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Atlantis

By James A. Winston Davidson

~To my supporting friends on Fur Affinity. A special thanks to Disney's Atlantis the Lost Empire and LucasArt's Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis for the inspiration of this work.

"In a single day and night of misfortune, the island of Atlantis sank into the depths of the sea."

-Plato, 360 B.C.

Chapter one, an unusual discovery

180 kilometres off the Coast of Nova Scotia

Present Day

A small dive boat bobbed on the calm ocean like a piece of wood in a pond. It was a calm day off the Coast of Nova Scotia with very little wind and waves. Often the Atlantic was very windy with stormy weather producing big swells but not today.

The boat was painted a snow-white with a red bottom and as said on the stern it's name Sea Angel along with the homeport Halifax. A group of men different furs stood on the stern of the boat busy with something. On the bridge of the dive boat stood an orca known to many as "Captain". He was a tough captain who had spent most of his life on the sea. Now he was at times very gentle and kind but get on his bad side and you won't want to be around.

He stood facing away from the bow at the activity on the stern. He wore his regular clothes today, his pants having a hole in them for his tail fluke to stick out as well as his shirt for his dorsal fin that grew from his back and at the top of his head his captain's hat that was a greyish black with a snow-white peaked cap complete with golden oak leaves running along and on his visor. A golden badge adored the very front of his hat with more of the golden oak leaves, an anchor, his name, and his ship.

In the sunlight he looked like a real ship's captain. His skin, being of course blubber, shined in the sunlight like rubber. His jaw on his head was white with more black and a white almost eye-like patch. His eyes were on either side of his head with green pupils.

Captain turned to his assistance a skunk named Fraser who had been hired to work on the dive boat. He was younger than Captain by a few years but showed interest in this kind of work.

"Geeze, what are they so excited about?" Fraser asked Captain. "It's some kind of treasure hunt," Captain replied. "And they're really wild about it. My guesses are it's something very valuable."

"I wonder what it could be," Fraser said looking out at the vast ocean. Before Captain could say anything, he could hear footsteps coming from stairs leading up to the bridge. Right near the stairs an orange cat appeared wearing sunglasses over his eyes. His name was Mr. Johnson and he'd hired Captain and his dive boat to search for a treasure off the coast within an old British paddlewheel steamship called the SS Dover which sank in a mighty storm in 1850 carrying a highly value cargo of golden coins and bars. Supposedly Mr. Johnson had pin-pointed the location on the seabed where the wreck of the Dover came to rest and now had some divers and a remote-controlled vehicle to locate the wreck and recover the gold.

"Soon we will have that treasure from the Dover," Mr. Johnson said taking his shades off his eyes. "The golden coins and bars dated back to the 19th century."

"Ahem," Captain cleared his throat to get his attention, "Mr. Johnson if you remember you still own me for this expedition when we return to Halifax, treasure or no treasure." "I will pay you for this your old sea pickle," Mr. Johnson replied with annoyed look. Captain didn't like what others would call him.

"Are you absolutely sure that you've found the Dover?" Captain questioned. "There are a lot of wrecks off Nova Scotia." "I am pretty sure that the one we side-scanned is the Dover," Mr. Johnson replied looking at the crowded deck on the stern. "I've never been wrong."

"Sure you have..." Fraser said, feeling that Mr. Johnson was bluffing. "I am right you little squirt!" Mr. Johnson snapped back. "Now, now, Mr. Johnson..." Captain coaxed, "The lad didn't mean any harm. I recently hired him to work on this boat."

"I thought you were captain of that big ship...the RMS Canada," Mr. Johnson asked impatiently. "I was but she's currently out of service for the time being," Captain replied.

Captain was the skipper of the only Trans-Atlantic ocean liner still in service called RMS Canada of the Davidson Ship Building Company or DSBC for short. She was a four-funnelled liner that very much looked like the Titanic and the flagship of the company. Captain spend most of his time onboard her on cruises and Trans-Atlantic crossings. He was often away from shore for long periods of time and pretty much the ship was his home. However, recently the vessel was in need of repairs on the hull and was dry-docked in Halifax her homeport. It would take a month for repairs on her to be done so Captain had to take command of the dive boat to earn his living and be on the sea. He would be glad to return onto the bridge of the RMS Canada once repairs on her were finished.

Just then, the radio transmitter next to the small wooden helm that steered the boat made statically sounds. Captain knew that it was an incoming radio transmission. He imminently picked up the handheld microphone and spoke into it:

"This is Sea Angel, over..." "Captain, do you read?" said a voice. Captain instantly recognised who it was.

It was Joseph Fletcher a fox who was the wireless operator from the RMS Canada. He had a close connection to Captain often spending a lot of time with him.

"Joseph, I read you. Over..." Captain replied. "I'm informing you that someone is coming to your boat and..." Mr. Johnson snatched the mic from Captain and shouted into it, "Well, you can tell him to keep anchored at shore till we've returned...!" "Mr. Johnson, if you would please," Captain said and took back the mic. "Sorry about that interruption, carry on," Captain apologised.

Captain listened while Joseph said something to him that Fraser couldn't understand.

"Oh, you're saying he's coming now on the horizon?" Captain asked and peered over and saw a boat coming towards their motionless watercraft. "I have visual contact of him. All right then...thank you very much. Perhaps when we've docked we can have tea at my home. Over and out..."

Captain placed the hand mic back in its holder and said to Fraser, "Come now, we have a guest that will be boarding."

Fraser followed Captain as he left the bridge to the lower side of the hull to prepare for a guest that would disembark onto their boat. Watching from their current position, a boat almost the size of the Sea Angel approached the port side. Captain could see the guest: a white Scottish Fold named Wessy a scholar and historian. He was snow-white and wore a pair of glasses. Captain began to wonder why he hadn't waited till they got back in harbour. Perhaps he had something important to tell Captain that couldn't wait...

The boat moved alongside the Sea Angel and the crew members onboard threw mooring lines. Captain and Fraser went ahead to briefly tie the ropes. They would let lose the lines once Wessy was safely onboard. A small gangplank was lower creating a bridge between the two boats. Wessy carrying a book of notes hurried across and onto the deck of the Sea Angel. The gangplank was raised and Captain and Fraser released the mooring lines. The other boat, once the lines were brought onboard, started up its engines and began its journey back to Halifax harbour.

Captain shook hands with Wessy and said, "Welcome onboard, please follow us." Wessy followed behind and Captain and Fraser returned to the bridge overlooking the salvage operation.

"Fraser, I would like you to meet Wessy," Captain introduced. "Excuse this little expedition we have here." "I have no interest in it," Wessy replied. "Captain, is it? I've heard of you. I need to talk to you. Can we do so in a private place?"

Before Captain could answer, there was a burst of shouting and excitement on the stern. "Hold on one moment," Captain said. "It looks like they've found their treasure...hopefully..." As much as Captain liked to be on the sea, he wanted this band of treasure lovers off his boat.

As it turned out the treasure had been found by the divers. They had loaded it onto a large metal basket connected by a long steel cable to the Sea Angel. At the stern, a small crane arm pointed over the edge with a winch. The winch's motor kicked in to reel up the payload. In Captain's thoughts they'd better hoped that the winch could handle lifting the treasure to the surface. If it broke and the treasure plummeted to the seabed, they'd have to have another dive boat because Captain didn't want them on his vessel any longer.

The two divers surfaced near the boat and swam over to a ladder on the stern right over the two propellers and rudder and began to climb it. While some went to help the divers remove their wetsuits and diving equipment off their furry bodies, the rest eagerly watched the cable being pulled upwards.

There was then an eruption of cheering as the basket broke the surface and in it a rusty safe. Now came the difficult part: getting the treasure onboard. They carefully swung the crane arm with the safe over the deck on the stern and lowered it into place. Two workers armed with blow torches began to cut away at the rusty hinges and the single lock. Sparks flew as the men did their work.

Once both the hinges and the lock were cut, they secured a hook attached to some chain on the safe's door. With a might pull on the chain they took the safe door right off its rusty hinges and no sooner had they done so when gold coins and a few bars poured right out onto the deck like an avalanche. In the sunlight the gold shined and looked almost in mint condition.

Everyone else Captain, Wessy, and Fraserimmediately began to cheer widely. One dug their hands into the pile of gold and allowed a few coins to slip around their fingers and fall back into the pile. The gold glittered in their eyes. Captain was relieved now; he wanted them off his boat as soon as they arrived back in port.

No sooner had he thought about returning to port when something caught his eye. A small golden bead rolled out of the pile of coins onto the deck right near Captain's left shoe. Curious about it, Captain kneeled down and picked up the bead. No one else had noticed it; they were too busy greedily glancing at their golden treasure they had raised.

Captain examined the bead in his hand. It seemed to glitter like fire. Odd, gold didn't do that...so what was it? Captain slipped the bead into the front pocket of his long sleeved shirt. Normally he didn't take other people's treasure but there was something about this. Before the expedition he did a little research on this wreck and there was never any mention about beads of this kind onboard the final voyage.

He wondered if perhaps Wessy knew anything about this bead. His thoughts were interrupted when someone shouted, "Hey, maybe there is more down below in the wreck!"

Captain immediatelyresponded, "If we haul up anymore it will upset the balance of my boat. I'd suggest we return to port. You'll have to find another vessel to retrieve the rest of your treasure."

Mr. Johnson didn't like what Captain had said but it was no use arguing. "All right, all right," Mr. Johnson said throwing up his hands. "We'll head back to shore." Good, Captain thought.

Mr. Johnson began to shout out orders to secure the recovered treasure for the journey back to Halifax. Captain turned around to Wessy and whispered in his ear, "Meet me down in my cabin."

Wessy nodded his head. Then Captain shouted to Fraser who was on the bridge to fire up the engines and take them back to Halifax. Fraser acknowledged his orders. In the meantime Captain had disappeared somewhere on the boat.

* * *

While the Sea Angel sailed at full throttle back to Halifax, Wessy went below to find Captain. The boat wasn't very big so there weren't many rooms onboard. But Wessy found Captain's room. There was a door with a mounted plaque that said "Captain" and in capital letters below "PRIVATE".

Wessy looked around before raising his hand and knocked on the door three times. It opened with a creak and Captain peeked out. "Ah, you're here," Captain said. He ushered for him to come in.

Wessy did as Captain said and entered. Captain closed the door behind him and locked it. Wessy looked around at the room. It wasn't much having shelves full of things, pictures of ships on the walls and a few charts on a table with two chairs. Captain sat down on one chair and Wessy on the other.

"Now, what were you trying to tell me before on the bridge?" Captain began. "Well, sir," Wessy replied, "you see for the last few years I have been trying to prove that the lost mythical City of Atlantis is merely real." "I beg your pardon but did my ears hear you're trying to find Atlantis?" Captain questioned with confusion.

"Yes it's true, but..." Wessy said his ears flattening down, "Everybody has turned me down claiming that I'm wasting thousands of dollars on something that isn't true. They're even laughed at me."

Captain was speechless. "I last heard about you and decided that, as a well known seaman, could help me. You won't laugh will you?" Wessy asked with a worried look.

"Of course not Wessy," Captain assured. "You're not the first. Since Plato wrote that story many have tried to find the Lost City but all have seemly failed. It's still an ongoing discussion on whatever or not Plato's story is true or false. But believe me in my years as a captain I have never seen any proof that Atlantis exists."

"I know that Atlantis is real and those who have made me look like a fool wrong," Wessy answered back. "I just know it."

"Have you found proof?" Captain asked. "Not yet but I know I am getting near," Wessy replied looking at the charts on the table. "Actually I'm trying to find something, a small metal bead that is supposedly made out of Orichalcum from the Lost City."

Orichalcum? That sounded so...familiar to Captain. Could that bead he found be Orichalcum? Captain decided that it was best to show Wessy the bead.

"Actually I do have something to show you," said Captain. He reached into his pocket and retrieved the bead he'd found earlier and placed it on the table. Wessy's eyes widen as he picked up the bread.

"Wha-where did you find this?" Wessy stammered. "In that treasure that we'd hauled from the seabed," Captain answered. "This could be it... Orichalcum the mythical metal from Atlantis," Wessy said in excitement.

"Are you sure it isn't a fake?" Captain asked. "Of course it isn't," Wessy replied, "look at it. The bead glitters like fire...exactly as Plato described it." That was Captain's thoughts when he'd found the bead. Perhaps it was evidence that Atlantis was real.

Captain was about to say something else when the intercom that connected the bridge to his room went off with Fraser's voice: "Captain, we're arriving in Halifax harbour."

Captain immediately responded to the call: "All right, I will be up in the bridge in a few moments."

Captain turned to Wessy and said, "I am afraid that we'll have to continue this conversation on my land home. We are approaching into Halifax now."

Chapter two, Atlantis

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Canada

The Sea Angel steamed into Halifax harbor. Captain was very well familiar with Halifax and the harbor as he navigated the Sea Angel towards its dock. The city was the homeport of his vessel the RMS Canada and the main headquarters of the company that owned the ship. Captain had as he called a "land" home. It was basically a house of his. Captain's real home was onboard the RMS Canada but he had this house on shore for times he would not be able to be on the sea. Now Captain mostly enjoyed his time on the sea. Nothing was more exciting than the bow of his ship slicing through the blue waves on a calm, beautiful day.

The Sea Angel then docked in a large marina. Mr. Johnson's crew began to unload the treasure they'd found into a large vehicle waiting on the dock. Once done Mr. Johnson kept his promise and paid Captain his sum of money. A part of it was salary for Fraser.

Fraser and Wessy followed Captain as he left his boat tied to the dock and went to a nearby parking lot where Captain's vehicle a Ford Model T stood. It was painted black and was from 1912 the same year RMS Canada came into service as well as when her famous rival sank. It had four seats. Its radiator was a bronze colourand barredthe name Ford on the grill. It had a modern-day ignition replacing the old crank on the front but still had oil lanterns next to the windshield.

They all got in it and Captain started the Model T. It coughed and came to life. He then drove it onto a busy street. The Model T looked like it was misplaced in time in a modern-day world with bigger vehicles. Unlike today's cars, the Model T had no flashers to indicate turning left or right so Captain had to use old hand signals.

Captain explained about his "land" home to Wessy and Fraser while he drove though the streets of Halifax. The Model T went at a fairly slow speed. It could handle well on the streets but on unpaved roads with no suspension was a bumping nightmare.

"So you're telling me that this isn't your true home isn't it?" Wessy asked. "Yes, as I told you the RMS Canada is my true home," Captain replied as he drove. "In some ways I feel like I belong on the open sea."

