1976

Dago was dead and the two remaining guides, Suno and Beeny had disappeared which left Don, Nancy, and Harry to clean up the campsite alone. There was something uncertain about the dig's entire existence from the moment he met Dago at Ogden Sumner until the present and beyond, and Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle whenever he thought of Dago's behavior their last month in the mountains.

His main concern now was for the safety of Nancy, and Don. They had a fortune in antiquities and if anyone found out about what they carried, it would be a free-for-all in a small town without a sheriff.

They made it safely back to the same hotel they'd started from and sold the gear for a fraction of the cost to the hotel manager's brother who would have to go into the hills and fetch everything they left behind. Unwilling to be seen in public, Harry and Nancy had their meals delivered to the rooms and dirty dishes littered the table. Don was younger and less worried than Harry and wouldn't allow himself to be intimidated and he knocked on the door and Nancy let him in.

"Did you do it?" she asked him.

Harry came out of the bathroom drying his head with a towel. "It feels good to shower finally." He stopped when he saw Don looking his way and figured it was something he'd seen before so why worry about being naked in front of him?

Nancy enjoyed seeing Don blush. "That's the second one you took since last night," she said.

"Well," he said, "you never know when we'll be able to take another." He smiled at her and got dressed while Don sat at the table and ate their untouched food. "Did you get us a car?"

"They want two thousand dollars. We don't have that kind of money, Harry."

There was a knock at the door, and Don opened it. The maid entered with their clothes, cleaned, and folded. She smiled and handed them to Nancy.

"Sus ropas estaban muy sucio, Señora."

Harry, now partially dressed, walked over to her and handed her a tip, "Sí. Muchas gracias."

As Harry was closing the door behind her, she stopped and told him that the manager would like to talk with them.

"Bueno. Estare abajo," he said and handed her another tip.

"Don't spend all our money, Harry," said Nancy.

"I had better see what he wants," said Harry. He finished dressing and walked down the hall and Nancy closed the door.

He came back moments later and leaned against the door. His face was flushed, and his eyes were dilated. "Fuck," he said.

The others stood around him. Don's eyes goggling. "What the hell is it Harry?"

Harry avoided Don's eyes, walked over to the window, and lifted the thin veil that covered it. "I have good news and bad news.".

"No games Harry," said Nancy.

"Armand said that the reason the car is so expensive is because the tall man with the accent has procured the only cars available. I suspect he meant the Russian. We fought, but he insisted he could do nothing. Then he gave me this note."

"Read it," said Don.

Nancy grabbed it out of his hand and read it aloud, "Since I am a procuring partner with Dago Benicia, it is my right and duty to collect all materials and documents obtained during his expedition. Should you withhold any item, I will be forced to have you arrested and imprisoned."

"I intend to turn this over to the University and have them negotiate its return to the government of Chile. The manager insisted he could do it and would." Harry sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Nancy with him. "The good news is I found transportation. The bad news is it's a motorcycle. I'm afraid if we buy it only two can use it, the other will have to take a train leaving tonight to Peru, and from there," he stopped and threw his arms in the air. Nancy looked at Don, and then Harry. "I'm not leaving without you, Harry. Can't you find another bike?

"No, don't," said Don. "I can take a hint. I don't mind the train. It'll give me some time to think and write in my journal."

Harry felt like he was abandoning his friend and said so, but Don insisted it would be all right. "What can happen? What time does it leave?"

"One hour."