ATLANTIS

There are no survivors

CHAPTER THIRTEEN 

“This is simply amazing!” Beasley was running his hands over the stone and the drawings etched on it. “No one’s ever found anything like this. No one even suspected something like this existed. There’s nothing like it at Angkor Wat. And this is older. Much older.” 

Dane listened to the historian babble while he watched Freed. The security man was scanning the area where the helicopter had crashed. The Canadians had also seen the helicopter destroyed and Dane could sense their unease about going into the valley. 

“There are no survivors,” Dane said. 

Freed pulled the binoculars down. “How do you know that?” 

“You’re going to have to start believing what I say,” Dane said, “or else what is the point in having me along?” 

Freed stared at Dane. “I don’t like this.” 

“That’s good,” Dane said. 

“No, not that,” Freed jerked his thumb at the fog. “I don’t like having you along; I don’t like that strange woman who showed up at the airfield; I don’t like things going on that I don’t understand.” 

“Join the crowd.” Dane pointed across the river. “I think that should be our focus. My suggestion would be that you and the Canadians stay here and let me go in alone.” 

“I can’t do that,” Freed said. 

“I didn’t think so, but I’m not sure you’re going to be able to get the Canadians to go with you.” 

“They’ll move,” Freed said in a tone that told Dane they probably would. They both turned at Beasley’s exclamation. 

“I’m beginning to see it now!” Beasley was still focused on the imagery on the stone wall, oblivious of all that was going on around him, the destruction of the helicopter already fading in his mind. 

“See what?” Dane asked. 

Beasley shook his head, his eyes wide in surprise. “It’s outrageous.” 

“What is?” 

Beasley staggered back. “What these writings and symbols suggest. If it weren’t right in front of, I wouldn’t believe it was real.” 

“Tell us,” Dane said in a measured voice, trying to calm the other man. 

“OK. Let me think for a second.” Beasley rubbed his forehead. “According to this, the kingdom of the Khmers was established here over five thousand years ago. It says the Khmers came here from somewhere else where they had ruled a massive kingdom for five thousand years before. But that can’t be.” 

“Why not?” Freed asked. 

Dane watched Beasley force himself not to explode at that question. “Because according to our accepted concept of history, human civilization didn’t begin until only three thousand years ago! The Khmers couldn’t have had an empire that predates that by seven thousand years.” Beasley was fingering his beard. “But this says they did.” Beasley pointed at a section. “Not only that but--” he paused. 

“What?” Dane asked. 

Comprehension came over Beasley’s features and his voice changed, suddenly becoming more confident. “No, it’s not impossible. It makes sense.” 

“What make sense?” Dane once more asked. 

“The Khmer. Where they came from. Civilization.” Beasley’s words were clipped as he moved along the wall, reading further.