Elizabeth Hunter
This Same Earth
An Elemental Mystery
For my Love
I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to my friends and family, who make my writing possible.
To Kristy and Kelli, Sarah, Lindsay, Sandra, and Molly. Your input and advice is invaluable. Thank you for being fantastic readers and wonderful friends. I am blessed to have you all in my life.
Thanks to Amy, for her amazing work and enthusiasm.
To my sister, for being one of the strongest women I know.
To Corey, who gave me the best advice about sequels I’ve ever heard.
To Colin, for making my heart grow.
Thanks to God, for giving me my brain. Hope I’m not wasting it.
And to my readers, thank you for wanting more.
All men are by nature equal, made of the same earth by one workman; and however we deceive ourselves, as dear unto God is the poor peasant as the mighty prince.
– Plato
Prologue
Cochamó Valley
Chile
August 3, 2005
I’m here. Where are you?
And do you know it takes two days to get here from Los Angeles? I had to wait an extra day in Santiago so I could catch the plane to Puerto Montt. I thought you’d be the one meeting me at the trail, not Gustavo, but it was nice to catch up. Also, ouch. My legs are going to kill me tomorrow from all that riding.
So, where are you?
August 4, 2005
Isabel says you wrote her to say that I would be coming but didn’t say when you would be coming. Should I be worried?