a notion to go aboard and look around.
While Matt was making an overseas call, he was correct in assuming someone might be snooping around their yacht. If Sid hurried down to the dock area he would have seen a middle aged man dressed like a tourist boldly walking around the yacht as if looking to purchase it. Near the electric winch with a tarp over it, sat the metal box. The man stared at it and then took pictures from every angle. Next he ran his hands over it and stuck a fingernail in the fine line of the door. The last thing he did was to take a pen knife and scrap a little metal off, but he shook his head that his knife produced not a thing. He heard voices and like the thief he was, scampered off the yacht to disappear into the busy market area.
++++++
Dr. Wallace sat patiently waiting for his favorite student and now colleague. He was proud of her in more ways than one. Most people would think it beneficial to be beautiful and blonde at the same time. Gwen was totally aware of the downside of being beautiful and intellectual at the same time. Most men's first impression was of her beauty and skipped the part of being an academic of the first caliber. For that reason, for the most part, she quit going to conventions or seminars on or pertaining to archeology. Matt was different in many ways. When he crashed in the library, he didn't stare at her chest or dress her down with his eyes, he made direct eye contact and asked her to join him for refreshment. In retrospect, she was a little put off that he didn't ogle over her fine looks. To Gwen, after two years, he still made direct eye contact and gave her every consideration of her academic career and insight into things he never thought about.
Gwen had shared her feelings with JB about Matt. For Gwen he was the grandfather she never had. Both he and his wife treated her like one of their own. She never knew why JB and his wife, Helen, never had any children. Now he was alone in the world. Indeed he had his chair at the university, but without his life companion, that chair meant nothing. When Gwen and Matt walked in she was a little taken back at how old he looked.
Being the consummate gentlemen, he stood up and gave Gwen a slight hug and shook Matt's hand with vigor. JB knew Gwen was giving him the once over so he tried hard to make light of their small talk. Matt ordered some wine and as usual he was spot on that the wine would calm JB down and just be himself.
JB took a deep breath and said, "I can't fool you Gwen. Yes, I'm devastated losing Helen. Nothing holds my interest anymore. I'm seriously thinking of resigning and maybe go on a dig to numb my empty space that follows me like a shadow." Gwen was seeing her mentor hurt worse than any physical injury that one would experience with severe pain. It was a loss that could not be replaced period, end of story.
Matt looked at Gwen, Gwen looked at Matt; the waiter arrived, saw the tense situation and scurried off. Gwen said, "JB we have something of great interest to share with you and after we have shared we would like for you to become part of our very selective team. In other words, resign your chair; come with us to record what our site ha
s unveiled. That's after what we tell you of our discovery, it's our wish that you'll agree to become part of what we have found."
Matt saw JBs bushy eyebrows go up and down indicating Gwen had struck a curiosity bone sending some electrical stimuli to his sharp mind. Matt could sense his need to ask a ton of questions, but like a good intellectual, he waited patiently for events to unfold. The waiter came back and our three archeologists calmly order dinner. After the waiter left, Gwen said, "I'm going to give it to you JB with both barrels. I see, or we see no other way. You're aware of our passion about Atlantis. An earthquake occurred recently and greatly disturbed our site just off the southeastern coast of Spain. When we went back, dove down 90 feet, we found a square metal box that had been unearthed by the quake. After winching it aboard our yacht, Matt was clever enough to figure out how to open it. Inside we found a big leather bound book that was written in Old Latin. Matt had the U of A date a piece of a page. Our new found book dated to 12 thousand BP. The box it came in was metal. What kind of metal we can't say.
What we can say is that after reading the contents, both Matt and I agree that other than earth life forms probably visited the lost civilization we call Atlantis."
Matt was watching JB closely. Anyone of common sense would probably not believe in visiting aliens. However, some academics would not discount the theory of aliens having previously visited earth long before humans decided to destroy each other by weapons of mass destruction. Wholesale slaughter was the idea in today's wars. Only the lord knows why and if He does, why is this race of humans bent on one up mans ship? Most would agree that it would be difficult to choose an earth culture to approach and say, "Hello, I'm from planet ….." I'd like to address the leaders of planet earth."
Dinner came and that left JB to think about what he'd been told. His first thoughts were, am I fit enough to do outside of office work? Am I too old to listen to new ideas and thoughts? Can I be worthy of a new discovery? How about my physical condition? I've been sitting in an office these past years and even though I'm not overweight, I could use some muscle tune up. JB munched away caught up in his own thoughts. Matt and Gwen left him alone and it felt good to eat good old American steak and baked potato.
Lost Continent Page 2
