The Adventurers

Chapter 26

It was apparent to Le Clerque that, while a huge insult to himself, the removal of his braid by the Katopi native had given him a status with this strange tribe because it somehow proved he had survived battle with a superior foe. This allowed him some freedom in the village and gave him the opportunity to do some exploring.

Using his talent to pick up language and combining it with what he already knew, he was able to learn his location in reference to Great Sea and the Mother River, or what he assumed was the Atlantic Ocean and the Amazon.

He created some elementary maps after his series of explorations and then made plans to escape the village and return to the mission at Qutamma. There he would pick up the trail of his friends and complete his obligation to Montcleefe and the Holy Church. The information would also allow him to cut days off his journey

His freedom of movement in the village led to his accidental discovery of the idol behind the jaguar's cave and the narrow entrance in the base of the rock. There was always a guard posted except for the rare occasion when there was a trial in the arena. Le Clerque had no proof but was possessed with a strong gut feeling that inside that guarded room was the treasure they were all seeking.

There was no way he could risk entry and after three weeks in the village he was afraid he may get too far behind the others, so he made his escape in the early morning and with his rudimentary map, shaved a good number of hours off his journey back.

* * *

Three days after their adventure in the rapids the group came off of the jungle tributary and onto the wide expanse of the Gingi River. Matzumen turned and looked at Sax with pride and poked his chest as if to say, I told you so.

"Great job Matzumen. If I'm not mistaken we are about six or seven miles north of the mission at Qutamma."

Tapuk pulled on his arm. "Four." He said, quite assuredly.

"Even better." Sax told the others and called over to Jed who was taking his turn on the outrider log. "We'll stop there and let Krena and her daughter off" Jed stopped paddling and hollered in alarm. "No way, Saxon. She ran away from there for a reason. That Montcleefe will make her life hell."

"She can come to las Almenas with us," Chessery barged in. "The mission there will accept her no problem.

"You seem to have an interesting amount of knowledge about las Almenas; mind telling me how?"

"I told you before, Sax, I do my research."

He gave her a curious look and turned back to face down river. The sun was dipping just below the jungle canopy and the river changed from brown to an oily black. All along the banks, as they passed, they could hear the slap splash of caimans entering the water, primarily to check them out.

A few monkeys chattered in the trees and the saw several species of birds going about with whatever they did at dusk. The ever present insects flew and buzzed about the them and closer to shore, dotted the surface with tiny wavelets. The river began moving more quickly and Tapuk's estimate of four miles turned out to be bang on.

The Qutamma mission appeared around a lazy bend, campfires from the natives near the designated, devotional compound reflected red on the river's surface and sent strings of dusty smoke into the night sky. Matzumen steered the raft, waving instructions to Jed so that the raft beached perfectly at the shore of the compound. Jed quickly waded out of the river and told Krena to keep Luna silent and for both to stay on the raft with Sam until they were ready to leave again.

He explained what they were going to do and received a clutching hand of gratitude. Sax and Chessery strode up through the compound toward the great house and were confronted by the same priests, carrying lanterns, who stopped Sax on his previous visit.

"I wish to see the Father." Chessery stated with a tone of authority.

"Father Gordo de Montcleefe is at present entertaining a Cardinal from the Holy Church in Rome and has no time for casual visitors."

"You tell Montcleefe that we are here about the treasure; he'll be more than happy to see us." Saxon thrust his jaw out at the priest and they stared daringly at one another until Chessery asked him to hurry.

Reluctantly, the priests marched off to the great house and climbed to the verandah where Sax and Chessery could see small lamps nickering in the dusk. They were barely gone before one came hurrying back, beckoning them to follow.

"Amazing what the promise of wealth can do, isn't it?"

"Wait 'til he hears we don't have it."

"Ten bucks says that's why his buddy has come to visit." Sax said.

"That assassin that was after us was authorized by the church, not Montcleefe. Our poor father has been euchred I think."

"Miss Blanchert! Welcome back. Please join us for some refreshment." Montcleefe guided her with a hand on her back, effectively shutting Sax out as they moved to the large balcony table.

The two small native boys were dutifully working the punkahs to create a meager breeze.

"May I present my guest from Rome, His Eminence, and Cardinal Carlo Giovanni." They both examined the plump face in the flickering light. The Cardinal remained seated and held out a hand, inverted to be kissed.

"Eminence, this is Miss Chessery Blanchert, the woman I told you about... and her friend Mr. Saxon." The last trailed off with a sound of disgust. Chessery patted the Cardinal's hand and moved across the table to an empty chair leaving him to gape after her, astonished. Ignoring his status was almost unheard of, and her friend hadn't even removed his hat!

"Some refreshment?"

"Please, we'll have tea thank you." Her emphasis on we made Montcleefe grimace.

Sax leaned on the railing and crossed his arms, calmly staring at the Cardinal and then Montcleefe. He had expected a more eager reception about the treasure leaving him with a suspicious niggle at the back of his mind.

"So, Miss Blanchert," the Cardinal oozed. "Father Montcleefe tells me you were on a treasure hunt?"

"Did he?"

Her response took the Cardinal by surprise and he coughed a chuckle and waved a pale hand uncertainly.

"Were you not?"

"Oh yes, we were and it proved somewhat exciting to say the least."

"Were you successful?" Montcleefe ventured quietly.

"In a way." Her answers had both men squirming on their chairs and Sax had to cover his mouth. Chessery was in her glory. The consummate tease, with an audience that couldn't leave without knowing the answer.