Once the doors were closed, the curtains drawn and windows shuttered, and the serving staff sent home, Etzel and his helpers busied themselves in the kitchen, and Kit and Gianni cleared a space at the far end of the dining room. They pulled the largest of the round tables into the space and dragged chairs around for everyone. As it was her venue, Wilhelmina undertook to preside over the gathering, assuming a formal style she thought suited the occasion.
“I declare this meeting open,” she began as soon as everyone was seated. “To begin, I want to say you are all welcome here. I expect this will be a long night, as we all have a lot to share and there is much to discuss. If no one objects, I will act as chairman to keep things on an even keel.” Mina passed her gaze around the table. “No objections? Good.” Putting out a hand towards Cass, she said, “I see that most of us know most of us, but some don’t know others, and others probably know hardly anyone at all.”
“Try saying that ten times real fast,” whispered Kit to Giles, and received a disapproving look from Mina. “Don’t mind me,” he told her. “You’re doing fine.”
“As I was saying . . . Since new members have been added to our group, I think it will save time in the long run if we take a moment to go around the table and introduce ourselves. Since Kit seems to have a lot to say, we’ll start with him.” She gave him a sour smile. “Tell us how you came to be here.”
“Right.” He nodded, thought a moment, then gave his full name and a brief-to-the-point-of-brusque report of his experience of meeting his long-lost great-grandfather in a London alley, and how Cosimo introduced him to ley travel and told him about the Skin Map and the race to find it.
Lady Fayth spoke next, offering a precise and forthright account of her tutelage under her uncle, Sir Henry Fayth; she was followed by Giles who, clearly uncomfortable, gave only the barest explanation of his experience.
Cassandra came next and told about her accidental introduction to ley travel while working in the Arizona desert, getting lost, and, providentially, making contact with the Zetetic Society. The mere mention of the society pricked everyone’s curiosity and there were lots of questions, but before the meeting could be derailed, Mina intervened, saying, “I’m sure we all want to hear more about that—and we will come back to it shortly. But for now, let’s move on.”
Then all eyes turned to Gianni.
Folding his hands on the table, he leaned forward slightly and began. “My name is Giambattista Beccaria—Gianni, if you will—and let me say what an honour it is to be included in such a delightful company,” he said, natural charm warming his Italian tones. “I am a priest of the Ordo Sancti Benedicti, beginning in Sant’Antimo and later at the Abadia de Montserrat in Spain. Although a priest, my vocation has been that of astronomer.” He smiled, his round glasses glinting. “Thus, in more ways than one, a man with his head in heaven.”
As he spoke, Kit could feel the group falling under the spell of a man who seemed to exude benevolence and humility mingled with a genuine, unforced grace. It was proof, if any were needed, that Wilhelmina was wise to choose him as her mentor.
“One day, many years ago, I discovered what you all are pleased to call ley travel. At the time I did not know what it was that I had discovered, but being of a scientific mind, I studied it and eventually succeeded in learning how to manipulate it for my own purposes. Never in my studies did I imagine that it might serve some greater goal. In this, Signorina Wilhelmina has been my instructor—for it is she who told me about the Skin Map and its unknown treasure. And now, my friends, I believe we are very close to plumbing the depths of this great and sacred mystery. For, if our suppositions are correct, the object of our quest has been found.”
This declaration caused a small sensation among those at the table who had not yet heard the news. Haven was first to find her voice. “Forgive me, Brother Gianni, but am I to understand that the Skin Map has been found?”
“The Map of Skin, no, signorina,” replied the priest. “That remains beyond our reach at present. I was speaking of the Well of Souls—and my belief that this is the secret that the map conceals.”
“And how, I beg you, was this feat accomplished without the use of the map?”
Extending a hand towards Kit, who was sitting directly across from him, the priest said, “For that, we have Mr. Livingstone to thank. It is he who discovered the way—or, perhaps, one of the ways by which this miraculous place may be reached.”
