The six of them ate lunch together around the tiny kitchen table: their last meal in the future. Mac had gone out of his way to make and prepare all of the things he knew everyone liked, and they could not have been more grateful for this.

Afterwards they set off down to the boatyard, where they boarded the waiting Scapha with a final glance towards the village, the houses along the promenade, the place that had, for a short while, been their home; and it had not been unwelcoming, despite their fears. Indeed they had almost enjoyed their time in England...

And they set off in the Scapha, the Atlanteans out on deck with the wind in their hair and staring at the open water ahead; Mac was at the helm, directing his crew with a practised, if rather resigned, air; and the young sailor Harry was at the radar-screen – he would recognise the portal when they came to it.

Jason more than the others was uncharacteristically apprehensive. Was what he was doing too risky? What if one of them – all of them – drowned? Would they find safety on the other side, or would they end up in the middle of the sea with no means of reaching dry land? What if years had passed back in their time – what if they were too late to save Atlantis?

He swallowed: there was no going back now. These were risks he would have to be prepared to take.

'We've got something!'

Harry's cry seemed distant somehow, and he had to force himself from his thoughts, following Mac to the radar-screen, where Harry pointed out the large but indefinite signal shown as being right beneath them. Mac nodded and went to direct the ship away, to leave the area clear in preparation for the Atlanteans' dive.

Jason hesitated in the cabin, wavering, watching as the signal flickered a little; and then, steeling himself – he was a warrior and monarch of Atlantis, after all – he went to join his friends on the deck.

They watched the path of the spray as the Scapha moved away from the point at which the portal had been spotted. Then Mac came over to them, his face set but his eyes betraying his emotions, and said, 'If you're going, you'd better go.'

They exchanged glances, wordlessly agreeing that this was the moment; and then Jason threw his arms around Mac, nearly bowling him over in this, his last farewell. The others, rather moved, shook hands with Mac, thanking him for his hospitality, assuring him that they would return his favour if ever he came to Atlantis.

Then they clambered onto the side of the boat, and at a sign from Jason they all jumped in together.

The last thing Jason remembered before the waves closed over him was the sight of Mac on the boat, waving, smiling sadly – and then the sea overwhelmed him and all went dark.

He broke the surface, feeling an unnerving sense of déjà vu as he trod water frantically, casting his gaze around him. The seawater stung his eyes and all was blurred, but among the blue of the sea and the sky he was sure he could distinguish something golden.

One after another his friends emerged, all conscious this time; and they were greatly cheered when they found that not only were they alive, but they appeared to have traversed the portal and reached their own time.

'Land!'

Jason was uncertain which of them had uttered this triumphant cry, but both Hercules and Icarus then propelled themselves forwards, heading for the line of yellow that was resolving itself into the beach at Atlantis – and it was barely a hundred yards from them, an easy distance to cross even for those among them who weren't strong swimmers.

Therefore they swam as best they could, rising and falling with the waves, until at last they were thrown onto the sands, rolling over, pushing themselves out of the way of the sea, struggling a little into a comfortable position before attempting to get up. Jason stood first, offering his hand to Ariadne; the others helped each other up; and they looked around them, marvelling at the view, hardly daring to believe that they were back at last.

On the hillside stood the grand fortress of Atlantis, golden and beautiful, its size and great walls deceptive with regard to the insecurity within; the Sun was on it, and it was quite the most magnificent sight any of them had seen.

'We're back,' Jason murmured.

And he clasped Ariadne's hand tighter, slipping his other arm around her shoulders, feeling her lean onto his own shoulder with a sigh of relief, kissing her lightly on the lips.

Icarus and Pythagoras exchanged glances. Then they shrugged; and Icarus kissed Pythagoras, flinging his arms around him, overjoyed by the events of the day and by the presence of his greatest friends. Behind them Hercules rolled his eyes a little but smiled, wistfully perhaps; but even he could not fail to be cheered by the sight of his home, and of his friends happy at last.

And together on the beach they clasped each others' hands, beamed at each other, enjoyed a minute of glorious peace before they had to return to the turmoiled city of Atlantis.

FINIS

This story may be over, but the tale of Atlantis continues in my sequel, which is called Colchis.