The Tiger Prince

Chapter 13

uel got off his mule and started to undo the strap on the backpack. “The sun won’t set for another hour. I’ll set up camp while you and Li Sung look around.”

“There doesn’t seem to be much to see.” Jane looked around the clearing—an area a good half-mile in diameter denuded of vegetation except for a few thorn trees that lay dead and rotting on the ground. “Why do they call it Elephant Crossing?”

“According to Dilam, the elephants usually stay on the east side of the island but occasionally one or two, sometimes even the entire herd, make a trek to the west and take this route.”

“Then why did you cut your road directly through the crossing area?”

“It saved me about a half-mile of clearing.” He shrugged. “I’ve never seen any elephants in all the time I’ve been running pack trains from the mountain. If I ever did run across a herd, you can bet I’d back away and let them go first.”

She frowned. “I can’t lay track here if there’s a chance of it being damaged by a herd of elephants. I’ll have to angle away from the crossing.”

Ruel smiled. “It will take more time.”

He had known she wouldn’t risk building across the clearing, she thought in frustration. “Then I’ll cut time somewhere else.”

“Why do they go?” Li Sung asked suddenly.

They both turned to look at him.

“The elephants,” he said. “You said they only occasionally trek to the west. Why do they go?”

“I have no idea. Dilam says the Cinnidans leave the elephants alone and the herds leave them alone.”

“If they’re interested enough to know they go west, why don’t they know why?”

“Why are you so curious about them?”

“No reason.” Li Sung slowly and painfully dismounted and began unsaddling the mule. “It is good to be off this creature. I thought riding a horse was painful until I mounted this beast.”

“I would have given you a horse, but a mule is more surefooted on that narrow canyon trail.”

“We’ll have to send a crew to widen the trail,” Jane said.

“It would make no difference. All animals are painful to this limb of mine.” Li Sung moved stiffly across the clearing. “I will look over the terrain and see if I can determine another route that will prove adequate.”

Ruel looked after him. “He’s a brave man. A far more worthy specimen than your Patrick.” He shot her a mocking smile. “I’m surprised you didn’t bring your father along too.”

“He would have been in the way.”

“He’s always in the way now, isn’t he? Yet you still take care of him. Why?”

She unsaddled her mule and dropped the saddle on the ground. “I can’t do anything else. When you take care of someone, you become accustomed … they belong to you.”

“The caretaker.”

“What?”

“Nothing, it’s just something Kartauk said about you. It’s a dangerous weakness.”

She recalled Kartauk had once warned her of much the same thing, but only after he had used that ‘weakness’ to his advantage. “I have no time for this.” She started across the clearing. “I’m going after Li Sung.”

“Why didn’t you tell him to wait for you?”

“He needed the time alone. The trip was hard on him and he doesn’t like anyone to see him in pain.”

“Not even you?”

“I would feel the same way.” She looked at him. “And so would you.”

She moved quickly after Li Sung.

Night had fallen when they arrived back at camp, led by the aroma of frying bacon and the beacon of a blazing campfire. Ruel was crouched before the fire, a frying pan in his hand. He glanced up as he ladled the bacon onto three tin plates already heaped with beans and biscuits. “Well, have you charted a new course?”

“There’s a possible route to the north.” Li Sung took one of the plates and sat down. “But the light faded before we could explore very thoroughly.”

“It doesn’t matter. There will be plenty of time for that later.” Jane sat down and began to eat. “You can take a team back here while I supervise the start on the track down the mountain.”

“You don’t foresee any lengthy delays?” Ruel asked.

She met his gaze. “None that we can’t overcome.”

He smiled. “Sometimes delays occur over which we have no control. We’ll have to see, won’t—”

“What was that?” Li Sung lifted his head, his expression intent. “I heard something.”

Jane heard it too this time, faint and far away.

“It’s only an elephant trumpeting,” Ruel said. “You hear them sometimes.”

“I thought they would sound fierce,” Jane said. “He sounds … sad, lost.”

