Vanished

by S. L. Menear

  I took a breath. Gold gleamed inside, bathed in a faint glow from an unseen light source.

  Geez, I hope I didn’t activate a timer on an explosive device. Why is it glowing inside?

  I sucked in a breath and eased my mask close to the hole. A two-inch-diameter gold cylinder six inches long lay inside—possibly the very object Ben had sent me to retrieve.

  I prayed it wouldn’t hurt me when I reached in and grabbed it. My hands tingled through the dive gloves as I pulled it out. Worried about dropping it in the silt, I zipped it inside my wetsuit between my breasts.

  Hope the bright laser didn’t alert anyone to my presence.

  Satisfied I’d found what I came for, I turned to swim away.

  A diver swam straight at me with a speargun aimed at my heart. Good thing the air in rebreather units lasted longer than regular air tanks because I inhaled at least ten minutes of air in one gasp. Frozen with my hands up, I tried to look harmless. The man with the speargun eased closer, and I did my best not to gulp air.

  I needed a distraction, so I half-turned and pointed at the dimly lit opening in the statue’s head. The diver spotted the hole, surprise registering on his face. When he focused his attention on the golden glow inside, I dropped down, clamped a lift-bag on his left ankle, and locked it. Instantly, the bag inflated and yanked him upside down to the surface. At this shallow depth, he’d be okay as long as he didn’t hold his breath. I had to save myself, but I didn’t want to hurt him for just doing his job.

  He tried to shoot me, but he was dragged away before he had time to aim, and his spear zipped past me. He wouldn’t be able to remove the cuff, but he could deflate the bag with his dive knife once he reached the surface. It wouldn’t take long for him to return, so I swam away as fast as I could. Too bad the sphere didn’t activate again and propel me back the way I’d come.

  Chances were the diver would return with a few buddies. I didn’t want to end up dead or locked in an Egyptian prison.

  I swam faster.

  After a few minutes of hard kicking, I heard Mike’s frantic voice, faint in the distance. “Sam, don’t come back this way. We’re under attack by a giant crocodile!”

  Oh, crap! I continued swimming in their direction. Maybe I can gain control of it.

  “Gotta be a twenty-footer,” Banger yelled, sounding a little louder now.

  “Hang on while I try to take control of the croc.” I searched ahead, trying to spot them. “We might need it. Enemy divers will be here any second.”

  “We’ll head toward you in the boat.” Bryce’s voice sounded faint in the distance.

  “No, you’ll get in a shootout with the guards,” I yelled. “Meet us at the dock.”

  A spear brushed past me, and I swam faster. It was difficult concentrating on an unseen crocodile with so much going on. Nile crocs were known for being aggressive, and they could live up to a hundred years. Plenty of time to grow huge and nasty.

  Up ahead, the water churned as I came in range of the underwater battle. Mike and Banger clung to the monster’s back, their arms and legs wrapped around it, avoiding its sharp teeth and claws and its powerful tail. Blood trailed from several places on the men where the croc’s sharp, rough hide had torn their wetsuits and scraped their skin.

  The beast rolled its huge body and thrashed its massive tail, trying to dislodge them.

  Water currents created by the crocodile’s violent movements buffeted me as I eased closer and struggled to telepathically contact the huge reptile.

  A quick glance behind me revealed four armed divers closing in. They were so focused on catching me, they didn’t seem to notice the giant predator.

  Ahead, the croc moved with such force, Mike and Banger were unable to stab or shoot it. They had to hang on with all their strength.

  The monster turned and headed straight for me, its giant jaws snapping.

  Twelve

  Still focused on gaining control of the beast, I held my position, my breath coming in short spurts. A quick glance behind me revealed that the divers on my six had frozen.

  I clutched the bag with the sphere against my pounding chest and concentrated as hard as I could. The vicious reptile was two feet away when it turned and swept past me, sharp teeth lining its bone-crushing jaws. Mike and Banger were still clinging to its back.

  My new buddy closed in on the enemy divers, made a sudden turn, and swatted them with a quick snap of its powerful tail. The impact sent them tumbling backward.

  The croc glided next to me and paused.

