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Ambition By Julie O Editing and Menus By Amelia R. Chapter 1 Harry Thorn ran across campus from his loft to the anthropology department. He was a first-year grad student and was late for an interview with Dr. Alexander Pappadimos, or Dr. P, the head of the ancient Greece section of the Anthropology department. Harry was a bit confused as to why Dr. P wanted to see him in the first place. Ancient Greece was not Harry's area of study. He had been focusing mainly on the Americas. Still, it would be pretty cool to work with such a well-known and respected man, he thought. When Harry arrived outside of Dr. P's office, he caught his breath and checked his watch. He was only a minute late. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "You're late!" came the response. "Come on in anyway, Mr. Thorn." Harry swallowed and entered the office. Dr. P was seated behind a huge desk that appeared to be completely covered with files, maps, books, and documents. It may have looked disorganized, but everything on the desk was there for a reason. Harry stood there and waited to be addressed. Dr. P was in his fifties, gray hair with a matching beard and mustache. He wore his reading glasses on the bridge of his nose. His face was tanned and grizzled from years spent out in the field, and he looked much older than his actual age. "So, why are you late?" asked Dr. P, not looking up from the file he was reading. Harry thought about his response before answering. He decided to tell the truth, instead of making up a better excuse. "I was reading and I lost track of time." "I see. What were you reading?" asked Dr. P. Harry cracked a small smile. "It was fiction, the latest from Clive Cussler." Dr. P laughed. "Well, that's refreshing. At least you didn't try to BS me and tell me you were reading Homer." Dr. P looked up at Harry. He had had his eye on the young man for a while. Harry had many of the traits that Dr. P looked for when he was recruiting students to assist him. Harry was 6-1, 200 lbs, short brown hair, blue eyes, and appeared to be in excellent shape. He had a very high GPA and had received high praise from the other professors in the department. He was also known as a hard worker and excellent researcher. "Harry, please sit down. The reason I wanted to talk to you is that I'm looking for an assistant. Are you interested?" "I'd be honored, sir. But I must be honest with you, my knowledge of ancient Greece is limited," replied Harry, as he sat down across from Dr. P. Good, he's honest, thought Dr P. "I apologize for asking you so late. One of my assistants had to cancel due to family issues. I asked around and found out that you aren't already committed to working for anyone else on the faculty. This could be an excellent opportunity for you to learn about some very interesting cultures. Tell me, Harry, what do you know about the Minoan civilization?" Harry thought about his answer. "Not much, but then again neither does anyone else. They were a Bronze Age civilization. They were centered on Crete and reached their peak between 2000 and 1400 BC. They were a seafaring, mercantile race, and were much more advanced than their neighbors. It's suspected that a large volcanic eruption severely damaged their society, and they were conquered by others, most likely the Mycenaeans." "You know more than some of my own students," quipped Dr. P. "Anything else you know about them?" "What we know about them is mainly from their architecture and art. We can read their trading records in Linear B. We know little about their actual culture, other than what others recorded about them," replied Harry. He hesitated on adding one more bit of information, but decided to say it anyway. "Some believe that they might be the basis of the legend of Atlantis." Dr. P nodded. "What do you believe?" "I believe that all myth and legend has some basis in fact. There probably was a great culture that was destroyed by a natural disaster, and that became the basis for the Atlantis legend." Dr P nodded again. "I have some artifacts that may be from an off-shoot of the Minoan culture. I would like you to assist me in attempting to verify this." Harry was stunned. This was the chance of a lifetime. "Dr P, I'm honored, but I don't have the expertise that you need?." "Nonsense!" interrupted Dr P. "I need someone who is open- minded and willing to work hard. The last thing I want is some know-it-all. Also, since we'll be working close together this summer, please call me Alex. I'm not big on formalities." Harry's mind was swimming with thoughts of spending his summer on a warm island in the Mediterranean Sea. It was certainly better than working at the local bookstore. "So, can I count you in?" asked Alex. "Absolutely!" The hell with the bookstore, he thought. "Good, we leave for Maine in two weeks. Here is a list of books that I want you to start reading," stated Alex, as he handed Harry a list. Harry looked confused. "Maine?" "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I own a small island off the coast of Maine. It's where I do most of my work during the summers these days. Don't worry, there's a big house and it has electricity!" Oh well, thought Harry, it was still an island. As Harry left the office, he was stopped by Alex. "By the way, Harry, I also love a good Dirk Pitt story." Chapter 2 Over the next few days Harry was extremely busy. First, he had to pack up his few meager possessions and put them into storage. He was conscientious, so he called the bookstore and told them he'd had a better offer for the summer. Next, he began to read as much as he could about the Minoan civilization. He wondered about the artifacts that Dr. P had mentioned. The idea of possibly identifying a new culture was beyond exciting. This was just the sort of break he could use. Far better to write his thesis on something really new than to try to find a little niche within the years of old research by established scholars. The more he read, the more excited he became. The Minoans were definitely an advanced civilization. He looked at the photos of their pottery and jewelry and was very impressed, as it surpassed anything else from that era. The pottery was covered with intricate designs of marine life and flowers. They seemed to create art that was very modern, even by 21st century standards, he thought. There were also fantastic frescos of what appeared to be scenes from social and religious life. Harry was surprised that they initially appeared to worship only female deities. Only later in their development did they develop a male god. He was also fascinated by the main deity called the Mother Goddess, also called "the goddess with the snakes." Harry found one image of the goddess very striking. She was standing, bare breasted, with her arms extended, holding two snakes. The general belief was that she was a fertility goddess and her image was found in most homes, as if it was there to protect the inhabitants. Her image stuck in Harry's mind. The male deity initially appeared to be associated with farming and cultivation. As time passed, he became larger and more important, until he was shown as a warrior in full armor. In festivals, he was portrayed as a great bull and the goddess as a cow. Some scholars believed that this was the origin of Zeus and Hera in Greek mythology. Harry found the female goddess far more interesting. She was involved in many rituals. He read of one ritual that involved women dancing in fields of lilies. Harry read that in many cultures the lily was used as way of preventing menstruation and fertility. Harry wondered if this ritual was an early form of birth control. Another fascinating thing was that the goddess had both male and female attendants. Harry wondered how much power