“I don’t know if I believe it or not.” Dominic turned away. “But something’s not right. You make breakfast and I’ll go bring the pack animals to the front entrance of the palace.”

“You too?” Patrick sighed. “Everybody in the whole blamed world is giving me orders. I sure need one of those dancing girls.”

“You’ll be able to buy an entire harem with your share of the treasure.” Dominic said with a grin over his shoulder. “Not bad wages for cooking one breakfast.”


* * *

By noon both the horses’ and burros’ saddlebags had been loaded with treasure and the last large pack put on Azuquita’s protesting back. Dominic stepped back, avoided the mule’s vengeful nip, and turned to Patrick. “Don’t let him get too near the burros or he’ll gnaw through their girths. We don’t want to lose this load.”

“I’ll watch him.” Patrick glanced at Dominic curiously. “Where did you get him? You always swore you’d never have a mule.”

“It’s a long, sad story.” Dominic made a face. “I’ll tell you about it someday when I need to arouse your sympathy. By the time we get back to Killara you’ll understand how noble I’ve been.”

“Hmmm.” Patrick mounted his horse. “He doesn’t look so bad. Maybe you didn’t know how to handle him.”

Azuquita’s lips curled back in a toothy grin.

“You know, it could be you’re right,” Dominic murmured. “I never was any good with anything but horses. Why don’t you take him over for me on the way home?”

Patrick frowned uncertainly. “Well, I don’t know…”

“It’s settled then.” Dominic beamed. “You’re probably right about old Sweetness, and you won’t have any trouble at all.” He mounted Blanco and tossed Azuquita’s lead rope to Patrick. “May you be very happy together.”

“We’re not getting married,” Patrick said dryly.

“Oh, but I assure you that you’ll feel very close to Azuquita before this is over. He’ll be like a brother to you.” Dominic’s horse trotted out of the garden onto the street. “Like Cain was to Abel.”

24

Elspeth took a step closer to the mosaic on the wall of the temple, her eyes blazing with excitement. “It’s a serpent gliding around the bole of a palm tree. Oh, Rising Star, I wish there were some way I could take it with me.”

“Patrick told me you didn’t like snakes.” Rising Star smiled. “Why would you want an entire wall with the picture of one?”

“This is different.” Elspeth’s fingertip reached out to touch the smooth amber of the trunk of the palm tree. “It’s a link, a symbol. Don’t you see? The palm represents the tree of life, and the serpent, evil. It’s the legend of the Garden of Eden. In Tyre they discovered ancient coins with this same design and in Guatamala copper coins with the identical serpent and tree. And now it’s here in Kantalan too. A common symbol uniting cultures thousands of miles apart.”

“Coincidence?”

Elspeth shook her head. “There are too many coincidences, too many stories about godlike white men from the east. Quetzalcoatl came from the ‘distant east’ to become patron god of the Toltecs. Samé, the great Brazilian leader, came across the ocean from the rising sun. The Mayans claim that the birthplace of Tulan was across the sea to the east. There’s even one Mexican legend that says after the flood, Coxcox and his wife landed first at Antlan and then journeyed to Mexico. If they came from Atlantis, it would be logical for them to name their first landing place Antlan. And according to folklore, all the races that settled in Mexico trace their origin back to a wonderous place called Aztlan.” She stopped to draw a breath and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I tend to get excited when I talk about anything that touches on Atlantis.”

Rising Star shook her head. “I find it very interesting that you think we’re all voyagers from this Atlantis. My people too?”

“In the beginning.”

“Then we’re all the same, just fellow voyagers from the same port of origin.” Rising Star’s eyes were wistful as she looked at the mosaic. “How sad that some stay on course and some are lost forever. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all travel together, respecting and helping each other.”

Elspeth experienced a pang of compassion. “Perhaps someday we will.”

“Someday.” Rising Star turned away. “Now, what shall we gather to take with us-something smaller than that monstrous wall?”

“Rising Star.” Elspeth hesitated. “Patrick is very worried about you.”

Rising Star stopped but didn’t look at her. “I know. He has a warm heart and he cares for me. I’m sorry he’s in pain.”

“Dominic and I care about you too. Let us help you.”

Rising Star’s voice was muffled. “What can you do? Can you fade my skin from brown to white? Can you turn the clock back and bring Boyd and Rory to life? Can you make Joshua love me as much as I love him?”

Elspeth could feel the tears sting behind her eyes. “No, I can’t do those things, but I can offer you and your child a home with us and the affection of friends.”

Rising Star turned to her, a misty smile lighting her face. “That’s a beautiful gift, Elspeth. Thank you.”

“Will you come with us?”

“I don’t know. I must think about it. Right now I’m trying not to think at all until I heal.” She looked back at the mosaic. “Perhaps there is an Eden for me somewhere too. I hope so.” She laughed shakily. “Maybe I’ll take Silver and go in search of it. Living in Eden would be too tame for her but she’d enjoy the quest.”

Elspeth nodded. “Yes, I believe she would enjoy it.” Her eyes were troubled as she gazed at Rising Star. “We can’t promise you Eden but-”

“You are kind.” Rising Star’s voice was suddenly brisk. “But it is I who must make the decision on this. In time I will rid myself of this sorrow and make a fine life for myself. You will see, I will be content again.” She walked quickly across the chamber toward the table on which they’d placed a number of objects. “Dominic and Patrick will be here soon and you must choose which of these is most important to you so that I can put them in the knapsack.”