Tomb of Zeus (Atlantis)

by Christopher David Petersen

  “Not if we knock him away from it. Once he is separated from his scepter, he’ll be defenseless,” he explained.

  “Bolar, it’s too risky. We could easily be killed,” Euclid shot back, unconvinced.

  “We live a life worse than the dead already. Each of us will be worked to the point of death, then murdered just after. We have no future, other than torment and pain. If we capture that scepter, we could live as Gods, the same as Zeus and his brother. We could strike down whole armies and conquer whole nations. We could rule the world.”

  Bolar’s words were not new to his ears. The men had discussed their freedom before. But unlike before, Zeus was alone. There were no men to come to his rescue. His back was now turned and access to his weapon was now in question. Euclid turned back toward Zeus. Other’s noted Bolar’s rearward stare and turned their sights rearward too. Within seconds, every man’s thoughts were the same and as they looked around at their comrades, their eyes registered one only action: attack.

  Instantly, Bolar sprang to his feet. Euclid stood and rushed in just behind him as they both moved toward the rear of the boat. With determination on their faces, others joined the effort. Almost to the end of the rowers, Rendin stood and opened his tunic. Tucked inside a crude seam, he pulled a shortened bronze dagger from its hidden pocket. Holding it out, he nodded approvingly. Bolar smiled in gratitude and accepted the weapon. Ten feet from Zeus’ back, his target was all but assured.

  Zeus stared at the map and considered his journey. Suddenly, a strange sensation came over him. He began to feel the boat beginning to slow. Gone was the rhythmic surge he felt from the oars as they thrust the large craft forward. Missing from his hearing was the sound of the oars lapping at the seas. In the split second it took to register in his mind, he felt the sharp jarring pain of the dagger as it plunged into his back.

  As Zeus fell forward, he let out a guttural cry in agony. Bolar pulled the knife and plunged it into his back once more. Regaining his senses, Zeus focused his mind and reached for his scepter. Two hands gripped the weapon. Only one was his.

  Suddenly he felt a crushing blow to the back of his head as two men thrust their open palms into the back of his skull. Two fists slammed into his back and an arm wrapped around his neck. More men flung themselves onto him and he collapsed forward, his weight and that of the slave, now being supported by the boats rear ledge. Instinct burst inside him and he flexed his muscular legs and stood. Feeling the choking grip of the man behind him, he reached over his head and grabbed the slave’s hair. He pulled hard and hauled him up and over the top of him, flinging the man over the boats ledge and into the water. He heard a yelp and felt a peculiar matter in his hands. Looking down, he noticed a clump of hair and a small section of scalp still attached.

  Again, he felt the dagger stab his back. With his hand still clutching his scepter, he spun it around, using his mighty forearm to knock several slaves away from him and onto the ground.

  Refusing to let go, Rendin clung to Zeus’ forearm and scepter, his own flailing body knocking several others away in the act. Two slaves rushed in and thrust their fists into Zeus’ face. Bolar stabbed Zeus in the chest, piercing his lung. Zeus’ internal energy now rushed through his body. He threw his large fist into the faces of two slaves standing in front of him, the massive blows instantly shattering their jaws and cheekbones. As they fell to the ground, more rushed in to take their place.

  Two more lunged for the scepter. Zeus changed his grip slightly, causing the internal mechanisms to engage. Suddenly a burst of energy flowed from the tip and cut across the chests of those standing in front of him. Bolar ducked the path of death as several more men fell to the ground.

  Zeus felt the desperate struggle at the handgrip to his scepter. Looking over, he stared into the frightened eyes of Rendin. With a quick swing of his great fist, he slammed it into Rendin’s face, instantly knocking him to the ground. He aimed his scepter at the horrified slave and squeezed the grip. In a blink of an eye, a beam of energy cut through Rendin’s stomach, emptying his internal organs onto the deck. He let out an agonizing cry, as he instinctively clutched his savage wound.

  Seeing his friend’s gory death, rage filled Bolar’s body. He leapt high and thrust the dagger at Zeus’ face. Zeus stumbled backward and shouted out a cry of pain as the tip of the blade sliced through his check and pierced his eye. Bolar continued to plunge his knife.