women had had in the Minoan society. He did read that it was believed that they traced their lineage through the female side of the family. This was done by reading clay tablets that appeared to be land transfers. Too bad there was no written record of their culture, he thought. Harry then turned his attention to the other grad students who would be assisting Dr. P. The first one was named Kim Nelson. He knew her from a couple of his classes. She was very quiet and shy. Her nickname was Velma, as in the girl with glasses from the Scooby-Doo show. She did look a little like Velma; she was short and wore glasses. Still, Harry liked her. The other grad student was named Lane Carter. Harry didn't know much about her, other than that she was very good looking. She looked more like a starlet than an archeology student. She was 5-10, large breasted, and had long brunette hair and brown eyes. Harry had heard that she was determined to be taken seriously professionally, although she wasn't afraid to use her looks to get her way. Several other students had warned Harry to keep an eye on her. One of Harry's best friends was more direct. His name was Kurt Dunning, and he had told Harry about Lane over a few beers at a local bar. "Harry, watch your back with her. She'd use you in a second, if she thought it would help her own cause," stated Kurt, as he sipped his beer. "Come on, she can't be that bad," replied Harry, as he reached for the bowl of peanuts. Kurt shook his head. "I'm not saying she's evil or anything like that. I just know that she doesn't care about anyone else but herself. She doesn't need to be that way, as she's really smart." "I'll be careful. Besides, what harm can she do? We'll just be checking out some old potshards or something like that." "Still, CYA, old buddy," warned Kurt. Chapter 3 Harry met Kim and Lane at Alex's house for dinner the next night. "I hope you're hungry, as my wife, Carla, has prepared a feast," stated Alex. "She's Italian and insists that you walk away from the table stuffed!" Harry laughed. Alex was right; Carla proceeded to serve them the multiple courses of a veritable feast. They began with small bowls of a simple soup of chopped fresh greens in a garlicky chicken broth. Then came an antipasto of cheese, green olives, and marinated vegetables. The pasta dish was also simple; penne pasta dressed with garlic butter and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The entr?e was somewhat of a surprise, in that Carla had adapted oriental cooking techniques to Mediterranean cuisine. It was a stir-fry of chicken strips, green peppers, and onions seasoned at the last second with capers, black pepper, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The following salad was fresh romaine garnished with chopped black olives, provolone cheese, and red onion, dressed with just red wine vinegar and olive oil. The dessert was the richest part of the feast, a "pizza dolce" ? sort of a cross between a cheesecake and a cream pie, made with ricotta cheese, with a topping of chopped nuts and fresh strawberries. All in all, it was one of the best, most satisfying meals that Harry had ever had. It was accompanied throughout by glasses of a white Italian wine and conversation that ranged from current events and movies to classical music and opera to the languages of early Mediterranean civilizations. When Harry expressed his amazement that there had been no tomato at all in the meal, Carla laughed and explained, "I'm from northern Italy, near Parma, and we don't use a great deal of tomato. However, later in the summer when I can get good, fresh local tomatoes, you'll get plenty of them, although perhaps not in the ways you might expect. Another thing you'll get a lot of, due to Alex's Greek heritage and my personal taste, is a lot of dishes with lemon in them, like tonight's stir-fry." Carla was very attractive for an older woman, thought Harry. Like Alex, she had the look of someone who spent a lot of time outside; only she took care of herself. Her complexion was healthy, without the wrinkles of her husband. Her long dark red hair was pulled back into a braided ponytail. After dinner, they had espresso out on the deck while Alex explained what they would be doing. "Kim has worked with me before, and she will be our lead research assistant. She also has connections at several of the local colleges. We may need to use their equipment from time to time. Lane, you and Harry will be analyzing some of the artifacts. Now, this is not a competition. You're a team. The credit you get will be based on what the team accomplishes," explained Alex, as he looked at the three students. "If you all work well together, you'll all get equal authorship credits on any papers we publish as a result of our findings." Harry noticed that he looked at Lane a bit longer. Maybe Kurt was right, he thought. "What are the artifacts?" asked Lane. "There are two pots, and another object. The pots are Minoan in shape, but have very different decoration than those that are normally found. As for the object ? I'll wait and let you see it," replied Alex. "What sort of research facilities will we have on the island?" asked Harry. "We have direct hook up to the university database, along with regular Internet access. We're only 45 minutes from the mainland, and then a short drive to Rockland. Additionally, my own lab and library will be at your fingertips," answered Alex. Harry nodded. "Now, do any of you need a place to stay until we leave next week?" asked Alex. "I do," stated Harry. "I have to be out of my place this weekend." "You can stay here. What about you two?" Carla asked Kim and Lane. "I'm okay, thanks," replied Lane. "I could use a place for a few days," replied Kim. "I'm renting out my place for the summer." "Excellent!" replied Carla. "I can promise you all that, no matter how hard my dear husband works you, you'll never go hungry." "Dinner was excellent," stated Harry. "I agree!" added Kim. "Thank you. I've never grown tired of cooking for Alex's students," replied Carla. "My dear, you're much more than a cook. I forgot to mention that Carla will also be assisting us this summer. Among her many talents, she's an expert on ancient languages," added Alex. "I met Alex while he was helping my father on an expedition on Crete," stated Carla. "I was nineteen at time." "Even then she was a great cook!" added Alex. "I think that's why I married you." He then leaned over and gave her a kiss. It was obvious that they were deeply in love. Chapter 4 In the week preceding the trip to Maine, Harry immersed himself into the Minoans. He was especially fascinated by the written languages. There were two written styles that were found on clay tablets. Only one type had been deciphered, the other was still a mystery. The mystery language was called Linear A. Harry looked at the photos of the tablets and the complex patterns of lines. It was exciting that they still remained a mystery, he thought. "What're you reading?" asked Kim. Harry looked up from the book. "I was looking at the photos of some tablets written in Linear A. I understand Alex's interest in this culture, as there is so much left to learn about them!" "I know. He hooked me too," replied Kim, as she sat down next to him. "What was your main interest before this?" asked Harry. "I was studying Pre-Columbian cultures, but I was hooked by Alex," replied Kim. Harry closed the book. "Do you have any idea of what the mystery artifact is?" Kim shook her head no. "I just know he received it a few months ago. He said it was sent to him by a friend in Crete." "I have to admit that my curiosity is piqued!" "Mine too!" replied Kim. "So, what's the island like?" "It's lovely. It's small, but very pretty; there is a rocky shore and a big house. A ship's captain originally