Li Sung gazed at her sternly. “He is neither sad nor lost and there is no need for you to rescue him.”

Ruel smiled. “There’s no danger of that. He’s not nearby.”

“Near enough,” Li Sung said dryly. “I would prefer to neither see nor hear them.”

“Li Sung has a dislike for elephants,” Jane explained to Ruel.

“She is kindly trying to disguise my real feelings. I do not dislike them. I fear them.” Li Sung paused. “And I envy them.”

“Envy? Why?” Ruel asked.

“Power. They possess more strength than any creature on earth. It is always the lot of those who have little power to envy those who do. I have always been considered inferior because of my race and crippled body.” He glanced at Ruel. “I also envy you, Ruel. You have power now.”

“Power can always be taken away if not guarded well.”

“But you know what it feels like to possess it. That is something I will never know.”

“Yes, you will.” Jane blinked rapidly to hide the tears she must not let fall. “You’ll see, Li Sung. Once we have our own railroad, you’ll be respected and—”

“It’s not the same. It is a power you will have given me, not one I’ve won myself.” He set his plate on the ground. “I believe I’ll go to sleep now. You may clean up, Ruel.”

Ruel grimaced. “So much for my lauded power. May I point out I’ve done all the work so far?”

“It is the responsibility of those who hold power to care for those weaker than themselves.” Li Sung settled into his bedroll and turned his back on them. “It is only fair, after all.”

Ruel turned to look at her, and she could see the reflection of the flames in his eyes. She stiffened as tension gripped her. As long as Li Sung was there, Ruel maintained a civilized facade. But now Li Sung was going to sleep, leaving her to face Ruel alone.

“I agree with Li Sung.” She quickly set her own plate down, settled into her bedroll beside Li Sung, and shut her eyes.

She heard Ruel swear softly and then chuckle. “I believe there’s something wrong with both your reasoning, but I’ll not argue.”

No, Ruel never wasted time arguing about the unimportant things, she thought. He would perform the menial tasks with perfect good nature and matchless efficiency and save himself for the bigger battles.

A short time later she heard Ruel crawling into his blankets across the fire. Then there was silence except for the rustling night sounds of the jungle surrounding them, the crackle of the wood in the fire … and the occasional trumpeting of an elephant.

Li Sung was probably right about the elephants being neither sad nor lonely, but the sound still filled her with melancholy.

Another elephant trumpeted in the darkness.

She had thought Li Sung asleep but apparently she was mistaken.

His murmur was almost inaudible but still held an element of wistfulness. “Power …”

Ruel’s mining camp was a tent city as different from his palace as Kasanpore had been from Glenclaren. A hundred or so tents dotted the landscape, a sight not so different from the temporary tent camps of her childhood.

The thought caused Jane’s hand to involuntarily clench on the reins.

“Is something wrong?” Ruel’s gaze was narrowed on her face. “I know it’s not the palace, but I didn’t think it was that bad.”

She forced a smile. “Nothing’s wrong. It just reminded me of—”

“It is not the same,” Li Sung interrupted. “See how clean it is here? No rubbish. Perfect order.”

She felt an easing of tension as affection surged through her. Trust Li Sung to sense the bitter memories and step in to soothe and comfort her. “No, it’s not the same.”

“Same as what?” Ruel asked.

She stiffened warily as she saw his arrested expression. “Li Sung and I have seen quite a few tent cities over the years.” She added quickly to forestall further questions. “But none this clean. Are you responsible?”

He shook his head. “The Cinnidans are incredibly fastidious. The first thing they demanded when I came to terms with the workers was a communal bathhouse, a belim tent, and two hours a day for belim and time to police their living quarters.”

“Demanded?”

“Did you think I was using slave labor?”

“Let’s say I didn’t find you so compliant in our negotiations.”

“I had no choice with the Cinnidans.” He grinned ruefully. “They deigned to work in my mine only on their own terms. If I hadn’t acceded to their wishes, they would have stayed happily in their villages and watched me work myself into the grave no matter how much money I offered them.”

