Chapter 2

"So, please, tell me how you know St. Erentrude?" Dr. Jones asked Fraulein Maria. He sat down, placing his hat on the table.

She blushed. "Well, as I'd said, she is the foundress of Stift Nonnberg," she explained. "And its first mother abbess."

Dr. Jones nodded and threw a glance upwards, towards the ancient building's red dome. "The oldest nunnery in Europe."

"The world," Fraulein Maria corrected, with pride in her eyes.

Dr. Jones' smile was wide. "Forgive me, the world," he amended. "You're well versed in its history."

She looked at the Captain for a moment. "I am a postulant there," she said.

"Fraulein Rainer is my children's governess," Georg explained quickly, although he wasn't sure why he felt the need to do so. "She's with us for the summer, Dr. Jones."

"Please, Indiana," Dr. Jones interjected.

"I'm not familiar with American Christian names," Georg began, curious. "But isn't Indiana a province?"

"A state, yes," Indiana confirmed, looking a little amused at some inside joke. "But Indiana is my professional name."

Maria looked down at the drawings again. "How do you know St. Erentrude?" she asked.

Indiana followed her gaze. "I'm looking for something," he started and then paused, as if unsure how to continue. "Actually, I'm looking for something before someone else does."

"Something of St. Erentrude's?" Georg asked.

The other nodded. "It's a legend, actually. I'm not sure if it exists, but it's been my experience that legends have a way of being true in some manner."

Georg blinked and then looked at Fraulein Maria, whose attention was still glued to the drawings. "What are you looking for?"

Indiana looked hesitantly at Maria, and Georg thought he almost looked guilty. "I'm looking for her ring."

Maria frowned. "Her ring?" the Captain repeated. Seeing Maria's reaction, he met Indiana's gaze. "Why do you want such an object?"

"I want to find it before someone else does," Indiana repeated quickly.

"Who?" Georg asked, his earlier trust dissolving.

Indiana cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I should say that it's also in my experience that there are people looking to find such legendary objects for less than noble purposes."

Maria shuddered. "What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bothered you" he said again and gathered his papers. "You don't need to be involved." He started to rise.

"No, please!" Maria said, placing her hand on Dr. Jones' arm. "Please stay. The ring, I've heard about it."

The American stopped and glanced at her hand and then at the Captain.

Georg stared at Dr. Jones, unsure how he should regard him. First he'd genuinely liked the man, and now he was wary. But Maria's entreaties meant she trusted him, and her judge of character had been unfailing in the past. For Indiana's part, the earlier eagerness on his face was replaced with equal caution. If he was debating whether to trust his companions or if he should involve them, Georg wasn't sure.

Sighing, Indiana relinquished and sat down again. "I'm not actually looking for the ring for the ring's sake," he began, full disclosure causing his shoulders to relax. "But I'm actually looking for another artifact, something that was stolen twenty years ago. I believe the people who stole it are also after the ring."

"What would they do with it?" she asked, glancing at the Captain.

Indiana's sardonic smile mirrored Maria's innocent puzzlement. "Money. That's all they want. To sell it on the black market."

Georg's eyes narrowed. "What is the object they stole twenty years ago?"

Indiana's smile vanished. "A small golden cross, known as the Cross of Coronado," he answered darkly. "They found it in Utah and I've been searching for it ever since."

Maria caught Georg's eye for a moment. "And you think they're looking for the ring?" she asked.

"I was a teen-ager when they stole the cross," Indiana explained. "All I knew about them was what I saw, what they wore." He glanced at the brown hat for a brief second. "Once I learned their names, I started to track their movements and learned they've been poking around this area. They're fortune hunters, and except for the cross, they've resold everything they've taken."

"Why haven't they sold the cross?"

Indiana shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe they're waiting for me to come after them or something."

"What will you do with the ring if you find it first?" Maria asked.

Indiana met her eyes. "For its safety, it should be in a museum," he answered.

"It's been perfectly safe for hundreds of years where it is," Georg said.

Indiana shrugged again. "It's in danger now," he countered. "If the nuns can keep armed men at bay, then by all means, keep it where it is."

Maria paled, and Georg shot Indiana a dirty look. "I would hope it wouldn't come to something like that."

The other squarely met his gaze. "You honestly feel that way, Captain, especially, considering your northern neighbors?"

Georg's shoulders sagged slightly, and Maria's hand fidgeted. He turned to her, seeing compassion in her eyes. "You're right," he sighed.

Indiana cleared his throat. "These guys aren't as bad as the Nazis," he said. "They're just petty thieves. And there's only a handful of them." He turned his attention back to Maria. "St. Erentrude is buried at Nonnberg, right?"

Maria shook her head. "No, her remains are at St. Mary's church."

Indiana's smile was elated. "That's excellent news!" he exclaimed. At their puzzled looks, he explained, "If I didn't know that, there's a good chance they don't know it either."

He placed his hat upon his head, his eyes animated with something Georg recognized: the thrill of the hunt. Indiana grinned at them. "Thank you," he said.

Maria blinked. "You're leaving?"

Sobering, Indiana smiled kindly. "I'm grateful for the information you've shared, Fraulein, but I don't think you should be involved with any of this." He glanced at Georg, who nodded.

"But you can't just walk into a church and ask to enter its crypt," Maria continued.

Indiana paused, choosing his next words carefully. "I promise to be, uh, discreet."

At that, Georg couldn't help but chuckle; this man reminded him of his children and their hikinks. Maria whirled around at him, frowning at his approval and then rounded on Indiana. "Then you're no better than those petty thieves you claim you're thwarting."

Georg was not surprised at her conviction; he found it endearing, and he felt a shift in mood. The day was about to take a very different course, and he was oddly invigorated at the adventure of it. He turned to Dr. Jones. "She's right, Indiana. You shouldn't go sneaking into a church. But a postulant and a former naval Captain might get you special privileges for a private tour."

Indiana shook his head. "Thank you for your offer, but I don't think it's safe."

"You don't even know these thieves are in the city," Maria said.

Indiana looked around quickly. "No, I don't," he agreed. "But that doesn't mean they're not."

Maria stood. "I think we should go with you," she said. Georg gazed at her, a mixture of trepidation and amusement at her willingness to go on such an adventure. She looked down at him.

Georg rose; he was not about to let her run off into unknown dangers with this stranger, no matter how trustworthy he seemed and how passionate her conviction. "I'm afraid you're outnumbered, Dr. Jones."

The American sighed in resignation. "All right, but stay close."

to be continued...