Captain continued to discuss things with his passengers as he drove along a street with a lot of trees and lines of houses and then he pointed out, "Off to the port side," Even on land he still used the sea terns for the left and right sides of any vessel.

Captain steered into a driveway next to a two-story house made of wood but Wessy pointed out someone was there waiting.

"That would be Joseph," Captain said and waved with one hand.

A young fox in his late teens, Joseph stood next to the driveway and waved back to Captain as he slowed down to a stop. Joseph wasn't homeless; he had a family but spent a lot of time with Captain on the RMS Canada. He was a master of radio frequencies, transmitters, receivers and wireless knowledge.

Captain swung the door open on the driver's side and stepped out. He and Joseph hugged each other.

"It's good to see you again, Joseph," Captain said, "I hope you're able to still work while our vessel is in dry-dock." "Oh, it's not a problem at all, Captain," Joseph replied, "I am doing fine if I say so myself."

"Joseph, I would like you to meet Wessy," Captain introduced. "Wessy, this is Joseph the wireless operator from the RMS Canada." Both Wessy and Joseph shook hands.

"Pleased to meet you," Joseph said. "Joseph already knows Fraser," Captain added, "Anyway let us all go in and I'll make us all cups of tea."

They all followed Captain as he walked up to the front door, unlocked it with his keys and entered.

As Captain had said to Wessy and Fraser while they were in the car that he didn't use this house much. The living room had a few pieces of furniture, a carpet on the floor and things but it was pretty much empty. There were a few pictures and paintings on the walls of various ships from old sailing clippers to large steamships.

Fraser, Wessy and Joseph sat down on some chairs around a table with a projector on it while Captain headed into the kitchen to make their cups of tea. While Captain was doing so, Wessy explained to Joseph about himself and why he'd came to Captain. Captain was listening at the time but his attention was diverted to the tea kettle going off on the stove. He turned off the heating element and placed the tea kettle on a cold heating element nearby. He then went through the steps of making tea.

When he finished, Captain carried a tray with four tea cups back into the living room. It was then he heard Joseph say, "Wait, wait...you're telling me that you believe that Atlantis does exist and that everyone who has against it is wrong?"

"Yes, I am not lying," Wessy replied. Captain began to distribute the tea cups to everyone and then joined in the conversation.

"Captain, is what he said is true?" Joseph asked referring to Wessy. "Yes it is," Captain said. "I sort of didn't believe in it myself but after an unusual discovery in the process of a salvage operation off the coast now I do."

"How are you going to get the money for such an expedition and who would donate it?" Joseph asked. "I would," said a voice. They all turned to see a wolf standing in front of the door. He wore a suit with a tie and looked like a famous movie star.

"Now hang on just a second," Captain answered back, "you can't come into my house without knocking first!" "Relax, relax," the stranger said, "I'm no crook. Captain is it? I am Christopher Wellington famous underwater salvager." He bowed down.

"Are you the Christopher Wellington?" Fraser asked. "Yes I am," Christopher replied with a smile. "I believe I may have heard of you," Captain added, "weren't you accused of being a grave robber of wrecks with high death tolls?"

"The newspapers partly made it up!" Christopher shouted. "I am not a grave robber." Captain didn't say anything.

"Now...away from that," Christopher said. "Which one of you is Wessy?" "That would be me," Wessy pointed out. "Ah, yes, I have heard of your quest to find the Lost City and I have an interest in you and would like to fund your expedition." Christopher replied.

"Now hold on a second, how do you know of this?" Captain asked suspiciously. "Wessy, we don't know this man well enough; how can we trust him with this?"

"You can trust me," Christopher coaxed, "I am no criminal. Now, Wessy, seeing how some here are in a disbelief of the existence of Atlantis, why don't you show us the history of Atlantis?"

"Glad to," Wessy said with a nod. He got up from his chair and asked Captain to turn off the lights in the room. Captain did as he said and plunged the room into darkness. Wessy turned on the projector on the table illuminating a wall. Wessy walked over and pulled down the projector screen allowing the light to shine on it.

He returned to the projector and got out some clear sheets of transparency. "Here is Atlantis as it might have looked in its heyday," Wessy began and slipped on the first sheet.

The first image was an artist's impression of Atlantis. It showed it a great city with tall buildings and its people, the Atlanteans. The image also showed some strange looking machines that looked alien-like.

"Glorious, most perfect, beyond our wildest dreams," Wessy continued, "five to six thousand years ago while we were still learning how to use tools, Atlantis was a very powerful nation. It processed machines that wouldn't be seen by the outsiders for decades to come. It is then centuries later our famous Greek philosopher friend Plato wrote about it. He placed Atlantis out on a high continent in the deep ocean..."

Wessy changed the sheet to show three circles in each other forming an almost target like what archers used in the Medieval period.

"...And described how it was divided into three circular parts such as you see here." Wessy stated.

Captain was impressed. He knew about this and what Plato had said. Captain wondered if it was true that Atlantis existed.

"Very, very impressive," Christopher commented. Joseph and Fraser looked at each and both agreed.

"Now we get onto the end of Atlantis," Wessy said. He once again changed the sheet to show an image of the destruction of Atlantis. "How did Atlantis end?" Wessy asked them, "No one knows for sure but I believe that it a massive tsunami swallowed the entire Island of Atlantis whole into the murky depths of the sea never again to be seen. It was just like Plato had said, 'In a single night and misfortune'."

"However, there has been a legend that right here," Wessy continued and switched the sheet back to the three circles and pointed at the centre one, "lays a power unknown to mortals like us. No one knows what it is or what it can do. Some say it can make anybody immortal others cure for all diseases known. Since Plato's story, men have tied to find Atlantis and that power but none have."

An unknown power? Everybody in the room wondered about it even Captain. Should Wessy not have spoken of it in front of Christopher? Captain had thought.

"It's perhaps because of Plato's tenfold numbering error," Captain added, still curious about what Wessy had said. "Plato's what?" Fraser asked. "His tenfold numbering error," Wessy said. "In rendering Egyptian into Greek he got his dates mixed up hence making Atlantis harder to find."

"Yes, that error has kept the location of the Lost City lost in mystery," Christopher replied, "But I'm sure that young Wessy here has an idea on where to find Atlantis do you not?"

"As a matter of fact I do," Wessy said proudly. "I believe that the Lost City is in the Mediterranean Sea."

"Now hold on one moment there," Captain interrupted. "I've heard of other places where Atlantis is said to be. The Middle East, the Black Sea, the Atlantic, the Azores, Antarctica, Cuba, even Bolivia!! Now if we're going to find this so-called Lost City then where do we start?"

"I may have uncovered some evidence that clues were scattered about the globe of Atlantis's location," Wessy answered Captain's interruption. "One such place is the Island of Crete near Athens."

"Crete?" Captain asked. "Are you saying that there is a clue on that island?" "Most certainly..." Wessy replied.

"Ah Crete, I had a diving expedition off its shores once. The island was home to the Minoan civilization from 2700 to 1420 B.C.," Christopher informed. "Very advanced than any other nation of Europe at the time."

"There is a clue hidden somewhere on Crete that will lead us to the next one and in turn will pin point the exact location of Atlantis' where-a-bouts," Wessy said.

"I am willing to fund this, but it will be up to you four to find those hidden clues," Christopher had said. "I will provide the airline tickets to Crete and any modes of transportation and equipment needed."

"That is very generous of you," Wessy remarked. Christopher turned to Captain and asked, "Well, Captain, are you willing to be the leader of your group and find the Lost City of Atlantis?"

"I need to think about this," Captain replied. "But Captain...?" Fraser said. "Fraser, please," Captain had said, "I will think about this."

"Very well, I will return to here tomorrow morning and hopefully you will have your answer," Christopher said and got up to leave the house. Joseph, Fraser and Wessy were still there.

"Should we stay here for the night?" Wessy asked. "No, it's best for you three to come back here tomorrow morning," Captain replied. "I will have my answer by then. I need to be alone tonight to think about this."

The three of them left leaving Captain alone. In their conversation, Captain hadn't told them one thing: in his childhood he wanted to find Atlantis and even planned to buy a submarine to search the seabed for the Lost City. But everyone around him said that Atlantis was merely just a story shattering his dreams like a pane of glass. Now Captain didn't believe that Atlantis was true. But in finding the Orichalcum, Captain wondering if Atlantis wasn't a made-up story by a Greek philosopher. Could everyone who said to Captain and Wessy that Atlantis didn't exist be wrong? Was there a reason why no one found the Lost City?

Chapter three, break in

It was past 12 o'clock AM and Captain was lying asleep in his bed on the second floor. Captain had gone to bed around 10 PM still thinking about whatever-or-not to lead Wessy's quest to find the Lost City. He wanted to find the Lost City like Wessy but still had barriers in the way.

Suddenly there was a slight creak noise. Captain turned his head slightly. It was probably some wildlife or the house itself. It was an old building and did make creaking noises from shifting in the night temperatures. But then the creak noise occurred again this time louder.

Captain got up from his bed. That wasn't the house or wildlife. He got on his slippers on his feet and walked slowly in the darkness. Someone or something was in his house. He quietly left his room and journeyed down the stairs to the living room. He couldn't see well in the dark but he didn't want to alert whoever was there with a source of light. He searched around the room but couldn't see anybody.

But that silence was broken when suddenly something struck his back almost near his dorsal fin. Captain recoiled in pain. He was struck again and someone began to grab hold of him. Captain struggled to free himself from the grasp of the intruder but he soon realized there was more than one in his house. Captain jabbed his elbow at an attacker but someone got a hold of his chest. Then Captain heard a click noise.

He knew what it was even in the darkness a gun. He stopped his resistance. He couldn't tell who these invaders were or what they looked like. Instead Captain remained silence.

"What should we do with him?" one asked. "We are to take him to the boss. He will not make any attempts to escape but the boss has ordered us not to kill him. We must also capture his feline friend and bring him as well."

Captain knew they were taking about Wessy. He couldn't allow them to capture Wessy. Captain had to break loose from capture. They began to move forward towards the door and Captain had figured that they too couldn't see well in the dark so Captain put that to his advantage to escape. He quietly struck out his tail and tripped over the goon. He fell onto the floor releasing his grip on Captain.

"Don't let him escape!" someone shouted. Captain wasn't going to escape. This was his house and he wanted them out. Captain once again began to fend off the thugs in the darkness. His eyes had adjusted in the darkness and could see the outlines of the men. But he remembered that he had to stop that one thug with the gun. He saw that same thug raise his gun to fire but Captain managed to get a hold of the weapon. He and the thug struggled. Captain attempted to pry the gun out of his attacker's hands while the attacker attempted to do the same thing. They bumped into furniture and knocked over a few things in the process. Captain made the thug raise his gun pointing at the ceiling. The thug pressed on the trigger firing two shots through the ceiling.

He is going to pay for that! Captain thought in anger. Captain punched the thug in the face so hard that he threw his gun right through a window shattering the glass. Captain then quickly went over to the table to reach for his revolver. He did carry this revolver onboard the RMS Canada but only for emergency uses and he often kept it sheared to prevent upsetting the passengers. But he wasn't on his ship and this was an emergency.

The attacker saw his move and tried to stop him but he was too late. Captain got a hold of his revolver and pointed at the thugs. They then, seeing how Captain was armed, fled his house through the door. The leader of this group followed his comrades. Captain peered through his door. The other gun was still on the ground with some broken glass shards. The neighbourhood was quiet and peaceful unaware of the conflict that occurred in Captain's land house. Captain was surprised how no one heard the gun fire off.

Captain returned inside and turned on the light. His living room was a mess things overturned, two bullet holes in the ceiling and a shattered window. Captain sighed and sat down on a chair. It looked like someone else had their mind on Atlantis and the hidden power and must have known that Captain was the only one who stood in their way. But who was it?

Captain wasn't sure who sent those thugs but he knew that wasn't the last of them. Now it was going to be a treasure hunt against an unknown enemy. Even being in his house wasn't safe. Captain felt over his melon. It was bruised but not badly hurt. This was enough to convince Captain to find Atlantis.

* * *

While it seemed hard to sleep when someone had just broken into his house, Captain managed to. When the sun rose the next morning he got up to have breakfast and clean up the mess. The window would have to be replaced and the bullet holes patched up. He didn't want to bother calling the police on this because they would ask him too many questions that he couldn't answer.

Captain then heard a car pull into the driveway and looked through the shattered window to see Joseph climbing out of the driver's seat. He rushed over and stopped to see the shattered window and glass shards on the ground.

"Captain, Captain!! Are you alright?" Joseph asked in concern. "Your window has been shattered and...my, you've looked as if someone used you as a punching bag." "I am, Joseph," Captain replied, "and yes I was used as a punching bag. A group of intruders entered my home and beat me down. One had a gun." "What did they want?" Joseph asked again. "Probably me," Captain answered. "I have a feeling that we're not the only ones who know about Atlantis and the hidden powers. I managed to disarm the one with the gun and get a hold of mine and that's when they fled."

"So you let them escape?" Joseph had asked. "I wasn't going to shoot them, but yes they did escape," Captain said but then remembered what the leader of the group was going to do once Captain was captured. "Does Wessy know about this?" "I do and believe me you're not the only one who was attacked," Wessy said. He was standing behind Joseph.

"So you were attacked as well?" Captain questioned. Wessy nodded. "The hotel I was in was attacked by a group of thugs. I managed to hide in the closet in my room while they searched around. I believe they were looking for me. I then thought if you were alright, Captain," Wessy said. "Anyway, luckily someone managed to call the police and the thugs fled the hotel when they could hear sirens and see the blue and red flashing lights. They unfortunately got away and once the police arrived they began to question everybody in the hotel including me."

"Where's Fraser?" Captain asked. "He's coming now on his bike," Joseph replied. "And here he comes."

Fraser zipped around the corner of the street on his bike and onto the driveway. He stopped just a short distance from the house. "Hey, what's going on here?" Fraser asked as he took his helmet off his head.

"I think we should talk about this inside," Captain ushered. They all followed Captain back into his house.

"Looks like quiet the mess," Joseph remarked. "Yes it was but I have cleaned most of it now," Captain said. He then began to explain to Fraser on what had happened.

"So you were attacked along with Wessy?" Fraser questioned. "Yes I was by some unknown thugs," Captain replied. "Same with Wessy. Gentlemen, I believe that we're not the only ones that know about this unknown power. Someone else has their eye on it."

"My, oh my, what has happened to this place?" a voice said behind them. They all turned to see Christopher at the doorway.

"Ah, you're back here like you said yesterday," Captain had said. "I was attacked by some goons last night."

"Are you alright?" Christopher asked in concern. "Yes I am thank you but we need to discuss this at once. Care to take a seat?" Captain assured. "Yes I will," Christopher said and sat down on a chair.