But he bore them no ill will. Jane noticed the same affectionate possessiveness when he spoke of the Cinnidans as when he had looked at his mountain. “Money has no appeal to them?”

“Money has appeal for everyone, but the Cinnidans don’t regard it as necessary to ‘felicitous living,’ as they call it.”

“And what do they think is necessary?” Li Sung asked.

“Children, serene surroundings, time to learn from their teachers, and belim.”

“Belim?”

“Games. Cinnidans love games. You can almost always find a game of some sort in progress.”

“And we’re supposed to get them to work?” Jane asked dryly.

“They’re not lazy, but I had a problem with that when I first came here until I realized the secret. You make work a game and put the workers in competition with each other. Every night we declare a winner and award a prize.”

“What kind of prize?”

“It changes every day. A day off, a trinket, money … The local council gathers to decide the prizes every two weeks.”

“And you head the council?” Li Sung asked.

He shook his head. “No one is allowed to sit on a Cinnidar council except the Cinnidans. I’ve been here three years and never been accorded that honor.” He smiled. “But Dilam tells me if I continue to behave in a proper manner, in another year or two I may be permitted to attend, if not participate.”

“Is Dilam on the council?”

“Oh yes, Dilam heads the council. A most extraordinary individual.” He cast a glance at the setting sun. “I’ll take you over to the belim tent. Most of the workers gather there for dice and card games before supper. I believe it’s time you met our Dilam.”

They heard the laughter and excited shouts issuing from the huge tent in the center of the camp from a hundred yards away.

When they entered the tent the noise was deafening. The tent was unfurnished except for colorful rugs covering the bare dirt floor and elaborately carved brass filigree lanterns that illuminated the excited faces of the men and women gathered in several groups. Jane smiled in amusement as she remembered Li Sung’s comment about the superiority of the Cinnidans because they wore their hair in pigtails. Well, these Cinnidans certainly had a fondness for the practice; she had never seen so many pigtails in one place. Men and women alike wore their long, dark hair pulled back into thick single braids.

Their entrance received little attention from the crowd, though a few men hailed Ruel with more friendliness than respect. Ruel answered with equal casualness while he looked around the tent. “Ah, dice … I thought so. Dilam loves dice. This way.” He elbowed his way through the crowd to a circle of men and women kneeling, playing dice in the far corner.

“Dilam, could I speak to you?” Ruel called.

One of the glossy dark-maned heads bent over the dice lifted. “In a moment, Samir Ruel.”

Jane stared in shock. Dilam was a woman.

Dilam’s glance shifted to Jane. “Ah, they are here? Good.”

“I thought you’d approve,” Ruel murmured to Jane. “It seems you’re not the only woman capable of bossing a railroad crew.”

Dilam rolled out the dice. Immediate groans and derisive whoops erupted from the other players. She grinned and said something in Cinnidan before calling to Ruel, “They do not like it because I’m lucky. I told them the gods reward with luck the one who has already been given the gift of cleverness.” She began gathering up the stakes. “Wait for me outside. It’s too noisy in here for greetings.”

Ruel nodded and steered Jane and Li Sung from the tent.

“A woman?” Li Sung asked.

“Medford asked the Cinnidar high council for an intelligent native to supervise his crew, and they sent Dilam. On Cinnidar you don’t offend the council by refusing their choice.”

“She speaks English very well.”

“She learned it in only four weeks. I told you she was extraordinary.”

A moment later Dilam strolled out of the tent and came toward them, moving with a springy step and athletic grace. She was of middle height, with broad shoulders and a body that appeared both strong and lithe. She was dressed in a dark green tunic, loose black trousers, and brown sandals that, though worn, appeared spotlessly clean. “You are Jane Barnaby?” She beamed. “I give you greetings. I am Dilam Kankula. You may call me Dilam.”

“Thank you.” In the dimness of the tent Jane had received only a fleeting impression of sparkling dark eyes and an equally gleaming wide white smile. Now she could see the woman was probably close to her thirtieth year and those fine eyes were set in a square face whose only other claim to beauty was a well-shaped mouth and an expression of intelligence and good humor. “Ruel didn’t tell me you were a woman.”

