"That does it. All the explosives are set," Jonny said softly to Mahavir as he closed the hidden door soundlessly.
"Good," the young Indian replied. "The search for us is intensifying and I had begun to fear you would be captured."
Jonny grinned fleetingly. "Don't think I could have passed myself off as belonging here, huh?"
"With that pale skin? No." The skin dye was gone, as were the contact lenses that turned his eyes from blue to brown. The only thing that remained was the black hair. As the two young men began to make their way through the passageways back toward the old sections of the palace, Mahavir shot Jonny a sideways look that caused him to raise an eyebrow.
"What?"
"It is strange . . ."
"What is?"
Mahavir hesitated before continuing reluctantly, "Ever since the Sultan returned to Bangalore, I have heard people speak of his American family, but I had never seen any of you. There were not even pictures."
Jonny shrugged. "We haven't come here often. After the initial flush of gratitude wore off, Neela didn't really like having us around much. Particularly after her efforts to pair up Hadji and Jess didn't work out. I suppose you can't blame her. For Hadji, we represented roots to a place that she really wanted severed. I think Hadji sensed that. He has pictures of all of us . . . lots of them. He always brings them with him when he comes here and takes them away again when he leaves." Jonny hesitated, and then continued reluctantly. "I think at one time he tried leaving a few of them here, and when he returned to us against his mother's wishes, she burned them."
"He never trusted her with them after that."
"No. But you said 'strange'. What did you feel was strange?"
Mahavir shrugged awkwardly. "You are just not what I expected."
Jonny looked sideways at his companion for a long moment and then said bluntly, "What you mean is, you didn't expect me to be white. You've been uncomfortable around me ever since you found out."
"I - I . . ." Mahavir stuttered. Then, with a soft sigh, he admitted, "No. No, I suppose I did not. I was surprised when you went to the pool in the old garden to bathe and the brown dye rinsed off." Then he reached out and pulled Jonny to a stop. In the reflected light of the flashlight, Jonny could see Mahavir's earnest expression. "But I swear to you that it does not make a difference. I was just surprised, that is all."
Jonny laughed softly. "It's okay. And if you think you feel strange now, just wait till you see me once I figure out how to get the dye out of my hair. That should really shake you. But why does it make a difference what color my skin is, Mahavir?" When the young Indian hesitated, Jonny urged him, "No, go on. Say what you're thinking, no matter what it is. My father has always said that you can't address a problem until it's out in the open where you can look at it honestly."
"Well, if you wish me to be truthful, then I am wondering what purpose a wealthy white man would have had to take a small Indian boy out of the Calcutta gutters in the first place. Surely, if he wished another son, your mother could have given him one."
The silence was awkward. Finally, Jonny replied, "My mother was dead."
"Oh. I am sorry. But still, he could have remarried. Or if he were going to adopt a son, why not one of his own race?"
"Because my father doesn't look at things like that. To him, people are people, no matter what they look like. Appearance is superficial. It's what's in the heart and mind that counts. I think he adopted Hadji for a lot of reasons. Part of it was that I liked Hadji a lot and we got along really well, and Dad thought it would be a good idea for me to have someone my own age to play with. But I think a really big part of it was that Hadji was so incredibly bright and inquisitive, and my Dad couldn't stand seeing his potential wasted." Jonny paused momentarily, a soft smile playing over his lips, as he became lost in the memories of the past. "There was also an instant rapport between them. Right from the beginning, Dad was drawn to him, and it didn't take long for him to learn to love him, too. I remember, about three months after he came to live with us, Hadji started having nightmares. He could never remember them. He would just wake up sweating and crying and terrified. Dad would come into our room and pick him up, wrap him in a blanket and sit for hours, just holding him. I remember that it used to make me feel so incredibly safe to lay in bed and watch the two of them." Suddenly, he shook his head, dispelling the wisps of the past. "It's been hard, coming to accept that he'll be leaving us."
"Will he?" Mahavir asked softly, as the two of them entered the room where they had all been hiding. "Are you so certain of that?"
The look Jonny gave both Mahavir and Vijay, as the other man came up to them, was slightly bitter. "Oh yeah. I'm sure. Of the three of us . . . Hadji, Jess and I . . . Hadji's always been the responsible one. He's always done what's expected of him . . . no matter what the cost." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the two men staring.
A tiny lamp glowed in the darkness of the small room where Hadji lay. It provided only enough light to ensure that shapes were discernible in the darkness, but not enough to really see anything. Jonny knelt beside his brother, listening carefully to his breathing. It was deep and even, with no trace of the earlier distress.
"He still sleeps."
The soft, unexpected voice startled him, and Jonny jumped. He peered over his shoulder into the gloom and after a moment he could just see a shimmer of white against the wall about five feet away.
"I didn't see you there," he said softly to Neela. He slid across the floor and sat down beside her.
"I have been sitting here with him," she replied in the same low voice. "He has woken twice during the day. Both times I was able to get him to drink and to take a little food, and then to get him to sleep again."
"Good. It's what he needs."
The silence stretched between them. Finally, Neela said, "He asked for you both times he was awake. I did not know what to tell him."
"What did you say?"
