Atlantis Burning

Chapter 12

Edward finished up some drawing and than held the map out in front of him. Beatrice looked over his shoulder, "I had no idea you were a cartographer. This is amazing."

"One of the many skills I picked up in the Navy. I was the expert at being able to get us where we needed to go."

"Didn't these places already have maps, you know like Google Earth?"

"War zones are ever changing, and we were crossing enemy lines looking for hidden places." Edward added a bit more shading.  "I'm not sure we can really see anywhere new without staying the night or exploring some of those buildings."

"Didn't you already sneak into a pyramid without telling me?"

"Why, what did your dad tell you?"

"Oh, so you did go inside?"

"I only took a peek. The only building we've been in is the public bath and I don't think it has doors. I think things go on in there that often happen in the night, if you catch my drift."

"Well then, sounds like you need to avoid that place altogether."

"You think there's an Atlantian that could equal your beauty?"

"Well, how do I know you've never fantasized about being with a giantess?"

"I think I'll pass. If there are sexually transmitted diseases in Atlantis, I'm sure that woman has her share."

"I won't argue that. Ya know, Annie gets agitated whenever you guys go down there. She doesn't do that when you go places that don't require scuba gear."

"She is one smart cookie."

Bea sat down beside her husband, "so, tell me about it."

Edward held out the map for Bea to see and she cuddled in closer to her husband. "Once we discovered that the portal surrounds the city it was a game-changer. We were able to enter the city in the quadrant we wanted to explore."

"You've broken it down into quadrants?"

"Yes! We've seen the aqueducts where the water comes down from the mountains," he said as he picked up some photos off the table and showed them to Bea. "The waterways in the town are lined with trees, to produce fruits and nuts."

"I've been wondering If they were growing their own food or if Amazon delivers even in Atlantis."

Edward smiled and then continued. "The aqueducts run into the circle that Plato talked about. Remember how the the streets were curved? It's because they make up the concentric circles. It's just hard to recognize them from within, since most of them are full of buildings."

"They're not all part of the city?"

"They are, but one is for grazing. We watched a girl goat herding. You would have loved it, she relaxed and put her feet in the water. It was quite idyllic."

"Atlantis seems far from perfect, to me."

"That's fer certain, we are still grateful for our protective bubble. As for the city design, it's quite a brilliant system. Everything they need is within their borders."

"It does make you wonder if they knew they were going to be living in a bubble under the sea."

"Indeed! We still haven't seen anything swim overhead, nor have we seen clouds."

"I thought for certain a pod of sperm whales swam above you, last week. I'd think they'd at least cast some shadows?"

"Not that I've noticed. Maybe, we need to spend a day down there staring at the sky."

"I don't know what's harder to believe, that this is their technology or that you're time traveling. Every possibility seems utterly impossible."

"Maybe, ten years from now I'll look like I'm ninety and you will still be ravishing, then we will know it must be time travel," Edward said with a playful grin.

"If that happens, I might have to go find me a younger man."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"You're right. We've got too many secrets together."

"You ain't kidding."

"Annie's in bed. Dad's topside enjoying a cigar. Come to bed with me, while you're still young and sexy."

"I don't know, Babe. I'm having a pretty nice time here, with my colored pencils."

She pivoted and stretched both of her bare legs over his lap. She rested her arm on his shoulders. "If you really want to play with your coloring then I guess I will have to find some way to distract you."

He squished his lips up against hers, "mission accomplished. I'm distracted."

Bea smiled triumphantly and nibbled on his ear.

"I love how beautiful you are even when you let yourself go."

"When did I ever let myself go?"

"Maybe never. You're so ravishing I don't think I'd notice, if ya did." As he said it he got to his feet, picked his wife up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Edward struggled with the ladder making sure to not injure Bea who laughed saying, "so romantic."

"Shhhh, you'll wake the baby," Edward said playfully, as he laid her on the bed and kissed her mouth. What followed was a night they spent many more trying to duplicate.