Atlantis

Chapter 12

The waters of Guanahacabibes off of the western tip of Cuba sparkled in the morning sun. Dane sucked in a deep breath of the damp, salty sea air and smiled. Being out on the water felt like a reunion with an old friend. He never tired of it.

"So, this is supposed to be a sunken Atlantean city? I've never heard of it."

Sofia leaned against the rail and looked out over the water, her brown eyes glassy. She perked up at the sound of his voice.

"No one has really taken the theory seriously. About ten years ago, a research crew made sonar scans of the area, revealing what looked like roads, walls, buildings, even pyramids. Another researcher used remotely-operated video equipment to collect footage of the site, but all she got were some poor quality images of stone blocks and some formations that might be man-made structures. When she couldn't produce more definitive proof, skeptics concluded there was nothing to get excited about. The mild interest the discovery stirred quickly died down, and now the place is all but forgotten.

"The so-called experts don't like theories and discoveries that run contrary to their beliefs. Most of them have a lot more in common with religious fundamentalists than they'd like to admit."

Sofia raised her eyebrows and cocked her head. "You surprise me. You don't find many people who think that way. Except, of course, on the internet forums where the loonies congregate."

"Bones' second home." Dane grinned. "I've seen some things over the past few years that have opened my eyes. I'm still a skeptic at heart, but I no longer dismiss theories out of hand just because they seem unlikely. There’s more to this world than the average person would ever suspect."

Sofia nodded. "That's one of the reasons I haven't shared my findings from the dig site. All I have are photos and the codex, and the scientific community would point out that either could be fakes. When it's safe, and if the Spanish government will let me, I'll go back some day and re-excavate. Hell, I might live-stream the dig so everyone will know it's real." She spoke the last sentence with bitterness in her voice.

"You don't think the government would let you come back?"

"Who knows? I tried for months to get a dig permit and they stonewalled me. It took Bishop Hadel, or Mister Bishop as I knew him, getting involved to make it happen. When he killed my crew, he had a police officer with him. Somebody he bought off, I expect. Clearly, he's got connections at more than one level of government." She looked down at the blue-green water rushing by, and her eyes fell. "Governments can be weird, in any case. Look at how much trouble people have researching Noah's Ark."

"That's one I have trouble buying into. I have enough trouble spending a few days cooped on a boat with Bones. Add a wife, kids, daughters in-law, and a ton of animals to the mix? No way.”

"Don't be so sure." She nudged him with her elbow and smiled. "What did you just tell me about dismissing the improbable?"

"I'm not dismissing it. I'm just skeptical."

"Fair enough." Sofia's voice took on a tone of forced casualness. "Speaking of improbable, how is a handsome guy like you still single? No wedding band, no tan line where a ring should be. What's your deal?"

"I was married a long time ago, but she died." He left it at that. Melissa's death no longer haunted him, but he'd never feel comfortable talking about it.

"Sorry. I tend to say whatever comes to mind. When you work in a male-dominated field, you can’t be passive."

"No problem. Bones is the same way and he and I are like brothers." Sofia smiled and the warmth in her eyes made him uncomfortable. "In fact, I'm dating his sister." He took out his phone and showed her a photo of himself and Angel.

"She's beautiful.” Sofia laughed. “When you mentioned his sister, I imagined Bones in a dress."

Tam's vice rang out above the hum of the engine and rush of the sea breeze. "Bones in a dress? I'd pay to see that."

“You and no one else.” Dane returned his attention to Sofia. "So, what makes you think this place is worth our time?"

"I’ve had my eye on it since its discovery. A passage in the codex describes a sister city “across the waves to the west,” with details that match photos of the sunken city. It was supposedly ruled by Azaes, a king of Atlantis who is associated with this part of the world."

“I don’t know that name.” Dane had done his share of reading about the legendary lost city, but Sofia was miles ahead of him in that department.

“He’s better known in this part of the world as Itzamna.”

“Ah! The man who brought the arts and sciences of a destroyed civilization to the people of the Yucatan.” Dane had heard this story before.

