ATLANTIS AGE OF RAGNAROK

by C M SHORT

  “That's the same noises those fish things made!” said a now subdued brave spirit, at the remembrance of the close call.

  “Wouldn't want to fall in there, sweetie! They might be hungry”!

  “Definitely don't want to go down there, boys! Don’t want to be-fish food”!

  “It’s probably not the way were supposed to go anyway, my friends, from the look of things.”

  “My shoulder is not itching, so our path must be in a different direction: perhaps through the emerald arch.”

  “Your shoulder is always correct, my girl! And, surely, this place was designed for a grand purpose”!

  As if to confirm, the splendor of the gems dimmed and a shocking chain of events began: a hum, preceded a brief pulsing of white light up the two giant crystals-then all was quiet-as the blank wall lit up with familiar images.

  “That’s us, boys! It’s like-we’re in the center of time-seeing time play out”!

  The remarkable images, showed them entering the underground and traveling to the present cave, at which point, the images vanished and the gems once again-warmed with stunning brilliance.

  “This is a theater!” Muscles announced.

  “I believe so, minus the very important popcorn and drinks!” Munch noted.

  “That was an awesome surprise, boys! No doubt, there’s going to be many more, but first, a rest.”

  After retrieving waters from a pack, and taking several thirsty drinks, the emerald explorer leaned against a cushiony backpack.

  “Now, to relax”!

  “Wanna bet?” a deep masculine voice bellowed, from somewhere near one of the pillars.

  A glint of silver-foreshadowed things to come-as a metallic object came into view: a pistol-followed by a short, stocky man, with flaming red hair, and a patch over his right eye.

  “Patch! What are you doing here?” Guns flared-his neck bristling in the sudden presence of evil!

  “I've been waiting for hours: for you to come back! Thanks for the rope”!

  “Come back?” Angel questioned. “But, we only just now got here”!

  “What are you trying to pull? How can you be getting here for the first time, since I followed you”?

  She must think I'm stupid! Patch thought, puzzled, at her lack of a better excuse.

  “Time twist, baby”!

  She immediately understood the hidden message, and posed the question.

  “Why did you follow us, from Paris”?

  “I know valuable coins when I see them! Hand them over”!

  Hoping to get him to ditch the weapon and rely on brute strength, Guns played the competitive angle-knowing-he could take him.

  “You wouldn't be so tough-without the gun”!

  “Rafael! You shouldn't antagonize a man with a gun”!

  “You should listen to her! Now, hand over the coins, or the pretty lady is gonna need some plugs”!

  “All right! All right! Here”!

  Desperate to save his love, a hasty reach was made to an inside shirt pocket, and a black velvet bag holding seven coins.

  “I hope the coins bring you bad luck”!

  “And now, the map”!

  Again, an inside shirt pocket gave up its secret-this time-a carefully folded piece of paper.

  “There's not much here; it won't tell you anything”!

  “I'll be the judge of that! Set it down, and back away”!

  Reveling in greed, Patch took a glance before scrunching it for a quick stuff.

  “Now, to get rid of you three! Over to the hole”!

  “Oh no! Not there!” came a fearful cry-born of the knowledge of the trident.

  Her thoughts whipped into a frenzy, teetering dangerously on the edge of control-a control that bolted for the realm of panic, when an ear-splitting crack echoed through the cave and sent them scrambling to their feet.

  Years of being a bodyguard had taught him to think on the run, and now, those years armed him with a solution: grab a pack, and swing it fast enough to knock the gun away.

  “Leave the bags! You won't need those! Get over there”!

  There’s got to be a way out of this, but how? Muscles wondered.

  As he followed orders, he knew that superior strength was not enough against a bullet, and the answer, unfortunately, remained-elusive.

  “Down the steps!” Patch smirked.

  Still trying to figure out what to use instead of superior strength, he questioned the plan: hoping the answer, would shine some light on a possible course of action.

  “What are you going to do? Shoot us? While we're going down the steps”?

