“Are you ready, Nina?” she asked.
“I don’t know…” Nina shot an aggrieved look at the Atlantean artifact, which was surrounded by her notes beneath an illuminated magnifying lens. “I’ve done as much as I can, but it’s not enough. I still can’t translate some of the symbols. Why, is your father waiting for me?”
Kari nodded, then smiled. “But don’t worry. You’re one of the few people in the world he’s willing to wait upon.”
“Well, I’m honored, but it doesn’t make me any less nervous.”
“There’s no reason to be nervous. You’re already closer to finding Atlantis than anyone since the ancient Athenians.”
“Yeah, and look what I’ve been through-what
“Come on,” Kari said reassuringly, “let’s tell my father what you’ve found out.”
Nina picked up the artifact and Kari led her into the adjoining room, a lounge at the center of the suite. Chase lurked near the door, his jacket off and his Wildey’s shoulder holster in plain sight. Castille was absent; Nina suspected he was guarding the corridor outside. “Hi, Doc,” Chase said cheerfully. He nodded at the top-of-the-line laptop sitting on a table. “Hope you’ve got your makeup on, you’re going to be on camera.”
“Oh, we’re videoconferencing?”
“My father likes to talk face to face, even when he can’t do so literally,” said Kari. “Come on, sit down. Do you want anything?”
“No thanks.” Although she wouldn’t have minded a drink to settle her nerves.
Nina sat in front of the laptop, Kari joining her and tapping a key on the computer. The screen came to life, revealing Kristian Frost in his office. “Dr. Wilde! I’m glad to see you again!”
“I’m glad to be seen!” Nina told him. “It was a bit more… well,
“So I heard. Were there any problems getting out of Iran?”
“Nothing serious,” said Kari. “Mr. Chase’s local contacts got us back to Esfah?n, and the foundation’s influence with the government let us clear the country unchecked.”
“And Hajjar?”
“Dead.”
Frost nodded. “Good. A shame about the ten million dollars, but it’s a small price to pay.” His face became eager. “So, Dr. Wilde. Please tell me what you have found.”
Nina cleared her throat. “Well, I’m afraid it’s not a direct route to Atlantis, unfortunately. But it’s definitely a map of some kind.” She held up the metal bar, turning it to the laptop’s camera. “The line running down its length represents a river-the Glozel word is unmistakable. And there are other markings, which I’ve been able to partially translate.” She checked her notes. “‘Begin from north mouth of’ the something ‘river. Seven, south, west. Follow course to city of,’ um, something. ‘There to find…’ I’m afraid that’s all I’ve got so far. But these markings to each side, I think they show the number of tributaries you have to pass to reach the destination. Four on the left, seven on the right, and so on.”
Frost was intrigued. “I take it the words you can’t translate are not Glozel.”
“No. They’re actually more like hieroglyphics than letters, part of a different linguistic system. The frustrating thing is that they seem familiar, but I can’t place them. They could be a regional variation…”
“Interesting. Kari, can you take pictures of the markings and send them to me, please? I want a closer look.”
“Of course, Far,” Kari answered, using the Norwegian term for father. She took the artifact from Nina and started a program to photograph it with the laptop’s camera.
Chase came over as she worked. “So who are these Glozelians, Doc? I did GCSE history, but I’ve never heard of them.”
Nina laughed. “You wouldn’t have, because they don’t exist.”
He looked puzzled. “Eh?”
“Glozel is-at least at the moment-the oldest known written language,” she explained, “a sort of ancestor to several others, including Vinca-Tordos and Byblos.” Chase’s expression didn’t change. “Which I guess you’ve never heard of either!”
“I said I
“It’s named after the town where it was discovered. Here in France, actually.”
Kari finished taking pictures and put the artifact down, addressing Chase as she sent the files to her father. “The Glozel Tablets were found in a cave beneath farmland in 1924 by a man called Emile Fradin. Because they indicated an earlier origin than any language known at the time, they were dismissed as fakes-but when they were tested with new dating techniques fifty years later, it turned out that they really
Chase whistled. “Bloody hell. That’s
“There was a civilization using a complex written language in Europe several millennia before even the ancient Greeks,” said Nina, “and that civilization was widespread enough to influence the languages of the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Hebrews… even the Romans and Persians.”
“And that civilization…” Chase gazed at the artifact, the golden reflected light illuminating his features from below. “You think it was Atlantis?”
“She does,” said Kari. “And so do I.”
“In that case? I do too.” He smiled at Nina. “So how do we find out which river to check?”
“That’s the problem,” Nina told him reluctantly. “I don’t know. This figure on the main inscription,” she pointed out the little group of seven dots, “seems to be some unit of distance. The words following it mean ‘south’ and ‘west.’ ”
Chase examined the artifact more closely. “So it could mean seven miles southwest of somewhere, or seven south and then go west…”
“Exactly. The problem is, we don’t know what units are being used, or even what they relate to-their ‘zero point.’ ”
“Atlantis, I’d guess.” Nina looked at him, impressed. “Hey, I’ve been known to use my brain from time to time.”
“Dr. Wilde,” said Frost over the videolink, catching everybody’s attention, “I’ve just looked at the markings. I didn’t expect that my knowledge would be any greater than yours, and I was right. I don’t recognize them either. But,” he went on, catching Nina’s glum expression, “I will arrange for an expert in ancient languages to view the artifact.”
Nina’s face fell further. “Oh. So you don’t need me anymore, or…”
Kari laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous, Nina! You’re the most important person on the entire mission! In fact, without you there wouldn’t even
“Kari is absolutely right, Dr. Wilde,” said Frost reassuringly. “You’re irreplaceable.”
“Our expert can decipher the remaining characters when he gets to Paris,” Frost said. “Then, once we know which river to search, we can prepare for a full expedition.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier just to e-mail this guy some pictures?” Nina asked.
“After your last experience, I don’t want anybody to see the artifact except under conditions we can totally control. The fewer people who know about it, the better.”
“Good point.”
Frost gave her a broad smile. “There’s no need to feel downhearted, Dr. Wilde. You’ve done excellent work! I think we’re now closer to finding Atlantis than ever before. Congratulations!”
The praise boosted Nina’s spirits immediately. “Thank you!”
“Since there’s nothing more you can do for the moment, I suggest you take a break and enjoy Paris. Kari can show you around. I’ll speak to you again soon. Good-bye.” The screen went black.
Kari checked her watch. “It’s a bit late to show you around town now, unfortunately. We should probably go to bed.”
“Oh, aye?” said Chase, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. Kari glared at him again. “Sorry, boss,” he said, without a hint of genuine contrition behind his smirk.