"That you were out working on a plan to get us out of the palace."
"It was the truth."
"I know."
The silence stretched between them again. Jonny leaned his head back against the wall wearily and allowed himself to relax. The 24 hours since they had come to this place to give Hadji time to recover had been busy and full of tension, and he was very tired. Reality was beginning to fade into a doze when she spoke again.
"Is it true that he married Kefira Subramanian?"
"Yes."
"Were you there?"
"Jess and I witnessed them exchange their Vows of Faith."
"And Dr. Quest?"
"No. He wasn't there."
Neela sighed softly. "He is very like both of his fathers, you know."
"Hadji?"
"Yes. Haresh had no desire to be a Sultan, either. You were right in what you said earlier. The skill to rule is not programmed in the genes, nor is the desire. Some have it and some do not. Neither Haresh nor Hadji had the desire. Haresh also had no real talent for it. He had rapport with the people, but lacked the political skill to be effective. But unlike his son, Haresh never knew anything else. He I was raised to it and was never allowed to consider that there were any other options." Jonny heard a soft expulsion of breath from her, as though she laughed ruefully. "It was the reason I was chosen to be his wife. I had the mind for politics and I was ambitious . . . or at least, as ambitious as a woman was able to be in those times. I could guide him and we ruled well together. There was only one thing that I was never able to sway him on . . . Deepak. Haresh was a loving and gentle man, and he could never believe that his younger brother was evil and would do him harm."
"The heart can blind you sometimes."
"Yes, as can ambition."
The two of them were quiet for a while then, lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Jonny said, "I remember the first time we met. I was struck by how much you seemed like Hadji. You were so serene. Like nothing could faze you."
"Serene? I am not sure that is the word I would use. Perhaps patient would be a better term. Certainly by the time we met, I had learned to cultivate patience."
"Hadji's incredibly patient. A lot more than I've ever been. I was always the one that went headlong into things while Hadji stood back and analyzed, gauging his moment."
"As he was doing with Bangalore." Neela sighed softly again. "I never understood what he was planning . . . what he hoped to achieve. And it is good that he did not tell me. I would have tried to stop him. I was too set in the old ways to accept what he wished to do. And if we are to be truthful, I do not believe I have ever fully adjusted to how much the world changed while I was locked away here. The rural peasants have a better feeling for life in the outside world than I do."
"You haven't had much of a chance to see it. When this is over, you should come to the United States and visit. Dad would be happy give you the chance to see a little more of the world."
"Perhaps. Right now, I find it hard to imagine the future. The present darkness obscures it too completely."
"Hadji will win this war, you know. There is too much at stake for him to accept defeat."
"I pray that is so."
On the other side of the room, Hadji stirred restlessly. "Jonny?"
He was at his brother's side almost instantly. "Here. How do you feel?"
"I do not really know. What time is it?"
"About 10:30."
"In the morning?"
"No. At night. It's Thursday night."
"What?!" he exclaimed, struggling to sit up. "Why are we still here? Birla will . . ."
"We're keeping an eye on him," Jonny said, cutting him off and pressing him down to the bed again. "Just take it easy. Mahavir and I have been working all day on a plan to get us out of here and we're pretty well set. Furthermore, it looks like Birla's got a lot more to worry about than just us."
"What do you mean?" Hadji asked, shrugging Jonny's hand off his shoulder and carefully pulling himself up into a sitting position.
Golden light suddenly flared and steadied as Neela lit an oil lamp. "Gently, my son. You do not want to risk pulling out all of the stitches your brother so carefully put in last night."
"Yeah. It took me long enough the first time. I don't want to have to do it again."
Hadji gingerly laid a hand against his side as he said, "I will take care. Now tell me what has been happening."
Jonny settled cross-legged on the floor next to Hadji's bed. "Things seem to be going from bad to worse for our friend, Mr. Birla. The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed an intervention vote late this afternoon and Birla has been given 24 hours to open the borders and allow U.N. inspectors in to check up on allegations of human rights violations. If he refuses, there are peacekeeping troops massing on the borders that are scheduled to invade in three days. The U.S. government is calling for sanctions, as well as boycotts of products and blockades of imports. They are also screaming bloody murder about your disappearance and demanding that Birla produce both you and Kefira."
"Are U.S. soldiers part of the troop buildup on the border?" Hadji asked.
Jonny shook his head. "Not yet. So far, the manpower is coming largely from India and Pakistan."
Hadji grimaced. "Not wise, having those two countries trying to collaborate."
"You know, it's strange. I can understand why Pakistan might jump in on this situation. Should Birla decide to get greedy and try to expand out of Bangalore, Pakistan might be a likely target, but from what you've told me, this isn't like India."
"I was thinking the same thing yesterday," Hadji agreed. "I had the feeling there was outside pressure being applied in some fashion. Mother, do you know anything about this?"
Neela shook her head. "No. In fact, less than a month ago, I spoke with the prime minister of India, who assured me that nothing would entice them into a conflict in Bangalore."
"So there is outside pressure being applied from somewhere," Hadji said thoughtfully.
"Foreign soldiers on our soil is likely to cause much bloodshed," Neela said quietly.