"Now, as I was saying..." Captain began, "I have a feeling that someone else has their on the treasure and must see us as a threat to their plans. That's probably why Wessy and I were attacked last night. I have no idea what they would have done with us should we been captured successfully. Either way, it's no longer safe here in Halifax. They might try to attack us again."

"Then what do we do?" Fraser asked nervously. Captain turned to Christopher and said, "I think I will accept being the leader of this exhibition. What happened last night has otherwise proved that we need to do this."

"Wonderful," Christopher replied. "It's settled then. The four of you will be on a plane to Crete. I have the airline tickets."

"Aren't you coming with us?" Captain asked. "I am afraid that I cannot but I will keep in touch with you on this," Christopher said. "Your plane leaves in three hours so I suggest you start packing and I wish the best of luck to the four of you."

Christopher got up and left closing the front door behind him. Captain stood up. "Alright then, everyone start packing your bags and remember your passports. We want to catch our plane before it leaves for Europe," he said.

Wessy and Fraser went to pack their bags but it seemed to Captain that something troubled Joseph.

"Is there something the matter, Joseph?" Captain asked. "I don't trust that guy. How are we sure he didn't send in those goons to get you and Wessy?" Joseph said. "You could be right but since he's not coming with us it will be more difficult," Captain replied, sharing his concern. "We might want to alert Fraser and Wessy about this. Now you better start packing and let your parents know you're coming with me on a trip to Europe but don't mention anything about Atlantis."

"Yes, Captain," Joseph said with a salute and left Captain's house. Captain began to pull out a suitcase and started to fill it with clothes and other things. He thought about Joseph's concern, "How are we sure he didn't send in those goons to get you and Wessy?"

Chapter four, the adventure begins

Island of Crete

City of Heraklion

Mediterranean Sea

Captain, Wessy, Fraser, and Joseph wasted no time in preparing for their long adventure. Once they gathered again with their belongings, they left Captain's house towards the airport and boarded an airbus destined for the Mediterranean. The jet took off the run and began its journey across the vast Atlantic Ocean. Being a captain of ocean-going ships, Captain doesn't like the idea of flying across but they were in a hurry. As the airbus flew across the Atlantic, Captain thought that possibly Christopher who financed the exhibition could have been the one behind the attack like Joseph said. But there was no proof that he did it and besides it could have been someone else. But who?

The airbus landed a few times, one in Spain, another in Italy, and finally at the capital of Crete, Heraklion. From there, Captain, Wessy, Fraser, and Joseph gathered supplies and two vehicles. Once their supplies were loaded, they boarded the trucks and drove towards the ruins of Knossos outside the city. There they would set up camp near the ruins.

It was beginning to become dusk as the four began to settle around a campfire. Two large tents were set up that could both hold two persons, one for Wessy and Fraser and the other for Captain and Joseph. The starry sky shined above Crete creating a blanket of white specks twinkling. The quarter moon hung above in the night sky giving some light.

Captain went over to grab hold of a few logs and gently tossed them into the fire. A few sparks jumped up into the night sky. He then sat down in his seat.

"So the clue to Atlantis is near?" Fraser said. "Yes it is near the ruins of Knossos," Wessy replied drinking a cup of tea. "Knossos was once a political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture during the Bronze Age on Crete. The great palace was built between 1700 and 1400 B.C. and has the Labyrinth believed to hold the Minotaur."

"The Minotaur? Isn't that a bull-headed creature who feasts on anyone who dared to enter the Labyrinth?" Joseph asked. "Yes it is, Joseph," Captain answered, "But the creature was supposedly killed by a great Athenian hero Theseus. But anyway, enough of that. From what Wessy has told me, the clue of Atlantis that we seek out is somewhere near here."

"In the ruins?" Fraser said. "It could be or outside the ruins," Wessy added. "Either way we'll have to search around this area to find it." "I say we do that first thing tomorrow morning, gentlemen," Captain said. "But we should not let our guard down on whoever trying to stop us. I have a feeling that they aren't too far from us and are watching our every move. But just in case, I came prepared."

And with that, Captain brought out his revolver he'd was going to use against the armed intruders before in his house.

"You didn't sneak that onboard the plane?" Fraser questioned with concern. "No I didn't," Captain replied and pointed the barrel of the gun towards the ground and away from their feet. "Firearms aren't allowed on commercial jets. I sent this ahead and received it back when we arrived in Heraklion after leaving the airport."

"Tell me there, Captain. Do you carry that onboard your ship?" Wessy asked sharing his concern with Fraser. "I do, Wessy, but I keep it hidden from the view of my passengers to not frighten them. I only use this for emergency purposes only nothing else. But since we're in a race against someone who might plot to kill us again, I bought it for that reason."

Captain yawned and said, "Well, it's about time we retire for the night. Stop feeding the fire wood and let it burn itself out."

Joseph, Fraser and Wessy headed off to the tents while Captain checked the fire. Most of the wood had been burned and white coals still crackled. After completing the inspection of the fire and the camp area Captain slipped into his tent with Joseph.

* * *

The sun rose over the Island of Crete the next morning. The sky was a purplish colour with stars then fading away to orange and pink as the Mediterranean sun climbed higher. The air was misty with the heat of the Mediterranean. All was quiet.

The time was 8:00am when Captain got everyone up from bed. Fraser wanted to sleep in but Captain had said to him that they had to start their search early after breakfast for the clue to Atlantis.

After having breakfast cooked on the fire, Captain, Wessy, Fraser, and Joseph set out from their campsite and into the ruins of Knossos. Pillars and old walls still stood of what was once the Bronze Age palace much of them engraved with pictures of life during that time period. Though very impressive, Captain knew that they weren't here on vacation. They were trying to find a clue to the mythical Lost City that has been told since Plato first wrote about it and find it first before their competitor did.

They all stayed in the ruins area and began their search. They checked on and around the ruins, large rocks and fallen over pillars. They checked the trees in the area and other places but by the mid-afternoon succeeded in finding nothing.

Captain was frustrated. Where was the clue?

"Are you sure it is in this area?" Captain asked Wessy as he sat down on a rock to catch his breath. "I am positive that the clue is here somewhere," Wessy replied still searching around near them. "I did my research and all points to the ruins of Knossos."

"We have been going in circles all morning," Joseph said fanning himself from the heat. "I am tired," Fraser huffed.

"Perhaps," Captain began, "the reason why we haven't found the clue yet is maybe...it's somewhere we'd think twice about looking." "Like where?" Joseph asked. "Like over near that flat plain of dirt," Captain replied and headed towards a small flat area just near the ruins."

Wessy wondered if he was onto something. Then just as Captain walked into the dirt plain, suddenly it collapsed creating a hole his size. Captain had no time to react and fell down into darkness.

"AAAHHHHH!!!" Captain shouted and a few seconds later landed on the ground. He grunted opening his eyes and looked around. He had fallen into a large underground cave. It was very dark but a shaft of light shined down from the newly created hole he fell though. He slowly got up making sure he hadn't broken something from the impact.

"That was quite the fall," He said to himself. "Hmm, this cave must have been here for centuries and never discovered until now."

"Captain, are you all right?" He heard. Captain turned his head upwards to see the faces of Fraser, Joseph and Wessy looking down into the cave partly blocking sunlight that acted as a light source.

"I'm alright!!" Captain answered back. "Someone go get the rope ladder from camp." "I will!" Fraser replied and rushed away leaving Wessy and Joseph at the cave hole.

Captain wanted to get out of the cave but something caught his attention. Up ahead in the darkness looked like a passage but it wasn't natural. That meant he wasn't the first person in this cave but it didn't either mean that the ancient Minoans made it so who did?

"I've got the ladder," Captain heard Fraser say. "Guys, I think you should see this," Captain shouted to the cave hole." "Did you find something?" Wessy replied. "I think I did, Wessy. Tie the rope ladder to something and come this way," Captain said.

Someone above threw the one end of the rope ladder down to the cave floor and it dangled. Captain stood by and waited for them to come. Fraser, Wessy, and Joseph climbed down the ladder one at a time. Wessy carried with him a torch unlit and gave it to Captain. He then took out of his shirt pocket a cigarette lighter and lit the end of the torch. It began to burn and illuminate the area.

"This could be it," Wessy remarked. "Are you sure?" Joseph asked. "I am positively sure," Wessy said seriously.

"The Minions couldn't have built this passage so does it mean that we're close to that clue to Atlantis?" Captain asked in the darkness. "There is only one way to find out," Wessy replied.

All of them followed Captain as he walked into the passage with the torch. The way it had been carved out was nothing like they had seen. Captain felt like the passage went on forever into darkness but it lead into a large chamber. They all stopped and looked around but that's when it struck them.

"Is that...?" Captain began but stopped mid-sentenced. "It well could be..." Wessy replied.

There was a wall on the other side of the chamber and on it was engraved with writing that they all had never seen.

"It's not ancient Greek or any language," Captain commented. "It is Atlantean," Wessy replied. "We have found the clue!"

"We have?" Fraser questioned in confusion. "Yes, yes," Wessy said. "What I have been looking for."

The letters didn't make sense to Captain. They seemed gibberish but if they were Atlantean then that was the reason why he couldn't understand it.

"Can you read and understand it?" Captain asked Wessy. "I can but it will take some time," Wessy replied looking at the Atlantean characters. "I will start now."

Wessy began to examine the letters and characters on the wall with the torch he'd given to Captain.

"Should we leave him?" Fraser asked. "No, we wait till he is finished," Captain said.

While Wessy worked away, Captain, Joseph and Fraser searched around the other walls of the chamber for any other clues. Captain had noticed one of the walls looked very odd but didn't investigate it. Probably the darkness was getting to him.

"All right I have fully translated it," Wessy announced getting everybody's attention. "Well, what does it say?" Fraser asked.

"It says," Wessy began, "'To find Atlantis itself one must obtain the Trident of Atlantis for it is the key to unlock the city gates'." "Trident of Atlantis? What is it?" Joseph questioned. "It is according to this writing, an ancient Atlanean trident made out of Orichalcum," Wessy explained. "It is a long staff with three prongs and each end of the prong contains purple crystals. Atlantean writing is inscribed on the staff itself. It is said that the Trident houses a great power but it isn't the same power in the centre of the Lost City. The power in the Trident is needed to unlock the gates of Atlantis. If we are to find Atlantis itself then we must first find the Trident of Atlantis."

"Does the writing on this wall pinpoint the exact location of the Trident?" Captain added. "No, it does not but there is yet another clue to find but it is not here on Crete," Wessy said. "Then where?" Fraser asked impatiently. "I am not sure how to make this out," Wessy said scratching his head. "There is a rough map on the wall."

Wessy pointed towards a small map drawn on the wall. It showed islands and the sea around them. "It seems to mention a tropical sea with islands and crystal-clear waters but I have no idea where in the world that is," Wessy confessed. "Take a photo of it and we'll enlarge the map on a computer but in the meantime we should return to the surface," Captain said.

"Yes, let's get out of this dark place!" Joseph agreed. They all left the chamber with the Atlantean writing on the wall and back to the pervious cave with the rope ladder.

"Hey, what?!" Fraser shouted. Captain looked ahead and saw why Fraser shouted. The rope ladder was no longer dangling from the hole and was on the ground. Someone had cut it!

The four of them ran towards the ladder when a rumbling sound came. They all looked up and saw that a large boulder was being pushed over the hole. Captain couldn't see who it was but had a wild guess.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!" Fraser shouted once again but whoever was pushing the boulder didn't respond. The boulder was pushed over cutting out the sunlight and leaving Captain, Fraser, Wessy and Joseph once again in the darkness with one torch that wouldn't last for long.

"Who did that?" Joseph asked. "I have a feeling the same goons who tried to attack me and Wessy back in Halifax," Captain answered Joseph's question. "We're trapped in here."

"There's got to be a way out!" Fraser panicked. "That was our way out but we can't use it now," Wessy said. "It's only a matter of time since we have no food or water that we'll die in this cave."

"They either could be doing this to kill us now or use this cave as a prison so we cannot progress and eventually torture us," Captain guessed. "There has got to be a way out of here," Fraser said. "Like I told you up there was," Wessy pointed out. "There is no other way out."

But then Captain stood still. He could hear something. "Hey, did you hear that?" Captain asked. "No, we haven't heard anything," Wessy answered. "I just heard something," Captain said.

Captain listened again. He could hear a faint voice: The wall...the wall...

"The wall?" Captain said in confusion. "I think the darkness is getting to you, Captain," Joseph replied with worry. "I cannot hear any voices..." Wessy said. "Me either," Fraser added.

_The wall? _ "Of course! Head back into the chamber!" Captain shouted in excitement. Wessy, Joseph and Fraser thought that Captain was going mad but they followed him anyway.

The four of them returned back into the chamber with the Atlantean characters on the wall. Captain turned to another wall next to the one with the writing.

"I wanted to investigate this but I didn't and this may our chance to escape," Captain pointed out. "Uh, Captain? We can't go through this wall unless we're ghosts," Joseph said in concern. "He is right," Wessy agreed. "The voice you heard...you may be hearing things."

"I wasn't and to prove it I will go through this wall!" Captain said seriously. "You'll just hit the wall. It's solid," Fraser warned.

Captain didn't want to waste time. He began walking towards the wall. What if Wessy and Joseph were right? Maybe he was hearing things. But Captain still walked bravely towards the wall and closed his eyes expecting to hit the wall hard...but then when he opened his eyes he was in a long, dark tunnel.

Captain was in complete wonder and confusion. He turned around and saw the wall. Did he go though it?

"He...he...just went though the wall!!" Captain heard Joseph exclaim. "But it is impossible..." Wessy replied. Captain stuck is arm out and pushed it though the wall. Amazingly, his arm went though the wall as if it never existed. The wall was an optical allusion.

"Look his arm!" Fraser shouted. Captain pulled it back in and then stepped though the wall. "This wall is an optical allusion," Captain concluded. "It looks ordinary but you step though it it's nothing but air."

"But how was it that Joseph, Fraser and I were unable to detect it?" Wessy asked. "I don't know but this is our ticket out of here so let's go before that torch dies out," Captain replied and ushered them to follow him.

The four of them marched through the wall and into the dark tunnel.

"Amazing, a tunnel we never knew," Wessy said in amazement. They continued through the dark tunnel. Somehow there were travelling away from the ruins of Knossos. There were no other tunnels which meant they didn't connect to the Labyrinth under the palace so where was this taking them?