“But it is better, yes? We will work in harmony and understanding. I will not have to teach you my value as I did Samir Medford.”

“And are there other women on the crew?”

“Oh yes, but not many. Men are better for physical labor. Women have more endurance and reasoning power, but men possess more physical strength. It is best to let the men do what they do best and leave the rest to us.”

“I beg your pardon.” Li Sung’s tone had a distinct edge as he stepped out of the shadows cast by the huge tent.

Dilam’s gaze swung to Li Sung and her eyes widened. “You are Li Sung? I did not see you there in the shadows behind Jane.”

“Even though I’m a mere humble man destined to do only what he does best, I do not stand in the shadow of any woman.”

“I meant no insult by my words.” Her tone was absent, her expression totally absorbed as she gazed at Li Sung. “But it is the truth, you know.”

“I do not know.”

“The Cinnidans have a principally matriarchal society,” Ruel said. “Did I forget to mention that?”

The devil knew very well he hadn’t mentioned that important fact, Jane thought crossly. Ruel’s eyes were shimmering with mischief as he looked from Dilam to a bristling Li Sung.

“I’m sure we’ll all get along very well,” she said.

“If she does not try to treat me as a mindless beast of burden,” Li Sung said caustically.

“Oh no, that is not my intent.” Dilam frowned earnestly. “You misunderstand my words. Men are truly splendid creatures.”

“Creatures,” Li Sung echoed. “Like mules or elephants perchance?”

“They do not deserve to be bunched together. Elephants are much more intelligent than mules.”

“And where do men rank in this bestial hierarchy?”

“By the gods, you’re prickly,” Dilam said, exasperated. “What do you wish me to say?”

“I wish you to explain these acts of splendor of which you deem men capable.”

“I think you wish to quarrel with me.” Dilam shrugged. “Men are good hunters and warriors. They can also be fine craftsmen.”

“But we are not worthy to govern?”

Dilam shook her head. “Their temper is too hot. Before women took over the council, we had many tribal wars.”

“And now I suppose peace reigns under your benevolent council.”

“Not always.” She smiled cheerfully. “But since it takes us nine months to bring a child into the world, we think much more carefully about starting a war that will crush out their lives.”

“I’m sure your men have an equal concern for their children,” Li Sung said stiffly.

“Then why do they war?” She held up her hand as he started to speak. “We have no real quarrel. I can see you are different.” She added, “In some ways.”

Jane could see Dilam’s words were only exacerbating Li Sung’s irritation and interceded hurriedly. “Will you show me to my tent, Dilam? Perhaps we could discuss—”

Dilam was shaking her head. “Samir Ruel will show you where you sleep.” She smiled and pointed her index finger at Li Sung. “I take you.”

“That is not necessary,” Li Sung said coldly.

“It is a pleasure, not a necessity. You are angry with me and I must make things right. I think we nesling before supper.”

Jane heard a sound that was half gasp, half snort from Ruel

“ Nesling?” Li Sung frowned as he cast an inquiring glance at Ruel.

“Copulation,” Ruel murmured.

“That’s another thing men are good at,” Dilam said with another beaming smile. “Nesling.”

“How kind that you approve our carnal capability.” Li Sung looked at her in outrage. “I think not.”

“Oh,” she said, disappointed. “I do not please you?”

“You do not please me.”

“You please me very much. I find you …” She made a face as she read his forbidding expression. “Oh, well, perhaps you will like me better later.”

“I doubt it.”

“You will not change your mind?” she asked wistfully. “I am truly excepdonal at nesling.”

“I will not change my mind.” Li Sung turned to Ruel. “Where is my tent?”

“I’ll show you.” Ruel was trying to keep from smiling as he told Dilam, “I’m afraid you’ll have to be satisfied with the discussion Jane suggested. Bring her to the candmar in an hour.”

Dilam watched them as they walked away. “It is not a good beginning.” Then she noticed something else. “He limps.”