  “Now that's an idea! But no, I thought it’d be fun-to feed you to the fish! Those steps are so moss covered-you'll slip and fall before too long”!

  As much as they didn’t want to believe it, the fact could not be escaped: it was most likely true! Adding insult to injury-was the evil laugh of foreboding that slammed into them.

  “Ok, I'll let you guys decide: who-dies-first”!

  Strength of character matched strength of body, and the decision was made. Taking one last look at his forever love, he cautiously stepped over the edge and started to inch along the treacherous descent, which was obviously going to be bad: with all the moss, and slime, on the foot-wide steps.

  “Ok, now you-pretty one”!

  “This is not the right way to go! We're not supposed to go down there”!

  “Well, you're going to, so move it! Or do you want a little help?” Patch asked, pointing the gun at her.

  Knowing a disaster waited at the slightest miss-step, she ignored the heart-pounding pain in her ears, and listened to the voice in her head: concentrate on stepping carefully, look for things to grab-just in case!

  “Your turn! Get in there”!

  Another shot rang out, piercing the much-needed focus and jolting her into a deadly slide toward oblivion! In a moment-she’d be airborne-and the odds were not in her favor! Then, she saw it: a vine, growing out of the wall, and coincidentally close! A desperate grab, and the odds changed-the plunge into the fishbowl narrowly avoided! Calling upon a dwindling reserve of courage, she continued on-pushing through fears of what lay ahead.

  This is not going to be fun! Guns thought, stepping lightly, as though barefoot on broken glass.

  “Feel free to slip and fall, anytime!” Patch yelled with amusement.

  The game ending carpet of green squished and moved beneath their fragile balance, as they gingerly descended the spiral, into a darkening, soupy mist. Straining to see, the emerald sacrifice tensely felt her way for what seemed an eternity; then, like the promising dawn of a new day-a soft glow spread a welcoming light. A few more steps, revealed, a shape forming in the glow: fingers, an arm, reaching for her-becoming a rescuing arm of deliverance-that provided a lifeline into the safety of another tunnel!

  The rescuer motioned for her silence, and carried on: another rescue, another caution about noise, and a whispered plan.

  “These rocks-that are partially blocking the entrance-let’s push a few of them out, while we yell, and make Patch think we fell in and became dinner for those-whatever they are”!

  Savoring the sweet taste of escape, they played their hand of aces, and then, with cunning silence-waited-for the game to be realized.

  Seconds later, Patch knew he’d gotten the upper hand! The resulting squeal of joy, echoed the heart felt pride of success!

  “Hah! Fish Food! That takes care of that! Now, to find the treasure”!

  After listening quietly for a few minutes and not hearing anything more, the rescuer motioned for them to stay quiet and follow him. A couple of minutes later, he stopped.

  “Ok, we can talk.”

  A torrent of words broke loose, as pretty eyes of green filled with tears.

  “Now what? He's got our food, and everything!”

  Drained by overwhelming sadness, she hung her head low.

  “I'm sorry I got you boys into this”!

  Momentari
ly, a comforting arm was pulling her close.

  “It's ok! We've got each other, and we're good at figuring things out! And, we wanted to come”!

  “He’s right-we wanted to come! Don't worry-things will turn around”!

  “Guess what? He didn't get all the coins I brought! I still have three in a separate pocket: to be our lucky coins!”

  This time, it was a joyful reach to an inside shirt pocket, and the black velvet bag it held.

  “These will bring us-good luck”!

  “That'd be nice! We sure could use some right about now! Here, you hold on to mine for me, handsome; you’ve got safer pockets”!

  “Happy to oblige! Good thing most of the coins are safely tucked away in a bank vault, so Creepo didn't get them”!

  “It’s a relief to have the fishbowl behind us, my friends! We should get going and see where this tunnel leads, and keep an eye out for food, and water.”

  Gradually, the path sloped down in a straight line for the next five minutes, until, the curious change: a fork in the road.

