Her eyes widened in shock."What?"
"Not only a railroad, butmoney enough to give you independence and the life you want to lead.Interested?"
"No."
"Yes, you are, but youthink I'm trying to trick you. No tricks. My cards are all on the table. You'llknow exactly what rewards and penalties to expect."
"This conversation makesno sense."
"Then I'd best hasten toelaborate. I need a railroad to carry gold ore from the mountain across thejungle and then up the canyon wall to the refinery at the harbor. I've managedto carve out a rough path wide enough for pack trains, but that's only a tenthof the load railway cars could carry. Ineedthat gold."
"Need or want?"
"Both. I want it becauseit will make me rich as Midas. And I need it because, if I don't get a largeamount of gold processed soon, I won't have the money to support Glenclaren anddefend Cinnidar from Abdar."
"Abdar?"
"Did you think the groundhad opened up and swallowed him after you left Kasanpore?"
"I haven't thought abouthim at all." She paused. "Any more than I've thought of you."
He ignored the last remark."Abdar's very much astir and interested in Cinnidar."
"How do you know?"
"Pachtal showed up on theisland over a year ago. I'm sure he took a fascinating report back to Abdarregarding the gold I've been shipping."
"What difference does itmake? You own Cinnidar. He can't touch it."
"Not now. But Pickeringtells me he'll soon be the ruler of Kasanpore. The maharajah is being treatedfor a tubercular condition by the British doctors at the fort and Pickeringdoubts he'll last more than another nine or ten months. That means I must haveCinnidar well fortified by the time Abdar takes power."
"But youownit."
"The Savitsars originallyannexed Cinnidar by force. If it suits his convenience, there's nothing to stopAbdar from declaring the bill of sale null and void and make a move to take theisland back."
"The British would—"
"The British aren't goingto interfere with Abdar's actions against an island two hundred and fifty milesoff the coast. They know Abdar would like nothing better than to throw theBritish out of his province and are going to be busy enough trying to keep afirm foothold in Kasanpore. If I'm to keep Cinnidar, I have to be prepared todefend it myself."
"And to do it you need arailroad?"
"And someone to buildit." He paused. "You, Jane."
She shook her head.
"It will be a difficulttask but not impossible. I've had the terrain surveyed by James Medford, anengineer recommended by Pickering. Have you heard of him?"
"Of course. He's verywell respected."
"Medford said the jobwill have its nightmare aspects but can be built in seven months."
"Then have him doit."
"I gave Medford the jobof laying the tracks from the canyon to the refinery at the harbor. I saved thecanyon for you."
"Thank you," shesaid ironically. "I'm surprised you'd trust me with your finerailroad."
"I know you're more thancompetent." He met her gaze. "And you'd never dare try to substituteshoddy materials with me."
