Sidney Sheldon - The sands of time

It was dusk when they saw the town of Olmedo in the distance.

Rubio stopped. "There will be soldiers there. Let's move up to the hills and skirt the city."

They moved off the road and left the plains, heading for the hills above Olmedo. The sun was skipping across the mountaintops and the sky was beginning to darken.

"We've only a few more miles to go," Rubio Arzano said reassuringly. "Then we can rest."

They had reached the top of a high ridge when Tomás

Sanjuro suddenly held up a hand. "Hold it," he whispered.

Rubio walked over to his side and together they moved to the edge of the ridge and looked down into the valley below.

There was an encampment of soldiers there.

"Mierda!" Rubio whispered. "There must be a whole platoon.

We'll stay up here for the rest of the night. They'll probably pull out in the morning and we can move on." He turned to Lucia and Sister Teresa, trying not to show how worried he was. "We'll spend the night here, Sisters. We must be very quiet. There are soldiers down there and we don't want them to find us."

It was the best news Lucia could have heard. It's perfect,

she thought. I'll disappear with the cross during the night.

They won't dare try to follow me because of the soldiers.

To Sister Teresa, the news had a different meaning. She had heard the men say that someone named Colonel Acoña was searching for them. They called Colonel Acoña the enemy. But these men are the enemy, so Colonel Acoña must be my friend.

Thank You, dear God, for sending me Colonel Acoña.

The tall man called Rubio was speaking to her.

"Do you understand, Sister? We must all be very, very quiet."

"Yes, I understand." I understand more than you think.

They had no idea that God permitted her to see into their evil hearts.

Tomás Sanjuro said kindly, "I know how difficult this must be for both of you, but don't worry. We'll see that you get safely to the convent."

To Иze, he means. Oh, but he is cunning. He speaks the honeyed words of the devil. But God is within me, and He is guiding me. She knew what she must do. But she had to be careful.

The two men arranged the sleeping bags for the women, next to each other.

"Both of you get some sleep now."

The women got into the unfamiliar sleeping bags. The night was incredibly clear and the sky was spangled with glimmering stars. Lucia looked up at them and thought happily: In just a few hours now, I'll be on my way to freedom. As soon as they're all asleep. She yawned. She had not realized how tired she was. The long, hard journey and the emotional strain had taken their toll. Her eyes felt heavy. I'll just rest for a little while, Lucia thought.

She slept.

Sister Teresa lay near Lucia, wide awake, fighting the demons that were trying to possess her, to send her soul to hell. I must be strong. The Lord is testing me. I have been exiled so that I can find my way back to Him. And these men are trying to stop me. I must not let them.

At four o'clock in the morning, Sister Teresa silently sat up and looked around. Tomás Sanjuro was asleep only a few feet from her. The tall, dark man called Rubio was keeping watch at the edge of the clearing, his back to her. She could see his silhouette against the trees.

Very quietly, Sister Teresa rose. She hesitated, thinking about the cross. Should I carry it with me? But I'll be coming back here very soon. I must find a place where it will be safe until I return. She looked over to where Sister Lucia lay sleeping. Yes, It will be safe with my sister in God,

Sister Teresa decided.

Silently she moved over to Lucia's sleeping bag and gently slipped the wrapped cross inside. Lucia did not stir. Sister

Teresa turned and moved into the woods, out of Rubio Arzano's sight, and carefully began to make her way downhill toward the soldiers' camp. The hill was steep and slippery with dew,

but God gave her wings and she sped downhill without stumbling or falling, hurrying toward her salvation.

In the darkness ahead, the figure of a man suddenly materialized.

A voice called out, "Who goes there?"

"Sister Teresa."

She approached the sentry, who was wearing an army uniform and pointing a rifle at her.

"Where did you come from, old woman?" he demanded.

She looked at him with glowing eyes. "God sent me."

The sentry stared at her. "Did He, now?"

"Yes. He sent me to see Colonel Acoña."

The guard shook his head."You'd better tell Him you're not the colonel's type. Adios, señora."

"You don't understand. I am Sister Teresa from the

Cistercian convent. I have been taken prisoner by Jaime Miró and his men." She watched the stunned expression that came over his face.

"You're—you're from the convent?"

"Yes."

"The one at

Ávila?"

"Yes," Teresa said impatiently. What was the matter with the man? Didn't he realize how important it was that she be rescued from those evil men?

The soldier said carefully, "The colonel isn't here just now, Sister—"

It was an unexpected blow.

"—but Colonel Sostelo is in charge. I can take you to him."

"Will he be able to help me?"

"Oh, I'm sure he will. Follow me, please."

The sentry was scarcely able to believe his good fortune.

Colonel Fal Sostelo had sent squadrons of soldiers to scour the entire countryside in search of the four nuns, and they had had no success. Now one of the sisters had stumbled into the camp and given herself up to him. The colonel was going to be very pleased.

They reached the tent where Colonel Fal Sostelo and his second-in-command were poring over a map. The men looked up as the sentry and a woman entered.

"Excuse me, Colonel. This is Sister Teresa from the

Cistercian convent."

Colonel Sostelo stared at her unbelievingly. For the last three days, all of his energy had been focused on finding

Jaime Miró and the nuns, and now, here in front of him, was one of them. There was a God.

"Sit down, Sister."

There is no time for that, Sister Teresa thought. She had to make him realize how urgent this was. "We must hurry. They are trying to take me back to Иze."

The colonel was puzzled. "Who's trying to take you back to

Иze?"

"The men of Jaime Miró."

He got to his feet. "Sister—do you by any chance happen to know where these men are?"

Sister Teresa said impatiently,"Of course." She turned and pointed. "They're up in those hills hiding from you."

Alan Tucker arrived in Ávila the day after his conversation with Ellen Scott. It had been a long flight, and

Tucker should have been exhausted, but instead he was exhilarated. Ellen Scott was not a woman given to whims.

There's something strange going on behind all this, Alan

Tucker thought, and if I play my cards right, I have a hunch it could be very profitable for me.

He checked into the Cuatro Postes hotel and said to the clerk behind the desk,"Is there a newspaper office around here?"

"Down the street, señor. To your left, two blocks. You can't miss it."

"Thank you."

"De nada."

Walking down the main street, watching the town come alive after its afternoon siesta, Tucker thought about the mysterious girl he had been sent to bring back. This had to be something important. But important why! He could hear

Ellen Scott's voice.

If she's alive, bring her back to me. You are not to discuss this with anyone.

No, ma'am. What shall I tell her?

Simply tell her that a friend of her father's wishes to meet her. She'll come.

Tucker found the newspaper office. Inside, he approached one of the half dozen people working behind desks. "Perdone,

I would like to see the managing editor."