  Oh boy, am I really getting on this beast?

  I hesitated, then straddled it behind its neck. “Hang on, guys.”

  “Like we have a choice.” Banger sounded breathless.

  Our ride zoomed through the water toward shore, blurring my view. No way the other divers could catch us now. My guess was they weren’t getting paid enough to tangle with the legendary denizen of the Nile.

  We reached the marina in a few minutes and climbed off our reptile taxi a few feet from where our team waited on the bank. They stepped back and drew their weapons.

  “That bloody croc is huge.” Bryce took aim at its head.

  “Stand down. He’s on our side.” I stepped in front of the reptile.

  Bryce held his ground. “That’s not what Mike and Banger said.”

  “That was before Sam got control of it.” Mike glanced back at the open water. “We had four divers after us, and they’re bound to contact the authorities soon.”

  I sent the beast back in the direction of the divers to buy us time for a getaway. Its instructions were to scare them away.

  Sirens blared in the distance.

  “Hurry, we have to get out of here before cops close off the marina.” I unzipped the Eye from my BC and shoved it into my wetsuit where I’d put the canister, unclipped the bag holding the sphere, then slipped out of my dive vest and handed the scuba gear to Lance.

  Lisa pulled the Range Rover close by while Bryce and Lance helped load the dive gear. We tossed everything in the back and piled into the SUV.

  “Step on it.” Mike scanned the marina.

  Lisa burned rubber out of the parking lot. I didn’t breathe easy until we pulled onto the highway, headed for the airport.

  I pulled a first aid kit out of a duffel bag and handed it to Mike. “You and Banger should bandage the cuts on your arms and legs before we get to the airport.”

  “Well? Did you get it?” Lance looked at me.

  I unzipped my wetsuit and handed him the gold cylinder. “Hold this while I wiggle out of this hot neoprene.” I set the Eye on my seat and pulled off my dive gloves.

  “Whoa.” Lance juggled the cylinder like a live grenade. “Is it safe?”

  “Did it zap you?” Banger checked Lance’s hands.

  “No, but I never know what to expect from the stuff Sam finds.” He held it at arm’s length.

  I struggled out of the wetsuit and pulled on a T-shirt and shorts over my bikini. “Maybe I shouldn’t handle it until we get to a secure location.”

  “Why? What’s it going to do?” Lance looked at me, his tone tense.

  “I’m afraid if I hold it in my bare hands, it’ll pop open and blast somebody with a laser or do something equally unpleasant.” I checked the bag with the silvery globe inside. “The sphere’s laser shot a hole through the waterproof bag and unlocked a hatch hiding the cylinder.”

  I opened the bag and peered at the silvery-blue ball. “It seems fine. I guess it’s waterproof.” Covering my right hand with part of my T-shirt, I slipped the Eye back into its leather pouch, which was tied to a belt loop on my shorts. “I don’t know how many more of these weird artifacts I can carry.” The gold medallion on its chain was still hanging around my neck.

  Lance glanced at Mike, Banger, and me. “Care to explain the twenty-foot crocodile you guys rode to shore? Nile crocs aren’t supposed to be this far north.”

  “Just goes to show you can’t always believe what you read.
” Banger looked at me and grinned. “I just found a story on my smartphone about crocodiles invading Cairo.”

  “All I know is Sam’s telepathic ability with animals really came in handy.” Mike patted my back.

  Lisa turned onto a remote two-lane dirt road, then pulled over and stopped the SUV about a mile from the highway. “Sam, you’d better find out what that thing does before we take it on an airplane.”

  Mike nodded. “Give it to her, Lance.”

  “Wait.” I stepped outside, and a warm breeze ruffled my wet hair as crickets chirped nearby.

  Lance thrust the gold artifact at me through an open window.

  I hesitated, not certain what would happen. The instant my bare hands held the device, it made a strange humming sound, and the end popped open. I jumped back and turned away from the car, worried it might zap something.

  Nothing happened.

  “Hand me a flashlight.”

  I grabbed a mag light with my left hand and shined it into the opening. A thin strip of gold, an inch wide and almost the length of its container, lay inside. I held the light in my mouth as I tilted the cylinder and slid the metal strip into my open hand. Atlantean words were engraved on it.