“The old, bearded, white man who escaped a flood that destroyed his civilization,” Sofia added. “Sound familiar?”

“Yeah, sounds like Noah.”

“You’re funny. Seriously, though, the Gulf of Mexico used to be much smaller and shallower. In fact, Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula were once connected by a land bridge which included this area. A few years ago, archaeologists found three well-preserved skeletons in deep, underwater caves off the coast of the Yucatan. The remains dated back 11,000 years. It fits.” Sofia sounded like an attorney making her closing argument.

“You think this was Azeas’ home and, when it flooded, he fled to the Yucatan and started over?” Dane couldn’t deny the potential connection.

“I think it’s a strong possibility.”

"Corey says we're almost there," Tam called from the doorway leading into the cabin of Danes boat, Sea Foam. She wore shorts, a tight-fitting tank top, and an eager smile. "I've got to tell you, Maddock, this discovery stuff is fun. I spend too much time these days sitting at a computer going through files."

"You’re sure you and Corey can handle things up here?"

A roll of her eyes was Tam’s only reply.

"Corey says we’re right over the spot.” Willis appeared on deck. “I finally get to try out the sub. Let’s do this!”

Dane, Willis, and Sofia took their places inside Remora. They didn’t bother with wetsuits, as they’d not be exiting the sub. When everyone was secure and Willis reported all systems were go, Dane took Remora into a steep dive.

The waters turned from a bright aquamarine to a deep sapphire as they descended below the sunlight zone and into darkness where the sun’s rays seldom penetrated. Dane switched on the front lights and let the nav computer guide them to their destination.

“It’s so dark down here.” Sofia spoke in a reverent whisper. “It’s creepy.”

“This ain’t nothing,” Willis said. “Get down below 3,000 feet, that’s the midnight zone. It’s like diving in ink. You don’t know which way is up.”

“I’ve done some diving, but I’ve never been so far down.”

“You won’t dive this deep, girl. You’ve got to be in a sub if you don’t want to get squished.”

“Approaching one thousand feet.” Dane kept his voice level in spite of his excitement. The images Sofia had shown him of this city were remarkable, and he couldn’t wait to see them for himself.

“Will the sub be all right this far down?” Sofia’s casual tone didn’t quite mask the concern in her voice. “Isn’t the water pressure substantial at this depth?”

“It’s rated for two thousand feet, so we’ll be fine.” Dane hoped the rating was accurate.

Just then, a shape appeared in the distance. He slowed Remora and approached with caution. In a matter of seconds, they found themselves gazing at a massive structure of stacked, square blocks.

“It’s a pyramid. Looks kind of like the ones the Mayans built,” Willis said. “Except for the top. It looks more Egyptian. See how it’s pointed?”

“Maya, not Mayan,” Sofia corrected.

“Whatever. Hey Maddock, let’s circle this bad boy and let me take sonar readings.”

“Roger that. Corey, are you picking up on our feed?”

“Loud and clear. Audio and video. Tam says she wants you to scout the city before you zero in on any single structure.”

“Sorry, you dropped out. I’ll ping you again after we scout the pyramid.” Dane smiled when he heard Tam curse in the background.

“That girl is going to have serious cash in her cussing jar if she keeps working with us.”

“You have got to stop calling her ‘girl.’ It’s a dangerous habit.” Dane piloted the sub around the pyramid’s base. Thousands of years of undersea currents had worn the sharp corners smooth, but it was still a remarkable structure, with well-proportioned levels and the remnants of steps still visible on the lower half of one side. As Willis noted, it looked like an amalgam of Maya and Egyptian architecture, with the stepped lower portions giving way to a classic pyramid structure at the top.

“This is amazing! Seeing this firsthand, I can totally believe the stories of an outside influence on Yucatan culture. I wish I could touch it, walk on it.” Sofia sounded as if she were ready to climb out of the sub for a closer look.

“Scan’s complete,” Willis said. “Let’s move along.”

