Davide cursed when the zipper of his backpack got stuck. Pulling it back and forth, he cursed again. Why the hell did Zoe have to go on a walkabout with him? She'd never impressed him as being the outdoors type, and a walkabout was a grueling experience, or so he'd heard.
Of course, he was anxious to find her and find out what the bee-up-her-butt was, but he didn't want to babysit her on a walkabout.
The zipper broke free and Davide slung the backpack over his shoulder. He reached for the internet printout of the symphony's schedule, and hastened from his room.
Knocking on the door to his parents' suite he said a quick goodbye, but was unable to hide his irritation at the requirement that Zoe accompany him on the walkabout before directions to the Cave of Thirteen would be revealed. And then go to the cave with him. His parents only smiled lovingly and bid him a pleasant journey.
Johnson, their long time chauffeur and bodyguard, was already waiting for him in the drive. Davide entered one of the many fleet of Childress vehicles and plopped belligerently in the front seat. Johnson put the Land Rover Range Rover in gear and headed toward the guard station at the entrance to the estate.
"Well, son, what's got your dander up?"
Davide glanced at Johnson and shook his head. He knew Johnson had never been told that he worked among shapelings. In fact, no one in the household knew about shapelings except Beth and Hank. His grandfather had only become aware of it shortly before Roth and Rainey were married. Beth had known about it from Rainey's childhood.
"I've got to find Zoe."
"What's so bad about that? She's one of my favorite people. The first time we met, she told me, 'You have nice colors.' I never understood what she meant, but she said it with such sincerity that she captured my heart."
"It's kind of a long story. Suffice it to say, I've got to drag her along on a trip to the Australian Outback."
"Goodness. Now that sounds intriguing." Davide knew that because of Johnson's training he would not press for information that was not readily given. Instead, he pressed the gas pedal and said, "We'd better hurry. Your flight leaves within the hour."
After being dropped off at the Portland Airport, Davide hastened to the departure gate for private flights. He was hitching a ride to France on one of Childress Enterprises' Lear jets. From there, he would catch a commercial flight to Madrid, Spain, where Zoe was performing with her orchestra.
By the time he arrived at Madrid Barajas Airport, he was tired, cranky, and hungry. Hailing a taxi, he directed the driver to Casa de Madrid, a high class hotel literally across the street from the Teatro Real, the Royal Opera House. Having traveled the world with his father and mother, and his sister after her addition to the family, he had visited Madrid at least three times that he could remember, and even attended an event at the Teatro Real.
Davide was impressed by Zoe's accomplishment. He had heard her play piano a few times and also knew of her love for the violin, but, regrettably, had never heard her play the Stradivarius his parents had gifted her with for her eighteenth birthday. He'd been having too much fun playing in the woods outside his home while she'd entertained the household that afternoon. He'd also gotten chastised for being so rude. Of course, Zoe was seven years older and no doubt knew that a precocious boy couldn't sit still and listen to a violinist.
His taxi pulled to the curb and he paid the driver and jumped out. A doorman opened the hotel door. He thanked the man and gave him a tip before entering the elegance of Casa de Madrid.
Thankfully, the check-in process was short because of his reservation. After over fourteen hours of travel, all he wanted to do was launch across his bed and sleep—which he immediately did.
Again he dreamed of Uluru; the majestic sandstone mountain rising out of flat desert in the heart of Australia's Red Center. It rose glorious against a sunset backdrop casting the iron laden soil into an unearthly magenta. The mountain spoke to him—not in words, but in nature sounds. He could hear wind and rain, birds and insects, and other miniscule sounds. Rather than clash, the sounds harmonized and made him feel one with Source.
He woke before dawn and showered. By the time he'd dressed and pulled his balcony draperies open, the sun had crested. Through hazy light he watched early risers venture into the new day. He glanced across the street at the opera house. Tonight he would surprise Zoe with his presence, and then shock her by asking her to accompany him to Uluru. Of course, if she refused his powers of persuasion, he would demand that she accompany him. If she still refused—he would kidnap her. He had to reach the Cave of Thirteen and convince the co-Princes that he was not the prophesied Great Prince.