  Zeus’s knees buckled and he fell to the ground. Two slaves jumped onto him and began to punch him wildly as two others wrestled for the scepter. Zeus cried out in pain as a slave bit into his fingers, trying to release his grip. He felt more stabs as Bolar continued to plunge his dagger into Zeus’ stomach.

  Rage flared inside Zeus. He flexed his grip on the scepter and a burst of energy rushed from the tip, cutting into the wooden decking, then across the legs of two slaves, instantly severing their limbs below their knees. As they dropped to the ground, they both fell onto the scepter, the beam cutting through their bodies.

  Seeing the death of their comrades, the two slaves on top of Zeus began to fear for their lives. They watch in horror as Zeus began to rotate the energized scepter in their direction. They reached for his forearm, but only too late. The beam of energy contacted one man’s back and another man’s skull. Both cried out in pain and fell away. Bolar rolled away, the scepter just missing his head.

  Zeus struggled to his feet. Ignoring his own safety, Euclid rushed forward and flung himself into the air. As he contacted Zeus’ body, he wrapped his arms around Zeus’ neck and began to choke him. Zeus gasped for air, but there was none to be had. Blinded now in one eye and bleeding profusely from stab wounds about his body, he began to feel weakened from loss of blood and oxygen. For the first time since he could remember, he began to feel fear.

  Panic quickly ensued. Like a caged animal, he roiled up and tore Euclid from his body. He flung the slave to the ground knocking Bolar down with him. As more slaves rushed in, he kicked the lead man into the others charging behind him. For a moment, he could breathe and he could think. He eyed the other slaves still standing and pointed the energized scepter. Before anyone could protest, the beam of energy sliced through their bodies, cutting them in half. Screams sounded as the dying men waited for death to end their agony.

  Zeus looked down at the two remaining slaves: Bolar and Euclid. He relaxed his grip on the scepter, decreasing the intensity of the beam. He ran it over the two as they lay on the ground. Both shrieked in pain as the energy electrified their bodies. Just short of their death, Zeus released his grip once more and shut off the beam. The two men writhed in pain and crawled away from their foe in search of safety.

  Zeus stood for a moment to catch his breath. He looked around his boat and saw only carnage. He looked down at his wounds in horror. Covered in his own blood, there were too many wounds to count. He suddenly began to feel the effects of his injuries. He felt weak and unsteady. He stumbled over to a bench at the side for the boat and sat. Breathing heavy, the vision in his remaining eye became blurred.

  “Oh no,” he said to himself in frightened tone. “I’m dying.”

  He looked out from his ship and felt his isolation.

  “They need the scepter,” he said to himself. “They MUST have it.”

  In his mind, he calculated the time it would take to return home. With only two slaves left to row, he knew he might die before they returned.

  “You there. Stand and approach me,” he shouted to the two men at the end of the boat.

  He pointed the scepter and shouted, “Don’t force me to call you again.”

  “Yes, my Lord. We’re coming,” the two shouted back.

  Slowly, they stood through their pain and shuffled closer, fearful with every step they took. Nearing the middle of the boat, Zeus held up his hand.

  “Stop right there. You two grab an oar and commence rowing,” he shouted, his tone harsh, yet weak.

  He pointed the scepter at the two and eyed them with cont
empt. Both men immediately move to opposite sides of the boat, grabbed an oar and proceeded as ordered. He watched the two match their rowing in synchronization, then stood up and stumbled back to the tiller. He leaned across it for support and began to turn the boat on a heading back toward land.

  Staring up at the midmorning sun, he realized he would be dead before the sun set that day. He felt a moment of fear, then stiffened his resolve, knowing his brother’s world depended on his return. He took in a deep breath and cleared his mind.

  As the boat came around to its new heading, he tossed a colored cork into the water behind him. In seconds, it passed the end of the rope and he calculated their speed. A worried expression crossed his face.

  “We won’t make it,” he thought to himself.

  He pointed the scepter, squeezed the grip and shot a bolt of energy between the two rowing slaves

  “Faster. We need more speed,” he spat angrily.

  The two slaves shot each other bitter stares, then answered, “Yes Sir.”

