The storm began to play itself out and Kyla watched Ni-Cio slowly raise his head. His violet eyes blazed with an inner light and he tenderly released her hand. Stepping into the midst of their people his deep voice broke the stillness. It came, low and strong, with steady reassurance. His words were a soothing balm that imparted hope and comfort. “You fought well and bravely this day. That any of us remain is a testament to your courage and the strength of your spirits.”
Hot, silent tears slid down Kyla’s cheeks and mixed with the cooling caress of rain. She bowed her head in mourning. The wind subsided to a freshening breeze and Ni-Cio’s voice rose with conviction. “We will find rest within the walls of Evan’s home. And we will stay until we regain our strength. When we are ready we will leave to rebuild our home…but it is here and it is now that we begin to heal our grief.”
Kyla felt the raw ache of his soul. Ni-Cio’s voice trembled. “We cannot and we will not let our sorrow dishonor the memories of those who gave their lives that we might continue.”
Ni-Cio lifted his face to the night sky. Drops of rain glistened on his cheeks and lingered upon his lips. Kyla, too, savored the sweet, pure taste of fresh water. When her brother began to intone the first tremulous notes of the sacred Song of Passing, she let the water christen her parched mouth. One by one Atlantean voices joined in a mystical, loving tribute and the grief in every heart found an outlet in the ethereal song.
Blanketed by soft mist, Evan stood apart from the group, his somber gray eyes closed and his head bowed. Kyla knew his anguish and she left the solemn press of bodies to stand next to the solitary topsider. She gently took his hand in hers. Her touch must have stirred depths of remembrance in Evan for together, they lifted their voices as one.
Is the Atlantis story more than legend? Is there any basis in fact?
What evidence is there for Atlantis to have been in Greece?
Do you have a “vision” of what Atlantis was?
Can people of different cultures ever truly understand one another?
Was Travlor unjustly held in Atlantis?
Was Travlor a product of his time and place, or was he “contaminated” by contact with other cultures?
Is the desire for power, such as Travlor has, a result of his contamination?
What kind of inner struggles do you think the original Atlanteans had with the quest for power?
Should alien cultures, such as the Atlanteans, be revered by topsiders or feared?
What can topsiders and Atlanteans teach each other?
Do you believe Ni-Cio’s “love at first sight” experience?
Where does love come from?
If you were given the opportunity to decide the most important rules under which a society should live, what would they be? Poseidon gave Atlantis only eight canons, is there any significance to that number? Can you think of any other canons could the Atlanteans have used?
Susan MacIver grew up in Roswell, New Mexico. She has stated, emphatically, that she knows nothing about The UFO Crash. However, since she claims that she never wanted to be a writer, it is curious as to where she got the idea for The Atlantis Chronicles Trilogy.
She attended The University of Texas in Austin, where she enrolled in dance and acting. Her acting career was brought to a screeching halt when, at her first student audition, she was informed that she had quite a strong accent. She claims her accent was a by-product of southeastern NM, but it sounds suspiciously Texan.
Intervening years occurred and time passed. She was blessed with a son, Eric, who has been an entrepreneur since the ripe old age of three. He now resides in Los Angeles and, of course, has his own company.
Married to Duke Ayers, Susan says, “Duke has taught me more about unconditional love than any other human I’ve met.” Sharing their love and their adventures in Arizona, she credits Duke with the fact that she is writing again.
If you would like to learn more, please visit her website at www.susanmaciver.com
About the Book
In one shattering moment, events are set into motion that will bring about catastrophic change.
TIDES of CHANGE, Book One of The Atlantis Chronicles trilogy, begins far beneath the wild beauty of the Aegean Sea. Having survived one horrific cataclysm, a society as ancient as time now thrives untouched and undiscovered in blue waters once ruled by Poseidon.
Unknown to any but their Healer, a devastating secret threatens Atlantis with yet another extinction event. The matriarchal healing line, descended from Poseidon, no longer has an heir. In a desperate bid to ensure the continuance of their small, underwater community, Na-Kai eva Evenor, Most Sovereign Healer of Atlantis, unleashes a power the Healers have been expressly forbidden to use from the beginning of time.
Rising from the hidden depths of Atlantis, Na-Kai’s telekinetic web of energy shimmers to a halt atop the jagged, volcanic cliffs of the exotic Greek island of Santorini.
Compelled from her hotel room to the very edge of the dark, windswept cliffs, Daria Caiden is trapped in the grasp of Na-Kai’s relentless thought-form. Forced to dive from the precipice, Daria is pulled deep into the sapphire waters below. Floating in midnight quiet, she releases her last breath, and waits to die.
Changes that no one could foresee.
Tides of Change Page 29