Atlantis - Return of the Nation

by Steven Cook

  Darath looked at the roll of instruments beside him on the floor and selected a curved, small Orichalcum knife. He splashed a small amount of liquid from a clear bottle onto the blade and waved it in the air to dry it. Looking at the huge head in front of him he took a deep breath and prepared to cut.

  Hildar noticed Minotaur’s remaining eye roll in barely controlled panic and smiled to himself. It was nice to see that the vicious creature was capable of fear.

  ‘Captain, can you be ready to pass me some rags?’ Darath asked.

  Hildar nodded. Darath placed his left hand close to the ragged wound and was surprised at the heat emanating from the flesh. His gentle probing raised a strange noise as Minotaur ground his massive molars in pain.

  The medic altered the grip on the blade and made a quick, decisive cut. With the surface broken, a spurt of blood and foul smelling yellow pus erupted. Darath pulled back in alarm.

  Minotaur bellowed in a combination of pain and relief as the pressure was released. The Minoan holding his horns struggled to immobilise his head.

  Darath moved in and extended the incision, tracing the line of the sword cut. More blood and pus issued from the wound, revealing the extent of the infection.

  Hildar wrinkled his nose at the foul smell and handed a handful of rags to the medic. Darath wiped the worst of the emissions up with the rags and threw them straight into the fire.

  He picked up the bottle of clear liquid again and removed the stopper.

  ‘This might be uncomfortable.’ He informed Minotaur.

  Without giving him time to respond Darath poured a fiery stream of liquid along the length of the wound. The liquid burned in the wound then took effect and numbed the area. He gave the ruined eye special attention and poured an extra slosh into it.

  He paused a moment until the numbing effect was at full strength he picked up another tool and plunged it into the eye socket. With a twist and a pull he extracted the damaged organ, and with a quick slash of the blade, he severed the optic nerve.

  The bloody orb was also consigned to the flames of the fire.

  Darath took a leather pouch from the ground beside him and opened it. Reaching in he pulled out a handful of shredded herbs which he quickly began packing into the wound. Minotaur squirmed under the secure grip of the three Minoans.

  ‘Stay still,’ Darath ordered, ‘this will not take long. I will give you something to help you rest after I am done.’

  Minotaur held himself still as the medic finished packing the wound and applied bandages. Darath considered his work and was satisfied. Finally he took out a small bottle of a blue solution. He looked at his patient and compared his size and the appropriate dose.

  ‘Drink this all down. It will ease the pain and help you sleep.’ He removed the plug and handed the bottle to the Minoan as the three burly warriors released him.

  Minotaur grabbed the bottle as he sat up. He thrust the bottle between his heavy stained teeth and threw back his head. The bottle glugged as the liquid drained rapidly down his throat. Once empty he dropped the bottle onto the ground and turned to Hildar.

  ‘This had better help or you loose your man.’

  Hildar waved Darath away.

  ‘If you had seen what came out of the wound you would not have needed to have said that. The herbs will help. Darath is a skilled healer.’

  Minotaur gingerly touched the bandage covering the right side of his face. Hildar noticed that the single remaining eye was beginning to glaze over.

  ‘The guards are set. You can sleep easily.’ He got to his feet to move off.

  Minotaur nodded his heavy head sleepily. Hildar walked away towards the guards to check they were alert before finally heading to his bedroll. The Minoan leader watched him sleepily until he had disappeared then motioned to one of his warriors.

  The Minoan knelt beside him. In an instant the glaze disappeared from Minotaur’s eye. After looking carefully around again he whispered to the warrior.

  ‘M’Sorta, Wake me an hour before the guard change. Make sure everything is ready.’

  The warrior inclined his head and moved away. Minotaur settled to the ground. He then let the affects of the drugs take hold. Shortly afterwards his breathing deepened and he slept.

