The boat kept swinging sideways on the river and frustrated, Sax finally pulled up the night anchor and decided to creep up river with just the riding lights.

"A bit risky don't you think?"

"Better than winding up facing the wrong way I'm not a sailor don't forget. Straight ahead and stop, that's about the extent of my nautical skills."

"Why not take it closer to shore?"

"For a guy who was a Sky God in the middle of this jungle for as long as you were, you didn't learn much did you? The only thing we have to worry about out here in the middle is our friend the caiman. Near the shore there are all kinds of nasty critters that could find their way aboard."

Sam shrugged, patted Sax on the back and said he was going to see what the Cardinal had in his galley.

* * *

Jed stood at the bottom of the compound while Tapuk, Matzumen, Krena and her daughter waited in the dugout. Chessery strode up to the ever present priest blockade and said that she wanted to see Father Montcleefe.

"Miss Blanchert." The greeting was cool as Montcleefe joined her at the foot of the stairs. There was no invitation to the verandah for drinks.

"I'm here to tell you that I'm taking possession of Mr. Arthur Trask's stolen helicopter."

"I know nothing of its theft. His Eminence Cardinal Carlo Giovanni made an arrangement with your questionable friend Mr. Saxon. The helicopter for immediate passage on his boat. They have been gone well over a day now."

"Mr. Saxon had no right to make any such arrangements. He stole the machine in the first place and I am taking it back."

"Your friend Trask came by and he insisted that I keep it here for his return."

"He's not my friend and I told you, I'm taking it. You can give me the keys."

"How do you-1 don't have the keys." Montcleefe protested.

"You see that man down there?" Chessery pointed to Jed. "You give me the keys or that gun he's carrying will get it for me."

"You-1 am an agent of the Holy Rom-"

"Jed!" Chessery called. "Bring your gun up here."

Montcleefe gaped at her and at the man sauntering up the hill toward them.

"Wait! You can't do this!"

"The keys, Father."

He acquiesced, head bowed. Chessery bowed her head in return and marched back down to the shore.

"Well?"

Chessery related the Father's news and then flipped an impatient hand toward the boat. "Let's get out to that machine and gas it up."

"Who is going to fly it?"

"I am." She climbed into the dugout and told Tapuk to push off Jed stared dumbfounded, almost missing his ride.

* * *

When Jed had passed the empty gas cans back to the two native guides and they were well away from the helicopter Chessery flipped the switches on the console and slowly listened as the rotor blades began their flup-flup sound, gaining speed and at the right moment she eased the stick into position and the machine lifted gracefully off the water and surged forward.

Jed turned in his seat and gave Krena and Luna a reassuring smile as they huddled uncertainly in the back.

"Everything is fine, Krena." He said in his broken Katopi, hoping in his heart he was right. Chessery just grinned and gave him a smug look.

"What do you plan to do?"

"Find the boat and rejoin Sax and Sam. From then on you can find your way to wherever you like with Krena."

"What makes you think he'll join you again. You double crossed him Chessery."

"He's used to that from me. He'll get over it."

Her confidence staggered Jed but he couldn't help but admire this multi talented woman. With a casual dexterity, she steered the chopper along the path of the river, soaring up and down again as the foliage allowed and while seemingly oblivious to the scenery, she was focused on the banks, looking for any sign of Trask and Forrester.

"Do you think they caught up yet?"

"Nope. Too soon. They stopped at the mission too don't forget. We'll find them soon at this speed."

"What about the boat?"

"Depends on how fast Sax could talk the Cardinal into moving. I figure maybe three hours from when we spot Trask."

"What about fuel?"

Chessery didn't answer; she just refocused on the river below and ahead.

* * *

"You can't cook for shit, Parkhurst." Sax spooned a mouthful of mystery into his mouth and chewed with distaste.

"Can't make a silk purse, pal. The girl must have been the cook for the Cardinal."

"Yeah, well at least she knew what they were eating."

"Look, whatever it is it can't have been dangerous or they wouldn't have had it in the galley, okay?"

"Oooh, touchy, touchy As a domestic you make a good Sky God." Sax kidded.

Before he could answer, Sam pointed over the bow and stood up, setting his plate down on the console.

"What's that?"

Sam stood as well and looked to where he was pointing.

"It looks like a floating store with all that crap hanging all over the rails."

"I hope he isn't going to run into us." Sam watched as the junky looking craft angled toward them on the river.

"He's looking for business is my guess." Sax cut back the engine and let the boat drift forward slowly until the two craft nudged together. He set the throttle on idle and told Sam to toss the anchor over the bow while he climbed down to greet the visitor.

The man that appeared in the doorway was about forty or so, streaky grey hair sprouting from under a brown fedora that looked like it was used to cook in. His eyes were squinty and his voice told reams about one of his vices.

"Slick lookin' craft for this river."

"What can I do for you?" Sax asked.

"Name's Archimedes Stover, owner and operator of the Gingi River Floating Emporium."

"Never heard of you. Got any beer?"

"As a matter of fact I do. Ten dollars a bottle" the look on Sax's face made him hurry on. "but for a new customer I can make that five."

"I'll give you fifteen bucks for a six pack, take it or leave it."

"You don't make commerce an easy career, son."

"What's he peddlin' ?" Sam jumped down and looked the boat over.

"Beer for ten bucks a bottle."

Sam laughed harshly and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Not to me he ain't."

"We made a deal since we are new customers."

Archimedes handed up the six pack and took Sax's money.

"That's a church symbol on the front of the bridge, you fellas religious men?"

"We follow the golden rule." Sam said.

"Uh huh. Is the Cardinal on board?" Archimedes asked nonchalantly.

Sam gave Sax a wary glance.

"We made a trade, our helicopter for his boat, seems he wanted to include local flying in his religious endeavours."

"So he ain't on board."

"You know him do you?" Sax said.

"Just met him this trip. He came through Sao Paulo same time as me."

The river man rubbed a calloused hand over his chin.

"Where are you headed from here?" Sax asked.

"You never said where the Cardinal was."

"I told you, we made a trade, he's not on board any more."

"Nope, he be headed someplace else." Sam smiled comfortably at the look on Sax's face.

"You never said where you were headed."

Archimedes repositioned himself in the doorway and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "I finish my run at la Almenas and then back up to Sao Paulo."

"I've never seen you on this river before and certainly not at las Almenas."

"And this stuff is all new. For a guy plying this river for so long that's quite a turnover in inventory." Sam was fingering a few of the items hanging from the rail.

"Well if the beer is all you want I'll be on my way." Archimedes tried pushing off but Sax grabbed the pole and held tight.

"Hold on, Stover, I've got more questions."