owned the island. When Alex bought it twenty years ago, the house was a mess. It had been empty for fifteen years. You'd never know it now; they've fixed it up nicely. From what I understand, they plan on moving there fulltime in a couple of years." "It sounds pretty cool." "It is," replied Kim, "in both senses of the word. The nights get pretty chilly sometimes, and there'll also be some rainy, windy days when a wool shirt or a sweater will be welcome." "Thanks for reminding me," Harry stated. "I'll make a point of packing some warm stuff. Anything else I need to know about the living conditions?" "Oh, yeah. We need to be pretty careful about using fresh water, since the only supply is from rainwater collected off the roof in a big tank in the basement. Quick showers are the rule. Also, because of that, Carla does everyone's laundry together, but spread out over the week. Usually its bed linens on Monday; towels and washcloths on Wednesday; whites, underwear, and delicates on Thursday; and all the colored clothes and socks on Saturday. Tuesday and Friday are the days she does most of the grocery shopping, and we take turns going with her for that." "Okay, that sounds sensible. I may need to pick up some new underwear, some of my old stuff might not pass public inspection," joked Harry. "An extra pair of sneakers is a good idea too. I like to explore the tidal pools at low tide, and sometimes a wet foot is inescapable." "I've got extra sneaks, and exploring tidal marine life sounds interesting. I hope you'll let me join you." "Sure, I'd enjoy the company. Oh, have you ever driven a powerboat?" asked Kim. Harry shook his head no. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it pretty fast. If I can learn it, anyone can! You'll get lots of practice, as we have to go to shore every day to pick up mail." Harry laughed. He really liked Kim. He hoped that he would get along with Lane as well. "Tell me about yourself," asked Harry. Kim looked over at him. "I was raised in New Jersey, near Trenton. I have two brothers and a sister. I'm 24 and I've always wanted to be in archeology. That's about it." Harry laughed. "Come on, there must be more to you than that?" Kim grinned slightly. "I don't like talking about myself much. I like to read, and I play the piano." "That's better." "Okay, your turn." Harry nodded. "I'm an only child and my parents divorced when I was six. I haven't seen my father since I was in high school. My mom now lives in LA. I guess you can say that we're not exactly a close family." "I'm sorry." Harry shook his head. "Don't be. Actually it's worked out for the best. I can do what I want. Like you, I've always wanted to study archeology, ever since I first saw Indiana Jones!" "You too?" asked a smiling Kim. "Thank God! I thought I was the only one!" They both began to laugh together. Chapter 5 A week later they were all on the island. Harry was very impressed with the beauty of the island. It was bigger than he'd expected, as it was over a mile long. He was anxious to see the objects, but Alex told him he'd have to wait until the next day. "Before we work, we feast. And before we feast, we take care of some practical things with the house. Carla is in town picking up some fresh seafood for dinner. Additionally, she's setting up for the delivery of our supplies. Tomorrow, you all go to work," stated Alex, with a smile. They spent the afternoon putting away supplies for their research, cleaning the gutters and downspouts of the water collection system, and getting settled into their rooms. They also scoured the nearby shore for driftwood, which was stacked to dry under a lean-to roof on the back of the house. That would become their primary source of firewood. When Carla returned, they helped put away groceries and cleaning supplies. Carla had found a local lobsterman who had a big batch of "culls" ? lobsters with one claw missing, so that they were not suitable for the commercial markets. She had bought all of them, at least two dozen, at a bargain price. She announced, "All you can eat of Greek-style boiled lobster tonight. Then down-Maine lobster stew for lunch tomorrow and then lobster salad for lunch every day until it's gone." "Harry, will you please go down to the shore on the east side of the island and get me this bucket full of fresh seaweed? Please rinse it off in seawater before you add it to the bucket; that reduces the sand and grit. The lobsters for stew and salad will be boiled in a big pot with the seaweed as the only flavoring. That's the way the natives here do it, and I find it excellent myself." Kim offered to show Harry where the best spots for gathering seaweed were, and led him on a path up the east shore of the island. "I take it you've done this before?" asked Harry. Kim nodded. "Carla showed me last summer. Here, you hold the bucket and I'll pick out the seaweed. At full low tide, this is also the area with the best tide pools to explore." When Harry and Kim returned to the house, it was filled with a wonderful aroma, which turned out to be the mixture of white wine, fresh quartered lemons, olive oil, garlic, parsley, bay leaves, mustard seed, and cracked black peppercorns that Carla would cook the evening's lobsters in. Alex had promised a feast and that's exactly what they had. They sat around three sides of the huge, round table so that everyone could see the last of the sun on the water seen out of the south-facing picture window. Everyone was provided with two big linen napkins, one for their laps and one to be tied around their necks. There was very little conversation until everyone had had their fill of lobster, dipped in a lemon butter that had just a hint of mustard and garlic in it. There were good crusty dinner rolls alongside. Then came one of the most wonderful salads that Harry had ever had ? fresh baby spinach leaves and sliced raw mushrooms with a marvelously mellow creamy garlic dressing. Alex boasted that Carla had sweet-talked the dressing recipe out of the chef of the famous Gingerman restaurant near Lincoln Center in New York. He then turned to the view in front of them. "Lane and Harry, just so you can orient yourselves to your current position in the world," he said, pointing, "the next land due south of here is the coast of Venezuela near Valencia. The next land directly to our east is Cape Finisterre on the northwest coast of Spain." "Aye-aye, sir!" replied Harry, as he stood up and saluted. "On the bright side, if we do get lost and die, we could become the summer project of some future archeological students," added Lane. Alex shook his head in mock disgust. "Okay, here's the question of the night. Who thinks that the Minoans were the basis for the Atlantis legend?" asked Alex. "There are some similarities between the legend and the culture," answered Harry. "Is that a yes or a no?" asked Carla, with a smile. "I'd say a definite maybe!" replied Harry. "I don't think so," answered Lane. "I think that Atlantis was based on a yet unknown culture." Alex nodded. "Kim?" "I think it may be the basis. It was far advanced over its neighbors and that volcanic eruption was catastrophic," replied Kim. For the next hour, they discussed the pros and cons of the possibility of Atlantis being based on the Minoan culture. Carla sliced a fresh melon, which was all the dessert any of them could have handled. "Kim knows that dinner on the island is a time for intellectual discussion, so I want you two to be prepared," stated Alex to Lane and Harry. "Dinner isn't over until the conversation comes to a satisfactory stopping place. There will also be times when I'll ask one of you to set the topic of discussion, which does not necessarily have to be related to anthropology or archeology. You might do well to do some thinking in advance about possible