“By my faith! Kit, is this true?” Haven spun around to regard him with an expression of sceptical appraisal. “Are we to understand that you have found the Spirit Well?”
“I did.” Kit offered a judicious nod. “At least, I think I did. If not, then what I found is something equally amazing. But we cannot be sure it is the Well of Souls until we can return and make a thorough investigation.”
“That is without doubt the best news I have heard,” enthused Lady Fayth. “I fail to see what is preventing us from going there right this instant.” She appeared ready to leap out of her chair and race off in completion of the quest. Sensing the others did not share her joy at this revelation, she added, “Yet there is something preventing us, I fear.” She looked to Kit and Wilhelmina. “Pray, what is it?”
“The problem,” Kit replied slowly, “is the way I discovered it—that is, the means I used to reach the place where I found it.”
“Yes?” demanded Haven. “Speak, sir! What is this fearsome difficulty you are so obviously loath to mention?”
“There’s a problem with the pathway, or portal, or whatever,” replied Kit irritably. “The Bone House is gone.”
“Bone house?” Haven threw herself back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “And what, I implore you, is a bone house?”
“It is a house, a shelter, made of bones, and it—”
“A house made of bones?” She tossed her head in derision, her tone high and haughty. “Do you honestly expect anyone to believe this unabashed claptrap? Or is this merely your lumbering way of discouraging the rest of us from participating in your discovery?”
“Look here,” snapped Kit. “I’m not making this up. It is real, it exists—at least, it did exist. If you don’t believe me—” He glanced at Mina and Brother Gianni, looking for confirmation. “Tell her.”
“Haven, this isn’t helping,” said Wilhelmina. “Kit is telling the truth.”
“My friends,” interposed Gianni smoothly, “if I may be allowed to suggest a simple explanation.” He turned to Haven. “Lady Fayth, it appears that our friend has found a portal that leads directly to a world containing a phenomenon that he has with good reason identified as the Spirit Well, yes? This portal was marked, as is so often the case, by the ancient inhabitants of the region—in this instance not with stone or earthworks, but with an edifice constructed of the bones of deceased creatures. Prego! The Bone House.”
Haven glanced at Kit. “Is that what you were trying to say?”
“More or less,” he allowed.
“Are we all on the same page now?” asked Mina, glancing around the table.
“In future, one could hope for more linguistic precision,” replied Haven, undeterred. “At all events, it would seem the most prudent course would be to return forthwith to what you believe may be the Spirit Well and verify these conjectures of yours. If that is what you propose, then let us be about it at once.”
“That is the proposal on the table,” Kit replied testily. “And if you had only given me half a chance—”
“Not forgetting we have a major complication,” Wilhelmina interrupted, trying to keep the discussion on track. “As Kit has explained, direct access to the portal no longer exists. So the quest has become a little more complicated. We have to find a way back to the Spirit Well without using the Bone House.” Satisfied with her summation, she gave a nod and sat down, adding, “Something tells me it won’t be easy.”
“The best things,” Cassandra observed to herself, “rarely are.”
&n
bsp; CHAPTER 10
In Which a Solemn, Sacred Deal Is Struck
So, your dad is an astrophysicist?” said Kit. “What’s that like?”
“Out of this world,” replied Cass. Kit gave her an appreciative smirk. “That’s what I used to say whenever anyone asked. To me, he’s just a typical dad.”
“Does he know where you are?”
“Don’t ask,” Cass sighed. “He’s probably called out the National Guard by now. The last time I spoke to him, he was about to jump on a plane and come to help me investigate this odd phenomenon I thought I had discovered.”
“Ley leaping?”
“The man who showed me called it ‘crossing the Coyote Bridge.’”
“That’s a new one.”
“He is a Yavapai tribesman, and he was helping us with the dig where I was working.” Cass went on to explain about finding what Friday called the Ghost Road located in Secret Canyon near Sedona. “Have you ever been to America?” she asked.
