Chapter Four

The weeks passed with Aluride, Thera, Protan, and newly recruited Atlanteans gathering and taking larger numbers of human bodies. With each body taken, knowledge, money, and goods accumulated and the Atlanteans learned about living and surviving above. Some gave in to the lures of the flesh and their emotions, going their own ways, but the majority understood the need for dedication to their cause.

Aluride found it increasingly difficult not to touch and fondle Thera whenever he was near her. From her enthusiastic response, she let him know she appreciated his attention and would welcome a human joining.

But Atlantis must come first, Aluride reminded himself and repressed the male urges coursing through this human body.

In addition to the problems created by the temptations of life above, Aluride became deeply concerned at the increased interest of the law officers on the Isle of Atros. The constables began to question their cult-like activities. Officers asked repeatedly why so many islanders would leave their spouses and families to follow Aluride's orders. He immediately began a new campaign among his followers to take as many of these constables as possible to merge with the Atlanteans. Aluride soon found himself in control of most of the local police and the Isle of Atros belonged to the Atlanteans.

As their numbers multiplied, Aluride divided their forces. He assigned crews to begin constructing the towers needed to hold the special crystals which would be grown to raise their homeland. Others continued to lure new humans to be merged with Atlanteans beneath the ocean near the lost continent of Atlantis.

Protan calculated and recalculated the exact placement required to allow the maximum energy output from each crystal. They could have used the knowledge of the ancient ones below, but the old ones refused to merge with a human and walk above.

The Ancients below soon demanded a meeting with the Atlanteans who walked above as more of their numbers clamored for a human body. A fleet of vessels floated above the waters while the Ancients and scores of Atlanteans gathered below the surface.

"The Masters forbid this act. To merge with a race other than our own is to deny our teachings and our morals. As punishment you relinquish your immortality. You may succeed in raising Atlantis, but you will live only a human's existence thereafter. What will you truly have gained?" Diatrese, the eldest of the Ancients, asked Aluride when he broadcast to them all telepathically.

"I live and I walk above for whatever time I am allotted. I feel again. I eat, sleep, and breathe as I did in the before time. I will see that our homeland rises and is inhabited once again. It is worth the sacrifice, as I do not wish to spend eternity foraging among ruins at the bottom of the sea like a shellfish. That is not life and serves no purpose for our race. Perhaps we can even procreate once again with the aid of these human bodies. Diatrese, what have you gained these thousands of years beneath the waters?"

"Peace and contentment, Aluride. A safe and permanent way of life until the Masters see fit to retrieve us and take us back to our home world. Have you given no thought to these humans you take and inhabit? Do you ask their permission or offer them a choice? As an intelligent race, we have a responsibility to do no harm. Does your human not scream for his freedom within you? And you will repeat the very mistakes leading to the destruction of Atlantis if you continue."

"You will never agree nor understand, Ancient One. You lived the majority of your life before the great explosion. You are content with your circumstances because you are as one already dead. But you will see. More and more will follow us and we will see Atlantis restored to its former glory. The humans are an inferior race and know only greed and lust. They are ours to use as we will. We took servants and laborers in the before time. This is no different." Then Aluride sent out the telepathic message that all who chose to walk above would be given the opportunity in the days to come. He started the engine of his boat and turned back toward the Isle of Atros, more determined than before to raise the lost.