He was seeing it as he was meant to see it, journeying back through time to view the drawing through the eyes and primitive mind of the person who had created it.

“I don’t know,” he said finally, although in truth he saw many things. An open mouth spoke soundless words to him. A misshapen face that could be part of a horse’s head became more terrifying and repulsive as he looked at it. A single dark eye stared back at him from the lower left-hand corner. He recognized a piece of mane and a lone hoof, both seeming to move before his eyes. There were muscleless jaws, open and dripping. There were many more, human and animal and those he did not know. All were hidden within the drawing but easy to find if one wanted to see them.

“Koví exists in many forms,” the captain said, his mouth twisting in a smile. “His description has varied from generation to generation.”

Alec turned from the drawing to stare blankly at the captain.

“There is a humpbacked hammock just to the southwest of here, and according to the records, that is the home of Koví,” the captain continued. “I have been there with Odin during the day. The way is not easy, but much of the area has been drained by the new canals and thereby made accessible by foot. That, too, is one of the signs which I cannot ignore.”

Alec shuddered, finding it hard to comprehend that the captain believed so strongly in his omens and signs that he would risk his life in pursuing them. His fate, as Alec saw it, lay in his ability not to get lost in the saw-grass wilderness or founder in the black bottomless muck.

“And you believe you will find Koví there?” he asked incredulously.

The captain shrugged his shoulders. “I do not know,” he said quietly. “I know only that the signs point that way and I will go.”

There was total resignation in the captain’s voice, and for the first time Alec felt sympathy for him.

“But if Koví is as dangerous as you believe him to be, won’t that mean your death, too?” he asked. He didn’t know if he was humoring the captain or if he really wanted to hear the rest of this incredible story of a man’s quest for a supernatural being!

“I cannot believe that I was led all this way to die,” the captain said. “If that were true, I would know. But even if I were given such an ominous sign, I would not turn back or change my plans. It is not possible to avoid disaster if it is to come.”

Alec turned away, unable to look at the man any longer. He had no doubt that the captain believed every word he said. The captain cherished his bondage to the dark world of mystery and superstition he had believed in since he was a child, as his people had before him. To anyone else the story of Koví was incredible, but to the captain it was true. He would pursue his quest until the end.

Alec remained in his seat while the captain gathered up the papers and returned them to the trunk. The end of the captain’s search for Koví would come from the natural dangers of the swamp, which punished invaders quickly when mistakes were made.

Alec rose to his feet, wondering if he would be able to break free of the captain’s dark world even in the morning. He now had no doubt that he shared the company of a man not completely sane. There was no other answer to all this, regardless of what sense he had tried to make out of it before.

“If you don’t mind, Captain,” he said, “I’ll go to bed. I’m tired and I want to get an early start in the morning.”

The man turned to him, his eyes searching. “Certainly I have no objection,” he said kindly. “It has been a long day for you, and I have spoken of too many things that have bewildered you. Bonsoir, Alec.