"Which is why this must be ended quickly, before the U.N. troops invade. Does Mr. Birla still search for us?"
"Oh yeah. With a great deal of diligence." Jonny grinned at his brother. "He's really put out right now. He's all but turned the dungeon upside down trying to find a secret passage out of there. His Janissaries are beginning to think maybe he's gone over the edge. If it weren't for Birla's chief inquisitor being found dead in the middle of a locked dungeon, they'd be convinced of it. We're lucky the guards you eliminated were taken so unexpectedly that they didn't know what hit them."
"We can be grateful there is only the one entrance into the dungeons. You are certain that it is securely barred?"
Jonny nodded. "Yeah. I went back and checked it personally. I've also got all of Mr. Patel's people scattered throughout the passages, keeping a wary eye on everything that's going on, and we've barricaded all of the entrances into major areas that were targets for Birla search."
"So you were not able to get anyone out?"
"No. Too risky. After the business in the dungeons, everyone was stirred up and there was too much activity, both inside the palace and all around the outer perimeter. After watching things for a while, I decided it was smarter to set everything up and then make the break all at once. Furthermore, I needed the manpower to keep an eye on the men who had been assigned to hunt for the passageway entrances. Oh, and speaking of stirred up . . . there's something else going on, too."
"What?"
"I was keeping an eye on Birla late this afternoon when the Captain of the Guard came into his office. That guy seems to relish giving Birla bad news. He told him that a group of the Sipahi and a large number of the rural populace are beginning to mass about 100 miles outside of Bangalore City near the site of a Janissary storehouse."
"I had sent a garrison of the Sipahi to watch that location," Hadji said thoughtfully, "but they were under orders not to stir up any trouble."
"Well, at the time the Captain was talking to Birla, they hadn't attacked, but that may not last. There're rumors echoing everywhere in the palace of a new military leader that has arisen among the people outside the city."
"Military leader?"
"Uh huh. One that's generating a lot of fervor and almost fanatical devotion. Rumor has it that this new leader took out an entire troop of Janissaries in the mountains, is recruiting an army, and is moving on the armory even as we speak."
"Oh, I do not like this!" Neela exclaimed in alarm. "Mr. Birla is bad enough, but if we are forced to combat rebels as well . . . "
Jonny just grinned.
"You look too smug," Hadji stated suspiciously. "What else do you know?"
Jonny shrugged, unable to totally eliminate that grin. "I don't know anything . . . not for certain . . . but several things occur to me. First, it strikes me as unlikely that someone local has arisen among the rural farmers and miners who is skilled in military tactics against trained soldiers. Even with the access you've given them to the internet, those aren't skills that anyone would have been likely to pick up."
"You are suggesting that an outsider is leading them," Hadji said flatly. "To what purpose?"
"The second thing that strikes me is that after their experiences with the Janissaries, the people are going to be highly suspicious of any outsider. Whoever is leading these people must have some pretty powerful credentials to generate that kind of loyalty. And lastly, if the rumors are to be believed, the new leader is coming down out of Panjal Province."
Hadji expression suddenly stilled and he whispered hoarsely, "Kefira!"
Jonny nodded. "And Jessie. That's my guess. We've said all along that it was only a matter of time before they'd follow us. Your marriage is common knowledge now . . . everyone is talking about it. There's only one place that could have come from . . . Jessie and Kefira have announced it, probably to put pressure on Birla. And your wife . . . the daughter of Rajeev Subramanian, a man who's practically become a national hero . . . yeah, I'd say she'd command that kind of fanatical devotion. And she may not know military tactics, but Jess sure does. I'd take odds that's who's leading the armies of Bangalore right now."
"We must get out of here!"
Jonny glanced at his watch, and then nodded, "And in about 47 minutes, that's exactly what we're going to do. How mobile are you? Can you walk?"
"Yes," Hadji said grimly, bracing a hand against the wall and gathering his feet under him. With Jonny's help, he stood carefully. He waited for a moment, assessing how he felt, and then said, "It is not bad. Some pain, but not overpowering. And I feel steady on my feet."
"Good. We're lucky the knife didn't get anything vital. Let's get you something to eat." Jonny led the way back out to the main room as he continued. "Everyone should start converging back here in the next 20 minutes or so and the diversion I've got rigged is set to begin at midnight. When it starts, we're going straight out the back door."
"We would be better off going over the wall," Hadji commented, accepting a thick slice of bread and some cheese from his mother. Then he eased himself down to sit on one of the decrepit divans.
"Yeah, but you can't climb and neither can many of the others we need to get out of here," Jonny replied as he passed Hadji a water jug. "Don't worry. The distraction I've got set up will draw their attention, and any remaining resistance left at the door I should be able to handle."
Hadji's eyes drifted around the room and then came to rest on the dungeon guard they had brought with them. He sat on the floor on the far side of the room, his hands and feet carefully bound. "What about him?" Hadji asked.
Jonny shrugged. "That one's gotta be your call. Opinion is pretty divided on what to do with him. No one trusts him, but I'll say this much . . . he hasn't given us any trouble and he even offered us some information that helped us keep track of some of the more dangerous members of the Janissaries."