“His leg was crushed when he was a child. It doesn’t hinder him. You’ll find he works harder than anyone on the crew.”

“I know this.” She shook her head gloomily. “But the limp explains much. I could have wished for an easier task.”

“What do you mean?”

Dilam didn’t answer, her gaze still on Li Sung’s retreating figure.

“What is a candmar?” Jane asked.

“What?” Dilam’s glance shifted back to Jane. “Oh, candmar means eating place. We all eat together at one campfire in the center of the encampment.” She turned and started in the opposite direction. “Come, I will show you where you sleep and then we will come back here. We have time for more dice before supper.”

Jane shook her head. “I need to study the map and find what problems there might be on the—”

“We will go play dice,” Dilam said adamantly. “Gambling gives zest when one is tired and downhearted. Your head will be clearer when your heart is more content.” She studied Jane. “You must learn to enjoy life. You are too solemn.”

“I have to build a railroad in seven months. That’s a solemn matter.”

“Li Sung is also too serious.” Dilam jumped on to another subject. “You nesling with him?”

“Me?” Jane chuckled. “We’re only friends.”

“Friends nesling. Sometimes that is very pleasant.”

Evidently Cinnidar culture was very different from her own, Jane realized. She tried to clarify. “We’re like brother and sister.”

“Oh, that is good. Then we will also be friends.” Dilam smiled broadly. “You nesling with Samir Ruel?”

Her smile faded. “No, I don’t.” She stiffened as a sudden thought occurred to her. “Do you?”

Dilam shook her head, looking at her curiously. “Why does it matter to you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said quickly. “I only wondered.”

“You lie,” Dilam said flatly. “It matters.”

Dilam was right, the raw sharpness of the pain that had torn through her at the thought of Dilam and Ruel together had shocked as well as frightened her. She quickly changed the subject. “Ruel said your people didn’t get along with the Savitsar rulers.”

“They tried to make slaves of us. We had no weapons to fight them, so we had to run.” Dilam’s lips tightened. “That time must never come again. One of the reasons the High Council decided to work with Samir Ruel was that we knew it was inevitable that others would again intrude.”

“And you preferred the intruder be Ruel?”

“He was an intruder at first but no longer.”

“You work well with him?”

Dilam nodded. “Samir Ruel is fair, works as hard as any of us, and knows how to laugh at his mistakes.”

“But you still won’t allow him on your council.”

“In time. He belongs to Cinnidar, but we must season him.”

The idea of anyone seasoning Ruel brought a smile to Jane’s lips. “I’d like to see that.”

“You will.” Dilam stopped before a small tent. “This is yours. My tent is two down the way. Refresh yourself and I will come for you in fifteen minutes.” She changed her mind. “No, thirty minutes. I have something to do.”

Jane’s smile lingered as she watched Dilam walk away. She liked the woman. Her bluntness might be a little discomforting, but her good humor and vitality were refreshing. She might also be as valuable as Ruel claimed if she was as energetic in work as she obviously was at play.

Her smile turned to a chuckle as she remembered Li Sung’s outraged expression before he had stalked away with Ruel. Yes, Dilam’s presence was definitely going to make their task more interesting.

Li Sung was sitting on the ground, fastidiously devouring a piece of roasted rabbit when Ruel arrived at the campfire ninety minutes later, but Jane and Dilam were nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Jane?” Ruel asked.

“I have not seen her. I do not know where she is.”

Since Dilam was also missing, Ruel had a good idea where they both were. The gambling in the belim tent was still going strong, and he had learned Dilam never liked to be disturbed when she was gambling.

A moment later he was elbowing his way through the crowd in the tent. He spotted Dilam almost at once playing parzak , a Cinnidan card game, but Jane was not with her. “I thought you’d be here,” Ruel told Dilam as he glanced around the tent. “Where’s Jane?”

“Over there.” Dilam motioned to the dice corner. “But you must not disturb her. She is winning.”

The throng was so thick he couldn’t see any of the players at the dice circle. “It’s time for supper. Food is more important than gambling.”

