"I expect nothingnow."
"Not even an interpreterto make your needs known to the workers?"
"I'll get Medford torecommend someone."
"Tamar has a cousin whois already at the base camp. Dilam worked as a crew supervisor for Medford, iswell liked by the other Cinnidans, and knows elephants."
"I need someone who knowsrailroads, not elephants."
"You may find it to youradvantage to know both. Those jungles have been home to the elephant herds forcenturies. They're not fond of intruders in their domain."
She frowned. "Medford'sreport mentioned elephants but no particular problems. However, I'll acceptyour Dilam, if I consider him competent."
"Oh, Dilam'sexceptionally competent."
"And loyal to you?"
"How suspicious yousound. Dilam won't be a spy in your camp. The Cinnidans are a very independentpeople. Even I can't buy their loyalty."
"That must be a greatdisappointment to you."
"No, actually it pleasesme." He glanced at Li Sung and raised his voice. "And the Cinnidanshave your fondness for pigtails, Li Sung."
"What?" Li Sungturned away from the balustrade, and Jane noticed again that expression oftotal absorption he had worn ever since he had arrived on Cinnidar. "Oh, yes,I noticed on the way from the village. This proves they must clearly be a verysuperior people."
"Clearly," Ruelagreed solemnly.
"And they're extremelyhandsome but they don't look Indian. Their skin is more golden than dusky andthey're taller and huskier than most of the Indians I saw in Kasanpore. Arethey of mixed blood?"
Ruel shook his head."Tamar tells me the Cinnidans originally came from one of the Polynesianislands in the South Seas and settled here. Abdar's great-grandfather's'annexation' was very brutal, and the Cinnidans refused to have anything to dowith the Savitsars or their retainers. They moved all their tribes away fromthe coast to the jungle in the canyon. Since the canyon was nearlyinaccessible, they were untroubled by any interference."
"Very clever." LiSung started to turn back to the balustrade, when his attention was caught bysomething else. "Who lives there?" He pointed to a charmingpagoda-style cottage with a curling slate-blue tiled roof a short distance fromthe terrace.
"No one. That's thesummerhouse. I had it built to use as a retreat when I needed to get away fromthe palace." He smiled at Jane. "I haven't used it yet, but I'm sureI will soon." Before she could speak he turned away. "Ah, here'sTamar. If you'll excuse me, I'll see you both at dinner."
Jane breathed a sigh of reliefas she watched him saunter toward the palace. Except for that brief moment ofintimacy when they had first arrived, Ruel had acted with the casual courtesyand good humor of a host welcoming honored guests to his domain. She had nohope his behavior would continue in this vein, but she would gratefully acceptany respite until she got her bearings.
"What do you know aboutelephants?" she asked Li Sung as they followed Tamar into the palace.
"Elephants?"
"Ruel believes they mayprove a problem. Didn't you hear anything he was saying?"
"No, I was thinking ofsomething else. The only thing I know about elephants is that I don't likethem."
"Why not?"
"They have very bigfeet." As she continued to frown at him in puzzlement, he went on."Cripples are extremely cautious of creatures with big feet. It'ssometimes not easy for us to get out of the way of them."
She chuckled. "Then we'llhave to make sure you don't encounter any at close range."
"That is my most earnesthope."
"If you don't mind mysaying so, you're a bloody fool, Ruel," James Medford said bluntly.
Ruel chuckled. "Itwouldn't do me any good to mind when you'd say it anyway. You don't have toapprove of Miss Barnaby, you have only to make yourself available in case sheneeds information or advice."
Medford scowled. "Whichprobably means I'll be building the damn line myself and not getting paid forit."
