“The great themes of Canadian history are as follows: Keeping the Americans out, keeping the French in, and trying to get the Natives to somehow disappear.”

“Being a Canadian is confusing because you sound like an American, write like a Brit and throw in just enough French words to freak everyone out.”

“As the past disappears, I keep getting lost.”

“Things will work out. Keep trying. Be believing. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out.”

“A pigeon a day keeps the natives away.”

“So El Dorado is no’ a man.”In a soft tone, Lucia said, “She’s La Dorada, the Gilded Woman. History had it wrong.Really wrong.”“Makes sense.”“What do you mean?”“Say you were a conquistador, hunting for the Gilded One’s gold, yet the native was clever enough to keep a tomb full of it hidden. A native—a woman native— somehow outwits you?” He shook his head. “Back in the day, I met a few gold-hungry conquistadors, and let’s put it this way—the fragility of conquistador ego canna be overstated.”