Hadji contemplated the man in silence while he ate. When he finished, he stood carefully again and said to the others, "Wait here." Then he crossed the room to the captive. The man looked up and then, seeing who it was, ducked his head in obeisance. "What is your name?" Hadji asked him quietly.
"Anil Thakur, Excellency."
"Where do you come from?"
"From a village in the south called Cushul. It is very small and unimportant."
"I know it."
That man looked at him in surprise. "You do? But - but why, Excellency? There is nothing of importance there. The village, it is very poor. We have nothing of value . . ."
"You have people, Mr. Thakur, and they are the greatest value of all. I have been to Cushul, where I spoke with Elder Goel about the need for a school in the region and about the possibility of putting it in your village."
The man stared at him dumbfounded. "I - I did not know that."
"When you spoke to me in the dungeon, you said that you had a wife and children. Where are they?"
"My . . . my wife and daughter are with her family in a village near Cushul. I . . . I . . ." Suddenly, a remarkable change came over the man, as he seemed to shrink in on himself. "We lived there until the Janissaries came. They . . . they stole anything of value and burnt what was left. And they . . . they . . ." The man stopped, as if unable to go on.
Hadji knelt beside him carefully and laid a hand on his shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jonny rise and move toward them defensively. "What did they do, Mr. Thakur?" he encouraged him gently.
The man raised his head and stared at Hadji. "It . . . it was the Captain, Excellency . . . the man who is the leader of the Janissaries. He took my son! He was only four years old! He took him away and I could do nothing to stop him." The man buried his face in his hands. "My wife was hysterical. We . . . we had lost two . . . before . . . before Amol was born, and my wife can have no more. And they took him . . ." His head snapped up once more and he looked at Hadji desperately, "I did not know what to do. I had to find him. I have no family . . . they all died before you returned to Bangalore, so there was no one to care for my wife and daughter. I had no choice. I accepted the dishonor and returned them to my wife's family. I begged my wife's father to keep them safe, and then I went after the man who had taken my son. I - I followed him to Bangalore City, where I learned just how powerful of a man he is. After several days, I managed to become acquainted with a man who worked in the palace and he found me a job there. I was a stonemason by trade back in Cushul so I am large and strong and in time they assigned me to work in the dungeons . . . for the Black One." The man's eyes glittered as he stared at Hadji. "Never would I have believed it if I had not seen it for myself, Excellency. I had come to believe that no man could best that one. But you did! And then you took the captives out of the dungeon right under their noses!"
A smiled flickered briefly on Hadji's face. "With a great deal of luck, Mr. Thakur."
The man's eyes flicked over Hadji's shoulder briefly and then focused on him again. "They say you name that one your brother."
"Yes."
Thakur looked at Jonny once more. "Not by blood."
"It makes no difference. He is as close to me as blood kin and always will be."
"It was him you sought to free, then."
"Him and the others with him. They have been loyal to me. I do not leave my friends behind." Hadji contemplated the man for a long moment. "Can I trust you, Mr. Thakur? If I were to set you free, would you follow me and not betray me and my people to our enemies?"
"I have no love for the Janissaries, Excellency. This I swear."
Hadji eyed him for a moment longer and then nodded once. Reaching back with one hand, he said quietly to Jonny, "Give me your knife." Jonny placed the hilt of it into his hand, and turning the blade, Hadji sliced cleanly through the ropes that held the man captive. Then he returned the blade to his brother and rose awkwardly to his feet once more as Thakur did the same. "Then this I will promise you, Mr. Thakur. Follow me now, help me in the fight against Mr. Birla and his Janissaries, and when this is over, I will do everything in my power to locate your son and return him to you. Do I have your word?"
"Yes," the man whispered. "Yes, Excellency, I swear . . . I will follow you, even to my own death!" The man would have gone to his knees, but Hadji stopped him, grasping his forearm tightly instead.
"It is a pledge between us." Then he smiled at the man. "And I would appreciate it if you would make it a point to stay alive, Mr. Thakur. I believe your wife and children would prefer you return to them living rather than dead." When Hadji turned back, he found himself face-to-face with all of the others, who had returned silently during his conversation with the captive. "You have heard," he said to them. "I would ask all of you to make him welcome and to keep your eyes and ears open. It is possible the children that have been abducted by the Janissaries are no longer in the country. If this is so, then we must find out where they have been taken. I want to know of anything you hear, no matter how small." They all nodded silently.
"Good," Jonny said briskly. "Since that's settled, I think we probably need to get into place. The fireworks will start soon and we want to be ready." He bowed respectfully to Neela. "Lady, if you would be good enough to lead the way, I'll grab our supplies and bring up the rear."
"You still have not told me what you have planned," Hadji said softly to Jonny some time later. The ten of them now waited silently in the darkness near the access door that opened into the passageway to the old tradesman's entrance to the palace. It was five minutes to midnight.
"I made use of some of the stuff that Jess got from Jean-Paul."
"The explosives? Is that what you meant by fireworks?"
