"Oh, she didn't. She said she was much too busy. I did this from memory . . . and imagination. It was a great challenge. All that strength and yet no one is more vulnerable than Jane."

Ruel's finger moved down to trace the line of the statue's lips. "You must know her very well." Kartauk didn't answer, and when Ruel raised his eyes from the statue, it was to see the sculptor's gaze fixed intently on his face. His finger dropped quickly from the statue. "Of course, your statue of Kali is a good deal more powerful."

Kartauk shrugged. "Abdar liked it."

"But I prefer the serpent on the golden door."

He chuckled. "A tiny jest I couldn't resist. Our Jane was not pleased."

"She knew it would cause her great trouble," Li Sung said.

"Yes, I know, and I was properly repentant ... for almost a quarter of an hour." He shrugged. "There was little danger. I knew the maharajah wouldn't care even if he noticed the resemblance."

"But Abdar noticed," Ruel said. "He called it an exquisite abomination."

"Truly? I can't tell you what pleasure that brings me. You know Abdar?"

"I've met him."

Kartauk's smile faded. "He is an abomination, you know. He claims he worships artistry but twists it to his own purposes."

"Like the Kali statue?"

"No, that's not what I meant." He was suddenly grinning. "But he also has an excellent eye. I imagine he told you that you'd be a splendid addition to his collection."

"He did mention something to that effect."

"A statue?"

"A mask."

"How . . . interesting. What do you think of him?"

"Not much. He found me equally unpleasant. I can't imagine why."

Kartauk slapped his thigh. "By God, I do like him."

"I knew you would," Li Sung said. "I recognized several deplorable similarities in your characters."

Kartauk's glance shifted back to Ruel. "Well, will you pose for me?"

"Can't you do me from memory as well?"

He shook his head. "Too many layers. Will you do it?"

"Perhaps." Ruel took off his slicker and strolled over to seat himself on a large square stone across the huge brazier from Li Sung. "If we can come to an agreement."

"He is here to rid me of the burden of your presence, not to pose for you," Li Sung said.

"It will take only a day or so," Kartauk said. "Time doesn't matter."

"Jane would disagree. She wants you safe."

"I'll be safe," he said abstractedly, his gaze dissecting Ruel's features. "What do you say?"

"If you pay my price."

"And that is?"

"How well do you know the maharajah?"

"I created a statue of him when I first came to the court. No one knows him better."

"Ah yes, you stripped him bare also?"

"To the bone. It wasn't difficult. There wasn't much there beyond what you see."

"I need something from him."

"And you want to know the key to getting it?"

"Yes, can you help me?"

"Oh yes, I can help you. I can tell you the way to get anything you want from the maharajah."

Ruel felt a leap of hope. "How?"

"After I get my statue." Kartauk smiled. "How do I know you won't flit away?"

"How do I know you can really help me?"

"We'll just have to trust each other, won't we?"

"I seem to be the only one required to trust," Ruel said dryly.

"Which is only fitting. My work is worth more than any prize you can hope to win from the maharajah."

"How do you know?"

"Because my art is worth more than anything in heaven or hell," Kartauk said simply.

"I see." Ruel gazed at him a moment before nodding. "Three days?"

"Four." Kartauk smiled. "Come early tomorrow morning and be prepared to spend all day."

At that moment Jane entered the chamber and moved toward them. "No sign of Pachtal. I went back two miles and I think I would have seen him."

"Does that mean I've been washed clean of the suspicion of perfidy?" Ruel asked.

"No, it means Pachtal didn't follow us ... this time." She took off her coolie hat and slicker and dropped them on the stone floor before stepping closer to the fire. "Hello, Kartauk."

"Jane." Kartauk nodded. "You've grown thinner since I last saw you. Are you well?"

"Of course." She didn't look at Ruel as she addressed Kartauk. "He has something to ask of you."

"We've already come to an understanding," Kartauk said.

"Already?"

"Fortunately, I discovered I had an unexpected prize with which to bargain," Ruel said lightly. "Kartauk likes my face."

She nodded with instant understanding. "I should have known."

Kartauk laughed. "Yes, you should have. It's a cheap price to pay for a face like his."

"Perhaps not so cheap." She turned to look at Ruel. "I believe it's time you told us just what property you want to buy from the maharajah."

He tensed. "Why is that important?"

"It's not important in itself, but you know everything about us and we know nothing about you. That knowledge gives you an advantage I don't want you to have."

He was silent a moment and then said, "I want to buy an island called Cinnidar from him. It's about two hundred miles off the coast in the Indian Ocean."

"And why do you want to buy this island?"

He hesitated again. "Gold."

"You're mistaken," Kartauk said instantly. "If there were gold on any island owned by the Savitsars, Abdar would have known about it. He's mad for gold and scoured the entire province for deposits."

"I'm not mistaken. It's there. A mountain of gold, the richest strike I've ever seen."

"Then why has no one found it before?"

"It's not accessible. The mountain is on the north end of the island and sheer cliffs make it impossible to breach from north, east, and west. A deep canyon over a hundred miles wide intersects the center of the island and cuts it off from the south."

Kartauk's brows rose skeptically. "It's impossible to get to but you know it's there?"

"I've seen it."

"How?" Jane asked.

"I believe I've said enough for your purpose." Ruel smiled crookedly. "Now you know enough to pique Abdar's interest in Cinnidar and destroy my plans if I betray you."

"If you're telling the truth."

"He's telling the truth," Kartauk said slowly, his gaze fastened on Ruel's face. "Tell me, have you ever heard the story of El Dorado?"

"Yes."

"That gold was supposedly at the bottom of a fathomless lake. Your Cinnidar gold may prove just as elusive and your money wasted."

"Cinnidar is no El Dorado. If I can get the maharajah to sell me the island, I'll find a way to get the gold out."

Kartauk suddenly smiled. "I hope you do. There can never be too much gold in the world for me."

"Since I'm laboring to provide you with material for your art, I suppose you wouldn't consider waiving payment for your information?"

"Certainly not. If Abdar finds out what you're trying to do, he'll undoubtedly cut your throat, and then where would I be?" Kartauk turned to Jane. "So you must bring him here for the next four days so I may capture his likeness while his neck's still intact."