Not wanting to try Tam’s patience, Dane followed the route he and Sofia had plotted out earlier. They passed the remains of buildings, some largely intact, and three more pyramids. Streets paved with flat, square stones ran throughout the city. No vegetation grew here, so far from the sun, and strong currents kept the streets clear of silt. It felt like a sunken ghost town which, Dane supposed, it was, after a fashion. By the time they completed their circuit and found themselves once again in front of the first pyramid they’d discovered, Dane had no doubt that these structures were wrought by human hands.

“What now? Want to run a grid over the whole area?” Willis asked.

“We need to go to the center of the city. There’s something we need to find.” Sofia’s excited voice rose as she spoke.

“Works for me. Time permitting, we can scout the rest of the complex afterward.” Dane redirected the sub, ignoring the navigation program and instead following the street that ran ramrod-straight through the city. Minutes later, a high hill, ringed by several canals, appeared up ahead.

“Rings of canals,” Sofia said. “You can’t deny the connection to Atlantis.”

“It’s impressive.” Dane was forced to admit he was captivated by this lost city that, all these years, had lain so close to his home.

“Looks like we’re coming up on the target area,” Willis said. “What’s that dark shape up there?”

“We’ll check it out.” Dane accelerated and they swept over the canals like a bird in flight. As they drew closer, the shadowy figure swam into focus. It looked like some sort of monster out of legend.

“What is that?” Willis whispered.

“Corey, are you guys getting this?” Dane’s heart pounded.

“We’ve got it.” Dane was surprised when Tam’s voice sounded in his ear. “I got tired of using nerd boy as a go-between. Approach with caution.”

“I always do.”

“Right, I keep forgetting Bones isn’t with you.”

Dane smiled, but keenly felt his best friend’s absence. He found he actually missed Bones’ constant chatter. Doubtless, if he were here, Bones would be spouting theories about aliens until he was blue in the face.

“What do you think Bones would make of this thing?” Dane asked, but no one replied. All of them had fallen silent at the sight that lay before them.

The fine details had worn away over the years, but there was no mistaking the giant sphinx that sat atop the hill overlooking the city. Unlike its Egyptian counterpart, which lay in silent contemplation, this sphinx sat up on its haunches, its mouth open wide as if eager to devour anyone or anything that might intrude upon its watery domain. Dane marveled at the size of the sculpture.

“This thing could eat us for lunch.” Dane found himself transfixed by the stone beast.

“We should call him Jared.” Willis waited a few seconds. “Aw, come on. Eating a sub? Jared? If Bones had said it, you’d all be cracking up.”

“We want it to swallow us,” Sofia said. “Maddock, can you take us inside?”

“Are you serious? That seems… dangerous.”

“Do it,” Tam said in his ear. “She and I have already discussed the plan.”

“Didn’t bother to clue us in, did you?”

“I’m the boss of you, and don’t you forget it. Take it slow, and don’t get yourself into trouble.”

“If you say so.” Dane shifted in his seat, sat up straighter, and steered Remora into the sphinx’s gaping maw.

Inside, a wide pit ringed with stone steps plunged straight down. Cold sweat rising on the back of his neck, Dane took them down into the inky blackness.

“Okay, so maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.” Sofia’s breathy words were barely audible.

Indeed, it felt like they were descending into Tartarus. The pit seemed to go on forever, with only the steps hewn in the wall breaking the monotony. It felt like they’d never reach the bottom, but, at long last, their instruments indicated they were drawing near to solid ground.

When they reached the bottom, Dane halted their descent and slowly turned the sub about. The walls of the pit were blank.

“Dead end. Guess we need to head back up.” Willis sounded relieved.

Run a few scans and see what you can find.” Dane searched the stones in front of him. There had to be something here. “Maybe we’re missing something.”

He heard Willis’ fingers tapping buttons on his console. A minute later, his friend cried out in triumph.

“That’s what I’m talking about. At ten o’clock, there’s a break in the wall that’s partially blocked.”