  Zeus watched the two men row. As his vision faded in and out of focus, he took deeper breaths to try and push greater amounts of oxygen through his body. With each deep breath he took, he winced in pain causing him to hyperventilate. He forced his breathing to slow, only to see his vision fade again. Repeating his breathing cycle over and over, his condition grew weaker.

  Four hours later, still hunched over the tiller, he barely had the strength to stay conscious. His bloody tunic clung to his body and dripped onto the deck, pooling at his feet. Over time, his eyelids shut, only to open just before collapsing. As his condition worsened, Bolar and Euclid watched closely, hoping for any chance at overpowering him and obtaining their freedom.

  Zeus’ breathing became shallow once more. Soon, his eyelids shut and he began to waver in his stance. As his balance shifted from one leg to the other, the tiller moved with him, causing the boat to steer off course. Almost immediately, Bolar took notice.

  “Euclid, Zeus’ eyes are shut once more. Now’s our chance. I’ll man both oars while you sneak up and take his scepter.”

  Euclid looked back toward Zeus. Although his condition was grave, he new the king would eventually open his eyes. If he were caught, the consequences could be dire.

  “You go, Bolar. I’ll man the oars,” he responded in worried tone.

  “Are you afraid of a dying man?” Bolar asked.

  “Are you?” Euclid challenged.

  Bolar thought about his own cowardice, then responded, “Ok, I’ll go. But once I have the scepter, I will be the one that rules the world.”

  Euclid looked back at Zeus once more. Although he faded in and out of consciousness, he posed too great a threat for his liking. Reluctantly, he responded, “I’ll row. You take the scepter.”

  Bolar moved quietly toward the rear of the boat. Rowing steadily with one hand on each oar, Euclid watched over his shoulder with great anticipation. With the boat turning in a tighter circle, the ocean’s waves began to slap at its side, jarring the wooden craft. Suddenly, a larger wave slammed across the stern, knocking Zeus to the deck. His eyes opened but were blurred. Fifteen feet away, Bolar stopped in his tracks. He stared at the fallen King unsure of his next move. He was too far away from the oars to return without being caught and too close to Zeus to ignore his chance at freedom.

  In a moment of impulse, he dashed toward Zeus. Pumping his arms and legs, he made up his mind to chance death for freedom. With mere feet from his adversary, Zeus’ eyes cleared and his mind sharpened.

  “GET HIM!” Euclid shouted loudly, realizing the two were now caught.

  Zeus reacted on instinct. In reflex to an aggressor, he tried to move his arm to defend himself, but his body refused to respond. As Bolar rushed in, shock at the reality of his situation came clear in his mind. His worst worry was about to be realized.

  Bolar grinned and evil smile as he neared. Just a few steps and he could kick the scepter from his oppressor. He would be free.

  Zeus’ adrenaline coursed through his body. His fingers tingled and his remaining eye sharpened. He tightened the muscles in his hand.

  Bolar took another step and froze. His muscles contracted and he felt confusion surge through his mind. As his body began to convulse, he fell forward onto the energized scepter, slicing him in two.

  Euclid watched in horror as his friend shrieked in agony. Still alive, Bolar reached for his severed extremities, his body now functioning solely on reflex. As his hand touched his separated torso, he felt a moment of sadness, then died.

  Seeing the death of his friend, Euclid turned and rushed rearward. Zeus pointed the scepter at the approaching slave and waited. Euclid instantly stopped. He wanted to continue but knew any further steps would end in his own death.

  “You’ve killed Bolar. He was my friend. Soon you will be too weak to defend yourself and you will surely pay for your offense. I promise you that,” he spat acidly.

  “I’ll kill you long before you ever touch this scepter,” Zeus shouted back, then added, “Now get back to rowing.”

  Euclid looked down at his friend. Bolar was now part of the carnage that still remained strewn about the deck. The stench of death was now overpowering as disemboweled bodies rotted in the sun. Reluctantly, he turned and headed back to his station.

  Zeus released his grip on the scepter and the beam of energy disappeared. He reached up and grabbed the tiller. Pulling himself to a standing position, he took a moment to catch his breath. He watched Euclid as he rowed, then looked far past him. A slow smile spread across his face.

  “Land,” he said to himself quietly. “Maybe, just maybe.”