“You never think so when you are the one who is winning.” She threw down her cards and stood up. “I will go with you to the candmar , but we will let her stay here and have her pleasure,”

“Oh, will we?”

Dilam nodded. “She needs to win. She has no joy.” She took Ruel’s arm and started to pull him from the tent. “We will send Li Sung for her later.”

“I doubt if Li Sung will allow himself to be sent anywhere by you.”

“I know,” Dilam said glumly. “It is his crippled leg, I think. He is going to cause me much trouble.”

Laughter. Jane’s laughter—excited, full-bodied, and free, ringing through the tent.

He stopped in his tracks, ignoring Dilam’s tugging hand as he turned back. He felt a sense of shock as he realized he could not remember ever hearing Jane laugh like that. Certainly not in Kasanpore or Glenclaren.

She has no joy.

“You will have to be the one to tell him,” Dilam said.

“What?”

Jane laughed again. Dammit, he wished the crowd would part so he could see her.

“Li Sung,” Dilam said impatiently. “You’ll have to be the one to tell him to come back for Jane.”

The crowd standing around the dice circle shifted.

Jane knelt with dice in hand, her head thrown back, a soft flush on her cheeks, her face glowing with laughter. She looked young and free and full of joy.

“See? Did I not tell you?” Dilam said softly, “She needs this.”

And he wanted her to have it. He wanted her to keep on laughing. He wanted her to look like this for the rest of—

She looked up and saw him watching her.

Her laughter vanished; wariness tightened her lips. It was as if she had drawn a somber cloak around her, closing everything childlike and bright inside her and leaving him outside.

He felt cheated, stung, as if she had robbed him of something. He called sharply to her, “It’s time to eat.”

“I lost track of time,” she said quietly. “I’ll come at once.”

He nodded curtly and left the tent with Dilam at his heels. Christ, for a moment it had been like those days before the train wreck when he had felt a tenderness for Jane he had never felt for any woman. But the moment was over, he assured himself. He had not brought her to Cinnidar to give her the joyous childhood she had never had but to see that she was punished. She was not a child but the woman who had destroyed his brother’s life.

“You did not listen to me,” Dilam said. “Why did you not let her—”

“Did it ever occur to you that when I don’t listen, it’s because I don’t wish to hear?”

“I still think you—” She stopped as she saw his expression. “I should not speak?”

“You should not speak,” he said emphatically.

Li Sung’s temper had definitely not improved, Jane thought. All through supper that evening he had either kept silent or spoken in monosyllables. She supposed she had better bring it out in the open and let him loose his surliness. “Dilam?”

The one word was all it took to bring the explosion.

“She is an abomination,” he said between his teeth as he glared at Dilam across the campfire. “Can we not hire someone else?”

“I doubt it. Evidently the Cinnidans would consider it an insult if we didn’t accept her. Besides, I like her.” She smiled slyly. “And she obviously likes you.”

“She regards me as some kind of tame— Do you know she came to my tent after she showed you to yours?”

“No.” So that had been the ‘something’ Dilam had to do.

“She said she forgave me for my blindness in not seeing what awaited me with her and assured me she would be patient.”

Jane’s lips twitched. “How kind of her.”

“Kind? She regards males only as inferior drones to slave for the queen bees.”

“I’m sure you’re misunderstanding her.” Jane’s glance followed his. Dilam’s face was alight with laughter, her hands gesturing, moving, drawing pictures as she spoke to Ruel. “She’s not unattractive, is she?”

“Ugly as sin.”

“I don’t find her so.” But Li Sung clearly was not going to be convinced of anything he chose not to believe, and she was too tired now to continue to try. She got to her feet. “I’m going back to my tent. I still have to study that map of the mountain trail and we need to get an early start tomorrow.”

Her answer from Li Sung was a nod and a scowl.

She had scarcely left the campfire when Ruel fell into step with her. “You appeared to be enjoying yourself in the belim tent tonight.”

The tension that was always present when she was with him caused her to answer tersely, “Yes.”

