Part One: A Journey to the Steppes

Elbie was a boy who loved history. More than that, he loved reading and learning about man's most powerful leaders. He found it fascinating how one person's strong will and smart thinking could change the fate of entire continents. His imagination soared with tales of leaders who reshaped the world, but among his favorites was Temüjin, also known as Genghis Khan, who built the largest empire ever seen. When he wasn't lost in a book, Elbie lived with his grandfather, Lazlo Gimble, in a cozy cottage near a small town. They often spent their days exploring the countryside, building inventions, or gazing at the stars—their favorite pastime.

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It was in a National Geographic magazine that Lazlo first read about a new expedition. A team of international scientists, led by a brilliant Chinese anthropologist, believed they were about to uncover the long-lost tomb of Genghis Khan on the Mongolian steppes. Lazlo, a man with a deep curiosity about the world’s mysteries, declared it a very important discovery. "A find like this," he said to Elbie, stroking his beard, "would rewrite Earth's history." For Elbie, the chance to travel to the homeland of this mighty conqueror was impossible to resist.

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—

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Their journey was a study in contrasts. An old ship carried them across the vast Pacific Ocean to Peking, China. From there, they boarded a rattling, smoke-belching train that chugged slowly across the huge landscapes of Inner Mongolia towards the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. The final leg was a rugged, old transport truck that bounced them across remote and unpaved terrain. It was on this final leg that they met a man named Hal. In his early thirties, he rarely spoke and instead wrote notes in a worn leather book, occasionally sketching rough maps. He seemed intensely focused on his own research, polite but distant, and was headed to the same destination.

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As the truck finally came to a stop in the wild lands, they switched to horses provided by the expedition's local guides. For Elbie, who'd never ridden before, it was a thrilling, if clumsy, introduction to the true spirit of the steppes. He clung to the saddle as a guide led his horse, a wide grin on his face. The wind whipped past him, carrying the scent of wild grasses and ancient earth.

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They arrived at the dig site in the late afternoon. The vast, rolling steppes stretched to the horizon under an impossibly huge sky. The air was thin, crisp, and dry, with a subtle, earthy smell. The camp itself was a cluster of canvas tents that seemed modest for such a monumental discovery.

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The caravan was immediately greeted by Dr. Lin Wei, the lead anthropologist. In her early forties, with a bright, earnest gaze and a quick, easy smile, she was very pretty and radiated a contagious passion.

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"Welcome, welcome, Mr. Gimble! Hello, young Elbie!" she exclaimed, her voice clear and energetic. "I'm so thrilled you could make it! Your telegram arrived last week. You're just in time!"

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She then greeted Hal and spoke quickly with the guides before leading everyone towards the main dig area.

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"The world waits to hear our news," she explained, gesturing proudly towards a shallow trench where a few workers carefully sifted dirt. "We believe, with every fiber of our being, that this is it. The resting place of the Great Khan!"

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She knelt, dusting off a small, almost insignificant object on a clean cloth—a broken piece of pottery etched with a faint, unusual symbol. "This," she declared, her eyes gleaming with conviction, "bears his mark. It's subtle, yes, but unmistakable once you know what to look for. And it leads us deeper. We're convinced the true chamber lies just below what we've uncovered so far." Her enthusiasm was infectious, making the Gimbles almost forget the modest reality of the unearthed artifacts.

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Part Two: The Eagle's Shadow

As Lazlo and Dr. Lin Wei talked excitedly about their work, Elbie’s attention drifted. He saw a man sitting alone, a Mongolian with a face weathered by the sun and wind. His high cheekbones and dark eyes seemed to hold the vastness of the steppes. He wore a traditional deel, a thick wool coat, and a conical hat. On his gloved wrist sat a magnificent golden eagle, its sharp eyes scanning the horizon.

Elbie had read about birkitshi, or falconers, who hunt with these powerful birds. He couldn't believe he was seeing one in real life.

