The Adventurer

extremely interesting, but rather academic, if you know what I mean. This way I'll have a chance to learn about the process of a real-life treasure hunt from the ground up, so to speak."
    Gideon sipped his instant coffee. "What if I tell you I'm not free at the moment to take off for two weeks?"
    "Well, I could come back at a later date, I suppose."
    "How much later?"
    "Tomorrow?"
    "Or the next day, maybe? Never mind. It's obvious you're not going to go away for good."
    "I really could postpone this for a while if it was absolutely necessary. After all, those earrings have been lost for a long time. But I sort of thought this was the right moment to start the search. And something tells me you have to be involved in the hunt. I really can't explain it, but I sense it's inevitable. I trust my intuition."
    "You do realize that financing this little expedition is going to be a major project in itself? Two weeks in the mountains including meals, lodging and gas are not going to come cheap. Can you afford it?"
    "I've budgeted for it. I'm a reasonably successful writer, Gideon, and I assure you I can handle the tab for this venture. I'll consider it my annual vacation."
    "You want to spend your annual vacation digging around in the dirt for something that probably doesn't even exist?"
    "You have to learn to think positive, Gideon," she said earnestly. "The earrings exist and we'll find them."
    "Tell me, Sarah, do you usually have to strong-arm some man into accompanying you on your annual vacations?"
    "Now, don't be sarcastic. To tell you the truth, I've never met one who was worth the effort before. And it does appear to be an effort, doesn't it? I didn't realize it would be quite this difficult."
    Gideon fixed her with a strangely baffled look. "I'm worth the effort because I can show you how to read that map or something?"
    "Sarah pursed her lips and scratched behind Ellora's ears. "Not exactly. Maybe. You've certainly had more experience with treasure maps than I've had. But I'm not sure if that's why I need you along. It's hard to explain. I just know I want you with me. Somehow the Flowers and the map and you are all linked together."
    He frowned suspiciously. "You're not under the impression you're psychic or something, are you?"
    "Of course not."
    "Are you sure?"
    "You're teasing me, aren't you? Don't worry, I'm not weird or anything. Just sort of intuitive. The minute we started corresponding, for example, I knew I was going to like you very much. I certainly hope you feel the same way about me."
    "I'll be blunt, Sarah Fleetwood. I can't even begin to figure out how I feel about you."
    "Well, you don't need to make up your mind this instant."
    "I don't? What a relief."
    She smiled sunnily and dove into her oversized bag for a piece of paper and a pen. "Here's the name of the place where I'm staying tonight. It's a tiny little motel a couple miles down the road." She jotted down the name. "Know it?"
    He scowled at the slip of paper. "Sure, I know it. We don't have that many motels around here. What about it?"
    "I suggest you pick me up for dinner around six o'clock. The motel clerk said there was a nice little restaurant nearby. You'll probably be more relaxed if we settle the details of our association over dinner."
    "Dinner."
    "You do eat dinner, don't you?" Sarah gently lifted Ellora from her lap and set her on the floor. The cat purred more loudly than ever.
    "Yeah, I eat dinner. That's not the point. The point is…"
    "Don't worry, I'm buying." Sarah picked up her bag. "Please, Gideon? This is very important to me and I feel certain that once you've had a chance to think about it all, you're going to want to accompany me on my search for the Flowers. Have you got anything else you have to do tonight?"
    "What if I said I had a date?"
    Sarah was thunderstruck. "Good grief, I never even considered that. Have you got a date?"
    Gideon groaned. "No."
    "Wonderful. Then it's all settled. See you at six." Sarah whipped around and headed toward the front door, digging the car keys out of her pocket. "Just give me a chance, Gideon," she called back over her shoulder. "I know I can talk you into this. And you won't lose by it, I promise. I'm prepared to pay you a very decent wage. You can apply it toward the heating bill for this house."
    She waved from the doorway at Gideon, who was still sitting at the kitchen table, and then she turned to lope down the porch steps. Machu Picchu had not moved from his throne. He slitted