  *

  North River and Lake 25th May

  Fisher lowered his carbine once they were several hundred metres from the walls of Atlantis. Wallace also pulled back on the throttles to let the Guardian coast to a halt. They had turned off the spotlights and without the lights of the city he could no longer see obstacles clearly in the lapping water and was worried they might rip the bottom from the boat on a rock or submerged tree.

  ‘Take us across the lake. We’ll set up camp then see about the dam when the sun comes up.’

  ‘Yes sir,’ replied Wallace. He eased the patrol boat forward to a walking pace, conserving fuel and giving him as much chance of seeing obstacles as possible.

  On the front deck of the boat Coran and Eraz were tending to the deep arrow wound in Dingo’s shoulder. The bolt had luckily missed his armour and pierced though the thick muscle. The barbed head had passed straight through.

  Coran cut the head off with his knife. Quickly he slit through the fabric of the armour and the overalls beneath to reveal the full extent of the wound.

  ‘Eraz, Danny. Hold him still for a moment. Sophia, can you be ready with those rags.’

  He waited for the others to gather round and almost before they had a good hold on Dingo he drew the arrow out of Dingo’s flesh in a single smooth motion.

  Dingo gritted his teeth at the burning pain. Fresh blood seeped from the open wound. Sophia let it flow for a few seconds before putting pressure on both sides of the injury.

  Coran searched through his backpack and pulled out a packet of herbs, which he started to pack into the wound.

  ‘That stuff is wonderful Dingo; you’ll be fixed in no time.’ Fisher stated from his position behind the console.

  Coran finished tying a bandage over the wound then assisted Dingo to sit up.

  ‘If it starts bothering you let me know and I will have another look.’ Coran gathered up his equipment and placed it back in his bag.

  Dingo rested his back against the front of the control console. He closed his eyes as a wave of pain washed over him. After a moment he opened his eyes and looked forward.

  Danny was hunched down to one side, the carbine resting across his knees. He was looking at M’Varak with wicked amusement.

  The Minoan’s eyes were wide in panic. He was making a low moan in his throat and was cowering in the slight well in the centre of the foredeck. Every slight movement of the boat caused him to look in another direction in fear.

  ‘Danny.’ Dingo called to the young sailor.

  ‘What?’ Danny never took his eyes from M’Varak.

  ‘I want you to leave him alone. He’s the only chance we have of stopping everything from going down the pan.’

  ‘And what happens if it all works out?’

  Dingo looked at the scared creature.

  ‘He goes free like I promised.’

  ‘Well, I never promised that.’ Danny looked at Dingo, challenge in his voice.

  ‘Never the less, he gets to go his own way.’ Dingo replied.

  ‘Well, we’ll have to wait and see won’t we.’ Danny stood up and gave a final glare at M’Varak.

  He turned and jumped a short distance to create a deep rocking motion in the boat that set M’Varak off in another series of anxious moans. Dingo started to get to his feet to follow.

  ‘I’ll go,’ said Sophia, laying a hand on the Ranger’s right shoulder.

  Dingo relaxed and sat back down. Sophia moved past the control console to where Danny was standing looking back at the city.

  ‘Danny.’

&n
bsp; Danny looked over his shoulder then turned to face her. In the pale moonlight Sophia could see tears in his eyes. Without saying a word she wrapped her arms around him and held him close. He tensed for a moment then relaxed and started sobbing.

  After a while the sobbing ceased.

  ‘That bastard got my best friend.’ He took a deep breath and raised his head.

  ‘But he did not injure him. You said yourself that he could easily have killed him.’

  Danny nodded reluctantly.

  ‘They were taken prisoner for a purpose. Until that purpose has been completed they will be kept alive.’

  He nodded again.

  ‘And look how M’Varak has responded to Dingo. He is acting honourably towards him. If you trust Dingo you should follow his lead.’ Sophia gripped him by his upper arms and looked directly into his eyes.

  Danny nodded in acceptance.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he apologised.