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Cautiously, he walked closer. The hunter gave a small nod. Despite his impressive size, the man had a gentle look in his eyes. In broken English, he said, "Good bird. You ... pet?"

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With a pounding heart, Elbie reached out. The mighty eagle allowed him to stroke its sleek head. "Bird name ... Altan," the hunter said. He then gave Elbie a thick leather glove and, with a few gentle and silent instructions, transferred the eagle to Elbie's arm. The bird's weight was surprising—a living, breathing power with sharp claws—almost as big as Elbie was!

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Elbie held his arm steady. Suddenly, the hunter flung a piece of raw meat far into the air. "Now! GO!" he commanded.

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Elbie pushed his arm forward and up as he'd been instructed. Atlan launched into the air with a powerful beat of its huge wings. It soared in a swift, graceful arc before it swooped down, its talons grabbing the meat in the distance with incredible speed and accuracy. The eagle returned to Elbie's arm, settling with a soft thump, eager to eat its prize. A thrill ran through Elbie as he felt a connection to this ancient art.

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As the sun began to set, painting the sky in orange and purple, the camp bustled with activity. Elbie and Lazlo set up their tent. From inside, Elbie kept looking out at the hunter and his eagle, Altan. He felt a profound sense of awe for the powerful and surprisingly gentle bird. Elbie couldn't wait to learn more.

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Soon, the air filled with the delicious smell of dinner: mutton stew with local herbs, freshly baked boortsog (fried bread), and the sharp tang of fermented mare's milk, called airag. The food promised warmth after their long journey.

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Dinner was a feast. They ate hearty bowls of tsuivan, a noodle dish with lamb and vegetables, and the fragrant mutton stew. The boortsog was perfect for soaking up the sauce. Lazlo politely sipped the airag, but Elbie stuck to sweet Mongolian tea. They ate with immense satisfaction.

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Midway through the meal, Dr. Lin Wei turned to Elbie with a playful glint in her eyes. "Elbie, I couldn't help but notice you're quite taken with Batu's eagle," she said, nodding towards Altan. Elbie glanced at the regal bird, then at the hunter, repeating the name in his head. Batu. "How would you like to go on a hunting trip with Batu tomorrow?" Dr. Lin asked. "You could see the steppes up close and learn more about his amazing birds."

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Elbie's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, please! Grandfather, can we?"

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Lazlo smiled. "It seems like an excellent opportunity to learn. Of course, we can go."

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Dr. Lin spoke to Batu in rapid Mongolian. He listened, then replied with a few grunts and clipped words. She turned back to them with a big smile. "It's settled! Batu says you're welcome to join him. And since," she added with a mischievous look at Elbie, "you currently ride like a sack of potatoes strapped to a yak—no offense, dear boy—he'll take you on a training ride first thing in the morning. Then, you’ll both join him on a day hunt for our evening meal. A small gazelle might be nice, if you can track down the herd."

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Excitement bubbled inside Elbie. He could barely sit still. He and Lazlo retired to their tent and washed up. With a full stomach, Elbie climbed into his sleeping bag and quickly fell asleep, dreaming of soaring eagles and vast armies on horseback galloping across the star-strewn sky.

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—

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The Mongolian dawn arrived with a frigid, biting clarity. The immense sky was a plae canvas of lavender and rose. A hundred yards from camp, Batu stood with Lazlo, Elbie, and  a sturdy horse named Amgalan, meaning "peaceful." With Lazlo's help translating Batu’s instructions, Elbie quickly learned to mount, dismount, and guide the horse with his knees. Under Batu's watchful eye, and with Lazlo beaming proudly, Elbie eventually worked Amgalan up to a steady gallop. Batu gave a rare smile and an approving nod—the boy was ready.

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Batu gathered provisions: water, dried beef, and a small leather pouch. He gave the pouch to Elbie, which held flint, steel and a wad of dried tinder. "For fire," Batu grunted. Elbie nodded and cinched the bag closed and stuffed it in his trouser pocket. Batu hooded Altan for the journey, settled the bird on his arm, and mounted his horse.

