They Found Atlantis lw-1

by Dennis Wheatley

  Slinger, as usual when his presence was not required, tactfully disappeared upon his own concerns so Nicky, quite unaware that Count Axel had arranged matters for his especial benefit, shepherded Camilla out on to the starlit forward deck.

  'Sing something for me Nicky,' she said as soon as they were settled.

  'No,' he shook his smooth fair head, 'let's talk. I've got a heap of things I want to say to you.'

  'Presently. Sing something for me first. They'll be cooped up in there over their bridge for hours—so we've got lots of time.' Her voice held a gently intimate note which flattered him. One of Camilla's many great attractions as a woman was her ability to make anyone whom she wished to please at the moment think that she really wanted to be with them all the time.

  'All right,' Nicky agreed and sitting on the deck at her feet, his hands clasped round his knees, he threw back his head and began to sing.

  Some people like listening to crooners. Obviously many people must, for the records of the theme songs from Nicky's pictures sold in their millions all over the world. Camilla certainly did, and lay back with half closed eyes savouring to the full the primitive emotionalism of 'Dear Baby God Gave Me I'm holding your hands', and 'In all the world Mother—there's no one like you'. Not so the McKay, who fifty feet away in the deck lounge, trumped his partner's trick, apologised and muttered fiercely: 'God! how I'd like to tan that youngster's hide.' Prince Vladimir only smiled darkly, recognising that it is impossible to sing and make love at the same time. He felt that he had less reason than ever to fear Nicky as a rival and that he had been wise to settle to his beloved cards while Camilla amused herself with her pet clown.

  Ordinarily Nicky was extremely averse to giving free performances either in private or public. For one thing he very wisely took the greatest care of his voice, and for another he quite seriously thought of himself as the successor to Caruso who had developed his talents in a slightly different field. Having once got going however he did not stint his numbers. The soft night air, the illusion of being alone with Camilla on the face of the great waters, the ceaseless hissing of the wavelets as they rushed past the ship's bows, the faint starlight, all worked upon his artistic temperament and as time slipped by he sobbed out song after song with ever increasing pain and emotion. Suddenly he ceased and buried his face in his hands.

  'What is it Nicky?' Camilla enquired gently.

  'I love you,' he muttered, 'I'm miserable because I love you so.'

  'Are you?' Camilla smiled. 'But I like you Nicky— awfully.'

  'Then why don't you marry me?' he shot out suddenly.

  'But my dear—I said I'd think it over.'

  'Words! words!' he exclaimed tragically, now visualising himself in the role of betrayed lover. 'Camilla, you're driving me to despair. I love you! I want you! We were made for each other. What is it that has come between us? You were so sweet to me only two nights ago—and now—' he paused dramatically as though choking on a sob.

  'Nicky dear, I haven't changed I-'

  'Don't lie to me! Not that! I couldn't bear it!' he interrupted, passing a hand across his eyes as all the old cliches from a hundred parts he had played in the past came tumbling from his tongue. 'Tell me the truth. I'm brave and I can bear that although life will never be the same again. I'm not a Prince. I'm not even a Count. I'm only a man who has worked his way up from nothing—I know that—but I love you Camilla. I love you more than words can say.'

  'Dear Nicky,' cooed Camilla happily, allowing her hand to rest lightly on his bowed head. She was very gentle about it though knowing that he hated to have his fair, slightly wavy hair disturbed or ruffled.

  He turned and caught her hand, bringing it quickly to his lips as he instinctively changed his role to that of the Other Man who has just come into the life of the woman with the drunken husband. 'Camilla—dearest—you must leave all this! Let's go away together! I'll take care of you—I swear it! We'll start life anew. Just you and I in some place where no one knows us. It will be heaven to have you with me always. Poor little girl you've had a rotten deal—but I'll make up to you for everything.'

