“No, I wouldn’t permit it. But I thought two friends should have the opportunity to meet alone before there were intrusions. You knew about Luke?”
“Yes, though not from you warning me.”
“I thought there was a good chance you might break your word to me and take a peek. It seems I was correct.”
“I told you I would honor your privacy whenever possible. It was not possible. I had to make sure that you weren’t going to be doing anything that would interfere with my getting Erin out of here.”
“That is why I am on this deplorably uncomfortable mountain.”
“No, your objective has changed. You’re only thinking about Catherine Ling.”
Hu Chang nodded slowly. “You have a right to be concerned. My prime objective is not yours. But if I do not have to sacrifice Erin Sullivan for Catherine, then I will be happy to expand my goal.”
Cameron’s gaze shifted back to the helicopter. “I believe we’ll be able to do that. In fact, I don’t think that Catherine will let anyone take Erin from beneath her protective wing until she’s safe.”
Hu Chang said quietly, “You could take her away from Catherine.”
“I’m not sure that I could.”
“Really?” Hu Chang’s eyes narrowed. Cameron was not inclined to underestimate himself, and they were both aware of his capabilities. “It’s true that she’s extraordinary, but I wasn’t aware that you’d discovered that.”
Cameron glanced back at him. “But I find I don’t want to be forced to take Erin away from her. I might have to kill her, and that would upset my friend, Hu Chang.”
“Yes, I would be so upset that I would seek and find a way to kill my friend, Cameron.”
Cameron chuckled. “I do like you, Hu Chang. No one intimidates you, thank God.”
“And you’re bored to extinction with people who allow you to intimidate them.”
He grimaced. “Not extinction. That’s one of the prime things that I’m not permitted.”
“But bored nevertheless.” He watched as Tashdon opened the helicopter door and gestured for Luke to jump out. “Your fine, competent pilot is an excellent example. He seemed quite normal until he got near you. He was almost subservient, eagerly subservient, but subservient nonetheless. Have you been indulging in a little brainwashing?”
“God, no,” Cameron said violently.
“Then I have to admire your ability to handle him. He’d obviously do anything for you. When he was hovering so protectively over you just now, was he asking if I was a possible threat?”
“You caught that? Tashdon always regards it as his duty to make sure that he doesn’t deliver anyone who might be dangerous to me.” He shook his head. “Even though I ordered him to bring you.” His lips twisted bitterly. “Haven’t you heard? Nothing must happen to me.”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” Hu Chang said. “And I tend to agree. Of course, with the exception that will exist if I decide that you’re interfering with my retrieving Catherine.”
Cameron laughed and slapped him on the back. “Exception noted. Now tell me why you brought the boy.”
“He belongs to Catherine and, though extraordinary, he needs schooling in many areas. I thought this would be an excellent training ground.” He paused. “And why did you not try to stop me?”
“I was curious. I wanted to see her son.” His smile widened. “And I wanted to see her tear into you when she discovered you brought him. It will be interesting to see how you handle it.”
“Indeed it will,” he murmured. He gestured to Luke, who was now only a few yards away. “Luke, I would like to present my friend, Richard Cameron. He has just told me how amused he is going to be to see your mother’s reaction to my bringing you along.”
“That’s not kind,” Luke said. “I think everyone knows she’s going to be very angry.” He took the last few steps to stand before Cameron. “Hu Chang says that I should be polite to you. I can’t do that if you’re going to wish bad things to happen to him.”
“I was joking.” Cameron’s gaze was raking Luke’s face, his expression intent. “Though it will be something to see.”
Luke was silent. “I have trouble with jokes. Sometimes I can’t tell…” He looked at Hu Chang. “Hu Chang will tell you.”
“I don’t believe I’ll have to tell Cameron,” Hu Chang said. “I think he’s already understanding more about you than I want him to know. Back off, Cameron.”