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They set off, riding steadily west towards a distant forest and some low-lying hills. The morning chill gave way to the sun's warmth. Elbie felt more at ease on Amgalan, and a sense of wonder grew inside him. The rhythm of the horses' hooves was a steady, comforting drumbeat that accompanied the low, throaty songs Batu occasionally sang . The air smelled of wild sage and distant wildflowers, and the wind rustled through the tall grasses like ocean waves.

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The steppe was a huge, uninterrupted carpet of green and gold, stretching to the horizon. Herds of wild horses grazed in the distance. A hawk in the distance let out a call. Elbie couldn't help but feel an exhilarating sense of freedom, connected to something ancient and vast. Hours melted away as they rode, the landscape unchanging in its grandeur.

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Suddenly, Batu reined in his horse, his eyes fixed on something in the distance. He took off Altan's hood. It took Elbie and Lazlo time to even spot what held Batu's attention. Lazlo finally pointed it out to Elbie: a dzeren, a type of gazelle, had wandered away from its herd. Yet it was only a speck in the distance of the vast steppe.

 

With a dramatic motion, Batu launched Altan. The eagle soared into the sky, its sharp vision focused on the lone gazelle. Altan climbeed higher and higher, then dove like a living arrow, striking its target with perfect accuracy. In a blink, it was all over. The gazelle didn't stand a chance. The raptor had won its prize.

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"Stay!" Batu commanded Elbie, then spurred his horse forward with Lazlo. Lazlo stopped on a ridge, keeping Elbie in sight, but was then called further down by Batu and vanished from view.

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Left alone for several minutes, Elbie admired the clouds drifting through the sky. But without warning, Amgalan suddenly whinnied nervously and stamped a hoof. The horse's sudden movements frightened Elbie, and Batu and his grandfather were no where to be seen. Then, a low growl met Elbie's pronounced ears. He turned to see a large, but gaunt plains wolf stalking them less than twenty yards away. Elbie froze, his mind blank with fear. Amgalan let out a snort and stamped another hoof, shaking his massive head and his long black mane.

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The wolf launched itself.

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In a flash, Amgalan bolted, nearly throwing Elbie from the saddle. The horse sped onward, carrying Elbie into a nearby forest along a well-worn game trail. Branches whipped at Elbie's face, and the wolf was on their tail. Elbie pushed the fear from his mind and quickly came up with a plan when he saw a some jagged rocks come into view. It turned out to be a group of large boulders at the foot of a small cliff next to a tall pine tree. He flung himself from the saddle and tumbled onto the rough earth. Regaining his footing, he sprinted towards the boulders at the foot of the cliff. Amgalan, now free of Elbie's weight, now had a better chance to outrun the wolf.

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As he dashed among the boulders, Elbie saw a narrow crevice in the cliff face, hidden by thorny bushes. It was big enough for him to fit through but not for the wolf. He squeezed inside just as Amgalan charged off into the woods. The wolf skidded to a halt near the outcropping, then, with a frustrated growl, tore off after the horse. Elbie was left in the silence of the narrow stone crack. That's when the rain began to pour.

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Part Three: The Secret

Elbie huddled inside the narrow crevice, a mix of fear for Amgalan's safety and his own. Outside, the sky grew dark with an approaching storm. The rain continued to fall, heavier and heavier. The deep rumble of thunder roared from outside, and then a strange answering sound came from somewhere deep behind Elbie. He quickly determined it wasn't just a crack in the rocks, but rather the entrance to a cave system.

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Elbie took out the pouch Batu had given him. After several attempts and several flicks of the flint against the steel, a small flame soon bloomed in the tinder. He gently blew on the flame, stoking it, and lit a makeshift torch from some dried branches he had gathered from the cave floor.

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He moved cautiously forward, his small, flickering torch casting tiny dancing shadows on the rock walls. The passageway was rough at first, but soon became smooth. The floor turned to man-carved stone, and the walls were perfectly straight. A thrill of discovery urged him onward.

