Ted R. Blasingame's Fictional Life   "Never lose your sense of wonder and imagination."

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TREASURE HUNT 2

THE DAUGHTERS OF HERDANTES

©1992 by Ted R. Blasingame

Chapter 2

Merlin Sinclair moved from shadow to shadow on the deserted street. The night air was warm and the humidity high, though no cool relief came from the sea rolling into the shore half a kilometer distant.

He gazed up at the twin moons and then checked the timepiece on his belt. His pale eyes faintly glowed in the darkness as he scanned the street signs on the nearby corner and softly grunted to himself. Satisfied he was at the right place, he settled into a doorway to wait. A lock of turquoise hair fell into his eyes, jostled by the night breeze. He moved it aside and then drew his breath in sudden surprise. Someone stood two meters directly in front of him. He hadn’t heard the approach.

“Are you looking at the moons?” the silhouette asked him in a low voice. Merlin recognized the identifying code and replied with his memorized response.

“Yes,” he said in an equally low voice, “but the air seems hazy.”

“Follow me,” said the shadow. “I know a place where the view is clear.”

Merlin nodded as the silhouette moved away. They walked to the next street corner and moved inside a darkened store. They mounted stairs to the next level and stopped at a dim yellow light beside a door panel. Merlin’s contact wore a black cloak that covered his head, but as the individual paused to look at him before entering the room, he saw eyes of emerald green.

He followed the figure into a small chamber, decorated only by a table with two chairs and a small lamp overhead. He immediately moved to a seat and sat down. His host stood behind the opposite chair and removed the cloak. Merlin felt his eyes widen in surprise, but he composed himself immediately.

The woman before him was tall, slender and studied him intently. Her face seemed delicate and somewhat innocent, but her thin jaw was set tightly shut. Her jumpsuit matched the color of her eyes and her red hair fell gently in soft curls over her narrow shoulders. If not for the circumstances, Merlin might have been charmed by her.

In turn, the woman studied him. His turquoise hair was combed straight back and barely touched the black collar of his shirt. He rested his palms on the knees of his grey slacks, but her eyes were focused on his own, which were chalky white.

“You are from Roswei,” she said in a voice soft in volume, but tinged with an accent he couldn’t identify.

“That’s right,” he said. “And you?”

“Not of your concern,” she replied. “The moons of Rona watched your arrival.”

Merlin blinked twice before he realized she had spoken another code. “Yes, but the moons are full and see everything.” She nodded to him and he smiled faintly toward her. He leaned forward over the table and said, “Do you have the information I need?”

“I do,” she answered as she sat down.

Merlin retrieved a small purse from inside his belt and set it on the table in front of her. Without a word, she picked it up and examined the currencies within.

The unidentified woman hid the purse under her cloak and looked back into his eyes.   “I cannot give you his exact whereabouts, but I can lead you to someone most likely to know where he can be found.”

Merlin nodded as she produced a sheet of fiber paper with directions and a map drawn onto it. “Here is the house. It is about twenty kilometers from here to the south, in a rural community called Halan San. A retired captain by the name of Kehtan Otani lives there. It is through him you should direct your search.”

“How can you be sure this man will know where he is?” Merlin asked.

“Captain Otani was his commanding officer on a ship called Two Star a number of years ago. I understand they got back together on an exploration vessel’s maiden voyage about six years ago. They were also friends, my sources tell me, and so he should be able to help you.”

“If he will help me,” Merlin remarked. “If he thinks I’m a bounty hunter, he’ll probably shoot me on sight.”

“Then you will have to be convincing to the captain,” the woman stated unnecessarily.

Merlin looked at his hands as he held them up in front of him. “I think I can do that without a problem.” He dropped his hands to his lap again. “Rayce Santrojur may have rescinded the reward he’d issued on his son’s head, but the Roswei government still wants the Es-par and will pay handsomely for him.”

He looked up into the woman’s eyes again and almost got lost in them. He shook his head slightly as if to get control over his thoughts. “However,” he added, “I’m not out to collect the reward. I want Delon Santrojur and his talents for another matter altogether.”

“That is not my concern,” his host stated as she stood up. “However, I do wish you luck in your search.” She reached out a hand toward him, but Merlin frowned.

“Forgive me, please,” he stated. “I appreciate your services, but I don’t shake hands with anyone, friendly or not.”

“Oh, why is that?” she asked as she tilted her head sideways slightly. “Do you have mysophobia?”

“No, I am not a germaphobe, but it’s more a personal matter.”

The woman smiled, the first time this meeting, and nodded her head. “Then I will thank you for the gracious payment for said services and be on my way.”

He nodded and followed her back out to the street. He started to go, but hesitated a moment to ask one more question. When he looked ahead to her, she had already gone and was nowhere to be seen. He had not heard her leave.

He shrugged his shoulders and retraced his steps through the shadows to the rental vehicle hidden three blocks away.