"According to Abdar, Kartauk lived at the palace for years and had the favor of the maharajah before he decided to leave so precipitously. He must know him very well, perhaps well enough to tell me the way to persuade him to my way of thinking."

"You wish only to question him about the maharajah?"

"I wish to know everything there is to know about His Imperial Majesty."

"Why should I help you? I don't care if you get what you want." She added fiercely, "It would serve you right if you didn't."

"But we seldom get what we deserve in this world," he said mockingly. "And almost always get what we're capable of taking. As to why you should help me, it will keep me happy."

She stared at him in astonishment. "You're mad if you think that matters to me."

"Oh no, if I'm happy with the way my own plans are proceeding, then I'll be less likely to regret abandoning Abdar's cause for your own. Since you obviously don't trust me, wouldn't it be wise to make sure there are boons to keep my loyalty intact?"

"I'll think about it."

"Tomorrow."

"I said I'll think about it," she said curtly. "Stop pushing me."

"I have to push. I've wasted too much time already." His mockery had been replaced by bleakness. "When I get your Kartauk out of Kasanpore, the odds are Abdar will make certain I don't get another chance at the maharajah. I have to have that bill of sale before we leave."

"Bill of sale?"

"I'm going to buy a piece of property from the maharajah."

She stared at him incredulously. "You did all this for a piece of property?"

"A very special piece of property. I want to see Kartauk tomorrow and ask him—"

They had rounded the bend. The roar of the water racing through Lanpur Gorge drowned out the rest of his sentence.

The water was running even faster here than in Sikor Gorge, she noticed anxiously. This branch of the Zastu received the drainoff from the hills, and yellow-brown water was exploding through the gorge past the flat rocks bordering the steep banks as if shot from a pistol.

"They seem to be holding firm enough," Ruel shouted over the roar, his gaze on the two steel posts supporting the bridge over the gorge. "You must have built strong foundations to resist this flood."

"Of course I did."

"Then why were you worried?"

"I wasn't worried. I just wanted to check to be sure. Patrick should reach the gorge and start laying the track on the bridge in the next two days."

"Then what happens?"

"We join the track from Narinth ten miles beyond the gorge."

"And you're finished?"

"Patrick will ride horseback along the track from the gorge to Narinth, examining it for any damage. Then we do a trial run in the train to Narinth and back again. The next day we officially turn the train over to the maharajah." Her lips tightened grimly. "And get our money at last." She turned away and started back the way they had come.

"Tomorrow?" Ruel asked as he fell into step with her. "I need to see Kartauk."

He was persistent as the devil and would probably continue to plague her until he got his way. Why was she wasting her strength resisting? she wondered impatiently. As he had said, it would be safer to assure his loyalty with self-interest. "Be at the bungalow tomorrow morning at nine."

"Am I mistaken, or have we been going around in circles since we left the city gates?" Ruel asked.

"You're not mistaken," Jane said as she pushed aside the wet foliage overhanging the path. "Your friend, Pachtal, may still be watching me, and if we didn't lose him in the bazaar, I want to make sure he won't be able to follow us."

"Or that I would never be able to find my way back here," Ruel added shrewdly. "Are we going to go through this maze again on the way back to the city?"

"Of course." She gave him a level glance. "I'm not a fool to take you at your word until you prove yourself. I have no intention of sacrificing Kartauk to your ambitions."

He suddenly chuckled. "Good for you. When you agreed to take me here yesterday, I was a little disappointed in you. It always pays to be cautious of Greeks bearing gifts."

"Or Scots," she said dryly. She glanced hurriedly away from him and strode ahead into the underbrush at the side of the path. "The temple is just ahead." ,

"Temple?"

"An abandoned Buddhist temple." She added deliberately, "One of many in the area that were left deserted hundreds of years ago."

"You're warning me that I couldn't describe it accurately to Abdar if I chose?" He nodded solemnly. "Kind of you to save me the bother."

"You find this amusing?"

His smile disappeared. "Actually, I'm taking all this with great gravity, but it never hurts to laugh at little things. You'll find that out as you grow older."

"I'm not a child."

"That's what I told Ian, but I find myself in a position of trying to relegate you to a status where you'll be safe from me."

"I am safe from you," she said defiantly.

"No, you're not." He met her gaze. "Not if I choose to make it so. I'm very good at making the forbidden seem irresistible." He glanced away from her and said lightly, "My experience as a running patterer, no doubt. I spent a great deal of time and effort learning that trade. At any rate, I refuse to rob you again, so I believe we'll try to keep you in the realm of childhood."

"You have no—"

"May I ask what you're doing here?" Li Sung stepped out of the bushes and limped toward them. "Besides making so much noise, I was forced to tramp through this mud to find out who was approaching."

"This is Ruel MacClaren. He's going to help us get Kartauk away from Kasanpore." She handed Li Sung the knapsack she carried and turned to Ruel. "This is my friend, Li Sung. He'll take you the rest of the way to the temple. I'll join you later."

"Where are you going?" Ruel asked.

"I'm going to retrace my steps to be sure we weren't being followed."

"After all that weaving to and fro? Aren't you being a little too careful?"

"No," she said baldly.

A flicker of indefinable emotion crossed his face. "I believe I may have to take measures to rid you of that distrust. It's becoming tiresome and may get in the way."

"He's not to be trusted?" Li Sung asked Jane.

"Within limits. Take him to Kartauk."

She turned and walked away from them.

"How far is it to this temple?" Ruel asked as he followed Li Sung through the jungle.

"Not far."

"Why hide in a temple?"

"Kartauk wanted it."

"Why?"

Li Sung didn't answer.

"Why?" Ruel repeated.

Li Sung glanced over his shoulder. "You ask many questions."

"Because your answers don't reveal very much."

"They're not supposed to. Jane doesn't trust you."

"And is her judgment infallible?"

"No, she has a loving nature and wants to believe in people. It has often caused her great hurt."

"Then, since she doesn't believe in me, I'm no threat to her."

"Unless you've already hurt her."

"And what would you do if I had?"