  ‘It is not me who you should apologise to.’ She smiled then quickly leaned towards him and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

  ‘Come. We will be setting up camp soon.’ She left him with his thoughts.

  Wallace coasted the boat up onto a shallow beach. The scrape of the hull on the shingles stopped as the Guardian came to a stop. The crew started disembarking, with Fisher leading the way, carbine raised and sweeping the beach.

  Danny leapt from the side of the boat and turned to assist first Sophia, then Dingo down onto the beach. He turned to help as another shape appeared at the gunwale.

  He paused for a moment before extending him hand to M’Varak. His previous amusement and anger dissipated as the Minoan extended a shaky hand to grab hold of the offered arm.

  ‘Come on; let’s get you onto solid ground.’ He helped the large creature onto the beach.

  Behind him he didn’t notice Dingo and Sophia holding their breath. M’Varak collapsed to his knees as soon as his feet touched the beach. He bent over and retched, throwing a stream of vomit onto the shingle.

  Danny jumped back, but not before a splash sprayed across his boots. He took his water bottle from the pouch on his belt and offered it to M’Varak.

  ‘I am sorry,’ said M’Varak as he took the bottle.

  ‘Don’t worry about it, it’ll wash off,’ said Danny, ‘you should have seen me the first time we hit a force ten. I’m sure I qualified for the Guinness World Records.’

  M’Varak swilled his mouth out and spat onto the beach before taking a deep draught of the water. Taking Danny’s offered arm he heaved himself to his feet. The pair moved further up the beach.

  ‘There will be no need to restrain me. You have my word that I will not attempt to escape. Even if my stomach would let me!’

  Danny was surprised that M’Varak addressed him instead of Dingo. He looked over to where Dingo, Sophia and Fisher were watching him.

  ‘Your word is good enough for me.’ He smiled as M’Varak straightened up in pride.

  *

  North of Atlantis 25th May

  Minotaur opened his eye as M’Sorta shook him.

  ‘It is time. The warriors await your final instructions.’

  The Minoan leader sat up and traced the wound on the side of his head. He grunted in surprise at the lack of pain and heat.

  ‘I want Hildar, the medic and the two Outworlders alive. The rest you can do whatever you want with them.’ He turned his massive head and located his axe.

  Carl struggled to sleep. The pain of having his arms and ankles lashed together was preventing him from finding a comfortable position on the hard ground.

  Beside him Craig was gently snoring away. The sound of the camp behind him and the guard assigned to watch over the pair of them constantly walking around wasn’t making anything easier.

  There was a scuffling sound behind him and he rolled over in curiosity to look.

  A massive Minoan was holding the guard assigned to watch him off the ground. The guard’s sword hand was clamped in one of the creature’s fists. The other was attempting to free the grip around his throat. The sound that had disturbed Carl was the feet of the guard frantically pushing against the Minoan’s knees in an attempt to gain enough leverage to break free.

  The Minoan slowly, almost leisurely brought the guard closer and opened his mouth. Turning his head slightly the Minoan took the guard’s face between his jaws.

  Stunned and unable to move Carl watched as the muscles in the creatures jaw muscles contracted. The heavy teeth closed on the guards face and crushed the skull. The body quivered then relaxed. The Minoan dropped the body and looked at Carl.

  ‘Be quiet or you die.’ The blood, bone fragments and other residue dripping from the Minoan’s jaws gave Carl no other option other than to comply.

  In the rest of the camp the first sounds of uneven combat reached Carl. He raised his head to see the rest of the Minoans moving between the recumbent warriors, raising their axes and swords to rain swift blows down on them.

  Some of the warriors tried to band together and fought side by side. It wasn’t long before they were overwhelmed by the reach and strength of the Minoans.

  He saw Hildar in the light of the campfire. With some satisfaction he watched Hildar strike at two Minoans with his short sword. One twisted away, dropping its hands to hold in the coils of its intestines as they heaved through a long slash across its stomach.

