Lost Continent

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  "Your guess is as good as mine Jack. I've no idea what's in the box, but what we do know is its approximate size. Now back to you, how do we find out what's in the box?"

  "I think we need to find the janitor and bend his or her arm with either some coin or a twist."

  At the Huron Tower's fortieth floor, the Duck and Waffle had a lock on the best view in town. They were graciously shown to a table with an incomparable view of London. Liz sucked in a lungful of air as they sat down. Barry said next to her ear, "Now this is what I call a nice birthday present. However, I'm not sure if Matt even knows it's your special day."

  Liz turned her head almost brushing his lips. "I'll never forget this day as long as I live. First it was the guy with the bulge in his skivvies and then his beautiful voice. Next he topped it off with a tongue buried in my mouth. Now I'm at this beautiful restaurant having dinner with my best friends. I think I'm going to cry Barry."

  Gwen was listening and said, "Liz, enjoy this day. Things could get a little rough from now on. What I mean is, I saw two guys watching us load into the van. I've no idea if they're dangerous or not. Be that as it may, what we have is an artifact that will literally change the world. Some people won't like that and others will. And still others will try and exploit the find. If either of the two of you want out, now is the time."

  "No Gwen, I'm in and not afraid of a little danger. My father made me train in martial arts and I can handle a pistol very well. At the time I didn't think much about it, but now I'm grateful for his teachings."

  "I've no defensive skills to speak of," said Barry. "I've always been a lover not a fighter. But give me a sword and I'll poke holes in you before you know what hit you. My umbrella doubles as a sword. While at the university fencing was my sport. I gave up rowing as there was too much back biting. Fencing is just one on one. Only a tiger could drag me away from this exiting time. Count me in please."

  Mac sat facing Matt. Matt had decided that Mac was a man of few words. He hoped a glass or two of wine might loosen his tongue. JB sat next to Gwen near the window. While Matt was choosing a wine, JB asked Mac, "Before this discovery Mac, if you would please, what was your impression of Atlantis being real or unreal."

  "I suppose I was on the fence JB. As you well know in the 1800s many discoveries were made and scientists either affirmed or denied each one. Many learned men wound up with egg on their face. Nowadays, most keep an open mind. I do for sure. Every story, fable or folklore has a basis of truth somewhere buried in the repetition of its telling. If Plato spoke of Atlantis back then I'm inclined to believe an advanced civilization did in fact reside somewhere around the Mediterranean. However, the origin and its demise is still in question. This artifact will lead us on many errant paths until we discover the correct trail to the truth."

  "On that note let's look at the menu to see what each of us likes. I dare say that of the six of us, none will order the same dish."

  Gwen said, "Now what's that suppose to mean Tall Man? If it's what I think it means, we humans each have our own minds to seek the path of truth of our history. So there. I'm having the Scottish Smoked Salmon."

  Matt said, grinning, I'm having oysters and no pun intended."

  Liz was smiling with her head down pretending to read the menu; as was Barry. Barry dropped his hand under the table and squeezed her thigh. Liz turned her head and glared at him. Barry loved living on the edge. He wished Liz could see his interest in her. What was difficult was the fact he was so egregious and she was so shy he didn't want to smother her.

  The waiter came, orders were taken, wine was sipped and conversation flowed. Mac was beginning to loosen up and sharing some of his thoughts with the group. "Of course an astronomer will know more than me, but those circles and dots very definitely could be of another solar system. To travel back and forth, would take the theoretical wormhole idea. I need not remind you that idea hasn't been established at this time and place on earth. If, as you say the text says, some humans were transferred back to their home world, would therefore, require speed greater than the speed of light. The implications are astounding."

  The arrival of either soup or salad broke off the conversation. Each was left with their own thoughts. They'd no more than finished the soup or salad when dinner arrived. Around the table you could hear murmurs of how tasty the food was. Nobody was in a hurry as they savored the food and wine. Liz was in heaven thinking that she had finally found her place in the world. At twenty four she was just finishing her master's degree. Next would be her doctorate, she hoped.