“Not even close,” admitted Kit. “One day, maybe. I’ve always wanted to see Hollywood and New York.”
“That’s what everyone says,” Cass laughed, and Kit decided he liked the sound so much he would try to make it happen again. “They’re only about three thousand miles apart,” she told him. “But sure, why not? Where else?”
“Disney World, or Graceland.” He lifted his palms as if weighing options. “I can’t decide. It’s a toss-up.”
“Oh, Disney World—definitely,” she advised. “You’d look good in mouse ears.”
In an effort to clear his head and keep out of Haven’s reach, Kit had decided to take a walk and invited Cass to join him. She had a capable, uncomplicated, and forthright manner that he found refreshing, and was rather fetching in a long skirt with a high-laced bodice and crisp white blouse borrowed from Wilhelmina’s wardrobe. Thus, they sauntered along a pleasant stretch of riverside outside the city walls, content in one another’s easy company.
“Palaeontologist, eh?” he said after a moment. “Old bones and all that? Fossils and rocks?”
“Pretty much.”
“What do you think of Prague?” he asked. “It’s jolly old.”
“I love it. Don’t you feel like you’re in a fairy tale?” She told him about being sent to London to find Sir Henry. “That was fascinating too—but nowhere near as charming as this.”
“You were at Clarimond House?”
She nodded. “That’s where I met Haven and Giles. They suggested we should come here and—to make a long story short—here we are. But now I need to get back to Damascus and give them a report. Have you ever been to the Zetetic Society?”
“Afraid not. My great-grandfather mentioned them once or twice in passing. He had plans to take me to one of their meetings or something, but that, like a lot of other things, just didn’t happen.”
“Because he died?”
“And Sir Henry along with him. Giles and I were with them at the end.”
“I’m sorry.” She gave his arm a sympathetic pat. “I had to ask—it’s one of the things I was sent to find out.”
“Well, you can tell them it was Burleigh and his goons. They’re to blame. In fact, they seem to be responsible for most everything bad that happens around here.”
“That’s what Haven said—‘stricken down by vile enemies.’”
“She’s right about that, but don’t believe everything she says,” Kit cautioned. “You can’t trust her.”
“I wondered.”
“Let’s just say that Haven Fayth looks out for her own interests first, last, and always. But yes, she was there too, and on this occasion she’s telling the truth.” Kit then launched into a description of events in Egypt leading up to their capture by Burleigh. He concluded, saying, “This is news to you? Burleigh and his toadies?”
“Oh, Haven told me about them, but I guess I thought they were just tomb robbers or something. I didn’t really understand that they were after the Skin Map or what they were willing to do to get it.”
“They’re murderers. And they have this way of showing up exactly when they need to, and when they can do the most harm. I used to wonder how they did it, but now I think I know.” He paused and glanced at his agreeable companion. “They use a device—a shadow lamp. Has anybody mentioned that yet?”
“What is it?”
“It’s a gadget that can detect ley lines and portals and such.” He went on to describe what it looked like and how it worked and how Wilhelmina had secured a prototype of the instrument for herself behind Burleigh’s back. “Mina has started calling it a shadow lamp. It emits this sort of glowing light, and then apparently everything goes a bit dark right before you make a ley jump.”
“Does Mina have the only one?” Cass asked. “Can I see it?”
“Well, I used to have one—Mina’s old model before she upgraded. It got wrecked just before coming here when we encountered that portal we were talking about—near the gorge I mentioned? Anyway, this portal was pumping out a massive amount of energy. Our gizmos couldn’t handle it. They overheated and burned out. We didn’t know they would do that.”
“Can they be fixed, or can you make more of them? If so, maybe we should all have one,” suggested Cass. “If we’re going to be working together, it would be good for us all to have the same tools.”
“We don’t make them. Mina got them from a contact at court who makes them for Burleigh. It’s a secret. But I think you’re right; it would be good if everybody had shadow lamps.” He stopped walking and took in a view of the river sliding silently along its grassy banks. “I could keep walking for miles on a day like this, but we should get back before they send out the bloodhounds.”