  I memorized the message and replaced the strip.

  “It’s not a weapon.” I climbed into the SUV. “Let’s hurry to the airport and get the heck out of Egypt.”

  “What was inside?” Mike glanced at the artifact.

  “A metal strip with a message on it.” I shoved the container inside my backpack.

  “Did it say where to find the Blue Dragon?” Lisa looked over her shoulder at me.

  “Yeah, but we need to figure it out first.” I sighed. “Translated, it says, ‘The Blue Dragon lies in the Dark Continent, ensconced in an arid enigma and a primordial paradox, cloaked in eternal darkness. Save them.’”

  “What does that mean?” Bryce looked at me. “And save who?”

  “Beats me. The first message I received before I left my condo also ended with the command, ‘Save them.’ I thought it meant save Ross and Derek, but maybe I misunderstood it.”

  “It’s in eternal darkness?” Banger arched a brow. “Maybe it’s in Hell or whatever the Atlantean equivalent of that might be.”

  “Geez, I hope not.” Mike glanced at me. “I bet it’s in a cave.”

  “And we know how much Sam likes caves.” Banger grinned in my direction.

  I gave him an exaggerated eye roll.

  “Run it past Professor Armitage.” Lance patted my knee. “He might know what this mumbo jumbo means.”

  “Good idea.” I gazed out the window as we pulled onto the highway. “I’ll wait until we’re airborne and call Ben on the satellite phone.”

  “Better call him now.” Bryce shrugged. “We don’t want to fly away only to discover it’s in Egypt.”

  I pulled out the SATCOM and dialed. When Ben answered, I dived right into our problem and recited the message, then waited a few seconds for him to process it. “Any ideas on the location?”

  “Hello again, Sam, and yes, several ideas come to mind. Arid enigma must refer to something puzzling in a desert—could be the Great Sphinx or the Great Pyramid of Giza. There are spaces inside both that are always in darkness, and my study of the Atlantean records you recovered indicate both sites are over ten thousand years old, not the forty-five hundred years claimed by Egypt.”

  “That would mean they weren’t built by the Egyptians. Are the Atlanteans claiming they built them?” My mind raced.

  “Yes, and they also claim they stored copies of many of the documents from their primary Hall of Records in a chamber under the right front paw of the Great Sphinx.”

  “But what about the primordial paradox? Neither site dates back that far.”

  “True, but info about that might be hidden inside the Great Pyramid or in a chamber under one of the front paws of the Sphinx.” Ben paused. “Or … perhaps it’s referring to the Lost Sahara Civilization … or possibly the Cradle of Humankind.”

  My voice rose an octave. “I hope it’s not in the Sahara. That desert is as big as the entire continental USA, and the lost civilization must cover a vast area buried beneath tons of sand.”

  “Relax, Sam, maybe the Blue Dragon is in a desert cave that never sees the sun.” Ben’s voice conveyed a soothing tone.

  “What about the Cradle of Humankind?” I tried not to sound frustrated. “Where’s that?”

  “Actually, there are two possible locations. Ethiopia claims it’s in the vicinity of Hadar, a village in the northeastern part of the country on the southern edge of the Afar Triangle, which is part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. That’s where the well-known 3.2-million-year-old hominin fossil, Lucy, was found.”

  “And the other site?”

  “It’s in a complex of limestone caves in South Africa, thirty-one miles northwest of Johannesburg. The primary area is known as the Sterkfontein Caves. A 2.3-million-year-old hominid fossil named Mrs. Ples was found there.”

  “I’m worried, Ben. Day one of our seven-day ultimatum is over. That leaves six days to find a needle in a million haystacks, and if we fail, the man I love dies along with the man Lisa loves.” My voice cracked.

  “Look, I know how much Ross means to you. I suggest you check the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid before you try the more widespread sites.” Ben paused. “Sorry I couldn’t pinpoint the exact location.”

  “Do you know anyone in Egypt’s archaeological hierarchy who can get me inside the Sphinx and the Pyramid?”