  He turned the tiller slightly and righted their course. For a moment, he felt a surge of relief and the promise of success.

  An hour later, the distant land grew larger in their view and its hazy light-blue color became darker and more distinct. Seated in a pool of blood, Zeus now lacked the strength to stand and his head bobbed routinely as he faded in an out of consciousness. With his eyes closed momentary, his hand fell from the tiller and the boat began a gentle turn, drifting with the current.

  Euclid immediately took notice. Looking back over his shoulder, Zeus was now slumped against the tiller post. Looking back toward land, he guessed it would be an hour before they were spotted. To those on land, seeing Zeus’ boat returning only hours after his departure would raise suspicion. A party would then be sent to investigate. With time running out, worry festered in his mind. His only chance at survival was to take the scepter. Fear and apprehension coursed through his body. He looked back at Zeus once more and watched the king breathing sporadically. This was it. This was his chance.

  Zeus’ mind drifted effortlessly from tangent to tangent. His visions moved from childhood games to adolescent adventures, then onto his younger years as an adult, finally recalling his latter ages in life that were filled with science and discovery. A sense of wellbeing came over him as he remembered his brother but was tempered with the sadness of missing his home. As the pain of his longing grew, it began to pull him from his unconscious state. His eyes parted slightly and his blurred vision picked up movement in front of him. He felt confused. The vision seemed out of place in the vision of his life. He stared at the blurred movement, trying to make sense of it. With each second that passed, his mind processed the logic of the event.

  He took two more steps and waited. He watched Zeus’ eyes slowly open, then close. With his lungs ready to burst, he knew he needed to act. He bent over and stretched out his hands, his fingers just inches from the smooth crystal weapon. Suddenly, Zeus’ eye opened fully. Euclid froze, paralyzed by fear. He wanted to lunge for the scepter, but his mind refused to obey his muscles command. Slowly, Zeus’ eyes closed once more. Euclid felt relief and triumph. His presence still remained undetected. With his lungs begging for relief, he stood quickly and gasped in a loud breath of air. As he exhaled deeply, he recoiled his foot and launched it at the King’s hand and scepter.

&n
bsp; Zeus’s mind sharpened. Instinctually, he felt danger. His thoughts focused and his mind processed his last sight. He heard the sound of loud breathing and snapped his remaining eye fully open. He stared in shock as Euclid tried to kick the scepter from his hand. In reflex, he raised his hand and positioned the butt of the hand grip in the path of Euclid’s swinging leg.

  Euclid caught the sight of Zeus’ lighting reflexes only too late. The solid end of the crystal impacted his lower shin, just above the ankle. He let out a loud cry of pain and fell forward onto the king. Instantly, the two grappled for the weapon. Barely clinging to his scepter, Zeus threw his mighty arm around Euclid’s neck, choking him in headlock fashion. As Euclid clutched the crystal grip, he threw punches into Zeus’ side. With each blow, Zeus’s grip began to loosen.

  Running out of air, Euclid was desperate. He lifted his head and thrust it into Zeus’ chin, momentarily stunning him. He pulled on the scepter, nearly wrenching it from Zeus’ grasp. Zeus felt his strength nearly depleted. In seconds, he knew Euclid would overpower him and take the scepter.

  “The power of the scepter is only for Gods. You will never have that power,” Zeus growled through clenched teeth.

  “I will kill you with your own scepter and then I WILL be God!” Euclid spat defiantly.

  Zeus focused all his strength on the scepters’ grip. He squeezed the handle and activated its internal mechanisms. Suddenly, a beam of energy burst from the tip. Euclid stared into Zeus’ eyes. Shock and pain registered on both men’s faces as the beam of energy cut through their bodies. As Euclid lost control of his muscles, he rolled off Zeus, the beam severing his arm and decapitating him. Zeus felt a surge of pain as the beam cut across his own body. Instantly, he relaxed his grip and the beam disappeared. He slumped to the deck barely breathing.

  Gasping for breaths, his mind began to fade and vision blurred. He turned his head slightly and saw the dull lifeless eyes of Euclid staring back at him. He smiled in satisfaction that he had won.

  “Safe,” he uttered simply.