“To be fair,” Cassidy said, “I think we’ve seen a little bit too much of him tonight.”
“It didn’t scare you off,” Pantera said, managing his first buoyant comment of the encounter.
“Things like that never do. As you know, Jack, I’m not shy.”
Bodie clicked a finger. “You have sixty seconds before I set her on you. Don’t waste them.”
Even in the dim light thrown by the starry skies Bodie saw Pantera’s shoulders slump. A ragged sigh came from his mouth, and then he glanced up toward one of the houses that overlooked his property before fixing everything on Bodie.
“You have to help me, my friend. You have to help them.”
CHAPTER SIX
On the plane, Heidi provided what information she could about the mission, backed up by Gunn on his laptop and the few things that Jemma knew. Between them they knitted together the drifting sands of time as best they could. Several times Heidi mentioned the new historian they were trying to appoint.
“She should be with us by the time we return from Rio.”
“What… she doesn’t like the beach?” Gunn asked.
“She’s somewhat difficult,” Heidi admitted, “so should fit in with you guys perfectly. But do feel free to tell us when you expect to visit the beach.”
Gunn sank back into his work, saying nothing. Heidi let it go, knowing he was happiest there. The gelled hair, the snappy clothes — they were all for show. Gunn was an introvert and never more content than when he could lead from behind a flickering screen.
She turned in her seat to stare at Cross. “Did you try Bodie?”
“Yeah, no reply. Must be in the thick of it.” He looked anxious.
“Try not to worry. He’s not your kid and he can take care of himself.” Heidi wondered why her own heart was tensed with worry. The two of them had big issues to sort through when he returned. His selfish actions may have jeopardized this mission. Even then, she was looking forward to seeing the well-shaven, strongly built man with the incredibly white teeth.
Hey, Flash, she wanted to say when she first saw him but knew it would have to be a far sterner greeting.
It wasn’t to be. If only this group of recalcitrant children would fall into line.
“He might not be my kid,” Cross responded, “but behind actual family, he’s the person I care about most in this world.”
She’d guessed just that, seeing their interaction. Cross was almost as much a father figure and mentor for Bodie as Pantera had been.
She caught the team’s attention by standing up, and told them everything she knew.
“The nine statues,” she began, “are of Phoenician origin. They are a representation of the god Baal. You may be wondering why the Phoenicians keep coming up in reference to Atlantis… well, the Phoenicians were a great seafaring people who destroyed most of the major powers around the Mediterranean a few thousand years ago. Even Egypt and Ramses III fought them. Some say these sea people were the remnants of Atlantis. Others, that the Phoenicians were founded many years before that, again from what remained. The fact is that many of the kings of Atlantis were the gods of the Phoenicians and the Greeks. Through time, there have been inscriptions found on Egyptian temples that tell of these sea people, the fall of a continent, and the attack of an advanced race. And it was the Egyptians themselves that started the cowing of the Phoenicians by sending their mighty armies up the coast, demanding to be recognized as their overlords, and claiming a large tribute also. Of course, the Phoenicians later rose again, with supposed help from the so-called sea people, and created such cities as Carthage, Tangier, Cadiz, and Beirut.”
“And why was this guy Baal so important?” Cross asked.
“The god Baal was important to a race that dominated both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean so much so that his and other names they gave ports and towns were the names of their gods and remain so even now. Gades in Spain was one such town, named after Gadeirus, the son of Poseidon, god of the sea.”
Jemma scrunched her nose. “I never heard of Gades.”
“That’s because today they call it Cadiz.”
“Sorry, I still don’t get the link between the Phoenicians and Atlantis,” Gunn admitted.
“Well, there’s a lot more to it,” Heidi said, “that I’m just not qualified to relate. For instance, a purple dye they brought to the Med that can be found in only one other place on the entire earth — Oaxaca, Mexico. Ancient Roman artifacts made from Canadian spruce. It all points to the fact that these so-called Phoenicians, at some point in their history, lived on a continent that stretched from the Med to South America at least.”
“I remember a documentary that stated the Phoenicians themselves claimed their civilization went back thirty thousand years.” Jemma shrugged. “Most of it lost to the mists of time.”
Heidi nodded. “The fact is that they were probably the very first civilized nation on earth. But back to Baal. His real name was Baal Hammon, worshipped as both a fertility god and a supreme god. He was probably their greatest deity.”
“I also remember there were an awful lot of other places where Atlantis could have been,” Cross said, playing devil’s advocate.
“From the Caribbean to the Sahara and even to the North Sea. But let’s not forget major cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam are even now many feet below sea level. They could be the incredible sunken cities of future generations. But Atlantis speaks of mythical worlds and millennia ancient. It is captivating.”
“I understand that Atlantis would be a major find,” Gunn said. “Especially today. But why are the CIA involved?”
Heidi poured water from a bottle, steadying her glass as the plane flew through a little turbulence. “Obviously, they’re not.”
“What? Well—”
Cross tapped his arm. “She means officially.”
Heidi wished that were the case. “The CIA does not undertake these missions. They do not manage teams of… relic hunters. They do not believe in myths and legends. Imagine the indignity…” She shook her head. “But they do believe in undiscovered technology and new medicines that would solidify America’s position as the strongest nation in the world. All they’re doing is safeguarding our future.”
“We just found one of the ancient wonders of the world,” Jemma pointed out.
“Sure you did. Do you really think the bean counters, the wizened old men in their towers, the fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants kids in their bespoke suits give a shit about wonders? About legends?”
“They would if it lined their pockets,” Jemma said.
“Oh yeah, but they can find far easier ways to do that. A coup here and there. A coal deposit cleared of locals.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying that the whole thing is transient at the moment. A bit like my personal life. Understood?”
“Isn’t a transient homeless?” Cross asked caustically.
“You got it, Eli. For now, you’re homeless. You’re off the books, which is perfect for the CIA. You’re expert, capable tramps. We all are. Until somebody finds a home for us.”
“You seem to have adopted us pretty quickly, though,” Cross pointed out. “What did you do before this?”
“None of your business. Now listen, we should talk about what to do when we land in Brazil.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jack Pantera launched himself at Bodie and Cassidy, thrusting his bulk up from the carpeted floor. It came as a shock to Bodie. When the bald man came at him, he launched a head-butt that Bodie barely avoided. Pantera straight-armed him across the top of the chest. It was like walking into a low beam. Bodie flinched and went down to one knee.