Gates of Neptune Read Online Free PDF

pulled by the bridle, fear ran through her. The only shock of coldness, however, was on her hands, the one part of her body that was left uncovered. She was grateful for the warm diving suit, but this was probably her only consolation.
    Quickly she looked around and realized, to her surprise, that she could see almost as well under the water as above. The plastic that covered her head served as a diving mask. She saw the lovely blue-green water lit by the sunshine above, and for one moment she forgot her fear.
    Josh was close on her right, hanging onto his reins with both hands. He gave her a sudden glance. She saw his lips move and was delighted to hear his voice. It came through a tiny radio that was built into the diving suit.
    He smiled brightly. “Hang on, Sarah, we're going to make it fine.”
    Apparently all the others heard him too—the radio seemed to transmit to all the Sleepers. Sarah noticed that Wash and Reb, who had become friends after a rough beginning, were sticking close together. Reb looked as if he were enjoying the ride, but Wash was hanging on grimly, his eyes shut tight.
    â€œWatch Wash carefully,” Josh ordered. “Don't let him fall off.”
    The others seemed to be doing well. Dave was side by side with Abbey, reaching out to her from time to time and murmuring encouragement.
    They descended deeper and deeper, and Sarah was startled to see more fish than she'd ever seen in her life. A swarm of brightly colored scarlet fish, thousands and thousands of them, passed below, almost turning the water crimson with their fiery color. Then, as if at a signal, they all turned at once and made their way off through the green water.
    I wonder how they all know to turn at the same time? Sarah thought.
    Down, down, down they went. Several times she saw strange spectacles. One rather frightening sight was a school of barracuda. They hung suspended in the water, their lower jaws unhinged, and there was a cold hunger in their eyes.
    â€œDon't worry,” Jere said. “They won't attack. You're all doing fine. And it isn't far now.”
    The water became somewhat darker, but still visibility was good.
    Suddenly Jere said, “There it is. That's my home, Atlantis.”
    Below them was a display that Sarah would never forget—the lost city of Atlantis. She almost forgot to breathe and then, remembering Jere's warning, took several gulps of air. Why, it's beautiful, she thought.
    The city had high towers and turrets much like a castle, except that it was built of a strange material, somewhat like the coral she had seen. It reared itself up from the depths of the sea and glowed with a faint light. Here and there what appeared to be bright-colored stones dotted the walls of the towers and parapets. She could also see small, thick windows. She could not see inside, but there seemed to be light.
    â€œCareful now,” Jere cautioned. “We're going into an air lock. Just follow me very closely. The porpoises know how.”
    Sarah watched as Jere slowed the pace of Captain and approached what seemed to be a round dome on the ocean floor. There was a passageway, six or seven feet wide and at least eight feet tall, and the water seemed to flow in and out of it.
    Jere drew up her porpoise by the door and turned to smile at them. Waving at the entrance, she said, “All inside now.”
    Sarah was the first to enter. She passed through the portal of the bubble, and for a moment all was dark. Then a brilliant light shone. Suddenly her head broke water, and she gasped with relief. She found herself in a large domed room. The ceiling glowed with some sort of light she didn't understand.
    One by one the other Sleepers popped up around her, and finally Jere herself entered. She raised her head above water and sat there looking at them. “I congratulate you Sleepers,” she said with a smile. “You've done well. You can remove your hoods now.” As she removed her own and