  The other surprised Hildar by stepping into the blow that killed it. The falling body took the sword with it, leaving Hildar weaponless. He looked frantically around for another sword.

  Hildar found himself surrounded and defenceless. A thrust to his back from the butt of an axe sent him stumbling over the body of one of his men. He threw his arms out to break his fall; leaving his ribs open for a swift kick. He was thrown to the ground in a heap.

  The Minoans moved in, kicking and stamping the warrior. Finally Minotaur moved forward and called a halt. Pushing his warriors aside he dragged Hildar upright by the front of his armour until their faces were level.

  Minotaur looked at the battered warrior, chuckling at the blood running down his face from his broken nose.

  ‘Oh dear, we can not have all that precious pure blood leaking away can we?’ He lowered Hildar until his feet touched the ground.

  ‘Where is the medic?’ He asked.

  The ring around them opened and Darath was shoved forward. He had been treated more leniently having been one of the first warriors found.

  ‘Fix his wounds. Do not say anything or I will remove both your tongues.’ He shoved Hildar into Darath’s arms.

  Darath lowered Hildar to the floor and started to examine his wounds. Looking nervously around at the gathered Minoans he pulled his bag towards himself.

  ‘We move as soon as it is light. Enjoy yourselves.’ Minotaur waved the rest of his warriors away.

  Carl and the now fully awake Craig watched in horror as some of the Minoans started to amuse themselves with the bodies of the slain warriors. In horror they realised that some of them were still alive.

  *

  Lake 25th May

  Danny woke slowly. It took him a moment to realise where he was. Letting out a yawn he sat up and started to pull on his boots. As he laced them up he realised he was being watched.

  He turned his head and looked at M’Varak. The Minoan looked better than he had the previous evening.

  ‘Morning,’ Danny got to his feet and moved to the lake.

  Kneeling down he splashed clear, cold water over his face and neck to wake himself up fully. Wringing the water from his short hair he turned and was surprised to see the M’Varak had followed him to the shore.

  ‘What is it with mankind and water?’ M’Varak asked.

  Danny paused for a moment before answering.

  ‘We like to be cle
an. It stops us from smelling too much and any scratches are less likely to get infected.’

  The Minoan considered this for a moment.

  ‘Do I smell?’

  Danny didn’t need to move any closer to decide on his answer.

  ‘To be honest,’ he said, ‘you stink.’

  M’Varak thought for a moment, and then started to strip his armour and clothing off. Fully naked he stepped into the lake and began scrubbing himself hard.

  The rest of the camp stopped what they were doing and watched.

  ‘That’s not something you see every day,’ said Coran.

  ‘What’s that?’ said Dingo as he scratched the bandages on his shoulder.

  ‘Minoans hate getting wet. I’ve seen them stop fighting when it rains too hard. For him to do that shows a lot of courage.’

  M’Varak finally emerged from the lake looking a lot cleaner than when he had entered it. Danny had presumed that the swarthy complexion of his skin was natural, but now realised that it was layers of dirt. With the dirt now removed M’Varak’s skin appeared the same pale colour as Saraph’s and the other Atlantians.

  His fur had also lost some of the depth of colour, revealing a pale golden cast to it. The Minoan seemed to have grown as the layers of dirt were removed and appeared almost noble.

  ‘You have shown me respect. Now I will respect you by not offending you with my smell.’ He started to put his clothing back on.

  Danny and the others smiled at the obvious pleasure that M’Varak was now showing.

  ‘Let us get boarded. We need to get going before anybody thinks to send boats after us.’ Saraph announced.

  The packed their meagre belongings back onto the Guardian then clambered back on board. Danny and Fisher stayed on shore to push the boat back into the water before climbing over the gunwale.

  Danny noticed that M’Varak had resumed his cowering in front of the console, his eyes tightly closed.

  ‘It might help if you sit at the front of the boat and look where we’re going. It will stop you getting disorientated.’