Shackleton's Folly (The Lost Wonder Book 1) (46 page)

Alec stated simply, “The Custodians are in charge.”

Councilman Atlas came from the temple with a contingent of Atlantean Security Force. “Your majesties, please let us escort you from here.”

“Councilman, where would you have us go? Here with our people is where we belong,” replied King Coeus. “We are all in this together.” King Coeus put his arm around his Queen as they watched the maintenance screen with everyone else. Their garden was now aligned and was being drawn close to the other gardens. The Atlantean garden, on the outermost ring of hexagons, was connected now only on the three sides closest to the port. The screen showed now how the 11 other groups had finished building their sections. Each of the sections, now complete in their realignment, moved closer and closer to one another, adjusting their speed and distances. The giant 3D puzzle pieces were coming together.

Alec and Electra got to their feet and came over to get a better look at the next and most dangerous phases in the sphere’s reset. The maintenance screen indicated that two of the sections on the far side of the sphere had been selected to integrate with each other. They were highlighted in the 3D projection. Electra pointed up at the sections in the sky. The two sections included the 89 gardens tightly connected and in place. The blue energy was visible to the observer only as an outline around each section. Alec made observations as to the process on the 3D projection and turned to the sky to witness the results. The sections moved slowly and were aided by the Custodians in positioning for the perfect fit. Blue energy brightened as the sections closed in on each other. The linear momentum had to be accounted for in the maneuver to bring the sections together. The brightness of the light increased as the distance between the sections closed. The intensity of the blue energy suddenly increased to the point that it outshone their star — and then just as quickly went out.

Alec turned quickly back to the 3D projection. The screen showed the sections aligned and locked into position.

Two more sections were highlighted on the projection. They were moved slowly into place, as had the first two. They, too, were outlined in the blue energy, and, as the distances closed in on the edges they were to connect with, the intensity of the light given off by the blue energy again outshone their star. The results were that a little more than a third of the sphere was back together.

Alec pointed out to Electra, “The Custodians are going to connect four this time.”

They watched as the same process as before was repeated for the four sections, bringing the total number of gardens reconnected to about two-thirds. Everything seemed to be going forward without issues. This left just three sections, including the Atlantean. The screen showed the two other sections were to be replaced first. Alec was amazed at the precision of the rebuild — the size of the sections and how quickly each was being maneuvered and moved back into place. The sky lit up again with the brilliant light of the reattachment of the sections to the now nearly complete sphere. They could easily see the sphere above them and the gaping hole where the section they were attached to was to go into place.

The Atlantean garden, on the edge of the section, was on the front line of the operation. Blue energy rods reached up from the Northern wall intersections to their counterparts on the gardens above on the shell. The rods locked onto the garden walls and adjusted their speed, decelerating the section to which they were attached.

The inhabitants of the garden felt it and could see how they were closing the gap. At first, it looked like they were going to collide with the edge of the hole. The distance closed as they were moved into place. The blue rod’s energy lights brightened as the gap closed.

Electra stood with her back to Alec, who was holding her in his arms. They and the rest of Atlantis all watched the light show. The garden’s artificial gravity system had dampened the inertia as best it could in the circumstances. The sight of the sphere over them made it feel more like it was falling upon them. Imagine being small enough to be on the edge of the last piece of a one-thousand-piece puzzle. The hole where you need to fit is well defined, but, from your vantage point on that edge, you just see a hole that you head for and hope the person fitting you in hasn’t had too much to drink. Accuracy here was more than just critical — it was the difference between life and death for trillions.

Alec noticed Electra’s parents watching them from a distance.

Electra’s attention was drawn to how the edges were misaligned. She stepped away from Alec and pointed to the outside surface coming down quickly at them, too quickly and out of true. “Alec, what’s happening?”

Alec ran to get a better look at the 3D model Dancer was still holding. “Dancer, can you zoom in for a better look at the fit?”

Dancer answered with a change in the projection. It now showed only the hole in the sphere and the section.

“Have an analysis made on our fitting into that gap. Highlight any zones of interference or overlap.” The screen changed only subtly. “Now have the view focus tightly on any interference found.”

The projection zoomed in quickly on an area of their section that was part of the Atlantean garden but on a distant wall intersection. It was not much of an overlap, considering the size of these things, but it would be enough to cause substantial damage to the garden here and the one they would be colliding with.

“Are there any other zones of interference?”

The focus changed and showed another problem area. Then it moved again, and again. All in all, there were four problem areas showing — a drop in the bucket, considering there were 3240 wall joints.

Alec looked at Dancer. “Is there a problem with the system?”

Dancer nodded. “I am not getting very far with the program running the realignment. It is continuing as if nothing is wrong. Taking into account our speed and deceleration, we will be colliding with the sphere.”

Alec rolled his eyes. “Come on,” he said, in a rhetorical question to the heavens. Then he said to Dancer, “Project the consequences of the collision.”

“The eight gardens will lose their capability to sustain the life forms they contain. This section will not have been fitted correctly; it will not be fully in place. The mass of the sphere’s shell will have a wobble, as the mass is not distributed correctly. The sphere itself will be destabilized, and a cascading failure of the gardens will occur in a very short amount of time.”

“Time?”

“One minute, 52 seconds,” replied Dancer.

