3

The 2nd Class Bus groaned its way along the two lane Pan American Highway, that went through the center of the Valley of Oaxaca. The jagged blue mountains of the Sierra Madre Del Sur, rose many miles away to the left, and many miles away to the right. Under the glowing blue sky and heavy yellow sun, the ancient rusting conveyance, moved loudly past the un-excavated archeological sites that stood on both sides of the Highway, in the arid countryside south of Oaxaca.

Jonathan and Andrew sat together sweating, inside the noisy bouncing bus, which was crowded with local people. A radio was on, blaring a recording of "I Did It My Way", sung in Spanish. They'd climbed aboard in downtown Oaxaca, about a half-hour before.

As they went over a sudden dip in the road, the bus shook violently, and kept on moving.

Andrew said, "Maybe we should have taken a 1st Class Bus. I don't know how safe this is."

"Have you noticed," Jonathan asked him, "when we boarded the bus, all the local passengers had their rosaries out, and they haven't put them away yet?"

Andrew looked around, and did see that the local women, with who they shared the bus, seemed to all be holding rosaries, and silently praying.

He faced forward again.

"We're doomed." he said quietly. "We may have escaped from the Legal System, but our evil deeds will receive recompense, full measure."

"Calm down, will you!" Jonathan told him, "And try to keep your voice down. We're almost there."

The bus came to a stop, across the road from a tiny Church, and a gigantic cypress tree, at the corner of a short street on the opposite side of the highway. A few souvenir and refreshment stands stood outside the gate to the Church grounds.

Jonathan said, "Here's where we get off."

Andrew told him, "This isn't Mitla. I've seen pictures and looked at maps. We've got 20 more miles to go."

"This is our first stop. The Pueblo of Santa Maria del Tule."

Jonathan and Andrew got up along with a few local people, and went down the steps, through the Bus's front door, which had remained open, for the entire trip. They stood in the warm air, under the clear blue sky, across the road from a tiny pueblo, where a massive, ancient cypress tree, grew in a Churchyard.

The bus pulled away, heading toward a mirage puddle on the Highway, just beyond the Pueblo, as the public conveyance resumed its journey toward Mitla.

Andrew and Jonathan crossed the road, heading toward the Churchyard's open gate. The tree's green branches grew to twice the height and breadth of the religious structure. The entire structure could have fit within its branches.

Jonathan wondered, "Is the tree in the Churchyard, or is the Church in the treeyard?"

They stopped outside the gate, where a souvenir stand was set up, selling cheap, pre-Columbian artifact knockoffs. A few tourists were inside the churchyard, gaping at the tree. Others were also beside the souvenir stand, looking over the items for sale.

One tall woman tourist with black hair, dressed in white shorts, a white blouse, white shoes, dark glasses and a white cap with a visor, held a guidebook. She stood behind Jonathan and Andrew, reading aloud.

"'Arbol del Tule, Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico.

"'Santa Maria del Tule is a small town in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico with its famous Arbol del Tule (tree of Tule) in the churchyard. It is located about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) SE from the city of Oaxaca (on the way to Mitla), Highway 190, it is easily reached by bus or car.

"'The mighty tree in Santa Maria del Tule, has a circumference of over 160 feet at its base, and is between 2000 and 3000 years old, making it one of the oldest living things on earth.

"'Arbol del Tule is Mexico's most famous tree, and some say the world's largest single biomass. The Tule tree and its environs comprise a unique natural monument, an attraction for locals and visitors alike.

"'The town of Santa Maria del Tule takes its name from the famous tree and boasts not just one, but seven extremely large and ancient cypress trees.

"'The largest dwarfs the town's church and is more than 2,000 years old and has a circumference of 54 meters (164 feet) -- the largest girth of any tree on the planet. Imagine... this tree was a sapling at the time when the civilization at Monte Alban was flourishing! "

The woman shut the book and spoke.

"Hola Jonathan Levenson. Buenos dias Andrew."

The two fugitives faced her, and looked around nervously.

Andrew said, "I recognize her voice."

The woman removed her dark glasses.

Jonathan said, "Buenos dias Cordelia."

"The last time I saw you both," she told them, "was the day we graduated from Sunnydale High."

"I'll never forget that day." He said, "Back then, neither of us expected our lives to turn out as badly as they have."

Andrew said, "But this is no coincidence is it? We didn't just happen to run into each other here, beside the largest living thing on Earth by accident, did we?"

"No." Their former classmate shook her head. "I know why you're here, in this village, on this day and at this time of day."

Jonathan asked, "What do you know?"

"You've come to find the Gem of Amara, so you can sell it to Faith, the Vampire Slayer."

Andrew asked, "How do you know that?"

Jonathan said, "She's no longer mortal, are you Cordelia? You've been made into a demon, haven't you?"

"I was for a while." she admitted. "Now I'm much more than that."

"Andrew." Jonathan told him, "We are now in the presence of a Higher Being."

"A Higher Being?" Andrew sounded skeptical. "Cordelia Chase? The nastiest spoiled rich girl in Sunnydale High?"

She added, "Also know in some circles, as the skankiest ho at Sunnydale High."

"You're now one of the Powers That Be?"

"No." She told them, "I'm not that High Up, but I do work for them; so listen and do exactly what I say.

"Both of you go over to that fruit stand. Each of you should purchase a single fresh pineapple slice, eat it completely, then step inside the churchyard, and go over to the giant tree."

She stepped away from them, and resumed reading the guidebook, silently.

Andrew and Jonathan quickly went over to the Fruit Stand, and each purchased a single slice of fresh pineapple, which was about an inch thick, six inches across, and the center was not cut out. They munched on the very juicy, refreshing, pulpy yellow fruit entirely, including the thick center.

Then they stepped away from the fruit stand, went through the gate of the Churchyard, and walked over to the fence that surrounded the massive trunk of the ancient tree, where Cordelia stood waiting for them.

She reached into her white handbag, and took out a 5 inch high, wooden cross, dangling on a simple leather chord. At the center of the cross, was a dark green gem that sparkled in the shade.

She told them, "Here is the Gem of Amara, set in a cross of ahuehuete wood. No vampire can touch it."

Andrew asked, "Ahuehuete? It's been made from the wood of this tree?"

"No. From one of its offspring." She said, "A tree of eternal life."

Then she told them, "Give this to the Vampire Slayer."

She reached out with the cross, and handed it to Jonathan.