. We followed its trail from the great
temple of Ankor Vat in Cambodia all the way to the sunken temple of Alta
Yuan."

Rick remembered vividly. He had been at the controls of the Submobile, a
hundred fathoms under the waters of the Pacific, when the first Alta
Yuan dragon came to light.

"The dragon was the incarnation of the chief god of the Alta Yuan
people. When an earthquake sank the temple, the people of the island
lost their gods. When we hauled the dragon back up and gave it to them,
nothing was too good for us." He paused. "By 'we' I mean the Spindrift
scientists. I was not among the lucky ones, since I had not yet joined
the Spindrift group."

Okola shared Tony's excitement over the Alta Yuan find. "I, too, was
very much interested in that expedition. And when I heard that the
artifacts brought from the bottom of the sea provided a possible
connection between the Philippines and that ancient culture, you can
imagine my excitement."

Rick could see that Lazada could not possibly imagine so much excitement
over an archaeological find, but was too courteous to say so.

"Then finding a similar dragon among the rice terraces would show a link
between our country and the ruins of Ankor Vat?" Lazada asked.

"Exactly," Tony replied.

Lazada rose. "Dinner is ready. Let us continue our discussion at the
table."

They went out to a balcony which overlooked a garden at the rear of the
house. A table set with the finest Chinese linen and delicate Siamese
silverware was waiting for them. Houseboys waited to serve them. Over a
dinner of broiled giant prawns, meat-stuffed rolls called _lumpia_, and
whole barbecued suckling pig called _lechon_, they continued their talk
of the expedition.

"What is the significance of the golden skull?" Lazada asked.

"I did not know until today," Tony answered. "I found out from my
esteemed colleague here. He has been doing some very hard work on it.
Will you answer, Dr. Okola?"

The Filipino archaeologist looked pleased, but he hastened to say, "The
credit is not mine alone. I had the invaluable assistance of one of my
graduate students, who is himself an Ifugao. A brilliant young man. Next
week I am attending a celebration at his home, in honor of his becoming
an assistant professor at the university."

"I'm sorry I didn't meet him," Tony Briotti said. "Did you mention his
name?"

"Nangolat. However, Mr. Lazada asked about the significance of the
golden skull. We were able