Page 95 of Red Hawk's Woman
Of one aspect of her life she had complete certainty. The double life offered very little sleep. Alas, it was becoming almost impossible to keep her eyes open during the day—a fact she tried her best to hide.
Indeed, Lesley had commented on this only this morning.
“Effie, is something wrong?” she had asked. “You have great shadows beneath your eyes. The look is hardly becoming on you.”
Effie had grimaced, had murmured something, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember now what she had said. She only hoped she had been convincing.
Once again, she had slipped out of camp around three o’clock in the morning. Once again, she met up with Red Hawk at what they had come to regard as their own private lagoon. But now, instead of her bulky dresses, she had taken to wearing her red swimming costume. It was the most comfortable of her clothes when wet.
By the light of a single lantern, they dug for many hours, until daylight made the artificial light unnecessary. In the beginning, they had often played in the water, their antics usually ending in only one way. But as time had worn on and still they met with no success, by mutual agreement the playing had almost ceased. Now more attention was reserved for the single purpose of finding the artifacts.
Crack! Lightning split through the air close to them.
“Haiya!” said Red Hawk. “Will he never leave me alone?”
“Who do you speak of?” asked Effie.
Red Hawk appeared suddenly overwrought, as though overcome with anger. It was an emotion Effie had rarely witnessed in him.
Soon and in a calm voice, Red Hawk said, “’Tis the Thunder Being.”
She placed her hand over his.
He said, “Do not tell me you do not believe what I say is true.”
“No, it’s not that, I—”
“He is following me. He is following you and your colleagues, as well. I have done my best to keep you safe. I have done all I can to prevent him from coming into your camp. But it appears he wishes to see me yet again.”
“You don’t have to go.”
“If I do not, he may try to take your life. I must go. You stay here. The confrontations between myself and the Thunderer are not often long. I will return as soon as I can.”
“Very well. If you must go, I understand. But please don’t be long. Please. Without you here, this place frightens me. Besides, I will worry.”
Nodding, he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. “I will come back here as quickly as I am able. I promise.”
With these words, Red Hawk climbed out of the seven-foot-deep trench they had dug and set off to do battle with the Thunderer.
Clank!
Effie’s shovel hit something, and it didn’t sound like a rock. Could it be?
Calming herself, for she dared not raise her hopes too high, she fell to her knees. Bringing the lantern as well as her brush and trowel closer to the spot, she mumbled to herself, reciting the words her father had often said to her, “Remember to go slowly. Never use metal on an artifact. If you think you’ve discovered something, use all caution. A brush and your hands will often suffice.”
It was one matter to say the words, another to pay attention to them. If this were it…
Excitement had her hands shaking. Yet, as calmly as possible, she used her fingers to brush away the dirt. Slowly she worked at it until, at last, she could see her way clear to pull the thing out.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked herself. “For it may not be what you’re seeking.” She inhaled on a deep breath. “On the count of three. One, two, three.”
She pulled at the stone, lifting the piece out of the ground rather easily. Setting it down on the dirt before her, she shone the lantern over it. It was quartz; it was also the right size. After picking up her brush, she stroked what looked like a golden nugget, removing the evidence of being buried for perhaps a thousand years.
She barely dared to breathe.
Beneath the light of her lantern, the piece shone. It glowed, as though alive, even though dirt and grime remained on it, practically covering it.
“Oh, how I wish Red Hawk were here.” He’d be happy. And she’d be delighted right along with him.
