Atlantis: Bermuda Triangle

Chapter 28

Ragnarok saw the darkness clearly now. It was over the ocean, approaching the wall that surrounded the moat. Tam Nok stood next to him, at the very top of the pyramid, also watching the Shadow.

“It is time,” she said.

“I see no weapon,” Ragnarok said. There was only a large slab with the contour of a person etched into its surface.

Tam Nok ignored him, pulling her pack off. She pulled out a long piece of cloth, which she draped around her neck over her shoulders. It was dark red, with faint black writing on it.

She knelt down and bowed her head. Ragnarok felt foolish towering over her, ax in hand. He stepped back, glanced at the horizon. The darkness was growing closer.

The survivors of his ship were loosely gathered around the top of the pyramid, awed by their surroundings, still stunned by recent events. Hrolf walked up to Ragnarok and spoke to him in a low, hushed voice.

“It is the same as we saw off the coast of Iceland,” he nodded toward the fog.

Ragnarok nodded.

“We will never go home,” Hrolf continued.

“We will defeat the darkness,” Ragnarok said.

Hrolf’s old face cracked into a weary smile. “My friend, I have sailed with you on many a journey. This was the strangest and the last.”

“My mother-” Ragnarok began, but the old warrior placed a hand on his shoulder.

“She is where she is. She let you go. Let her go.”

A muscle on the side of Ragnarok’s face quivered, but he realized the truth in the old man’s words.

Tam Nok suddenly stood. “Let us finish it.” She handed the staff to Ragnarok. “Here is what you must do.”