They Found Atlantis lw-1

by Dennis Wheatley

  She was wearing red, the colour of the Scorpions, which set off her warm dark beauty in such a way that it was impossible to look at her and not feel a new vitality pulse through one's own body.

  'Come now—the rest lies with you,' declared Nahou when he had arranged the bedding across the prickly hedge. 'We will help you over.'

  'Vladimir—you will go first, then you can give the girls a

  hand in landing,' ordered the McKay who was still nominally in command of the party. 'Nicky, you go after the girls —then the Doctor and Count Axel. I will come last.'

  The Prince plunged into the narrow canal. His feet could not touch bottom and its sides were sheer so he would have found it impossible to gain a foothold on the island if Nahou had not reached down, gripped his wrist, and hauled him up. Sally pinned up her skirts and swam the fifteen feet of water, then the three on the opposite shore pulled her over the hedge into safety. Camilla followed her example, then the rest of the party splashed into the channel one by one and, in a quarter of an hour had entered—by this prosaic and most undignified manner—into Paradise.

  The McKay introduced each member of his party by name and gave a short, very garbled, version of how they came to be there, then Nahou and Lulluma led them towards the centre of the vegetation where the palm trees rose towards the cavern's roof. The island was hardly a garden in the strict sense of the word for it lacked paths and borders, but the thick jungle-like growth which hid its interior from external view gave way, after a few yards, to a variegated orchard in which the trees were set wide apart, giving light and air to great clumps of flowers or little single coloured blossoms that starred the grass beside their footsteps.

  'I'm afraid things are not looking quite their best just now,' Nahou apologised, apparently unnecessarily, as he led them forward. 'If you had visited us a fortnight earlier you would have found the Styglomenes in full bloom.'

  Lulluma gave a deep chuckle. It was like gurgling water bubbling from a secret well that held the source of all the world's merriment. 'And if you had come a fortnight later,' she said seriously, 'the Prathatontecs would have been out for you to see I'

  'You are a wicked child Lulluma,' Nahou smiled, throwing his arm carelessly round her shoulders, 'You mock at everything for your amusement.' His voice was gentle, caressing, yet it was not the tone of a lover, only that of one who had an infinite capacity for understanding and companionship.

  'Dear fool,' she laughed, 'how can they care for the beauty of our blossoms now. They are wet and tired and hungry. When they have rested and are more themselves we will show them everything and also satisfy our burning curiosity about them.'

  A vista opened showing a fairy-like scene. A little temple, no more than eighteen feet high, but built of pure gold, stood out against the background of the palm grove. Before it lay an open swimming pool, some thirty feet in length, its sides faced with deep blue lapis lazuli, a flight of white marble steps led down into it at the nearest end. At its far extremity, a dozen yards in front of the temple, a big satyr's head faced them and, from its mouth a cascade of sparkling water constantly refreshed the pool.

  As they advanced the newcomers saw that on either side of the pool, but some way back from it, there stood two rows of low one-storied buildings.

  'We have not beds enough,' said Nahou suddenly, 'and we dare not wake those who are away.'

  'No matter,' Lulluma replied quickly, 'we have pillows in plenty. They can sleep naked on the grass while I dry their clothes in the earthshine.'

  'They do not understand nakedness, as we do who are so old in time that we have come to appreciate the wisdom of reverting to the customs of simple savages in some things,' Nahou said seriously. 'You have not travelled as much as I and therefore know less of the habits of our guests.'

  Lulluma threw a lightning glance at the bedraggled party. 'How strange,' she said, 'but never mind. You will soon learn the joy of being free from such stuffy clothes and your skins will be better for it. In the meantime you can keep your bodies covered with linen if you wish?'

  'What do they mean?' Camilla whispered to Sally. 'I've sunbathed since I was a kid.'

  They had reached the swimming pool and as she spoke Nahou turned: 'Is it your desire first to eat or sleep,' he asked.

  'For myself I am hungry please,' replied Doctor Tisch without hesitation.

