Atlantis

Chapter 45

The Range Rover bounced across the barren landscape, jostling its passengers. Dane slowed the vehicle to a halt atop a rise. The sun beat down on the dry, rocky landscape below. It was hard to believe this was their destination.

They all climbed out, stretching tired limbs and knuckling sore backs.

“The Eye of the Sahara,” Sofia whispered. “I never would have thought it possible.”

Located in Mauritania, the Richat Structure, or the Eye of the Sahara, was a thirty kilometer-wide, collapsed volcanic dome. Visible from space, when seen from far overhead, its circular shape and symmetrical rings bore an eerie similarity to elements of Plato’s description of Atlantis. Indeed, when Sofia had shown him satellite photos of the location, he’d been shocked no one had considered it before.

“It looks different from here,” Bones said. “Not like Atlantis at all.”

“That’s because we aren’t looking at it from overhead.” Jade rolled her eyes.

“But how could Atlantis have been here? We’re so far away from the ocean. I don’t see how it could ever have flooded.”

“Researchers have found evidence of salt water fishing in the area ten to twelve thousand years ago,” Jade said. “So it’s possible that the ocean extended farther inland than it does now.”

“Another possibility is that Plato’s flood story referred to the site in Spain, which flooded and was buried beneath mud, just like the story says,” Sofia said. “If the mother city stood here, it might have been so isolated that it could have been lost to memory.”

“Seems like an awfully big place to just get lost,” Bones said.

“Up until a little over ten thousand years ago, settlements in northern Africa were largely restricted to the Nile Valley. By the time the Sahara went through its monsoon period, the Atlanteans were gone. At least, that’s our best guess.” Sofia looked out across the landscape and smiled in disbelief. “I’ve worked at this for so long, and now we’re right on the verge of finding it. I just can’t believe it.”

“Where do we start?” Dane asked.

“There are no explicit directions, but it seems there’s a system of caves somewhere near the center.”

“According to my research, there’s a small hotel there,” Jade said. “That could make for a good base of operations while we search.”

“As long as we can see the Dominion coming.” Dane hopped back into the Range Rover and cranked it up while the others piled in. Deep inside him, the thrill at the prospect of finding Atlantis battled with apprehension over the Revelation Machine. What if the Dominion got there first? Or, and he hated to entertain the thought, what happened if he found it first? Did any government deserve the power to destroy the world? But that was a problem for later. First, they had to find it.

“Were we supposed to make a reservation?” Bones asked as they pulled up in front of the tiny hotel that rested right in the center of the Eye. “Looks like they didn’t leave the light on for us.”

The small hotel appeared deserted. Dane cut the engine. All was quiet. “I imagine this place doesn’t get much business, but I have a bad feeling about this.” Drawing his Walther, he climbed out of the Range Rover. Bones was at his side a moment later.

“Do you want us to stay here?” Sofia asked.

“I don’t want you two to be alone, just in case.”

“Maddock, you see these tracks?” Bones swept his hand in a half-circle. “At least two different vehicles were all over this place, and not too long ago or else the wind would have blown the tracks away.” He narrowed his eyes. “Looks like Hummers to me.”

Dane didn’t reply. He hoped that, if two Hummers had come this way, they weren’t packed with Dominion agents. He led the way to the hotel.

The coppery scent of blood filled his nostrils as soon as he opened the door. He didn’t need to look far to find the source.

A man lay bound to an upended chair. His eyes gazed blankly up at the ceiling. Congealed blood pooled on the floor around his head. Dane grimaced at the ragged cut in the man’s throat.

“Cause of death is pretty obvious.” Bones pursed his lips as he looked at the grisly scene. “Looks like he was tortured.”

The man’s hands were smashed, his fingertips sliced and his fingernails torn out.

“I guess the Dominion got here first.” Dane hoped he caught up with the men who did this. He was eager to repay the favor.

“I can’t imagine they got any useful information from a desk clerk,” Bones said.

“We can hope,” Jade said. “Say, what if it’s not the Dominion? What if it’s this Trident group Tam told us about?”

“All we can do is be prepared. Let’s check the building and get out of here.”

It didn’t take long to determine no one else was about. Thankfully, they found no other bodies. When they’d completed the search, they gathered outside the door.

“What’s our next move?” Bones asked. “This place is too big to just go wandering.”

“I don’t see that we have a choice.” Jade turned to Sofia. “Unless you think there’s something you missed in what Tam sent you.”

Sofia shook her head. “I’ll look again, but I don’t think so.”

“I have an idea,” Dane said. “I think it’s safe to say the man inside didn’t know the way to Atlantis. But, if he was local, he probably would have been familiar with any caves in the area.”

“Which would mean the Dominion now knows the way,” Bones grumbled.

“How would they know about the caves without the book?” Sofia asked. “Tam said her so-called friend only saw the map.”

“It stands to reason that Atlantis, if it’s here, is beneath the volcanic dome,” Jade said. “They’d have wanted to know about any tunnels or caverns that might lead underground.”

“So we do what?” Bones asked. “Drive around until we find some locals?”

“We could do that,” Dane said. “Or we could follow their tire tracks.”