While at lunch with his new research acquaintances from America, Nicasio found them to be sensitive to the fact that he and Daniela were new to Greece. Stacie continued her flirtatious chatting with him, apparently believing Daniela was only a colleague of his from Berkeley. Judy wanted to talk about her ongoing excavations both at the Agora near Plaka and the new project with which her university was engaged in at the ancient city of Thebes in central Greece. The professor from Bucknell seemed very proud of her school's recent work on the ancient fortress there. She spoke at length about her team of students bringing to light a newly discovered shrine which was dedicated to Heracles.

The other couple to which Nicasio spoke briefly never seemed to be out of each others clutches. They were in Athens on a study grant, they told him, presently working to complete a workshop course at the Weiner Laboratory of Archaeological Sciences. This was an in-house, full-facilities lab within the AmericanSchool compound devoted to precise analysis of archaeological artifacts. The male student, Kevin, left the clutches of his paramour only long enough to explain their work simply. He did this unceremoniously by giving the name of the course they were attending-Sex, death and bones: Paleodemography and gender differentials in the Mediterranean World. He explained he was from ArizonaStateUniversity and is girlfriend, a talkative African-American girl who never tired of being in his arms, was Phoebe, from BrynMawrCollege.

While in the midst of the group's disjointed conversation, Theofilos unexpectedly appeared from the garden entrance and approached the table, greeting everyone affably. Nicasio could tell from their sudden levity at seeing him, that Theo was a welcome sight on the grounds of the campus to everyone.

"Nicasio! Nice to see you again. How is my homeboy from San Francisco finding it here in his sister city of Athens?"

There were smiles from the group, and Nicasio reached up and knuckle-punched his "friendly" to complement the warm greeting.

"I'm fine, Theo. Your resources here on early Mediterranean navigation are very useful. We're going over to the NationalMuseum tomorrow to see the display of the Antikythera Mechanism. Of course, Daniela wants to see some authentic imagery of Amazons there."

"I was just talking to her up in the library," Theo interrupted. "Seems like she's finding a lot of materials for her graphics study."

Nicasio gave a surprised look to Judy and Stacie.

"So . . . she's feeling . . . ok?"

"If you ask me, she's getting along brilliantly. Totally buried in the online ceramic collections. Yeah, she's going to love the National. And so will you. She tells me she's having a great stay here, Nicasio. We're very pleased about that."

Nicasio continued a perplexed look.

"In fact, all of us like hearing that around here . . . right guys?"

Theofilos beamed a proud smile at those in attendance, seeming to bathe in his popularity among the American students.

"But what I'm here officially to announce to you all today . . . is a rather a last minute invitation from our director, Dr Santori. You see, he just learned this morning that the American School will be receiving a generous grant this summer from an anonymous donor somewhere back in the US. It will enable us to proceed now with some long-awaited expansion projects and a list of specific text collections for our facilities."

"Fantastic!" Judy interjected explosively, eliciting a positive rise out of the group.

"So . . . as this news calls for a celebration," Theo continued, "you are all invited to Cotsen Hall this evening. It's just across the street at the Gennadius Library. The official announcement of the grant will be made there tonight to our Classical Studies community here in Athens. It will follow with some Champaign and tasty little snacks."

The idiomatic mention of food caused Kevin and his amorous girlfriend to both show an added interest.

"You'll also be able to meet a number of the Greek and British scholars who work with us here and share our facilities," Theo explained.

As he quickly looked over at the American group and remembering protocol from his tenure in California, Theo finally added, "Oh . . . and because most of us are field archaeologists . . . the dress will be . . . forgivingly casual."

Everyone laughed and Theo again took an obvious joy in his duties.

"So . . . no excuses now not to come. Will I see you all there?" He awaited their confirmation.

"Of course," Judy added. "I know I'll be there. What do you think, gang?" She looked at everyone seated around her. There was a general nodding of heads, and Stacie leaned affectionately against Nicasio's shoulder, holding his arm in a manner of announcing the potential of their joined attendance.

Taking note of this bold maneuver on the young woman's part, Judy made the prudent suggestion. "And I think we need to make sure Daniela gets an invitation, as well."

"I've already invited her," Theofilos said, calmly.

Nicasio was amazed at how quickly the social entropy there was morphing. Theofilos then looked down seriously at what seemed to be a guest list in his hand.

"So, guys. Have a wonderful afternoon . . . and I hope to see you all this evening. Remember it's just outside the main gate and at the adjacent library facility, The Gennadius. Around nine-thirty."

