Just beneath the surface

The rising tides

"What brings you here young fellow?" Captain Fernando asked. He walked closer to the wheel and then went to Jahmil.

"Oh, you were the one at the jewelry shop, right?", he continued.

"Yes sir, I am", Just looking at the captain made him feel immense pressure. It felt like his heart beat faster, standing underneath the stare of such a renowned man. And who was he? Just a boy who got drifted away.

"I came to ask you something about Atlantis, what do you know about it", Jahmil continued. Upon saying it, he felt like he messed up. The men who heard him chuckled, and Captain Fernando looked at Jahmil with such immense pressure.

"Atlantis you asked?" Captain Fernando's voice raptured the passing cold breeze. Jahmil gulped in his throat and nodded.

"What about it?" He continued. Jahmil froze. But then, he remembered what he was there to do.

"I had a dream, and I saw a city in that dream. In the middle, there was a massive castle that towered like a mountain. But then, it suddenly got swept away by a strong current that it banished in just a blink of an eye" Jahmil replied and saw the Captain's eye widened. " I see" Captain Fernando directed Jhamil towards the ship's citadel. "I too had a dream such as that", he said as he pored over the shelves, seeming to be looking for a specific one."My desire is to see that city with my own eyes," he continued.

He walked towards the old dark antique shelves and underneath, he pushed a protruding circular knob that opened the small trap door. From inside, a crimson refraction of light in the center most of the cover, a sapphire glitters. There's this book, you see", Captain Fernando said, taking out a book from where it was placed. Jahmil's eyes widened.

"In this book is a map, one that is used to locate the city. The map however is incomplete, a piece of a puzzle that needs to be solved", the Captain continued. Jahmil was stunned. The book the Captain held had the same leather cover as his, but instead of a ruby, a sapphire was embedded in it.

"Will you take me along on your voyage?" Jahmil asked.

"I see, many people tell me that. Their purpose, all is to take part in the bounty I might reap, and nothing more. So for you, what is your intention? Do you..." before the Captain continued to say another word his eyes widened and not able to close his mouth in amazement when he saw Jahmil raising his book the same as what he was holding.

"Would this be of any help?" Jahmil's voice sprints like dashing in the finished line, fidgeting the book around.

"Wh..where did you get that?" Captain Fernando asked.

"I'll tell you on the way. Besides, I don't think anyone can read this book other than me, so I think it's worth bringing me along", Jahmil replied, his fear from a while ago has gone.

"You've got some guts", Captain Fernando said with a deep voice.

Jahmil froze and asked himself if he went too far. Captain Fernando put his hand on Jahmil's shoulder, and laughed.

"I like it, welcome aboard", He said, nudging Jahmil forward. Jahmil couldn't believe it. Just like that, he got the chance to venture the world!

"We'll teach you how to live by here, so you better adapt fast", Captain Fernando continued.

"Yes sir!" Jahmil replied.

That afternoon, they stocked the ship with supplies and arms, for a voyage that would seek their lifetime, no one could guess. Jahmil couldn't understand what he felt. He was scared, at the same time excited. What awaits for them, he would never know.

"About the books, what are they really?" Jahmil asked.

"They are a trinity lock, remnants of a long lost set of gemstones that held the power to seal objects of huge sizes. However, it can also be used to raise or open up the covers of such objects, in other words I plan to use it to raise Atlantis so that we can harvest the bounty it's promised to have." Captain Fernando replied.

"How sure are you that it even exists?"

"The dream, this book, the alignment of events that transpired as if they were written in the stars. They are proof of its existence. Why do you think I made port at this town when I never even knew about you".

"So there's a third person who we need to search for? How do we find that person anyway? By sheer luck?" Jahmil asked.

"Once two stones are found, and are near each other, they send a signal in the form of a slight glow on its edges at night. We match the two gemstones to pinpoint the location of the last stone. That's how we find it", Captain Fernando replied. He then looked on to the distant horizon, where the water's end could never be seen.

"Did you already seek the permission of your master?" Captain. Fernando asked.

"Yes captain"

"Good. We're leaving tomorrow then. Why wait for another day when all are set?"

As the gloom set in, Captain Fernando and Jahmil put together the stone, a slight glow appeared on both the stones, pointing north. Now, Capt. Fernando had a sure direction of where he needed to go. The next morning, the ship began untying its ropes from the pegs at the harbor. The men heaved the barrels onto the ship, to ready it for their voyage. As the crew rolled down the sails, its bellowing roars echoed over the waters. Slowly, the ship set sail. Their destination, Campeche, a Spanish fort on the Yucatan Peninsula. From the harbor, Alyaha looked on. Jahmil looked back, and despite the distance, both knew they were staring in the other's direction. Both knew that it would some time before they would meet again, but they knew they would.

