Tessa plunked a few more small stones into the creek, then looked up at him. "You have a decision to make, Señor. You can ride on without me, and find your own way to Santa Elena. Of course, you will be arrested as soon as you enter the town gates. Grisham will not forget you very easily." She looked back at the water and flipped another stone into its sparkling turbulence. "Or, you can trust me. I can make sure you get the holy relic to Padre Quintera." She stood up and dusted off her black trousers, then fixed him with a hard look. "Unless you trust me, de Beauville, we aren't going any further together." Turning away, she said over her shoulder, "Make up your mind, but make it fast because I'm leaving."

Without looking back, the Queen took hold of Chico's reins, then swung up into the saddle. Taking her time, she tied the canteen onto the pommel, then pulled the horse's head up, stopping him from champing on the green grass beside the water. All the while, she covertly watched the Frenchman as he deliberated on her ultimatum. He rubbed at his straggly beard and appeared to be mumbling to himself as if arguing with someone. Tessa began to worry about his fragile state of mind. He seemed rational most of the time, unless something distressed or frightened him. Then, he became almost demented and unpredictable.

With a resolute look at her, he collected his own horse's reins and remounted. Ramrod straight, he sat his horse with confidence and grace. Tessa was reminded again that he had been a dragoon, a proud member of Napoleon's elite troops. She could almost picture him in the tall bearskin helmet and the short cape that flowed over the epauletted shoulders of that blue uniform, with its spotless white trousers and shiny black boots. Suddenly, she was back in Madrid, watching in awe and dread as the foreign conquerors paraded their big war horses down the Puerto del Sol. The impression was so strong, the old terror took hold of her and she drew in a sharp breath, then looked away quickly, hoping he hadn't seen her fear.

"Well," she said, keeping her voice level. "What have you decided?"

He lifted his chin and Tessa knew he had seen that fleeting moment of weakness. For a second, a look of arrogance and pride flashed across his face, as if he, too, was remembering those days when he had been part of a mighty army that had created an empire in Europe. His eyes were bright and hard, focussed on her. Whatever madness had been there before, had fled into the recesses of his mind. In a firm voice, he said, "You lead, and I will follow. I trust you."

"Are we not going back in the same direction from which we came?"

His sudden question startled Tessa, and she jumped involuntarily. They had been riding in silence for over half an hour. "We are doubling back but far from the cave. I wanted to make sure Grisham couldn't pick out our trail and follow us. Now, we are headed toward a place where you will be safe."

The Frenchman lapsed into silence again as they came out into a wide plain, heading in the direction of some distant hills. Only the creak of the saddles and the clopping of the horses' hoofs broke the stillness, and occasionally a brief hot breeze would blow over them as they rode side by side toward the hills.

"Do you believe in an afterlife?" de Beauville asked suddenly.

At first, Tessa was inclined to ignore the question. It was not something she ever really doubted but sometimes....

He moved his horse up until their knees were nearly touching. "Do you think there really is a place called Heaven?" De Beauville reached across and grasped her arm, forcing her to look at him. His blue eyes were intense, searching.

"Of course," Tessa said with a finality that she hoped would end this particular line of conversation. She had no desire to pursue it. His hand squeezed her arm convulsively and she pulled away.

"A woman would," he said. "But I think this earth is Heaven, Hell and Purgatory all in one. It is whatever unlucky chance makes it for you." He withdrew slightly, letting his horse move away from hers. "I have lived in Hell for years, so I know what I am saying. The rest of my life will be Purgatory."

"And then?" Tessa asked. She was intrigued but uncomfortable with this kind of inquiry into her faith.

He studied her face for several long seconds, then said, "Have you ever heard of reincarnation?"

Tessa was shaken. This was getting too close and personal, too much like some conversations she had with Marta years ago, Tessa's own young mind confused by conflicting ideas in the doctrines that she had been taught. Marta had no answers for her. The Gypsy woman's own faith seemed to be founded on some beliefs of her own, not belonging to any church or religion that Tessa knew of. Marta respected holy places like churches and temples, but did not believe in the Church itself. Tessa worried now and then about Marta's soul. Where would it go after she died if she did not believe in the True Church? The priests said that unbelievers went to Hell or Purgatory. Marta believed she would be reincarnated as another person sometime in the future. She said she had lived past lives and remembered some things from them. Those remarks had made Tessa shudder, her whole body going cold with chills. It is ridiculous to believe that a soul would be brought back for a new life, a new chance to do better, Tessa thought, squaring her shoulders and sitting straighter. Yet, the idea was attractive.

