Marjorie Thelen - The Hieroglyphic Staircase

“ Sí, por favor, huevos rancheros con tortilla .”

“ Gracias. ” He left to place her order.

“How is your analysis of the Hieroglyphic Staircase coming, dear?” Susanna asked. She leaned toward Jorge. “My daughter is an epigrapher. That’s like an archaeologist. She’s here working on deciphering hieroglyphs at the ruins.”

“How interesting,” said Jorge. “I find the hieroglyphs intriguing.”

“What do you do? Are you in archaeology also?” asked Elena, curious as to what the man did for a livelihood and why he had the time for a late breakfast with a beautiful woman.

“No,” he said. “I deal in art and travel Latin America looking for exciting new artists. There is a small community of very good artists here that I like to check on from time to time. Sometimes I do shows for them.”

“Yes, dear, he does all kinds of art, like ceramics and folk art and fine art. He knows Josephina Aguilar. You know, that Mexican artist that does all those wonderful clay statues I like so much.”

“Yes,” said Elena. “Are you still collecting her?”

“Absolutely,” Susanna said. “Jorge was saying he would like to see my collection.”

Oh, brother, thought Elena. Who writes this guy’s material? She might have to move into the hotel with her mother to save her from herself.

Jorge stubbed out his never ending smoke. “I must be going. I have an appointment with one of my artist friends.” He reached over and shook Susanna’s hand. “I’m sure we’ll see each other before I leave. Maybe we’ll all be riding out the storm together at the bar of the hotel.”

Susanna smiled up at him and gave him a Scarlet O’Hara bat of the eyes. Elena wanted to roll her eyes, but restrained herself and exchanged the pleasantries necessary to see him off.

“Such a sweet man, don’t you think, dear?” asked Susanna. “So cultured and knowledgeable about art.”

“Really, Mother, wherever do you find these people?”

“He happened to be in the lobby when I came down and, I don’t know, I guess I smiled at him or something, and we started chitchatting. I can’t help that people find me attractive.”

She said it with a laugh, and Elena laughed along with her. She had to agree. People found her mother irresistible. That didn’t make it any easier being her daughter.

Breakfast arrived, and Elena dug in. Her mother prattled on about all the lovely people she had been meeting and how much she was enjoying her stay.

“Yesterday,” she said, “I went to the Macaw Bird Park. What a treasure. You wouldn’t believe all the birds. That was fascinating. I’m thinking I should get a macaw for a pet.”

“You don’t need a pet macaw, Mother.”

“Maybe not. I travel too much. I met a very nice woman who is here fundraising for the clinic, and she said she knows you and Dominic.”

Elena nearly choked on her food. Felicia. She was like an amoeba, spreading out everywhere.

Susanna continued. “She’s going to be riding out the hurricane here so we’ll probably see her. I can’t think of her name right now.”

“How fortunate.”

“She was with a very interesting man, Jack something. He’s in bananas.”

Elena laughed.

“That sounded funny, didn’t it,” Susanna said, laughing along. “He’s with one of the big fruit companies and comes here all the time. He’s some big wig. He seemed quite attached to her, and she to him, if you know what I mean.”

Elena changed the subject, not interested in pursuing that topic any further. “There’s a new police inspector, much more competent than Oliveros, so I’m hoping the murder gets resolved soon. Meanwhile, I’m not supposed to work at the ruins or at the Museum. The police have closed the entire Archeological Park, so I’m going to help Dominic at the clinic for the rest of the day. They need help with this storm coming in.”

“Yes, dear. Do help Dominic. Such a nice man.”

Elena kissed her mother. “Please stay put in the hotel today. Lounge by the pool. I know you won’t be at loss for someone to talk to. Just stay out of trouble, okay?”

“I should say the same thing for you.”

The clinic was a madhouse. People dropped in to discuss preparations for the storm. More than the usual number of ailments overwhelmed Corazón. The murder had taken a back burner with the new threat that affected everyone. Dominic prayed that the hurricane would weaken before it hit Copan Ruinas. He breathed a sigh of relief when Elena came waltzing into the clinic looking like she didn’t have a care in the world, hair flying in the breeze.

“Need help?” she said by way of greeting.

“I sure do. Nice to see you,” he said, smiling. “Could you keep an eye on Miguel for me? I think he’s getting bored. He’s sitting against the wall trying to work that Game Boy. We had a few donated for the kids that come in.”

“Sure, though Game Boy is not my strong suit. What will you do with the storm coming?”

“I’m afraid I’ll be working straight through. Do you think you can keep Miguel with you?”

“Sure. I might stay with my mother at the hotel. It’s supposed to be a fortress. I think I’ll take doña Carolita there, too.”

“Good idea.”

“How about you?”

“I’ll be fine at my house, or here at the clinic. We have cots to set up. I want to be available to help. Dr. Hidalgo said the Red Cross arrived this morning. They are setting up shop at schools that will be used for shelters. The bad part will be flooding. Fortunately, most of the villages are on high ground in the surrounding mountains. The town is on enough of a rise, and it drains pretty well, so if we all don’t get blown away, we should be fine.”

A small man, a campesino, in white shirt and pants, came up while they were talking and stood humbly to the side of Dominic, who turned to see what he wanted. The man spoke in a low voice, and they exchanged a few words.

Dominic turned back to Elena. “I’ve got to help with someone who’s been hurt by flying debris. Will you wait here for me?”

“I’m going to take Miguel and walk to the police station. I need to talk to Connie. I’ll meet you back here.”

“Right. Take care of yourself.” He squeezed her shoulder, hesitant about leaving her. But the man called to him again, and he hurried out the door into the gusty wind.

Elena walked to where Miguel sat. “Hi there. What’re you doing?”

He shrugged, putting the Game Boy on the floor beside him.

“Let’s take a walk.” She held out her hand, and Miguel took it. One stop on their walk would be the little shop around the corner to buy some extra clothes for him.

Solid gray clouds plastered the sky, and drops of rain rode the wind. They hugged the buildings, trying to keep out of the wind and avoid other people doing the same. Shopkeepers were nailing plywood onto the doors of their establishments. The clothes shop was still doing business. Elena selected several pair of shorts, long pants, T-shirts and briefs that she held up to Miguel to see if they fit. He picked out colors he liked, blue being the favorite. The toy section caught Miguel’s attention, and he touched every toy on the shelf.

“What would you like?” Elena asked him.

He pointed to a soccer ball. “This one.”

“So you like soccer?”

He nodded enthusiastically.

“You shall have it.”

Elena paid for the purchases and handed the soccer ball to Miguel. The shopkeeper, an older woman with a salt and pepper braid, asked, “Is this your son?”

The question took Elena unawares. She looked down at Miguel, and he gazed back at her. Something in his eyes hoped for a mother.