  The others agreed. Utterly weary as they were they all felt an overwhelming craving to learn more of this secret island before they gave themselves to sleep.

  'Very well then. Please be seated here while Lulluma and I prepare food for you.' Nahou waved his hand towards the even grass which bordered the marble surround of the pool and added, 'I ask only that you refrain from examining the buildings where we live. Our companions are away and it would be dangerous to wake them before they arise of their own free will.'

  'We would not dream of abusing your hospitality,' Count Axel assured him, and the two beautiful beings walked leisurely away from them.

  'This party's got me beat entirely,' admitted the McKay when their hosts were out of earshot. 'Are we dead or drunk or dreaming? That's what I'd like to know.'

  Sally leaned against his shoulders; 'Does it matter my dear? This place is infinitely more lovely than any dream could be. I feel just as though I'd come home again after a long, long journey. You heard what that wonderful girl said about our taking off our clothes? Well, I don't mind a little bit. I wish that God had been a bit kinder about my ankles, but I'm not ashamed of my body.'

  'What's the matter with your ankles?' asked the McKay loyally. 'To hear you talk anyone would imagine that your legs had no shape to them at all. They may not be as slim as Camilla's but they're sensible and the bits where they crease behind your knees are devilish attractive. I was looking at them just now.'

  'Nelson—Andy—McKay! I don't keep my ankles behind my knees but I think you're a darling,' sighed Sally as she spread herself out luxuriously on the warm grass.

  They all removed their drenched outer garments and sat there silently, almost stupefied with fatigue; gratefully drinking in the warmth of what Lulluma had termed the earthshire, which streamed upon them in sun-like radiance from the broad band of golden light running right round the roof of the high cavern above the island's protective water channel.

  Presently Nahou returned, carrying a big bowl of red metal which Doctor Tisch recognised as orichalcum. Having set it down he took from it first a smaller bowl containing a variety of fresh fruit, then another which held flat round wheaten wafers and, lastly a stack of thin gold plates. As he handed round the latter he tapped the big bowl with his fingers. 'This is for your pips and rinds and scraps. It is our habit here to consume all waste matter with fire immediately.'

  Luiluma then appeared with a large oval dish which had a number of compartments. In its centre there was some sort of meat, already cut into joints and round this were heaped half a dozen kinds of vegetables, some cooked and others raw like the ingredients of a salad.

  'I hope you will like this,' she said anxiously. 'It is the loin of a small animal which you would call a buck, I think. We breed them in captivity and it is the only kind of meat we have in our island.'

  The Doctor beamed. 'It smells most tempting Fraulein— but if you have only one kind of meat do you not get very tired of it?'

  She shook her head. 'We eat it only occasionally—when we feel like a change from fish and fruit. I give it to you today because your bodies have need of such nourishment. Fortunately some was killed about a week ago.'

  'You have fish here then?' asked the McKay.

  'Yes, a dozen kinds which we breed in the lake behind the temple. Eat now, or your food will grow cold.'

  Camilla and Nicky exchanged an awkward glance. No knives or spoons or forks had been provided, but Count Axel put out his hand at once and took a small joint of the roast meat in his fingers, just as if he had never seen table implements in his life.

  As the others followed his example Nahou smile
d: 'I know what you are thinking. "How strange that a people who eat their meals from gold should pick up cooked food in their bare hands." But our life here has been reduced to the essence of simplicity. Gold is unbreakable, does not tarnish and conveys no metallic taint to food; also plates and dishes are essential—but not so knives and forks. The use of them would only mean unnecessary labour and we have no slaves to do our work for us.'

  Luiluma squatted down on her heels before them as they ate. Only her admirable manners restrained her curiosity about the visitors. She was longing desperately to question them about themselves but all she said was: 'Do you like the flavour of the meat?'

  Count Axel threw a bone into the metal bowl and turned 255

  to her with a bow as he took another piece. 'It is excellent,

  and your cooking does you honour. You are right too about it being like buck—we should call this venison—and it is regarded as something of a luxury in the countries from which we come.'