"Yeah. I spent the day slipping in and out of various rooms in the palace planting it. The first couple of explosions are set to go at midnight. Then there will be a series of others in three to five minute increments along a path that leads toward the front entrance to the palace. They'll blow locked doors, as if we're trying to make our way to the front and out the main gate."
"I am not certain that Mr. Birla will be so easily fooled."
"I'm banking on him being too flustered by the first couple of blasts to be thinking clearly."
"Why?"
"Because they're gonna blow the hell out of his private office, the Council chambers, and his private apartment." Jonny heard the sharp hiss of indrawn breath and added in a soft, cold tone, "And if I manage to take Birla out in one of the blasts, I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it, either."
After a long moment, Hadji said softly, "No - no, you are right. It would probably simplify things and there would be a great deal less bloodshed."
"Yeah, but we can't depend on it. That's why we're not going to wait around to see if it worked."
Suddenly, under their feet, the very stone of the palace seemed to tremble. The vibration had just begun to recede when it intensified again and this time, sound came with it . . . a deep, angry rumble. Through the eavesdropping panel, all of them could hear the sudden sound of raised voices, and then one came through clearly, saying, "Stay here and guard the door. I will see what is going on."
Jonny held up his hand, holding everyone in place. They waited for what seemed like an eternity. Then, the ground shuddered again, this time seeming further away. Again, the voices rose and four men moved into view of the hidden panel. There was one more tremor then a distant voice called, "They have attempted to kill Mr. Birla and now they are heading for the front gate!" Immediately, the four men disappeared up the corridor at a run, leaving only silence behind them. They continued to wait and finally, after the stillness had remained undisturbed for several minutes, Jonny tapped Hadji on the shoulder and he tripped the mechanism to open the door. Jonny eased out cautiously and peered around. They were alone. Gesturing to the others, he led the way to the back door. As he reached for the bolt, Hadji stopped him.
"What about perimeter guards outside?" he hissed.
Jonny shrugged helplessly. "We can only hope they were drawn off as well. There's no way to check."
Before Hadji could answer, Thakur stepped up. "Excellency, allow me to do to this. I wear the livery of the palace guard. If there are ones waiting, I may be able to get rid of them."
The silence was tense as Hadji stared at the man. Then the nodded and gestured the others back. "Have a care, my friend. The Janissaries do not take kindly to traitors and will kill you without hesitation if they do not believe you are what you claim."
The man grinned briefly. "I believe, Excellency, that I am very aware of what the Janissaries are capable of. I have set myself the task of seeing that you are kept safe from them, and that is what I shall do. Do not fear." Then gesturing them back once more, he turned, drew back the bolt, threw open the door, and stepped boldly out into the night.
"Brothers! I have orders from the Captain!" From their vantage point out of sight of the door, the waiting men heard the murmur of voices. One rose above the others.
"Who are you? Where is Amzel?"
"I am the lowliest of the low. I was sent to relieve those with more skills so that they may aid in the chase."
"What chase?" the voice demanded.
"The Hidden Demons have surfaced," Thakur told him. "They have attacked Mr. Birla himself and now attempt to free themselves from the palace. They are making for the front gate, destroying as they go." As if to support his statement, another explosion shook the palace. This time, it seemed to come from very near the front gate. "Go quickly! The Captain has ordered that all guards make for that location. He says that if they escape, those that permit it will pay with their lives!" Voices rose and the sound of running feet could be heard quickly moving away. But when Vijay would have stepped out into the open, Hadji held him back. Thakur had not moved.
"Wait! Something is not right," that voice said again. "Do not move." They heard footsteps, as if the man was circling Thakur. "You are of the dungeon guard. They would not send one such as you to guard an entrance to the palace. It is a trick!" Suddenly, Thakur was gone from the doorway and they all heard the clash of steel on steel. Jonny and Hadji leaped forward immediately, bursting into the open to find four men bearing down on their new friend. Thakur held a sword that had obviously been taken from a fifth man, who lay prostrate on the ground. He faced an opponent who also held a sword in one hand and a knife in the other, while the remaining three men tried to find a way to come at him from behind. Jonny hit the closest one from behind like a battering ram, sending him careening into one of the others, while Hadji struck the third with a savage leg kick that flung the guard against the nearby rocks. Without hesitation, Hadji bent down and grabbed the knife of the fallen guard. Then he turned to face the first man Jonny had struck, who was back on his feet again.
Jonny went down hard as the second guard knocked his feet out from under him. The man bore down on him with a knife, but Jonny caught his arm and used his own momentum to toss the man over his head. As he rolled to his feet and turned to his opponent once more, he called to Vijay and the others, "Go! NOW!" After an instant's hesitation, Vijay turned and led the others into the darkness at a run, making for the grove of trees that marked the start of the Pilgrim's Trail. As Jonny circled his opponent, who was now on his feet once more, he spotted Hadji. The young Sultan and his opponent circled each other warily, both holding knives.
"Shit! Not again!" Without hesitation, Jonny dove at his adversary, coming in under his opponent's knife hand. Grabbing the man's wrist with his left hand, he slammed a right to the man's jaw, then twisted, forcing the man's knife hand behind his back. Before the man could recover, Jonny pivoted and used the weight of his own body to swing his opponent into Hadji's attacker just as the man lunged. The man's knife buried itself into his fellow guardsman. Before the startled attacker had the chance to recover, Jonny snatched the knife from his wounded adversary and sank it deeply into the other man's back. With a gasp, the man toppled, taking his fellow guardsman's down with him.