topics." Harry nodded. He felt a bond growing between the others and himself. Maybe this was what a family was supposed to feel like, he thought. Chapter 6 After a hearty breakfast, Harry, Kim, and Lane followed Alex into the large room that served as his lab. Alex looked around and saw that there were several tables in the center of the room. On the left wall there were two computers set up. The right side wall was one long shelf and every inch of space was filled with books and files. In the corner was a large safe. That must be where the artifacts are kept, thought Harry. On the tables were all sorts of tools needed to analyze artifacts. There were several magnified lamps in addition to microscopes. Harry noted a box of latex gloves on each table, so their body-oils wouldn't contaminate the objects. This was so exciting, thought Harry. "So, who watches this place when you're back at campus?" asked Harry, as he looked around. "We have a caretaker. Besides, the locals know me; they keep an eye out for strangers. In twenty years we've never had any problems," explained Alex. "Now, Lane, that table will be yours, and, Harry, you take the one next to her. Kim your computer is over there." He pointed to one of the computers. Lane smiled. "Do we get to see the great mystery object?" "I'll get them out now," stated Alex. He walked over to the safe and dialed in the combination. "I'll show you all later how to open this beast." Once the door was open, he put on a pair of gloves and reached inside. He carefully took out a medium-sized clay jar, and set it on the table closest to him. He then placed a second jar of the same size next to the first. Then, he reached inside the safe and pulled out an ornately carved wooden chest. Lane, Kim, and Harry crowded around Alex and the objects. The jars looked like the ones that Harry had seen in the books. However, instead of the usual images from nature, they only had images of women on them. As Harry looked closer, he recognized the image of "the goddess with the snakes" among them. The chest looked out of place. It looked like it was only a few hundred years old. It was covered in carvings. The carvings looked like writing. "That looks like Greek," stated Kim. "It is," replied Alex. "The box can't be Minoan," stated Lane. "It's too new if the language is Greek. I doubt a wooden chest would survive that long anyway." "Correct, Lane. It's olive wood, which is more durable than most, but you are correct that the chest is relatively recent. I've dated it to the 1890s, due to the construction." answered Alex. "The object in question is inside. But before we open it up, can any of you read the carvings?" Harry shook his head no. Kim reached over and picked up a magnifying glass and crouched down next to the box. "It's modern Greek, although some of the words are misspelled. From what I can tell, it's a warning. That the object is cursed." "Very good, Kim," answered Alex. He then opened up the box and reached inside. He pulled out an object that was wrapped in cloth. "The cloth is modern. My supplier in Crete wrapped the object up in it to protect it," explained Alex. He carefully set the object down on the table. "Before I show you this, I want to tell you the connection between the three objects. They were found during the excavation for a new hotel in eastern Crete. All three objects were found together in a rock-lined hole that was covered with a large slab of rock, which was then covered with earth. There were no other objects in the site, and it appears that they were buried there less than a hundred years ago. It appears that they were deliberately hidden." "You think they were stolen and then hidden?" asked Lane, as she stared at the jar with the fertility goddess on it. "That's a possibility. They may also have been hidden to safeguard them, or they were going to be sold later on the black market, and the thief never returned for them. The curse was most likely an attempt to scare away others. The jars are from the Second Palace period, which dates them between 1700- 1500 BC. The chest is probably a hundred years old, going by the brass screws in the hinges. But the object inside the chest is also Second Palace period. I confirmed this right after I purchased them," explained Alex. "Don't keep us in suspense anymore, Alex! Let's see what's inside!" requested Lane. He slowly unwrapped the object. It was approximately one foot long, and had a tapered diameter ranging from one to three inches. One end was obviously a handle. It had leather strapping wrapped around it. The other end was rounded. The area from the rounded end to the hilt of the handle appeared to be very smooth. The material looked like it was some sort of ivory. "It looks like a sex toy," blurted out Harry. "I agree," concurred Lane, smiling at Harry. Kim nodded her agreement. "Yes, it obviously looks like a sexual object. We know that many ancient cultures created and used sexual objects. However, this one has some very interesting differences. Look at the handle," stated Alex as he pointed toward the leather-covered end of the object. "The leather looks as out of place as the chest," noted Harry. Alex nodded. "I clipped off a small piece and found that it's less than three hundred years old." Harry picked up the magnifying glass and looked at the handle. "I can see where you peeled back the leather. There looks like carvings underneath." "Correct. Lane and Harry, your first job is to remove the leather. Everything you need is here in the lab. Take your time. Kim, I want you to see if you can get a sample of the residue that's in each jar. When you do, ship them out to the lab, and we'll see if they can analyze them. Okay, you've got your tasks, have fun!" exclaimed Alex, with a smile. "Kim, also send out the leather, although I feel it's a waste of time. I feel it was added very recently, maybe even when the object was hidden." Lane and Harry sat down and stared at the object. "My friends will never believe this," stated Harry. "What? That you're spending your summer studying an ancient dildo?" quipped Lane. Harry laughed. "Seriously, there is something odd to the shape of this thing. The end doesn't look right," stated Lane. Harry didn't say a word. "Yes, sweet, innocent Harry, I know what a dildo looks like. The good thing about them is that they never forget to call you," joked Lane. "They also don't finish first and then go to sleep!" added Kim, as she examined the vases. "Excuse me, Alex, I think I'm being sexually harassed!" quipped Harry. "Seriously, the shape is wrong. This end looks like a ball. If I had my guess, I'd say that it was used in the butt," stated Lane. "And, no, I don't have any experience in using anything that way!" Harry held up his hands. "Hey, I didn't say a word. Besides, you're the one who brought up dildos." "Well, if it was used for anal sex, that wouldn't be out of character for the region. They had a different view of same-sex relationships and very likely also of what constituted 'normal' sex," added Kim. "Okay, so how do you want to attack this?" asked Harry. Lane picked up a pair of tweezers and pulled gently at the end of the leather. To both of their relief, it came off easily. "I guess the glue dried up over the years," remarked Lane. It took them three hours to slowly unwrap the leather covering. Harry was impressed with Lane. She worked very carefully, but at the same time quickly. "Wow!" exclaimed Harry, as he looked at the uncovered handle. It was covered in intricate pictographs. His exclamation caught the attention of Kim and Alex. "I've never seen anything like this before," stated Alex. He reached for his camera and began to take photographs. Harry placed the object under one of the mounted magnifying glasses and turned the light on. The carvings were