"I know someone else whofeels the same way." Her smile faded. "Actually, I know two peoplewho—" She kicked her horse, and the mare sprang forward. "If you wantto see it, let's hurry and get it over with."
The sun had almost gone downby the time they came within sight of the station, but the last weak rayscaught the brightly burnished brass adorning the two scarlet railway cars andset them ablaze.
"The maharajah is clearlynot a retiring man," Ruel said as he reined in before the station anddismounted. "I imagine all that brass is fairly blinding in fullsunlight."
"Yes." She got offBedelia and followed him across the platform toward the cars. "As I said,he likes a bit of flash."
"And where is this famousgolden door?"
She gestured toward the secondcar.
He moved quickly past thefirst car and up the four metal steps of the second car. "The sun's almostgone down. I can't see it properly... " He took down the lantern hangingon the hook beside the door, lit it, and held it high. He gazed at the door insilence for a moment. "Magnificent."
"It's supposed torepresent the Garden of Paradise. The door itself is bronze that's been heavilygilded with gold." She frowned. "But it still cost us far too muchmoney."
The blasted door had causedher a mountain of trouble as well as money, and lately she had not been able tolook at it with the appreciation it deserved. Now she found herself seeing itthrough Ruel's eyes.
Two flowering trees framedeither side of the door on which intricately carved tropical blossoms drapedthe branches and burst in luxuriant profusion over the entire golden surface.Through the screen of flowers glimpses could be caught of a tiger and gazelleromping playfully together before a sari-clothed woman. The woman was gazing atherself in a hand mirror and completely ignoring the beasts.
"The workmanship issuperb. Who did it?"
"Just a localcraftsman." She asked quickly, "Have you seen enough?"
"No." His gazesuddenly focused on the bole of the tree on the left side of the door."What's this?" He started to laugh. "Good God, it's aserpent."
She had hoped he wouldn'tnotice the serpent coiled around the bole of the tree. "Isn't there alwaysa serpent in paradise?"
"So I've heard." Hesmiled curiously. "But never one this cleverly presented."
His absorption in the snakemade her uneasy, and she tried to distract him. "I thought the tiger wasdone quite beautifully."
"Very nice." Hisgaze was still on the serpent. "An exquisite abomination," hemurmured.
"What?"
"Nothing." To herrelief, his stare finally left the serpent and shifted to her face. "May Isee inside the car?"
"Of course." Shequickly pulled out the ring of keys from her pocket, then hesitated as sheremembered what lay beyond that door. "There's nothing unusual about thefurnishings. Haven't you seen enough?"
He studied her. "What'sin there that you don't want me to see?"
"I'm tired andhungry." She gestured impatiently. "You wished to see the door andyou've seen it. This is a waste of time."
"Why?" he askedagain.
"Oh, for heaven'ssake." She unlocked the heavy door and flung it open. "Look, if youlike. I don't care."
"Thank you, Ishall." He entered the car. "Coming?"
"I've seen it allbefore." When he merely stood looking at her, she moved reluctantlyforward to stand beside him. "Hurry."
"Oh yes, I remember,you're hungry." He lifted the lantern and glanced around the car. Thelight played over crimson-velvet-cushioned divans, polished teakwood tables,tasseled curtains draping mother-of-pearl inlaid windowsills. He lifted the lanternhigher, and his gaze fell on the eight pictures gracing the walls. He whistledlong and low. "I think I'm beginning to develop an appetite myself."
"They were themaharajah's choice," she said quickly. "He had the paintings broughtfrom the palace."
"The concubine quarters,no doubt. Kama Sutra… "
"Kama what?"
