The sun was dipping below the jungle canopy, and suddenly the river took on an oily sheen and shadows became threatening obstacles in the water. Forrester hollered over the motor noise to Trask, telling him they were pulling into shore for the night.

"Can't navigate these waters in the dark, Trask. It'd be suicide."

"They won't be stopping; we'll lose time catching up."

"Don't kid yourself. Sax is no sailor. Steering that thing in the daylight is something anyone could do. Night's a different story, believe me."

Reluctantly, Trask accepted the mercenary leader's advice and the two boats lashed together, were hauled up onto a shallow bank and the surrounding shrub cleared for a campsite.

* * *

Chessery tied the chopper pontoon to the half sunken log while Jed helped Krena and Luna to shore. The river ran quite shallow at that point and they took advantage of the mooring to stop for the night, rest and put the last of the gas in the tanks.

"We're good for the night." She said climbing up the bank and dropping her pack by the spot Jed had cleared for a fire.

"Krena says we need to be a little concerned about snakes or cats; this is the kind of spot they like to hunt at night."

"It had to be somewhere if we didn't want to sleep sitting in the chopper all night."

"I'll set up a couple of perimeter fires but we'll need to stand watch overnight."

"We can do that. I'll take the first one; I'm too psyched to rest anyway"

"Krena is making some food up so as soon as we eat I'll get them settled. You can call me when you want to sleep."

Chessery spent her time on watch keeping the three fires lit, eyes and ears alert for the jungle predators. When she felt she needed to sleep she woke Jed and took his place beside Krena and Luna. Jed checked the perimeter fires and then walked down near the water's edge, scanning the shore before looking up river and into the inky blackness.

At first he thought it was his imagination then he moved a few feet closer and squinted, focusing on the slight tint of yellow on the river's horizon. The longer he looked the more he was convinced it was a fire just like theirs and he immediately hurried back and kicked out the two perimeter fires. If he could see theirs, they could see his.

"What's going?" Chessery sat up yawning.

"Fire way up the river. I can see the glow. If it's Trask, and they see ours they might just send somebody back to check it out and we aren't equipped to get into a fight with his guys."

"Then let's hope they don't." She laid back down and wriggled comfortably, closing her eyes and falling right to sleep.

"Try not to worry," Jed quipped, as he continued his vigil.

* * *

Forrester used the small twig to light his cigarette and then tossed it in the fire, leaning back on his pack and drawing the first smoke deep into his lungs. Arkady and Hammond sat together drinking a quick brew coffee while Trask paced up and down the riverbank.

"What's the plan, Trask. Chasin' after Sax and the pilot doesn't get you any nearer the treasure."

"He made it personal when he broke his contract and stole my chopper."

"You got it back, what's the use of wastin' all this time?"

"I don't want Grant Saxon showing up behind my back. He and that pilot both know the location of that treasure and that is just not on."

"You're planning on taking him out?"

"You have a problem with that?"

"It's a terrible waste of a good man."

"Don't make me question you too, Forrester." Trask squatted down and helped himself to some coffee from the campfire.

They had been working on and off together for over fifteen years and Forrester had never seen him so obsessed over anything like he was over the treasure business. And he didn't like the idea of getting rid of Grant. Over those same fifteen years, Grant had been with him and was the man who saved his life in Africa.

He thought of the treasure and the sample stones Trask had taken from the pilot. A cave full of those went a long way to soothing a man's conscience. He flipped away his cigarette and lay back closing his eyes. He'd see tomorrow.

* * *

Archimedes sat in the tiny cabin of his boat, looking most forlorn. He had spent the night a prisoner on his own boat and at first light his captors had lit into him. His jacket was black under the arms and down the middle of his back. The heat in the tiny cabin was horrific. Under Sax's insistent questioning and hinted threats, he revealed the arrangement he said he made with the Cardinal.

The Cardinal had explained that he would be taking certain natives from the various villages, and personally counselling them in the ways of the Christian Church, they would be kept available for Archimedes to pick up and hold for the Cardinal's return. He was to get a handsome reward for his assistance.

"He was going to take them back to Rome!" Sam said with surprise.

Archimedes said. "I think he was going to enjoy them all again before he returned; they were all young girls."

"Were?"

"I stopped at the first village and found the first girl. She was only fifteen. Our deal was off." He made an exaggerated face. " I decided then and there That Archimedes Stover wasn't going to pimp for some deviate Cardinal, money or no money When I saw your boat I figured I was going to have it out with him." He looked expectantly at Sax and Sam.

Sax leaned closer to the man and locked eyes. "I don't for one minute believe you are just some scurvy old river rat peddling crap to the natives, pal. And that tale about a deal with the Cardinal stinks, so in the interest of good relations with the people who now have you at their mercy, suppose you come clean... now."

The heat inside the little boat became more oppressive. Sam stepped out onto the narrow deck and climbed back onto the Cardinal's boat; he needed some fresh air and a smoke. Inside, Sax waited while Archimedes weighed his options.

"Okay, here it is. I'm with InterSky Aviation. I'm an investigator hired by the company"

"InterSky Isn't that-?" Sax seemed surprised.

"What? Isn't that what?"

"He was going to say isn't that where I worked." Sam hopped back down inside the cabin.

"You! You're Parkhurst!"