Caleb's legs gave out, and hefell in a heap to the ground. Jane felt a melting tenderness as she looked atthe helpless baby.
In spite of his disapproval,Li Sung appeared to be similarly affected. "He needs milk, but perhapswater will help ease his hunger. I will go to the pond and get some." Hesnatched a canteen from the saddle and stalked off down the path.
"It isn't like Li Sung tobe so hard," Jane murmured as she stared after him. "I don'tunderstand him."
"I do," Ruel said."He feels cheated. He was braced for a warrior's battle and now he findshimself acting as nursemaid to his foe's offspring. It's not easy for him toaccept."
"Danor doesn't think ofhim as a foe."
"He can't accept thateither." He started down the path. "Stay by the fire and don't letCaleb wander off. I'll be right back"
"What are you going todo?"
"He's not going to beable to walk long. I'm going to find some branches to use as poles and fashiona stretcher I can fasten to my saddle and drag him behind."
"Ruel."
He glanced over his shoulder.
She reached out and gentlytouched the baby elephant's trunk. "Heisgoing to live, isn'the?"
"You want him to live,he'll live," Ruel stated unequivocally. He strode out of view into theshrubbery.
It was absurd to feel thisrush of relief at his words. Yet the mandarin had spoken, and if he had beencapable of jerking Ian back from the gates of death, why not this big, clumsybaby?
Nugget made no protest whenRuel attached the two poles to the saddle but went into a bucking fit whenCaleb was placed on the stretcher close to his hindquarters. Li Sung's horseand Bedelia had a similar reaction when Ruel tried to attach the stretcher totheir saddles.
Ruel swore beneath his breath."Dammit, I didn't need this."
"What do you expect whenyou try to put an elephant and a horse in tandem?" Li Sung asked.
Jane frowned worriedly."What can we do?" Caleb would never be able to make the trip on foot,when he could stand on his feet for only short periods before collapsing.
"We don't seem to haveany choice," Ruel said grimly. He unfastened the poles from Bedelia'ssaddle and began forming a harness with a rope. "You'll have to leadNugget and I'll be the beast of burden."
"Much as I approve thebenefit to your character of such a humbling experience, may I remind you heweighs over a hundred and fifty pounds?" Li Sung said.
"And I'm sure I'll feelevery pound before we stop for the night." Ruel slipped the harness overhis shoulders. "Let's go."
"Wait." Jane tooktwo shirts from her saddlebag and crossed to Ruel to tuck them under theharness to protect his shoulders from the ropes. "I'm afraid they won'thelp much, dragging that kind of weight."
He smiled. "Thankyou."
"I'm not the one draggingCaleb through the jungle." She got back on Bedelia. "Tell us when youneed to stop and rest."
"Don't worry." Hemade a face as he lurched forward. "I assure you I will."
They stopped to rest twiceduring the night but did not make camp until just before dawn. Jane reined inat a small clearing near a stream and got down off her horse.
"Li Sung, grab twocanteens and get some more water for Caleb while I make a fire."
"I live only toserve," Li Sung said sarcastically as he took the canteens and movedstiffly toward the stream. "Now I am water bearer for an elephant."
"And what task am Iassigned, memsahib?" Ruel asked.
"Li Sung and I can doanything that needs doing," she said as she began gathering wood from theside of the path. "Sit down and rest."
"Am I being pampered? Howunusual."
