"for how long?" Margaret asked fiercely. "He told me about that monster. Kartauk won't give Abdar what he wants, and when he refuses, he'll die."
"You said he might have followed Ian," Jane reminded her gently. "You don't know that he stayed."
"That's right." Margaret took a deep breath. "There's still hope, isn't there? I'm behaving very foolishly." She sat up straighter. "Kartauk said to tell you that Abdar's force were foot soldiers, armed with English rifles, and he did not believe there would be reinforcements."
"With two hundred armed men they probably think he won't need them," Ruel said grimly. "Since I have no army at all." He jumped to his feet. "But he's wrong, damn him."
"What do we do?" Jane asked.
"You and Margaret move this camp across the river. It will be a better defensive position. If anything happens and I don't return or send you word, cut the hanging bridge and head for the Cinnidan village." He moved toward his horse. "I'm going to Medford's camp and make sure Ian and Kartauk made it safely."
"And if they didn't?" Margaret asked unevenly.
Ruel glanced at her. "Then I go after them."
"Even if it's only Kartauk?"
He frowned. "Of course. Kartauk's here because I brought him to Cinnidar. Did you expect me to say anything else?"
"I suppose not," she said, relieved.
"What about Dilam and Li Sung?" Jane asked suddenly. "Did you stop at their camp, Margaret?"
She shook her head. "I passed it, of course, but I didn't stop." She wearily rubbed her temple. "Elephants ... I never saw so many elephants."
Jane turned to Ruel. "Surely Dilam could help."
"And risk killing her people? Not likely."
"I think you may be wrong. She said something the first night I met her . . . I'll go to their camp and talk to her."
"I want you across the river," Ruel said.
"After I talk to Dilam." She got to her feet. "You stay here and rest, Margaret."
"I'm going with Ruel," Margaret said. "I'll need another horse, the mare is exhausted."
"Not only the horse," Jane said, gazing at Margaret's white, strained face. She did not attempt to dissuade her. Ian might still be in jeopardy, and she knew she would not be able to rest either if she thought Ruel was in danger. Then the absurdity of that thought hit home to her.
Dear God, Ruel was in danger. He might be riding right toward Abdar's forces. She wanted to scream, to tell him to stay, to tell him they could run away, lose themselves in the jungle until the danger passed. "Ruel!"
He turned to loot at her.
She couldn't stop him. Cinnidar was his home. These were now his people.
"Be careful," she whispered.
He smiled at her. "And you."
The smile was brilliant, loving, its light banishing the grimness from his expression. She felt warmed, comforted, suddenly flooded with confidence. Together they could get through this. She stood up. "Finish your coffee, Margaret. I'll go saddle Bedelia and a fresh horse for you." "It is bad," Dilam said soberly after Jane had stopped talking. Then, more firmly, "It must not happen." She turned to Li Sung. "We must stop them. I will not have the Savitsars back on my island."
"I'm surprised you include me." Li Sung lifted his brows. "Can you women not do without the help of lowly males in this endeavor?"
Dilam grinned. "I told you men were fine warriors. It is now time for you to prove yourself."
"I do not have to prove myself to you."
Dilam's smile faded. "No, you do not. I know what you are."
Jane looked from one to the other. The exchange between them held no sharpness, only a gentle raillery and amused understanding. It was clear that the elephant was not the only one who had won over Li Sung since this clearing operation had started.
"We need your help but we don't want to endanger your people, Dilam." She added, "Abdar's men have rifles."
"You told me." Dilam frowned. "But we know the island. That is also a weapon. Li Sung tells me this Abdar is even worse than the Savitsar who came before. I will not have such horrors visited upon our people again."
"It will not happen." Li Sung smiled into her eyes. "Did you know that in my language there are two characters for the word crisis? One means danger, the other means opportunity. We need only to heed the danger and seize the opportunity." He turned to Jane. "You say Ruel wants the camp moved across the river?"
She nodded.
"Then we will do it." He said to Dilam, "Perhaps you will have the kindness to go to your village and obtain several more worthless males to fight your battles?"
"I might be able to find a few capable of performing the task," Dilam said as she rose to her feet. "What of the elephants?"
Jane had forgotten about the elephants. There were so many things to think about, so many dangers to face. "Abdar hates elephants. To keep them safe, you'll have to drive them east across the river and back into the jungle."
Li Sung nodded. "It can be done. Dilam and I will start them across the river before she goes to the village."
Jane stood up. "Then let's get to it."
Chapter 21
Ruel arrived at the new encampment across the river near noon the next day. As soon as he stepped out of the canoe, Jane knew the news was bad. His face was drained of color and held the same strain and emptiness it had reflected when he had looked down at the ruins of the train tracks at Lanpur Gorge.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"He's dead," he said jerkily.
"Who? Kartauk?"
"Ian." He gazed straight ahead. "Kartauk was brought into Medford's camp unconscious. Tamar struck him on the head on orders from Ian. He knew someone had to delay Abdar or they'd all be caught. Ian decided it should be him."
"Oh no!" Overpowering sadness swept through her. It wasn't fair. Ian—gentle, sweet Ian, who had been robbed of so much. "You're sure?"
"Abdar was kind enough to send proof. Ian's death mask."
"His what?"
"Kartauk says he collects the damn things. Abdar sent Tamar with Ian's mask." He added jerkily, "With a warning to me not to resist him."
"You saw it?" she asked, sick.
He shook his head. "Margaret wouldn't let us open the box. She gave it to Medford to keep. Kartauk had told her what the masks looked like." His lips thinned into a pinched line. "Abdar never chose an easy death for any of his victims."
"If you didn't actually see the mask, then maybe it's a trick. Maybe Ian is still alive."
"Goddammit, he's not alive!" Ruel exploded harshly. "Tamar saw the mask as it was put in the box." He added, "And he saw Ian's body in the same room."
Her last hope fled and she drew a deep, shaky breath. "How is Margaret?"
"Sick, numb, angry."
Her eyes lifted to his face. "And how are you?"
"Sick, but I'm not numb." His gaze shifted to her face. "I'm going to butcher the son of a bitch."
She shivered as she saw the cold savagery in his expression. Then she thought of Ian and felt a surge of the same cold anger. "How?"
"I have a few ideas. Where's Li Sung?"