Everyone nodded again and Stacie shrugged her shoulders and smiled in a girlish display of anticipation. Following Theo's departure, there ensued a quarter hour of small talk among the group-discussing the things they missed and didn't miss about life in America. Nicasio, still curious about Daniela, surprisingly stood up and excused himself to go back to the library. Stacie mistook this as cue to join him and prepared to get up. He sent a minor shockwave into her expectations, however, by telling Judy he needed to go see if Daniela was feeling any better. Without giving his now infatuated compatriot any opportunity to make further informative eye contact with him, Nicasio bid the group farewell and promised to see them all at the reception that evening. He stood and walked away, inquisitively in the direction of the library.

* * *

Finding Daniela nowhere in the reading room, Nicasio went back to the dorm at Loring Hall. Unexpectedly, she was neither to be found there. A strange, uneasy feeling gripped him as he proceeded up the stairs to a collective suite area. He had read somewhere in the dorm prospectus that the upstairs had a kitchen and some housekeeping appliances for the guests. There, to his surprise, was Daniela-seated across from Theofilos. They were both drinking iced-tea and sharing a small package of chocolate cookies, ripped open and poured out onto the coffee table.

Nicasio managed to mask his sudden insecure feelings as he approached the two-she seated on the comfortable sofa and Theo in a dinning chair directly across from her.

"Hey. . . So this must be where all the serious collaboration takes place," Nicasio offered. It was fair opportunity for the two to explain their close company.

Theofilos spoke up quickly, almost apologetically.

"I was just telling your assistant here that skipping a mid-day meal is not in her best interests of health."

"Yeah," Nicasio said, looking at her blankly. "You have to watch these women who make silly sacrifices for their perfect figures, Theo. Right Dani?"

"Pretty far from perfect," she said softly and humbly, taking a long sip of her tea and another bite of a cookie.

"Well . . . Theo's right you know. You do need to keep your metabolism going. Especially so far from home young lady."

Nicasio could see that Daniela was still acting punishingly cool toward him, and it especially bothered him for this to be carried out in the presence of Theo. Knowing how men thought, it was no doubt sending some dangerous signals into the precarious social atmosphere of the place.

"I'll be fine Nicasio," she said finally, in a more reassuring voice. "I really just wasn't hungry. But I do have to thank Theo for these tasty cookies. They're just what I needed . . . something sweet."

Theo smiled and stood up, careful not to give Nicasio anymore trepidation than had already been inflicted.

"Well I'm happy your time in the library was especially useful today, Daniela," he said to her. "Hope to see you both this evening. It should be fun."

"Thanks again, Theo," she said with out looking at him directly.

"No prob," he said casually. "So now you both know where to come when you want to feel a little more domestically connected here. The kitchen is fully operative and in the back room . . . there's a washer for your clothes and a long balcony with a clothesline. Dryers are totally unnecessary in Greece you'll find."

Daniela smiled.

"Thanks, Theo," Nicasio said, unaffectedly. "That's good to know."

"Glad to help, guys." Theo looked over at Daniela once more with his typical lingering stare. She continued not to look back.

As Theofilos left the kitchen area Nicasio sat down next to Daniela on the sofa.

"Hey, Dani. Seriously. You OK?"

"I'm fine. Really. I had a great day today. I never knew this subject could be so fascinating.

"You mean . . ."

"Yes, the warrior women. No one really understands them . . . or even knows what they were about. Especially how amazing they were."

Nicasio looked at her carefully, trying to determine if she was being sincere or ironic. He had seen that new streak in her to be equivocal.

"It's all there . . . in the artwork!" She told him. "Their total being! You can see how powerful they were. And it's sort of a statement to everyone today. About women and strength."

She was looking directly at Nicasio now. Yet a different face appeared in her excitement-something of the old loving Daniela, and something of the newer, unpredictable one.

"You know, Nicasio, I really did need this time away from the City. Our city back in Califiornia. It's gotten me to wake up to a lot of things."

He nodded seriously, attempting to confirm and encourage her introspection.

"Well. . . that's . . . important then. Because I really wanted us . . .well you really . . . to have this trip as something . . ."

Suddenly Nicasio's phone was buzzing in his pocket. He took it out and frowned. "Shit! . . . It's Simons!" He closed his eyes, obviously annoyed at the untimely interruption. "Hold on a sec, Dani . . ."

"Hello, professor . . ." He stood up and moved away from her.

"Nicasio? I was thinking. You might want to enlist your girlfriend over there now in this search for information. Discretely, of course. Have you thought of that?

"Um well. No. Not exactly yet . . . but. . ."

