I got up very early the next morning. Yesterday’s events had angered me and worn me out at the same time. But now it was back to business. First I ran a few miles. Then I returned to the mansion and practiced my moves for an hour. After that I showered and changed. The meeting with Whitmore and Rourke was that day. Of course, I saw Adrienne in the hall as soon as I stepped out of my room.
“Good morning,” she said. She was dressed in a business suit…very formal.
“Where are you off to?” I asked.
“Well, grandfather told me that he was having a meeting this morning with you. He said that it was business. I told him that it was fine. There’s a seminar today all about archaeological finds. It lasts for the whole day and runs into the evening too. I figured that I’d go because you’re busy and I’d rather do that than sit around all day. Besides, it would probably bore you.”
I laughed. “You know me well already. What time is the seminar over? I’ll pick you up.”
“It ends around nine o’clock.”
“I’ll see you then?”
“Yes. See you later!” she walked away.
I rolled my eyes. That girl and her archaeology…then I checked my watch. I was going to be late if I didn’t move fast. I managed to make it in time. Whitmore was there along with Rourke. We sat in one of the mansion’s large studies.
“Chess?” Rourke said dryly.
“Maybe later. You know I’ll beat you,” I replied.
“All right you two,” Whitmore said. I noticed that he had that strange Shepherd’s Journal with him. “I’ve been organizing this for months now. I am very serious about this trip to Atlantis. I want you all to find that city and expose its wonders to the world.”
“Mr. Whitmore, does that journal hold the key? Are you certain that it won’t lead us to our deaths?” Rourke asked.
“I am certain, Rourke. Thaddeus Thatch and I had long discussions about this book when he was still alive. And his grandson, Milo, can read the language.”
“And where does that put us?” Rourke continued.
“Old Thatch once told me that Atlantis had a power source. Look here…” Whitmore turned to a spot in the book and showed it to us. The writing on the page was written in a strange dialect, but the pictures clearly showed some sort of crystal with people praising it.
“It’s a crystal?” I asked.
“Yes. It is said to have an unknown, but strong power to it. I’d like to recover it so that we can maybe display it in one of our museums. It would be a great addition!”
“May I see the book?” Rourke asked.
Whitmore handed him the book and he began to study it. Meanwhile, I spoke to Whitmore. “You’re willing to risk everything…money, a huge crew, expensive machinery, on a myth?”
He looked me straight in the eye. “Helga, you know that Thaddeus was very serious about this. He wouldn’t pursue it if he thought it was a myth.” I sighed. I didn’t agree with that, but I figured that it was no use to argue it.
“When would this expedition take place?” I asked.
“A month.” “A month! I thought you needed more time!”
“No, everything seems to be going as planned. Looks like we’ll be able to go sooner than I expected.”
“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted. We looked to see one of the mansion’s many servants. “Mr. Whitmore, you’ve got a call.”
“I’ll take it now. Would you excuse me?”
“Yes, sir.”
Whitmore left the room. I looked over Rourke’s shoulder. “You seem to be very interested in that,” I remarked.
“Power, Lieutenant, think of the power!”
“What?”
He looked at me, a wild look in his eyes. “I can’t read this gibberish, but from what the pictures indicate… there’s a huge payday waiting for us in Atlantis.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
He smiled, a devious plot running through his mind. “If we get that crystal, we’ll be the most powerful people in the world! It’ll be like old times eh, Lieutenant?”
“Not interested.”
He stood up and grasped my arm. “What did you say?”
“I’m not interested. Look, Commander, we’ve been through this. I haven’t done what you’re suggesting since Christopher’s death. I’m not going to start again now.”
He frowned. “Soft…I knew you were becoming soft. It’s Whitmore’s granddaughter isn’t it?”
“No.”
He let go of my arm. “When an obstacle stands in my way, it must be eliminated.” He shot a look at me. “And I will eliminate all obstacles.”
I was stunned. I couldn’t say a word. Rourke knew better than to go after Whitmore’s granddaughter…or did he?