Cassandra drew a deep lungful of the clean country air. “I like it here—and it’s been good to get outdoors. I’m not used to being cooped up all day.” She gave Kit a sunny smile. “Thank you. This has been nice.”
They turned to stroll back to the city, the warm autumn air already beginning to chill as the sun slanted towards the horizon. Kit asked about her life and work in Arizona, and she told him about the dig and discovering traces of the rare theropod Tarbosaurus, which she called a real coup for the university.
“Do you miss it?” asked Kit. “Your old life, I mean?”
“Truthfully? No. I haven’t thought about it much. Since all this began, I’ve been completely consumed and overwhelmed by the experience.”
“It has that effect.”
“How about you? Do you miss your old life in London?”
“To be honest, there isn’t that much to miss,” Kit replied. “I had a boring, nowhere job and not much else. Looking back on it now, I see that Cosimo did me a huge favour by bringing me into the family business, as he called it.” Kit gave a sharp, scoffing laugh. “Some business! I was stuck in the Stone Age for three years—maybe more. I lost count.”
“Get out of here!”
“It’s true. You didn’t know?” Cass shook her head, so Kit continued. “The Bone House we were talking about—that’s where it is. Smack in the middle of the Stone Age. There’s a ley line near here that leads to this incredible gorge—sheer cliffs of white limestone with a river flowing through it. To make a long story short, Burleigh was after me and I tried to escape using the Valley Ley, as Mina calls it—but something went wrong. I landed in the Stone Age with a clan of primitive people. I don’t mind telling you it was the most amazing, frightening, exhilarating, and rewarding thing that has ever happened to me. I am absolutely itching to get back there.”
Just thinking about it brought Kit to silence. He paused and his vision grew unfocused as the memories flooded through him.
“Kit? Are you okay?”
When he answered his voice had taken on a note of longing. “It’s hard to describe, but when I was there I was more than myself—as if being around the primitives made me better than I am, somehow.” He shrugged. “Now I feel like I’ve lost a limb, or a brother, or something. I liked who I was w
hen I was with them—if that makes any sense. That’s why I want to go back . . . why I have to go back.”
“I want to hear every single detail.” Cass stopped walking, looked directly into his eyes, and fixed him with her gaze.
“Better still, I’ll show you,” offered Kit. “As I was saying, the expedition to find the Spirit Well starts from there. I guess I just assumed you would be coming along too. But now you say you have to get back to Damascus—” He felt himself floundering. “Do you? Do you have to go back right away, I mean?” The intensity of her look unnerved him slightly, so he lightened the mood. “I’ll introduce you to the clan, show you a real, living mammoth—not just bones! And who knows? If you’re good, maybe a cave lion too, and how to hunt with a sharp stick.”
“Done!” she said. Cass spat into her palm and extended her hand. “Spit and shake.” Kit did as he was told and they shook hands. “There,” she said. “It is a sacred, solemn deal. You can’t renege on it.”
“I wouldn’t want to renege on it,” Kit told her.
The moment stretched too long, becoming awkward, so they resumed their walk in silence. When that became uncomfortable too, Kit blurted, “So tell me more about Sedona.”
Cass shrugged. “Sedona is a decent enough place, I suppose. I love the red rocks and canyons. But truth be told, I was really taken with Damascus—something about the place . . . or maybe it’s the people.”
They talked about the surreal contrasts of their lives old and new, and the unimaginable bounces the life of a ley traveller could take at any turn. Eventually they passed through the massive town gates and up the steep street now sunk in shadow. Upon reaching the Old Square, they entered the sunlight once more and proceeded to the Grand Imperial Kaffeehaus.
As they sauntered into the square, Cass paused to take in the great gothic edifice fronting the square. “What is that building?” she asked, indicating the looming presence rising before her.
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