small, but highly detailed. There were two figures and one was holding the object. It was soon apparent that the pictographs were step-by- step instructions for the use of the object. The figure holding the object was female and the second figure was a nude male. The first figure appeared to be placing the object into the male. Harry turned the object over and discovered that the remaining instructions had been crudely removed. "I wonder why someone did that?" asked Lane. "I mean, if the object offended them that much, why not destroy the whole thing?" No one said a word. "Okay, let's take a break and have lunch. We can talk about it while we eat," stated Alex. "Harry pick it up and place it in the safe." Harry nodded and picked it up. Just as he was putting it back into the safe, he noted that the object felt warm. "Alex, Lane, Kim, come here! Touch this thing." They did and pulled back. "That's weird!" stated Kim. It wasn't hot, but it felt warm to the touch. "That's never happened before," stated Alex. Harry set it down. As soon as he did, it cooled down quickly to room temperature. The temperature increased again when Lane picked it up. "What do you think it's made of?" asked Kim. Alex shook his head. "Well, this is getting more interesting. We'll have a lot to talk about over lunch. I know you all want to stay here with this thing, but I'm in charge and now is the time to eat." Chapter 7 Harry and Lane were surprised and delighted to discover that Down-Maine lobster stew was nothing more than chunks of lobster meat, heated gently with butter and cream, and seasoned with just a bit of onion, pepper, and a tiny pinch of cayenne. Good bread and a salad completed the hearty meal. Over lunch they talked about the object. Alex said that after lunch they would take photos of the carvings and blow them up. "The big question remains, what was this used for?" asked Harry. "Feeling a little uneasy?" quipped Lane. He laughed. "No. The object has some sort of cultural significance. I doubt that anyone would take the time to put those intricate carvings into a single sex toy with a rather obvious purpose." "Harry, what do you think it was used for?" asked Kim. "It shows a woman inserting the object in the man. Since women ran the religious ceremonies then, I imagine that it was used as part of a religious ceremony. Too bad someone removed the rest of the pictographs," replied Harry. "I agree. Once we get the photos, we can study them. There may be more hints as to the purpose of the object," stated Lane. Alex nodded in agreement. "Excellent!" "I have one more question, rather make that a concern. Why did the object get warm?" asked Harry. "We don't know what it is made out of, so it could a natural reaction. It may absorb body heat," stated Lane. "Can we X-ray it?" asked Kim. "That's a good idea. But for now, let's focus on the images. Kim did you have any luck with the jars?" "I was able to get some scrapings from the bottom of each jar. I'll drop all the samples off with Fed-Ex, when I go to pick up the mail," replied Kim. "What about taking a small sample of the object?" asked Lane. "No, not right now. I don't want to damage it. We can take it and put it under an electron microscope later," stated Alex. "Well, we've got plenty of work to do. Take your time and be thorough. There is no rush, as we have all summer to figure out this mystery." Chapter 8 As Harry and Lane painstakingly photographed each section of the handle, they got to know each other a little better. "So, have you been warned to stay away from me?" asked Lane, as she adjusted the object. "Let me guess, they told you to watch out for me because I am too ambitious?" Harry laughed. "Yes, but I judge people by their actions." Lane looked up at Harry. "Well, in some ways they're right. I do want to get to the top, and I have stepped on a few toes in the past. I get too wrapped up in reaching the goal." They traded personal information as they worked. Lane was from a wealthy family in the suburbs of Chicago. Her father was a CEO and her mother a lawyer. Her parents were a little surprised about her career path, but they supported her. "What about your parents?" asked Lane. "Well, I told you that my father barely knows I exist. I'm not close with my mom either. I think she resents my being born and how it messed up her life with my dad," stated Harry. "What do they do?" asked Lane. "My dad is a movie producer and my mom lives off his alimony," answered Harry. "Your dad is Richard Thorn?" exclaimed Lane. Harry nodded. Richard Thorn produced many blockbuster films, mainly action-adventure and fantasy films. "I love his movies." "I'm glad, but I haven't seen him since I was in high school. I get a Christmas card, he pays for my tuition and gives me an allowance; otherwise we have no contact. I gave up trying to have a relationship with him years ago," stated Harry. "Hey, look at this." Harry was pointing at an area of the carvings. There was a dark stain in the carved groves. "I saw some of that up near the start of the figures. I thought it was just natural stain," stated Lane. She looked around and saw that Kim was still in the room. "Kim, come here." Kim came over and looked at the dark stained areas. She picked up a probe and carefully scraped out a sample. "It looks like the same material I found in the jars." "So the objects are connected. This is getting even more interesting," stated Lane. "I'll send this off with my other samples," replied Kim. By dinnertime, they had finished the photographic record. Lane downloaded the photos into the computer. Harry was still amazed at how detailed the carvings were. He blew up the first image and he could see a circle above the woman. "What do you think that is? The moon?" asked Harry, as he pointed to the screen. "That would make sense. Many rituals occurred during the full moon," answered Lane. "Look at the flowers around the altar. You can actually make out that they are different species. Whoever carved this was a true master!" "Or a true mistress!" added Kim, who had just returned from her mail run. "Dinner's ready," announced Alex. "Put everything away." "Alex, this is too exciting to stop. Can't we skip dinner?" pleaded Lane. He shook his head no. "Lane, one of the reasons I brought you three out here is to teach you patience. Archeology isn't a science of speed. When you hurry, you make mistakes and overlook key clues. That object has been around for thousands of years. It's not going anywhere. You can get back at it tomorrow with a clear mind." Lane nodded, but Harry could tell that she wasn't happy. He also remembered Kurt's advice to watch his ass. Chapter 9 After dinner, Harry took a long walk along the rocky shore. It was very quiet, other than the roar of the ocean. His mind drifted back to the object. If they could determine its purpose, they would have a great insight into a great civilization. By the time he arrived back at the house, it was already dark. "There he is! We were just about to send out a search party for you," greeted Carla, who was sitting out on the deck. "I just can't believe how beautiful it is here," he replied. "I can understand why you want to live here." He sat down next to her. "It's an acquired taste. I think that, after spending so much time in isolated areas, we got used to solitude," stated Carla. "Thanks again for everything. I really appreciate you putting us up." "It's no trouble, Harry," replied Carla. "Alex is very impressed with the progress you three have made today." "Thanks." "I must admit that that object fascinates me. I've been to many Minoan ruins and I can almost picture the object being used in some ceremony. But I can't imagine what sort of ceremony. Have you tried to see if the damaged images can still be seen?" asked Carla. "How? I'm still new at