The torch Wessy held as they traversed the tunnel was not burning bright anymore and beginning to snuff out. Captain knew it was just about out of fuel and hoped the end of the tunnel was near. Then at a distance they could see a shimmering small shaft of light at a wall marking the end of the tunnel.

"We've made it," Wessy said in relief. Captain could see that it was a small hole in the wall allowing sunlight in.

"Quick, help me out with this," Captain ordered about. Together they pushed with all their might against the wall. At first nothing was happening but then the wall began to groan and protest then move and the blocks collapsed fell out of place brightening up the end of the tunnel. Though the sunlight was bright they veered out the newly formed entrance.

By amazement the tunnel lead them right onto the shoreline of Crete. The waves pounded the shoreline and the Mediterranean Sea looked like a large in-land ocean. The sun was beginning to settle down indicating dusk. The sky was turning a lovely orange as the sun sank.

"Imagine that, a tunnel that no one ever knew that leads from the ruins of Knossos towards the coastline," Wessy said softly. "Shouldn't we head back to camp?" Fraser asked. "We can't. Whoever tried to trap us in that cave is probably searching out campsite. It's too dangerous to head back," Captain replied looking out at the sea.

"Then what do we do?" Joseph added. "We have to get back into Heraklion," Captain answered. "Exactly how do we?" Wessy questioned seriously. "Our vehicles are back at the campsite and we can't go back."

Captain scanned the surrounding area and then saw something. "Down there!" he exclaimed. He began going down the hill while Wessy, Joseph and Fraser followed behind. Once down near the shoreline they could see a dock with a boat moored to it and someone watching over it but he was actually not. Captain dashed behind a large rock for cover and everyone else did. He peered slightly over the rock.

"Looks like one of the men who tried to kill us," Captain said quietly. "He's not doing his job of watching that boat very well."

Captain was right. He appeared to have dosed off on a chair. "If we're real quiet we can sneak onto that boat and make our escape," Captain explained his plan. "Now everyone...quiet and slowly..."

They tip-toed onto the dock past the sleeping guard. At one point Joseph stepped onto a plank that made a creak noise. Alarmed that he may have woken up the guard, Joseph stopped but the guard still snoozed away. Joseph was relieved that it didn't wake him up and quietly got into the boat along with Wessy and Fraser. Captain was quietly loosing the bow ropes from the cleats on the dock but he wasn't prepared for that fact that Wessy turned the keys still in the ignition. The engine sputtered and kicked in roaring loudly. That was enough to wake the guard. Though a bit drowsily from sleeping he saw Captain attempting to untie the stern ropes. He leaped towards Captain to stop him but Captain lounged a fist right into his belly knocking him onto the dock. Captain then untied the rope and jumped into the boat and went forward to grab a hold of the helm and push the throttle all the way full. The engine roared and the propeller started to spin faster creating propulsion and the boat went off leaving the guard on the dock.

The four of them were relieved that they managed to escape but that quickly went away when three to four boats were approaching them at high speed. Captain maintained the speed of the boat and then shouted, "Get down!!"

They were greeted by rapid machinegun fire and Wessy, Joseph and Fraser ducked for cover as bullets began to shred parts of the boat. Still at the helm, Captain saw that each of the boats were armed with machineguns and several men each carrying a gun. They would do anything to stop them dead in their tracks.

"Wessy, take the helm!" Captain ordered. Wessy analogised his orders and took control of the helm while Captain crept forward under cover behind a seat. There, he took out his revolver and waited to aim. If they were going to have a gun fight then Captain would join in.

More bullets struck the seat as the machineguns on the other boats fired. Captain stayed in cover till they stopped and once they did he got up and returned fire on the men. They themselves took cover and fired back on Captain. Captain ducked once again and waited for a better chance. Then he aimed and fired and managed to hit two men on one of the boats. They collapsed dead on the boat. Captain then noticed that he was almost out of bullets for her revolver and had to retreat to the helm again.

"Here, I will take it back," Captain said as Wessy allowed him to take control of the helm once again. His next plan was to try and lose them. Captain swung the helm hard to port and starboard but the goons still held onto his course and to make matters worse their boat reached its maximum top speed and couldn't go any faster which meant they would not be able to outrun them forever.

Captain thought on want to do next and that's when he got an idea. Up ahead of the boat chase there were three large cruisers all idle and several speedboats. A floating ramp bobbed on the water and it looked like the speedboaters were having a completion and were viewed by spectres on the cruisers. They were unaware of the chase. Captain saw that the ramp was their chance to escape.

He veered the boat right towards the ramp. Joseph saw his plan and shouted, "Are you crazy, Captain?! This boat wasn't meant to go on ramps!" "It's the only way to lose 'em," Captain replied. "Now hang on!"

The speedboaters saw the incoming chase and fled the ramp. The spectres on the boat saw the chase and assumed that this wasn't a part of the show. Captain kept the boat at full speed charging towards the ramp.

There was a slight bump when the hull of their boat met the ramp. The ramp lifted the boat right from the water and into the air. For a few seconds they were airborne but gravity took over and the boat slammed back into the sea and resumed its course. Wessy, Joseph and Fraser were in surprise that the boat managed to take the ramp without any trouble. Captain and the rest of them looked back to see the first boat of the chasers launch off the ramp, but as Captain thought, while in midair their bow dipped and speared into the water like a javelin and capsized over throwing out the driver and passengers into the water.

Just then the second boat went off the ramp and ended in the same fate as the first boat but next to it. The third and fourth tried to avoid going on the ramp but it was too late and both launched into the air at the same time and collided exploding into a fireball that frighten the nearby spectres on the cruisers and their destroyed hulls slammed into the water next to the other two that flipped. Smoke and flames flared on the destroyed boats and the surviving men swam away from them.

Captain's crazy plan had worked. Convinced that no more boats were chasing them, Captain set the boat on a course towards Crete's capital as the sun set behind the sea.

Chapter four, too close for comfort

City of Heraklion

Darkness had fallen when they arrived in Heraklion. The harbour has been used for centuries since the time of the Minoans and was filled with fishing vessels, yachts, and other watercraft. There was a terminal for the local ferry service. The harbour was pretty much quiet except for a few boats departing and arriving in.

The boat that Captain, Wessy, Joseph and Fraser had used in their escape had taken quite the number of hits from the machineguns with bullet marks, dents and holes but nevertheless it still worked fine. They docked the boat at a pier and certain that whoever those men worked for would try to locate their stolen boat, Captain decided to therefore abandon it and get into the city. Once away from the docks, the four of them booked the night in a hotel with a view of the harbour.

They were settling down in their room on the second floor of the hotel. Captain knew that they'd left some important things back at their camp near the ruins of Knossos but they couldn't go back to it now.

"That was too close for comfort," Fraser remarked laying out his PJ's. "I wasn't expecting something like this when you hired me, Captain." "Either was I, Fraser, but now it has happened," Captain replied looking out the window at the harbour.

"Have you got that photo you took of the map on the computer yet?" Captain asked Wessy. "Almost," Wessy answered. He was sitting at a table with a laptop. The screen gave off a glow into a dark side of the room.

"Done!" Wessy announced. He turned the computer to show everyone. On the screen was the photograph he'd taken in the chamber with the Atlantean writing of the map. But the photo was a bit darkish the fact that they'd had only a lit torch for a source of light.

"It's too dark," Captain commented. "Brighten it up a little." "Certainly," Wessy said. He kept pressing on a button and the picture became brighter. As it did the map began to show more than just the sea with islands.

"That part there almost looks like a mainland," Joseph added. "But where?" Fraser asked. "I am not quite sure," Wessy said.

"Hmmm," Captain stared. He then pointed at the long coastline. "That looks like the east coast of Australia and the Coral Sea." "Australia?" Joseph questioned. "It looks like Captain is right," Wessy said in confidence. "It does look like the Coral Sea with islands but the map still doesn't give us the exact location of the next clue. It could be anywhere in the Coral Sea."

"Then how are we supposed to find it, Captain?" Joseph asked. "I think to answer that, Joseph," Captain replied, "We need to visit a friend of mine in Sidney. He might be able to help us."

"You have a friend there?" Wessy said. "Yes, I do. Another fellow captain," Captain replied to Wessy's question. "He's the captain of a dive boat and makes regular trips off the coast of Australia and it's not because that I operate a dive boat back in Halifax." "You said you're doing so till the repairs on RMS Canada are finished," Wessy recalled on what Captain had said days before. "Correct," Captain said. "Now let us get some sleep and the first thing tomorrow morning we leave for Australia."

"I wonder if I should practice an Aussie accent," Fraser said to himself as he went to bed. Captain turned to Wessy and said, "Have you managed to contact Christopher about this?" "I have tried but his line seems to be busy," Wessy answered shutting down the laptop. "Busy? That doesn't sound good..." Captain said in worry. "Why, what's the matter?" Wessy asked. "I will tell you about this when we leave tomorrow," Captain said and went to bed.

Chapter five, Good Day, Australia

Sidney, Australia

The next morning on Crete, Captain, Wessy, Joseph and Fraser took another plane towards Australia. Just like before, Captain had his revolver sent ahead because firearms weren't allow on planes. They flew from the Island of Crete across Iraq, India and the Indian Ocean and finally across Australia towards Sidney. Once landed, they departed the plane. Like Crete, it was very warm in Australia with hot temperatures.

Sidney was a very beautiful city. There were tall buildings everywhere overlooking the harbour. Captain, Wessy, Fraser, and Joseph stood at the pier in the harbour. The Sidney harbour bridge stood tall over a section of the harbour with cars and trucks buzzing over it. Across from them was the Sidney Opera House, a magnificent building with a roof that curved and looked like sails from an old sailing ship of the past before steam came along.

"Quite the city," Wessy remarked. "Yes it is, Wessy," Captain agreed looking at the harbour. "This is one of the many stops we make on the round-the-world cruises onboard the RMS Canada and every time we dock here the citizens always come to greet us. It's not that often for these people to see an old Trans-Atlantic ocean liner still in service."

"Yes, well, we aren't here for sight-seeing," Joseph added. "Right you are," Captain replied. "There's someone here we must meet and I know here he lives so let us get going."

They all followed Captain as he walked along the docks. Like Crete's capital, Sidney harbour was full of boats mainly sailboats and large cruisers moored to the docks. Captain led them towards a two story house overlooking the harbour.

"This is it," Captain announced. He raised his fist and knocked gently on the door three times and then stood back as it opened. "Good day," said an Australian-accented voice. "Oi, Captain is that you?"

In the doorway stood a kangaroo wearing light clothing.

"Yes it is me, Mark," Captain replied slightly touching the brim of his captain's hat. "Welcome back to Australia!" Mark greeted. "Say, how's your ship doing, Captain?"

"She's currently under some maintenance work back in Halifax and work will continue for another month," Captain said. "Oh, well, mate it's always a pleasure for you vessel to dock here in Sidney," Mark replied and could see Wessy, Fraser and Joseph.

"And who's your friends?" Marked asked.

"This is Wessy," Captain pointed to Wessy and then to Joseph, "he's Joseph who you'll remember as the wireless operator from the RMS Canada."

"I still do, mate," Mark said. "And lastly," Captain continued. "This is Fraser. He began to recently work onboard my dive boat while the RMS Canada is being repaired."

Marked extended his warm welcome to Wessy and Fraser who were new to him. "Now, Mark, we have come to speak with you of an important matter," Captain said seriously. "Of course, come in," Mark replied and ushered them in.

Mark's house wasn't anything like Captain's house having more things in it but of course Captain's real home was onboard his vessel.

"Now, what is it you have to speak of?" Mark asked. Captain began by telling him of what had happened to the four of them.

"Wait, wait there, back it up mate," Mark said. "You're telling me that the four of you are in search of the Lost City of Atlantis. Are you sure you haven't lost your marbles?" "It's no joke," Wessy began. "Wouldn't you believe that someone has been trying to kill us two times?"

"Someone has been trying to kill you?" Mark all the sudden questioned in concern. "Yes, it's true," Captain added. "Back in my home city of Halifax and another on the Island of Crete where we just came from. We survived a near encounter of death in a boat chase off the coast from goons on boats armed with machineguns and hand guns."

"So this isn't some made-up story isn't it?" Mark asked. "All of it is true," Joseph said. "We're in a race against someone we don't know of who wants to get to the prize first before we do, Atlantis."

"We need your help with this since you know these coastal waters off you country well," Captain added to what Joseph said. "Wessy if you would to show Mark the map we found in that cavern on Crete."

Wessy handled Mark a printed-out copy of the map photo and Mark carefully examined it.

"Yes, it is the east Coast of Australia," Mark conformed. "Where did you find this?" he asked. "Inside an underground cavern near the ruins of Knossos," Captained replied. "And this clue you say will help you find this so-called 'Trident of Atlantis'," Mark recalled what Captain told him about their adventure so far. "Yes, it will, Mark," Captain said.

"The first clue we found in Crete pointed towards the east Coast of Australia," Wessy began and pointed on the map. "It's my guesses that there is another clue somewhere in the Coral Sea that will tell us where the Trident of Atlantis resides. Once we have the Trident in our possession, it will tell us the final where-a-bouts of Atlantis' location."

"Well, you've convinced me that this story isn't false, mate," Mark said in confidence. "But what do you need me for, Captain?"

"We need you to take us out on your dive boat towards the location of the clue in the Coral Sea," Captain replied, "There we will search for it. You haven't got any scheduled dives to do, do you?"

"Not any today or tomorrow so you're lucky," Mark answered. "Good then we must depart for the location," Captain said. "By the way, Mark, I don't think those goons are far from us so keep an eye out for suspicious activity. They could make another attack on us."

Mark didn't like the sound of that but said, "I will take you guys out tomorrow. In the meantime we must prepare for this."

* * *

The next day they departed on Mark's dive boat destined for the Coral Sea. While Mark's dive boat was nowhere near the size of Captain's one back in Halifax, it still was a fine watercraft. It was loaded with scuba gear such as flippers, wetsuits, goggles, tanks, and other equipment. The boat could go fairly fast on one screw.

After leaving Sidney Harbour there were on the Coral Sea. It was very tropical-like air with crystal-clear waters a dream for vacationers but obviously Captain and the others weren't on vacation. They had a mission to do. The skies around them were clear with a few clouds and the bright Aussie sun.

"Hey Captain, do you have to navigate your ship though these reefs?" Fraser asked sitting down on a seat as the boat cruised along. "It's too dangerous to navigate her though these waters, Fraser. We stay in the shipping routes," Captain replied as he got equipment together.

"Captain is right," Mark said at the helm. "Ships aren't allowed here because these coral reefs are protected. While my dive boat is smaller than a ship and can navigate though we must still exercise caution and not damage the reefs ourselves and it looks like we've reached our destination, mate."

