Cretan nobility miraculously survived the holocaust by concealing themselves within the labyrinth of the palace. The great wealthy and commerce center however was now gone. All ships of the area were fleeing the region of the volcano. West lay open sea and the promise of new land, and Jim was certainly a very competent navigator. Ayesha would certainly love the fact that he had taken her people to America. Ayesha had always wanted to go to America herself, but had never had the chance.

Returning to above decks, he greeted Helen and Antiope with a broad smile.

"Why are we headed west, Jim? We thought we were headed for Greece."

"I heard Mexico was nice this time of year."

"Mexico, are you out of your mind, Jim?"

"We're taking Ayesha's people to America to be native Americans."

"Very clever, Jim. Can you do that?"

"It seems that we are now doing that, and they are following us without my asking. Besides, where else should we take them?"

Antiope was happy that they were going to sail to America. She had programmed Genie to do that and scarcely believed it when she discovered that Jim had made that decision. She tried to recollect how Genie had managed to dupe her into simulating the American expedition. She kept this to herself, because she knew of other things that she had simulated with the Genie. Would they come true as well? She shuddered as she considered the possibilities. "Better him at the helm," she thought, "he somehow seemed to know what he was doing."

Wanting to speak to the natives they knew they couldn't without exercising "magic". Use of "magic" is something Jim wanted to avoid. Each use of "magic" would compromise his position. He had Idiot maintain a passive scan for the starship Pegasus. He would know if it appeared in the proximity of Earth during his stay. He would stay hidden for all these missions. Isis would be hunting for him within myths. This would also satisfy his paradox avoidance safety circuits.

Idiot had chosen the route to America as the solution of least risk. Genie would be able to give the illusion of favorable winds to the refugees. The flair with which the Dutchman apparently controlled the wind encouraged the other ships as well to implicitly trust their leader.

"Nice trick, Jim. How do you control the wind?"

Jim said nothing. Neither he or Idiot was controlling the wind. It was more than just Idiot who was initially controlling the wind, but it did give Jim the incentive to make the effort to follow suit. He immediately went below decks again to discuss with Idiot the wind situation.

"Idiot, I get the feeling that we may be permitted to tamper with the wind to get these people to our destination. Can you take over when the winds are no longer naturally favorable?"

"That is a pretty tall order. You really haven't tampered with nature that much. and I really don't have the programming to do such."

"Well start learning about the wind, Idiot, and let me know when you have some form of solution."

"It is easier for me to place a navigational lock on all the ships and move them myself via conventional devices than it is to control the wind."

"Very well, then Idiot, do that. We shall make two landfalls. One in Sicily and the last at the Rock of Gibraltar. We will ensure that all ships are provided adequate provisions for the transatlantic voyage. We should be able to make the crossing in twenty-one days. In Sicily we shall demonstrate our water purification "magic" so that they may understand that we can re-supply them with fresh water on the way. This should gain their trust so that they follow us."

"Understood."

The sea voyage gave Jim plenty of time to consider his future plans. He had plenty of time to act out numerous simulations. He would need those forty days to consider his actions; besides, he had all the time in the world at his fingertips.

Antiope and Helen loved the journey as well. The trio kept their distance from the natives. Jim didn't care much for the reverence he was getting, but he didn't know how to communicate with them effectively. He certainly could use Ayesha.

At Gibraltar they counted two hundred ships. Jim personally inspected each ship before he permitted it to cross the Atlantic. He would have Genie print out a picture of what he wanted done if he saw a correction was needed. Although the natives could not understood Jim's speech they certainly understood his pictures. The graphical detail convinced them that they did not want to argue with this being. He scolded them each time they tried to worship him. Instead he would teach them to stand and face him and shake his hand in greeting as an equal. This they understood with a smile.

Antiope and Helen stood guard over Jim, ever reminding them that they were contemporaries of Ayesha, their beloved high priestess who had sacrificed her life for their salvation. The people were following the women, thinking that they were the source of the magic. Jim still played the role of servant to Antiope and Helen, which made the people all the more comfortable with these strangers. The majority had their doubts about Jim, but they trusted Ayesha's sisters; and she had told them to trust Antiope and Helen as they had her.

It was true then that the four thousand exiles were following the women, but by now all were curious as to the mysterious captain of the Flying Dutchman who would be leading them across the great expanse. Jim was quite an enigma to these people. Most only remembered him as the crazy old man who had warned about the end of their city. Most had laughed at him then, but most seemed to be following him now. Great magic was indeed needed to convince them to follow, and this mysterious captain seemed to possess great magic, but he wished to be treated as a mere man.

The weather was exceptionally mild as the voyage was made. Jim and Idiot were able to conduct several successful weather experiments. Across the ocean the convoy stayed in a rather tight formation. Jim did not get much rest. Tribal chiefs were always desiring an audience with him as they attempted to establish their social ranks.

The voice simulators proved indispensable. Although not everyone could understand the Egyptian tongue at first, there was a sufficient number to allow basic communication to be enabled. It wasn't long however, before Genie managed to acquire a superb fluency of the native's language and the Egyptian translators were then no longer needed.

The trip went without incident, mainly because of the Gibraltar inspection and adequate supplies. Towards the end the food was a little scarce. All were advised to fatten before they sailed, and Sicily and Gibraltar had both been calls of bountiful feasts. Yet fresh water could be obtained from the Flying Dutchman and this kept the morale high.

Jim also had Genie renew their food supplies while at sea. The adjustment was made very subtly. As soon as someone began to think the barrels were bottomless, they would run dry, only to find another food reserve that someone had apparently stowed away.

Jim's convoy made remarkable time. In just seventeen days, Helen spotted an island she knew as Puerto Rico. Jim resolved to find harbor and let the natives hunt. The mood could have been described as somewhat exuberant. Antiope and Helen challenged the native men to impress them and hunt up some fine game. The men were not only willing, but very hungry as well. To make the festivities even more sporting, Antiope and Helen planned on giving the women some female advice, as to how to make themselves more irresistible. They both thought it was a very cute idea to give the Earth women a tincture of ambrosia with which they could entice their men.

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