  'It has a pleasant flavour,' agreed Nahou, 'but we have no opportunity to compare it with other meats. That is as well perhaps otherwise we might have become—as you—a people whose staple diet is meat, and that is not healthy. Animal flesh has certain properties which are of the greatest value when taken with discretion, but eaten frequently and in too large quantities meat coarsens the body and leads to many of the internal complaints which are so prevalent among the white races of the upper world.' He too was eagerly awaiting the time when he could hear the story of his guests' journey, but for the moment confined himself to polite conversation.

  Lulluma looked at Count Axel again: 'When you have slept,' she said, 'you must tell me all about the upper world. I know it only slightly and there is so much that I want to hear.'

  'You know it?' he exclaimed, 'and Nahou knows it?—but how? I confess that I am completely mystified.'

  She smiled. 'I will tell you—that and many other things— all in good time.'

  Nahou removed the meat dish and as they started tasting the fruits, some of which were similar to varieties they knew and others totally different, Lulluma fetched some round goblets made of the halfs of cocoanut shells, highly polished and mounted on gold stems.

  'Now that you have eaten you must drink,' she said, and poured out for each of them in turn from a golden jug.

  It was an opaque greeny-yellow liquid and, as her guests tested it, they realised that it was some sort of fruit juice— diluted with water, sweet flavoured yet with a refreshing tang which cleansed the palate.

  Sally guessed it to be a mixture of limes and grenadillas but there was some other taste in it which eluded her completely.

  When they had all the fruit they needed Nahou went into one of the low buildings and brought back another set of

  cups. Tiny ones this time, and with them he produced a big

  flask.

  'This is a cordial which will aid your digestion,' he told them as he handed round the cups. 'It is rather strong so you would do well to sip it slowly.'

  Camilla sipped and choked immediately. The sticky dark green fluid was not unlike Chartreuse. It was flavoured with flowers and herbs and was highly alcoholic. The fiery spirit sent a warm glow right through her body as it went down.

  While Nicky thumped her on the back the McKay sniffed at his tiny cup suspiciously then, having tasted its contents with extreme caution, he suddenly looked up.

  'Thank God you've got liquor on the island. Well, here's how 1' Next moment he tossed off the cordial, sat with compressed lips and starting eyes for a second, then let out a long drawn sigh of extreme contentment.

  'A-a-a-a-h! By Jove—I needed that!'

  'Will you have some more?' Nahou proffered the flask but the McKay shook his head.

  'Not now thanks. I'll come again another day if I may. That's the stuff to give 'em with a vengeance.'

  Now that they had eaten their fatigue returned and they all felt terribly drowsy. Nahou glanced at Lulluma and she nodded; then he said: 'If you are willing I propose to send you into a dreamless sleep. You have suffered much in your journey here I know and if I do not it may be that hauntings of your recent past will trouble your unconscious minds.'

  They showed their acquiescence by a series of sleepy nods except for the McKay, who did not care for the idea of giv-up his free will to anybody, but he remained silent.

  'Look now at this gold plate,' Nahou continued, holding it before him so that the light shone full upon it. They obeyed—except for the McKay who kept his eyes focused on Nahou's knees a few inches lower down, while he wondered if he had not been a bit of an idiot to refuse another go of that excellent liquor. Lulluma rose and stood behind Nahou where he sat, cross-legged on the ground, placing her left hand on his head. Then the two Atlanteans concentrated, willing their guests to sleep.

  'Won't we get rheumatism in these damp things?' Camilla asked drowsily, but no one replied to her. A great silence seemed to have descended on the garden again, broken only t.f.a.—i 257

  by the continuous splashing of the water which gushed from the satyr's head into the pool.

  One by one the strangers in Paradise closed their eyes. The light reflected by the golden plate seemed to have obscured everything else and about them spread only a gentle golden radiance. They sank back on to the grass and fell into a dreamless sleep.

  The McKay alone remained conscious but he wished to sleep too. Politeness restrained him from saying that he preferred to do so in his own way without any assistance but, seeing the others slumbering he turned over and curled himself up.