  “We’ve got another choice to make!” Guns announced.

  “Sweetie pie, which way”?

  The meaning of the message, became crystal clear.

  “Kames told us, the path of the Sphinx is the right path, and the one straight ahead has golden paw prints running down its center”!

  With the assurance of good logic, the royal path was eagerly followed in a steady descent-deep into the earth’s guarded realms. For an hour they trekked, with the unexplainable feeling that the gentle slope was leading into a powerful world of supremacy!

  So gradual was the change, it first posed, as imagination. A few short pulses of light rapidly grew into a kaleidoscope of merging colors, beautiful beyond words, but not holding a candle to what was seen two minutes later-when the path of royalty opened into the dazzling source of mysterious lights!

  As if standing on the edge of an ocean-an overwhelming feeling of being very small took hold-and awestruck silence met the endless cavern of bending light.

  It was a new world: one that stared back through guardian eyes-searching-for those worthy to enter the portal of wings. The two guardians looked like a moment frozen in time: standing regal and poised, with front right paws raised and silver tipped wings arched high.

  “Beyond words!” Spots declared, after somehow managing to free her captivated voice.

  “Imagine, all of this being under the Plateau!” her other half said.

  “Serious cat worship!” remarked Guns, as he cautiously looked at the realistic figures of gold-halfway-expecting them to move any second!

  Thoughtfully looking at the 20 feet between them and the portal, Muscles realized something.

  “The prints are different now: marbled, with strange designs of emerald green.”

  They approached the portal with mounting anticipation, sensing an invite to descend the seven crystal stairs beyond, and enter a new realm-a realm bordered by a narrow liquid jewel-that rippled with priceless beauty past the guarded steps of old.

  “The coins! It’s like the coins! I’ll show you”!

  Once again reaching into a shirt pocket, one of the two bits of luck was retrieved.

  “Look at this! One side is a mermaid, trident, and island-just like these paintings! And WHAT paintings”!

  He pointed at the center of the steps, where rich colors flowed on a canvas of crystal: swirling, rising, being stroked by invisible brushes into a mosaic of living art-that bordered the royal prints-as they tracked to the water’s edge.

  “We’re at a very important entry, boys, but to where? Vittles”?

  “I'm at a loss for an explanation! Hopefully, we’ll run into the answers”!

  CHAPTER 7

  RIVER OF LIGHT

  Irresistible, and insistent, was the silent call that pulled them to the river’s edge-and a new beginning. On the right, a half-moon shoreline quickly grabbed their attention.

  “A boat! Boys, there must've been people living down here”!

  “Several of the digs I’ve been on, showed that many caves in Egypt have been used for storage, and hiding. We haven't seen any proof, of living down here. Another thought: maybe the ancient Egyptians carried their dead pharaohs to this place-to send them on their journey to the afterlife! The same type of boat-has been found with pharaoh mummies!”

  “Good points, buddy, and the path leads into the river, so the river must lead to someplace extraordinary”!

  “Preferably, not the afterlife!” he replied.

  “How about a romantic boat ride, babe.”

  “Sure, but we'll have to postpone the wine, and snacks”!

  “What about me”?

  “Come on, bud, we wouldn't leave you behind”!

  They climbed into the royal ferry, picturing a beloved pharaoh surrounded by a bountiful store of food, and other essentials, needed for his trip to the afterlife. The warm thoughts of the past were abruptly cut short-when Vittles made an announcement.

  “Now this could be a problem! No oars! Other than that, it looks ready to go.”

  “It’s not tied up, so the current must be keeping it by the shore. One of you boys could push the boat out, but then, how would we steer it?”

  While the dilemma stirred their thoughts for an answer, a slight bump launched the boat, and a chorus of surprise.

  “We're moving”!

  Caught in the watery grip of the current, the boat was gradually pulled to the right, and into the river’s center. Floating through the endless cavern of light was almost hypnotizing, and a vivid imagination gave in to dreamy visions of being a mermaid princess: gliding through the tranquil, light blue waters.

