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scimitars.”
    “Okay, put away the kukri and I'll fix us both a drink.”
    “I told you, this isn't a social call.”
    “Just indulge me, okay? If the Order's involved, there's some more stuff you should know that you probably don't. Got it?”
    Elisa hesitated before she slid the kukri into the sheath attached to the back of her belt. She stood and allowed Stubby to struggle to pull himself to his feet. He dusted himself off and walked past her, motioning for her to follow him into the back office.
    Stubby grabbed two glasses and a bottle of Beefeater from the bottom drawer. He filled each glass halfway with gin and handed one to Elisa. She took it and smelled it first, watching him carefully.
    “Relax, I'm not trying to kill ya,” said Stubby, sipping his drink as he sat in his chair. Elisa carefully sipped hers as well, satisfied that it wasn't poison.
    “So what do you know?” she asked.
    “If the Order's involved, that means they're probably after the Lost Tribe of the Naa'cal,” said Stubby. “You know who they are, right?”
    Elisa nodded. “Survivors of the destruction of Lemuria, who refused to breed with the indigenous peoples they met on their travels.”
    “Yeah, pretty much,” said Stubby. “Before Lemuria was completely lost, some of the Naa'cal survived by migration. The Americas, Asia, Australia, what have you. Many of them settled down, but there was one tribe that refused. Saw themselves as better than what they thought were savages. So they kept migrating, searching for another civilization that was equal to Lemuria. They were never heard from again, thus the name.”
    “No further legends about the Lost Tribe?” asked Elisa.
    “Nothing conclusive, even by our standards,” said Stubby. “There's lots of speculation. Some say the Lost Tribe eventually made their way to Atlantis. Others say they just died out, one by one. And then there's the belief that they eventually did end up settling, one by one, just like the other Naa'cal.”
    “How does the Order work into this?” She slowly sipped the gin.
    Stubby puffed on the cigar and ashed it in the tray. “The Order believes the Lost Tribe of the Naa'cal can lead them to the remains of Lemuria. But the Keystone is just one part of the puzzle. They've got the key, but what else do they need?”
    “The gateway,” said Elisa. “Which means they need to find out where it is and the keystone doesn't have the location.” Elisa looked up suddenly. “The Churchward Tablets. Davalos is headed for India?”
    “Might be there already,” said Stubby.  
    “And that means I need to get moving,” said Elisa.
    “Wait, hold on a minute,” said Stubby. “Listen, I understand you wanna beat Davalos to the punch here, but what do you think you'll really accomplish?”
    “Lemuria is one of the ancient world's greatest mysteries, Stubby. Max and my parents spent most of their lives trying to find it. My family was practically shunned for their discoveries.”
    “So that's what this is all about, huh? Redeeming Mommy and Daddy?”
    “Watch it, Stubby. I still have the kukri.”
    “And I still have the Magnum.”
    “Wanna see which of us is faster?”
    Stubby looked down at his drink. “No, not particularly.”
    “Smart man.”
    “Look kid, fair warning, okay? There's a reason why Lemuria has remained uncovered by even those in our profession.” Stubby took a long drag on the cigar. “Some things man just was not meant to know. Don't think I gotta tell you about Pandora's Box.”
    “No, it was my favorite bedtime story growing up,” said Elisa.  
    “Watch your back,” said Stubby with a sigh. “Davalos may be a bastard, but he's a ruthless, clever bastard.”
    She set the glass down on the desk. “Thanks for the drink.”  

C HAPTER 5

    Max took the tea leaves and placed them in the screen in the top of the pot. He then poured boiling water over them until the pot was full. Setting it on a tray beside two teacups, he took the