this," replied Harry. "You can use a dye to see if the original carvings left an imprint. I can show you how to do it," stated Carla. "Cool. We can do that after we analyze the photos." They walked inside and found Kim and Lane watching a movie. They were sharing a bowl of popcorn and Harry sat down next to them. He immediately recognized the movie. "Who picked this one?" asked Harry. "Gotta watch Indiana Jones at least once while we're out here!" stated Kim. Even though he knew most of the movie by heart, Harry enjoyed it. It was a nice end to an exciting day. Chapter 10 The next few days were spent analyzing the carvings in the handle of the object. The first carving showed a woman holding the object. She was dressed in robes and had an ornamental headdress. Harry and Lane hypothesized that she was a priestess. The man in the carvings was nude, and appeared to be with the priestess willingly. There was no sign of guards or restraints. There was no doubt that the image was supposed to be a man. There was no sign that he was forced. Two bowls, shaped like those they were studying, stood on an altar. In the next scene, the male appeared to be drinking from a wine bowl. The priestess was standing by to refill his bowl. Then the man appeared to lie down on an altar on his back, with his legs bent at the knees. The Priestess appeared to dip the object in one of the vases. Then she appeared to pour the contents of the other vase over the male. The next step had the priestess beginning to insert the object. That was the last complete image, as all the rest had been removed. Harry went back and studied the details in the background of the images. Through a microscope, he could clearly see that the circle was a full moon. Lane was right about the flowers; the altar was covered with flowers. Harry then noticed that there were outlines of three women in the last complete image. Unlike the man and the priestess, they were just outlines. They were obviously women, but Harry wondered why they had no details. "So who do you think they are?" asked Harry. "Maybe ghosts, or even the goddesses themselves," suggested Lane. "I agree with you that they're not a mistake or that the artist who made this thing suddenly got lazy. Their lack of detail is deliberate." "I wish that the rest of the images were intact," stated Harry. "You know, Carla suggested we try a dye method to see if we can make out some of the images." "I know. I've talked to Alex about it, but he is against it. The dye may permanently damage the object." "Too bad." Lane nodded in agreement. Harry picked up the object and held it. As earlier, it seemed to absorb his body heat. "Have you noticed how smooth it is? Whoever made it spent a lot of time sanding it down." "I would hope so. You wouldn't want to get a splinter down there!" quipped Lane. "Ouch!" exclaimed Harry. He set the object down. "I have an idea, why don't we try the object on someone?" suggested Lane, as she stared at Harry. "No way. I don't even like the doctor sticking his finger up my butt!" replied Harry, shaking his head no. "Think of the knowledge we could gain," continued Lane. "Lane, I'm not having a 3,000 year old butt plug inserted into my ass, even if it meant the Nobel Prize!" quipped Harry. He wasn't sure if Lane was serious or not. "It's probably at least 3,500 years old," added Kim. "Oh! Well, that makes all the difference! Still the answer is no," answered Harry. Lane shook her head and laughed. "Too bad, and I thought you were adventurous!" "I doubt Indiana Jones would do it either," retorted Harry, with a big grin on his face. "Indiana Jones and the Tunnel of Pain?" interjected Kim from across the lab. They began to laugh so hard that Alex came in from his office to see what was going on. Chapter 11 Two days later, the lab results on the residues came back. It was a combination of herbs, olive oil, pomegranate, and other fruit extracts. The residue on the object was the same as what was in the jars. As expected, the leather was relatively modern. It was from some unlucky goat, reported the lab tech. Lane looked at the printout. "This should be easy to reproduce. I can get most of these things in any large market." "That sounds like an interesting idea. Why don't you take the boat and go shopping? It would be interesting to see the mixture," stated Alex. "The olive oil was probably a lubricant. I suspect that the combination of herbs was used to dull the pain and ease the entry of the object," stated Kim. "That would make sense. Why the pomegranate?" asked Harry, as he rubbed his chin. "Whoa, is that a beard you're growing?" asked Kim, with a smile. Harry shrugged his shoulders. "It may be one. Today it is just a week of not shaving." "Pomegranate was used in many fertility rites," stated Alex. "There is something really strange about this object. Everything points to the fact that it was used in fertility rites, except that it was to be used on a male. Do you think this was something to increase male fertility?" asked Harry. "You can try it and find out," smiled Lane. He casually flipped her the bird. "That's as good a hypothesis as we have so far," stated Kim. "So, how would using that thing increase a male's fertility?" asked Harry. "Maybe it was symbolic, so that he understood the feeling a woman has when she is entered. I doubt if something like this was used regularly. Maybe, it was used for a royal marriage or something like that," suggested Lane. "That's possible, in many cultures there were sexual rituals before marriage. In the Minoan culture, goddesses ruled. Maybe this was some act the groom had to submit to before marrying his wife," added Kim. "I'm glad that's one part of this culture that died out," quipped Harry. Lane looked at her watch. "Well, I'd better get going if I'm going to get all this stuff today. Kim you want to come with me and show me how to run the boat?" asked Lane. Kim nodded. "Sounds good." "Harry?" asked Lane. He shook his head. "No, I think I'll stay here. I want to look up some stuff on the net." Chapter 12 The next day, Lane, Kim, and Carla mixed up the ingredients. The first attempt produced a slimy mess. Then Carla came up with the idea to heat it. After an hour of slow heating, they produced a sweet smelling lubricant. The color of the liquid was blood red. Over lunch they talked about what they'd produced. "I think the color isn't just a side effect of the ingredients. If you're right about the object being used in a fertility rite, then maybe the red color was to simulate menstrual flow," suggested Carla. "That sound plausible," added Alex. "Well, if anything, we can always market the fluid as a new sexual lubricant," interjected Harry. "We can put the snake goddess on the bottle!" added Kim. There was a round of laughter. "Okay, we now need to look for any references to any sexual or fertility rites in the texts. I don't think we'll find much, but we have to do it," stated Alex. Harry was given a stack of books; he began to search for any reference to fertility or sexual rites. Kim and Lane went online and began to search several university databases. By the end of the day, they had not found a single reference. Over dinner Alex told them not to get discouraged. "You three have made some great progress, don't get discouraged. We'll continue the search tomorrow." Harry nodded. He didn't expect it to be easy. It was exciting, knowing they were searching for something that had been lost to history. He also appreciated the great dinner that Carla cooked. The evening meal was something he always looked forward to. It wasn't just the food; it was the camaraderie that he enjoyed. Maybe it was because he didn't have much of a family life, he thought. "What's the question of the night?" asked Lane. "Do you think that there was cross-Atlantic traffic