  Gwen's thoughts were on Dr. Alice Winslow. They were roughly the same age, but age was about the only thing they shared. As she ate her Scottish Salmon, she reviewed Dr. Winslow's bio. Her fame had come when she discovered inside the Andromeda Galaxy a system not unlike our solar system with planets orbiting a star. Her proven discovery opened up the theory of other life forms about two years ago. She gone on a tour to promote the idea of an advanced space program designed to place on the moon a Hubble like telescope. Her fund raising held promise, but was slow in developing. Maybe this artifact they had discovered would help jump start the moon project.

  Matt said, "A toast to our birthday girl Liz." All raised their glasses and took a sip.

  "I suppose it's time for dessert Tall Man," said Gwen. "I've a sweet tooth tonight. Also a coffee mocha would help my craving for sweets."

  "I'll get our waiters attention in just a second my love. The next thing will be you wanting some dill pickles," he bent over laughing holding his napkin over his mouth. Liz snapped her head up and looked at Gwen, silently asking if she was with child. Gwen shrugged her shoulders in answer.

  They made arrangements with Mac to meet him the next day just after noon at the museum. Matt said he would spend the next morning searching for Dr. Winslow. As the next day was Saturday he hoped she would be home. If not Matt thought Barry would have to go personally looking for the elusive astronomer.

  The next morning, Matt half asleep, reached out for Gwen. She was not there, but he didn't panic. His mind dialed in that she loved to watch the sun rise over the river. He could tell it was sunny out as the rays streamed forth into the bedroom. He rolled over and dozed off again.

  Gwen was in the Lotus position meditating. She was searching for the peaceful place where she felt safe and secure. With the rising sun casting its warmth to her, she drifted into a place she was looking for. Her heart wanted comfort under an apple tree that hung heavy with ripe fruit. Ever since she was a little girl hearing the story of Johnny Appleseed, she revealed in the essences of apples. She felt herself drifting away from the orchard back to real time and place.

  Gwen stood up and did some stretching Tai Chi exercising and then went to take a shower. It was time to begin what she thought, a long day forthcoming. Her thinking was spot on as usual. Before the morning was out they had done a day's work. Barry had found Dr. Winslow at Mills Observatory giving a presentation to a bunch of school kids. JB had been working on the code or message; Liz was following the delivery of the steel container; Matt spent the morning on the phone with his lawyer.

  Gwen had personally talked to Dr. Alice Winslow and she agreed to come to London Monday morning early. Gwen hung up and when Matt had finished his phone conversation, told him the good news about the lady astronomer coming. She also told him Alice sounded excited about a new artifact with astronomical implications.

  JB thought that the first few pages of the book would give a hint as to the message or to the code. He spent the morning translating and thinking. He was careful not to outthink himself, but to keep it fairly simple. He thought if the author wanted to relay a message, then the author shouldn't make it too difficult to read or understand.

  The first thing he did was write in English the nouns. He looked for nouns that were repeated and not places within Atlantis or 'The Land of Contentment'. The search went on till late in the morning.

  It was lunch time and Matt said, "Hey everybody, I think
we need to hire a cook. If you agree raise your right hand. If you want Barry to be our cook, raise your left hand. Okay, for an outside cook raise your right hand------------ah, let's see, only one right hand. Now all for Barry raise the left hand---------------wow, Barry by a landslide."

  The humor lightened up the atmosphere and Barry gave off a visible sigh of relief when Matt asked Liz to find a cook. He also asked her to order some pizza, chips and or BBQ chicken, or all of the above he said.

  Down at street level our two lookouts were watching as a pizza delivery man drove up. Then a fish and chips van arrived and finally a BBQ chicken car made it three lunch deliveries to the top floor. The short guy said, "Jesus, those guys must be really hungry. I wonder if they would mind if we joined them."

