She didn't have to ask what hehad chosen to share. It was all there in his expression—joy, exhilaration,exultation.
"How did it happen?"
"Danor." He pattedthe elephant's head. "He has great determination."
"I noticed that. You lookvery comfortable up there."
"It's like nothing… "He trailed off. "I can't explain."
"You don't have to."She smiled."Makhol."
A brilliant smile lit hisface, and he suddenly looked younger than the boy who had come to Frenchie'sthat day so long ago."Makhol." He touched Danor's left ear,and the elephant turned away from Jane's tent. "We are learning toaccommodate each other, but I may have to stay up here all night." He madea face. "I still have not figured out how to tell him I want down..."
His words trailed off as Danormoved back across the clearing toward the herd.
Jane gazed after him for along time before she let the tent flap fall and turned back to her cot.Tomorrow would be another exhausting day, and she must get some sleep. She washappy for Li Sung. How could she not be happy when he had found something thatmade him look like that? Nothing had really changed. He had come to share hishappiness with her as a good friend would.
She was foolish to feel thisaching sense of something lost forever.
"You cannot do it,"Pachtal said positively.
"But of course Ican." Abdar smiled. "I'm the maharajah."
"You have not beencrowned yet. It will be another month before you're free to go toCinnidar."
"I cannot wait. Yourinformant said the line is close to completion. Am I to wait until MacClarenhas the means to fortify against me?" Abdar turned and gazed at the masksmounted on his wall and murmured, "I must tell Benares to pack up thosemasks."
"You're taking them withyou?" Pachtal asked. "All of them?"
"Of course, and Benaresmust also come in case I find anyone worthy of Kali on Cinnidar. I will needpower to defeat MacClaren."
"You will need anarmy."
Abdar frowned. "Do youquestion Kali's power?"
"I do not question,"Pachtal said quickly. "I only suggest that Kali might triumph sooner withassistance."
"I agree." Abdar'sfrown disappeared. "We shall have an army."
"Not until you ascend thethrone."
"Why do you argue withme? Do you think I'm not aware of the difficulties? I have thought of a way tosolve the problem." Abdar smiled. "Can you not see I am devastated bygrief over my father's death? My physician has become so concerned that heinsists I must leave the city and seek a change of scene."
Pachtal waited.
"We will announce to myfather's mourning subjects that I'm going to Narinth to the summer palace torecover my health."
"And the army?"
"I'll need a large escortto protect me on my journey. Everyone knows that the British colonel would likenothing better than to find a way to oust me from power. If we catch MacClarenby surprise, I will not need more than a few troops. You will arrange to have aship ready downriver."
"But will these troopsfollow your orders when they learn you are breaking the mourning and going toCinnidar instead of Narinth?"
"Oh, I believe they will.Once you point out that when we return from Cinnidar, a month will have passedand I will be eligible to ascend the throne." He paused. "And punishall who displease me."
"It could succeed,"Pachtal said slowly.
"It will succeed. Theplan was given to me by the divine Kali and she cannot fail."
