Chapter 19

• The dry wind carried the voices of men like whispers from a dying flame. In the murk of twilight, Danny leaned close to Ellie, his breath a low murmur against her ear. “This is the man,” he said, urging her to summon every ounce of courage. “He may not take kindly to your presence now, but when he knows why you’ve come, I believe he’ll welcome you as if you were the long-awaited dawn.”
• Danny’ words tumbled out in hushed urgency, a stark counterpoint to the languid murmur of the encroaching night. Nearby, Grimwood moved among his comrades like a dark omen. He approached the chief_ a mountain of a man whose eyes were as cold as the desert night_ and in a curt, almost imperious tone asked, “What about the girl?”
• “Didn't Rhinehart mention her?” came the reply, a rasp edged with exasperation.