  The tall guy looked down at his partner and said, "Go ahead. I'll wait for you here. If the boss calls I'll tell him where you are. Get real or get fired dip shit."

  Thirty minutes later they watched their targets get into a van and drive off. They too scrambled for their car to follow. They didn't go far only to the British Museum. The tall guy called the boss. "Okay stay there and follow when they leave," said one twin.

  The Blake Twins were mulling over the situation concerning the archeology team and what was so important stashed in the British Museum. John asked his brother, "Any progress on finding someone in maintenance that might shed some light on what is happening with this new development?"

  "We're close, as I understand it. Word has it a woman has need of some coin as her daughter was left high and dry by a worthless husband. We told her we just wanted information and not to steal anything. She told Edward she'd snoop around. He enticed here with a few pounds."

  "Sir Edward said something was shipped out of Madrid going to the British Museum. He's got a team on that delivery and a team sitting in Spain watching the yacht. He's getting a little discouraged at the lack of information about the discovery. If something doesn't break soon brother, I fear he will take some stronger measures. It might be time for a little 'Watergate' of our own London style."

  The British Museum is on everyone's must visit list to England. It's a massive structure with a recent glass dome casting real light on its display artifacts. Any visitor must have strong legs and stamina to spend the day viewing ancient objects.

  By prearrangement, Dr. McFadden met the team at the entrance of revolving doors. It was a long walk to the basement lecture room that was closed to all except Dr. McFadden and the new artifact. In fact a guard was placed outside the door. Patrons viewing the other basement rooms never gave it a thought that inside that particular lecture room was an object that would indeed be a game changer.

  When the team entered two other colleagues were hunched over a sealed glass case containing the book. Of course the room was temperature and humidity controlled.

  Introductions were made with the two museum staff under the direction on Mac. Both were young and doing field work for their graduate degrees. Lisa Edwards gave the team a warm smile reaching out with her gloved hand. Diane Rhienhold was a bit shyer; especially when she saw the handsome face of Barry.

  Matt asked, "Anything to report Mac?"

  "We've a few things that have come to pique our interest. One is the fine curing of the leather covers. The front and back cover is camel skin. Camel skin is soft and pliable so that is why there is something between to reinforce the two covers. Another thing kind of interesting is the knot or the lack of, a beginning or an end to the roll tying the two pieces of leather together. We'll find the answer sooner or later. We don't have a lot to report on the cuneiform writing, but that maybe because it's so straight forward. I'm thinking we'll find a relationship between the writing and the circles. Lastly, yes, the material is papyrus. It seems so fresh like it was just yesterday that it was prepared for being written upon." Macs mobile went off. He listened and told whoever he was talking to bring it here in the lecture room.

  "That was the delivery guard asking where we wanted the package from Spain. I told him to bring it here."

  "I feel better now Mac that both pieces are safe in your museum. I'm a little anxious to see what kind of material that box is made of," said Matt.

  "We have means of determining what it's made of Matt," said Mac. "If it’s a known element we can have an answer in a short time." The guard knocked and opened the door announcing the arrival of the package. One of the guards used a hand cart to wheel it in. Mac had a special table where it took three guards to hoist it up.

  In short order Mac had the package unwrapped sitting on a stainless steel table in Lecture room 87 of the British Museum. Everyone stood back looking at the steel box. Mac was first to move closer running a fingernail up and down the box where the door opened and closed. He said, "This is fine craftsmanship even by today's standard. I can't imagine this predates even the Bronze Age. Lord have mercy. What do we have here? Matt show me how you opened the door please."

  Matt walked up and said, "Right about here, midway, next to the edge I popped it with the side of my hand like this------------and it popped open." The door once again opened silently and smoothly. Mac just shook his head as he looked inside.