  “Sorry, Sam, they haven’t let anyone inside the Great Sphinx since 1993, when an American Egyptologist discovered that the erosions on it made it at least ten thousand years old. He also used a seismograph to discover two rectangular chambers at least twenty-five feet beneath the front paws, and claimed one was the location of the famed Atlantean Hall of Records that Plato spoke of.”

  “So why didn’t they explore those chambers?” My frustration grew.

  “Egypt doesn’t want anyone to find more evidence that proves they didn’t build the Great Sphinx or the Great Pyramid. If they refuse further investigations, they can cling to the claim that Egyptians built all of it. Can’t blame them for not wanting to destroy their heritage.”

  “Makes sense, but they have plenty of ancient sites to show the world their great heritage.”

  “Maybe not. Everything could be thrown into question—a proverbial giant can of worms opened, never to be closed again.” Ben hesitated. “Considering your ability to open what appear to be solid rock walls, I suggest you go to the Sphinx first and sneak inside late at night. Maybe have your team create a diversion. My guess is the Blue Dragon will be in one of those chambers under the front paws, and there’s bound to be a passage to it from somewhere inside the main body or the head.”

  “And if the Blue Dragon isn’t there?” I tried to conceal the anxiety in my voice.

  “Call me and I’ll arrange a private tour of the Great Pyramid, or you could just sneak inside like you’re going to do in the Sphinx. I hope you find it fast, Sam.”

  “Thanks, Ben.” I ended the call, feeling like I had more questions than answers.

  Mike raised his eyebrows. “Well?”

  “We’re going to Cairo for a late-night visit to the Great Sphinx. And if we don’t find it there, our next stop is the Great Pyramid.” I shoved my satellite phone into my shoulder bag. “Should be loads of fun.”

  “Do I detect a tone of sarcasm?” Banger arched one eyebrow. “That’s my job.”

  “Sorry, I guess the frustration is getting to me. I wish the Atlanteans had left simpler directions.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?” Banger squeezed my hand. “Relax, we’ll find the Blue Dragon, probably later tonight.”

  Thirteen

  Cairo, Egypt

  Before departure, Mike, Banger, and I took turns in the Gulfstream’s lavatory, taking what the men called Navy showers, meaning no more than three minutes. It felt goo
d to be clean, but that would change on the desert plain of Giza.

  I studied the guidebook and then addressed the team. “There’s probably a hidden entrance behind the Great Sphinx’s head, so Banger and I should paraglide down from the jet and land on its back in the dark.” I paused. “Could be difficult. Its head is close to seven stories high, and its back is only a hundred and thirty feet long and sixty-two feet wide.”

  “Why Banger?” Mike’s eyebrows arched.

  “He’s the tallest and strongest person on the team. He might need to move something heavy or lift me up to reach something.” I smiled at my big friend.

  “What about the rest of us?” Mike asked, his arms crossed.

  “Drive out there in a rental SUV and pick us up.” I hesitated. “If we’re spotted on the Sphinx, you may need to create a diversion. Just don’t get caught. Ben said we might need to search the Great Pyramid if we don’t find the Blue Dragon inside the Sphinx.” I sighed. “And there’s a list of other potential sites if it’s not in Egypt, so we’ll need a clean getaway.”

  Banger leaned back in his seat and looked up at me. “Are you an experienced jumper?”

  “I’ve done some skydiving with my brothers, and I’m also a paraglider instructor.”

  Mike joined in. “Don’t worry, Sam will be fine.”

  “Good thing we packed those black chutes.” Banger stood. “Ready to suit up, Sam?”

  “Sure, I just love jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.”

  Banger raised a brow. “Hey, there you go again. I’m supposed to deliver the sarcastic lines.”

  “Sorry, I’m trying not to worry about Ross and Derek, but Sweetwater hates them, and it might take too long to find the Blue Dragon.”

  Banger pulled me close and looked into my eyes. “We’ll save them. Count on it.”

  “Thanks, Banger.” I sighed and glanced down at the large belly bag holding the sphere. “Better help me secure this under my harness. I’ll zip the Eye in one of my pockets, but I think we can leave the gold cylinder on the airplane.” I glanced at the team. “Right?”