“There was no proof that they’d use that passage down Daksha Mountain, but they did. Sometimes you have to rely on your gut instinct. I think whoever met them here at the spring decided to try to keep us busy and out of his way.”

“The answer could be so much more simple.”

“Only for someone who has no feeling on how to grasp the big picture. I know what I’m doing.” He stared out at the high ridges of the mountain. “And so does he.”

I can feel you out there. Have I at last lured you out of hiding? All those months of toying with Erin, and you wouldn’t make a move. But Ling stirred you up. I should thank the bitch. I may do it after I give her to my men, then tear her breasts off. First things, first.

He turned away and strode around to get into the driver’s seat of the jeep. “Come on. Leave a token force to guard this road but hold off on searching this area for now. We’ll come back here if—”

“You find out you’ve made a mistake,” Brasden finished slyly.

“I’ve not made a mistake,” he said coldly. “The only mistake I may have made is hiring you. It’s up to you to prove I didn’t.” He put the jeep in gear, and the vehicle lurched forward as his foot hit the accelerator. “Get on the phone and start giving orders.”

But Brasden would not even do that with the authority that Kadmus would. Some men were born to rule, and Brasden wasn’t one of them.

Kadmus looked up at the plateau in the far distance. He felt as if he could almost see a shadowy face in that pale, icy mist. Soon, there would be no almost about it. He would be able to confront that son of a bitch who had eluded him for so long. He would bring him to his knees and make him beg to give Kadmus what he wanted.

Perhaps it was meant to be that Erin had been taken from him. Now everything would fall into place, and he would be able to move forward.

Do you hear me? he asked that ephemeral figure in the mist. You’re nothing to me. That priest I killed called you the Guardian. But you’re just an errand boy trying to keep me from my destiny. You think you can whisk those women away from me, then fly away yourself as you’ve done before.

Not this time.

The only difference is that I’ll have two bitches instead of one to play with. And you to watch what I do to them.

Did you give Ling a pretty gold lotus necklace, too? So childish …

And so helpful to me …

*   *   *

“It’s time to leave,” Catherine whispered to Erin. “Do you need me to help you dress?”

Erin shook her head as she sat up. “My shoulder is okay. Just a little sore. Otherwise, I feel … good. Your Hu Chang did a terrific job. What time is it?”

“A little before five. Cameron left a few minutes ago with Hu Chang. I think they’re checking the trail.”

“I’ll be with you in a few minutes.” She threw back the cover. “Go take care of your son.” The rosy light from the stove glowed on Erin’s gold necklace as she put on her bra and T-shirt. “I slept well. I have a good feeling about today.”

Catherine leaned forward and touched the lotus. “You were right, you didn’t lose it. It must have a very strong chain.”

Erin nodded and smiled. “Yes, it’s very strong.” She added, “And so am I. And getting stronger all the time.” She was quickly throwing on the rest of her clothes. “Could I have one of those nutrition bars? I’m hungry.”

“Sorry. We left them on the bank when we went into the hot spring.”

“I have something, Catherine,” Luke said.

She turned to him. “I was just going to wake you.”

“I’ve been awake.” He opened his backpack. “Hu Chang gave me these when we started out.” He pulled out two nutrition bars. “Give them to her.”

“I will.” She smiled. “This is Erin Sullivan, Luke.”

“I know,” Luke said gravely. “How do you do, Ms. Sullivan?”

“Pretty well, thanks to your mother,” Erin said. “I’m very glad to meet you, Luke.” She took a bite of the bar. “Though I didn’t expect to see you here.” She glanced at Catherine. “And I’m sure Catherine didn’t either. She told me she had to get back to you. But it seems you didn’t wait for her.”

“I have to be here for her.” He met Catherine’s eyes. “Don’t I?”

“That’s what you tell me. But it has to go both ways, Luke.”

He shook his head. “You took me away from Rakovac and killed him. You don’t owe me anything.” He got to his feet and stored his sleeping bag in his backpack. “I saw Hu Chang go out with Cameron. May I go find them?”

“As long as you stay within sight.” She held up her hand. “Okay, I’d worry. I’m trying to accept that you—” She shook her head. “Give me a break.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “I won’t go far.” The next moment, he’d left the hut.

Catherine immediately followed him and opened the door.

She couldn’t help it if she was insulting his independence. She wasn’t going to let him go out in the dark with Kadmus somewhere near without knowing he would be able to make contact with Hu Chang.

It was still dark, but it had stopped snowing, and she could see Cameron and Hu Chang standing, talking, fifty yards or so down the road. Luke would reach them within a few minutes.

She shut the door and turned to see Erin watching her.

“He seems to be a nice boy.” Erin turned and was quickly dressing. “But, God, I’m sorry that he’s here. I wasn’t functioning too well when Cameron brought us here last night, but it still came as a shock. I can see that you’re devastated. Who’s responsible for his being here?”

“Hu Chang. Cameron. Luke, himself.” Catherine went across the room and turned off the stove. “And maybe me, too. I can’t sort it all out right now. I just have to concentrate on getting him out of here and on his way to the U.S.”

“If Cameron had any responsibility for bringing him, he’ll make it right.”

“He didn’t exactly bring him, he just didn’t stop him from coming.” She paused. “And he promised that nothing would happen to him.”

“You see? Everything will be all right.” She grabbed her jacket. “Cameron always keeps his promises.”

“I can’t say I have the same degree of confidence in him.”

“And you think I’m a little nuts because I do.”

“I don’t understand it.”

“I did something I wasn’t supposed to do.” Her hand went to the lotus on her necklace. “He did what he could to fix it.” She released the necklace and carefully thrust her arms into the jacket. “And he sent you, didn’t he?”

“So he tells me,” she said. “I suppose you wouldn’t care to say what terrible thing you did that you’d deserve that kind of punishment?”

“It wasn’t terrible, it was careless.” She pulled her parka over her hair. “But the result was the same.” She moved toward the door. “But it’s over now, and I have to get over it, too. It will take a long time, but I’ll do it. I won’t let Kadmus win.”

It wasn’t over, Catherine thought, and Erin was intelligent enough to know it. But she wasn’t going to discourage her any more than she had to by arguing with her. She was glad Erin was managing to keep her spirits up after that hell of a day they’d gone through yesterday. She followed Erin to the door. “No, he won’t win. Let’s get down to that plateau and get out of here.”

*   *   *

“I assume you’re going to tell me what is wrong.” Hu Chang’s gaze was focused on the twisting path leading down to the plateau. “I do not read minds, but you’re not a man to need company on an early-morning stroll.”

“But you’re always entertaining, Hu Chang.” Cameron smiled. “I enjoyed you enormously during your stay with me.”

“What is wrong?” he repeated.

“I got word late last night that Kadmus had virtually abandoned the hot-springs road and was taking his men on the road leading across the mountain.” He paused. “They’re only a few hours away from the plateau now.”

“How close is the helicopter?”

“Too close to Kadmus’s ETA.”

“Can you divert it?”