Tomb of Zeus (Atlantis)

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Tomb of Zeus (Atlantis) Page 24

by Christopher David Petersen


  Beads of sweat formed on his brow. His heart beat wildly as he searched.

  “Jack, let me in,” Helena shouted, now banging on the door.

  Duni continued to hold the knob, then shouted, “Hang on Helena, I’m trying to open it. I think the knobs frozen or something like that.”

  “Frozen? What the hell are you talking about? I just left from here and it was fine,” she countered.

  “Well maybe it’s just stuck. Let me jiggle the knob a little,” he responded.

  Looking back, he whispered in panicked tone, “Hurry guys. I can’t keep this up for long.”

  Jack’s face filled with dread. His eyes scanned rapidly and the mouse clicked faster with each second that passed. Frantically, he searched as the knocks at the door became louder and more violent.

  “This is Sergeant Reynolds. Open the door now or I’ll break it down,” the guard shouted.

  “Shit Jack, hurry,” Duni pleaded.

  Jack continued his search. His focus was now extreme. He blocked out the noise around him, concentrating only on his work.

  “Yessss, found it,” he whispered in relief.

  He clicked fast and then watched the lower screen for an internet connection.

  More banging sounded from the door.

  “Jack, they’re breaking it down. Hurry!” Duni shouted, his tone near hysterical.

  “Got it. We’re connected,” Jack said.

  “Great, now send the message,” Javi said, his own voice now filled with fear.

  Jack opened another file manager application. As he clicked through the various files, Javi stared in disbelief.

  “Jack, what are you doing? Send the damn message,” he shouted.

  Jack ignored the demands and blocked out the pounding at the door. Swiftly, he moved through several layers of programing. Seconds later, the mouse hovered over a file titled: “contacts”. He clicked on it and attached it to Javi’s email. He moved down and clicked on one more file titled: “Arae”, attaching it also the email.

  “Jack, for the love of Mike, send the damn file,” Javi shouted, now consumed by fear.

  Jack hit the send button. The front door began to give way. Duni hung on, but was losing his grip and his nerve.

  “Come on you pile of garbage, finish,” Javi yelled to the computer.

  Jack looked over to Duni, then back to Javi.

  “Stand near Duni and block their view of the computers when they come through,” Jack ordered.

  Javi burst from his chair and positioned himself next to Duni. Jack’s eyes were glued to the computer screen.

  Suddenly, the door flew open and Duni fell backward. He jumped to his feet as the guard took a step inside. Jack spun around and faced the entrance. With one hand behind his back, he unplugged the phone, then casually stepped toward the doorway.

  “Phew, you guys got it open. I thought we were going to be stuck in here forever,” Jack said, talking over the tops of Javi’s and Duni’s shoulders.

  As he moved forward, he placed the phone back on the table near where Helena had been sitting. He pressed the off button, then took another step.

  Helena rushed in, shoving the guard and Javi out of the way. She spotted her phone and swiped it off the table. Quickly, she turned it on and scanned through her phone calls and messages. A wave of relief swept over her face.

  “Ma’am, you left your phone it here?” the guard asked in shock.

  “Yeah, but only for a minute or so. Not enough time for them to call anyone,” she replied.

  He held out his hand.

  “May I?” he asked.

  “Certainly,” she responded, placing the phone in his hand.

  Quickly, he searched her calls and messages, just as she had done. He then opened the phone’s internet browser and search through the history files. He nodded in satisfaction, then handed it back to her.

  He stared at Jack, Javi and Duni for a moment, then said coldly, “It’s a good thing the phone’s clean. You’d be dead in less than an hour if it wasn’t.”

  He turned and stepped outside. Helena smiled back to Jack, then followed the guard. Duni’s eyes widened at Jack, signaling his relief.

  “Hey, what about our door? It’s busted,” Jack said to the guard.

  He turned and stared at Jack with indifference.

  “Your problem,” he responded.

  Duni shut the door as best he could. Looking back, his faced was filled with concern.

  “Well?” he asked.

