Before he had time to wonder what she was writing, a single loud handclap instantly silenced the students. ‘A most interesting story, Mr Wilde,’ Brighthouse said as he stood, voice oozing with sarcasm. ‘If you were in a creative writing class, I’m sure it would have won you high marks. However, this is a real class. We deal in fact, not fiction. Evidence, not supposition. History, not myth.’
Despite his crushing dismay, Henry felt compelled to defend himself. ‘I can back up everything I’ve just said, Professor. All my research has been cross-referenced with other sources.’
‘Other sources that have no basis in fact! I know the usual suspects. Blavatsky leads to Donnelly leads to Cayce leads to none other than Heinrich Himmler and the Ahnenerbe, and back round again. It’s circular logic, Mr Wilde, a conspiracy theory. Surely you wouldn’t consider any of them credible?’
‘Not the first three, no. But I do think there may be something to be learned from the German expeditions. I have a friend in Germany, Bernd Rust, who’s been researching—’
Brighthouse’s eyes widened. ‘Are you actually saying that you give credence to the occult lunacy of the Nazis? Maybe you’re going to propose that we start consulting crystals to find Atlantis.’
‘Of course not!’ Henry felt his cheeks flush as he heard mocking laughter from some of the undergraduates. ‘But they sent out three expeditions, maybe more, searching for links to Atlantis, and the data they brought back still hasn’t been fully analysed.’
‘Because it’s worthless!’ proclaimed the elderly academic. ‘They were more interested in phrenology and Aryan bloodlines than true archaeological research. And the idea that we might find outposts of Atlantis in the Himalayas, as you suggest — it’s absolutely ludicrous.’
‘But you can’t deny that there are common aspects of the Western Atlantean mythology and legends from the Far East—’
‘Exactly! Myths and legends. Many cultures have similar mythologies about a Great Flood, but it doesn’t prove that all the world’s animals went into Noah’s Ark two by two.’ Brighthouse took off his glasses, making a show of cleaning the lenses. ‘I will give you credit for not backing down. You have the courage of your convictions. But Atlantis? Really? All the wonders of the ancient world that you could have put your obvious talents to researching, and you choose a pure fantasy?’ He examined the spectacles, then donned them again, magnifying his intimidating stare still further. ‘This is the real world, Mr Wilde. Chasing after legends will either get you nowhere, or into trouble.’
He faced the other students. ‘Now I don’t think we need open the floor to discussion on this occasion, because Mr Wilde has suffered enough humiliation already. We’ll take a lunch break, and resume at two. With… Mr Jennings, I believe you are up next.’ One of the students nodded. ‘All right. I’ll see you all then. Hopefully,’ he added as he headed for the exit, giving the crestfallen Henry a snide look, ‘with something more… well considered.’
Jack joined his friend as the other undergraduates filed out. ‘Are you going to say it?’ Henry asked him.
‘Say what?’
‘I told you so.’
‘No, I’m not. I never like kicking a man when he’s down.’ The pair shared smiles. ‘Brighthouse does have a point, though.’
‘Ah, here it comes. The lecture.’
‘I’m just saying he’s right. You are talented, so why not put those talents to actual use instead of wasting time on myths? Especially one as fanciful as Atlantis.’
‘Because I don’t think Atlantis is a myth,’ Henry replied. ‘I always believed that, even as a kid — I don’t know why, I just did. But the deeper I look into it, the more certain I am. Whatever Brighthouse might say.’
‘Well don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
‘That’s just a different way of saying I told you so, isn’t it?’ Henry grinned again as they left the lecture hall.
Their classmates had already dispersed — with one exception, he saw. The redhead was waiting near an exterior door, and judging from her earlier attentiveness, apparently for him.
‘So, where shall we go for lunch?’ asked Jack.
Henry only belatedly registered the words. ‘Huh?’
‘Lunch. You know, food and the consumption thereof?’
‘Oh yeah, that.’ But his attention was focused on the woman, who moved to meet him. ‘Hi.’
Her eyes locked on to his. ‘I believe you.’
He was a little startled. ‘About…?’
‘Atlantis. Your theory about Atlantis — I believe it. You. Both.’ She gave him a slightly embarrassed smile. ‘I’m Laura, Laura Garde. We’re in the same class. But I guess you already know that.’ There was a distinct New England twang to her words, most likely Connecticut or Massachusetts, and Henry got the impression that she was from old money.
‘Yeah, I do,’ he replied, amused. ‘You, ah, kinda stand out with your hair.’ He indicated her vivid red ponytail.
‘And you kinda stand out with your height. And your hair.’ Henry’s six-foot-four frame was topped by an ice-blond mop, which though he would never have admitted it to anyone he had modelled on Robert Redford’s in the movie Jeremiah Johnson.
‘Jack Philby,’ said Jack hopefully from beside him.
‘Hi,’ said Laura, giving him a polite nod before turning back to Henry. ‘I’d heard that Atlantis was your big thing, but I hadn’t imagined you’d make such a convincing case for its location.’
‘You thought it was convincing?’ asked Henry, pleased.
‘Absolutely. I don’t think Professor Brighthouse was at all justified in criticising your methodology. It seemed to me that you’d gone above and beyond to source your research. And you even had some things I’d never heard before.’
‘You’re interested in Atlantis too?’
Laura nodded. ‘Although not nearly as much as you, it seems! I’ve loved reading about it ever since my mom told me the legend as a kid. Though maybe it’s not a legend after all. Like I said, I believe you. And…’ She looked down, coyly twisting the toe of one sandal against the tiled floor. ‘I was wondering if you might be interested in talking some more about it.’
‘Really?’
‘Really. I’d love to see the rest of your work. You must have tons of notes.’
‘A few pages,’ Henry joked. ‘Okay, I admit it: boxes.’
‘I have to kick them out of the way every time I try to open my closet,’ added Jack.
She laughed. ‘Wow! I guess you really are an Atlantis expert.’
‘So when would you like to talk about it?’ asked Henry, not quite sure where this would lead. He’d had the occasional date since starting at Columbia University, but nothing serious; the fact that he inevitably ended up explaining his theories about Atlantis tended to lead to ‘let’s just be friends’ very soon afterwards. Laura was attractive, and they definitely had common interests, but surely the universe couldn’t be that generous?
‘Whenever you like. I’m free after class today,’ she told him. ‘We could meet at your place, maybe?’
Henry took back his reservations about the generosity of the universe. ‘Yeah. Yeah, we could,’ he said, nodding a couple of times too many.
Jack huffed. ‘I suppose you’ll be wanting me to go see a movie, then?’
‘That would be good!’
‘No, no, you can stay,’ said Laura at the same time. ‘I don’t want to put you out.’
Henry cursed silently, but not with any real annoyance. Just being able to talk about his obsession with someone who shared it would be enjoyable enough in itself. ‘Cool. What time? Six?’