“I’m out,” Cameron said. “It was the quickest way. Though it appears you’re the one who has done a little manipulating. You must think a good deal of him.” He smiled at Luke. “Politeness isn’t necessary between us. I have great respect and admiration for Hu Chang, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you. I think you’re going to be a great help.”
Luke looked at him for a long minute. “You’re not lying to me?”
Cameron shook his head. “Though you’ll never be certain until I prove myself to you, so I won’t try to persuade you.” He turned to Tashdon. “Get going. No electronic communication until you’re completely out of the area. Go back to Hong Kong and refuel and stand by for further orders.”
“Yes, Cameron. I’ll be ready.” Tashdon turned and strode swiftly back toward the helicopter.
“He acts as if you’re his boss,” Luke said as he gazed after the pilot. “Are you?”
“Not exactly. He works for hire, but he wants to please me. I can count on him to obey orders.” He met Luke’s eyes. “Can I count on you?”
Luke was silent. “Yes, if you don’t do anything that Hu Chang doesn’t like.”
“That’s not good enough.” He looked at Hu Chang. “We’ve already discussed possible differences of opinion and agreed there’s no problem. But I can’t take you with me unless you agree to belong to me even if it’s only for a short time. Will you do that?”
“Belong to you?” Luke frowned. “I don’t like the—”
“Agree, Luke,” Hu Chang said. “We need him, and it’s only until we get Catherine back.” He gazed at Cameron. “If it makes you feel better, Cameron told me the same thing several years ago, and I conceded my independence until I had what I wanted. It was not a totally unpleasant experience.”
“Not for me either,” Cameron said. “Luke?”
Luke slowly nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.” He turned away. “Now grab your gear and come along. We have a long hike up the mountain.”
“And where are we going?” Hu Chang asked.
“I have quarters I use occasionally on this side of the mountain where we can be comfortable until we’re ready to move. But we can’t do that yet. I have some research to do.” He smiled over his shoulder. “Catherine told me that I should find her a way to get off Daksha Mountain, and I have to obey.”
Hu Chang stiffened. “You’ve been in touch with her? I thought you were dealing through Erin Sullivan?”
“How could I resist? Catherine is a warrior. I feel a kinship for her. Erin is strong, but she endures and hesitates to attack. It’s her basic character, and I’ve had to make allowances all through these months.” He paused. “But now I have Catherine. Her basic instinct is to make a judgment, then attack. It will be much easier.”
“You have Catherine?” Luke repeated, puzzled. “Does that mean she said she’d belong to you, like you asked me to do?”
“No, not yet.” Cameron laughed. “I have that pleasure to look forward to.”
“I would not count on it,” Hu Chang said dryly.
“But I do count on it. I would not have thought you would agree, my friend. But in the past, you found I could supply you with something you wanted, and you chose to run the risk.” He started up the trail. “I just have to find the correct bargaining chip…”
It was two hours later that Hu Chang caught up with Cameron on the curve of the mountain trail. “How much longer?” he asked. “The boy is struggling.”
“I know,” Cameron said. “He’s very strong. But the altitude
is a killer if you’re not accustomed to it.”
“And you haven’t stopped to let him rest.”
“Has he complained?”
“No.”
“Good. I didn’t think he would.”
“You could help him,” Hu Chang said. “You could ease it.”
“But I won’t.” Cameron turned and strode forward around the curve.
It was nearly an hour later that he stopped in front of a sod hut balanced on the edge of a cliff overlooking the valley. He stood waiting, watching as Hu Chang came up the trail. “The boy?”
“Five minutes behind me.”
“But you didn’t wait for him.”
“No, I knew what you were doing. It was a test, and I wouldn’t cheat Luke of his victory.”
“A test you would not have given him?”
“Perhaps, perhaps not. But Luke agreed, and I knew you were no easy taskmaster.”
“Any resentment?”
“No. Curiosity. Why did you wish to test him?”
“You brought him on a man’s job. I wanted to see if he could do it.”
“That’s not all.”
