didn’t want to say this, but I think Serena will be here too.”
Jack sat up straight in his seat. His heart beat faster. He imagined himself holding her hand and the sound of her soft voice.
“I suppose I could put some of my plans here on hold,” Jack joked.
“Thought that might interest you,” Javi shot back, sarcastically.
“So when do you want me out there?”
“You’re booked on the six o ’clock flight tomorrow morning,” Javi shot back quickly.
“Pretty sure of yourself, huh?” Jack teased.
“It was touch and go there for a while, but I was sure you’d make the right choice,” he replied boldly.
Jack laughed at Javier’s confidence.
“Ok Javi, see you in a couple of days,” he responded, ending the conversation.
----- ----- ----- -----
Two days later…
Cythera, Greece: Kithira Island National Airport
Jack stepped from the last stair leading off the twin engine commuter airliner and onto the hot tarmac. He felt the heat radiating up and into his face, causing him to immediately sweat.
“Welcome to Greece,” he sneered aloud.
From inside the small airport terminal, Javi Arista watched for Jack through the windows. As several people stepped out of Jack’s path, Javi caught a clear shot of his brawny six foot two frame. He smiled as he noticed Jack’s clean shaven face.
Javi stepped through the rear door of the terminal that lead to the airport parking area. As Jack approached, he flashed a great smile.
Jack spotted the short balding man in his fifties step through the rear door. Instantly, he recognized Javi as he approached.
“Looks like someone has put on a little weight,” Jack teased loudly.
“And looks like someone’s brown hair has gotten lighter. Lounging in the sun are we? And what happened to the goatee?” Javi teased.
Jack reached up and rubbed his bare chin.
“My mom said I was beginning to look like a gangster,” he joked.
The two stopped just feet from each other. Jack dropped his duffle bag, then leaned in and hugged his friend.
“Good to see you again,” Javi said in jovial tone.
“Back attacha. What’s it been, a year?”
“A little over. And wait till you see the progress on the pyramid,” Javi said enthusiastically.
“Impressive?” Jack asked. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “So what do you think? Do you think the vault is Zeus’ burial chamber?”
“It makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, we found two golden statues inside the pyramid: one of Zeus and one of Poseidon. Most of the hieroglyphics are dedicated to both those men, yet we’ve only found one burial chamber: Poseidon’s. If I had to guess, the chamber I think I’ve found has to be Zeus’.”
“So you haven’t actually broken into the chamber yet?”
“Not yet. Like before, we ran our scans from the surface and straight down from inside Poseidon’s tomb. The void I found appears to be roughly thirty of so feet below the base level of the pyramid. From the initial data, it also appears we’re seeing large metallic objects inside the chamber.”
“Gold,” Jack speculated.
“Yeah, it kind of looks that way,” Javi responded in positive tone.
“So have you found a way in yet?”
“Not quite yet. We think we’ve found a hallway but we’re not sure yet,” Javi responded cryptically.
“It’s not showing up on your scan?” Jack asked with suspicion.
“No, it’s showing up alright,” he responded, still evasive.
“So what’s the problem?”
“There’s a huge wall blocking the corridor,” Javi stated with reluctance.
“Perfect! So what you’re telling me is no one has cleared away the booby traps, which means we have our work cut out for us,” Jack responded with apprehension. “Just what I need to get back into the swing of things… a little death defying danger.”
“I knew you’d like it,” Javi teased.
----- ----- ----- -----
Javi drove to his rented stone cottage overlooking the city of Atlantis.