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The passage soon opened into a massive cavern. His torchlight was swallowed by the immense, pitch-black space. To his right, a faint glint caught his eye—a strange, ornate lever. Driven by curiosity, Elbie pulled it down with all his might.

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With a low groan, a series of clicks and whirs echoed through the darkness. Ropes and pulleys sprang to life. Suddenly, flames erupted in dozens of oil lamps on the walls, filling the entire cavern with a dazzling, golden light.

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It was an amazing sight. Before him stood a silent army: towering statues of soldiers and majestic horses, frozen in time. Around them, piled in shimmering heaps, were mountains of gold, silver, and intricate artifacts from ancient civilizations. Smaller statues of what looked like laborers also stood guard, as if they had just finished their eternal task—a dark thought for Elbie, who knew that to keep the tomb a secret, these workers had been murdered and buried here with their Khan.

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At the very back of the chamber, on a raised stone platform, sat a massive, plain stone sarcophagus. Above it, carved into the rock ceiling, was a huge sculpture of a king on horseback. His face was stern, his gaze fixed on forever. Below the sculpture, etched deeply into the stone, was a familiar symbol—the jagged script Elbie had seen on the pottery shard at Dr. Lin Wei's camp. He remembered her saying it was the personal mark of Chinggis Khaan, the Mongolian name of Genghis Khan.

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Elbie stood transfixed. The heat from the lamps warmed his face. There was no denying it. Dr. Lin's discovery wasn't the real tomb. Unbelievably, Elbie had found the true, lost tomb of the lost conqueror.

He slowly approached the colossal coffin with a stubborn lump in his throat.

 

"So, here you are, Great Khan," Elbie whispered, his voice small and hoarse in the cavern. "You've stayed hidden for so long. But I found you. I found you when nobody else could." He spoke with a mix of reverence and fear. "You really wanted to stay hidden, didn't you?" He imagined the fierce eyes and ruthless ambition of the warlord and imagined what he would have thought, sitting on his throne, listening to the small boy speak. "They call you the Great Conqueror, the one who shaped the world. Your strategy, your will, was … unbelievable." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the plundered treasures and the stone workers. "But then ... you were so brutal, weren't you? So much death. Was it worth it, all that power, at such a cost?"

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He ran his hand lightly over the cool stone of the sarcophagus, a deep sadness mixing with his awe. "You changed everything. For good, and for terrible. And now, you're just ... here. Forever alone. Is this what you wanted?" A profound silence answered him, a silence that seemed to carry the weight of centuries of conquest, ambition, and destruction.

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Part Four: Some Things Aren't Meant to be Found

The moment in the tomb stretched on, profound and timeless, until it was broken by a distant sound:

 

"ELBIE!"

 

It was Lazlo's voice, muffled and far away, echoing from beyond the cave entrance. The sound snapped Elbie back to reality, and he knew his time there was over. The golden splendor of the tomb faded as he gave one last look at the great statue of the ruler and whispered, "I'll see you around, Khan."

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Elbie made his way back to the lighting lever and, with a determined push, forced it back up. With a groan and a click, the flames went out, and the tomb was plunged back into darkness.

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He felt his way along the tunnel, the calls for his name getting louder. He reached the narrow crevice entrance and peeked out. The rain had stopped, and the forest glistened. He saw Batu and Lazlo searching for him. He also noticed that Amgalan, Altan, and the other two horses were missing, which made him worried.

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He was about to call out to his grandfather, eager to share his discovery, when a thought suddenly struck him. Genghis Khan had died wanting to stay hidden. His wish had been kept for centuries. This was his secret, and Elbie felt, with deep conviction, that it should remain so. The world could hunt for false leads all it wanted; Elbie decided he would honor the Khan's final wishes.

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He waited until the two men passed by the outcropping. Then, he squeezed through the crack and stepped onto the damp grass. He looked back at the cliff face and could now see that the rocks and boulders had been placed by people to conceal the entrance. He took a few steps away from the hidden doorway and then called out, "Grandfather! Batu! Over here!"

