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When he crept back to the massive banyan tree his horse had managed to free itself. He cursed the cowardly dumb beast, swearing to put a bullet into its brain if he caught up with it. Now he would have to get to the rubber trees on foot. It was almost a two-mile trek, but he knew exactly where they were located. He knew how many rows there were and how many trees in every single row. A rubber tree should make an even more spectacular display than a tea bush when put to the torch.
Bernard stared in disbelief when the smokehouse came into view. It was surrounded by armed guards. That fucking Savage was almost as clever as he was, anticipating where he would strike next. He circled back and around, hoping to come into the rows of rubber trees from their farthest reaches. Christ, the stinking Indians were here, too, patrolling every row. He got down on his belly, watching the guards, seeking a pattern as they paraded about with their rifles at the ready. Bernard lay motionless, waiting, watching for the opportunity he knew would come. He felt omnipotent. He had eliminated the obstacle that stood between himself and Lamb Hall. Now he would destroy the thing that was most precious to his enemy: Leopard’s Leap. Once the latex was ablaze, he would finish the job by firing the spacious bungalow.
When Bernard calculated there was no one closer than a hundred yards, he crawled on his elbows toward the back row of trees. He cursed as he came upon a narrow irrigation ditch filled with water. He hadn’t seen it in the dark. He knew he would have to get beyond the ditch to set the fire, yet he could not bring himself to crawl through the water. He hated this stinking, infested country as much as he hated its pathetic natives. He was being eaten alive by mosquitos and the water undoubtedly attracted snakes as well. He got to his feet, still crouching, then slipped unnoticed across the ditch. Perhaps this was close enough. If his luck held, and he was certain it would, he would only need to ignite one tree. He reached for his long, sulphur matches. The moment he struck it a sepoy saw its flare and cried out an alarm.
Bernard reached for his gun, but it was gone. It had fallen onto the soft, rich earth as he had crawled toward the trees. He did not panic. His mind was sharper, his senses keener, than they had ever been. He leapt the ditch and ran in a zigzag pattern. The thick-skulled, clumsy fools were no match for him.
The sanctuary of the jungle closed its warm darkness about him. As he ran he felt his foot come down between two fallen tree trunks. He heard the sickening snap of his anklebone, but before he could scream out in pain, his head smashed against something that knocked him senseless.
Chapter 45
Savage ran toward the tea slopes, which were over a mile from the bungalow. When he reached the tea factory he saw that the top three floors were gone. Only the concrete foundation, protected by water that continually ran down its walls, remained.
A long line of workers formed a bucket brigade all the way from the lake. He had to shout to make himself heard over the roar of the fire. The lower slopes of tea bushes were destroyed and blackened. The fire raced ever higher. The slopes were dotted with men and women risking their lives to save the bushes on the higher ground.
Savage cursed. He took off up the slopes, ordering everyone he encountered to get back to safe ground. Sparks and soot flew everywhere, dancing in the air like swarms of fireflies. The smell of the burning tea bushes was pungent, acrid almost. It was a smell that insinuated itself into nose and throat and lungs. Savage knew the scent of destruction would be with him forever.
When he got the last workers off the slopes he joined the bucket brigade, salvaging what they could of the long row of storage sheds that held tea chests. Before he returned to the bungalow, Savage loped off toward the rubber trees almost two miles away from the tea slopes.
Denville met him at the smokehouse. “Were you able to save any of the tea?”
Savage shook his head. “Most of the fire is out, except on the high slopes. What remains won’t spread this way even if the wind changes. Any sign of the mad bastard who set the fire?”
“Yes! One of the guards saw someone among the rubber trees. He shot at him, but he ran west toward the jungle.”
“They didn’t get him?” Savage demanded with disgust.
“They wouldn’t go into the jungle at night,” Denville said apologetically.
“Well, I can’t fault them for that,” Savage admitted. “I’ll get him, never fear, but I think morning will be soon enough. Keep the guard posted. He might try to creep back.”
Five hours had gone by before Savage was able to return to the bungalow. It was three in the morning when he slipped into Antonia’s room. She was still asleep. Her grandmother, too, was sleeping in the big chair beside the bed.
He discovered Eve pacing restlessly in an adjoining chamber. He held a warning finger to his lips and she followed him back to the spacious living room. “How’s Anthony?” he asked.
“Mr. Burke is with him. He assures me there is nothing to worry about.” She stared at him in fascinated revulsion. He was naked to the waist and filthier than any man she had ever seen. The smoke and soot had blackened him. His sweat had streaked the dirt into black runnels. His face was caked with dried blood. Undoubtedly he would have more scars. He was too primitive, too savage for her.
“Eve, it’s not going to work between us.”
She hesitated, almost afraid to let go. She gave a nervous little laugh. “Did you ever get that title?”
“No. No, an English title proved elusive.”
She shuddered with relief. “Adam, I’m extremely sorry about Leopard’s Leap. It’s a cruel tragedy to come all this way only to see your plantation destroyed.” She shrugged helplessly. “You won’t even be returning with a wife.”
He looked at her with compassion. “I’m in love with Antonia. I’m going to marry her tomorrow.”
When Bernard Lamb regained consciousness he felt the agony of his ankle radiate all the way up his leg into his belly. He imagined he could feel the pain searing his brain. It throbbed in rhythmic waves with each and every heartbeat.
He willed the pain to cease and when it did not, he decided the only way to overcome it was to separate his mind from his body. He was able to concentrate his mind so well that he was partially successful, but when he tried to free himself from the vise grip of the tree trunks the agony flooded back to rack his whole body.
He realized his ankle must have swollen to an alarming degree. Fear began to seep into his bones and travel through his veins with the pain. He tried to keep the fear at bay. Hadn’t destiny taken his hand tonight? Was he not the new Lord Lamb? Had he not put Leopard’s Leap to the torch? Somehow he would survive this nightmare.
Adam Savage soaked in the sunken bathing pool, easing the fatigue that engulfed him. Ten years of backbreaking labor had been wiped out in hours. He closed his eyes, letting go of the tension that bunched his muscles.
Gradually it dawned upon him that he was not cursed, he was blessed. No lives had been lost in the devastating fire. All who had received injuries would recover. He still had the land, nothing could destroy that. He would rebuild the tea factory. Best of all, Antonia slept safely beneath his own eaves. A great joy welled up in him. He was going to be a father. He knew he had been blessed by the gods.
* * *
