He then went back to the hotelto wait for events to take their course.
The message came the nextmorning in the form of a summons from the palace to appear immediately for anaudience with the Maharajah Dulai Savitsar.
An hour later he was usheredinto the reception chamber to find the maharajah kneeling on the floor, the toyboard on the carpet before him. The maharajah's small, plump frame was garbedin a brilliant red brocade tunic and white silk trousers, and he bore littleresemblance to his son, Abdar. Gray peppered the ruler's bushy mustache and sleekblack hair and, at that moment, there was no trace of Abdar's blankimpassiveness about his father's demeanor. He was clearly displeased.
"You're this RuelMacClaren?" The maharajah didn't wait for an answer but went on peevishly."I'm very angry with you. It does not work There's something wrong withit."
The four-foot board at whichhe was staring was a representation of a jungle with each tree, bush, flower,and animal exquisitely crafted and amazingly lifelike. The central figure onthe board was a tiny maharajah wearing a gold tunic and tiny bejeweled crown.Ian had told Ruel that Namir had worked a year creating this elaborate toy andhad found it necessary to substitute only a few of the figures to suit Ruel'srequirements.
"You see?" Themaharajah pressed the mechanism.
A lion sprang at the tinycrowned figure, appeared to just miss him, but really triggered anothermechanism, causing the maharajah to rise in the air and be lost to view behindthe foliage of the branches of a tree. This action in turn triggered anothermechanism that caused a figure identical to the first maharajah to spring downon the other side of the tree to stand before a rhinoceros. The rhinoceroscharged and the second royal figure rose to be lost to view in the next tree. Themotion of attack and evasion continued across the board, using various animalsand reptiles with the tiny maharajah always evading the threat until he reachedthe edge of the board which resembled a high cliff. The final mechanism sentthe maharajah hurtling into the air and then stopped, suspended over the abyss.
"Look at that. He justhangs there like an overripe pomegranate," the maharajah complained."Everyone knows a maharajah must always triumph against fate. It is mostunsatisfying."
"That's because you don'thave the other part of the toy."
The maharajah looked upquickly. "What other part?"
Ruel pointed to the almostinvisible slots in the side of the toy. "The second half of the toy slidesin here. The maharajah survives the fall from the cliff and lands before atiger, then springs into another tree and then lands on the back of amagnificent white elephant, where he is safe at last."
The maharajah's eyesbrightened. "An elephant?"
"A white elephant. Whatother animal is worthy to bear a maharajah?"
"That's what I told myHigh Adviser, but they cannot find a real one for me. They keep makingexcuses." He frowned with dissatisfaction at the figure hanging over thecliff. "I must have the other part of the toy. What kind of man are you togive me only half a gift?"
"But an extraordinarygift, one worthy of Your Majesty's cleverness. I saw it in the shop and knewinstantly it was fit only for a man of your taste and intelligence."
"But I need the otherpart."
"I'm searching for itnow. Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced it."
The maharajah's gaze narrowedon Ruel's face. "And what would it take to help you find it?" Hesighed. "I suppose you wish me to give you a present in return? Everyonewants something from me. What do you want me to give you?"
"Sell, not give. You owna small island in the Indian Ocean called Cinnidar I wish to purchase. I'llgive you forty thousand pounds for it."
"Cinnidar? I do notrecall… " He impatiently waved a plump, dimpled hand. "It cannot bevery important if I don't remember the place. I will ask my adviser if youoffer a fair price. Meanwhile, you will continue to look for the other half ofthe toy?"
"Diligently. May I callon you tomorrow with word of my progress?"
"Yes, yes." Themaharajah turned back to the jungle board, pressed the button to reset themechanism, and watched enraptured as the lion rose in the air."Tomorrow."
Hallelujah, Ruel thoughtjubilantly as he walked down the palace steps. It was only the first step but adamn big one. All the prospects looked bright. Even the rain that had beenpouring down when he entered the palace had temporarily stopped. The murky skywould no doubt soon open up again, but it was still a good sign.
"The hotel, sahib?"the bearer asked as he climbed into the ricksha.
"Yes." Then onimpulse he said, "No." He was brimming with hope he wanted to sharebut suddenly he knew it was not with Ian he wanted to share it. "Take meto the bungalow of Sahib Reilly."
The cobra wove back and forth,his onyx eyes fixed malevolently on the dog excitedly darting back and forthdirectly in front of him.
Dear God, don't let himstrike, Jane prayed as she edged inside the stable door. She carefully set thebowl of scraps she'd brought for Sam on the floor and reached for the knife inher boot.
The snake was coiled in themiddle of the stable directly in front of Bedelia's stall. If he didn't strikeat the yapping dog dancing in front of him, he might turn on the mare.
"For God's sake, hush,Sam," she breathed.
The idiotic dog paid noattention to her, of course. His barking grew more shrill as the snake suddenlyarched to a height of nearly four feet.
