“You say that you want to take the pendant to Ichua,” said Salvador.
“Yes,” replied Lucho. “It’s very important.”
“Well, I can take you to Ichua now, if you like. We can be there in a couple of hours.”
“But is Ichua a real place?” Eva asked.
“Of course it is, my young friend,” replied Salvador. “Isn’t it, Mario?”
Lucho looked at Mario. Mario, thought Lucho, looked very nervous.
“Some people say it is,” replied Mario.
“Of course it is!” Salvador said. “That will be all, thank you, Mario. Please go back to work now.”
Mario went through the door behind the counter into the back of the store. When he closed the door, the little yellow bird stopped singing.
“Is it far?” Lucho asked Salvador.
“Not really. The roads up to the Sierra Nevada are much better than they used to be. Don’t worry. We’ll be back before dinner.
Lucho and Eva looked at each other. They both felt nervous.
“OK. Let’s go,” said Lucho, as he put the blue bag back into his pants pocket.