Chapter 9: The Banquet

The head of the panel caught the Professor off guard by wanting to speak to him in private. This night was already an emotional roller coaster for Professor Thelete, and he was wondering what else could be in store for him.

“Dr. Thelete, my name is Dr. Carrington. I am retired now and help with panels such as this, but I used to be a curator for a museum in New York City.” It was the same man with the deep, gravelly voice who was the one everyone heard booming over the speakers.

“A pleasure to meet you,” Professor Thelete said, a bit unsure as to why Dr. Carrington had approached him. “What is it that I can help you with? That is to say, why do you wish to speak with me.”

“I am sure that tonight’s results, while not a failure, are less than desirable. Fret not Professor Thelete because the night is still young. This your first time at one of these events, so allow me to explain how the second half of the evening works,” Dr. Carrington said with a grin on his face.

“The second half of the evening is set up specifically for people with deep pockets that wish to make their mark on history in some form or another but do not have the skill set necessary or the drive to do so or both.”

“You, on the other hand, have the talent necessary to make your mark on history, regardless of if you actually discovered Atlantis or not there is definite evidence of a civilization there from all the artifacts that the locals have discovered, but you need funding. In other words,--”

“In other words, the second half of tonight is to network and find someone that can form a mutually beneficial relationship,” Professor Thelete stated, finishing Dr. Carrington’s thoughts.

“Precisely, my boy!” Dr. Carrington said with glee. “I wish you the best, Professor Thelete. Happy hunting.” With that, Dr. Carrington left the auditorium and headed to the banquet.

Professor Thelete turned around and noticed that the auditorium was practically empty.

(Guess I should head to the banquet too and test my luck with potential benefactors.)

When professor Thelete entered the banquet hall, he looked around and saw that there was a buffet style setup in the very back, that the far right-hand side had a bar and that there were round tables spread equidistant throughout the rest of the hall.

Everyone was dressed up in fancy suits and ties and exquisite dresses. Even though the professor dressed sharply for the presentation, he had always disliked monkey suits and felt completely out of place at such an event. He even viewed it as kind of snobbish to praise oneself in such a manner.

However, he needed money if he was going to make all the research, he had done successful and decided to just go with it as best he could.

(This is going to be long a night. I can already tell. I wish that I could call Zenobi to let her know l won’t be home until very late or very early, but they made me check in my phone.)

The professor spent the next few hours mingling, occasionally getting some praise for his unique research method of combining multiple seemingly disparate fields to help make his case. At other times he would get a rude remark about his research being pseudoscience and was a blemish on this prestigious venue. Mostly, though, he was ignored.

It was becoming rather late at this point, and the crowd was thinning out. Professor Thelete was losing hope that he would find a benefactor for the night.

(Damn! Maybe I should just leave. I am mainly being treated with a form of mild neglect, almost as if I am a stray dog and am unwelcomed here. Like I am nothing more than a mild irritant. I really do not know what the heck to do at such highbrow events.)

“Professor Thelete, do you have a moment?” An unknown male voice said.

The professor looked in the direction from which the source of the voice emanated from and, to his surprise, was met by the gaze of a man that was well known. The voice belonged to Nathan Bauer, a billionaire who made his fortune mainly from owning various publishing houses, as well as banking and media.

“Mr. Bauer? I had no idea someone like you would attend an event like this,” Professor Thelete said, completely surprised.

“What can I say? I have always had a fascination with our past,” Nathan Bauer said as he slowly strode up to where Professor Thelete was standing. “Tell me, Professor, do you believe that myths are real or at least have truth to them?”

Unsure of how to respond, Professor Thelete decided to speak the truth and hope that it was the answer that the famous billionaire was looking for, “Yes, I do, have since I was a child.” Professor Thelete stated matter-of-factly.

“Good. You see, professor, we have that in common if nothing else,” Nathan Bauer stated with a sly grin on his face. “I have longed believed that myths and legends are real and have often wanted to know the truth regarding their meaning. I think that you have stumbled upon something truly promising regarding your presentation earlier tonight.”

“I am glad that you think so, sir,” Professor Thelete stated, unsure of where Nathan Bauer was going with this line of inquiry.

“I want to make my mark on history in a meaningful way. In three generations’ time, no one will remember me even though I am an important man now. But if I were to fund your expedition to the Richat, then I would be remembered forever as the one who made it all possible and you would be the one who would be remembered for discovering it.”

“Atlantis has been in the hearts and minds of the public for thousands of years. To be associated it with it in any manner is to become a part of its legend and thus become immortal. What do you say, professor? Want to make history together? Want to become a part of the legends and myths that you have spent so much time researching?”

Professor Thelete was taken aback by Nathan Bauer’s statement. He was unsure of how to respond because even though this man in front of him was offering to make his dream a reality, there was something that just felt off about the situation to the professor. Something was nagging at his conscience, telling him that there was something else going on here.

“I have already been given an offer by someone else here tonight, but I haven’t agreed to anything yet,” the professor lied.

“I see. Well, in that case, why don’t you take my business card on the back of it is a direct line to me. I hope you will make the right decision and choose me over any other competitor. It is getting quite late professor why don’t you mull it over and call me in a day or two regardless of your decision,” Nathan Bauer said with slight disappointment in his voice.

“I most certainly will,” Professor Thelete stated, a bit uneasy, partially because of his earlier feeling, mostly because he had lied.