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Both men turned and ran to him, their relief obvious. Lazlo hugged Elbie tightly. "Elbie, my boy! Where did you get to?"

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"I ... A wolf chased us! I jumped from Altan so he could run faster. I climbed the tree over by that rock face!" Elbie lied. He didn't want to lie, but he knew the truth of the hidden tomb had to be his alone. "The wolf ran right past me after Amgalan!"

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Batu, though silent, gave Elbie a solemn nod of approval. "Horse is good. Altan found." He pointed towards the edge of the distant forest where Amgalan, with Altan perched calmly on his saddle, and the two other horses were tied to a sturdy tree. Batu explained that he had scared the wolf away with his knife, saving the horse.

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"Well," Lazlo sighed in relief, "that's enough adventure for one day! Let's get Altan's prize back to camp. Dr. Lin will be wondering what took us so long!"

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—

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When they returned to camp, a solemn quiet had replaced the usual lively bustle. Lazlo sensed it immediately. "Dr. Lin," he called, "what's wrong?"

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Dr. Lin Wei emerged from her tent, her face streaked with dirt and fatigue. "It's ... the news from the deepest chamber," she explained. "We found proof. This isn't the Great Khan's tomb." She explained that the artifacts and architectural details pointed to a later chieftain, not the Khan himself. "The evidence is undeniable. It's an incredible find, but it's not him."

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Lazlo put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't despair, Doctor. I believe you're very close. You will find it if you stay determined."

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Elbie, however, remained more cryptic, his gaze distant. "Khan went through a lot of trouble to hide his tomb," he murmured. "Perhaps some things aren't meant to be found."

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Dr. Lin nodded, sketching in the dirt with a piece of charcoal. "You're a wise young man, Elbie Gimble," she told him. "We've already radioed the news back to Ulaanbaatar. The world will soon know that Genghis Khan's tomb remains a mystery."

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That evening, the camp was quiet and reflective. The star-dusted sky seemed to hold even more secrets than before. Elbie felt the weight and wonder of his secret. He thought of the solemn tomb and the brutal, brilliant man it held. Should such a figure deserve a hidden resting place of such majesty? But then, the genius of the man was tied to his ability to vanish, to command secrets. This was Khan's final, greatest strategy, and Elbie decided it must be honored, right or wrong.

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—

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The next morning, the Gimbles prepared to leave. Dr. Lin Wei, ever resilient, was already drawing new maps. As they shook hands, Elbie offered a subtle piece of advice. "Dr. Lin," he suggested, "have you considered looking a bit further east? Isn't the East, the rising sun, very important in Asian cultures?"

Dr. Lin paused, considering this. "That's an interesting thought, Elbie! It actually aligns with some of the more recent theories. Perhaps I will look into it. For all we know, his tomb might be at the very eastern edge of his kingdom."

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Elbie smiled, his suggestion subtly guiding her away from the true resting place to the west.

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As they said their final goodbyes, the man who had been traveling with them, quietly observing and scribbling in his notebook, approached them. "Well, Mr. Gimble, young Elbie," he said, "I'm staying on a bit longer. More research for my book, you see." He shrugged. "I've had a fascination with the Great Khan ever since reading about him in my student days at Columbia University. He has held my attention ever since. I hope to publish my book in, oh, maybe a year or two."

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Elbie’s eyes narrowed. "We'll keep an eye out for it!" he said cheerfully. "What's your last name, Hal?"

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The man chuckled. "Actually, Hal is more of a nickname. They're my initials. My real name is Harold. Harold Albert Lamb."

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With a final round of handshakes, Elbie and Lazlo mounted their horses. As the caravan began its slow journey, Elbie turned in the saddle, watching the dig camp shrink into a cluster of dots. Soon, it disappeared entirely. Elbie had uncovered a profound, history-altering secret, one he knew he would never, ever share. Like the Great Khan, he would take the secret to his grave.

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- THE END -​​