The Adventurers

Chapter 27

"As a representative of the Holy Church, Miss Blanchert, I'm sure you can appreciate our interest in any archeological and historical matters that concern those members of our flocks, primarily to see that they are protected and preserved correctly."

It was too much and Sax blurted out a loud snort, giving the pompous little man a look of utter contempt. "You mean you want whatever these people have of value for yourselves."

Montcleefe began sputtering but the Cardinal held up his hand. "This gentleman seems to find our motives not altogether altruistic, Father. Perhaps it is because he wishes for himself exactly what he accuses us of wanting."

"You're going to sit there and say that your interest is solely for the good of these natives?"

"You can't address a Cardinal of the Holy Church-"

"Can we please skip the niceties and talk some turkey?" Chessery drank some tea and made a tired face.

"Very well," Cardinal Giovanni said. "Turkey it is." The voice grew steely. "The treasure, report please."

"How about you reporting to us first about the assassin you sent after us?" Sax snapped.

"How dare you!" Montcleefe lurched up from his seat then stopped, staggering back and sitting with a bang. Standing in the doorway of the house was the current topic of discussion.

Le Clerque stepped out onto the verandah and leaned against a support post, his face a mass of ugly scars and scabs. Sax straightened up, his hand dropping to the gun in his belt.

"You won't need that, Mister Saxon." The voice was rough and muffled but the black eyes burned brightly as Le Clerque shifted his interest to Chessery.

"You found it didn't you?"

She set her cup down and sat up. "What makes you think that?"

Montcleefe started to speak again but a look from Le Clerque sealed his mouth shut. The Cardinal placed a gentle hand on the man's arm and suggested he tell them what he knew and of our plans. Sax and Chessery exchanged glances.

When he finished it was apparent he was speculating, close to the truth, but unsubstantiated. Chessery agreed with some of his conclusions then turned her attention to the Cardinal.

"The abandoned city, as you have heard, was not, and the natives were very unhappy to have been discovered. As far as this Sky God goes there was a white man there but he had no influence other than a few items that kept the natives from doing to him what they did to your men." She glared at Montcleefe. "He had a lighter and a compass and some batteries that eventually died out. These kept him alive in their midst but he had no power." She got up and stood beside Sax.

"We found no treasure and were fortunate enough to get away with our lives, no thanks to you, Father. Your man Pazzo savagely killed two of our men and I believe this one," she jabbed a finger at Le Clerque, "attempted to kill another. I must say, I'm not unhappy to see the consequences of that attack."

Le Clerque stiffened and the grimace on his face was exaggerated by the ugly wound. "She lies, Eminence. They found the treasure. Search their raft,"

Sax folded his arms and stared at the men. "Nobody touches our raft. You have no more authority here than I do, pal. So just back off We stopped only for the purpose of registering our complaint with him." He raised his chin at Montcleefe, who seethed at the indifferent designation. "You want any further contact with us you can paddle down to las Almenas."

He took Chessery's arm and led her to the steps leading down to the compound. The pair boarded the raft and pushed out into the river. On shore the two priests, holding their lanterns high, glowered at their retreat and behind them Le Clerque stood nodding at their number visible in the weak light.

"They have the man the natives called Sky God with them as well as a native woman and a young girl."

"Krena and her daughter Luna," Montcleefe said. "They are runaways from the mission."

"This Sky God," the Cardinal asked. "Tell me about him."

"I believe he's a pilot who crashed in the jungle and, as they said, he had a few items that baffled the natives into thinking he was something special but he didn't seem to have any say over the tribe. I saw his quarters and while they were quite lavish and large, it was more like a prison. It was inside a huge carving of a jaguar's head."

"Do you think he knew about the treasure?"

"I can't answer that. Since he took the opportunity to escape with them I doubt he had any useful knowledge."

"So do you think they found it?"

"Did they say they did, Eminence?"

"She didn't deny it." Montcleefe interjected.

"Nor did she admit it, Father. But if I had to commit I would say they at least saw it. I saw nothing on the raft that would indicate any extra gear; it was quite cramped."

Montcleefe toyed with the cross about his neck. "What do we do now, Your Grace?"

"We mount our own expedition, led by Le Clerque here, and with a large force we go to the city and seize the treasure in the name of the Holy Church and God our Father."

"And would Qutamma benefit from this expedition, Eminence?"

"I'm sure your Bishop will compensate your mission appropriately, Father." The sentence was just that, a sentence. One that would mean years before he or his mission saw any benefit from the treasure. It wasn't fair, he had learned of it before any of them, he fumed silently.

"Of course, I bow to the discretion of the Holy Church and your Eminence."

The Cardinal rose and beckoned one of the silent serving girls standing at the back of the verandah.

"First I must retire and pray thanks for the safe return of our emissary and the good fortune the Lord has placed in our path."

He placed a fondling hand on the girl's back and steered her toward the stairs. "Perhaps you could find a way of attaining proof positive that they brought nothing back with them." His words were directed at both men and they stayed quiet until he was down the stairs and on the way to his boat.