“Interesting… it’s not really a sword, per se. It’s more like a religious scepter you see in modern ceremonies. I wonder how it generated so much power, so much energy.”
Both Javi and Jack turn and studied her face. The seriousness of her expression left little doubt that she believed what she just said.
“Helena, the scepter is believed to be symbolic only. Its fabled power was just fanciful claims to heighten the intrigue behind the man. Remember, he was believed to be a God, so everything he did was fabricated or embellished in order to magnify his image,” Javi explain.
“That’s just not true. He was a God and his scepter really did have great powers,” she said with conviction.
All three men turned and stared. They waited to see a smile or something that would indicate a joke… but there was none shown. Suddenly, Helena realized the absurdity of her statement to the non-believer. She knew her credibility was in jeopardy. Quickly, she forced a sly grin, indicating a joke.
“Wow, are you guys gullible or what?” she blurted loudly, chuckling to herself to reinforce her act.
The three men breathed a sigh of relief.
“Man, you’re good. For a minute there, I thought we were going to have to call for a straitjacket,” Duni responded.
“I was waiting for your head to spin three-hundred and sixty degrees and shout satanic curses,” Jack continued to tease.
“Well, all I have to say is, if ever I’m in need of some quick cash, I know just who to go to, to sell a bridge… you guys will buy anything,” she countered.
They studied Zeus’ statue for several more minutes, then moved on. The flat landing was just a transition for the corridor to turn left. As they proceeded now in the new direction, the floor once again, descended. A half hour later, the sight in front of them looked strangely blank. As they neared, they realized they now had encountered a new wall.
“Oh great! Just what we need. Another freakin’ wall,” Helena spat in frustration.
“I know, just when things were gettin’ good,” Jack teased.
“So now what do we do?” she asked.
“This is where it gets dangerous,” Javi replied. “It’s time to go in.”
Turning to Duni, he said, “Let’s grab all the equipment, shall we?”
Duni nodded.
“What equipment?” Helena asked.
“If I’m not mistaken, side-scan radar, ultrasound, motion and atmospheric detectors, as well as infrared,” Jack explained.
“That’s a lot of equipment. How long will it take before we determine it’s safe to go in?”
“Probably a couple of weeks,” Javi cut in.
“TWO WEEKS?” Helena blurted in surprise.
“And that’s if we don’t find any of those dreaded ‘curses’ the wall promised,” Jack added.
----- ----- ----- -----
The following two weeks went exactly as planned. Javi, Jack, Duni and Helena, and a crew of workers, examined every surface area along the corridor inch by inch, insuring there were no hidden traps.
After reaching Zeus’ statue, Helena ran her hand along the length of the sculpted scepter each time as she passed by it. Her mind raced with visions of power and success and fueled her passion to even greater heights.
After reaching the wall that blocked their progress, they discovered more hieroglyphics. Javi made a quick translation, and determined the wall was in fact, another door.
The four stood in front of it and stared at the round symbol that translated into “enter”, the same as the previous door. No one volunteered to press it.
“So what do we do, draw straws?” Helena asked.
“I’m not getting a good feeling on this one, Javi,” Jack confided.
“Yeah, me either. We’re miles from the safety of the entrance. There could be anything behind that door,” he said.
“Also, that door could be a trigger for some kind of trap right in front of it,” Jack added. “One push of that symbol and the whole ceiling could collapse on top of you.”
“Any suggestions?” Duni asked.
“How about a long stick and poke at the symbol,” Helena suggested.
Her statement brought a chuckle to the three men, then Jack stopped laughing.
“You know, I think she’s onto something. We can’t use the ROV because it’s articulating arms are way too short and lack the power to push something that resistant, but how about a long pipe, as in a long handrail, like the kind used on the stairway up to Poseidon’s burial chamber. We could dismantle some of it and create a long pole to push on the symbol.”