Daniela obviously had not overheard the professor's comment. She stood up restlessly and pointed to the floor below where the dorm rooms were.

"I'm going down to take a shower and get some rest," she whispered.

He put his hand over the phone, but before he could speak to her, she quickly had left.

"Nicasio? Young man . . . can you hear me?"

"Yes, professor . . . not a good connection . . . but yes, go on."

"We really need a lead on this now. Things are ready to break wide open, believe me. I don't know how much longer I can stall a preliminary report to the UC Board President. He called earlier today and wants to know how and when we should share what we already know with he and the Board. What our findings have been."

"Yes, but sir . . . we've only just. . . ."

"I know. But I'm relatively sure someone on that committee . . . our enemy from Stanford . . . is quite familiar with what we have down there anyway. Possibly she knows more about the tholos than we do."

"Yes. Do you really believe that, Professor?"

"Your girlfriend, Nicasio . . . you need to engage her as a resource for us now. She could be pivotal at this point, being a female. It's only logical now that she would be the one asking about Professor Vasiliou. I understand the woman did a lot of work at that facility on Amazons. Their myths and history. There are records of her lectures and presentations internationally."

"OK, professor . . ." He put his hand over the phone and lowered his voice. "But I don't think Daniela could really . . ."

"It's a woman thing, Nicasio. Do you understand that? There's something very specific about it. The researcher who disappeared on the dig in Turkey? The one who was working with the team?"

"Yeah . . . did you locate her?"

"No. But the investigators are now convinced there was no foul play in her disappearance. She simply might have slipped away . . . into oblivion like Nefeli Vasiliou. They could very likely both be working together again somewhere. Only incognito now. It makes perfect sense from what I've learned of Vasiliou's connection to Stanford and that breach of our security. It all adds up. To something associated with this find. Possibly even something much bigger."

"What? Jesus!"

"We can only learn that when you find our Greek professor and some intel on her activities, Nicasio."

"Intel. . .?"

"She's around, young man. I'm sure of it. She's pulling the strings on some sort of ongoing operation or privately funded research. You must get your partner to ask the right people and all the right questions over there. Can you do that, young man? Can you get you girlfriend to locate her?"

Nicasio thought about the evening's reception and what opportunity it might present to them. He reluctantly offered the idea up to his mentor.

"Actually, this could possibly happen tonight . . . "

"How do you mean?"

There's this . . . reception this evening. There'll be Greek scholars as well as the AmericanSchool staff gathering for it. Possibly a few Brits as well. A celebration over some new funding for the center."

"Excellent!"

"Yeah. And it seems Daniela has gotten on . . . surprisingly well with Theofilos, our Cal alum . . . your . . . 'friendly, professor. Maybe at this function . . . around other researchers or the Greek staff . . . she could ask some pertinent questions."

"Yes, my boy! That's it. This Theofilos has been at the AmericanSchool long enough to have known the woman. Or at least members of her group. Possibly he could give some clue as to where Vasileou is now. Yes! That's the plan, Nicasio. Implement it tonight."

"OK, but . . ."

"What ever she can learn from or friend or anyone else about this researcher, we need to have. Pronto, Nicasio. You see, I've recently learned she has been in direct contact with members of the Stanford faculty members for some time now. And as you can imagine they're also . . . all women!"

"Your kidding. Really? This is getting crazier. So . . . how did you . . ."

"Don't ask. Just know I've obtained certain information about her international communications over time . . . Under the table, you might say."

"What?

"This is war now, my boy."

"What?"

"I gained a few facts through a source we needed. A hacker. He works officially as an associate prof in the IT department at Cal. Does this sort of stuff more less recreationally."

"Oh great!"

"It was necessary, Nicasio."

He could not believe it was his own professor who was telling him these things.

"OK, Dr. Simons. So . . . what do we . . .?"

"Just prep your girlfriend for that reception tonight. What she needs to do and say. Get her to ask the right questions . . . and to the right people. Theofilos for sure. We need to know where Dr. Nefeli Vasiliou is presently. I'll decide what to do from there. It might involve the Greek and American authorities at some point."

"Jesus!"

"You have to tough this out, Nicasio. It's critical to what's going on. There's more I didn't tell you."

Nicasio was silent for several seconds.

"Alright Professor . . . if you say so. I'll get Daniela to . . . somehow. . .work on that. This evening . . . for sure."

"Good, my boy. Call me first thing with whatever you or she finds out."

The professor once again, speaking in an uncharacteristically intense voice, quickly trailed off. He had hung up the phone unexpectedly.

* * *