before the Vikings?" asked Alex. For the next hour they argued and counter-argued the possibility of ancient races crossing the Atlantic Ocean. After dinner, Alex made an announcement. "Carla and I will be off the island tomorrow. We'll try to be back by evening, but we may not be back until the next day." "What's the occasion?" asked Lane. "We're having dinner with an old friend," explained Carla. "I'll be off the island this weekend too. My brother's ship is in Portland, and I'm going to spend some time with him," stated Kim. "Your brother's ship?" asked Harry. "He's in the Coast Guard," she replied. "So, it looks like you two will be all alone." Kim then gave Harry a wink. Harry laughed. "I think we can be trusted." Lane nodded in agreement. Chapter 13 Lane and Harry worked together in the lab late into the afternoon. "I think we should call it a day," suggested Lane. Harry looked at her with surprise; after all she was the one who normally wanted to work late. "Let's throw a couple of steaks on the grill," added Lane. Harry nodded and put the object away into the safe. The steaks hit the spot and so did the bottle of wine that Lane had produced. "I bought a few bottles of this when I was last in town," she explained. Harry didn't mind. He was getting a nice wine buzz going. "You know, if we discover the purpose of that object, we'll be the toast of the Anthropology department!" stated Lane, as she refilled Harry's glass. "Whoa, that's enough," he replied. "It?s good stuff, isn't it?" asked Lane with a smile. Harry nodded and started to yawn. "I'm feeling very mellow right now. I'm almost ready for bed." Lane smiled and watched Harry nod off. "I'm sorry Harry, but this is in the name of science." Chapter 14 Harry slowly began to gain consciousness. His head was very foggy. As he looked up, he could see the ceiling of the lab. It was also immediately apparent that he was totally naked. What the hell had happened? he thought as he tried to get up, but he found that he was tied down. He could lift his head and could see that he was tied down on one of the large lab tables. His arms were held down by leather cuffs. His legs were propped up, and his ankles were also cuffed. The only light in the lab was from the full moon outside. It lit the room up brightly. Lane was standing next to him, holding the object. "Lane, what the fuck are you doing? Let me go!" he demanded. "I can't. Don't take this personally, this is for science," she replied in an unemotional tone. Harry struggled in a vain attempt to get free. "Don't waste your energy. Those cuffs are first-rate. I was surprised to find a shop selling S&M gear here. The clerk told me that those are the best," stated Lane, as she began to dip the dildo into the one of the jars. "Please, Lane. This is crazy. Let me go. I promise not to tell anyone about this," pleaded Harry, as he continued to struggle. "There's a full moon tonight. I think it's significant in the ritual," stated Lane, ignoring his pleas for freedom. She then began to rub the lubricant on him, concentrating between his legs. "I've set the video camera up to record what happens. Don't worry, it's hooked up to a night scope, so I don't need to turn on the lights." Harry felt the lubricant against his naked body. It felt strangely warm against his skin. "Harry, try to describe what's happening," stated Lane. "I'm going through with this, with or without your cooperation. But it would be a shame not to get your input." "Don't you dare try and put that thing in me! Lane, this is no different than rape! I swear to God that I'll press charges if you do this!" Lane ignored his threats and then pulled the dildo out of the jar. "Okay, Harry, I will try to be gentle," she said softly. Harry looked up at her and pleaded. "Please, Lane, stop!" He tried to pull back as Lane approached with the dildo, but his bonds were too strong. Lane ignored his protests; she had gone this far and saw no reason to stop now. She began to press the end of the dildo against his ass. To her surprise, it slipped in with little resistance. Harry gasped as the dildo slipped into his body. It was as if his body almost sucked it inside. He let out a moan that was a combination of pain and pleasure. Lane began to slowly move the object in and out of Harry. She noted that he was trying to resist, but that this resistance was turning into acceptance. His pleas for freedom started to become moans of pleasure. She wondered if this was due to the lubricant. Harry began to feel lightheaded, as if he was drifting off into a trance. The object felt warm and slightly comforting as it slid in and out of his body. The scientist in him took over and he tried to speak, at first to curse out Lane, but then he tried to describe what he was feeling. All Lane heard was gibberish from Harry as his struggling decreased. She noticed he was trying to look at something. She turned and saw a flash of blue light. In the corner of his eye, Harry was distracted by three cobalt blue glowing entities slowly approaching him. They passed through the walls of the lab and surrounded him. They then began to take the form of stunningly beautiful women. They were dressed in outfits like the ones he had seen in the books about the Minoan culture. They were even bare-breasted like the figures in the frescos. They surrounded him and began to run their hands over his body. Strangely he didn't feel any fear, as if he knew the beings meant him no harm. As they ran their hands over his body, he felt totally weak, as if he had no strength. His body also felt warm and slightly numb. There was no pain. The more they touched him, the less feeling he had. He began to see what they were doing; they were transforming his body. It was as if his body was now clay and they were artisans. They started on his legs and began to reshape them. They slowly worked the muscles out, so that his legs were thin and graceful. One of the glowing women began to mold his hips, giving him a more pronounced feminine curve. It was crystal clear what was happening, thought Harry. The dildo that Lane was slipping in and out of his body was transforming him into a woman. He wondered what Lane was seeing, but then he noticed that she seemed to be moving in very slow motion. In fact, it looked as if she was frozen in place. It was clear to Harry that he had been transferred to a different plane of reality. Time didn't mean anything here, he suspected. Harry was instantly caught up in a wild swing of emotions ranging from horror to fascination. If the entities sensed his emotional state, it made no difference to them, as they continued to mold and shape his body. One was turning his penis inward and creating a vagina. Harry couldn't feel a thing, but he knew it was happening. At the same time his waist was being reshaped, becoming thinner. The excess material was being shifted to his breasts. The entity working his breasts was working his flesh into two perfect breasts with slightly oversized nipples. Harry estimated that he was now a C-cup. This can't be happening, he thought; yet he knew it was. He couldn't take his eyes off the erect nipples on each of his breasts. Harry was so fixated on his new breasts that he didn't initially notice that his arms were being transformed. His once muscular arms were becoming thin and feminine. The entity then changed each finger, making his hands thin and dainty. She then gave each finger a sculpted nail. All three entities gathered around his head to change his face. As with the other changes, Harry didn't feel a thing. Their hands fell upon his face and began to move to finish his transformation. Harry wondered what he would look like. Would he look like a feminized version of himself, or would he have a totally new look? He couldn't feel what they were doing, but