“That might work, Jack. We’d need a lot of piping though. I wouldn’t feel comfortable unless we’re standing at least as far back as Zeus’ statue, so say about fifty feet? What do you think?” Duni concurred.
“Yup, that’s exactly what I’m thinking. We’d probably need some kind of support in the middle to prevent it from bending too much, but I think standing back at the statue would give us the best opportunity for safety,” Jack said.
Two more days passed and with the long pole now in place, Duni stood alone at the statue and prepared to open the door. All alone in the corridor, he felt anxious about his next move. With cameras positioned to observe his safety, he was given the word to proceed. Slowly, cautiously, he pushed on the pole, contacting the symbol and causing it to embed deep inside the door. He quickly pulled on the pole and waited. With a loud crash, the pole was ripped from his hands, nearly knocking him over in the process. He jumped back and shined a light down the dusty corridor. As the cloud began to dissipate, he could see the pole firmly pressed against the ceiling. He followed it down to the support in the middle hallway, then followed it further just beyond. There on the ground was the door, with the remaining pole jutting out from under it in a twisted mess. In seconds, Javi, Jack and Helena rushed in to view the damage.
“The pole was a great idea, Jack,” Duni said emphatically as the three approached. “I could’ve been killed.”
“What happened? We heard the crash?” Jack replied, his face filled with apprehension.
“Same as before: the door fell over. It crushed the pole,” Duni answered, now pointing as they stood next to him.
“Wow, just imagine if you had tried to open it with your own hand,” Helena said, shaking her head in shock.
“Pancake city,” Duni joked.
“This is why we must use the utmost caution while in here,” Javi added, his voice grave and serious.
With the dust finally settled, the four began to move forward. As they stood on top of the fallen door, Javi read more hieroglyphics while the other three shined their lights further into the darkened corridor. Far in the distance, they could just make out the blankness of another wall.
“Dammit, not again?” Duni shouted in disgust.
He stepped forward, down off the fallen door and into the new area of unexplored hallway. He swiped his hand at a cobweb that blocked his path. It clung momentarily to the ceiling and walls, then broke free. In his hand, the feel was strange, like very course thread.
“What the hell?” he said aloud.
“Dunixi, what are you doing?” Javi shouted in surprise. “Get back here. That area isn’t cleared yet.”
Jack heard the odd sound of Duni’s voice and shined a light on him. He seemed to be focused on his hands.
“Duni, you alright?” he asked, now walking over to investigate.
“You guys wouldn’t believe this cobweb. It’s like dental floss or something… really thick,” he replied, trying to shake it from his hands.
Jack thought for a moment. Fear suddenly welled inside him.
“There’s no way that can be a real cobweb. Spiders don’t spin webs with silk that thick,” he blurted in realization. “That’s got to be a trap.”
He stared at the thread-like substance tangled around his fingers.
“Duni, how do you feel?” Jack asked, now openly anxious.
“Fine, why?” he r
esponded.
Without another word, Jack tore his shirt from his body, wrapped it around Duni’s hands and pulled the cobweb off. He shined his flashlight in Duni’s eyes.
“Oh shit! His pupils aren’t dilating,” he shouted loudly.
“Jack, you just shined a light in my eyes. They’re not supposed to dilate,” Duni retorted, now growing agitated.
Javi and Helena rush to help.
“I’m feeling fine, guys, really,” Duni responded.
“What is it, Jack?” Javi asked, anxiously.
“The cobweb Duni ran into: it’s a trap. Probably coated in poison I’m guessing. We need to get him out of here ASAP,” Jack said, his voice anxious and panicked.
“Guys, honestly, I’m fine,” Duni insisted.
“Don’t argue, Dunixi. We’re leaving now, so move,” Javi demanded, pointing the way out.
“I’ll call 911,” Helena shouted, pulling her phone from her pocket. As she hung back, the three made their way out
Rushing up the incline and past Zeus’ statue, Duni coughed slightly. Jack glanced back.
“I’m fine, Jack. Don’t overreact. It’s just dusty in here,” Duni responded.
