The Hunt For Atlantis

“Okay,” she said, “I’m in. So, when do we set off?”

Frost smiled. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“I like your thinking,” said Nina, smiling back. “Just because Atlantis has waited for eleven thousand years doesn’t mean we should wait.”

“Then,” said Kari, “let’s get you started.”

FOUR

Iran

Nina rubbed irritably at her arm. “This still hurts.” “You don’t want to get some weird Middle Eastern disease, do you?” Chase asked, amused. “Better safe than sorry.”

“I know that. It’s just uncomfortable, that’s all.” The vaccination had been an unwelcome part of the deal, administered in the antiseptic environs of the biolab. While less painful than others she’d had in the past, it seemed to take an age for the little bead of blood to dry up.

“That was nothing! Christ, you should have seen some of the shots I got in the SASS. Needles this big.” He held his hands eight inches apart. “And you don’t want to know where they stuck ’me.”

The Gulfstream had just passed over the Black Sea and Turkey on its way to Iran. It hadn’t taken a direct route from Norway, instead detouring to Prague to pick up another passenger. In the plane with Nina, Chase and Kari-who sat on her own at the back of the cabin working on a laptop-was another man, whom Chase had introduced as Hugo Castile. From the way they mocked each other, it was clear they were old friends.

“Yes, Edward and I have known each other for a long time,” the long-faced, ebullient European-French, Nina thought, from his accent-confirmed when she asked. “We worked together on many special joint operations for NATO. Strictly hush-hush, as you say,” he added, tapping the side of his beaky nose.

“So you were in the French army?”

Unlike on a commercial airliner, the seats on the private jet faced each other across the aisle. Castile drew himself up in his with a look of great outrage, one fist clenched against his chest. “French? Please! I am Belgian, Madame!”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t realize,” Nina said in hurried apology, before it dawned on her that Chase was laughing. Castillo’s face cracked into a smile. “Wait, are you making fun of me?”

“Just taking the piss,” said Chase with a teasing grin. “Hugo’s been doing his ‘French? ’Own dare you!’ routine for years. I mean, he comes from Belgium, it’s the only gimmick he’s got.”

“English philistine,” Castile sniffed. He took a polished red apple from a jacket pocket and examined it carefully before taking a bite.

“So, what can I expect in Iran, Mr. Chase?” Nina asked.

“Call me Eddie.” His expression became businesslike. “Hopefully you shouldn’t have to deal too much with the locals. Should be a straightforward job: in, meet Ajar, decide if this thing’s real, then the boss,” he nodded at Kari, still occupied with her computer, “transfers the money, and out. That’s if everything’s legit.”

“And if it’s not?”

He patted his leather jacket, which was draped over the arm of his seat. The butt of his pistol was visible inside it. “Then there’ll be trouble. Don’t worry, though, we should be okay. I’ll watch out for you, Doc.”

“We will watch out for you,” corrected Castile, mouth full of apple.

“Thanks,” Nina said, keeping her concerns to herself.

Kari’s laptop chimed. She regarded the screen with surprise, then her blue eyes flicked up and caught Nina’s gaze for a moment before turning back to the computer. She quickly typed something, firmly tapped the return key, then closed the laptop and moved to the empty seat facing Nina.

“Something wrong?” Nina asked.

“No-just an e-mail from my father, something I wasn’t expecting. Nothing to worry about, though-in fact, it’s good news. But it’s not important right now, so…” She leaned forward, smiling for the first time since Nina had met her and revealing flawless white teeth. “I thought I should apologize to you, Dr. Wilde.”

“For what?”

“I haven’t been the best hostess. I’ve been preoccupied, with my work for the foundation, with this expedition… I’m sorry if I’ve come across as cold and distant.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” Nina assured her. “You’re very busy, I’m sure you’ve got a lot of things all going on at once.”

“Not anymore. From now on, I’m devoting all of my attention to you and this mission. I want it to be a success-and I also want to make sure that you stay safe.”

“Thanks,” said Nina, smiling back. Then Kari glanced at Chase.

“Mr. Chase,” she said, fixing him with a disapproving look, “are you trying to look down my top?”

Nina stifled a giggle, while Castile covered his own amusement by taking a hurried bite from his apple. Chase had undeniably been caught in the act, but rather than try to deny it, he simply sat back and raised an eyebrow. “If I can do it, then so can any Iranian blokes who see you, and they’re a bit funny about women in sexy clothes. We don’t want to draw any more attention than we have to. I was just thinking it’s probably worth you changing into something a bit more frumpy before we land.”

Kari was wearing a tight white top and leather jeans similar to the ones she’d had on at Ravnsfjord. “You have a point. Fortunately, I came prepared.”

“The doc here’s okay, though. Just needs a coat.”

Nina glared at him. “Are you saying I look frumpy, Mr. Chase?” She would have used the word “modest” or “practical” to describe her own outfit of jeans, sweatshirt and sturdy boots.

“You look fine,” Kari grinned, standing. “If you need anything, just ask me.” She went into the rear compartment.

Castile finished his apple. “Ah, England,” he announced. “A country of the charming, the sophisticated, the romantic. And there’s also Edward Chase.”

“Ah, sod off, Hugo.”

Castile flicked his apple core at him, which Chase effortlessly caught, his hand snapping up like a striking snake.

“Is he always like this?” Nina asked Castile.

“I’m afraid so.”

“And the ladies love it that way,” said Chase, dropping the apple core into his empty water glass. Castile tutted and rolled his eyes. Chase checked his watch, then stretched out in his seat.

“Getting comfortable?” Nina asked.

“Just making the most of it,” he replied. “We’ll be landing in half an hour. And I bet you the ride’s not going to be nearly this smooth once we’re on the ground.”

Chase was certainly right about that, Nina thought. The Land Rover taking them to their meeting with Failed Ajar had seen better days, and the road beneath it apparently had never seen a good day in its entire life.

The Gulfstream landed at the airport serving the Iranian city of Esfah?n, in the Zagros mountains on the country’s western side. Though the group had no trouble getting through customs, even when Nina presented her American passport-it turned out that the Frost Foundation had provided considerable aid following the devastating