She had wondered how she would like it. She’d never lived outside a city, but to her surprise, she found that country life suited her. Or maybe it was just the company. From the kitchen window, she could see Milo playing with Adi and Surya, being the big brother. He planned to move out in a few months, and David and Kate were dreading that day. But he had big plans.
David walked in. He was sweaty, white dust particles filled his hair, and a pencil rested behind his ear. Kate liked the look very much.
“Are we in destruction or construction mode today?”
David poured himself a glass of water and spoke between gulps. “It’s demolition, not destruction but yes, major demo.”
“Maybe that’s what I’ll start calling you: Major Demo. Or would you prefer Colonel Demo?”
He finished his glass and set it on the island, then grabbed her. “Oh, I think we both know I’m just a lowly private in this woman’s army.”
Kate tried to push away. “Hey, you’re sweaty and dirty.”
“Yes, I am.”
The phone rang, and David released one hand just long enough to answer. Kate still struggled with the other hand’s grip, but he released her several seconds into the call.
He spoke quickly, asking questions, listening, growing more serious by the second.
When he hung up, he looked at Kate. “They found it.”
Kate had wondered if the call would ever come. When she had made David promise in Morocco, she had been dying then and had assumed she wouldn’t live to see this day. Now she was filled with fear, and she knew why: she had hope.
The helicopter hovered just above the water. The pilot spoke to David through the ear piece. “We’re here.”
Kate glanced down at the water, then at David. He leaned across, kissed her, pulled his diving mask on, and jumped over the side.
For a moment, he floated just under the water, taking in the submerged city of San Francisco.
The readout on his arm marked the location, and he began pushing down through the water. When he reached the low-rise building, he swam through a broken glass window, careful not to cut himself. He snaked through the corridors, moving slowly, the light from his helmet illuminating his path. The doors were all open—this place had been evacuated quickly. The Immari labs were a collection of bizarre equipment and things David couldn’t begin to understand. But he was quite familiar with what he was looking for. In one of the central labs, he came face to face with the four tubes Patrick Pierce had extracted from the Alpha Lander under the Bay of Gibraltar almost a hundred years ago. They were the same tubes that had held Kate, her father—Patrick Pierce, and the two men who would become their enemies: Dorian Sloane and Mallory Craig. The four of them had awoken in 1978, and the tubes had remained vacant since then, with one exception: Dorian had placed the infant he took from Kate in one of the tubes. Or so Dorian had told her in an interrogation room in Antarctica months ago. Kate and David still weren’t sure if Dorian had been toying with Kate or if the infant really was in one of the tubes, but in Morocco, David had sworn he would find Kate’s child—even if it killed him.
He swam closer and shined his light into the first tube, waiting, hoping. The beam went straight through. Empty. The second—empty. The third—empty. At the fourth, the beam of light met clouds of gray and white. David inhaled. The clouds parted, revealing an infant. The boy floated innocently, his eyes closed, his arms and legs straight out. David felt himself exhale.
Back at the U.S. Army base on the new coast of California, David could sense Kate’s nervousness.
“They think they’ll have the tubes extracted within a few weeks,” he said. “They have an independent power source, but we have to be careful.”
“I’ve been thinking… about what we should do.”
“Me too. I think our son should have a brother or sister around his age.” He raised his eyebrows. “I promise to finish the house before your second trimester.”
“It’s a deal.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
You made it! To the end of the trilogy, that is. For a few months, I wasn’t sure I would. I agonized at some length about where this book should go. I had planned the Atlantean backstory years ago, and my intention had always been to tell that story in the final book, but after the release of The Atlantis Plague, I was kind of nervous about it. The Atlantis World is different from the first two books in many ways (most of it doesn’t take place on Earth and it’s less about our science and history and more about our possible future and the myths that have driven us).
In the end, I decided to write the book I wanted to read, the book I hoped fans who loved the first two books would be delighted with. I hope you’ve enjoyed it, but I understand if it wasn’t quite what you wanted or expected. I tend to swing for the fences. In this case, I wanted to write a book a small group of fans would absolutely love rather than a novel a large group of readers would just like. As a reader, that’s what I prefer. I want the author to go for it: to take a little risk and either hit it out of the park or strike out at the plate. Life’s too short for base hits.
I’ve learned a lot about writing and a lot about life in the last year. Being a writer hasn’t been a cakewalk. But for now, I’m going to keep stepping up to the plate. I hope you’ll stick around.
- Gerry
PS: If you’d like to know when I have a new book out, you can join my email list by visiting my web site: www.AGRiddle.com. I only send emails when a new book is released.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
So many people contributed to this novel, and I owe them a huge thanks. They are:
Anna. Without you, I never would have been able to get this book into readers’ hands so quickly and my life would be a lot less sane and enjoyable. I love you, and I appreciate you every day.
Carole Duebbert, Sylvie Delézay, and Lisa Weinberg, my alpha editors, for absolutely amazing proofreading, edits, and suggestions. Thank you again. You caught things I never would have and helped me see where I needed to keep working.
Juan Carlos Barquet for the stunning original artwork for the cover. You’ve been a pleasure to work with on this series, and I thank you for bringing my worlds to life and inviting people into my books.
To the best group of beta readers any author ever had. You all made this novel so much better than it was, and I will forever be grateful. You are: Fran Mason, Cindy Prendergast, Linda Winton, Leanne McGiveron, Emily Chin, Skip Folden, Dave Renison, Jane Marconi, NJ Fritz, Terry Daigle, Miora Hanson, Jeff Baker, Shawn Kerker, Michelle Duff, Kristen Miller, Duane Spellecacy, Virginia McClain, Vicky Gibbins, Brian Puzzo, Steven Nease, Jen Bengtson, Ron Watts, Kelly Mahoney, Lee Ames, Robin Collins, Sunday Moylan, Nikita Puhalsky, Paul Jamieson, Teodora Retegan, Karin Kostyzak, Rhonda Sloan, and Katie Regan.
Mike Kohn, James Jenkins, Jared Wortham, Kathy Belford, Marco Villanueva, Michael Shekels, John Scanlon, and Donna Fitzgerald for your inquisitive minds.
Last but not least, to you, wherever you are, whatever time it is: I thank you for reading my first works of fiction. This trilogy has been equal parts hard work and fun for me, and I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed it. Take care and safe travels.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting and running internet companies before retiring to focus on his true passion: writing fiction. He grew up in a small town in North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where he founded his first company with one of his childhood friends. He currently lives in Parkland, Florida and would love to hear from you:
Via email:
[email protected] On Twitter: @Riddlist
On the web: AGRiddle.com
On Facebook: facebook.com/agriddle
On GoodReads: goodreads.com/agriddle
A.G. Riddle, The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, Book 3)
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