Hunt registered surprise. “You mean none of you all got computers of your own?”
Daniel shook his head. “Only Father and the heads of the other compounds are permitted to have them. Father believes the internet is a corrupting influence.”
Leroy chuckled. “He ain’t wrong about that. You stumbled across any free porn sites yet?”
The young man peered at him earnestly. “I don’t know what that word means. Is porn an abbreviation for something?”
His companion let out a guffaw and slapped his knee. “Hooee! I tell you what, boy. You’re greener than acorns in June! Porn is short for bare-naked ladies gettin’ up to all sorts of mischief and lettin’ us fellers watch.”
Daniel blushed to the roots of his hair follicles. “I… I… I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Still grinning, Leroy replied. “No, I don’t expect you would’ve. Your daddy likes to run a tight ship. Still and all, can’t say that you’d need to watch porn much since you got all them wives. What’s the body count up to now?”
“Four,” Daniel said in a tight voice. “I have four wives.”
“Must keep you busy most nights,” Leroy opined.
“I’d rather talk about something else.”
His companion nodded affably. “OK, no harm in askin’.” He tilted his head in the direction of the computer. “Then if it ain’t porn, what are you starin’ at on that screen?”
The young man transferred his gaze back to the monitor. “I’m trying to find as much information as I can about the Idaean Cave.”
“The Idea cave?” Leroy repeated, bemused.
“I-D-A-E-A-N.” Daniel spelled out the word. “It’s a cave on Mount Ida where we are most likely to find the first relic.”
Leroy studied the image on Daniel’s computer. “It looks like a big hole in the side of a hill, son. What makes it so special?”
“The cave was sacred to the heathens of the island. The Minoans built a shrine there several thousand years ago which was then taken over by the Greeks. In the original myth, the Minoan goddess gave birth in that cave to the annual god of fertility. Actually, there are two caves on the island associated with the myth, but our clue points to the one located on Mount Ida. When the Greeks conquered Crete, they changed the myth to say that their chief god Zeus was born in the cave.”
“Oh, I heard of him. Big fella with a white beard. Liked to wrap hisself up in a bed sheet and run around smitin’ folks with lightnin’ bolts. Ain’t that the guy?”
Daniel cast a dubious look toward the man seated beside him. “Why, yes, Mr. Hunt. Zeus was associated with lightening in many of the myths. As for the bed sheet, it’s called a toga.”
“Don’t care what it’s called,” Leroy retorted. “It ain’t manly attire.”
Ignoring the comment, Daniel retrieved a map on his computer. “We’re flying to Heraklion. Over here, you see?” He pointed to a dot on the northeast coast of the island.
“Yup, I gotcha.”
“Brother Nikos will hire a car and meet us at the airport.”
“Oh, so it’s Brother Nick again, is it?” Leroy flashed briefly on the little rat-faced convert who sucked up to Daniel because he was the son of the diviner. He’d be over the moon knowing the kid had been promoted to something called a scion.
“Yes, he will drive us to Mount Ida which is over here.” He pointed to another dot on the map, southwest of Heraklion.
“So, the two of you plan on crawlin’ over rock piles again like you done last time?” Leroy asked bleakly.
“Fortunately, the area we will have to cover is very small. It’s a single cave, Mr. Hunt.”
“Still, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll wait for the pair of you at the nearest tavern.”
“As you wish.”
Leroy pulled his cowboy hat over his eyes and pretended to doze off. He didn’t want to shoot the breeze with the kid any more. This was shaping up to be even more dismal than the first trip. But then again, he consoled himself, somebody might turn up who needed shooting. That thought was a comfort.
Leroy had a couple of other comforting thoughts to keep him warm. No matter what Daniel said and no matter what his daddy said, Hunt was sure there was money in those relics. He wanted to stick close and see what shook out. Maybe if the kid turned up something valuable enough, Leroy might help the little punk to have an accident and go into business for himself.
Hunt wasn’t the only one forming a new game plan. The cowboy’s mind drifted back to the last conversation he had with Daniel’s old man. Abraham had asked him for the name of somebody who had experience with weapons training, but Metcalf wouldn’t tell him why. Leroy had put him in touch with an army buddy. Maybe it was worth hanging around just to find out what the old coot had up his sleeve. Hunt was sure he could turn it to his advantage somehow. His momma always told him, “Leroy, you’re too smart for your own good.” He didn’t think so. Not too smart. Just smart enough to make it pay.
Chapter 12 – Consummate Deception
Annabeth skidded to a stop in front of the heavy oak door. She took a moment to smooth her hair and straighten her apron. She waited several seconds for her breathing to slow down. It didn’t want to cooperate. Her heart was still hammering a mile a minute even though she mentally willed herself to be calm. She jammed her left hand into her apron pocket, fighting the urge to bite off a hang nail. In all her life, she never thought she would do something this bold. Request a personal interview with the diviner. She’d almost hoped he would refuse to see her. But then, she supposed, since she was one of the wives of the new scion that gave her some special status.