  “Yeah Jack, did you get it sent?” Javi asked equally concerned.

  Jack shrugged.

  “I don’t know. My back was to the machine. I never got a look. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if the cavalry shows up tomorrow,” he said.

  “So are you still planning on helping Helena get that stupid scepter?” Duni asked.

  “You heard her. Some of the most powerful members of Arae will be here. We need to find out who they are. If we can expose them, their organization will be through,” Jack replied.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Javi asked.

  Jack shook his head in confusion.

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “Like finding a way to escape. Exposing the men will do us no good if we’re dead,” Duni responded.

  Jack smirked wryly and answered, “I’m still working on it.”

  Chapter: 15

  Jack looked down at his watch. The time read 5:45pm. Staring out the window, he looked for Helena’s snowmobile, but all looked quiet. Moments later, he heard the high pitched whine of her snow machine. He looked out the window once more and watched her pull in front.

  “I guess this is it,” he said to Javi and Duni, watching nervously from the table behind him.

  “Jack, I really wish you would reconsider,” Javi asked.

  “Now where would be the fun in that?” he teased.

  “This is no laughing matter, Jack. This mission you’re on is nearly suicidal, especially with someone so unbalanced running the operation,” Javi added.

  Jack turned and faced the two.

  “With all I’ve been through, I’ve learned one unshakable truth: I’d rather die controlling my own destiny, than to live as a puppet while someone else controls it for me.”

  Duni nodded simply in understanding. Javi wasn’t in full agreement, but respected his choice.

  Helena opened the door and stepped through carrying a bag. She forced a smile, then handed the bag to Jack.

  “We don’t have much time. Put these on,” she ordered.

  Minutes later, Jack stood in the characteristic white pants and arctic parka worn by the guards. He pulled the hood over his face and synched the drawstring, nearly hiding his entire face. Helena nodded in approval.

  “Ok, here’s the plan. I’ll drive my snowmobile a short distance away, then cut the engine. I’ll ask the guard for help. As soon as he leaves his post, sneak out and run around behind the trailer. I’ll restart the machine and pick you up. From there, we’ll nonchalantly ride over to the pyramid. Once we’re near the chamber’s entrance, I’ll slip on the ice and fall. When I ask the guards for help, that’ll be your cue to go inside,” she instructed.

  “Damsel in distress, huh?” Jack said sarcastically.

  “Do you have a better plan?” Helena shot back.

  “I wish,” he responded reluctantly.

  Helena glanced to the others, then back to Jack.

  “Once you have the scepter, tuck it inside your jacket. I’ll be watching for you when you come out. I’ll fall again. It should be easy enough for you to sneak out and head for the top.”

  “Don’t you think the falling is a bit overdone?” Jack asked.

  “No, it’s perfect. With the second fall, the guards will know to help me. I’m sure I won’t even have to say a word to them before they come running,” she replied.

  Jack nodded simply.

  Helena checked her watch. It read 5:45pm.

  “We better get goin
g,” she ordered.

  Moments later, as the three stared out the window, they watched Helena pull away. Fifty feet from the trailer, she stopped and pretended to be studying the problem. As she yelled over to the guard for help, right on cue, he darted to her rescue. Jack watched as he neared the machine, then slipped quietly outside and around to the back of the trailer. Within minutes, Helena had restarted her machine. She circled around a grouping of tents, then quickly pulled up behind the trailer. Jack jumped on and the two sped off, undetected.

  As they pulled up to the pyramid, they parked next to several more snowmobiles. In the hours that had passed since their capture, he could see the great progress the throngs of workers had made in removing the ice from the outside of the chamber. Now fully exposed, a large tent of plastic covered the entire structure and billowed as the propane heaters pump large amounts of hot air into it.

  Jack’s heart beat nervously as he stared down at the team of armed soldiers now rushing around Zeus’ burial chamber, taking their new posts as the others were leaving to end their shift. Helena shot him an apprehensive glance, then dashed down into the pyramid. He followed her close behind.