  Meanwhile Barry came closer and felt the smooth metal. After looking it over he too shook his head amazed at the fact there wasn't a blemish or even a slight nick anywhere on it. It looked like it just came from the factory. Barry moved back to let JB examine the box. After awhile all had looked it over top to bottom.

  Mac and Matt, with Gwen were standing back talking. Mac said, "The color is not familiar to me. What color would you say it is?"

  "I think a light beige, would be my guess," said Gwen.

  "I can't argue that," said Matt.

  "It's not paint. Maybe it's baked enamel or something like that," said Mac. "Let's get an expert on this right away. Let me make a call."

  What the team didn't see was when the guards opened the door to deliver the package; a custodian peered in holding a dust rag. Her keen eyes watched and her ears listened. One guard returned to the door, kicked the stay open leg at the bottom, watching the door close. The duster woman moved on. No one would notice her as the tourists walked up and down the large hallway. Her shift ended at 3:30. She wondered how much the information she saw and heard was really worth. She decided to string them along and milk it for all its worth.

  "Well I guess we should go back to our loft," said Matt. But before we go let's sit down and go over what we know and what we don’t know. Also we should make a plan for when Dr. Winslow arrives."

  "Good idea," said Mac. "Let's have some tea or coffee to relax a little bit. I for one am still spinning in circles with information overload."

  Lisa said, "Diane and I will go get something for us to drink and munch on. We'll be right back."

  Mac had a conference table moved in anticipating just this sort of gathering. Each sat at the table in their own thoughts waiting for the girls to bring something to occupy their hands with. Gwen said, "Mac, I wonder how your boss, if I may call him or her your boss, is viewing this situation."

  "We have a Museum Director and a committee to report to when something important is discovered. I'm the curator of the ancient linguistics department. I report to the director. I'll give a report Monday morning. Meanwhile, we can proceed without interference. Something of this nature will be viewed with a quizzical eye. I can't overwhelm the committee, but give them some information to talk about and pass on to the higher ups in government. Any more than that will raise too many questions. We must proceed slowly."

  The girls came back with a pot of tea, a tray of biscuits and some bottles of water. Nothing but small weather talk occurred as the afternoon drew to a close. While sitting around Barry received a phone call. It was from the employment agency. They had two qualified prospects that were ready for an interview. Barry told them to schedule a six and seven pm interview at the residence.

  Mac and the girls were invited to dinner. All thought it a good idea so as to get to
know each other better. Barry and Liz volunteered to go shopping for dinner. After a snack break they left to go back to the loft. On the way out, Matt noticed the same cleaner lady standing gawking in with a broom in her hand. He smiled thinking she was not being very covert. Also, upon leaving, he spotted the two stakeout guys and this time Matt waved at them.

  Back at the loft, JB said he would take a short nap before dinner. There was something nagging at his brain about Plato that he needed to think deeply about. JB believed that Plato would not embellish the fable of Atlantis. He knew Plato was highly intelligent and well learned. There would be no need to flower a civilization one way or another. He would tell it like it was: a sophisticated, advanced civilization that spoke for itself. He might not have firsthand knowledge, but in that day and age, word traveled and all knew the source. What made JB really wonder was how the other life beings disguised their existence. It would seem logical that some word would have leaked out that beings from strange places resided in Atlantis. Maybe that was the key to it, he thought, of course they could say they were from across the ocean. JB fell asleep with his hands folded across his belly.

  Chapter Eight

  With the new cook hired, Gladys Hemsley, much to everyone's delight, Sunday was a day to relax. Matt and Gwen went for a walk on a nice spring day; Barry and Liz both went to visit their respective parents; JB spent the day reading and making notes. Gladys left early for marketing and preparing a scrumptious Sunday dinner.

  Mac called and said they couldn't make it tonight, but would take a rain check for sure.

  The talk around the dining table was of the meeting with Dr. Alice Winslow tomorrow morning. Gwen said, "I hope she can shed some light upon these circles. I agree with JB that this might be a map of another solar system."