Atlantis

Chapter 51

“We’re going to need another keg!” Bones proclaimed as he handed Corey a cup of beer. “That’s the last of this one.”

Corey frowned at the mound of foam in his blue cup. “That’s all I get?”

“I’ll check the kitchen. Maddock hasn’t re-stocked his frig, but I think Professor brought a cooler. It’s probably Bud Light or something else crappy.” Bones wobbled back inside and reappeared with a cheap Styrofoam cooler. “Perfect. A cheap cooler for cheap beer.”

“I happen to like Bud Light.” Professor sat with his feet propped up on the rail, gazing out at the Gulf. “Besides, I’m not a highly-paid government employee like you.”

“You will be if you take Tam’s offer.” Dane turned a questioning look at Jade, who shrugged.

“I’m thinking about it, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had bullets flying in my direction. I’m not sure I want to go back.”

“Hey, if I can handle it, so can you.” Kasey had been out of the hospital for one day, and had foregone the beer due to the painkillers she was taking while she recovered from her wounds, but she’d managed to put away more ribs than Dane would have thought possible for a woman of her size.

Dane leaned against the rail and bathed in the warmth of the sun and the sounds of revelry. They’d spent the early part of the afternoon filling in Kasey and Avery on all that had transpired since they’d left for Mauritania. Kasey had bemoaned the injuries that put her out of action, while Avery took some consolation in finally having an adventure of her own to share with the others. Tam had already told them about the discovery of the Templar library, but Dane and the others listened in rapt attention as if the story were brand new to them. By the time Tam arrived with a box of polo-style shirts embroidered with a Spartan helmet and the words “Myrmidon Squad” over the breast, they’d finished swapping stories. They shared a drink in Sofia’s memory, and then let the Dos Equis do its work.

Inside, Greg pounded out an Irish drinking song on his portable keyboard, while Willis, Tam, and Avery sang along. Where a kid from inner-city Detroit had learned an Irish song, Dane had no idea, but the sound washed over him in a pleasant way and he allowed his mind to drift.

It had been a week since they’d uncovered the Atlantean mother city. Tam had shut down the Dominion’s plot to attack New York City before it got off the ground, and even managed to get Krueger back in one piece, if a bit worse for the wear. Meanwhile, the U.S. Government had pulled enough strings, or greased enough palms, to buy time for its researchers to go over the complex with a fine-tooth comb. Working around the clock, they’d removed everything they could — even the remains of the Atlanteans. Soon, they’d reveal their discovery to the rest of the world.

For what felt like the thousandth time, Dane wondered how people would respond. Although most of the trappings of alien technology, and all of the alien remains were gone, the star charts and engravings on the walls remained, as did the Revelation Machine. As expected, the world had taken notice of the massive blast of energy shooting up into the heavens, and the absurd claim by the American and Mauritanian governments that it was part of a joint experiment in solar energy, would soon be put to lie.

He supposed it didn’t matter. It was out of his hands now.

“I swear, you think longer and harder than any man I’ve ever known.”

Dane was surprised to discover that he and Tam were now alone on the deck.

“Long and hard. That’s me.”

“That’s unworthy of you, Maddock.”

“You spend enough time around Bones, he starts rubbing off on you.” Dane offered her a seat and then sat down next to her.

“I like your place. If we keep our headquarters here, I guess I’ll need to invest in some real-estate myself.” She smiled as a pair of seagulls drifted past them, floating on an updraft.

“I’m surprised the squad’s staying together now that we’ve shut down the Dominion.”

“We’ve shut down the Kingdom church, but there’s plenty still to do. And that’s only here in the States. Or have you forgotten your Heilig Herrschaft friends?”

Dane frowned. He, in fact, hadn’t spared a thought for the German branch of the Dominion.

“On top of that,” Tam continued, “there are definitely elements in Italy, and we’ve got hints of them in a dozen other places. I’ll be chasing them down until I’m old and gray. Plus, there’s the Trident to investigate. Lord only knows what they’re about.”

“I’m never going to be free of my obligation to you, am I?”

“Baby, you can leave any time your conscience allows it.” Tam paused and ran a finger through the condensation on her cup of beer. “That’s not fair of me. You’ve more than repaid me for the help I gave you. If you want to be free, I won’t stand in your way.” She stood and moved to the rail, where she perched on the corner and turned her gaze on Dane. “But I wish you’d stay, and that goes for the rest of your crew. Even Bones. We’ve got a good team here, and I want you to remain part of it. Not just for what you can do, but because you keep me honest. You challenge me without being insubordinate, and you make me think.”

“I thought I just pissed you off.”

Tam smiled and raised her beer. “Cheers.”

Dane returned the salute. “I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I ask.” Tam slid down off the rail and gave him a quick hug. “I think somebody else wants to talk to you.” She glanced to the doorway where Jade waited. “Tag. You’re it.”

Jade took up the spot Tam had occupied moments before. She sat there, chewing her lip and not quite meeting Dane’s eye, while Dane finished his beer and tossed the cup in a half-filled garbage bag at his feet.

“I don’t know the right way to say this,” Jade began, “so I’m going to dive in. Just don’t interrupt me, okay?”

Dane nodded. He knew how Jade felt about being interrupted and it was never pretty.

“You don’t want to spend your life fighting the Dominion. You’re more than capable, but that’s not your passion. You’re a treasure hunter at heart. There’s nothing in the world you love more than finding a mystery from the past and solving it. And that’s what drives me, too. We’re perfect for each other. I love to dive and climb and I love Archaeology, maybe more than you do. Yes, we drive each other crazy sometimes, and we even fight, but so what? That’s because we’re passionate. I’ll bet you never fight with Angel.”

Dane was about to correct that misconception when he remembered he’d agreed not to interrupt.

“Let’s do it, Maddock. Let’s spend the rest of our lives solving mysteries and making discoveries. Someone else can dodge bullets. You’ve done your time.” She lapsed into silence, her eyes boring into his. After a suitable pause, he decided it was safe to talk.

“I can’t imagine how Bones would react if I broke up with Angel and brought you on to the crew.”

“That’s not a reason to stay with someone, and you know it. Besides, didn’t Bones just dump your sister? It would be awkward, but we’d get through it. It wouldn’t be the first time he and I were at loggerheads.”

Dane didn’t have an answer. He couldn’t remember ever being so confused.

Jade came and knelt before him. She took his head in her hands and drew his face close to hers. The familiar scent of jasmine was strong in his nostrils and her eyes, deep dark pools, filled his vision.

“I know I’ve said it before,” she whispered, “but it’s time you started doing what you want instead of what you should.”

She kissed him softly and left him alone with his thoughts.