Hurrying up the last incline, they rounded the corner and stepped across the first fallen door. Duni stumbled a bit but caught himself.
“Phewww, that door was a bit tricky,” he said.
The three rushed to the light of the entrance. Duni’s pace slowed. Jack and Javi each grabbed an arm and hurried him along. As they broke out into daylight, Jack examined Duni once more.
“His color’s all gone and he’s beginning to tremble. We can’t wait for an ambulance. Let’s get him to my car, now!” Jack said in frantic tone.
Suddenly, Helena burst through the entrance.
“Lay him flat. A medevac helicopter will be here shortly,” she shouted.
“A helicopter? Just like that? How’d you get one to come out here so quickly?” Javi asked in surprise.
“I know people in high places,” Helena said cryptically.
“Ok, lay him down,” Jack agreed.
As they waited for the helicopter, Duni suddenly went silent. Jack shook him lightly.
“Duni, wake up. Duni?”
No response.
“Oh shit! This is it. He’s unconscious,” Jack exclaimed as he stared into the frightened eyes of his friends.
“What do we do?” Helena asked.
“Nothing. There’s nothing we can do except wait,” Javi replied in horror.
As they waited, they kept a watch on Duni’s vitals, checking his pulse, eyes, and breathing. With each minute that passed, all three checks deteriorated.
“Come on! Where the hell are they?” Jack shouted in anguish. “This can’t be happening.”
Javi knelt on the other side of Duni and rubbed his hand. His eyes welled with tears.
“I know you can hear me Dunixi. Don’t give up. Fight it,” he said, his voice barely audible under the strain.
Moments later, the sound of rotor blades echoed in the distance. Jack jumped to his feet. Instantly, his eyes darted around to the edges of the parking lot. Off at one edge he spotted an orange rubber cone used to block a parking space. He ran and grabbed it. As the helicopter approached, he moved to the middle of the parking lot and raised the cone above his head. Rocking it back and forth, he used it as a signal. In seconds, the helicopter spotted the motion and flew directly at Jack.
With only a few cars parked up against the utility trailers, the middle of the parking lot allowed for enough clearance for the helicopter to land. Swift and skilled, the pilot set the aircraft down on the graveled lot and slowed the rotor blades, allowing two flight nurses to exit. Jack met them as their feet touched the ground.
“We have a poison victim. He’s unconscious. His breathing is shallow and labored. He’s deteriorating by the second,” Jack rattled off, shouting to be heard.
The two nurses nodded, and pulled a stretcher from inside the helicopter.
“Ok, show us,” one man shouted.
Within minutes, the two nurses took Duni’s vitals and determined his condition to be grave, then loaded him onto the stretcher. They darted across the parking lot in a crouched run, avoiding the rotor blades, then placed him in the helicopter. Seconds later, they were gone.
Jack stood alone on the gravel, sad and despondent. The unimaginable had just happened. Seconds later, shouts broke the silence.
“Jack, let’s go. We’re heading for the hospital,” Javi yelled from across the parking lot.
Instantly, Jack darted to Javi’s jeep. As he jumped in, Helena held back.
“Coming?” Jack shouted impatiently.
She shook her head.
“I’m going to hang back here at the pyramid and keep a watch on it. With the new entrance wide open, anyone could enter it and run into the same trouble as Duni,” she explained. “Now hurry, and call me when you get to the hospital.”
Both men nodded approvingly, then sped away. Helena watched them as they drove out of sight, then smiled.
An hour later, inside the utility trailer, she held Jack’s jacket in her hand and slit a small opening along the back of the collar. She grabbed a small listening bug off the desktop and inserted it into the material. With a needle and thread, she closed the small seam, then placed his jacket back up on its hook. She picked up her cell phone and dialed a number. Seconds later, the male voice answered.
“All the bugs are in place,” Helena said matter-of-factly.
“Good work. How close are we?”
“Getting closer, but we had a slight setback today,” she said, her voice showing little concern.
