"I do not have to beguarded and nurtured like your precious elephant." He tore his gaze fromDanor and the baby and got back on his horse. "I will see you back at campat supper. If fortune is with us, all those elephants will have moved backwhere they came from by then."
"Something's wrong,"Jane said as she saw Ruel's expression when he came toward her after speakingto Tamar. "Is it the railroad? Does Medford have a problem?"
"No, but we may have moreproblems than we can handle. Medford just got a message from Pickering. Themaharajah is dead."
"No! So soon?"
"Pickering suspects Abdarmay have hastened his demise, but it's not wise to suggest that possibilitywith Abdar in power."
"He'll start for hereimmediately?"
Ruel shook his head."There's a three-month period of mourning before Abdar ascends the throne.Until that time he has no more power than he had before. We may even have amonth or two grace after that before he turns his attention in our direction,but we can't count on it."
"Three months," Janemuttered. "I can't possibly complete the line in that time."
"It's got to be done intwo," Ruel said flatly. "I'll need the extra month for shipping thegold and fortifying the harbor."
"Impossible."
"It's got to be done.Medford's almost finished his portion of the line. I'll set him to laying thetrack down the canyon trail." He frowned in concentration. "And I'llclose down the mine and transfer the workers to the railroad and supervise thatcrew myself. Will that make it possible?"
"Possible but notprobable. The jungle is much denser ahead. It will need extensive clearingalong the track."
"I'll recruit more helpfrom the Cinnidar village."
"It still may not beenough."
"Ineedthis done,Jane. I could lose everything I've worked for all these years." He gazeddirectly into her eyes. "I need your help. Will you give it to me?"
She had never thought he wouldask her for anything. He had always demanded, not asked, but he wasn'tdemanding now. Nor was he trying to use that mesmerizing charm that was hismost potent weapon. He had stated his need simply and honestly. He loved thisisland. It was home to him. She felt an odd surge of fierce protectiveness asshe looked at him. Dammit, she would not let Abdar either hurt him or take his home."I'll see to it." She turned and moved toward the tent. "Comewith me. We'll need to look at the map. There's a stretch of marshland justahead that I was planning to goaround. It's a nightmare finding firmground to lay the track and working in all that mud, but we can cut seven milesoff the final stretch if I go through it instead of around. That will help,won't it?"
"Seven miles will help ahell of a lot."
"Then you can take yourcrew and start laying the track beyond the marsh while Li Sung, Dilam, and Iwork our way through it. If we can—"
"Jane."
She looked at him."Yes?"
He smiled, that rare beautifulsmile. "Thank you."
The words were beautiful too,and filled her with a perilous happiness. She lifted the flap of the tent."You're quite welcome." She made a face. "At the moment. I'm notsure I'll feel quite so magnanimous when we begin going through thatmarsh."
"Why do they not goaway?" Li Sung said as he gazed in exasperation over his shoulder at theelephants standing in the trees. "It has been over a week now and theystill try to follow behind us like tame dogs."
She smothered a smile."Dilam says Danor likes you.Makhol."
He scowled. "She told youthat foolishness?"
"Or perhaps he misses hismate."
"Then let him go courtanother one and leave me alone."
"I believe Dilam isright. Why else would Danor keep the herd nearby? And he watches you all thetime."
"Maybe he is looking foran opportunity to smash me into the marsh." He grimaced. "Though Icould not be much worse off. I've been mud from head to toe for the last threedays."
"So have we all."Jane wearily wiped her brow as she gazed at the workers trying to keep theirbalance in the slippery mud beside the track. "Another mile and we'll beout of it." Her gaze wistfully shifted to the river a half-mile distant."It will be good to wash the muck off this evening."