He was silent, watching as Luke came around the curve, staggering, catching himself, then trudging on. “No, I wanted to see if he was truly her son in spirit as well as body. When I saw that you had trusted him enough to have given him that magnificent gift, I thought he might be.”
“But you had to see for yourself.”
“You might have been blinded by your affection for his mother.”
“And why was it so important to you?”
“I have no idea.” He smiled brilliantly. “But it appears that it is.” He strode toward Luke, and called, “You did very well. I’ve known men who have grown up in these mountains who have had trouble on this trail.”
Luke stopped, weaving on his feet. His face was flushed, and his breathing was labored. “It … hurts. It was a … long way. I kept throwing up, and it hurt to breathe. At first, I thought I hated you.”
“But you changed your mind.”
“You were making it, Hu Chang was making it. Why should I hate you because I couldn’t?” He glared up at him. “So I forgot about hating you and just did it.”
“Very sensible of you.” Cameron’s voice was uncharacteristically gentle. “May I say that you have my admiration.” He held out his hand. “And I’d like to shake your hand. Would that be all right with you?”
Luke hesitated, then slowly took Cameron’s hand. “You’re not making fun of me?”
“Why should I do that?” He looked directly into Luke’s eyes. “You belong to me. Your pain is my pain. Your victory is my victory.” He shook his hand, then released it and put his arm around Luke’s shoulders and led him toward the sod hut. “I have great pride in you. Can’t you feel it?”
Luke nodded. “Yes, I think so. I feel … warm.”
Cameron’s eyes were twinkling. “And that’s a good thing in this frigid air. Soon you’ll be inside, and you’ll feel even warmer. You’ll notice that the altitude sickness is gone now.”
“Yes, why?”
“It happens that way sometimes. You’ll be a little tired, but that exhaustion will slip away like a thief in the night.” He opened the door of the hut. “And now you and Hu Chang can heat us something to eat while I stay out here and concentrate on finding a way for us to get to Catherine. Or better still, for Catherine to get to us.” He glanced at Hu Chang. “I was able to make considerable headway on the hike up here.”
“A contact?” Hu Chang asked.
“Yes, I had to sift through half a dozen false leads, but I came up with Sadiki, an Egyptian monk who visited this area thirty years ago. I believe he knows enough to help us.” He smiled again at Luke. “I think Sadiki is the one. Give me a little time, and I’ll be able to give Catherine a way out.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Luke said. He added thoughtfully, “But I think you do know what you’re doing. It’s like Hu Chang in the lab. I have no idea how he knows what to put into his potions, but I know they will do what he says they’ll do.”
Cameron’s lips twitched as he inclined his head. “I appreciate being compared to Hu Chang, but I’m no brilliant chemist. I’m only a poor soldier trying to do his job.”
“Come along, Luke.” Hu Chang drew Luke into the hut. “I fear my friend Cameron is choosing to be deceptively humble. I don’t want you exposed to such deceit.”
Cameron’s smile faded. “No deceit. Simplification, perhaps.” He turned and strode several yards away and sat down and leaned against a scraggly pine tree. “Take the boy inside. This shouldn’t take me more than forty or fifty minutes.”
But Luke was hanging back, staring at Cameron. “Why is he staying out in the cold? He’s just sitting there. He should come in where it’s warmer.”
“Don’t worry. He doesn’t feel the cold,” Hu Chang said. “He trained himself a long time ago not to let heat or cold bother him. I believe he has to remind himself that he can’t stay out in either too long.”
“Peculiar…”
“That he is, Luke.” His gaze narrowed on the boy’s face. “But you like him, don’t you? It’s impossible not to like Cameron when he exerts himself. In spite of how tough you had it today, he did make an effort with you.”
“Yes, I guess I do. I … liked it when he said he had pride in me. That made me feel … I liked it.”