"Are you nuts?!" Jonny yelled at his brother, who was already turning to aid Thakur. "Get out of here!" But Hadji didn't move. Rather, he waited calmly. As Thakur parried a downward slash of the sword, he pivoted and his opponent moved with him. Without hesitation, Hadji flipped the knife he held, grasping it by the blade, and threw it deftly. It struck the guard in the side, burying itself to the hilt. At the same time, Thakur struck, slicing deeply into his opponent's sword arm. The blade fell to the ground as the man sagged to his knees. Before the man could fall, Thakur stepped up and grabbed him by the hair, pulling his head up so he stared directly at Hadji.
"Look, you dog, upon the rightful ruler of Bangalore. He will see you all dead, just as he took vengeance upon the Black One that tormented his Lady Mother for so many years. I watched as he took the life from that one, and I will watch with burning joy as he guts all who defy him. The House of Singh rises again, just as it was foretold. You tell your worthless masters that their days are numbered."
For an instant, the stunned guard stared up at Hadji. Then Thakur cast him away like a useless rag. "It is time to go, Excellency. There are other things which require your attention." And then, the three of them disappeared into the night.
"Are you totally out of your mind?!?" Jonny demanded, rounding on his brother in fury.
"Do not start!" Hadji snarled in return, leaning against a nearby tree in exhaustion. "I do not want to hear it." All ten of them had made it safely out of the palace and were now high in the hills above the city. For over an hour they had traveled in silence, putting as much distance as they could between themselves and any possible pursuers. It wasn't until they were finally certain that they had eluded pursuit that Jonny had given vent to the combination of anger and fear that had been churning in him since their confrontation with the guards at the back gate.
"It's one thing to take on a fight when you're in good condition, but to go after that guy with a knife when the wounds from the last confrontation haven't even started to close up yet? What the hell were you thinking???"
The moonlight cast eerie shadows over them as the others stared at the two brothers in consternation.
"He came at me with a knife. What did you expect me to do? Run?"
"You're damned right I expected you to run!"
"I have never run from a fight in my life!"
"Whatever happened to that old adage you used to quote to me all the time about living to fight another day?"
"That was when both of us were running. I did not see you turning to leave!"
"That's different! I'm here to cover your back. What happens to me doesn't mean a thing, but it matters a lot what happens to you!"
"YOU ARE NOT EXPENDABLE!"
Before things could go any further, Neela stepped between the two young men. Laying a hand on each of their arms, she said quietly, "That is enough. Neither of you are expendable, nor will I see one brother sacrificed to save the other. Are we clear on this?"
Hadji fought to bring his anger under control. Finally, he replied, "Yes, Mother."
"Jonathan?"
Jonny let out a gusty sigh and said, "Okay, yeah. I got it." Then he added gruffly, "I suppose you popped half of your stitches during that little altercation."
Hadji twisted gently and then grimaced in the dark. "No, I do not believe so."
"Like I'm gonna take your word for it. Come on over here. I wanna take a look at you."
"We cannot afford to risk a light," Hadji protested.
"There's a cluster of rocks and trees over there that will provide enough cover for me to check it, and the others can keep an eye out for suspicious movement." He grabbed Hadji's arm and tugged him toward the rocks as he continued to grumble, "With all the blood you lost yesterday, you shouldn't even be out of bed."
"This from the one that fell off of a one hundred foot cliff, tore up a shoulder so badly it needed major surgery, and then took off on a cross country trip without even consulting a doctor."
"So did I suggest I should be held up as a shining example of sensible behavior?" Jonny countered as the two disappeared from view.
Vijay Patel moved to stand next to Neela and chuckled softly. "They are very alike, these two," he said to her.
"Yes, they are . . . more alike than I ever realized. And they care for each other so much. Truly, the Gods were smiling down on my son the day the Quests found him in Calcutta." She sighed softly. "It is no wonder it pains him so much to consider leaving all of it behind." She stared after them for a long moment and then asked softly, "Tell me, Mr. Patel, can he achieve what he hopes for? Can he truly establish a government that will stand and function without him?"
"He has planned well, Lady. There are both men and women throughout our country who have been groomed specifically for this. He has actively worked toward that goal since he first came to power. Also, the people themselves have a much better grasp of self-government than you give them credit for. I doubt that it will be easy but, yes, I believe it can be done."
She sighed softly once more. "For his sake, I hope that it can."
A few moments later, the two young men rejoined them and Jonny said, "Well, he'll live. He pulled a couple of stitches, but I'd put them in pretty closely and most of them held. He's bleeding a little, but I think it will stop. We need to find somewhere to light, though. He needs rest."
"Light?" Mahavir asked, confused.
"A place to stop and rest," Hadji translated with a soft laugh. "And I am all right. I can continue."
"Not for very long, you can't," Jonny retorted grimly.
"You are getting to be as bad as Father . . . maybe even worse. At least he knows when to give up."
