“Speaking of which,” Dawson continued, brightening.“I’ve been working on a very interesting theory about the influence of hermit crabs on Indian temple architecture—”
“Mr.Bates?”
Adam turned to find Borthwick’s lieutenant, Singh Rao, waiting behind him.
“The colonel would like to see you, sir,” the stoic officer reported.
Adam almost felt relieved at being summoned by Borthwick… but then, maybe navigating a web of lies was still preferable to hearing Dawson talk about hermit crabs.
“You go on,” Dawson gracefully allowed.“I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to catch up later.”
Adam forced a smile through gritted teeth.“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Dawson strolled off, whistling tunelessly.
“That man…” Ellie began dangerously, glaring after him.
“…is a jackass,” Adam filled in.
Singh Rao gave a cough that sounded suspiciously like a barely suppressed laugh.
Adam glanced back at him, but the subedar had straightened, pulling his face back into its usual sober mien.
“If you would?”Singh Rao gestured him forward.
Adam squeezed Ellie’s hand, willing his grip to communicate the words he couldn’t say.
Ellie squeezed back, her gaze steady as Adam let her go.
Singh Rao led him across the camp to another tent, smaller than the structures being used as barracks for the men but bigger than the two-man canvas that had been loaned to Adam and Ellie.The interior was simply furnished with a bedroll, lantern, and folding camp desk.
Borthwick waved Adam over to the desk as they arrived.“You said you’re handy with a map, Mr.Bates.Where would you say we are at the moment?”
Adam studied the inked lines on the unrolled paper.Much of the territory had been only loosely surveyed, perhaps by way of a ridge expedition mapping the various peaks.Everything between would be a guess.
With the ease of years of experience, Adam fitted the undulating lines of the hills into his brain.Even before he’d gone to British Honduras, he’d been good at matching a landscape to paper.
He instinctively picked out the Adrija village by the distinct curves in the topography and was relieved to find the location unmarked.His study moved to the river, and beyond that through the loosely mapped region of the forest.
He set down a finger.“Here.”
Borthwick exchanged a significant look with Singh Rao.“Quite on the nose of what we’d calculated,” he said with a note of approval.“And the subedar was actively tracking our progress.You weren’t bragging about your surveying skills.”
Adam wanted to shrug off the compliment.His father would’ve scolded him for that.
He kept his shoulders stiff.
“Now, why don’t we see where we’re going next?”Borthwick mused.
He gestured to one of the two sepoys at the door of the tent.Adam heard a quick order in Punjabi, and a moment later, another soldier stepped inside, marching Vanika with him.
Vanika’s eyes flicked to Adam and narrowed to a glare.
At least he wouldn’t have to worry about Borthwick thinking that he and the kid were on the same side.
Borthwick paced around the table as he regarded the girl.“Tell me, then—where is the next leg of our route?”
Vanika raised her chin confidently as she answered him.“We follow the base of the ridge for half a day’s walk.Then turn to the west, between the two streams.”