“Did you win much?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t figured out the Cinnidan currency yet. I don’t think so.” “You like the Cinnidans?”

“How could I help it? They’re good-natured, intelligent, and I’ve never seen anyone live with such enjoyment.” She looked at him. “You like them yourself. Dilam said you belonged here.”

“I do,” he said unequivocally.

She was surprised at the admission. “Because of the gold?”

He shook his head. “Cinnidar caught me. I worked the mountain and dealt with the Cinnidans and thought I was slaving only to make myself a rich man. Then one day I stopped working long enough to raise my head and look around and found I’d walked right into the trap.”

“Trap?”

“Ian would call it ‘home.’ I’m not so at ease with the word.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Why not?” His tone was mocking. “Isn’t it time we became reacquainted?”

“No.” She stopped at the entrance of her tent. “I don’t want to know anything about you.”

“How unkind. I want to know everything about you.” He met her gaze. “And I have every intention of doing so.”

He was not even touching her and her heart was beating harder, her breath coming more shallowly. Panic spurted through her as she recognized the mindless response.

His gaze centered on the pulse leaping in the hollow of her throat. “You see?” he asked softly. “You do want to know me.”

He was speaking of knowledge in the biblical sense, and he was right. Her body did want to know him. Dear God, it was as if they’d never been parted.

She turned on her heel, entered the tent, and hurriedly closed the flap between them.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Ruel called.

“Probably not.” Her voice was uneven, and she forced herself to steady it. “I have to start work tomorrow and I’m sure you’ll be busy at the mine.”

“Oh, but I have to make sure you’re doing a good job. After all, it’s my railroad you’re building.” The words trailed off as he walked away.

She had thought when they reached the mountain she would see less of Ruel, but she was not going to be free of him yet. The knowledge was as frightening as her body’s response to him. Perhaps it would not be as bad as she feared. He would probably come to the site only a few times and then go about his business.

He came every day for the next month. Sometimes he would stay five minutes and sometimes an hour.

He would joke with Li Sung and Dilam and the workers or just sit on his horse and watch her as she went about her business.

She woke up in the morning knowing he would come, dreaded his arrival all day, and was acutely, painfully, conscious of his presence every second of his stay. It was like those days in Kasanpore before they came together in the railway car. No, this was worse, she thought. Now she was always aware he not only wanted her body but to hurt her, perhaps even destroy her. The flame to her moth, she thought bitterly.

And, God help her, she was tempted to fly closer to that flame with every passing day.

She was kneeling, measuring track, when a shadow fell across her body. She didn’t even have to look up to know it was Ruel. Her senses were so acutely attuned to him, she felt even his shadow as a disturbing presence.

“Why are you still here?” he asked. “Everyone else has stopped for the day.”

She didn’t look at him as she finished checking the spacing of the rails. “I just wanted to finish this. I’m sure you’ll have no objection if I slave a few extra minutes on your behalf.”

“No objection at all. I was just wondering if there was something wrong.”

“I got a little behind today.” She added quickly, “But I’ll make it up tomorrow. This is the last quarter-mile on the mountain trail. We start across the canyon floor at dawn.”

“I know. Li Sung told me.”

“Then he must have also told you there was nothing wrong.”

“But then, you don’t tell Li Sung everything, do you?”

“Of course I do.”

“Did you tell him what we did in the maharajah’s railroad car?”

She felt the blood burn her cheeks, but she ignored the question.

“I didn’t think so,” Ruel said softly. “He might guess there’s something between us, but he isn’t sure.”

“He didn’t need to know.” She rose jerkily to her feet and moved a few yards farther along on the track, knelt, and began to measure again. “If that’s all you wanted, why don’t you go away? You can see I’m busy.”

“That’s not all I wanted.” His shadow fell across her again as he moved to stand over her. “I wanted to see you on your knees. It’s a sight that gives me extreme pleasure.”