"He's not as stubborn as I am."
Hadji snorted, but privately he admitted that he wasn't certain how much longer he could continue. Adrenalin had taken him through the fight and the subsequent run from the palace. But now the sharp pain in his side was starting to take its toll and he was beginning to feel tired and shaky.
Vijay hesitated for a moment and then said, "If it is possible for you to continue, Excellency, it might be wise if we do so. You said that you wished to recruit an army. My brother, Mahavir's father, is well thought of by the people of Bangalore City and is a long-time ally of those that support you and your reign. He keeps a place . . ." he hesitated, as if searching for the proper term. "A place where he can hide people . . . "
"A safehouse," Jonny supplied promptly.
"Yes! A safehouse . . . where we can go and be assured of safety. Also, it will serve as a base where we can recruit the men and plan for ways to stop Mr. Birla"
"How far is this place?" Jonny asked.
"We must go a bit further to the east and then down the mountain once more. Once back in the city, it is perhaps another mile or so back toward the center of the old district. We will need to find a change of clothing so that we are assured of not being recognized."
There was a short silence and then Jonny asked, "Can you make that, Hadj?"
"I can try," he replied, and none of them missed the sound of exhaustion in his voice.
"We will take it in small stages and rest in between," Neela said. "You are to tell us when you become too tired and we will stop. Do you understand, my son?"
"Yes, Mother."
Jonny immediately stepped up and caught Hadji's good arm and drew it across his shoulder. "Come on, we'll take it slow."
"GONE??? What do you mean, GONE???" Birla demanded in a voice edged with panic.
The Captain of the Guard relaxed lazily on a divan near the window and looked at the man with a sardonic expression. "As I said, Excellency. They are gone . . . the Sultan, his mother, and the Patels. The bombings in the palace were a diversion. While everyone was distracted, they took out the guards at the postern door and escaped into the countryside."
"How is this possible?"
The Captain shrugged. "The blasts were very carefully planned to maximize the confusion and to lead people to believe they were attempting to leave by the front entrance."
"Your people are supposed to be professionals," Birla snarled. "Why were they so easily fooled?"
"Why?" the Captain replied sarcastically. "I believe, Excellency, that you should ask yourself that question. You insisted that my men be directed to accept orders from you as well as from my lieutenants and myself. Had you allowed my men to do their jobs, this probably would not have happened. Instead, you directed them here and there at your own whims and now they are gone."
"You are certain?" the man demanded, pacing restlessly around the throne room.
"Yes. The Sultan was seen. In fact, he made it a point to be seen. They even sent you a message."
Birla whirled and stared at the man. "What message?"
The Captain smiled lazily once again. "He reminds you of the prophecy, Excellency. The House of Singh rises once more."
"Jonny . . . Jonny, I cannot . . ."
"That's okay, Hadj. Take it easy," Jonny replied as he eased his brother gently to the ground. He looked up and shook his head. "He can't go any further."
Neela knelt down beside him, eased Hadji's head onto her lap, and laid a gentle hand on the side of his face. "He is hot . . . starting to run a fever."
" . . . sorry . . ." Hadji whispered softly.
"It was well done, Excellency," Vijay said going to one knee beside him. "It is far enough. This grove of trees will shelter you and we are now near enough to one of the roads into the city that we can bring a cart. You must rest now. In the meantime, Mahavir and I will go ahead and make arrangements." He rose and looked at Jonny. "As much as I would like having you with me, I believe it would be better if you remain here. We have no good garments to disguise you and you are too recognizable." He glanced up at the sky with a calculating look. "It is about two hours before dawn. We should be able to get there and return before daybreak. Once we arrive we can put the Sultan on the cart and join the regular traffic going into and out of the city. If we are cautious, we should be able to return to the house of my brother unremarked." He gestured to the others. "The rest of you, scatter out on the hillside. Keep to cover and watch carefully for any sign of pursuit. Report anything out of the ordinary to the Sultan's brother." With a murmured acknowledgement, the six members of Patel's staff faded away into the darkness. Then Vijay looked at Anil Thakur.
"I will remain here," Thakur said, looking at Vijay calmly. "I have pledged myself to the Sultan . . . to assure that he and his family are safe. No harm will come to them as long as I live."
"Good enough. We will go now, Excellency, and return as quickly as we can." Hadji nodded as best he could as Jonny shook out one of the blankets they had brought with them and wrapped it around him. Vijay sketched a quick bow and then the two of them disappeared into the night.
"I think we need to find a slightly better place than this if we're going to stay here for a while," Jonny said. "There's a hollow over there with a slight depression. It will provide some shelter from the breeze that kicks up just before dawn. Anil, in the bundle that Mahavir was carrying is the sleeping mat and a couple more blankets. Can you set up a makeshift bed for him over there?" Then Jonny looked at Neela. "Once we get him settled, I'm going to hit him with some more penicillin. I don't like it that he's so hot."
"I believe that is a good idea," Neela agreed, "although I suspect it is due more to pushing too hard while in a weakened condition than it is to infection."
"Probably, but I'd rather be safe than sorry." Jonny looked up as Thakur returned. "Ready? Okay, Anil, you take his feet . . ."