Mark brought the boat to a stop on the aqua waters. "If it's in the water somewhere how are we going to find it?" Fraser questioned. "I'm not going into that water!!" Joseph exclaimed. "Wessy and I will be," Captain replied. "And you don't have to, Joseph."

Fraser wondered why Joseph hated the idea of swimming but soon that thought drifted off. "We must get changed," Captain said. He and Wessy ducked into a compartment at the bow of the boat to change into wetsuits. After 15 minutes they emerged from the compartment both wearing wetsuits and special underwater shoes for their feet.

Mark and Joseph helped them to get their air tanks on their backs. Captain had to use a specially-made air tank for his back because of his large dorsal fin that would otherwise obstruct a normal diver's air tank. Wessy slipped on his feat flippers, goggles on his head and a breath apparatus over his mouth. Captain did the same thing with a smaller pair of goggles except he didn't slip on flippers like Wessy did.

"What about your flippers?" Fraser asked. "Why need them when my tail fluke can do the work," Captain said while holding onto a part of his tail fluke. "And I can swim even without this scuba equipment. I've been able to swim since I first touched the ocean as a calf and have been doing so since."

"Now," Captain began to Joseph and Fraser, "Wessy and I will be able to communicate with you. Mark will handle the operation on his boat. Should we find anything, I will let you know, got it?"

Fraser and Joseph analogised their orders. At the signal, Wessy jumped into the water followed closely by Captain. Once in the water both of them dove under and their search for the clue began.

They had entered a colourful world that was under the keel of their boat. The water was crystal-clear with the sunlight shining though the water creating waves that danced about on the sand. Coral reefs sprang up from the sand filled with life as fish swam around, though and under it. Many underwater plants grew from the coral and slowly moved about in the water. Fish dived into small holes and such as Captain and Wessy swam over a coral reef. This place was teaming with so much life, virtually an underwater city of fish and other marine creatures that provided food and shelter from predators.

This was the first time Captain had gone diving in tropical waters. He had swam a lot in the Atlantic Ocean when he wasn't on duty onboard his ship but it didn't bother him as he could handle the cold thanks to his blubber but in very warm places it felt like wearing a winter coat in the middle of summer. It had got to him in Crete and Australia and he tried to stay cool as he could.

Both Captain and Wessy weren't sure where the clue lay hidden in this part of the Coral Sea. They had created a search area used by explorers to find shipwrecks.

"Nothing..." Wessy said in disappointment. "It has to be around here somewhere," Captain replied looking around. "Let us keep searching."

Meanwhile back on Mark's dive boat Fraser and Joseph patiently waited for Captain and Wessy to report back if they had found the clue but so far nothing. Joseph used a small battery-powered fan to try and keep himself cool from the tropical heat.

"Why don't you like going into the water?" Fraser asked Joseph. "I just don't like to," Joseph replied trying to keep cool. "There was to be a reason, mate," Mark added in while at the helm looking though a pair of binoculars. "Did something happen to you?"

"No, nothing did and..." Joseph struggled but to him it felt like he was trying to hold something in that wanted out. "All right, I will tell," he signed. "Many years ago when I was still a young pup my mother and father took me and some friends of mine out to a lake where I used to live to go swimming. For me this was the first time I had done so in a lake. When I mostly get wet it was either in the bathtub or by a garden hose sometimes with a sprinkler attachment. But anyway, my friends were enjoying their time in the lake so I wanted to try it out and I jumped in. At first it went well I was having fun..."

Joseph paused for a moment with his eyes closed then continued his story: "But that's when it went all wrong. The next thing I knew my fur became so wet it weighted me down like an anchor and that's when I realized what was going on and started drowning. I cried for help trying to keep above the surface but I was sinking. Hearing my calls for help, my parents rushed in and saved me. They tried placing me in a shallower part but I refused to go in and that is the reason why up to today I don't want to go into any large bodies of water whatever a lake or an ocean. Baths or showers don't bother me."

"That's quite the story," Mark said. "But does Captain know about this?" "He does and has tried to get me over my phobia but I still can't," Joseph replied. "Then how come you're working on a ship surrounded by seawater. Doesn't that stir up your fear?" Fraser asked again. "It doesn't because that where I work it is far from the waterline and I am not in harm's way," Joseph said in confidence.

"But what happens if the ship sank?" Fraser questioned. "I know Captain well enough that he won't allow that to happen to his own ship but he has told me to be prepared if it does happen but I surely hope it doesn't," Joseph struggled.

Just then the radio receiver buzzed with excitement from Captain and Wessy. "What's that over there?" they heard Captain's voice say. "Looks like they may have found something," Mark announced to Fraser and Joseph. It got Fraser and Joseph's attention.

Captain and Wessy during their search found the opening of a cave not too far from their current location.

"It might be in there," Wessy said and slowly began to swim towards it. "Wait Wessy, look!" Captain grabbed a hold of Wessy and pointed out. Guarding the entrance of the mouth of the cave was a fish with long fins and a striped body. Captain knew well enough what it was.

"A lion fish and at the worse time," Wessy said. "Can you hear us?" Captain radioed back to the dive boat. "Yes, Captain?" Mark replied. "We have a problem," Captain answered. "A lion fish seems to be guarding the entrance of a cave that we believe might hold the clue to the Trident of Atlantis's location." "Can't you swim past it?" Captain heard Fraser suggested. "Are you mad, Fraser?!" Captain shouted back, "The lion fish is extremely venomous and if Wessy or I touched it even with just a slight push, poison would be injected into our bodies and if not taken care of could be fatal." "Captain is right," Mark said on the radio. "It's a no go with the lion fish around."

"The how are they supposed to get into that cave?" Joseph asked. "We will have to think of something and quick," Captain replied. "Hang on a minute...it's...it's gone..." Wessy suddenly broke out. "Wha...?" Captain sputtered. He slowly turned about.

The lion fish was nowhere to be seen. But how could it disappear? It was there for one minute and the next completely vanished.

"Very, very odd," Captain said in confusion. "The way is clear now," Wessy pointed out. Without any further ado, Captain and Wessy swam into the open mouth of the cave. Going deeper it started to get darker. Captain was carrying with him a waterproof flashlight and turned it on. They continued going down until they reached a chamber almost very much like the one on Crete except smaller and underwater. There, Captain shined the flashlight beam on a wall covered with Atlantean writing.

"This must be our clue," Wessy said. Captain stared at the wall covered with writing. He wished he could read it. Wessy in no time had translated it but he wouldn't review the answer till they returned to the boat. In Captain's thoughts it was probably best to.

Captain took a long last look at the Atlantean writing covered wall. "Uh...Captain, I think you should look at this," Wessy said softly. "Wessy, this is no time for games we must return back to the boat..." Captain said and turned to see what Wessy was looking at. "...and tell our..." Captain stopped mid-sentence.

On an adjacent wall from the one with the writing was a large picture of an orca that looked like Captain!! The picture was of an Atlantean warrior posed like he was ready to attack. In his left hand was the Trident of Atlantis and looked exactly like Wessy had described it. But there was something else about the picture. To the left of the Atlantean warrior was a terrifying monster looking almost alien-like with reddish eyes. It appeared that the Atlantean warrior was attacking a monster with the Trident but what did the picture mean?

"It looks like you..." Wessy commented as surprised as Captain was. "But how could it be...?" Captain said in confusion. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"I think we should return to the boat," Wessy coaxed. Captain was wondering if this was where the voice was coming from but how it could travel thousands of miles to Crete.

"Captain, are you alright?" Wessy asked and Captain snapped out of his thoughts. "Yes, I am," Captain replied. "Let us get going."

Before they left, Captain radioed ahead, "Mark, do you read, over?" "Right here mate. Did you find what you were looking for?" Mark asked. "We did, Mark, and something else as well," Captain said.

* * *

After a brief time of swimming out of the cave, Captain and Wessy returned to the dive boat and surfaced. Mark and Fraser helped them back into the boat but Joseph stood away due to his fear. Once onboard Captain and Wessy began to remove their gear off them. They would take of their wetsuits a bit later on.

"So you found the clue," an anxious Fraser said. "We did, Fraser, but apparently something else as well," Wessy added and then explained the picture their eyes had laid on.

"Wait, Captain is a descent of an Atlantean warrior?" Mark questioned not be able to believe what he heard. "It's hard to believe so but it could be true," Captain replied. "But enough of that. Wessy and I have found the clue that will lead us to the Trident of Atlantis's location. He has entirely translated it."

"What did it say?" Joseph asked Wessy. "The final location of the Trident of Atlantis is in a cold sea inside a cavern of an iceberg," Wessy explained. "An iceberg huh," Mark said. "Perhaps in the North Atlantic off Greenland or the North Magnetic Pole." "The clue mentions a fairly large iceberg," Wessy added in.

"Icebergs don't get that big in the North Atlantic before they melt," Captain pointed out. "This means if I am right, we have to go to the Weddell Sea." "Antarctica?!" Joseph exclaimed. "It would make sense, Joseph," Wessy agreed with Captain. "Icebergs there are much bigger than the ones that break off from Greenland's coast and drift outward into the North Atlantic. The one we are looking for has a massive cavern inside it containing the Trident."

"Well, then, it means that you four be heading towards Antarctica," said Mark. "We will be," Captain replied. "Aww, I was enjoying the tropics and now we have to head somewhere icy cold!" Fraser complained. "We have to, Fraser, it isn't like whoever placed the Trident of Atlantis's in its final location didn't think, 'Hey why not place it in a tropical area?'," Wessy snapped.

"All right everyone we have no time to waste in arguing," Captain said to stop the fighting. "The Trident awaits us."

Chapter six, all frozen up

Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Captain, Wessy, Fraser and Joseph left Australia like they had did with Crete and flew towards the southern tip of South America to a Chilean port. Once there, they boarded a mid-sized steamship that Captain own that was christened, "SS Atlantic" though there were other steamships in history that had the same name particularly one that sank off Long Point in Lake Erie in the 1800's. The hull of the Atlantic was painted red with black very much the same as the RMS Canada but without the white waterline. Its superstructure was painted white with some wooden parts and had a tall funnel that stood painted orange and black.

Once the supplies were loaded, the Atlantic chuffed southwards towards the Weddell Sea in the frigid Antarctic waters. It took at least a few days to reach there but they made it however the Atlantic ran into a blinding snowstorm.

Cold wind and snow whipped around the Atlantic as it steamed south on a cold night. Captain was in the bridge grasping the wooden helm and keeping on course. He was glad to be out of the tropical heat and the cold didn't bother him at all but it was to Wessy, Fraser and Joseph who weren't used to such freezing cold temperatures. Captain had ordered them to stay inside at all times and not to venture out on deck until the storm died down.

Inside the superstructure, Wessy, Joseph and Fraser awaited near a stove to keep warm until they arrived at their destination. The snow was still falling as seen through the portholes and windows. Below them, men hired by Captain kept the ship's boilers and engines going at least they were toasty warm.

"This is colder than it is out on the Atlantic," Joseph said drinking some hot cocoa to keep warm with a blanket around him. "It gets very cold in the Antarctica," Wessy pointed out. "Sometimes below forty or more." "I c-couldn't, c-couldn't s-stand that," Fraser shivered. "Put on some blankets," Wessy said and handed Fraser a blanket or two.

"The cold doesn't bother Captain as much as us for he's built for it," Joseph recalled. "He once dove into the water in the mid-Atlantic to rescue someone that fell overboard and the water was near freezing." "I wouldn't want to go for a swim in that cold waters or here," Fraser said still trying to keep warm."

Just then the engines cut out and a few minutes later, Captain appeared. "We have arrived at our destination," he announced. Wessy, Joseph, and Fraser were about to get up when Captain added, "However the storm outside is still raging on. We will have to wait till it stops and furthermore it is late in the evening so I suggest we turn in for the night and wait till morning before finding that iceberg."

They retired for the night as the storm still raged on. The Atlantic was as idle as a plank of wood on a pond. Men took shifts to keep the fire going in the boiler to provide heat all night long. The winds still howled but later onward they began to die down and eventfully stopped.

Wessy, Fraser, and Joseph were still asleep when Captain came into their room. "Rise and shine," he said. It was followed by groaning and Fraser, once awake, looked out a porthole.

"Why are you waking us up in the middle of the night?" Fraser asked sleepily. "It's actually 9:00am but because it's now the winter season here in Antarctica the sun won't rise for a few months," Captain said.

Joseph looked at a nearby clock. It was 9:00am but it felt like 12:00am due to the darkness.

"We will all have breakfast and then find that iceberg containing the Trident of Atlantis," Captain said once again and left the room. Wessy, Joseph and Fraser looked at each other but didn't ask. They all got out of bed and got dressed.

Breakfast was served in the dining room a mid-ship. Afterwards they prepared themselves.

On deck, Captain peered through some binoculars at the horizon. Above the Atlantic the sky was filled with wonderful colours shimmering across and moved almost like waves.

"The Northern Lights!" Fraser exclaimed at the sight. "Actually, it's the Southern Lights since we're in the Southern Hemisphere," Captain corrected. "They take on a different name than their northern cousins."

"So are we going to sail towards the iceberg with your ship?" Fraser asked. "No, it's too dangerous with this old girl," Captain said with caution. "If she sinks, we are stranded with no way of calling for help. It's best to approach the icebergs with something smaller."

What Captain meant to say was an inflatable raft. It was brightly orange and could carry as many as five. It was equipped with a small outboard engine with a fuel line and gasoline tank. Once the raft was inflated, it was carefully lowered into the water until it was floating. Captain, Wessy and Fraser boarded it. Joseph insisted on staying on the ship, but Captain ushered him and after a few tries he got on the raft.

Then, Captain started the small outboard and after revving the engine a few times and lighting a lantern to provide light, pushed off from the hull of his vessel and started going forward away from the Atlantic. He had the raft go at a fairly speed before switching to cruising. The water around them was clear but then Fraser spotted something.

"Hey, what's that?" Fraser pointed. Nearby was a small piece of ice floating in the water. It looked to not be able to hold a single person.

"It's a growler," Captain said as they passed it. "It's a sign that icebergs are close. That's one thing I have to look for while on the Atlantic onboard RMS Canada because where there are growlers there are icebergs."

Moments after passing the growler, something big loomed in the water at a distance. As it came closer Captain knew well enough what it was an iceberg.

To Joseph and Fraser it looked like a white mountain that somehow floated in the sea. "We have reached the icebergs, now to find our one," Captain said as he controlled the raft. More icebergs began to appear one after another.

Captain did his best to keep away from their bases. "Why aren't we close to them?" Fraser asked. "We don't want to be," Captain replied. "It looks safe to me and..."