  As the two approached the chamber, Jack broke off to his right and worked his way along the edge of the golden blocks. Helena in turn, continued on straight ahead. Moments later, Jack stood ten feet away from the entrance. With the many workers and guards rushing around, he went completely unnoticed.

  Twenty feet from the entrance, Helena took a few steps, then fell. She landed on her side, then rolled to her back and lay motionless a moment, as if in a daze. As several guards looked on, stunned by the sudden fall, she shouted for their help.

  “Well don’t just stand there, someone help me,” she barked out the order.

  The soldier standing guard at the chamber’s entrance, rushed over to her. As he leaned to help, Jack raced for the covered doorway. He threw open a sheet of plastic, and darted inside. Instantly, the overwhelming heat of the interior took his breath away. He quickly pulled off his coat and tried to breathe in the thick air. As he acclimated to the hot environment, his eyes scanned the interior. Instantly, he spotted a magnificent crystal coffin lying reverently on a stone altar at the chamber’s center. A beam of light seemed to shine down from a hole in the ceiling, illuminating the contents of the coffin.

  Jack took several steps, then stopped.

  “Wow, he’s all bones,” he said in surprise. “Talk about bad preservation. I’m betting Poseidon would be pissed if he saw this,” he added in sarcastic tone.

  Hovering over the top now, he ran his hands along the clear smooth crystal. The impressive sight nearly took his breath away. Suddenly, it dawned on him: the scepter was missing.

  “Oh no,” he said aloud, now realizing his plan was in jeopardy.

  Outside the chamber, Helena wandered around aimlessly. She tried to pretend she had a purpose, but as time passed, she knew her presence would soon be questioned.

  Glancing at her watch, she realized the time: 6:10pm.

  “What the hell is he doing? He’s been in there for almost fifteen minutes,” she whispered to herself.

  Moments later, she breathed a sigh of relief. She saw Jack’s white arctic parka appear behind the plastic, just outside the entrance. Instantly, she pretended to slip and fall. As she hit the ground, she lay very still, then slowly began to move. Just like they had done before, several guards rushed to her side.

  Jack moved from under the plastic cover and headed up the golden blocks toward the top. Now standing by the snowmobile, he watched as Helena charged up toward the surface. His mind raced as he tried to formulate an explanation.

  As she neared, she shouted, “Did you get it?”

  Jack shook his head, solemnly.

  “I’m sorry. It wasn’t there,” he replied in saddened tone.

  “What the hell do you mean it wasn’t there?” she said, enraged.

  “I’m sorry, Helena, but it just wasn’t there,” he said simply.

  “Well, what was there? What did you see?” she demanded.

  “I saw an altar. On top of it was a crystal coffin filled with Zeus’ bones,” he responded, his tone growing more disappointed by the minute.

  “That’s it, just a stupid coffin? What about the ice? Maybe it’s still in there, just buried inside the ice,” she asked, her voice now desperate.

  “The heat inside that chamber was tremendous. There was almost no ice: just a couple of inches left on the floor,” Jack stated flatly.

  Helena shook her head in anger. She could barely think straight. Suddenly, she launched her foot into the side of the snowmobile, kicking it in a fit of rage.

  “SON OF A BITCH!” she shouted. “This can’t be happening. That scepter was mine. NOW what am I supposed to do?” she complained aloud.

  Jack stepped forward. He extended his arms to offer her a hug. Instantly, she deflected his advance.

  “Get the hell away from me,” she growled.

  She brushed past him, jumped on her machine and sped off, leaving him to solve his own problem of returning to the trailer unseen.

  “Great, thanks,” he shouted sarcastically to her as she drove away.

  He stared at the row of snowmobiles and shrugged.

  “What are they going to do, charge me with stealing?” he joked.

  He jumped on one and sped off toward Camp Zeus. Ten minutes later, he circled to the back of his trailer. Parking a distance away, he walked with a casual stride, insuring he remained inconspicuous. On the back side of the trailer, a small window was positioned several feet off the ground. He pulled off his glove and lightly knocked on the window. Moments later, Javi and Duni peered through it. Jack removed his hood and smiled. As Duni rushed to open one half of the sliding window, Jack brought his finger up to his lips, signaling quiet.

