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??Where’s that?” Nasha asked

“Tunisia? Way up north at the very top of Africa It’s much hotter there than here in the randrove that’s been there for hundreds of years”

“Hundreds?” Tambara said

“Many hundreds,” Amal said “And in that house was the lid of an old charcoal burner that had a Sator Square palindroraved into the metal”

“What’s a palindrome?” Nasha asked

“Words or phrases that can be read forward or backward Madam is a one-word palindrome The Sator Square is a five-word palindroical”

“Why?”

Taer to her lips “Shhh”

“It’s a good question,” A it wanted the people to think it was ic When the charcoal burner was lit, it would shine the words onto the wall or ceiling of a very dark roooing on Anyhen randmother used to tell her bedti His treasure was hidden soirls leaned forward as she lowered her voice “The day randmother found that Sator Square, ten people had passed it by, not one of theht there in front of them”

“Why didn’t they see it?” Maryam asked

“Because the treasure,” she said, looking at each of the person takes it, they or someone they love will die a horrible death”

“Why didn’t your grandmother die?”

“Because the ancient oracles were charged atching over theher voice, “until one who is of royal blood could return it to its rightful place”

The girls’ eyes widened as she i, “Are you an oracle, too?”