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Verde.”
    “There are dwellings scattered all around,” Declan replied. “We don't really know what happened to the ancient Puebloans after they left their home. This is close enough that some of them might have ended up here.”
    “Are you talking about the Anasazi?”
    “The common term nowadays is ancient Puebloans,” Declan said. “But yes, that's the people I'm referring to.”
    “Tell us, Professor, about the ancient Puebloans,” Dario said. “I'm afraid I might have slept through one or two of my history classes.”

    22
    Melinda Barron

    “Huh. You mean you were awake for one or two of them and slept through the rest.” Declan shot his friend a look, happy that both he and Maura laughed. “Now class is in session, so pay attention, boys and girls. The ancient Puebloans were a race of people who lived in this area from around AD 100 to AD 1300. The times are not precise because there are no written records. There are just people like me who examine things and come to conclusions.”
    “A time cop,” Dario said. “How many of them lived around here?”
    “Again, there's not an exact number. We estimate thousands upon thousands, though. Some big sites have been found, like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon, which is not too far from here. But there might have been smaller settlements that have not been located yet. This area is not exactly well populated, you know. There's no telling what is yet to be found in the desert.”
    He gazed at Maura, who was looking at him in wonder. “You sound like you want to be the one to find it all.”
    “I think it would be cool,” he said. “I like exploring the ancient ruins.”
    She turned her horse north and he and Dario fell into step beside her again. “Do you mean to say this could be real?”
    “It's very possible, Maura.” Declan patted his horse. “The gathering areas and Chaco Canyon would be the largest settlements in this immediate area, but smaller cities were around. This area would be prime for ancient Puebloans.”
    Dario held up his hand. “Professor, if I may? I thought these people lived in cliffs. There doesn't seem to be a lot of them around here.”
    “They lived in cliffs at the end. We're not exactly sure why they went there, either. Things pop up everywhere.”
    The pensive look on Maura's face tore at Declan's heart. “What's wrong?”
    “I just wonder what drove them to the cliffs; to me it seems so dangerous.
    And what brought about their demise?”

    A Trick of the Moon
    23

    “Nobody really knows, Maura.” Declan tried not to show his confusion.
    This was something he'd always wondered about too. “There are many different theories, about drought or plague or famine. There's the idea that there were raiders from the south who came up from Mexico to trade and then things turned nasty. I don't think we'll ever really know for sure what happened, but it's fascinating to explore.”
    “They just disappeared…” Maura's voice trailed off. “It's so strange.”
    “Well, modern Puebloans are descendants of the ancient ones. Something big happened to them to diminish their numbers, but we're not exactly sure what.”
    Maura pulled up her horse and pointed to an area about one hundred feet away. “There it is. We marked it with the stick and yellow flag to make it easier to find again.”
    Declan dismounted, then hurried over to the area she'd pointed out.
    Excitement coursed through him as he neared. Studying ancient sites always made his blood flow faster, and knowing he could be the first archeologist here was a real rush.
    He dropped to his knees near the opening, then lay down, unmindful of the sharp weeds and plants sticking into his stomach. “Dario, bring me a flashlight!”
    His friend was beside him in seconds, handing over a powerful flashlight.
    Declan flicked it on, then cast its beam into the hole. His heart beat even faster as the light hit pieces of broken pottery that littered the floor.
    “Hot damn.” He jumped