  “Buddy, in all of your archeological travels, have you ever seen such an incredible place”?

  “Never! And this would be a geologist’s dream! I’m guessing that a lot of this light-is from diamonds-but I need to see them up close to know for sure.”

  “Diamond light!” the mermaid exclaimed.

  For 20 minutes, their wild chatter resounded like music, then, the song changed: when they drifted into a narrow passage, full of turns, and only inches wider than the boat.

  “Good thing none of us are claustrophobic!” the protector said, just before touching one of the walls.

  “It's warm”!

  “Oh my! Gotta get that”!

  In a flash, the emerald beauty was up, and grabbing above her head.

  “Darn! I missed it”!

  “What was it, baby”?

  “I think it was a giant emerald! I wish I were as tall as the sky-as you are”!

  “Sky! That would be a good nickname for you to call him”!

  “I like it! You can call me that”!

  After what must've been a couple of miles, the narrow turns opened into another giant cavern-that was a bit different: the water had a light shimmer of green, and the current was very fast.

  Within a protective scan, a flash of movement took being on guard to a whole new level!

  “What's that”?

  “I don't see anything, my friend.”

  “Neither do I.”

  “I saw ripples, but they’re gone now.”

  A minute later, a repeat in words-raised alarm.

  “What's that”?

  This time, the ripples continued.

  “What do you boys think-could be causing those”?

  “Maybe, one of those fish things.”

  “Thanks, Guns! You just had to remind me of the close call I had”!

  “Sorry, but if a dangerous creature is out there, we need to know”!

  “You’re right!” she agreed.

  The mysterious deep, resisted the two green probes that searched with bated breath, and offered up only one thing: silence.

  “It could've just been high rocks, pretty one.”

  His words did little to ease frazzled nerves, and the search of the depths continued, with the hope, that nothing would be seen; however, a fleeting b
lur of a gray cigar shape-changed everything!

  “I saw something”!

  She nervously pointed, and touched the water.

  “Watch out”!

  He warned his love-too late!

  Splash! Angel leaned over just a little too far, and fell out of the boat. Caught off guard, she entered the water with almost no air in her lungs. Keeping calm and breaking the surface, she took a deep breath, and scanned for the boat-the sight of which-caused a sinking heart: it was rapidly leaving her behind!

  “Wait”!

  “Swim, Angel!” they both shouted.

  “We can't slow down! You'll have to swim for it!” Jean-Leuc yelled.

  Swimming as hard as she could-proved no use: the boat was still pulling away! The burn of failure was devastating, and swiftly joined by painful thoughts of despair.

  OH NO! I'm not going to make it!

  Only one option remained: swim for shore-even though the river looked exhaustingly wide! It was a good plan: one that could be accomplished, one that could save her, one that could ease her troubled mind-if only, for a moment.

  A hidden terror had been lurking beneath the surface-waiting for a new victim-waiting-for dangling legs. Hoping beyond hope, it had just been a plant, she stared into the water as a knot formed in her throat, and saw a most beautiful sight: a forest of elegant plants.

  With a deep breath of relief, she looked toward the shore, ready to swim, but not ready for the movement of fins on the surface-a few feet away! In a flash, the attack began: her back seized by the creature’s hard, slimy grip, followed by an inescapable push through the water, and a desperate cry for help!

  “Jean-Leuc! Something's got me”!

  The bad luck was unbelievable: once again, to have fallen among the fish creatures-and this time-things would not likely go so well! Oddly enough though, she was heading in the direction of the boat, and a small glimmer of hope materialized: if only it could be reached-without becoming a meal! Then, hope was firmly touched-and the pushing ceased.

  “Grab my hand, baby”!

  In the blink of an eye, two pairs of strong arms gave a lift to safety.

  “Are you ok, love”?

  “I think so”!

  “You gave us a major scare, my friend”!

  “You! Those things gave me-a major scare! I thought I was going to be a fish dinner”!