“Kadmus is searching for a lost city? That’s hardly likely, is it?”

“That’s what I thought until I started thinking and putting together the pieces. Kadmus has a king complex, he worships power. That’s why he set up headquarters at that royal palace at Daksha. He wants to rule all of Tibet, and if he could manage, he’d branch out into China. But his opportunities appear limited considering his background, and he doesn’t like limits. So he began to look around, searching for a way to obtain power without running a risk to his military kingdom at Daksha. I don’t know how or why he focused on Shambhala. Perhaps he saw something, heard something that intrigued him.” She paused. “And perhaps he ran across someone else who had one of those necklaces and was able to force information out of them. What do you think?”

“I think that you’re trying to turn fantasy into reality, and it’s not working. Why would he even think that some lost city would be profitable for him? Is it supposed to be some kind of treasure trove?”

“It’s possible. Or he might think it possible. The legends surrounding Shambhala aren’t the usual stories of hidden treasure. It’s a place where physical and psychic powers are blended in a perfect whole. That psychic aspect has been mentioned in the legends for thousands of years. Yes, the ground is supposed to be strewn with gold and silver, and jewels are everywhere. But it’s also supposed to be a wonderful place whose people live for a long, long time in beautiful, perfect bodies. They hate war and violence and won’t tolerate it. Their main purpose is to store power and knowledge for the time when the outer world destroys itself and comes seeking that knowledge. They also have so-called supernatural or psychic powers and high, high intelligence that enable them to survive and keep the outer world at bay.”

“Gold and silver and jewels would appeal to Kadmus. Not the rest.”

“But what if that intelligence and psychic ability could translate into producing wonderful products and influence the minds of people in power? That would be a tremendously valuable asset for Kadmus to control.”

“If he could do it.”

“Kadmus thinks he can do anything. He wouldn’t be intimidated. He’d assume that he’s the exception to any rule. Did you know that one of his more legitimate investments is a share in one of the most powerful Chinese companies that run several of the hotels and tourist concessions in Shangri-La?”

“No, that could mean nothing or that the idea is an obsession for him.”

“I’m voting for the obsession.”

“And why would you think that legend is true and Shambhala actually exists?”

“I told you, I don’t know if it exists as a real place. Not in this day and age. It would be terribly hard to hide from satellites. In this modern day, I’m leaning toward the idea that it’s not a city or country but could be a group of people who might possess some of those qualities and set themselves up to dedicate and maintain that kind of control and skill. Perhaps a conglomerate.” She paused. “Or a committee.”

Erin was silent.

“And they would need an awesome security force to keep anyone from knowing exactly what they were doing to manipulate the global process.” She added softly, “A Guardian at the gates. Cameron was perfect. He has certain mental abilities, and he’s tough as hell. But I’m wondering if he had another job. It must be difficult to recruit new blood to keep that kind of organization going. I don’t even know what the criteria would be. Perhaps you could help me out there? Let’s see, you’re intelligent, brave, self-sacrificing. What else?”

“A very ordinary journalist.”

“There’s nothing ordinary about you. You said Cameron ‘sort of’ gave you that necklace. Was that to seal the deal?”

“No,” she said. “And I have no psychic talents, and I’m fairly smart but no superbrain. So that blows your theory to hell. Cameron did not recruit me.”

“Did he try?”

Erin gazed at her with exasperation. “I’m not going to let you lead me down that road. You’ve convinced yourself that this outrageous fairy tale you’ve uncovered is true. Well, believe it if you wish, but don’t expect me to confirm it.”

“It’s kind of a nice fairy tale,” Catherine said. “Particularly the part about them creating a better world for all of us. I like the idea of a safety net waiting if all we do to keep the world from blowing up doesn’t work.” She added with a hint of grimness, “Providing that the idealistic purpose is real and that it’s just not another giant commercial scam. In that case, the fairy tale would have to be torn apart and burned to cinders. Right now I’m giving it less than 50 percent.”

“Because you’re cynical?”

“Yes, I guess that’s the reason. And I don’t like the idea of anyone’s hiring someone like Cameron to manipulate everything and everyone to suit himself. I don’t want someone in an ivory tower making decisions that I want to make myself.”

“Neither do I,” Erin said quietly.

“I can see how you’d let that stand in the way. Is that why Cameron couldn’t recruit you? You said that you hadn’t done what he told you to do. That had something to do with the necklace. He did try to recruit you, right? Did he give you that necklace as an invitation? You weren’t supposed to wear it? Did he warn you that you mustn’t be seen in it?”

Erin held up her hand. “I only agreed with your philosophy. That was not an admission.” She shook her head. “Nor will there be one, Catherine.”

“I didn’t really expect anything else,” Catherine said. “But I don’t think I need one. You tried very hard, but you don’t exactly have a poker face. I may not have hit a bull’s-eye but I came very close.” She got to her feet and picked up her computer. “I’ll let you relax now. I have a word to say to Hu Chang.” She started to leave, then stopped. “And though you have great faith in Cameron, there must be a little doubt in your mind about the people behind him. Because you really do want to believe the fairy tale.” She smiled. “Maybe that’s one of the qualities that are important in their recruits. The ability to believe in fairy tales. I’d never make the first cut.”

She moved down the aisle toward Hu Chang’s seat. He was watching her, and when she stopped beside him, he said, “You disturbed Erin. Was it necessary?”

“Yes, I needed confirmation. It was a bizarre idea, and I wasn’t totally at ease with it.”

“Bizarre? Now I wonder what that could be.”

“Shambhala.”

“Are you watching to see my reaction?”

“No, you’re harder than Erin. You would show nothing. But now that I’ve broken through the barrier, I think you’ll talk to me. Is this conglomerate bad business?”

“I have no idea. Like you, I worked my way through to the same conclusion. Cameron could be doing idealistic work in a wicked world. Or he could be a paid operator with no conscience who carries out corrupt missions.”

“He seems to be close to the monks in the monasteries.”

“Is he deeply religious? Is he recruiting the lamas and monks? Neither to my knowledge. He’s more interested in the plants and brews that they concoct. If he’s after anything but intelligent conversation from learned individuals, I’d say it was their expertise and discoveries in the field.”

“I’ve never felt anything like those blankets Cameron wrapped around Erin and me. They were incredible. They completely blocked the cold. He said a friend invented them.”

“There may be quite a few friends providing inventions and discoveries if the people in the organization are both intelligent and gifted.”

“And that young Indian boy Cameron hijacked off that train going to China might have been tapped to become one of the new breed of gifted in the organization.”

“It’s possible,” Hu Chang said. “It occurred to me at the time.” He paused. “And now you’re excited, and your mind is working triple time. I was afraid of that. Before you were only concerned with Kadmus. Now you’ve got your eye on Cameron and his employers. Much more dangerous, Catherine. They won’t permit you to reveal anything about them to the CIA. The only way they’ve survived and flourished is because they were virtually invisible.”