“He wants to know if you’ll help him find the mother idol. I told himyou would.” The associate made a face. “Brie, he keeps insisting the mother idol calls to him. That’s why he left the dig and flew to New York.”
“That’s great! Then he can look for it himself!” she exclaimed.
“Nooootexactly. He says he can’t look for the idol because you have been touched by her, and that is throwing him off.”
Touched by her? It tookBrielle a moment to figure out whatGarenthmeant, when it came back to her. “The stopper. The head. When it popped off, it landed in my lap. I bet that’s what he means. I bet some of what was still inside the vial is on my jeans.”
“It could also explain why he took you with him,” her uncle assumed. “If you’re bearing the scent of whatever’s in the vial, it’s obviously messing withhim, and keeping him from tracking down the idol on his own.”
“If that’s true, then I need to change clothes. Maybe throw this pair of jeans in the sink with some detergent.” A yawn caught her by surprise. “I also need to get some sleep. Can you tellGarenthto take me back to the museum?”
Irminerelayed the request to the creature.Garenthcommented, and Brielle didn’tneed it interpreted. They would be returning to the museum as soon as this call was over.