Just then, as if on cue, the raft suddenly stopped and its bow partly rose out of the water. This alarmed Joseph. "Wh-what happened?" Fraser said in shock. Captain reached for one of the paddles. "There's your answer," Captain pointed out with the one end of the paddle at the water.

Below them was a large chunk of ice under the water surface. The raft ran aground on the ice with its bow.

"But I thought we were..." Fraser began. "THAT is the reason why I didn't want to sail the SS Atlantic here," Captain said as he struggled to free the raft using the paddle from the berg. "The water around an iceberg may look safe but that's when it will get you. What we have just experienced is the greatest threat to any ship. While an iceberg may look small on the surface dive underwater and you'll see that they're much bigger and very much like a submarine. That is the reason why Titanic sank. When she collided with the berg it caused the rivets to pop under pressure and create an opening that allowed seawater to start pouring in. Combined with opening five watertight compartments, she was doomed."

Captain managed to free the raft from the iceberg and got it going on its course.

"Now, enough of that history lesson," Captain said. "From what Wessy told me, the iceberg we are searching for has a large cavern inside it that contains the Trident of Atlantis so look out for a hole of some kind on one of these bergs."

They began their search among the icebergs looking for a sign of a hole. It didn't take long before Joseph was first to spot it.

"There!" he shouted. Ahead of them on an iceberg was a hole dug deep into it. "That's our iceberg," Captain conformed as he brought the raft alongside the berg. Once close enough, Captain stood carefully on the raft making sure not to lose balance threw a grapple hook tried to some rope onto the ice. It landed and two hooks on it dug into the ice creating a firm grip that would prevent the raft from drifting away. Captain then carefully climbed onto the iceberg.

"First time I've been on an iceberg," Captain commented. Now on the berg he helped the others get on it from the raft. Wessy was the last on the raft to climb onto the iceberg but before he did Captain told him to pass up the lantern. Once Wessy was on the berg they looked at the hole before them.

"This has to be it," Wessy said in confidence. "Only one way to find out..." Captain replied and they began to walk into the mouth of a tunnel.

The tunnel was very slippery and a few times did Fraser, Wessy and Joseph slipped on it but Captain managed to keep his grip. Captain held the lantern steady shining the light up ahead. It wasn't long before the four of them reached another cave.

"...Is...is...that it?" Fraser pointed out. Across the floor from them was the Trident of Atlantis! It stood on a small ice block centred. It was exactly the way the picture and Wessy described it.

"What are we waiting for? Let's get it!" Fraser exclaimed and was about to dash towards it when Captain stopped him. "Wait, Fraser. Doesn't it occur to you that's what the Trident wants you to do to rush for it without any thoughts," Captain warned.

"He means," Wessy added, "that it could be booby trapped and that simply rushing towards it will be your death."

"That is why we must figure out what kind of booby trap this is," Captain replied. The floor ahead of them was composed of having circles placed around. Captain wondered if they were some kind of pressure pads and that if activated would set off the booby traps. Only one way to find out...

Grabbing a piece of wood nearby, Captain allowed one end of the wood to touch the pressure pad and sure enough it began to sink into the floor. Just then came a loud noise that didn't sound good and Captain moved quickly away just when a large icicle came cashing though the pressure pad leaving a hole. Captain looked down the hole to see below darkness and by the looks of it a bottomless pit of death. He looked up at the ceiling to see more of the icicles hanging above each positioned over the pressure pads.

"THAT would have happened to you, Fraser, if you tried your way," Captain said to Fraser. Fraser swallowed hard at the thought. "Then what are we to do?" Fraser asked in worry.

"I will go across," Captain replied almost instantly. "Captain, you can't do that!" Joseph exclaimed for Captain's safety. "You saw what that icicle did. It could happen to you."

"Look, we have no other choice and time is running out so I am going no matter what!" Captain said seriously bent on completing their objective in the cavern. "Just be careful," Wessy added with caution.

Captain nodded at Wessy then turned to face the Trident of Atlantis a fair distance from him. He began to walk slowly onto the danger zone. If he stepped on any of the ice pressure pads there would be no time to escape certain death. Up above the icicles dangled waiting for him to make the mistake of stepping on a pressure pad.

Captain slowly and carefully stepped around each pressure pad. He tried to keep his boots from touching the edge of a pressure for worry that it might set the booby trap off. Captain kept his balance making sure not to accidently slip.

He was just a few steps and was nearing to the Trident. He almost lost his footing, causing Wessy, Fraser and Joseph to gasp but Captain regained control. Before long Captain stood in front of the Trident of Atlantis. He could see the engraved Atlantean characters on its silvery staff. But there remained a question: was the Trident itself booby trapped.

Not liking the thought of it, Captain decided to take chances even though they might result in death. Standing tall and still, he grasped the staff with his gloves and began to pull the Trident from the ice block. It first wouldn't tug but gave away and started to slide out. Once pulled out, Captain closed his eyes waiting for something to happen. But nothing did. He waited for another minute. Nothing...

Captain opened his eyes. He was still alive. By surprise it didn't seem that the Trident wasn't booby trapped. He let out a quiet sigh of relief then still holding the Trident in his hands slowly made it back to the other side where Wessy, Joseph and Fraser awaited.

"I thought something would happen when I pulled the Trident out but nothing did," Captain told them. "Wow," Fraser said in wonder. "If you would please, Captain, I would like to see it," Wessy asked. Captain handed over the Trident.

"It's just like the description back in Crete, it is truly made out of Orichalcum," Wessy said holding the Trident in his hands. "Gentlemen, we finally have the key to Atlantis and the writing on the staff tells me its final location."

"Let us get back to the ship and once we have our location for the Lost City we'll depart for it," Captain added. All three couldn't have agreed better as they had wanted to get out of this cold place.

They left the cavern and back into the icy tunnel that lead back outside. There were so close to Atlantis nothing could stop them now.

Just then as they reached the tunnel entrance, Captain stopped and Wessy, Fraser and Joseph stopped as well.

"Why have we stopped?" Joseph asked. "Someone has destroyed our only chance to get back to the ship," Captain replied.

The raft that they'd used to reach the iceberg was deflated with the sea water lapping over it. The paddles had floated off, fuel tank ruptured of gasoline and the outboard motor was missing. There was no chance to repair the raft in its current condition.

"Who would do such a thing...?" Joseph began but was suddenly cut off by the sound of a gun firing followed by an explosion on one side of the iceberg near them causing Fraser to almost fall into the freezing water below. Wessy managed to catch Fraser at the last moment. Then a voice on what sounded like a P.A. system screamed out:

"SURRENDER THE TRIDENT NOW AND DO NOT RESIST!!"

"Oh great," Captain muttered. Not too far from them was a fairly large boat with a gun pointed towards the iceberg they were on. Captain assumed that they were the ones who fired off the gun and that its impact might have destroyed the cavern where the Trident was; they were lucky at the time not to be in there.

The boat had them now. There was no way that Captain, Wessy, Fraser or Joseph could escape not without the raft. Captain already knew that these men on the boat worked for whoever was trying to kill them and that they'd ruined the raft while Captain and the others were inside the cavern.

"What are we going to do now?" Fraser asked. Captain shrugged. His revolver that he carried with him would do no good against the gunboat or the men on it. There was no way to escape.

But then, the letters on the Trident of Atlantis that Wessy had been holding onto since they got it, began to glow a bluish colour and the three purple crystals also glowed as well.

"What's going on with the Trident?" Captain asked seeing what was happening. "I'm not sure," Wessy replied unaware of what was going on. The Trident glowed even more than ever...then without warning it shot out a bolt of pure energy that made everyone on the berg collapse. The bolt, like an arrow from a bow, screeched right towards the gunboat and then came a sound of crackling electricity followed by an explosion.

Still on the ground, Captain looked and to his surprise saw what happened. The magical bolt had destroyed the gunboat slicing it in haft like bread with a knife to make a sandwich. Smoke arose as the two halves of the boat began their decent to the seabed leaving the men to freeze to death in the cold waters.

"Did you see that?" Captain had asked as everyone got up. "My God, Captain, it...it destroyed the boat!" Joseph exclaimed at the sight of it. "Like the Wrath of God," Wessy added as he got up. "We may have experienced one of the Trident's powers."

"Well, it got rid of that gunboat but how are we to get off this iceberg?" Fraser said. "Well we could swim back to the ship," Captain suggested. "There's no way we would survive in that water!" Joseph shouted at the thought of swimming though water so cold would be like getting stabbed by thousands of knives at the same time.

"We're not going to, Joseph," Captain reassured. "Before we left the Atlantic, I told those onboard that if we'd gotten into trouble and didn't return soon to try and find us and that explosion will surely have alerted them that something has gone wrong."

Captain was right and soon a lifeboat fitted with an engine in it and having two men on it puttered towards the iceberg they were on.

"We saw the explosion and came as fast as we could, Captain," one of Captain's shipmates said on the lifeboat as Captain, Wessy, Fraser and Joseph boarded it. "We have found our treasure, gentlemen," Captain replied and they saw the Trident in Wessy's hands, "so let us head back to the ship and get out of this freezer before anything else bad happens."

Never questioning about the explosion they had seen, the shipmates steered the lifeboat away from the iceberg and back to their awaiting ship. Once they arrived, Captain, Wessy, Joseph and Fraser got onboard while the shipmates worked to get the lifeboat back onboard. Captain returned to the bridge and once the lifeboat was brought onboard, he set the command on the engine telegraph to all ahead full.

Meanwhile, Wessy wanted to examined the Trident more and Fraser remained with him. Now chugging, the Atlantic steamed north and all seemed well but then that's when it changed. The weather being clear and seeing the Southern Lights suddenly turned into a blinding snowstorm like they had encountered heading south.

"Sweet Susan!" Captain exclaimed at the unexpected weather. The view from the bridge was so poor that he couldn't see where they were going.

"Captain, what's going on? The weather has gone nuts," Joseph said joining Captain in the bridge. "I would agree," Captain added as he held onto the helm. "It came out of nowhere and by surprise and now the visibly is zero. In my years of sailing I have never experienced weather like this."

Just then, Joseph shouted in fear: "Captain, iceberg, iceberg!!" Captain saw ahead an iceberg looming on the water. He turned hard a starboard to avoid the white mountain and succeeded.

Captain was relieved but then Joseph shouted again, "Another iceberg, Captain!!" Captain veered the helm to port this time and avoided the berg. But Joseph shouted again for the third time, "Another one!!"

Another one? It didn't seem possible but then Captain said, "Oh no!"

They had wandered into an iceberg maze. Icebergs floated about and posed as dangerous targets. In the blinding snowstorm Captain steered hard to port and starboard avoiding the bergs but it was like going through a minefield one wrong move and they would be done for good. Captain didn't want to end up in the same faith as the Titanic did on her maiden voyage.

Finally the Atlantic swerved around the last iceberg and was clear of the maze now and the snowstorm they were in died out to a clear night sky.

Captain was more than relieved to have survived a snowstorm and dodge the iceberg maze of death but he wondered as his ship sailed north that the Trident of Atlantis might have caused this to prevent it from being taken. But now that they had it, they could finally find the Lost City.

Chapter seven, Atlantis's final whereabouts

Somewhere over the Mediterranean Sea

An old Douglas DC-8 flew across the Mediterranean Sea. Being a relic of World War II, this Douglas still flew very well as if new and its twin engines roared. The plane's body was a sliver colour spanning everywhere to its wings and tail.

Sitting in the cockpit was Captain holding onto the steering wheel and keeping the plane on course. Behind him Wessy, Joseph and Fraser sat in seats with equipment they brought and most importantly the Trident.

After escaping the iceberg maze and a blinding blizzard, Captain sailed his ship back towards Chile in South America. Wessy told them all that after studying the letters on the Trident's staff that the Lost City resides on the ocean floor near the volcanic island of Thera north of Crete. Thera had been a suspected place of Atlantis's whereabouts and now it true. Wasting no time, the four of them left Chile and went back to the Mediterranean.

Joseph got up and entered the cockpit as Captain flew the plane. "I didn't know you could fly a plane, Captain," Joseph said to Captain. "I can, Joseph," Captain replied back. "What you think that I could only sail ships."

Captain was a good pilot. Although he doesn't like flying he had flow aircraft before and this Douglas DC-8 was no different. Yes flying was different from sailing a ship you were in the air thousands of feet from the ground but navigating was pretty much the same. There were no icebergs in the air but storms and violent weather would be a grave concern like on a ship.

Captain flew the Douglas past Crete where they found their first clue and right towards Athens the capital of Greece and birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. Captain landed the plane on a runaway at the international airport in Athens. There after unloading their equipment boarded at the harbour a Greek research vessel named after the City of Athens.

The Athens sailed from its homeport into the Algerian Sea and set on course to the Island of Thera. The captain of the ship was the only one who could speak English and he and Captain discussed the plans.

After uneventful days of sailing the Athens arrived at the spot near Thera. The centre of the island it's self had sunk into the ocean thousands of years ago and was a hotspot for volcanic activity. The island itself was made up of cooled lava and although the volcano hadn't erupted for some time since 1950 there was no telling when that day might come again.

Captain, Wessy, Fraser and Joseph gathered together at the stern of the Athens. There, a submersible sat on deck and was an orange and white colours. The submersible was specially designed for research purposes at very deep depths and had robotic arms to collect organic material and a basket in front to store finds.

After talking to the captain of the ship, Captain then commanded Wessy, Fraser and Joseph to start bringing in the equipment into the submersible. Working together they got the equipment onboard and that was when it was the time to get into the sub themselves. Captain was the last to enter and before he closed the hatch he gave a signal to the crane operator. Though the crane operator couldn't speak English, the captain of the Athens told Captain that on their ship they would use a variety of hand signals and he should use it.

The signal Captain had given to the crane operator was that there were ready to go. The crane operator responded back with a hand signal to Captain as he closed the hatch tight. Then controlling the crane lifted the submersible from the deck and over the stern's edge. The submersible dangled in the air as the crane operator began to lower it carefully into the sea. The water splashed around the submersible's hull as it touched the sea. The large canopy window built to resist a 1, 000 feet on the front of the sub went underwater for a few seconds then surfaced. That canopy served to allow Captain and the others to see the underworld they were in.

Once the submersible was unhooked from the crane's arm Captain began to pump seawater into the ballast tanks on either side of the sub making it heavier and then it dipped below the surface and began its decent to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. It was quite wonderful to Fraser but Joseph was uneasy about it and Captain assured him that the sub was safe.

