“I think it’s more important not to upset George. We don’t know the whole story.”
“But greegles!”
“What about the greegles?” asked Mark, with a slight edge of defensiveness in his tone. “Did it seem to either of you that Vly would betray a friend to save himself? And did you see any sign of advanced weaponry at Montezuma’s Castle?”
“What are you saying, Mark?” asked Joe.
“I’m saying that we shouldn’t discount an old tale just because it sounds foolish or superstitious. George knew we were coming. He couldn’t have known unless Montezuma sent him a message, even though we warned him against doing so. If he sent George a message, he wasn’t taken over by the pirates. These aren’t the same ships. These are another part of Zimbardo’s fleet sent out to find George St. George. They must have tracked him down through the message Vly sent—not because they landed on the Castle and threatened him.”
Zip looked deeply thoughtful. Joe looked incredulous.
“Mark, you can’t be serious!”
“It’s not a matter of being serious or not, Joe; it’s a matter of being open-minded.”
“George described it himself! He’s been out in the vacuum too long.”
“I don’t think George strikes me as an unbalanced man. Unusual, for sure. But not unbalanced. Not unbalanced at all.” Mark looked over his shoulder. George had his arms around two of his men and was talking to them in a low voice. The rest of them were gathered around, paying close attention to what he was saying. Already the atmosphere was one of peace. No one seemed afraid now.