The Adventurer

friend of Trace's?" The inquisitive-eyed little clerk glanced out the window and back at Sarah. He was a thin, balding man in his sixties, dressed in brown polyester pants and an aging polo shirt. He had been pleasant enough, but it was clear he had a keen interest in local gossip.
    "We're business associates," Sarah said crisply. She finished her scrawling signature with her usual flourish.
    "Business associates, huh? Didn't know Gideon had any business associates. Thought he worked on that treasure-hunting magazine of his all by himself."
    Sarah smiled loftily. "He's acting as a consultant for me. I'm doing some research on treasure hunting for a book."
    "That right? Interestin'. Never met a real-life writer before. Except for Gideon, of course. And he don't exactly write books, just articles for that magazine of his. The two of you goin' somewhere together?"
    "A business trip."
    "Right. A business trip." The clerk chuckled knowingly. "Wished we d had business trips like that in my day. Well, at least this time Trace won't be goin' off alone on one of his business trips."
    That stopped Sarah just as she started to turn away toward the door. "He's gone off on trips before?"
    "Well, sure. 'Bout once a year he just ups and disappears for a while. Sometimes as long as a month." The clerk winked. "I asked him once where he went and he said on vacation. You the one he's been vacationin' with all these years?"
    "I don't really think that's any of your business." Sarah closed the door behind her on the sound of the desk clerk's cackling laughter.
    Gideon straightened away from the fender and unfolded his arms. He scowled. "Old Jess give you a hard time?"
    "Not really."
    "Why's he falling all over himself laughing in there?"
    "He thinks he's a stand-up comedian."
    They drove both cars back to the big old house on the bluff. Machu Picchu sat placidly on the top step watching as Gideon transferred Sarah's luggage from her car to his. Ellora flitted about with an air of delicate concern. The silver-gray cat hung around Sarah, tangling herself up between Sarah's feet and asking to be picked up and held.
    When Sarah obligingly lifted Ellora into her arms, the cat purred.
    "I think she wants to come along," Sarah announced.
    "That's all we'd need. A couple of cats to keep track of while we're traipsing around the Cascades. Forget it. The cats are just fine staying here by themselves."
    Sarah held the cat up so she could look Ellora straight in the eye. "Hear that? You have to stay behind. But we'll miss you."
    There was a low, grumbling cat roar from the top step. Sarah glanced over and saw Machu looking more cold-eyed than ever. "You, too, Machu. You take good care of Ellora while we're gone."
    Machu Picchu looked away, his ears low on his broad head, tail moving in a slow, restless arc.
    "He hasn't got the most charismatic personality in the world," Gideon said, "but you can count on old Machu. He'll do a good job of taking care of Ellora and watching over the place, won't you, pal?" Gideon scratched the oversized cat briefly behind the ears. Machu tolerated the caress in stony silence.
    "When you're that big, you don't have to be charming, I suppose," Sarah said with a small smile.
    "Does that logic apply to human males or just to cats?" Gideon asked.
    "Just to cats." Sarah made a production out of checking the back seat of her car. "I guess that's everything," she said a little uneasily as she realized she was about to be cooped up with Gideon for several hours.
    "Don't lose your nerve now." Gideon calmly locked his front door.
    "I wasn't losing my nerve."
    "Having second thoughts?"
    "A few."
    "Don't worry. Something tells me you're going to like the treasure-hunting business. It's tailor-made for bright-eyed, gullible types like you."
    Sarah paid him no attention as she patted Ellora one last time. "Goodbye, Ellora. Don't let that beast push you around too much."
    Ellora purred more loudly, looking not the least bit concerned about being bullied by Machu Picchu. When Sarah put her down she trotted over to the steps and bounded up to station herself beside the big cat. Machu unbent so far as to touch noses with her in greeting. Then his big tail curved around her neat hindquarters. Ellora looked shamelessly smug.
    "Are you sure they'll be all right?"
    "They'll be fine. Stop looking for an excuse to delay things. We've got a long drive ahead of us."
    Sarah slid into the front seat and adjusted her seat belt. "I have to tell