Salvador was still churning over ideas even as he walked into the middle of this one. ‘We’ll always find the truth on this beach.’
‘What’s that, quiet boy?’
‘Nothing.’
As they got closer to the fire, the low alluring hums and chants grew around them as the people there set about the preparation of the ritual. A tent was facing the river, lined with cushions, fir skins and candlelight and formed a midpoint between the fire and the river.
He thought, if this worked, he’d bestow a donation on the people of the Luiseño of pretty much every single thing he had if they got her back to him. But the Luiseño would be happy with a general sense of owing them one. One day they might need to call it in.
One man emerged from the tent, eyes already fixed on Salvador. He clapped his hands once and i
