Gates of Neptune (5 page)

Jere saw their surprise and said, “Now that we're all here, let me introduce you. Your Majesties, I present to you the Seven Sleepers.” She called off their names and then said, “I would like for you to meet my parents, King Cosmos and Queen Mab.”

The news that Jere was the princess of the kingdom of Atlantis took Sarah off guard. She saw the other Sleepers stare in surprise too.

Jere nodded, saying, “It has been my great pleasure to bring you to my father's kingdom. Your Majesty, would you greet our guests?”

King Cosmos was a big man with pale skin, a long white beard, and wise old eyes. He wore a sea-green robe, also with a dolphin over the breast, and on his head was a crown. Queen Mab was obviously younger. Her dark hair was graying, but she had fine eyes, and she smiled at them.

King Cosmos said, “You are welcome to our kingdom. We were concerned about you.”

Queen Mab had a more gentle voice. She said, “We will eat now, and then later we will talk.”

The Sleepers never forgot that meal. Most of the food, they were told, was taken from the sea. The salad was made from seaweed that tasted as delicious as anything Sarah had ever eaten. There was a soup made from turtle, and steaks from red snapper. There were even desserts at the end of the meal. She couldn't imagine where they had come from.

When the meal was over, King Cosmos nodded at them and said, “It would please us to hear your histories.”

All the group looked at Joshua, who stood to his feet. “Your Majesty, I am not sure exactly what you mean.”

“Our daughter has told us somewhat of your story, but we must know more, for we are in a time of trouble here in Atlantis. Begin at the beginning, if you will.”

So Josh began back at the time when he was on the old earth, which seemed long, long ago. He told how the Sleepers had been put in time capsules, how he had been awakened first, and then how he'd found the others, who were scattered over the earth. Finally he related how he had to fight the armies of the Sanhedrin, and especially Elmas, the Chief Interrogator.

Josh ended by saying, “We barely escaped death before we found the underground river. But we have been led, I'm bound to say, Your Majesty, by Goel.”

At the name of Goel, the king and queen both smiled.

Queen Mab said, “I am glad that you have been in such capable hands.”

King Cosmos said, “Yes, when the Princess Jere told us of her vision and how she had been instructed by Goel to find you, I was not certain about it. But now we are glad that you have been brought to us.”

“Father,” Jere said, “perhaps it might be well if you explained what is happening in our kingdom.”

“Of course.” A gloomy look crossed the king's face. “As you know, the dark powers of Elmas, and others even worse, are striving to overcome the earth. There is a house that is rising called the House of Goel. Do you know of this?”

“Yes, sire,” Josh said instantly. “We know of it and of the legends that concern the Seven Sleepers and that at one time the House of Goel will be filled.”

“Very true, very true,” King Cosmos said, “but we have had a revolution here in our kingdom of Atlantis.”

“A revolution?” Josh asked.

“Yes.”

The king and queen both looked downcast, and Jere was so disturbed that she rose and walked away to look out a porthole.

Sarah's sharp eyes saw this and knew there was
more to come. “What sort of revolution, Your Majesty?” she asked.

“Enough for now to say that we are under siege and that one very close and dear to us has led our kingdom into rebellion. But tomorrow you will meet with the elders of Atlantis, and then you will know all. Now I assign to our nephew Valar the keeping of all of you. Valar,” he said, “see that our guests are well-treated and bring them to the meeting of the elders in the morning.”

The king rose with the queen and walked out of the room. All the Sleepers stood and bowed as they passed by. As soon as they were gone, Valar said, “Well, I am your host, it seems, and I will do my best to make you feel at home.” He moved to put his hands on the arms of Sarah and Abbey. “If you will come this way, I will show you around the castle.”

“He sure knows how to make a move on the ladies, don't he now?” Reb grinned. “He made straight for those girls like a hog for slop.”

Despite his flash of jealousy, Josh had to grin at the way Reb put it. “Well, he's got good taste—you can say that much for him. Come on now, I don't want to miss any of this.”

J
osh, I can't believe you talked to me like that!” Sarah glared.

Josh had come to her room and, finding her alone, had immediately said, “Sarah, I'm ashamed of the way you're behaving.” He knew there was anger and disappointment in his face.

“Behaving about what?”

“About that Valar fellow.”

And it was clear all at once that Sarah thought Josh was jealous. She had snapped back angrily, and now she stared at him, her face rather pale.

Josh calmed himself. “Look, Sarah, you know we've been good friends, not just here but in Oldworld. You and I have been together longer than any of the others, and I hate to see you making such a spectacle out of yourself.”

“Spectacle? Is that what you call it?” Her mouth grew tight, and she drew her shoulders up. “I would call it behaving politely.” And then she added spitefully, “Something I think you might study, Joshua Adams.”

“Politely? That's a hot one,” Josh shot back. He shook his head angrily. “You're no better than Abbey. You've always been critical of her because she hung on Dave and me, and now you're doing the very same thing with this fellow.”

“Jealous, that's what you are. Jealous,” Sarah lashed out. “And as for hanging onto you, as you call it, I don't think you'll have to worry about that anymore.”

“Fine with me!” Josh's voice trembled slightly, for,
although he was angry with Sarah, he had a very special feeling for her. Now he realized that he had handled things awkwardly and said to himself,
Why can't I ever do anything right? I should have gotten Dave or Reb or somebody else to talk to her. Now she'll hate me forever!

He hoped he let none of this show in his face and turned to go. Just as he reached the door, there was a knock. He opened it.

And there stood Valar. “Oh, hello, Joshua. I've come to escort all of you to the Council meeting.”

