"That is sensible. Youadmit you know Kartauk?"
She nodded jerkily.
He nodded to the man behindher and she was suddenly released. "Better and better. You see how wereward cooperation? We have no desire to cause you discomfort."
He was lying. She had seen toomany men who liked to prove their power over women with pain and subjugationwhen she was at Frenchie's not to recognize the breed when she encountered it.
"You've left yourbungalow three nights in a row to come into the city. You've been meetingKartauk?"
"Yes."
He glanced down at theknapsack she had dropped on the ground. "And taking him food?"
She nodded again.
"That is good. It woulddisplease me if Kartauk suffered harm or deprivation." He reached out andgently grasped her throat. "Now, you will tell me where he is so that Imay place him again under my protection."
"He's hiding in one ofthe shops that border the river."
"Which house?"
"Yellow sod. With a dirtystriped awning."
"You describe half theshops in Kasanpore." He frowned. "You will take me there."
"You don't need me. I'vetold you what you wanted to know."
"But is it the truth? Ithink I will make certain before I permit you to leave us. You carry thelantern, Pachtal. I will escort the lady."
Pachtal released her arms andmoved around to stand beside Abdar before reaching down to pick up the lanternfrom the street.
Jane's lids lowered swiftly toveil her eyes as sudden hope spiraled through her. Pachtal's action left herback unguarded, and she doubted if she would get a better opportunity toescape.
She meekly dropped her eyes asshe whimpered, "Why won't you let me go back to my bungalow? I've told youwhat—" In midsentence she lowered her head and launched herself at Abdar.
The top of her head crashedinto his mouth.
He screamed in pain, his handreleasing her throat and flying to his bleeding lower lip.
She whirled and tore down thetwisting, cobbled street.
"Get her!"
She heard the pounding ofrunning steps behind her and Abdar's venomous cursing.
She turned left at the corner,almost tripping over a beggar huddled in the shadows.
She caught her balance,avoided the beggar's outstretched grasping hands, and ran on.
The beggar hurled obscenitiesafter her and then let out a shrill screech of pain. She risked a glance overher shoulder and saw the beggar doubled over in the street, clutching hisstomach as Pachtal and Abdar ran past him. They were gaining on her, swiftlyclosing the distance between them.
Panic choked her, and for aninstant she couldn't remember which way to turn. Left. Right led to the river.She must go left and try to lose herself in the bazaar. The day after she haddecided to help Kartauk she had spent the entire morning in the bazaar,familiarizing herself with every stall and corner of the huge marketplace.Darkness had just fallen, arid the bazaar would still be crowded. She couldhide among the stalls until Abdar gave up the chase.
She turned the corner andburst into the crowd of people in the large square.
The bazaar.
Copper lanterns hanging onawning-covered booths. A camel burdened with rolled carpets moving withponderous gait through the throng.
