Orichalcum

‘I’m surprised to have the head of the department deliver the results in person, Cob.’
Professor Cob Stanley gazed across the desk at his client, ‘I am intrigued by your sample, Trevor. Professional curiosity has me in its grip,’ Cob acknowledged, ‘The sample is completely alien to everything we know. I’m very interested in where you procured it from?’
Trevor Call’s brows furrowed, ‘Outline your findings first, please.’
‘It is a metal – a crystalline metal. It shows many of the characteristic properties of both titanium and diamonds. We discovered that the metal was malleable and highly conductive. It also gave off a massive electromagnetic charge. The results were astonishing. More than that, I cannot give without knowing its origins or of how big a deposit there is.’
Trevor studied the scientist thoughtfully. After a moment, he nodded before rising to extract a small wooden box from the wall safe. He placed the box gently in front of Cob and then perched on the edge of his desk.
Cob opened the box and lifted the tiny statue within from its velvet bed, ‘Poseidon,’ he whispered.
‘Exactly,’ Trevor smiled, ‘I found this on a dive off Bimini.’
‘Near the Bimini Road? Are you are saying…?’
Trevor grinned, glad to share his discovery with someone who could appreciate its value.
‘Note the inscription. “_Orichalcum, the gift of Poseidon, giver of power_”! This is Atlantis’ fabled energy source. A limitless supply of clean, cheap energy. People would kill for it!’
‘Yes. They would.’
Trevor felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise at the odd inflection in the Professor’s tone. Turning, he saw the heavy paperweight in Cob Stanley’s hand too late. He raised his arms in a belated and feeble attempt to ward off the heavy blow to his head.
When Cob spoke, the words came to Trevor as though from a great distance.
‘Sorry, Trevor. It is much too dangerous an object to be entrusted to a politician. Especially not a world leader.’
As his eyes closed for the final time, Trevor knew that Cob had spoken the truth.

© Alison Pearce 2009

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alifiction, atalntis, fiction, orichalcum, precious metal, speculative, ttst50 and writing