Chapter6
The rain fell just as heavilythe next day, and again Jane was forced to stop work by late afternoon. Aftershe called a halt, she turned and started in the opposite direction from SikorGorge.
"Where are yougoing?" Ruel asked as he fell into step with her.
"I have to inspect thesupports of the bridge over Lanpur Gorge." She added curtly, "Go backto your hotel."
"I'll toddle along."He strolled beside her. "How far is it?"
"A quarter of a milearound the bend." She looked straight ahead. "And I don't want yourcompany."
"You'll have to becomeaccustomed to it. We have to talk sometime. Where have you hiddenKartauk?"
"You don't need to knowthat yet. When you have a plan, tell me about it and I'll decide if it'snecessary for you to meet him."
"It's necessarynow."
"Too bad. I don'tagree."
"Jane, listen tome." His hand fell on her arm. "I intend to—"
"Don'ttouchme!"She jerked back away from him, her eyes blazing.
"Why not?" he askedsoftly. "Do you like it too much?"
"I hate it."
"No, you may hate me, butyou don't hate my hands on you. Never lie to yourself. I made that mistake, andlook where it's brought me."
"I'm not lying tomyself." Sweet Mary, could he be right? She felt sick her body couldbetray her so easily, and yet she had felt something besides anger when he hadput his hand on her arm. No, she would not permit it to be true. She whirled awayfrom him and trudged on through the mud. "Why do you want to seeKartauk?"
"The most selfish ofreasons. I want him to help me."
"You're supposed to behelping him."
"I will help him, butafter you left last night I considered the situation and decided there may be away we can help each other." His lips tightened. "I'll be damned ifI'll give up my plans for this quixotic idiocy."
"No one could accuse youof being quixotic."
"I'm glad you understandme at last. Though, you must admit, I've never aspired to virtue."
No, he may have used her, buthe had never pretended to be anything but what he was. "What can Kartaukdo for you?"
"According to Abdar,Kartauk lived at the palace for years and had the favor of the maharajah beforehe decided to leave so precipitously. He must know him very well, perhaps wellenough to tell me the way to persuade him to my way of thinking."
"You wish only toquestion him about the maharajah?"
"I wish to knoweverything there is to know about His Imperial Majesty."
"Why should I help you? Idon't care if you get what you want." She added fiercely, "It wouldserve you right if you didn't."
"But we seldom get whatwe deserve in this world," he said mockingly. "And almost always getwhat we're capable of taking. As to why you should help me, it will keep mehappy."
She stared at him inastonishment. "You're mad if you think that matters to me."
"Oh no, if I'm happy withthe way my own plans are proceeding, then I'll be less likely to regretabandoning Abdar's cause for your own. Since you obviously don't trust me,wouldn't it be wise to make sure there are boons to keep my loyaltyintact?"
"I'll think aboutit."
