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Nora waited； taking measured breaths； thinking about what she was going to say and how she was going to say it。
〃Sloane；〃 she began quietly。 〃Aaron。 This expedition is facing a crisis。 One person has died。 There are people out there who killed our horses； and who may try to kill us。 To open and document this kiva properly would take days。 We don't have days。〃 She paused。 〃I'm the leader of this expedition。 It's my choice to make。 And we're leaving tomorrow。〃
A tense silence gathered in the cave。
〃I don't accept your so…called choice；〃 Sloane said in a low tone。 〃Here we are； on the verge of the greatest discovery； and what is your answer？ Go home。 You're just like my father。 You have to control everything。 Well； this is my career； too。 This is my discovery as much as it is yours。 If we leave now； this kiva will be looted。 And you'll have thrown away perhaps the greatest discovery in American archaeology。〃 Nora saw that she was shaking in anger。 〃I've been a threat to you from the beginning。 But that's your problem； not mine。 And I'm not going to let you do this to my career。〃
Nora looked hard at Sloane。 〃You mention your father；〃 she said slowly。 〃Let me tell you what he said to us； right before we left for Quivira： 'You are representing the Institute。 And what the Institute represents is the very highest standard of archaeological research and ethical conduct。' Sloane； what we do here； what we say here； will be studied； debated； second…guessed by countless people。〃 She softened her tone。 〃I know how you feel。 I want to open this kiva as much as you do。 And we will be back to do this the right way。 I promise you'll get all the credit you deserve。 But until that time； I absolutely forbid the opening of this kiva。〃
〃If we leave here now； there will be nothing left when we return；〃 Sloane said； her eyes locked on Nora。 〃And then we'll be the ones doing the second…guessing。 Go on and run； if you want。 Just leave me a horse and some supplies。〃
〃Is that your final word？〃 Nora asked quietly。
Sloane merely stared in return。
〃Then you leave me no choice but to relieve you of your position on the archaeological team。〃
Sloane's eyes widened。 Then her gaze swivelled to Black。
〃I'm not sure you can do that；〃 Black said； a little weakly。
〃You're damn right she can do it；〃 Smithback suddenly spoke up。 〃Last time I checked； Nora was leader of this expedition。 You heard what she said。 We leave the kiva alone。〃
〃Nora；〃 Black said； a pleading note entering his voice； 〃I don't think you appreciate the magnitude of this discovery。 Just on the other side of that adobe wall is a king's ransom in Aztec gold。 I just don't think we can leave it for 。 。 。〃
His voice trailed off。 Ignoring Black； Nora continued to look hard at Sloane。 But Sloane had turned away； her eyes fixed on the large painted disk on the kiva's side； glowing brilliantly in the fluorescent light。 Then she gave Nora one last； hateful look and walked to the low passageway。 In a moment she was gone。 Black stood his ground a little longer； staring from the kiva to Nora and back again。 Then； swallowing heavily； he tore himself away and wordlessly made his way out into the Crawlspace。
43
SKIP KELLY MADE HIS CAREFUL WAY DOWN THE far reaches of Tano Road North； doing his best to keep the VW from bottoming out on the dirt road。 It was terrible road； all washboard and ruts： the kind of road that was a much…coveted asset in many of Santa Fe's priciest neighborhoods。 Every quarter mile or so； he passed another enormous set of wrought…iron gates； flanked by adobe pillars； beyond which a narrow dirt road wound off through pi？on trees： portals to unseen estates。 Occasionally； he caught glimpses of buildings…a caretaker's cottage； an immaculate set of barns； an enormous house rising from a distant ridgeline…but most of the great estates along Tano Road were so well hidden that one hardly knew they existed。
The road narrowed； the pi？ons crowding in on either side。 Skip slowed even further； eased his foot onto the clutch； elbowed Teddy Bear's huge muzzle out of his face； and once again checked the number scribbled onto a folded sheet of paper； dim in the evening light。 Not far now。
He came over the brow of a hill and saw the road peter out a quarter mile ahead； ending in a thicket of chamisa。 To the left； a great rock of granite rose out of the earth。 Its face had been polished flat； and ESG had been engraved on it in simple； sans…serif letters。 Beyond the rock was an old ranch gate。 It looked much more battered than the shiny monstrosities he had just driven past。 As he eased the car closer； however； he saw that the shabbiness of the gate belied its immensely strong construction。 Beside it was a small keypad and an inter。
Leaving the engine running； he got out of the car； pushed the single red button beneath the inter's speaker； and waited。 A minute passed； then two。 Just as he was preparing to get back into the car； the speaker crackled into life。
〃Yes？〃 came a voice。 〃Who is it？〃
With mild surprise； Skip realized that the voice wasn't that of a housekeeper； chauffeur； or butler。 It was the authoritative voice of the owner； Ernest Goddard himself。
He leaned toward the inter。 〃It's Skip Kelly；〃 he said。
The speaker was silent。
〃I'm Nora Kelly's brother。〃
There was a brief movement in the vegetation beside the gate； and Skip turned to see a cleverly hidden camera swivel toward him。 Then it panned away； toward the Volkswagen。 Skip winced inwardly。
〃What is it； Skip？〃 the voice said。 It did not sound particularly friendly。
Skip swallowed。 〃I need to talk to you； sir。 It's very important。〃
〃Why now？ You're working at the Institute； are you not？ Can't it wait until Monday？〃
What Skip didn't say was that he had spent the entire day locked in a debate with himself over whether or not to make this trip。 Aloud； he said； 〃No； it can't。 At least； I don't think it can。〃
He waited； painfully conscious of the camera regarding him； wondering what the old man would say next。 But the inter remained silent。 Instead； there was the heavy clank of a lock being released； and the old gate began to swing open。
Skip returned to the car； put it in gear； and eased past the fence。 The winding driveway threaded its way along a low ridge。 After a quarter of a mile； it dipped down； made a sharp turn； then rose again。 There； on the next crest； Skip saw a magnificent estate spread along the ridgeline； its adobe facade brocaded a rich evening crimson beneath the Sangre de Cristo Mountains。 Despite himself； he stopped the car for a moment； staring through the windshield in admiration。 Then he drove slowly up the remainder of the driveway； parking the Beetle between a battered Chevy truck and a Mercedes Gelaendewagen。
He got out of the car and closed the door behind him。 〃Stay；〃 he told Teddy Bear。 It was an unnecessary mand： even though the windows were rolled all the way down； the dog would never have been able to squeeze his bulk through them。
The entrance to the house was a huge set of eighteenth…century zaguan doors。 Pulled from some hacienda in Mexico； I'll bet； Skip thought as he approached。 Clutching a book under one arm； he searched for a doorbell； found nothing； and knocked。
Almost immediately the door opened； revealing a long hallway； grandly appointed but dimly lit。 Beyond it he could see a garden with a stone fountain。 In front of him stood Ernest Goddard himself； wearing a suit whose muted colors seemed to match the hallway beyond almost exactly。 The long white hair and closely trimmed beard framed a pair of lively but rather displeased blue eyes。 He turned without a word and Skip followed his gaunt frame as it retreated down the hall； hearing the click of his own heels on the marble。
Passing several doors； Goddard at last ushered Skip into a large； two…story library； its tall rows of books clad in dark mahogany shelves。 A spiral staircase of ornate iron led to a second…story catwalk； and to more books； row upon row。 Goddard closed and locked a small door on the far side of the room； then pointed Skip toward an old leather chair beside the limestone fireplace。 Taking a seat opposite； Go