Her gaze shifted to stare warily up at him. He stood with legs slightly astride; not only his shadow was dark today. Black leather boots molded his calves, black serge trousers delineated his powerful thighs, a black shirt hugged his torso. Only Ruel’s sunstreaked hair and golden, tanned skin lightened the somber elegance of the picture he presented. He looked as beautiful and wicked as the prince of darkness himself.

“Ah, that’s even better.” He smiled. “I used to dream about you kneeling and staring up at me with just that expression. But it’s not quite right. Your hair should be loose and my fingers should be buried in it.” He paused. “And we should both be naked.”

The picture he had drawn was both sensual and barbaric. Captor and captive. Slave and master. She could almost feel his fingers tugging her hair back to look into her eyes. She felt suddenly helpless, caught, a prisoner. Yet, incredibly, she became aware that beneath the smothering sense of bondage ran a dark ripple of erotic excitement almost as if she wanted to experience that dominance.

No! Fear washed over her at the thought, sweeping away that hot tide of feeling he had ignited.

She rose to her feet and drew herself to her full height. She gazed defiantly in his eyes and said between set teeth, “You bastard, get the hell away from here and let me do my job.”

For an instant she didn’t think he’d obey, and then he smiled faintly. “If you insist. The mood’s broken anyway.” He added softly, “But for a moment you could feel it, couldn’t you, Jane?”

She didn’t answer.

“Aye, you felt it.” He stood looking at her, smiling. “Good. I’m not going to be able to visit you quite so frequently now that you’ve finished this portion of the line. I wanted to leave you with a memory strong enough to linger when I’m not around.”

Relief cascaded through her at his words. He would not be here every day from now on. She would be rid of the torment of his presence. “It’s about time you began to attend to your own concerns and left me to mine.”

“Oh, but I’ll be with you in spirit. You won’t forget me.”

“You’re wrong. The moment you’re out of my sight I won’t remember you’re on the same island.”

He shook his head before turning away and strolling toward Nugget.

He was so blasted self-assured, it sent a flare of sheer rage through her.

“Wait!” Her voice shook with emotion. “Just who the hell do you think you are?”

He turned to face her again. “I beg your pardon?”

“What makes you so sure you have the right to do this to me? Have you lived such a perfect life you can afford to cast the first stone?”

“No, I’ve done more wicked things in my life than you can even imagine.” His expression hardened. “But I’ve never hurt the innocent without paying the piper.

That’s against the rules. We all have to pay for that sin, Jane.”

“And I’m supposed to pay you for my transgressions?” she asked scornfully.

“You’re damn right you are. When I was a boy I learned I couldn’t count on anyone dealing out justice on my behalf. If I wanted justice, I had to be the one to reach out and grab it.” His voice turned fierce. “It’s not a fair world. I can’t count on fate or God to punish you. They might turn their backs and walk away. It has to be me.”

She watched him mount Nugget and ride away.

She was trembling. She drew a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She mustn’t let him do this to her. She fell to her knees and again began to measure the tracks. She was rid of him and now she must forget him. She must not let him linger in her thoughts as he intended.

She blindly reached out and grasped the rail in front of her. Strong steel, warmed by the sunlight.

Soothing comfort flowed into her. She was not weak. She had the same strength within her as these rails. If she had the will, spirit, and mind to build a railroad, one man could not bend or break her.

The Prince of Darkness!

Jane woke with her heart pounding, her breath coming in gasps.

It was only a dream, she told herself desperately.

The same dream that had come every night since that last afternoon Ruel had visited her. The same dream and the same shameful lingering physical evidence when she awoke. Her nipples were hard and acutely sensitive as they touched the sheet, and there was an aching emptiness between her thighs.

No, it was not quite the same.

She was bathed in sweat.

Strange, it had been cool in the tent when she went to sleep, but she was burning up now.

She got up from her cot, went to the washstand, and splashed cold water on her face. She was still hot, her skin dry and burning to the touch. She had gone through this before, and the symptoms were clear to her.

The fever was back.

The knowledge came almost as a relief. She was ill. She had an excuse for those erotic dreams that had been plaguing her.

It wasn’t Ruel, it was the fever.