  Nicky had got himself so wrought up by this time that he made the unfortunate mistake of unconsciously dropping into the lines of his last big part which Camilla recognised. Angrily she jerked her hand away, and cried: 'I haven't had a rotten deal and I don't want to be taken anywhere.'

  'Ah!' Nicky stared at her with a pained look as she hurried on: 'In another moment you would have broken

  into your theme song and I don't care about being made

  fun of that way.'

  Just as though a bucket of ice cold water had been slung over him Nicky came out of his highly emotional state. The hard practical side of his nature reasserted itself instantly and he saw that he had slipped up badly. Without the flicker of an eyelid he passed from unconscious to conscious acting and gave a sad little laugh.

  'Camilla how can you be so unfair to me just because I happened to use the same words to you that I had in that fool part. In this case 1 meant them. You have had a rotten deal and I would like to take you away from all this.'

  'I don't quite see what you mean,' Camilla confessed intrigued despite herself.

  'Why all this money you inherited. Money's not everything you know.'

  'Oh that.'

  'Yes. It prevents you knowing who your true friends are. Surely you don't think this Roumanian Prince and Count Axel would be running after you if you hadn't got a cent— do you? And I'm sorry for you Camilla. Sorry to see you deceived by all this flattery and hypocrisy just because of your wealth. That's why I'd like to take you away, because I know that we could be happy together even if we were poor.'

  'I don't think I'd care much about being poor,' said Camilla doubtfully.

  'Well not poor exactly. My expenses are mighty heavy. Advertising costs a lot and my business manager takes a pretty useful cut but I'd have enough to keep you with all you'd need outside a yacht. That's what I'd like to do, and I'd be a sight happier if you hadn't got this great pile of cash.'

  'Would you really, Nicky?'

  'Sure 1 would. Besides I hate to see you wasting your life among this crowd of spongers—doing nothing. You're worth better things than that. I'd like to see you doing something, making a big name for yourself you know.'

  Camilla's blue eyes brightened. 'D'you think I could Nicky? How would I do that?'

  'Why in the film game of course. There's not a girl in Hollywood that's got half your looks.'

  That's the one thing I've always longed for—to be a film

  star,' she said dreamily. 'But it's no good—you see I can't act.'

  He shrugged disdainfully. 'You don't have to. Film stars are not born but made these days. It's just a matter of a little preparation and a first class director does the rest.'

  'Is that true—really? Do you think then that someone would take me on and make me a star?'

  He shrugged again. 'They might, but the competition's something frightful and most of the big men have their own axe to grind when they're out picking stars. However—' He paused feeling that now was the time to bring up his heavy artillery and produce the scheme he had hatched up for his own benefit while holding out the bait of fame to dazzle her.

  'However—what,' she prompted leaning forward.

  'Well. There's no denying that big money has its uses now and then. In this case for instance—say you set your mind on becoming a star. What's to prevent you forming a company. I've made a useful packet and I'd put in all I've got. If we were married we could go to some quiet place for a six months honeymoon where it would be fun instead of work for me to teach you all I know—and I know plenty. Then we'd get Markowitz to tune you up before directing you in a real big picture where we'd play opposite each other. Camilla if you were really game to do your bit by this time next year you could make Garbo come off her silent stunt and scream with jealousy.'

  For a moment Camilla sat spellbound fascinated by the supreme cr
own to a lovely talentless woman's ambition that Nicky was offering her. Then a gay voice broke in behind them.

  'Have you any more so marvellous stories Nicky for the cocks and bulls?'

  The bridge party having just broken up, Prince Vladimir had come silently across the deck and caught the drift of Nicky's last sentences.

  Furious with indignation Nicky stumbled to his feet and confronted the Roumanian.

  'You damned eavesdropper! Get to hell out of here!' he cried, his face dead white, his hands clenched but trembling.

  Vladimir's teeth flashed in a contemptuous grin. 'Hold t.f.a.—c 65

  your peace whippersnap,' he sneered, 'or with one fist I will lift you overboard.'

