“Now hurry along! By my count, we need eight more of them. And don’t cheat on size. This one was barely big enough to work with.”

Markhor wrapped himself in the blanket, entered the cave, and shut the door, Dai She’s incessant cackle bleeding through the seams.

Two hours later, they were almost halfway done. Markhor was glad to see that while the physical effort was taking its toll on him, the use of elemental power was taking a similar toll on Dai She. Still, he needed to rest to recover his strength.

Dai She accompanied him to the surface. The sun sat low in the sky, baking the valley floor. He checked on the security guard and gave him water, which he drank greedily through fits of cursing.

Much to Markhor’s relief, he found a cabinet with a supply of energy drinks and electrolyte water. He passed on the former and offered the water to the guard before guzzling another quart himself. He was about to ask the old man if he needed to relieve himself when he saw the dark stain on the front of his pants.

Markhor looked away quickly in shame and embarrassment. “Sorry, old-timer.” Then he briefly touched the man’s bindings and muttered something softly. The old man probably wouldn’t notice at first, but the knot that held him would be just a little bit looser the next time he tugged at it.

Then Markhor took the squirming falcon from the sack, placed it in a corner, and lightly covered it with an old, oily blanket. “Be still,” he commanded.

“What took you so long?” Dai She was waiting just outside the door. He peered around the small confines of the cabin suspiciously. Satisfied, he slammed the door shut and pounded his massive frame back toward the tunnel entrance.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The remainder of the day unraveled at a snail’s pace, as days tend to do when one is being schooled. The world opened up to Henry in ways he’d never dreamed possible. The process of creating storage compartments in his brain became easier with practice and proper instruction.

Henry, the willing student. Coralis, the patient teacher.

Layer upon layer was added to each drawer. Pop quizzes taught him how to retrieve the information, the drawers opening easier each time until they rolled on well-greased hinges.

The train continued to speed westward. Henry’s ears popped as it proceeded to climb into the mountains of Colorado before changing course southward into New Mexico, where the beauty of the southwestern countryside tugged at Henry’s ability to concentrate.