  Lulluma removed her hand from Nahou's head. 'They won't wake for a long time, she said in her own tongue. 'They look revolting now don't they? but when they wake they will have lost some of the horrid lines on their faces and after a bath some of them may not be quite so awful to look at. We had better take off those strange damp clothes they wear.

  Nahou rose to his feet and followed her silently. With gentle care the two Atlanteans began systematically to strip their guests, then to arrange them one by one, as they were denuded of their clothing, in more comfortable attitudes with pillows under their heads. Suddenly Lulluma began to titter. Only the McKay and Doctor Tisch remained to be dealt with and they had just pulled off the latter's woollen pants.

  She held them aloft so that Nahou might also appreciate this strange covering worn by beings from the upper world. He began to laugh too and soon both of them became utterly convulsed and helpless. They were no longer a middle-aged man and grown woman, dominated by the restraint and responsibility which affects most adults, but a pair of beautiful children enjoying an absurd stupendous joke. Lulluma laughed until the tears ran from her lovely eyes down her delicately coloured cheeks, and Nahou began to cough—holding his sides in pain because he had been so shaken by his merriment.

  They sat down on the ground and leaned against each other—a little exhausted now but still giving way to new fits of uncontrollable mirth as Lulluma explored the intricacies of Doctor Tisch's long nether garments.

  At last they recovered sufficiently to stand up again, then Luiluma regarded the Doctor's round protuberant stomach with a surprised stare.

  'He's very fat, isn't he?' she said solemnly.

  Nahou nodded. 'Yes, but we will teach him to breathe properly and that will soon reduce his body to normal. Providing of course that Menes permits them to remain here.'

  'But he couldn't do otherwise,' protested Luiluma quickly. 'The poor things would all die in the darkness if we forced them to leave the island—and why should they not stay?—we have food enough for all.'

  'True. We shall have to concentrate our yellow rays on them while they sleep though, and also strengthen that aura about ourselves when we have finished touching them—for they have probably got every sort of horrible disease. Come —help me with the little man who has such a strange red face.' Nahou turned towards the McKay.

  He had removed his own coat and Luiluma was only just beginning to unbutton his trousers wh
en he stirred, grunted, and sat up.

  'What the thunderin' blazes—' he began, giabbing at his trousers in outraged modesty. He saw Luiluma bending over him with an amused smile, and then—behind her rouded shoulder—he caught sight of the stark naked bodies of his six friends as they lay sleeping in the sun.

  He shut his eyes tightly for a moment then opened them again. Luiluma was still smiling at him.

  'Good God!' he ejaculated, 'it's still there—I thought it was a dream but you're real apparently. Anyhow whatever you are you're not undressing me!'

  'Please,' Luiluma pleaded gently. 'Why shouldn't I. You don't seem to be deformed at all and you would be so much more comfortable.'

  He shook his head firmly. 'Very nice of you m'dear and I'm sure you don't mean any harm, but although I'm not deformed I'd rather not.'

  'You did not look at the gold plate as I suggested,' Nahou accused him mildly, 'or else you would have been in a deep refreshing slumber.'

  'No,' the McKay confessed. 'I didn't. I'm most awfully grateful for all you're doing but I prefer my own way of going to sleep.'

  Nahou shrugged his shoulders lightly. 'That must be as you wish. No one person ever compels another here. We only help and guide each other where we can, and even in that we use the very greatest discretion in case the other person were offended—for then we should surely die of shame. You have accepted food and drink because you were hungry and thirsty—why then do you refuse my offer to throw you into a healing sleep which will refresh your whole body, now when you are so tired?'

  The McKay considered for a moment then he glanced apologetically at the beautiful girl kneeling by his side. 'If you don't mind going for a stroll Miss—er—Lulluma I think I'd like to avail myself of Mr. Nahou's kind offer after all. It seems a sensible suggestion but I'm an old fashioned sort of cuss and with you—er—looking on you know——'