The Mighty ship, the Invasor El Perpetualis, steadied its course into the rising sun. A hundred and thirty feet in length,a draft of about thirteen feet. Having a speed of about fourteen knots, Pedro described the ship to Jahmil. "Not to mention the classical design of its wonderful hull", he continued. "It's one of the best, maneuverable, and deadliest ships in the Atlantic ", the man again said it aloud "the Deadliest". Jahmil saw the man with full confidence as he said the words.

"Pedro is in love with the ship, don't mind him too much", Captain Fernando said.

The journey north would not be an easy one, especially with the wind conditions that brewed in the distance. Jahmil knew he would have to get used to living on the ship, and it would be a month or so before he could touch land again.

Jahmil soon found out that life aboard wasn't that easy. The nights were very different as the very room would shake every few seconds to a wave. However, the men who used to ridicule him gradually grew respect for him, and helped him cope with the conditions. He found out how the men were desperate sailors who followed Captain Fernando for the promised treasure.

As days went by Jahmil knew some of the crew. One of them is Pedro, he is the captain's right hand man. He has always been the lookout of the ship and a respected crew other than the Captain. He had been by the Captain's side ever since they were commissioned into the navy. He also found out how these men followed Captain Fernando for the promised treasure leaving their family behind.

The sky was illuminated by a veil of stars, sparkling like golden dust hovering over an endless sea, captivating Jahmil's eyes as he gazed at them like a child wanting to touch one of them. His focus was suddenly directed to the far side, which was engulfed by total darkness. The Invasor plowed on, keeping her distance as if it was retreating from the unfathomable void.

The Captain of the Invasor saw Jhamil standing in the bow, and walked towards him. The roar of the strong waves of the Northern sea concealed his footstep, making him unnoticed as he trudged along the wooden deck of the ship.

"These stones, they guide others to fates no one would ever think of. What fate do you think will it guide you to?" Captain Fernando asked.

Jahmil was startled and stammered as he answered the Captain.

"I don't know, I mean, I know I'm bound to find what I need, it's just that I don't know how".

"What is your reason for finding Atlantis anyway? Is it treasure, is it fame, or the thirst for adventure?"

"No." Jahmil breathed heavily and the calmness of his tone made the rustling wind whisper where they stood in the forecastle. "My reason is one that no one can understand or believe, so I'll just keep it to myself".

"This journey itself is mystical and dangerous, so try me. I'm all ears".

Jhamil held his breath, reaffirmed his course, steadied his heart, and said, "My parent's souls which have not rested are calling out to me, and it seems very vividly linked to my dream. There seems to be a connection, and because I have nothing to lose, I can dare to testify to the odds that might be against me".

"Your spirit will be essential as we embark on this journey, make sure to make good use of it", Captain Fernando said.

They both looked to the horizon ahead.

"How sure are you that we're even going the right track? I mean we have no assurance that the book is even in the hands of the third chosen one? What If it's in the hands of the wrong person,", Jahmil asked.

"The books will always find their way to the bloodline of the Atlantean King, Always. Only those from that bloodline are able to decipher the codes written on the books", Captain Fernando replied.

"Wait, so I am of royal Atlantean descent?"

"Absolutely, you read and see what was written in the book.Yes, which is why all the crew and I respected you", Captain Fernando replied. The wind swept through their faces, and the sails began to bellow louder.

"Well you better get some rest tonight, we do not know what tomorrow brings", Captain Fernando instructed.

(..........................dream...adlib)

Several hours passed, Jahmil woke up and heard shouting from the boat "Brace yourselves! Prepare for a storm!" Captain Fernando shouted. Wind pummeled the ship's sails the moment they entered the storm that the crew had to roll the sails up and row. The clouds roared with thunder and were illuminated by streaks of lightning racing down to the water's surface.

"Hold firm the mast! Steady and row!" as the Captain of Invasor shouted with full authority.

The crew pulled the sails up with all their might as the rain pounded their backs. Men below decks rowed and rowed. All in the effort to clear out of the storm. From his cabin, Jahmil could hear the crew struggling. Now, he knew what it was like to be a sailor. He looked out to the window, fearing the glass would shatter. As he looked out to the wild waves jostling about, he saw an odd glistening figure. It resembled a log, but it was too shiny to be one. Minutes later, it's elongated form began to be more visible, and for a moment, as a bolt of lightning illuminated the area, the light revealed a massive tail, which dove into the deep at that second. Jahmil ran up to Captain Fernando who was looking at the same direction.

"You have sharp eyes, I saw it too".

"Are we supposed to do anything about that?".

"No, let it be. It knows we have submitted to its might. We can't do anything about it for now", Captain Fernando replied. The ship plowed on through the storm, hoping to find what they sought on the other side of the shroud of darkness.