“It will be again,” said Father Gomez. “I’m told that each of the mounds was the tomb of a great king and each king felt he had to bring his city’s treasures here to preserve them from enemies. And each of the tombs has a secret room dug beneath it, guarded by the king’s body. You’ll see them all.”
“The people of the town have decided to let us excavate and study the whole complex?”
“Yes they have,” said Father Gomez. “Part of it is their gratitude to the Fargos for saving their lives and their home and part of it is the Fargos’ promise.”
“What promise?” Caine turned to look at Sam and Remi.
Remi said, “We said we’d help them build a museum in Santa Maria de los Montanas to display, preserve, and protect what’s found here.”
Sam said, “That way, the world will learn about this place, but the remains of the kings and their treasures won’t have to be permanently removed. Pieces can go out on long-term loans to museums and universities all over the world, but they will always belong here with the descendants of the people who carried them here.”