  'You lousy wop!' screamed Nicky temporarily blinded to fear by his almost maniacal anger at having had his attempt to get control of Camilla's fortune exposed and ridiculed.

  The Prince's eyes suddenly went blacker than the night, his smile became fixed and terrifying. He lifted one huge fist.

  'Stop!' Camilla threw herself between them as the McKay seized Vladimir's arm from behind.

  'How dare you,' she stormed at the Prince. 'How dare you start quarrelling in front of me.' Then she swung on Nicky. 'You've been abominably rude—you'd better apologise I think—both of you to each other.'

  'All right, I'm sorry,' muttered Nicky sullenly.

  The Prince shrugged. 'In deference to my hostess I express regret.'

  Camilla turned to Count Axel, who was standing by, and almost instinctively took his arm. 'Why is it,' she asked sadly as he led her back to the lounge, 'that those two cannot remain civil to each other for five minutes?'

  'Alas Madame,' Count Axel's tone was filled with pained regret, 'the Prince is still very young and unfortunately possesses a most unreliable temper coupled with very few brains; while Nicky has the misfortune to have been deprived during his youth of those social advantages which are, after all, the most important part of a gentleman's education.' Thus, in one sentence. Count Axel disposed of any headway which his rivals might have made during the day.

  The following morning the weather was again bright and clear. The sea, if anything, was even smoother, and the rise and fall of the water in the canvas swimming pool barely reflected the slight pitch of the ship as she held steadily on her course.

  Camilla had not quite forgiven Vladimir. She did not resent his interruption of her tete-a-tete the night before so much as his tactless assumption that the possibility of her outgarboing Garbo, if she put her mind to it, was a story for cocks and bulls. Nicky did not put in an appearance when the rest of the party assembled round the swimming pool at ten o'clock. He was still under the impression that the Prince had shown him up for the fortune hunter that he was and unaware that Camilla's vanity had been so tickled by his proposals that she had failed to see his obvious self-interest at the bottom of the scheme. As he remained, like Achilles, sulking in his tent, Camilla selected Count Axel for the target of her smiles.

  Feeling that he had many days before him the Count did not seek to press his advantage in the least but slim, supple and enchanting in her sunbathing suit she came to sit beside him after they had had their swim.

  'You are neglecting me shamefully Count,' she declared. 'I hardly saw you yesterday.'

  'Madame that was my loss,' he inclined his scholarly head in a little bow, 'but we have all today before us. Let me see if I cannot win your good graces by suggesting a new entertainment for you.'

  She liked the way he called her Madame. It lent her dignity that she was never quite sure that she possessed. Smiling at him as she dangled her long legs over the side of the pool she said: 'Now's your chance then Count. I'm all for new amusements.'

  'You will give me your promise then to play this game with me?'

  'Well,' she hesitated. 'If it's to be with you alone I think I'd like to know first what it is.'

  Count Axel's blue eyes twinkled under their half-lowered lids. 'It's a game for three,' he reassured her. 'You, I, and one other.'

  'All right then—fire away.'

  'We will get the good Doctor to stop this ship and take us down for a trial trip in his bathysphere.'

  Camilla paled a little. 'But—but do you think that would be quite safe?'

  'Certainly. We shall send it down empty first to see that its windows and door resist the pressure of the water. If all is well there should be no danger after.'

  'I think I'd be scared of doing that.'

  'A little perhaps—but not too much,' he encouraged her. "After all you do not mean to miss the wonderful thrill of seeing the sunken city if we find it surely—so you must make your first dive sometime. Why not now?'

  'But would there be anything worth seeing here in the open sea?'

  The Count raised his mental eyes to heaven at the stupidity of the question but his placid smile remained unchanged. 'Why yes. All sorts of fish, octopus perhaps, and all the teeming life of the great ocean. No aquarium that you have ever visited could compare with such a sight. If you will come I promise that you shall not have one dull moment and will thank me ever after for being the first to introduce you to such marvels.'

