The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy [02] by J. Michael Orenduff Read Free Book Online Page A

avail.”
    “If he really feels that way about artifacts, why would he have kept them himself?”
    “Remember, I’m not certain he did. But I know they didn’t get back to San Roque, and I personally think Gerstner is a complete phony. He feigned belief in repatriation of artifacts only because that view would best advance his career.”
    “Well, I think I’ll be able to recognize the pots if I see them.”
    “Ma’tin did tell me the pots are all the same size and use the same color scheme. He even told me the three colors. One of the colors is black, but I didn’t recognize the other two color words he used.”
    “Probably shades of what we would call charcoal and sienna,” I guessed.
    “You’re the potter. I remember color words that were frequently used, like yellow and black, but I doubt I ever knew the words for charcoal or sienna.”
    “How big are they?”
    “Two hands high and one and a half hands across.”
    “Anything else?”
    “Yes. They are made with melting stone.”
    “What is melting stone?”
    “I thought you might know. Some kind of clay?”
    “Not that I’ve heard of.”
    “Do potters ever use lava? That might be called melting stone.”
    “Some of the black-on-black pots do use ground pumice – that might be it. Anything else?”
    “Just that they want them back because they are amulets. If they have them, their treasure is protected.”
    “What treasure could they possibly have?”
    “Treasure is my loose translation of a Ma word that means something like esteemed or valued. Remember, I’m hardly an expert.”
    “You may be the only white man who understands their language. You’re my expert until something better comes along.”
    “Maybe the treasure is something abstract like luck,” Masoir speculated.
    “They don’t seem to have enjoyed much luck,” I commented.
    He was staring out across the river as we approached Albuquerque. “Do you know who San Roque was?”
    I shook my head.
    “I only know because I was curious as to why the Spaniards chose that name, so I looked it up. Roque was born in the 13 th Century. Tradition says he had a birthmark in the form of a red cross on his chest. He was from a wealthy family, but his parents died when he was young. He joined the Franciscan order and gave all his money to the poor. As a monk, he devoted himself to caring for the victims of the plague. He is said to have contracted the disease. He made a miraculous recovery and went on to perform many miracles of healing. After his death, he became the patron saint of plague victims.”
    “So the Spanish named the Ma Pueblo ‘San Roque’ because the Indians had the plague?”
    “That’s the story they gave. The Ma think the plague came upon them because the pots were stolen.”
    “What do you think?”
    “I don’t believe in amulets, theirs or ours. The pots didn’t help the Ma, and Roque’s cross didn’t help him.”
    “How so?”
    “He was arrested as a spy by his uncle who didn’t recognize him. He died in prison. When they were preparing to bury him, they found the birthmark, and only then did his uncle realize he had kept his nephew in prison until he died.”

 
    11
     
    “I can’t believe you actually visited San Roque. It looks so bleak, and you hear all those stories. There’s no bridge. How did you get there?”
    “The river bottom there is rocky, so you just drive across.”
    “And how did the old wreck do on the rocks?”
    “Rode it out with no complaint. The Bronco also did well.”
    “Not nice, Hubie.”
    “I like the old guy. His mind is sharp, and he obviously commands respect from the Ma.”
    “So you think you’ll be able to recognize the pots?”
    “Probably. Although knowing the colors would make it easier. The old man told us all three colors, but Masoir didn’t know the Ma words for two of them.”
    “Why didn’t he ask them for the English words? Don’t they speak English out there?”
    “I’m sure the young ones do. Most of