In the Hands of the Cave-Dwellers

A moonless night in 1832 finds a young American sailor stumbling through the dim streets of San Diego, his boots echoing on sand‑laden alleys. When a sudden Mexican shout erupts from a doorway, he rushes in with a freshly‑cut cudgel, breaking a knife‑wielding attacker’s wrist and saving a threatened man from certain death. The grateful rescuer, a well‑dressed Mexican named Juan Sarasta, offers him food, shelter, and a firm handshake that quickly turns the two strangers into allies.

Harland, a deserter who abandoned his ship just days before, learns that his new friend knows more about the surrounding wilderness than any coastal merchant could imagine. Together they barter stories of lost ships, restless townsfolk, and rumors of hidden peoples dwelling deep within the nearby hills. Their uneasy partnership promises a dangerous trek into uncharted territory, where the echo of distant drums hints at a secret world waiting beyond the familiar streets of the fledgling port.