he could see that they were reshaping all aspects of his face. They worked his cheeks, nose, lips, chin, and even his eyes. He glanced up and saw that one was brushing his hair out, as if she was lengthening it. Suddenly, all three entities gathered around his head and looked him directly in the eye. It was the first time that they truly acknowledged his presence. One of the women reached down and touched him on the cheek. He could now feel her touch. In fact, he instantly regained all feeling in his body. There was a tidal wave of information pouring into his mind. He tried to focus on why this had been done to him, but it was too difficult. He did sense that this was not done vindictively, but that was all he could comprehend, as he drifted off into a deep sound sleep. Chapter 15 Harry woke up and rubbed his eyes. Sunlight was pouring in his window. He was in his bed. That had to have been the strangest dream he'd ever had, he thought. He brushed his hair out of his face and promptly froze. Instantly, he sat up in bed. He reached up and ran his hands through his long flowing hair. He lifted the sheets and looked down. He stared at his transformed body, and in spite of himself, he let out a long scream. In an instant, Carla rushed into his room. By now, Harry was out of bed, staring at his nude image in the mirror. It wasn't a dream, he thought. He stared at the lovely vision of femininity looking back at him. Harry was now a gorgeous woman. He was shorter by several inches, and was much slimmer. His once muscular frame was now svelte. He ran his hands across his new face. He now had Mediterranean features. His skin was darker, and his eyes were dark brown. His hair was now long, with slight curls. The color was a dark reddish brown. He stared at his naked body and saw that he definitely had curves. Not only had the entities given him breasts, but also large hips and an ass to match. He stared at his vagina, but couldn't quite bring himself to touch it. In spite of everything, Harry accepted that at least he was pretty hot looking. The reality of the situation hit him again and he swept these thoughts out of his head. He was so mesmerized by what he was seeing that he never noticed Carla until she put her hand on his shoulder. Harry turned to her and began to tremble. "I'm a girl," Harry said softly. He immediately noticed that his voice now matched his feminine body. A growing sense of panic began to build in him. Carla nodded and put out her arms to embrace Harry. Harry hesitated and then surrendered, as her new emotions took over. She was soon sobbing as Carla hugged her. Carla sat her down and held on tightly as Harry cried. Carla had so many questions to ask, but they could wait until Harry was ready. After nearly thirty minutes, Harry began to compose herself. "Thank God, you believe this is me." Carla nodded. "How did I end up in bed? Did that bitch?.I mean did Lane bring me in here?" asked Harry. "No, Alex and I brought you in here." Harry wiped her eyes and blew her nose. She kept looking in the mirror as if to hope it was all a mistake. "So what happened?" "I was going to ask the same question, but since you asked first I'll tell you," smiled Carla. "We were returning to the house, when we saw a strange blue glow in the lab. We rushed in and found you tied up on the table, with a blue glow surrounding your now female body. Lane was in total shock and unresponsive." "Too bad," replied Harry bitterly. Carla took Harry's hand. "I know this is hard, but try not to be so angry, it's wasted energy." "That's easier said than done. Carla - she drugged me and raped me! Now look at me. She took my identity from me!" screamed Harry in anger. "I'm not saying you should thank her for what she did?." "Did she tell you what she did to me?" interrupted Harry. Her voice was filled with bitterness. Carla nodded. "She gave Alex and I a complete confession. We also viewed the videotape." Harry let out a long sigh. "So what happens now? I don't look anything remotely like my old self. I have no identity." "One thing at a time. Are you hungry?" asked Carla. "You've been asleep for two days." Harry nodded automatically. "I'm pretty hungry." "Okay, now we need to get you something to wear. I doubt if much of your old wardrobe will fit. You'll need some underwear. You look close to Lane in size." "No thanks. I don't want anything of hers." Harry then got up and walked to the dresser and pulled out a gray t-shirt. She slipped it on, and then pulled out a pair of running shorts. "These have briefs sewn right in." "That'll do for now. But we'll need to get you a new wardrobe," stated Carla. Harry pushed her hair out of her face. She was obviously annoyed by her hair. "We need to do something about this!" Carla calmly motioned for her to sit down next to her. "Turn around, I'll braid your hair into a single plait." Harry obeyed and Carla went to work. "Just in case I forget, thank you for everything," stated Harry. "It's my pleasure. I want you to know that, no matter what happens, you're not alone," replied Carla. "Harry, your hair is so silky and full. I'm extremely envious!" In spite of herself, Harry laughed. "You still have a lovely laugh," observed Carla. Harry was very pleased with how Carla fixed her hair. "Well, let's go get something to eat," stated Carla. "What do you want to be called?" Harry thought about it for a moment. "I don't have the slightest idea. I don't think that Harry is appropriate anymore." Carla took her by the hand. "We'll figure something out." Chapter 16 As they walked to the kitchen, Harry immediately noticed how different she was. Her breasts bounced as she walked. Then there was the sway of her hips! Her perspective was also different, now that she was shorter. This would take some getting used to, she thought. "Where are the others?" asked Harry. "I asked them to stay away until you wanted to see them," stated Carla. "So Kim knows too?" asked Harry. Carla nodded. "She's eager to help." Harry nodded and looked around anxiously. "Where's Lane?" "She's been in her room since the transformation. She feels terrible about what she did," stated Carla. "I seriously doubt that. I begged her not to put that object in me. She put her damned ambition ahead of everything," answered Harry, as she sat down at the table. Carla let out a small sigh. "I suppose it is asking a lot to expect you to forgive her so quickly." Harry looked up at her. "I'm sorry. I can't be that forgiving. What makes me really angry is that I liked and trusted her." "You have a right to be angry, just don't let your anger dominate you. Lane will be punished for what she did. What's important is that you focus on the future. You have a whole life ahead of you," Carla stated. "I made some chicken amaretto soup. I think you'll like it. It'll only take a few minutes to heat up." Harry nodded and he thought about Carla's words. "Where's Alex?" "He's in the lab with Kim. I think they're trying to see if they can find a way of reversing what's happened to you," confessed Carla. Harry felt choked up. "Would you ask them if they would like to join us for lunch?" "What about Lane?" Harry shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not ready to talk to her, but I don't expect you to banish her either." "That's a start." Carla smiled. "Here, stir the soup, and I'll go get the others." Chapter 17 A short time later, Kim and Alex arrived in the kitchen. Kim stood in the doorway staring at Harry in disbelief. "It's okay, Kim, it's really me," replied Harry, cracking a small smile. Without saying a word, Kim ran over and hugged Harry. They held each other for several minutes. Kim wiped tears from her eyes. "How're you doing?" "Hanging in there. I don't think that this has really sunk in yet," replied Harry. Alex stood there and wa