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seen anything like it.'

'No one else has either,' Runtley declared triumphantly. 'Not unless you count the gang that was bottling and selling the juice and the guards the Guild has posted here now.'

They were gathered around the amazing fountains in the glowing jungle ruin. The psi levels were so high Sierra could feel the buzz across all of her senses. She could only imagine how it affected Fontana and the other hunters in the vicinity.

The trek through the rain forest had taken less than three hours. Fontana and his team had brought Sierra and the staff of the Curtain into the jungle through the previously uncharted gate that Troy Patterson and the drug runners had used. It was much closer to the ruin than the official gate where Fontana and Ray had entered when they went in to rescue the missing hunters.

'As far as the general public is concerned, the very first pictures of this place will be on the cover of the Curtain tomorrow morning,' Phil said, rezzing off a few more shots. 'These pics are gonna make me famous. Man, I am gonna be up for the News Photographer of the Year award. And the cool thing is, these fountains are real. I didn't have to build them out of doughnuts and discarded Curtain Cola cans the way I did the alien Temple of Love.'

'All of the slick dailies and the rest of the media are going to be begging me for permission to use the shots,' Runtley said, dazzled by the prospect. 'This is the scoop to end all scoops, and the Curtain has the story.'

Fontana studied him across one of the sparkling green pools. 'Just make sure the Guild comes out looking good. Remember, we have a deal here.'

'Absolutely,' Runtley assured him hastily. 'Don't worry, what with taking down that gang of juice dealers, rescuing the hunters who were abducted by aliens, and opening this place up for the para-archaeologists, the Guild will look downright noble and heroic in tomorrow's edition. Guaranteed.'

Fontana nodded, satisfied. 'Noble and heroic works. My PR people like noble and heroic.'

Kay walked to the nearest fountain and looked into the effervescent green pool. 'I wonder if the aliens came here to get drunk or stoned out of their weird little minds?'

'No way to know,' Matt said, jotting down some notes. 'The energy in those waters may have affected them a lot differently than it does humans. For all we know, this place could have been some sort of fancy, high- end health spa.'

'A psychic health spa,' Runtley said. 'I like it.'

A familiar whisper of shimmering awareness sparkled through Sierra. She left Fontana's side and circled the nearest fountain, contemplating its airy, otherworldly beauty.

'It doesn't feel like a spa,' she said quietly. 'And I doubt that they came here to get drunk or stoned, at least not for recreational purposes.'

Fontana watched her, intrigued.

'What do you think went on here?' he asked.

She gazed down into the psi-green waters. Although the fountain pool did not appeal' deep, she could not see the bottom. The restless little tides, eddies, and waves sparkled and flashed and swirled in endlessly shifting patterns.

'There is an Old Earth legend,' she said slowly, 'about a place known to the ancients as the Oracle of Delphi. Supposedly strange vapors emanated from the ground beneath the Oracle. The fumes caused the chosen priestess to prophesy. The prophesies came in the form of strange riddles that had to be interpreted.'

'You think this ruin was sacred ground to the aliens?' Fontana asked.

She looked up from the mesmerizing waters of the fountain pool. 'It makes them seem more human, doesn't it?'

Chapter 41

'SOMETIMES I WONDER IF THIS FOG IS EVER GOING TO lift.' Kay sat on the corner of the desk, a cup of coffee in one hand, one long leg swinging easily. 'It's starting to get to me. The city always feels strange during the Big Gray.'

'Think of it as atmospheric,' Sierra said.

'Every year I tell myself that, but after a couple of weeks the atmospheric line doesn't work anymore.'

'It won't last much longer.'

'Let's hope.'

'You're just feeling low because all the excitement of the Guild's big drug bust and the discovery of the Alien Oracle has died down,' Sierra said.

'I know. It's been a great run. Problem is, Runtley's on a roll. He's gotten used to publishing the top-selling paper in Crystal. You heard him this morning. The ad money is pouring in, and he wants us to keep the headlines coming.'

'We'll think of something,' Sierra said.

'We always do,' Kay agreed.

Elvis floated by in his balloon basket. The rhinestones on his white cape glittered. He chortled a greeting and munched on the bit of doughnut that someone, probably Phil, had given him.

Kay chuckled and reached out to give him a pat. 'The fog doesn't bother you, does it, King?'

She gave the basket a gentle push that sent Elvis sailing regally off in the direction of Matt's desk.

'Look at it this way,' Sierra said. 'Coming up with new stories for Runtley won't be half as tough as explaining my Marriage of Convenience to my grandmother.'

'I can see you're not looking forward to that.'

The phone rang. Sierra picked it up.

'Newsroom,' she said.

'I wish to speak with Sierra McIntyre.'

'You've got her. What can I do for you?'

'My name is Harlan Ostendorf. I'm Mr. Fontana's executive administrative assistant.'

'Yes, of course, Mr. Ostendorf. Fontana has mentioned you.'

'Mr. Fontana is extremely busy today, but his schedule has opened up a bit. He asked me to call you to see if it would be possible for you to meet him for lunch at the Amber Club. He requested that I send a car to pick you up.'

'Lunch at the Amber Club?' She glanced at her watch. It was almost noon. 'Yes, that will be fine.'

'Excellent. The car will be in front of your office building in approximately ten minutes.'

The phone went dead. She put it down slowly.

'Did I just hear you say you've been invited to the Amber Club for lunch?' Kay demanded.

'Yes. I'm meeting Fontana there. That was his assistant.' She frowned. 'Why?'

'Oh, nothing,' Kay said airily. 'It's just that the Amber Club is one of the most exclusive places in town. I'll bet this is the day.'

'What day?' Sierra asked.

'The day he asks you to enter a Covenant Marriage with him.'

'No way' Phil said. He cranked back in his chair, twiddling a pen. 'A guy might suggest an MC over lunch, but Covenant Marriage proposals are always done over fancy dinners.'

Kay glowered. 'How would you know? You've never asked anyone to marry you.'

'It's a guy thing,' Phil explained, very knowing.

Matt looked up from his computer. 'He's right. Covenant Marriage proposals are evening events. Expensive dinner. Champagne. There're rules about that kind of thing. You don't do them at lunch.'

'Oh, yeah?' Kay shot back.

'Yeah,' Phil said.

Kay folded her arms. 'So why else would a busy man like Fontana take time out of his day for lunch at a place like the Amber Club unless he's planning to propose?'