The Atlantis Keystone by Caroline Väljemark Page A

slim and a few centimetres taller than Emma. His first impression of her was that she was a fairly reserved sort of person, who preferred reading to socialising. Paul looked thinner than the last time they had met and he appeared perhaps a little more absent minded as well, as if he had a lot on his mind but otherwise he was the same energetic person Erik remembered.
    “Laura is writing her dissertation on the Crete/Santorini-Atlantis theory, or, I believe, critically analysing it,” Paul said looking encouragingly at Laura when speaking. “Am I right in saying that you are here to disprove the theory that Crete could have been Plato’s Atlantis?” Paul added with a smile.
    “I suppose you could say that”, Laura agreed with an extremely posh English accent, at odds with her presently untidy appearance. “Although I would prefer to reserve judgment until I have considered all the facts. Being here may well prove me wrong. As you say, I have yet to view the ruins at Knossos and the Heraklion museum collection.” Erik thought he could sense that this was the back-end of a previous discussion between the two of them on the subject. In any event, Paul seemed extremely pleased with her choice of topic. Laura joining them on Crete must have been a rather late arrangement as Emma had said nothing about her previously; just indicating that she did not know for sure who was going to join them other than Ball.
    “I understand you’re here to study the effects of the Thera volcanic eruption on Santorini”, Erik enquired in Ball’s direction. A chilly wind blew from the sea causing the parasol to move violently just as Erik sat down on the one remaining white plastic chair.
    “Yes, this is my intention,” Ball said in response with a slight accent. “But I will first study the effects on Crete of the tsunami which hit this island as a result of the eruption. This was one of the most powerful and largest volcanic eruptions on record and in my view the eruption must have caused a severe tsunami, just like it did in Krakatoa. The Thera eruption dwarfs Krakatoa, that’s for sure. After Krakatoa there were tidal waves up to 36 meters high destroying several hundred towns and villages. Thera was five or six times greater still!”
    Erik could immediately sense that this was a person wholly dedicated to his topic. His face lit up at the chance of talking about it. “Sounds like the Thera eruption must have had a devastating impact on the Mediterranean.” Feeling obliged to say something further Erik continued: “I have firsthand experience of a tsunami. I was in Thailand on Boxing Day 2004. Although I suppose that tsunami would have been nothing compared to that caused by the Thera volcanic eruption.”
    He regretted bringing that up. This could only lead to comments about Anna, something he really wanted to avoid. Ball seemed delighted to continue the conversation in an area where he had the upper hand. He started to ask questions about Erik’s exact location when the Indian Ocean Tsunami had struck, how he had escaped, what he had seen and the effects but without giving him a reason to mention the death of his wife. He was moved to see from Emma’s tense face that she too was hoping that Anna would not be mentioned, out of sympathy for him, he assumed.
    “We should really have some lunch now, I’m starving”, she said interrupting the conversation. “I suggest we make it easy for ourselves and have readymade pizza.” As none of them felt like cooking, they all agreed.
    “I understand you met Paul and Emma through an ancient Egyptian tablet”, Ball said and Erik laughed at how absurd that sounded. It was true, he supposed, that they had met because of the link the tablet had to his childhood home. Ball continued: “Paul mentioned to me that this tablet could possibly contain an ancient description of the effects in Egypt of the Thera eruption.”
    “Yes, it certainly sounds like some sort of natural disaster to