Curse of Atlantis Read Online Free Page A

saying I am, but mind you if I were, I’d have to say dinner and wine equals a date,” Jack joked again.
    “Clearly you have not read the Helsinki Manifesto of 1986 which clearly states… and I quote: No social function shall be deemed a date unless affection is passed between the two parties,” Serena responded, trying to sound authoritative.
    “Ok, you got me. I haven’t read the Helsinki Manifesto, but be warned, I’ll be watching you very closely. If I see any affection of any kind, I’m classifying this as a date,” Jack acquiesced.
    “I don’t see a problem here. We’ll be talking business anyway. Burt Samuelson has been running into some red tape with the Grecian government. It looks like we’ll be delayed a bit until he squares that away.”
    “What? I thought it was a done deal? When did he find this out?” Jack asked, feeling a bit frustrated.
     
    “Today… Sorry Jack, I tried to get ahold of you before you left, but you must have turned off you r phone already,” Serena replied, apologetically.
    “Any idea how long it will be before they approve our permits?” Jack pressed further.
    “It really shouldn’t be long. He has a lot of clout and connections in the archeological community,” Serena responded confidently.
    “Boy, I sure hope it doesn’t take long. I took a six - month leave of absence from my job. I’d hate to have that run out before we even started to dig . I’m sure my boss wouldn’t give me an extension. You wouldn’t believe the time I had getting that time off, especially after only being back to work for three months,” he explained.
    “Yeah, we missed you down here,” Serena replied nonchalantly.
    “AH HA! You missed me… that’s affection and I’m officially calling this a date,” Jack blurted out in joking fashion.
    “Jack… you’re impossible,” Serena said with a smile.
    “It’s almost like you’re blaming me for trying,” he returned.
    “Well, one thing’s for sure… you are persistent.”
    “So then, is this a date?”
    Serena thought about her answer. With a flirtatious smile, she replied, “It’s a meeting.”
    ~~~~~  ~~~~~  ~~~~~
    Moscow  
     
    Sitting in his ornately decorated office, Nicolae read the last of his paperwork, then sat back in his Italian leather chair and rested his eyes. Letting his mind wander briefly, a smile crossed his face. Opening his eyes, he sat forward and opened his hand- carved mahogany desk. Reaching inside, he located a small button hidden from view and depressed the switch. Instantly, an oak panel popped out from the wall on the far side of the room. With an avaricious grin, he stood and hurried over to the door.
    Nicolae opened the hidden panel and felt the rush of cool air on his face. He stepped into a dimly lit hallway and closed the door behind him. Within a few steps, the hallway opened up into large a temperature - controlled room. Rubbing his hand against a cedar panel, he found a switch on the wall and turned on the low-intensity lighting. As the room came to life, Nicolae stood in awe of the treasures that surrounded him. Intricately designed glass shelves lined the walls and cradled the rare antiquities he obtained through illegal and , many times, deadly transactions.
    Scanning the room , his eyes gleamed with excitement as he moved from Egyptian golden statues to ancient scrolls from Alexandra; from rare human fossils to early pottery from the Ming dynasty. In the center of the room, there were lighted tables and cabinets that housed rare jewels, ancient weaponry, as well as a rare Stradivarius violin. He walked the room quietly and stared at his treasures, his mind visualizing the kings and artisans; the musicians and warriors that were once a part of its history when new. Moving from piece to piece, the ugly world outside the room quickly vanished and in its place was peace and inspiration.
    Nicolae moved around to the back of the room and stopped. In a far corner, a custom - built altar