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"I'd be rateful"

Billy reached down a hand "My village not far You can ride on back of my horse"

Pitt hesitated He definitely preferredfour wheels were better than four hooves any day The only useful purpose for horses was as background in Western ift in the th displayed by the wiry little rarunt of exertion

"By the way, my name is Dirk Pitt"

"Billy Yu his hand

They rode in silence for half an hour before cresting a butte overgroith yucca They dropped into a sh it and passed the ruins of a Spanish ion-resistant Indians three centuries ago Cruraveyard were all that reraves of the old Spaniards near the top of a knoll were long since grown over and forgotten Lower doere the more recent burials of the townspeople One toround over the rump of the horse and walked over to it

The carved letters on the weathered stone were distinct and quite readable

Patty Lou Cutting

2/11/24-2/3/34

The sun be warm and kind to you

The darkest night

soh

The dullest morn a radiance brew

and where dusk comes,

God's hand to you