As if talking to himself, de Beauville continued, "I met a man in Egypt when I was there with Napoleon's armies. He explained about reincarnation and his own beliefs. It opened my eyes to other possibilities, other explanations of why we are here." He remained quiet for several minutes and Tessa stole a glance at him, hoping his disordered mind had wandered on to other areas. He was staring straight ahead, lost in his own thoughts it seemed. Suddenly, he added, "I believe I will have to return many times to make up for this life, to erase the evil I have done. But it gives me hope that all is not lost and I can atone for my many cruel deeds. Don't you think that makes more sense than going to Purgatory to suffer?"

Tessa's heart began to race. Was her faith being tested by this man? Was he sent to make her defend her faith like the martyrs she had read about, like those vivid paintings in the Prado? Or were these the ravings of a madman, too far gone to be reasoned with? She gripped the reins more tightly, uncertain how to respond to his probing, disturbing questions.

Tentatively, she said, "Perhaps, you have suffered greatly in your mind and it is now confused. When you have returned the holy object to the Church, your mind will clear and your faith will be restored."

Their eyes met, and in his gaze there was a look, tolerant and almost pitying, like you would give a child. Tessa was incensed and returned his look with a defiant stare of her own.

In a tone that sounded patronizing, he said, "You may be right. Time will tell." With that, he fell back to let her lead as they neared the cliffs on the far side of the plain.

Tessa felt she had been dismissed, as if her thoughts had no value or interest to him. What did he expect, that she would suddenly accept a new doctrine just because he believed in it? What about my own faith? she wondered. It was his faith too, once. Was her place in his life to bring him back to the Church? Marta often said that people cross our paths for a reason, to bring us help or teach us something. Maybe that is why we met in that cave, what I am supposed to do for him.

Reining in her horse, she pulled out a brass telescope from her saddlebag and snapping it open, scanned the far horizon for any sign of movement or dust that would indicate riders coming their way. With a relieved sigh, she replaced the glass, then turned to follow the base of the cliffs. De Beauville trailed silently, unquestioningly.

Tessa halted before a large boulder. "This is the entrance to a hiding place I sometimes use. Only I and one other person know of this place, so I'm trusting you with this secret." She searched his face for some cognizance that he understood the importance of what she was offering him. He smiled and nodded. It would have to do. Tessa guided Chico around the boulder and into a narrow, rock-strewn defile. Carefully, she allowed him to pick his own path through. She turned on the saddle to see de Beauville, also letting his horse move cautiously through the obstacles. Rockfalls were filling this small opening and someday, she would no longer be able to get into her valley. But then, she reassured herself, Someday, I won't need this place for a hideaway.

Chico stepped out onto the grassy meadow and heaved a great, noisy sigh. It was as if he recognised the place and was relieved to be there. It made Tessa smile. She turned to watch de Beauville's reaction to this wonderful, hidden valley. A wide flat meadow opened before them with a small herd of deer at the far end. At one side, a cascade of clear water rushed down the cliff, falling into a pool at the bottom. On the other side, a tiny sod hut stood near a grassy mound. Here and there were some trees of various types from which birds fluttered and called. Wild flowers blossomed near the pond and white butterflies flickered from bloom to bloom like small flashes of light.

De Beauville's mouth opened and he stared around, wonder in his eyes. "It is paradise, Shangri-la," he breathed reverently. "I am in Heaven." He dismounted and touched the fine grass, then stood and inhaled long and deeply. "So very beautiful," he said, "like the woman who brought me here." He took her gloved hand and kissed it.

A little flustered, Tessa replied, "Go to that small hut. I must leave you here for a few hours. I have to take those documents to my friend, but I promise to return with some food. Tonight, we will take the package to Padre Quintera."

He clutched her hand convulsively. "You are not leaving me here? I do not know where I am!"

Tessa squeezed his fingers gently. "You said you trust me. Trust me a little more. I will not fail you."

Reaching around to her saddlebag, she pulled out a small linen-wrapped parcel. "There is some sausage, cheese and bread inside." Tessa smiled at his confusion. "In my line of work, I have to be prepared for emergencies," she laughed. Handing the food down to him, she turned Chico toward the entrance. "The pool is lovely and cool, and the water is pure. I have bathed in it many times."

Looking back, she saw his eyebrows raise and he smiled broadly, then laughed, a merry gleam in his blue eyes. She realized she had just given him more information than he needed. A warm flush crept into her cheeks as she could imagine what he was now thinking. With a hasty wave and 'adios' she moved quickly through the defile and back onto the plain. Chico needed no urging or direction. He knew where they were now headed and cantered eagerly toward

Watch for the next exciting adventure Brief Encounter, part two- Episode #315, starting on March 2, 2003.