  It was an invitation which many men might have hesitated to accept, but Camilla was no coward and although her voice was a little breathless she nodded. 'All right let's.'

  Doctor Tisch was furious when he was informed of her decision. His only thought now was to reach the Azores as quickly as possible in order that Slinger and his confederates could get through with whatever dubious business they meditated against Camilla and her party—and leave him free to proceed with his scientific investigation.

  He protested in vain that the bathysphere had already been tested in European waters, that the dive was pointless, and that oxygen would be wasted to no purpose. Count Axel met his every objection and, since there was not the faintest indication of bad weather approaching, the Doctor was compelled to give in.

  By eleven o'clock the whole party and a good portion of the crew had assembled aft. The ship was hove to facing the gentle swell. The tackles attached to the winches hauled the bathysphere to the extremity of its runners, the great crane rumbled into motion and took up the slack of the cable. Then, with no perceptible drop, the big sphere, already one third submerged, slid from its steel guides into the water.

  At a signal from Captain Ardow the cables were paid out, the empty bathysphere sank from sight to a depth of fifty feet, then the great arm of the crane swung round until, further forward, the cable was brought almost to the ship's side.

  As the bathysphere descended a group of men under the second officer had been paying out the thick rubber hose containing the triple telephone and lighting wires which entered the top of the sphere through the stuffing box. Now, this was attached to the cable by a rope tie in order that it should not break under the strain of its own weight. Captain Ardow gave another order and the bathysphere was let down a further 200 feet.

  Another tie was fixed attaching the communication hose again to the cable. Both were paid out once more and so the business proceeded, with a halt at every 200 feet for fresh ties to be attached, until the empty bathysphere hung 2,000 feet beneath the ship.

  The Doctor then gave orders for it to be hauled up again, and the reverse process was followed. As the cable wound in on the drums the communication hose was coiled down by hand, the machinery stopping every two minutes to enable the second officer to remove the ties which attached the hose to the cable.

  At last, eighty-three minutes after the bathysphere had sunk from view, it reappeared again and now the ticklish task of getting it back on its runners was undertaken. A boat having been lowered guy ropes were attached to ringbolts in the sphere's surface, the winches were brought into play and the guy ropes tightened until the great steel ball had been brought into correct alignment. The crane clanked, the bathysphere lifted a fraction, and slid gently back into its original position.

  The whole operation had occupied an hour and fifty minutes
so it was now nearly one o'clock but Camilla feared that if she put off her dive until after lunch she would lose her courage and told the Doctor that, if all was well, she was quite prepared to go down.

  A ladder was lowered to the special platform which supported by the steel runners of the bathysphere, filled the gap between it and the ship. The Doctor and four of the crew descended to it.

  For ten minutes they worked with great wrenches on the bolts that sealed the circular door in the side of the sphere. At last they got it off and Doctor Tisch, having made a careful examination of the interior reported that everything was perfectly satisfactory.

  Sally kissed Camilla impulsively and cried: 'Oh do be careful darling! Are you sure you wouldn't like me to come with you.'

  Camilla bit her lower lip nervously, but shook her head.

  'No dear,' she said. 'I promised to make the first trip alone with the Doctor and Count Axel—so here goes.'

  The Count handed her down on to the platform and helped her in the awkward business of scrambling through the small round opening in the sphere, then he turned, waved to the others and followed her inside.

  At first there seemed hardly room to turn round in the strange spherical chamber in which they found themselves and except in its centre, it was impossible to stand upright. The concave walls positively bristled with instruments, cylinders, gauges, wires, and the searchlight apparatus occupied a good portion of the headroom to their right. However, it was actually constructed to hold eight people and climbing over the backs of the canvas chairs which were screwed to the wooden floor they settled themselves opposite the row of fused quartz portholes.