Chapter Seven

The relocation of the three 'Fire Crystals' turned into a long, painstaking operation. Fearful of dropping or cracking one of the large, precious stones, every move and action was carefully thought out and planned before it was executed.

Aluride, Protan, and Thera, cell phones and radios in hand, each directed the process for one of the three large teams of Atlanteans. Those not chosen for one of the teams gathered nearby to watch this great moment in their history.

A collective sigh of relief went up as the final crystal settled gently onto the deck of the ship chosen to carry it out to the designated barge. Workers quickly covered the crystals in velvet and lashed them down while others prepared the ship to get underway.

Aluride's heart pounded with excitement as he stood at the bow of the ship headed to the southwest and breathed in the tangy salt air. Tomorrow... He would see his beloved Atlantis rise tomorrow. The weeks and hours of work and self-denial would be worth it. He would be hailed as a hero, a mighty leader, possibly even a savior. He and Thera would become permanent mates and begin the process of repopulating their homeland as an example to the others. The Masters would be pleased with his work and reward him abundantly.

Protan stood behind the captain at the helm of the ship going to the barge to the southeast. He watched over every course correction and each crewman's job with interest. Protan enjoyed learning new things and he looked forward to having time to relax once Atlantis was restored. He could picture himself reclining on a softly cushioned sofa with a bevy of beauties to answer to his every whim. Deservedly so, for this would be his most brilliant work ever.

Thera lay on a bunk below the deck of her north-bound vessel and tried once again to shut out the sound of her sister's warning. As long as she remained occupied, the thoughts were more easily kept at bay. But in these lax moments, Otria's words flooded through her mind. Thera threw aside the thin blanket and slipped on her shoes. She ran up on deck and jogged round the outer deck long into the wee hours of the night. When the ship anchored within sight of the tower located on the barge, an exhausted Thera slipped below to her cabin to rest for a couple of hours.

* * * * *

Miles apart on the ocean, the three determined Atlanteans directed the moving of the 'Fire Crystals' into place on their respective barges. The crane barges were brought alongside one end of the huge, anchored, floating towers. The ships slowly and carefully eased up to the anchored barges. Long lines were used to tie the ships off to the barges so they all bobbed in unison with the waves and currents.

The most dangerous part of moving the cargo came next. The boom of each crane swung over a precious crystal in the three different locations. Crewmen unlashed the stones. Then specially designed harnesses cradled the 'Fire Crystals' as they were lifted from the deck of each ship. With wide eyes and bated breath, the teams watched their particular crystal hover over the ship before swinging slowly over to the barge. The creaks and groans of the booms and cables and the stutters of the crane engines caused hearts to beat faster in fear of mechanical or structural failures.

Specially trained technicians manipulated robotic arms designed to clamp the crystals into place on each tower. Thera had been unceasing and diligent in her training of them as to which way the crystals must face and which facets should point in which direction. The tiniest deviation could cause failure—not an option she would even consider. She insisted her crystal be shifted fractions of a millimeter around before she at last agreed the clamps could be tightened.

Protan and Aluride broadcast images of their crystals to her by satellite phone and she directed minor changes for them as well. She watched as the clamps of their towers fastened for the final time. Next, the titanium alloy caps must be removed at precisely the right minute. Thera was relieved that Protan would be giving those orders. In the meantime, Thera rushed to oversee the release of the harness from her stone and the fastening of the boom cable to the rings affixed to the covering cap.

Aluride and Protan would be doing the same on their barges. The time drew nearer for the raising of the lost Atlantis.