Ancient Island by David Harp

Author:David Harp
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: florida, christian action adventure, optimistic science fiction stories, inspirational, alien artifact, archaeology adventure

Chapter 35

Australia

There was plenty of time for conversation on the flight. The plane cruised at over 500 miles per hour, but it was still a long trip to the far side of the world. There were brief stops in Texas, California, and Hawaii. Then a customs agent cleared the plane at the Gulf Coast Airport in Queensland before the final brief leg to the Sydney Bankstown Airport. Everyone was dead tired. A van was waiting to drive them to the Park Hyatt Sydney Hotel. The rooms were cleaned and ready, so they checked in and went straight to bed even though it was the middle of the afternoon.

At around 6:30 p.m. local time, Claude knocked on doors to ask everyone to meet in the lobby an hour later. The plan was to go out for dinner together to establish a few ground rules during the visit. They were still too groggy to be hiking around searching for a place to eat, so Claude promised to make reservations at the hotel restaurant. It sounded like an impossible undertaking. The Park Hyatt Sydney was a 5-star luxury hotel with an unparalleled waterfront location between the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The restaurant was one of the most popular in Sydney, and the normal wait time for a reservation was at least two weeks. No one was surprised when Claude managed to get a reservation for ten people in less than an hour.

The table overlooked the Sydney Opera House, but Matt and Brian were more fascinated by the dozens of sailboats which appeared to be playing chicken with a giant cruise ship departing the harbor. As the sun set, warm pink streaks of light reflected off the Opera House superstructure, gradually supplanted by the illumination of street lamps along the quay.

Most of those present were happy to ignore their empty rumbling stomachs while continuing to watch the harbor lights, but the food presentation was even more entertaining. A carefully choreographed procession of waiters and waitresses delivered mouth-watering meals fit for kings and queens, and which were as appealing to the eyes as to the palate. Each dish was designed with a personalized decoration. Dan’s steak was topped with an intricate sculpture of the Opera House, which he scoffed down without hesitation.

“I can’t believe you ate it,” Linda said. “It was a work of art!”

“And it was delicious too,” Dan replied.

A mysterious young man named Carlos Ferrer was dining with them. He wore an expensive Armani suit, was handsome, and looked like a bodyguard. Linda and Haley couldn’t keep their eyes off him. Near the end of the meal, Claude announced Carlos would be the liaison (i.e. chaperon) while Claude was taking a four-day trip to the mountains.

He was leaving in the morning for the Lamington National Park to see the rainforest and visit an old acquaintance. He said two friends cancelled at the last minute, so there was extra space for two people if anyone wanted to join the excursion.

Linda said, “I want to go.

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