Matt was back in five minutes and together we headed for the door. I opened it and waited as I watched Matt write out a brief one sentence note.

I read what he had written as he let the page of computer paper flutter down to the tiled entryway. "You can have it all Cindy, since that's what's most important to you."

I glanced from the page on the floor to Matt, "I'm not planning this expedition as a suicide run Matt."

He grinned big and slapped me on the back as hard as his academic styled frame could muster, which wasn't very convincing and said, "Just how do you define suicide Eli? We're about to embark on an ocean voyage using a navigation tool that's probably cursed and of demonic origin to find a path through the sea and Earth itself to invade a hidden realm within the core of the Earth where I'll likely be lined up and shot as a Yankee sympathizer, while your chained to a plow and given a taste of the whip each day along with your morning gruel."

I shook my head, "You make it sound so homey. Why don't we just shoot ourselves and be done with it?"

Matt chuckled, "Cheer up my friend! Instead of those grim fates I just mentioned maybe we'll go a long way to satisfying a giant Atlantean's appetite."

"Are you sure you're not leaving your depression medicine behind or something?" I said only half-jokingly.

"No my friend, if everything goes well you'll find enough gold to buy a bigger boat and outfit it to the nines as they say and stay at sea for life. Meanwhile I'll finance my own Biblical archaeology digs and live at home in ancient dirt." Matt rejoined.

"Now that sounds like a plan!" I said, as I held the door of the taxi open.

Matt stopped, "Thanks for letting me come Eli."

I smiled ruefully, "Did I have much of a choice about it?"

Matt grinned and got into the taxi and I piled in after him feeling excited about something for the first time in a long time. It was hard to say whatever we would find, but it promised to be an adventure of some kind.

Matt went ahead of me up the ladder and I quickly followed. Reaching the top of the ladder I was greeted by Serena, "Ready to cast off Captain?"

"Hold off for a moment. I need to speak with you in private."

She looked surprised, but followed me over to a secluded part of the deck. I stopped and turned to her, "Serena we're about to embark on an expedition that will be very dangerous from which we might never return."




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