Hu Chang had to pull the boy aside to close the door. He was still gazing at Cameron with that puzzled, bewildered, fascinated expression Hu Chang had seen on other people’s faces when confronted by Cameron. Hu Chang didn’t know how much of that fascination was engendered by Cameron’s charismatic personality or what seeds he had insinuated into the boy’s mind during that time when he had been face-to-face, talking to him. Something had definitely been going on in that moment.
“It’s all right to like Cameron, Luke. But one must always keep a sense of one’s own well-being when around him. Don’t try to please him too much.” His lips twisted. “Or you’ll end up like that pilot, Tashdon. Now, let’s find what rations are available and have them ready for Cameron when he comes back in.” He started toward the camp stove across the room. “And hope that he finds out something valuable from that monk, Sadiki…”
CHAPTER
7
“Catherine.”
She tensed.
“You’re not answering. I know you’re not asleep. Turnabout is fair play,” Cameron said. “I answered when you called me. Now I’m calling you.”
He was suddenly there before her. The same cozy room, the fireplace and deep leather chairs. He was standing in front of the fireplace, and he was just as riveting as she remembered.
“I thought you’d forgotten about us,” she said dryly. “It’s been hours since you did your precision hit, then took off.”
“You knew I didn’t forget,” he said softly. “That can’t happen any longer. Though I can see that you’ve been fighting accepting our very uneasy alliance.”
“I don’t like anything about it, but I particularly don’t like that you can ‘see’ anything in my mind. It’s an intrusion I won’t permit.”
“I can understand. We may come to an agreement later. But at the moment, I have to be close to you, know everything you’re seeing and feeling.”
“Not fair.”
“But efficient and necessary. You want off Kadmus’s mountain, and there’s no easy way. I have to make sure that I don’t have to step in too soon.”
“Too soon? Oh, yes, that’s right. Your job description doesn’t permit you risking your neck.”
“That’s right.” He grimaced. “And that’s been thrown at me a thousand times. Why does it bother me when you do it?”
“I have no idea.”
“Neither do I, but it makes me uneasy.” He added, “But we’ll drop it for the moment. It’s always a challenge talking to you, but I have to get on with extricating you from that cave. How st
rong is Erin?”
“I’d think you’d know. You’ve been such buddies.”
“I’m not leaving you to go to her and probe. It would be inefficient. Assess her for me.”
“I bound her dislocated shoulder and splinted her broken finger. She has other wounds that will give her pain but not impede her from normal activity.”
“What about abnormal activity?”
She tensed. “Is that the way it’s going to be?”
He nodded. “It will be a rough path out. Can she make it?”
She thought about it. “She can do it. Strength doesn’t always depend on the physical. She shouldn’t have been able to keep up with me when we were escaping the palace, but she did. I’ll help her, and she’ll do it. Tell me what we’re up against.”
“I’ve contacted Sadiki, an Egyptian monk who visited Tibet about thirty years ago. The palace was being used as a monastery at that time and he stayed with the monks for a year. He traveled the entire mountain when he was there, and in the end, he knew more about the mountain than the monks who lived here. The road that leads off the mountain runs along the edge where most of the habitats and village exist. There are three roads that branch off from the one you took, but they’ll be watched by Kadmus’s men.”
“You’re not being encouraging. What’s the alternative?”
“Go inland. From where you are, you can climb up to the top of the mountain. Kadmus wouldn’t expect you to take that route. Once you get to the top, you’ll find it strewn with huge boulders and crevices. Make your way north through them and in about a mile, you’ll see a path that winds around and down. It’s rough and narrow and slippery, and there are gaping crevasses that can send you hundreds of feet down.”
“Wonderful. And how far do we have to go?”
“All the way to the bottom, where it exits at a hot spring.”
“It goes clear to the bottom of the mountain? That far? But does it dead-end there at the spring? Or will it lead to a path that will connect to a road that will bypass any of Kadmus’s roadblocks?”
“It doesn’t exactly dead-end, but there isn’t any path to take you away from the hot springs.”
Live to See Tomorrow Page 10