Fish swam by the canopy window as the submersible continued to sink. Captain kept a close eye on the digital depth gauge and the other indicators on the sub's console. To conserve electricity, Captain allowed gravity to sink the submersible only as fast as it could. As they got deeper and deeper the sunlight from the surface began to fade away like an eclipse and before long the submersible was in pitch blackness. Captain turned on the lights to brighten up the blackness but it couldn't penetrate all of the inky darkness. He also kept a close eye on the sonar like he did with the depth gauge.

"There's the bottom," Captain announced. Fraser, Joseph and Wessy looked forward and out of the darkness came the muddy bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Captain started up the thrusters to stop their descent disturbing the seabed below and throwing up silt. Captain adjusted the thrusters to propel them forward.

"Our search begins now," Captain began. Now they had to find an entrance to Atlantis. They began by searching along the seabed. Captain kept a close eye on the sonar looking for any large targets that could the entrance. The seabed was bare like an underwater desert with a few rock outcrops and plenty of mud. At one point, Fraser sighted an old wreck with pottery scattered around the remains believing it to be Atlantean but after a close inspection by Wessy it wasn't but an ancient Greek trading vessel probably sunk in a storm. The seabed around them was a vast field and not telling if it was going to give up the secrets of Atlantis. The submersible could stay underwater for a few hours but if they hadn't found anything their mission would be a failure and Captain didn't like the idea of someone else finding their prize before they did. In Captain's mind they couldn't give up now.

Just then, an alarm on the submersible's console went off snapping Captain out of his recent thoughts.

"What's going on?" Joseph asked over the sound of the alarm. Captain quickly looked at the sonar screen and it showed something coming towards them fast.

"Oh God!" Captain exclaimed knowing what it was. "Torpedo!" He veered the sub to the port side and a torpedo zoomed by the canopy window missing the submersible by just a few inches.

But it wasn't over yet. The alarm continued to go off and the sonar screen showed yet another torpedo being fired off.

"Another one!" Captain shouted and veered the submersible to avoid the underwater missile. The second torpedo again missed like the first one jetting off into the darkness.

"We've got an enemy submarine on the sonar!" Captain shouted once more. "We have no way to defend ourselves. We need to get away fast before they can fire another torpedo!"

"Down there," Wessy pointed. "There's a sea cave we can duck into that might be too small for the large submarine but our submersible can."

Taking Wessy's advice, Captain steered the submersible into the mouth of the cave to escape the threat. The four of them hadn't noticed while entering the cave mouth carved pillars with writing. The cave took a steep dive down and then shot straight up almost like a trap for a sink in a house. Captain carefully guided the submersible though the twisted cave and he noticed that the water depth was decreasing meaning that there was an air pocket above. He blew air into the ballast tanks making the submersible lighter than water and it began to rise to the surface.

The top of the submersible surfaced inside a very, very dark chamber. After surfacing, Captain climbed up and opened the hatch to survey the surroundings. The submersible was sitting in a fairly large pool of water and a shore could be seen. The chamber was monstrous in size; the submersible's lights could not penetrate all of the darkness that surrounded them. And yet, there was breathable air.

Captain jumped from the submersible into the water with a long coil of rope attached to the sub. The water that surrounded his legs wasn't very deep only up to his ankles and he could stand. Holding onto one end of the rope he climbed ashore and began his work to nail into the ground a stake made out of metal to serve as an anchor to keep the submersible from floating away. He tied his end of the rope to the stake making a tight knot. Once done, Captain returned to the submersible.

"Everyone out of the submersible and start bringing out those supplies," Captain issued an order. Wessy, Fraser and Joseph worked to bring the supplies out of the hatch and handed them to Captain who piled the goods on the shore. Captain also said to turn on the flash lights and electric lanterns as they needed to conserve the batteries onboard the submersible. They jumped off the submersible once their orders were fulfilled. Joseph didn't want to step into the water even when it was shallow so Captain had to carry him across and it was very unusual.

"There is something not right with this cave," Captain said in concern. "We're hundreds of feet below the sea and yet there is enough air pressure to keep the water out. It's impossible."

"If that were true we'd be dead," Wessy added to Captain's sentence. "Also have you noticed the walls and ceiling?" The walls and ceiling of the cave were not natural but carved and looked man-made.

"Could we have stumbled into the entrance to Atlantis?" Captain said. "I think we have by the looks of things," Wessy replied nodding as well. "I think I can see a tunnel ahead. It might lead us to the Lost City."

"Then what are we waiting for?" said an excited Fraser. "Let's go!" "Hang on there a minute, Fraser, before you go in let's prepare ourselves for what we might face," Captain said with caution.

Captain went over to a long wooden crate that had been unloaded from the submersible. Wessy, Fraser and Joseph didn't know what was in it although they had seen it before on the Athens. Captain had warned to handle it carefully when it was being loaded into the sub and it made them wonder if it was something explosive or very reactive.

There was a pad lock that Captain unlocked with a key and slid the lid off. Inside was four rifles carefully placed in with the safety engaged on each one to prevent an accidental firing. Wessy and the others wondered what Captain intended to do with the rifles.

Take one each and handle carefully," Captain said and handed each a rifle. "Cap-Captain, I've never handled a firearm!" Joseph exclaimed in fear. "You're going to have to," Captain assured to Joseph's fears.

"Now listen to me all," Captain began almost like a drill sergeant at a boot camp, "I brought these rifles for a good reason and you must handle them carefully as if they're still loaded. I have the ammo for them but before we load them, I must tell the reason why. Those goons whoever they work for might not be too far from us and should we encounter them we are going to need to defend ourselves. Now I haven't expected any of you to have been in a gunfight but remember this: fire off a shot then take cover. You are vulnerable when reloading so take cover when you do."

Captain stopped for a moment but continued on, "Second, we do not know for sure if you're the only living things in the tunnels ahead. We might encounter creatures that could either let us continue or tear us apart and eat our remains in a most horrible way so keep on guard at all times. You never know when something might spring out and attack, got it?"

They all analogised and Captain getting out his revolver then said, "Let's go."

They left the submersible in confidence that nothing bad would happen to it. They entered into the tunnel was connected to the chamber. Now they were on their way to Atlantis. While travelling though the dark-filled tunnel they kept alert of their surrounding taking Captain's words. Captain had the Trident strapped to his back for he could better protect it. He held his revolver firmly scanning the tunnel for any sights of moment.

This tunnel was not anything they had been though. It was very quiet and made no noise no drops of water. It was nothing but silence and that you could hear your own heartbeat. It made everybody else very nervous except for Captain who kept his guard.

They entered into another chamber that had a pool of water and darkness that covered the ceiling. They stopped for a breather.

But Captain while inspecting the chamber suddenly stopped. Wessy, Fraser and Joseph wondered why. Captain heard something that wasn't from them. He slowly turned around looking for it.

"What's the matter, Captain?" Joseph asked softly. "Sshh!" Captain hushed with his hand. He gripped his revolver with both his hands pointing in different directions. Then something wet fell in front of him onto the ground. Captain bended down to examined it. It smelt bad to Wessy, Fraser and Joseph but not to Captain as he had no nose but he knew well enough that it wasn't water but salvia That's when Captain looked up at the ceiling to see two red eyes staring at him just before they came down to attack.

Captain dodged and came face-to-face with a creature that looked like a mutated bat with long fangs and drooled more salvia. It put fear into the hearts of Wessy and the others but not to Captain.

It lunched towards him to stab it's fangs into his body but Captain dodged out of the way and fired his revolver. The shots struck the creature causing it to bleed. The creature, angered by his wounds, went to attack Captain but he fired more shots that eventually killed the creature. It fell flat onto the ground drawing its last breaths of air and then stopped breathing.

"To hell with your," Captain said even though the creature was dead. But it wasn't over yet as more reddish eyes opened in the dark ceiling and the same bat-like creatures swopped down to avenge their fallen one.

"Open fire!!" Captain shouted. Wessy, Fraser and Joseph with their rifles began firing on the creature defending themselves. Captain was as busy as them with his revolver fending the creatures off. He stopped to reload his weapon and then came face-to-face with a creature bigger than the other ones.

"Ah you must be their leader," Captain assumed at its size. The smaller creatures backed off allowing their leader to take care of this major pest while they went to attack his counterparts. Now it was between Captain and this monster.

Captain fired off one round but it didn't much to the creature's belly. Captain paced slowly back and fired another shot but it again did nothing. In Captain's thoughts this one was much tougher than the others and bullets alone wouldn't do any good. The leader attacked Captain throwing him to the ground.

Seeing another attack coming, Captain dodged. The leader was more than determined to get rid of his opponent and would do nothing until it got its will. Captain had to figure out a way to defeat the leader and fast before they had a chance to feast on their bodies. His revolver wouldn't work but maybe the Trident of Atlantis could.

Captain got it from his back but the leader knocked the Trident from his hands onto the ground nearby. Captain needed to get it back at all costs! The leader made another attack on Captain that threw him on the ground right near the Trident. Grasping it, Captain now had the Trident back but the leader was going to finish him off for good.

Captain then thought back to Antarctica and how the Trident destroyed that boat. Could it do the same thing to these bat-like creatures? There was only one way to find out.

Firmly grasping the Trident in his hands, Captain stood positioned ready and waited for the right moment. The leader made its attack move and it looked like Captain's end was near. Then, the Trident shot out a bolt like it did back in Antarctica and went slicing though the creature's belly. It made a blood-curling yell of intense pain and its body fell onto its back with a gaping hole though the chest.

All the other creatures stopped and seeing their leader lying dead they fled the scene. Captain took the time to make sure that the leader was really dead and not faking it.

"Is everyone alright?" Captain breathed heavily. "Yes we are," Wessy replied. Despite being attacked by greater numbers, Wessy, Joseph and Fraser managed to fend them while off Captain fought the leader.

"Alright, let's get going before something happens," Captain said, after what they had gone though. Closely following Captain, they left the chamber though another long tunnel before they once again entered into another cave even larger than the previous one and it had a lake-sized pool of water however it had a problem...their path to Atlantis ended.

"Wait, it ends here?" Fraser asked, unsure what was going. "It can't be," a frustrated Wessy said. "There must be another tunnel nearby that will lead into Atlantis. It can't possible end here."

Captain quickly surveyed the pool of water and said, "There might be a way but it looks like we'll have to take a swim under the water."

"Captain, I can't!!" Joseph shouted in fear. "Joseph, you have to," Captain ordered about. "It's the only way we can continue." "But I can't, I won't...`` Joseph begged. "We're not going anywhere till you do, Joseph. You need to stand up to your fear." Captain comforted.

But before Joseph said anything else, and without warning something splashed out of the water and targeted Joseph. Joseph had no time to react or do anything. The thing turned out to be a long, slimy tentacle that instantly grabbed him and wrapped around his body.

"Captain, hhheeelllpp!!!" Joseph cried as the tentacle pulled him away from Captain and the others and down into the pool of water. "What do we do?!" Fraser panicked.

Captain took his hat off his head and handed it to Wessy. "I'm going after him," Captain said seriously to get the beast. He slung a harpoon gun to his back and said, "Nobody else go in the water. Be prepared when I bring him back to the surface."

And with that, Captain ran towards the edge of the pool and made a spectular jump into the water.

Now of course Captain was a great swimmer but unlike what they done off the Coast of Australia they didn't have scuba gear and Captain could hold his breath for about 20 minutes but never longer than that. But his main concern now as he swam was how long could before Joseph would drown because after all Joseph feared to be in lakes, rivers, or oceans and had no swimming lessons meaning that he was more likely to drown.

In the not very clear water, Captain soon sighted Joseph in the tentacles trying to break free. Captain also had first glimpse of what caught Joseph. A giant squid that almost resembled the mythical Kraken a sea monster feared by sailors for generations since it was first told about.

Captain could also see that Joseph wasn't doing very well. Every attempt to escape made him use more oxygen in his lungs and his moves were slowing down. Captain then realized that he was beginning to drown and if he didn't do anything within the next minute or so, Joseph would die.

Taking aim at one of the tentacles, Captain fired two shots from the harpoon gun and nailed them. The creature let out a grunt noise and Captain fired another shot. The third time the monstrous squid released its grip on Joseph allowing his lifeless body to slowly sink to the bottom. Captain swam forward and grabbed a hold of Joseph.

The creature, now seeing Captain as a major pest, stretched out its tentacles to get Captain and Joseph. Captain fended back with the harpoon gun driving the tentacles away.

He quickly swam towards the surface hoping that there was still life in Joseph. Captain surfaced but Joseph was still unconscious. Captain towed the lifeless body towards shore where Wessy and Fraser awaited.

"He's not breathing," Captain said and Wessy lent a hand to pull Joseph's body on shore. "Try and get him breathing. I have unfinished business to do."

Before diving under again, Captain snatched a small package. Now back underwater, Captain had to finish off the squid before they could continue. But where was it...?

Suddenly the squid came out of nowhere and its tentacles reached out to capture Captain but he defended himself with the harpoon gun. Now his next plan was to get the squid to follow him. Captain dove deeper towards the bottom of this pool and soon after sighted two large pillars extending from the bottom all the way towards the surface. That's when he had an idea.

He swam in between the pillars with the tentacles of the squid still following him. Captain swam around each pillar with the tentacles following him.

His plan had worked! The squid in the process of trying to get Captain had tangled each of its tentacles on both pillars and was now stuck. Now to finish the final part of his plan.

Captain swam to the base of one of the pillars and got out the package which turned out to be powerful explosives with a timer. Captain planted the explosives on the pillar side and after setting the timer for 30 seconds swam off as fast as he could back to the surface because he knew what was going to happen.

The squid was left behind unable to free itself and awaiting a certain fate. Captain surfaced and swam towards the shore just when he heard Wessy shout, "He's breathing and recovering!"

Wessy had managed to get Joseph conscious and Joseph was coughing up water he'd got into his lungs. Just then, an explosion occurred underwater. The two massive pillars sticking out of the water began to topple over like building blocks followed with part of a collapse of the wall. Rocks and other bits fell into the pool splashing water.

"Are you alright, Joseph?" Captain asked in concern. "I...think...I...am," Joseph said, coughing. "Thank goodness you're all right there lad."

Just then, Fraser pointed and shouted, "Hey look!" Where a part of the wall once stood was now gone and it's in place was a tunnel! It had been covered by that part of the wall.

"Well, well..." Captain said, "What do you know? A secret tunnel in front of us the entire time covered by that rock. Now we can continue our journey."

Captain helped Joseph back on his own two legs and the four of them set off into the newly-opened tunnel not knowing what they would find next. As they traversed the tunnel Captain had an odd feeling that they were about to find Atlantis like they were getting closer to their goal.

