Dennis Wheatley - They Found Atlantis

'Because, my son, we have passed into that stage of evolution where, although the physical is still necessary, the mental plays a much greater part in conception. We all spend two-thirds of our lives in spirit travel as you know— therefore our women study types in the upper world before they decided which they will bear. Then during many months they concentrate and their thoughts produce the colouring, every shade of which lies dormant in our bodies from past ancestors, and mould the form of the child that they desire. Semiramis was inspired to create Tzarinska by the sight of a Russian dancing girl. Tzarinska roamed further afield and produced a masterpiece for me in our dear Laotzii, from the study of a half-caste Chinese maiden who had been fathered by an Englishman in Hong Kong. Thus are our features and forms determined and our women's greatest pride is to present to our island, in each of her children, a new and distinctive form of loveliness.'

Doctor Tisch was about to speak again but Menes held up his hand: 'May the Gods give you many days to ask all the questions you will, my son, and grant me time to answer them, but for tonight we have talked enough of serious things. There is a ceremony to be performed between two of you is there not? Nahou, my child, fill our cups that we may do honour to this custom of our brothers.'

When they had drunk again they moved to the other end of the pool where, with the Atlantean's help, a temporary altar had been arranged before it was generally known that an adverse decision at the Council of the Gods might render it a terrible cynicism for those who were compelled to leave the island and go out to die.

Now all thought of that was past and Doctor Tisch took up his position before it. Camilla had asked the McKay to give her away and Vladimir chose Axel as his best man since the McKay, who found himself embarrassingly popular, was otherwise engaged. Sally was the only bridesmaid and Nicky, with all the Atlanteans made up the congregation.

Doctor Tisch gabbled the lines a little as it was many years since he had performed such a service and he was no longer quite word perfect, but Camilla did not notice that. She only felt a very real satisfaction as Vladimir slipped his signet ring over her finger.

Afterwards more toasts were drunk to the health and happiness of the newly married pair, then everybody wished them good night, the Atlanteans with unrestrained enthusiasm and good cheer, the others with a certain shyness. There could be no official 'going away' for there was nowhere except Lulluma's quarters, which she had placed at their disposal, for them to go to but they retired there after a little time.

Thus, in the unusual surroundings of the dusk-laden flower scented garden, Camilla at last became the Princess Renescu and Vladimir got his heart's desire.

When they had departed the others resumed the feast. Rahossis danced for them and Karnoum sang. The wine circulated with more rapidity. An hour sped by and the scene had become Bacchanalian. Semiramis had crowned Doctor Tisch's bristly pate with a wreath of flowers. Nicky was lolling against Rahossis and telling that Junoesque lady that she was 'just the sweetest lil' thing'. Axel held Lulluma in the curve of his arm and was gazing down into her dark starry eyes as though he could never feast his gaze upon her long enough. Peramon had wandered off into the shadows with Ladtzii. Menes sat enthroned in their centre, benignly smiling on them all—a jovial Zeus now rather than the Old Testament Patriarch to whom the doctor had likened him and, as Quet began to dance a wild Mexican reel he clapped with surprisingly youthful enthusiasm.

The McKay shot an anxious glance at Sally. 'How about it me'dear. The pace is getting a bit hot for respectable people like you and me isn't it?' he said under his breath. 'Like me to take you away?*

'I wish you would,' she whispered quickly.

As they left the party nobody seemed particularly interested in their going. Quet was spinning like a teetotum. Tzarinska had joined in and was dancing opposite to him. The dusky skinned handsome Karnoum was letting Dande's wonderful golden hair slide through his fingers while she gently caressed his cheek. The rest were gaily applauding the dancers.

'Phew 1' Sally whistled when they were out of earshot. 'It was getting pretty thick wasn't it. I'm not used to those sort of parties and I'm jolly glad you took me out of it.'

'Do you want to go to bed—or to sleep rather on one of those mattresses they've laid out for us?' he asked.

'No, I'm not a bit tired. I was only frightened that at any minute one of them might come up and start mauling me about.'

'Theyre a decent crowd really. They don't mean the least harm—it's just their natural way of living.'

'I know, but it's not mine I'm afraid, and that's going to make things a bit difficult.'

'Let's sit down under this tree,' he suggested, 'and decide what you're going to do with yourself.'

'All right,' she seated herself beside him and stared out into the darkness, 'how do you mean though—decide what I'm going to do with myself?'

'Well, I mean!' he spread his hands out in rather a hopeless gesture. 'You've got to face it sometimes me'dear—and sometime soon. If you want to go native there are plenty of good-looking chaps about and nobody's going to think any the worse of you for it.'

'But I don't,' Sally protested quickly. 'I'm not like these 300

girls here. They're awfully sweet but they're different. 1 should hate to be handed on from man to man and have romps between whiles with the others.'

The McKay shrugged his shoulders. 'Well, I mean . . .' he repeated, 'it's not in their nature to stick to any one woman for more than a couple of years from what I hear and you can hardly expect them to make you the Virgin Queen—besides you've never given me the impression that you're that sort of girl at all!'

'I'm not,' declared Sally firmly. 'I want one man whom I can love and stick to. I'm old-fashioned enough to want to be married like Camilla—for keeps.'

'Well, Axel's a bit old for you, although he seems to have taken a new lease of life and is on the point of going off the deep end with Lulluma—how long that will last goodness knows! Still there's Nicky. Rahossis doesn't strike me as the sort of woman who'll want to have him playing around for long—she's got her eye on that dark bloke—Quet.'

'Nicky!' echoed Sally contemptuously. 'I wouldn't marry Nicky for ten million dollars.'

'They wouldn't be much use to you if you did,' the McKay commented unhelpfully. 'That only leaves the Doctor and ...'

'Yes—go on,' she prompted, 'and ... ?'

'Why me! but I'm too old for you Sally.'

'Oh you brute, she suddenly began to sob. 'Haven't you any feelings at all. Have I just got to go down on my knees and ask you?'

'Sally!' his voice had fallen to an awed whisper. 'I've been adoring the very sound of your foot-falls for weeks—but, well I never thought you could care a hoot for . ..'

'Oh stop talking you dear fool!' sobbed Sally, 'stop talking and take me in your arms.'

The Coming of the Serpent

On the following morning little dark-haired Ciston had the island to himself. None of his elders had thought of sleep before the small hours and it was the custom of the Atlan-teans that no work, other than the necessary preparation of meals, should be done on the day after a Feast.

Like a slim golden-brown faun he ran on tiptoe from one grove to another until he had discovered the resting places of all his family and the newcomers whose arrival had amazed everyone so much. When he was older he too would be able to join in these revels at which the grown-ups laughed and sang far into the night but in the meantime he knew what he could do to please his beautiful mother and all these wonderful people who never seemed too busy to play with him and tell him stories.