Alec shook it off as he felt Electra’s presence accelerating his heart even more. “Great — on a short clock, then. Could you get control of the garden-alignment system?”

“Yes, I believe so. That system is no longer being used in the current process. One minute, 43 seconds.”

“Get control of it, then, while I tell you my idea,” said Alec. He looked up at the heavens as they closed in on them.

“One minute, 36 seconds — give it to me,” said Dancer.

Alec held his hands up and showed Dancer how he wove his fingers together, creating a hinge. “The idea is to have the gardens meet each other half way. Lower down the side of the garden attached to the shell, and raise up the garden here on the section.”

“One minute. Calculations made and instructions sent.”

“They will meet, and, as the rest of the section moves into place, the affected gardens will pivot into place with the rest of the section. With any luck, they will work out the issue and push each other back into the correct position.”

“Forty-five seconds,” came the reminder from Dancer.

They felt the change as the Atlantean garden let two garden walls disconnect and lock into place, using the third wall as a pivot point to raise the far side of the garden.

“Thirty seconds.”

The Atlantean garden wall pulsed out blue energy rods, connecting the two gardens; the gap between them closed faster than the rest of the section. A vivid blue aura came up from the walls’ connection as the energy became a buffer between the two gardens, holding them apart so they would not damage each other.

“Alec,” implored Electra.

Alec’s eyes locked on hers. He reached down and grabbed her hand firmly.

“Sixteen seconds.”

The intensity of their gaze at each other blotted out everything else.

“Fourteen seconds.”

Electra put her head on Alec’s shoulder.

“Four seconds.”

Dancer’s display showed the gardens rotating back into position, matching the speed of the section. The ground lurched once again, but this time it seemed different.

Alec observed that the 3D projection now showed all the gardens in place. A pattern of lights indicating alignment checks of the garden walls flowed quickly over the sphere.

“Is it done?” came a voice from his right.

Alec looked over and saw that it was King Coeus. “Yes,” he said as he checked with Dancer, who nodded in agreement. “Yes, it’s over.” He pulled Electra close again and kissed her tenderly.

King Coeus bowed his head slightly to Alec and then flipped on the communicator device, “This is King Coeus again. Please cut me into all broadcasts and outdoor emergency communication systems.” The audio alerts could be heard. “The danger has passed. We are once again part of the Emperor’s Gardens. Return to your homes and your families — and rejoice in our good fortune.”

The throngs of Atlanteans covering the hilltop started cheering, laughing, and crying, releasing all their pent-up emotions. The cheers from the throngs of people below the hilltop rose as the city started a celebration to top all celebrations.

The sky over them had their star blazing with life-giving warmth and light directly overhead; the rest of the space was filled with the jewels Alec and Dancer had witnessed when they first arrived — the biospheres of 1058 gardens from across the galaxy.

The force field lid flicked into existence and, true to its programming, changed back to the illusion of Earth sky. It was just before sunset; the colors of the sky were brilliant.

Councilman Atlas appeared from the crowd and went first to King Coeus and Queen Athena. They listened to the report and then made their way to Alec, Electra, and Dancer.

“Captain Shackleton, we are forever in your debt. You and the rest of your people — I should say
our
people — are more than welcome here. Bring everyone here to the new home of our race,” said King Coeus.

Electra had her arm through Alec’s. “Your bravery and courage will not be forgotten. A hero from the mother world
did
save us, as was foretold.” Electra turned to Dancer. “Dancer, your friendship I shall cherish. Your wisdom complements his daring.”

Dancer replied, “I’m honored.”

Alec became serious, turning to the King, “Your majesty, I am greatly honored, but I do not deserve the accolades of your daughter. I have a promise yet to keep — it is a sacred promise made between a father and his son.”

“Captain Shackleton, if it is in my power to provide you the means, just name it.”

Alec replied, “Thank you, your majesty.”

The hillside overlooked the valley below; in the distance, the city of Atlantis could be made out. The meadow filled, surrounding the plush grass of the lawn with wild flowers. The brook lazily passed by the section of the cemetery set aside at Alec’s request.

Grave markers with earthly names and dates filled the area. Alec stood over his father’s grave. He said aloud, “I did it, dad. You’re here, and so are all the rest.”

Alec could see, at the edge of their section, a marker with Wolfgang Gray’s name on it. Alec took a good look again at the grounds and how they blended with nature. “It’s all you said it was. Beautiful.”

Electra and Dancer approached Alec from a distance.

Alec nodded and said to his father’s marker, “I’ll find the rest.” Alec walked to meet them.

Electra could see that Alec had made his peace. She asked tentatively, “Where are you headed now?”

Alec smiled. “That is the question. There are just a few of us humans left out there, but they need to be brought home.”

Their eyes met. What they were feeling needed no words.

Electra said with assuredness, “I can only offer your people our world.”

Alec replied, “Nice offer.” He listened to this new world: the birds, the wind blowing through his hair, the world he once could only dream of and a woman who wanted to share her life with him. He held out his arm for her to take. She did so and followed him as he led them down the hillside.

Alec said, “I’ll take it.”

The end of Shackleton’s Folly

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The Lost Wonder
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About the Author

Todd Yunker is a writer, living in the Northwest, who spends much of his time working on his stories, scratching the occasional dog’s head that pokes its way onto his leg, shooting photography, and spending time with his family (including a trio of Shelties).

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