  “What are you doing out there?” Duni whispered.

  “Helena left me high and dry,” he whispered back. Looking at the window frame, he asked, “Do you think you can remove this glass?”

  Duni looked at the width. It barely measured a foot across. He then looked at Jack’s large frame cloaked in heavy arctic material.

  “Jack, there’s no way you can fit through here,” he said.

  Javi nodded in agreement.

  “Not like this, I can’t,” he replied, cryptically, then said, “Remove the window while I get undressed.”

  A minute later, just as Duni jockeyed the glass from its frame, Jack stood on the frozen snowpack in just his underwear and socks. He shook uncontrollably in the minus five degree temperatures. He reached down and tossed his clothes in through the window.

  With his hands already numb with cold, he reached up and grabbed the frame. He pulled hard and tried to thrust his body up through the opening. Instantly, one of his shoulders caught an edge and he fell backward.

  “Jack, it’s too small,” Duni whispered.

  He ignored the report and leaped up toward the opening again. This time, his other shoulder caught on the frame.

  As he stood shivering in the cold, he knew he had only one option. He took several steps backward, then breathed deeply, mentally preparing himself for his next action. He darted forward. Two steps before he contacted the wall of the trailer, he leaped into the air, and turned his body sideways. A split second later, his body slowed in flight and landed on the bottom edge of the window frame. Laying sideways in the opening, his shoulders were now inside. He felt searing pain from the skin that had been rubbed raw as his side slid across the lower window frame during the leap.

  “Pull me in,” he whispered frantically.

  Javi and Duni grabbed his arms and began to drag him through the opening. Halfway through, the weight of his body lay on the table situated below the window. He lifted his legs and pulled himself in, then rolled over onto the floor. Instantly, Javi wrapped him in his jacket.

  He looked up to Javi and smiled.

  “Why does everything have to be the hard way,” he joked.


  “You were just born lucky, I guess,” Javi responded.

  ----- ----- ----- -----

  The following day…

  The sound of helicopter blades sounded in the distance. Javi, Jack and Duni, stood at the small window at the front of their trailer and watched for any activity. Far from the trailer, they saw several men exiting the two aircraft and were escorted away in a four-man covered snow vehicle. As they drove out of sight, the three moved from the window and sat down at the small table.

  “I’d say our services here are quickly coming to a close,” Javi speculated, his tone ominous.

  “Do you think they’re going to kill us,” Duni asked, anxiously.

  “Hard to say. If someone considers us loose ends, I’m afraid the answer would be yes,” he replied honestly. “But as long as the scepter is missing, they could keep us around to try and locate it.”

  “I just hope Inspector DiApopolus got our email. Without him, our chances are practically nil,” Jack added.

  Minutes later, the sound of snowmobiles approached. As the three watched out the window again, the four machines pulled up in front of their trailer. A moment later, their door swung open.

  “Ok guys, let’s go. You’re services are required inside Zeus’ Chamber,” Ron Cotterman said.

  “What do they want us for?” Duni asked nervously.

  “Translations. Lord Sita doesn’t want to leave anything to chance,” he responded.

  “Lord Sita?” Jack responded in condescending tone, struggling to control his laughter.

  “Yes, that’s his new title… and I’d advise you to use it with reverence. He’s not a tolerant man,” Ron warned.

  “Don’t worry, Sir. Jack will recognize it,” Javi cut in, now glaring at Jack with frustration.

  The men loaded onto the snow machines and headed off to the pyramid. As they arrived, a gathering of men stood at the pyramid’s rim, while Adam pointed out the work involved. Jack noticed one man who stood out from the others. He seemed to command respect and authority. Four others stood behind him. Although they too were powerful men, it was obvious they were of lower status.

  As Ron stepped up to the five men, he introduced Javi, Jack and Duni.

 

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