“A setback?” he asked, his voice sounding annoyed.
“Yeah, but don’t worry. It’s nothing serious,” she responded casually. “I’m sure we’ll be back on track tomorrow morning.”
“Good. We’ll be listening on this end, but keep us posted anyway.”
“Understood,” Helena responded, ending the call.
She stood and looked around the utility trailer. She felt her stomach suddenly growl. Picking up her phone, she nodded approvingly, then smiled as her fingers dialed a familiar number.
“Hi, I’d like to place an order: I’d like the Moussaka and an order of Tiropites…”
----- ----- ----- -----
The following day…
Inside the utility trailer, Helena sat and sipped her coffee. As she listened to Javi and Jack discuss Duni’s condition, she added her own words of sympathy.
“I’m just glad he’s alright. I’ve been was so worried, I haven’t eaten a thing,” she said, her voice warm and filled with compassion.
“It was a rough night last night, to be sure. Fortunately, the doctors think he’ll be up and back to his old self inside of a week or so,” Javi responded. “I won’t lie, I really thought we were going to lose him.”
“That was so scary and it just underscores the need to proceed with extreme caution,” Jack said resolutely.
Javi chuckled a bit, then said, “That’s rich… coming from the man who practically danced through Poseidon’s chamber even after seeing his old friend nearly killed in a pitfall.”
“I was young and stupid then,” Jack defended. “I’m older and wiser now.”
Javi winked at Helena, then responded, “Yeah, you’re an old man, Jack.”
“Who’s the old friend that nearly died in the pitfall?” Helena asked, now sensing an interesting story.
“That old friend would be me. When we were first exploring the hallways while looking for Poseidon’s burial chamber, I stepped on a tile that just so happened to be a trigger for a pitfall that filled with sand. As I was struggling to stay on top of it, I was finally overcome by the sheer volume that poured in on top of me. Jack eventually jumped in and saved me. I almost died in that one. I was really lucky that day. One of the workers wasn’t so lucky though,” he said, his voice now turning grim.
“Wow, scary,” Helena
replied, simply.
Jack looked at his watch. It was nearly 2pm.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving. Anyone for Greek cheeseburgers?” he joked.
“What’s a Greek cheeseburger,” Javi asked.
“It’s just a cheeseburger made with extra grease… get it? Grease versus Greece?” he said, pointing to the small Grecian flag on his desk.
Javi rolled his eyes to Helena and shot her a look of disgust. He turned back toward Jack.
“Jack, I really think you should stick to engineering and leave the humor to the professionals,” he responded, now grinning.
“Wow, that hurt, Javi. Really,” he retorted, feigning insult.
“Well, I thought the joke was cute,” Helena cut in. She shot Jack a friendly glance, then added, “and I could go for some lunch too, although a greasy cheeseburger doesn’t really sound that appetizing.”
“What do you recommend?” Jack asked.
“I know this nice little café overlooking the bay. It has great food.”
Javi smiled at Jack, then said, “I’ve got a lot of work to do. Why don’t you two go on without me.”
Jack thought Javi’s smile a bit odd, but ignored it.
“Ok, I guess it’s just you and me,” he said to Helena.
As the two left, Javi made a passing comment to Jack: “Have fun.”
Jack shot Javi a confused look, then headed out the door.
----- ----- ----- -----
The Papyrus Café
Jack and Helena sat at a private table overlooking the water. The spot was quiet and romantic, far away from the patrons seated inside. As the two sipped their glasses of wine and dined, their conversation jumped from topic to topic, effortlessly flowing like two gentle streams becoming one.
As the minutes became two hours, Helena began to touch Jack’s hand in casual conversation. With each gentle stroke, she could see him grow slightly nervous, his face redden, and his focus become distracted. As they both began to feel the effects of alcohol, she now began to flirt.
“So Jack, do you have a girlfriend?” she asked bluntly.
Tomb of Zeus (Atlantis) Page 8