The Oracle's Message Read Online Free PDF

and then drank again. When Annja set her glass back down, she felt Hans eyeing her. She turned and smiled at him.
    Spier spoke up. “Perhaps now that we have all dined, we might speak of other things than just the wonderful nature of the meals they serve here, eh?”
    “Absolutely,” Annja said.
    “What brings you to Club Noah?” Spier asked.
    Annja shrugged. “A much-needed rest. I’m burned out. I’ve been crisscrossing the world for years and haven’t taken nearly enough time for myself lately. My workload in New York was getting to be too much, so I decided on a whim to simply drop everything and come here.”
    Spier nodded. “You are a woman of action.”
    “Some have said that, yes.”
    “Excellent. I respect that immensely. And if it were only based on your reputation and from what I have observed watching that television show that you are on, I would have surmised much the same.”
    “Thank you.”
    Spier waved his hand. “It is not worthless praise, by any means. And there is never shame in being proud of your accomplishments, of which you have a great many.”
    “Well, I’m pleased you think so.”
    “I know so,” Spier said. “You’ve done much for the world of archaeology and history. You ought to be commended for the service you’ve given to mankind.”
    “I’m hardly worthy of that,” Annja said. Too much praise made her uncomfortable.
    Spier noted her discomfort and smiled. “Suffice it to say that we are extremely happy to have you in our presence here, Annja. Very happy indeed.”
    “And what brings you all to the Philippines?” Annja asked. “Just a vacation, perhaps?”
    Spier lowered his voice and shook his head. “We have come here for a much more grand purpose than mere relaxation.”
    “Really?”
    He drew closer to Annja. She could see the depth of his eyes and found herself almost hypnotized by them as he drew her into his conspiratorial attitude. “We seek a treasure rumored to be in this very area.”
    Annja perked up. “Treasure?”
    “They call it the Pearl of Palawan.”

5
     
    A balmy ocean breeze blew across the pavilion as Spier regarded Annja. “Have you ever heard of the Pearl of Palawan?”
    Annja shook her head, listening to the crashing waves on the beach. “I have not. But to be honest with you, I’m not very interested in treasure. From what I’ve experienced, things of such value have a way of destroying people.”
    Spier smiled. “But imagine what good this could do if it were recovered. We could educate people about the origins of it.”
    Annja frowned. “And just what are its origins?”
    Spier ordered himself a glass of peppermint schnapps and waited until it arrived. He sipped it once and then leaned back in his chair. Clearly, Annja thought, he was a captivating storyteller used to commanding attention.
    “Years and years ago,” Spier began, “the Pearl of Palawan—a solid black pearl of such opulence and size that it made men weep in desire to possess it—first appeared in the annals of Filipino history.”
    “I’m not as familiar with this country’s history as perhaps I should be,” Annja said. “But I know some.”
    “So you know of the Moros.”
    Annja winced, remembering her last trip to the Philippines. “I know a little bit about them.”
    “They were the first to document the pearl. But legend has it that it has existed for even longer than the period of greatness of the Moros empire. According to several documents I have unearthed, the pearl dates back many thousands of years, back to a time when fact and fiction were often entwined with each other.”
    “And what do the legends say?” Annja asked.
    “They say that those who possess the pearl have at their disposal an object that can grant the owner incredible vitality and power.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Indeed.”
    Annja leaned forward as Spier helped himself to more schnapps. “Pardon me for saying so, Herr Spier, but you seem to already possess a great deal of