Sure enough, they had overlooked an opening. It was almost large enough for Remora to pass through, but a pile of rubble and silt barred the way.

“I supposed we could use the arms to clear an opening, but it could take a while.” Dane scanned his monitors. They had an hour before they’d have to draw on their reserves of power and oxygen. He didn’t want to cut it that close, especially since they and the sub were still getting to know each other, as it were.

“No need,” Willis said.

Before Dane could ask what his friend meant, a bright flash blinded him, debris pelted the plexiglass bubble, and a dull explosion reverberated through the pit. Sofia screamed as the sub pitched to the side.

“What the hell?” Dane shouted, trying to blink the spots out of his eyes and struggling to right the craft.

“Sorry, y’all.” Willis sounded sheepish. “It was one of the little torpedoes. I didn’t go for one of the big ones.”

“You have got to be kidding me. Even Bones wouldn’t have done that.” Dane knew it was a lie, but he didn’t care. “What if you’d brought the whole place down on us?”

“My bad. I’ll ask next time. But, check it out! I got the tunnel open.”

Sure enough, the rubble was gone — blasted away by the torpedo. Through a curtain of silt, sub’s lights revealed a short tunnel and a large open space beyond. Hoping the blast hadn’t destabilized the rock, Dane plunged Remora through the passageway.

The space beyond proved to be almost a match for the temple Sofia had discovered in Spain: a column-lined chamber a good thirty meters long. A statue stood in the center, encircled by an altar resembling a tiny Stonehenge monument.

“I remember that old dude.” Willis said as Dane directed the lights upward.

“Poseidon,” Sofia whispered. “It’s just like the temple I excavated in Spain. This is proof that the Atlantean civilization spread across the ocean.”

“I want to make a record of this place.” Dane tapped the console and a camera began snapping still pictures of the chamber. “Where to next?”

“Check around behind the statue. That’s where the adyton should be.”

Dane stole another glance at the sub’s readings. They still had time, but the window was closing. “You think there’s a weapon down here?” He asked, navigating Remora to the back of the chamber, careful not to hit Poseidon or the altar.

“There it is! Straight ahead. See it?”

Inside an alcove beneath a pyramidal facade, something silver reflected the sub’s light.

“It’s a machine like the one Bishop Hadel took from the temple in Spain.”

Dane moved the sub in to get a closer look at the gleaming contraption. It was identical to the pictures they’d seen of the weapon Sofia had found: a metallic dish suspended beneath a pyramid-shaped frame, topped by a grasping hand.

“All right. Let’s see if we can get this thing out of here in one piece.” Dane considered the instruments he had at his disposal and formed a strategy in his head.

“Man, you got to be kidding. This little sub can’t handle that thing.”

“It only took a few men to carry the one in Spain,” Sofia said. “It must be deceptively light.”

“We’ve got to give it a shot,” Dane said. If the Dominion had one of these things, it could only help them to study it and hopefully learn how it worked and what it could do. It also would be a good idea to keep it out of the Dominion’s hands. If this machine truly could create a tsunami, the enemy could double the devastation should they obtain it.

He brought the sub as close as he dared, extended the robotic arms, and took hold of the device. “Watch out for old ladies crossing the street behind us.”

“Beep! Beep!” Willis chimed in as Dane reversed the sub.

Slowly, he dragged the Atlantean machine from the chamber and out into the temple. As Sofia had predicted, it was light and moved easily.

“Now for the tricky part.” He released the machine and used the robotic arm to hook a cable around their prize. It took three tries and a rain of taunts from Willis before he got the job done, but finally, towing the machine behind the sub, he was able to lift it and carry it toward the exit.

“Be careful not to hit the…” Willis began, but before he could finish his sentence, the sub jerked to a stop.

“What was that?” Dane glanced at the screen displaying the feed from the rear camera. The cable was snagged on Poseidon’s trident, and the statue now lay atop the device, which appeared undamaged, but was pinned to the temple floor. What was worse, there was no way he could reach it with the robotic arms.

They were stuck.