They then entered another large cavern like the previous one except it had a surprise waiting. The four of them stopped instantly not believing the sight they saw. Everyone's jaws dropped and Wessy pointing and having trouble speaking but did anyway, "It's...it's the Lost City of Atlantis. We've found it at last!!"

Before them was the Lost City of Atlantis their destination.

Chapter eight, within the Lost City itself

The sight of the Lost City was overwhelming to Wessy. Everyone had laughed at him saying that Atlantis was a mere fairy tale. Wessy shed a tear of joy and removed his glasses for a moment.

Captain on the other hand was just as overwhelmed as Wessy was. His childhood flashed before him and how he dreamed as a young calf to find the Lost City and now it had come true.

The city looked exactly as what had been said about it. Buildings rose from the streets and its architecture reflected on ancient Greece and other cultures of the world. One building towered above the other buildings in the very centre of the city. Captain guessed that maybe that was where the power was hidden in.

"Captain, am I dreaming?" Joseph asked unsure if this was real. "No, Joseph, you aren't," Captain replied. "This is real. We may be the first people to have visited the Lost City since it sank into the depths of the ocean thousands of years ago."

"This is the archaeological find of the century imagine the look on everyone's faces when they see all of this," Wessy added. "Especially those who poked fun at me. I would love to see their jaws drop before them when they see Atlantis."

"Let's not forget that whoever has been trying to kill us hasn't given up yet," Captain warned. "Now that we've found the Lost City, we must locate the hidden power before he does and quick."

"I agree with Captain," Wessy replied showing his concern. "Let's head for that tall building."

The four of them climbed down a steep hill and within seconds found themselves in the streets of Atlantis.

"Just think thousands of years ago people roamed these streets going to shops and stalls," Wessy commented. "I wouldn't have wanted to end up like that guy," Joseph pointed to a skeleton lying on the corner of the street.

"There's something very odd about this skeleton," Captain said. "Look at it. The bones are weirdly twisted and not normal."

Captain was of course right. The bones were twisted in a way that didn't look formal. Even its tall bone wasn't right.

"Whoever this was must have been diseased," Joseph added. "I don't like the look of this," Fraser said worried.

Captain's thoughts were the same as what Fraser said. This surely wasn't a good sign. Could this be the effects of the unknown power?

"We should continue on," Wessy stated snapping Captain out of his thoughts. Wessy was right with whoever close behind they shouldn't waste precious time.

The streets of Atlantis were almost like a maze around the city. Since they were in the outside ring, Captain figured that they had to get to the inner ring. They stayed close together as to not get separated.

It took a while before they found an entrance into the second ring. In there they found a canal running around the ring filled with water and an ancient boat that still floated. Captain took control of it and floated along the canal passing weird fish figures on the wall. More the same skeletons were seen alongside the shores of the canal.

They stopped their boat when Wessy pointed out another entrance leading deeper into the centre of the city. Captain and the others debarked from the boat and entered. This time however there were no more passages going forward. Captain, Wessy, Joseph and Fraser had ended up in a large room with no other ways.

"This can't be right," Fraser pointed out. "We seemed to have reached a dead-end," Joseph said. "No, it must still go on," Wessy figured. "But why...?"

Captain thought back to the large cavern in Crete and how they passed through a wall. Could the same thing be here as well?

Captain began checking the walls for an opening but he was unsuccessful. The walls were solid and hid nothing.

"Hey, I don't suppose this fella could help," Fraser had said. Captain, Wessy and Joseph turned to see what looked like a large statue of an Atlantean robot that Fraser was starring at.

"Come on, Fraser, like a statue can help us," Joseph said against the idea. "I'm serious," Fraser defended. "Quit wasting your time on the..."

Suddenly the statue came to life cutting off Joseph's sentence. The robotic state began moving and Captain thought it was going to attack them but instead it crashed its way though the wall leaving a hole and plenty of dust everywhere.

Captain and the others coughed in the dust unable to see what happened.

"Hey, I think it's opened a new path for us," Fraser coughed. "Come on let's go!" Fraser dashed though the dust into the hole.

"Wait, Fraser!" Captain called out but he got a response from Fraser of "AAaaahhhhh!". Captain charged though the hole and found Fraser dangling from a cliff with a monstrous pit of bubbling lava below lighting up the massive cavern.

"Help!" Frasier cried out. He was hanging on for dear life with the lava below.

"Hang on, Fraser," Captain said. He bent down to pull Fraser up. Fraser held tightly onto Captain's hands as he used all his strength to pull him up and finally did.

"Everything all right, Captain?" Joseph asked and he and Wessy caught up with them. "Yes we are. Fraser almost fell to his death below," Captain replied then looked over the edge towards the lava and then saw the robot. The lava slowly consumed it and the machine sank in and disappeared.

"That could have been you if you had fallen down there," Captain remarked to Fraser. "Glad you're safe Fraser," Wessy added. "But I think we should continue on, gentlemen."

The path stretched over the lava like a bridge hundreds of feet above but unlike a bridge it had no railings so Captain, Wessy, Fraser and Joseph crossed it slowly and carefully.

It wasn't long before they found something else. Now they were in another lava cavern this time with stairs going every direction like a Labyrinth. Some of the stairs looked like they went nowhere while others in circles.

"Stay close everyone," Captain said. They could not afford to lose anyone in the maze they were about to enter.

Each of the stairs they climbed went to doorways and it was unknown which one to choose. Not knowing which to choose they decided to go though one. A few times they did end up back at their starting location but Captain and the others didn't give up. Eventually they had beaten the maze and continue on past more lava.

It was then they reached another lava chamber with something large in the middle of it looking like a coliseum with paths going across the lava. The structure rose towards the ceiling.

"I think we may be close to our goal," Wessy said. "Very close." Without saying anything, Captain and the others entered into the centre structure.

They had entered a room but there was something strange about it. It wasn't anything like they had gone though in their adventure.

"What was this room used for?" Joseph asked. "I have no idea," Captain replied wondering as well. "This has to be it," Wessy said in confidence. "Are you saying that this is where that so-called power is?" Captain questioned Wessy.

"I am positive that it is," Wessy replied again. "And right you are," a voice called out. There was then a bunch of cocking made at the same time. Captain knew what it was.

Several armed men surrounded them each with a gun pointed. In Captain's thoughts they had got into a trap set up for them.

"No one move," one of them said. "Or else it's lights out." "Just do what they say," Captain assured Fraser, Joseph and Wessy.

They could hear footsteps coming and entering the room.

"Christopher..." Captain angrily said.

Yes it was Christopher the one who financed the project. He stood there holding a pistol trained on them.

"It was you the entire time," Captain added. "Wait, you knew the entire time?!" Fraser shouted. "Yes I did," Captain replied to Fraser's shout out. "Ever since the attack in Halifax I somehow knew it was him. Joseph had suspicion that it was his doing and was right. I'd figure he was doing everything in his power to stop us."

"Yes, everything Captain has said is true," Christopher added still training his gun on them. "I'd figured you would be easy to take down but no I was wrong. I underestimated Captain's leadership. He is indeed a strong leader and will not allow anything to stop him. I then figured that I would use the four of you to find my prise and I thank you for it."

Fraser lunged for Christopher but Wessy held him back. "Very brave of you," Christopher remarked. "But also very foolish. You are lucky to have been stopped or else I would have killed on spot."

"You're after the power are you?" Wessy asked. "Yes I am," Christopher said with a smirk. "Tell me, do you know what it is? It has been something that men have searched for centuries ever since Plato wrote about Atlantis."

"This whole chamber was built for one reason only to turn mortals themselves into GODS!" Christopher exclaimed.

It was a frightening shock to Captain; the idea of becoming a god being all powerful and invincible.

"You are talking suicide," Captain warned. "Nonsense," Christopher answered back. "When I become a God I shall be everywhere rule everyone. All who oppose me will be incinerated in mere seconds.

"Now, if you don't want to lose your friends," Christopher began giving a signal to his men to aim their weapons at Joseph, Fraser and Wessy, "you will do as I say and place the Trident of Atlantis on that alter to start up the machine. Now, do it!"

Captain sighed. There was nothing he could do. He walked forward holding onto the Trident's staff and placed it on the altar. It was then that something strange began to happen. The room made sounds and partly lit up more. Captain and the others wondered what was going on.

Suddenly bolts of electricity struck around Christopher. His men slowly backed about not sure if this was a good idea. Then Christopher disappeared behind more bolts of electricity striking him.

Captain did not like the look of this and he was right. In a blinding flash, a strange being appeared looking very alien-like with red eyes. Captain and Wessy realized that it was Christopher only now he had become an all-powerful god.

Christopher let out an evil laugh then began to fly around the room. His men seeing how their leader became an insane god fled leaving Captain and the others.

"What have we done?" Fraser shouted. "We've created a monster that we must destroy before he gets out!" Captain replied. Understanding Captain's words, Christopher flew bolts of electricity at Captain throwing him against a wall.

"Captain!" Joseph exclaimed. Joseph, Fraser, and Wessy began firing their guns at Christopher but the bullets did no harm to him. Pleased to see that he was invincible, Christopher began attacking them.

Captain couldn't bear to see his friends be destroyed. He had to figure out a way to defeat Christopher but how? Now that he was a god he was invincible to all their attacks meaning that there was no way to defeat him or is there.

Captain looked at the Trident on the altar then suddenly he had an idea.

_The Trident of Atlantis! It's his weakness. If I can somehow destroy the Trident then he'll be wiped out forever..._Captain thought. He decided to put his plan into action.

Captain got up and then dashed for the Trident. Seeing what Captain was doing, Christopher tried to stop him with more bolts of electricity but Captain managed to dodge him. Captain pulled the Trident out from the altar then proceeded to the next part of his plan which involved a nearby lava pit.

Captain took aim with the Trident and said, "To hell with you," and then threw it like a javelin right into the lava pit. Christopher tried to prevent the Trident from falling into the lava pit but it was too late.

The prongs with the purple crystals struck first into the lava and slowly the lava began to consume the Trident. As it did, sparks of magic started sprinkling into the lava.

"NNNNOOOOO!!" Christopher shouted in his god-like voice. The next thing he blew up leaving no traces left. The staff of the Trident of Atlantis sank more into the lava until it finally disappeared.

Captain let out a sigh of relieve. It was finally over. Captain had defeated Christopher and saved the world from massive destruction and utter chaos.

"You did it," Fraser said to Captain. "Yes, I did," Captain replied breathing heavily. "So that was his weakness?" Joseph asked. "Yes it was, Joseph. When Christopher became a god he was tied to the Trident of Atlantis and by destroying it destroyed him as well." Wessy explained.

But then, their conservation was interrupted when the whole place began to shake violently. Cracks began forming everywhere on the walls, ceiling and the floor. "Wh-what's going on?" Fraser said.

Captain saw a bright orange light in the cracks in the floor and knew what it was.

"We have to get out of here now before this whole place explodes like a bomb!!" Captain replied.

Without saying anything else, Wessy, Fraser and Joseph followed Captain. They ran out of the coliseum with bits of rock coming down. They went along the same path they'd taken as more cracks appeared on the walls, ceiling and floors. They reached back into the tunnel leaving the city to crumble and getting chased by lava and eventually got back into the cavern with the submersible.

"GO, GO, GO!!" Captain shouted as they entered though the hatch on the sub. Seeing how the lava almost reached them, Captain using an axe and chopped the rope that was anchoring the sub. Once done he got it and at the controls fired up the engines and got the sub diving just as the lava began pouring into the cavern.

He guided the submersible back into the open sea and out of the entrance of Atlantis and then blew the water out of the tanks to make the craft lighter and it began it's ascend to the surface. They hadn't noticed that a volcano was growing right in the spot where Atlantis was.

At last the submersible surfaced on the calm Mediterranean Sea. The sun was setting over the sea and the skies were an orange colour. Captain then opened the hatch and climbed out.

"Look at that," Captain said. Wessy, Fraser and Joseph followed and the four of them saw the erupting volcano spewing hot ash and clouds of smoke with lava flowing.

"That is quite the sight," Joseph remarked. But then the volcano by surprise stopped erupting and began to sink back into the depths of the sea leaving the plume smoke over its spot.

"Then again maybe not," Wessy added. "Well, gentlemen, it looks like our adventure is over at last," Captain said. "But who's going to come and rescue us?" Fraser asked in concern. "Oh don't worry I've radioed ahead and a ship is on its way to pick us up," Captain answered Fraser's worry.

"Thank you," someone said. Captain and the other turned and to their surprise it was the Atlantean warrior that Wessy and Captain had seen on a picture in the Coral Sea. The orca warrior smiled at them then faded away.

"Was...was that him?" Fraser questioned. "I think it was," Captain replied, surprised as Fraser was. The sky was getting darker.

The end of the adventure

One month later

Somewhere in Arizona, USA

Wessy had returned back to his home in Arizona after their adventure. He could relax now that he'd found the Lost City but still couldn't prove it was real to those who laughed at him because the evidence he had was destroyed when the Lost City became engulfed in lava. But seeing Atlantis itself was enough evidence for him.

One day he went to his mailbox to collect the week's mail and by surprise one of the letters addressed to him was from Captain. The envelope had been stamped with the official mark that it was delivered by Royal Mail indicating that it came from Captain's vessel, RMS Canada.

As soon as Wessy got home he opened the envelope and pulled the letter out and began reading it to himself:

Dear Wessy,

_I hope things are going well for you. It was quite the adventure with you, Fraser, and Joseph. Never had I thought in my years as a captain that I would search for the mythical Lost City of Atlantis. _

There have been a lot of questions of Christopher's disappearance. I just told them that he died in a diving accident in the Mediterranean Sea. It's better off with that than becoming a power mad god. Good news too by the way. The repairs on my ship have been completed and she's back to service where right now in my private room I am writing this letter to you. Some of my crew members asked where I had gone and I replied, 'I went on a little vacation in the Mediterranean Sea.'.

_Joseph has returned to being the wireless operator onboard and Fraser has even joined as a part of the RMS Canada's crew. I gave a warm welcome to him as well. I hope he enjoys his time onboard on the Atlantic. _

Well, I must go now. I have duties to do and this was the only time I could write this letter. Sometimes it isn't easy being captain but I have to accept it.

Take care,

"Captain" Johnson Lusitania Smith

_P.S. We have both accomplished our dreams, thanks. _

Wessy folded up the letter and smiled. He and Captain had accomplished their goal to find the Lost City of Atlantis and who knows maybe someday they'll go on another fantastic adventure and across the US in the mid-Atlantic the RMS Canada steamed east towards Europe with Captain once again on her bridge doing his duties. While peering though his binoculars he thought of Wessy and their adventure and smiled to himself.

The end