Chapter 10. Pact

The chief bent down and picked up some of the earth and brought it up to his nose. Jordan stared at him in disbelief. It wasn't possible that the man was going to start acting. It was almost daybreak and he wanted to get to the tree before dawn. The chief himself had said that the magic was in the moonlight. He didn't have time for those performances. He was about to say something not very flattering when the Indian looked at him and pointed in a direction. Jordan followed the direction of the man's finger with his eyes and saw nothing. It was still too dark. He turned with an inquiring look to the Indian.

"You should just follow that direction and you'll find the tree."

"Good. Then why are we standing here?"

"You need to go to it alone. They don't want me to accompany you."

"And you knew that just by smelling the earth? I paid you to go there with me, and that's what you're going to do!&qu