“I'm glad you came for all of us,” Josh said pointedly. “I'll call the others, and you can take all of us to the Council meeting right away.”

Sarah glared again. Stepping forward she took Valar's arm and smiled up at him. “I'm ready, Valar.”

“Well, come along, then,” he said. “You bring the others, Josh.”

“All right,” Josh snapped and quickly moved down the hall knocking on the other doors.

When they were all in the hall, Dave looked down the passageway and saw Valar and Sarah walking along, engaged in deep conversation. “Well—” he grinned “—I guess we know who's important around here. At least to Valar.”

“He came down to show
all of us
to the council,” Josh growled, “but I guess we'll have to get there the best way we can.”

They followed Valar and Sarah along the corridor, which made several turns, and passed through several large rooms. Finally, they came to a door.

Valar said, “They are expecting you.”

Sarah smiled. “Thank you, Valar.”

“Why, you're welcome, Sarah. Now, I think you'd better go in.”

* * *

When they entered, Sarah looked around quickly. Aware that Josh was furious with her, she did not meet his eyes. The room, she saw, was not particularly large. There was a table shaped like a half moon, and around the outer edge sat six men dressed in green robes. All wore the sign of the dolphin on medallions around their necks. Across from them, ten feet away on a low dais, King Cosmos sat, Queen Mab to his right and Princess Jere to his left.

The king said at once, “I wanted my brethren to ask these young people to our Council, for it is clear that somehow they are tied in with the destiny of our poor country. They are the servants of Goel.”

He waved to the right, and the Seven Sleepers moved in the direction of the gesture, where seven chairs waited for them. Valar moved with them and took his stance behind Sarah, watching the proceedings.

Sarah looked up at him, thinking of what he had told her. She was not sure the others knew that Valar was the son of the king's only brother. She thought suddenly,
It seems to me
—
if things work here like they do in some countries
—
some day Valar might be king of Atlantis.

But she had no time to think further about that for King Cosmos said, “I have called this council because our country is in a critical hour. I ask you, Womar, Chief of the Council, to speak to these young people and then to all of us concerning the situation.”

A tall man, strong but pale and past his first youth, rose. He had a closely trimmed beard, shot through with silver, piercing black eyes, and a mouth like a steel trap. There was a sternness in him that one saw in men from time to time, but not cruelty.

Sarah overheard Josh murmur to Dave, “Not a man I'd like to cross.”

Dave nodded, and the two of them began to listen carefully.

“For generations,” Womar said, “our nation has been ruled by monarchs and by the Council of Elders. Throughout all of our history, we have had one goal—to keep our honor bright.” He frowned suddenly and let his words fall slowly. “Those who are dishonorable are given the choice of leaving—or death.”

He turned his head suddenly and, Sarah thought, somehow seemed to look directly into the eyes of each Sleeper. “It is highly painful for me to speak of this matter. For many months we have been aware that the Dark Power desires to rule our kingdom under the sea. He wants to control the ocean, but he cannot unless he controls Atlantis. He tried force, but we easily drove the servants of the Dark Lord away.”

He paused, and there was a hollow silence. Sarah watched intently the workings of his face. Then Womar shook his head sadly and lowered his voice. “We were betrayed by one trusted by us all.”

A breeze seemed to sway the Council. Glancing upward, Sarah saw that the king and the queen—and especially Jere—were disturbed.

“The Lord High Admiral Aramis, the favorite of the elders—and of the royal family—fell under the sway of the Dark Lord. He was the best of us all, the brightest star in our sky. But he led a revolt against the crown, and now, at any moment, we look for him to come with his powerful navy to storm Atlantis.”

One of the elders, a tall, thin man, asked, “Have our scouts reported anything new, Chief Elder Womar?”

“Only that Aramis has built for himself a mighty
structure—or rather I should say he has taken over that which King Cosmos built.”

Cosmos stared at him. “You mean he has taken the Citadel of Neptune?”

“I fear so, Your Majesty. I grieve to make this report, for I know that this is not pleasant for you to hear.”

The king looked toward the Seven Sleepers and said slowly, “The Citadel of Neptune has been the dream of my heart. I love Atlantis, but it grows crowded, and we need more room for our people. So it has been my delight to build a new city, a more modern one, that will house many of our people. It is the finest thing that we in Atlantis have ever built.”

He went on to describe the Citadel of Neptune, which sounded very modern to Sarah.
It sounds like something out of a comic strip
—
a city built under the sea. But after seeing this place, I don't doubt anything.

Womar continued. “He has established a powerful base at the Citadel and is even now, our scouts have told us, training a huge navy.” He shrugged. “Well, perhaps not huge, but well-trained.”

As Womar spoke of Aramis, Sarah noticed that Jere had become highly upset. Her face grew tense, and finally she dropped her head and stared at the floor.

Womar said, “I have asked Lord Deneor, our War Admiral, to speak.”

Lord Deneor was an elderly man indeed. He was not tall and did not appear strong, and he certainly was past his prime. Of all the elders, he was not the man Sarah would have chosen to be War Admiral, for he was past the days of leading men into battle.

Elder Lord Deneor stood and began to speak, his voice clear but not strong. “Your Majesties, and my fellow elders of the Council, none here grieves more than I at
the revolt of the Lord High Admiral, as he was once called—Aramis. We all loved him and trusted him.”

He lowered his eyes and seemed unable to speak for a moment. “I poured into him all the lore that I have learned over many years—from all of the battles that have taken place in the past. All of the strategy, all of the wisdom, such as I had, I poured into his young mind. And it had been my joy to see him one day take his place as Lord High Admiral.” Here he glanced at the royalty, hesitated, and said, “Or even higher, perhaps.”