"I can walk that far," Hadji protested weakly.
"Shut up," Jonny replied rudely, then caught him by the shoulders. "Ready? Go!" The two men lifted Hadji and carried him quickly over to the makeshift bed. Laying him down gently, Jonny took the rolled up rug that they had been using as a pillow and eased it under his head. Then he turned and gestured to Thakur again. "Hand me that bag over there." Jonny rummaged around in it for a moment and then pulled out the two medicine bottles and the box containing the syringes. "Hang on, I need light for this." Jonny filled the syringe quickly and administered the drug. Then he leaned down and said, "Hadji, are you still with us?"
"Yes," he replied faintly.
"Are you in pain?"
"It is all right."
"That's not the question I asked you. Are you in pain?"
"Yes," Hadji finally admitted reluctantly.
Jonny straightened and reached for the morphine bottle. "I'm not going to give him much of this or we'll put him out for hours again," he said to Neela, "but the pain is dragging at his system, wearing down his body's stamina. I think that knocking it down for a while will give his system a chance to rest and recover." Swiftly, he administered the second drug, cleaned and put away the equipment, and killed the light. Then he laid one hand on Hadji's shoulder and said quietly, "Now you need to rest. Sleep if you can. We can't do anything else but wait."
"All right."
"You should do the same," Thakur said to Jonny and Neela. "You need not fear. I will keep watch."
Jonny leaned back against the trunk of a tree beside Hadji as Neela lay down not far away. Then, silence fell and for a long time the only things audible were the sounds of the night animals and their own breath. Jonny could hear Neela's breathing deepen and even out as she dropped off to sleep. He was just starting to feel drowsy when he felt Hadji stir restlessly beside him. Reaching down, Jonny laid a hand on his Hadji's forehead. It felt a bit cooler, but it was still too warm.
"Do you suppose it really is them?" Hadji asked fretfully.
"You're supposed to be resting. Them who?"
"Kefira . . . and Jessie. Do you really think they are the ones uniting the people into an army?"
"Yes."
"She should not be here. She will be hurt."
"You can't make those choices for her. I've told you that before."
"But she was injured."
"So are you, and you're here."
"It is different for me. I must be here. I have no choice."
"And this is her country. She has even more ties to it than you do."
"Not any longer," Hadji said bitterly, and Jonny privately kicked himself for obliquely bringing up Kefira's family. "I wonder how much she will hate me when we finally meet again."
"Hate you?! She won't hate you. What are you talking about?"
"Because of me, her family was murdered. How else could she feel?"
"That's crazy. Listen, knowing Rajeev as you did, do you really believe that he wouldn't have stood up against any despot, whether you were here or not?"
"Perhaps. But if I had not chosen Kefira to be my wife, attention would not have focused on him the way it did. Furthermore, it was my programs . . . my changes that Rajeev supported that brought him into direct conflict with Arun Birla. Any way you choose to look at it, it was because of me that he and his family were killed. Kefira is no fool. She will see that as clearly as I do."
"What she'll see is that her father was a man of integrity who stood up and fought for what he believed in. Yes, that put him in direct conflict with Birla. But what you gave him, Hadji . . . what you've given all of them . . . is a dream that they could strive for . . . a chance for a better life, not for just a select few, but for everyone. Look around you. Do you honestly believe that the people of this country would fight this way if they didn't understand and want what you're offering them? You can't take the weight of the world onto your shoulders, Hadj. Every man is ultimately responsible for his own decisions and their consequences. Yes, people are dying, but you haven't demanded that anyone fight. They are choosing to do it of their own free will. Don't belittle their courage and dedication by doubting that what you're doing is right." He smiled in the dark. "As for Kefira? You seem to be forgetting one very important thing."
"What?"
"She loves you."
"Yes, but will she still when this is all over?"
"Yes," Jonny replied with quiet conviction.
"You sound so certain."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Because I've seen the way she looks at you. And you'd see it too, if you'd just let yourself look beyond your own self-imposed guilt. Now would you please try to get some sleep? You really do need the rest."
Silence fell between them again, but Jonny could sense Hadji's continuing restlessness. Finally, Jonny sighed and said, "Something else is bothering you. What is it?"
"I was wondering about Father. Do you suppose he is all right?"
Jonny frowned. "What started you thinking about Dad?"
Hadji stirred restlessly again. "I do not know. I just have this feeling . . ."
Jonny shifted uneasily, reluctant to tell his brother that the same thought had been gnawing at him for the last several days. "I'm sure he's fine," he replied with a confidence he didn't feel. "Dr. Mason is taking care of him and she won't let anything bad happen to him."
"She is in love with him, you know."
"Yeah, I know. How he doesn't see it is beyond me."
"Perhaps he does and just doesn't feel the same way."
"Naw. He just doesn't see it. That's our father . . . totally clueless when it comes to women."
"Yes, I think you are right. We do not dare interfere, though."
"Yeah, I know. I just hope he realizes what's going on before it's too late. I'd hate to see him lose her simply because he's too blind to see what's right in front of his face."
"I agree." Hadji grunted as he rolled over onto his back. "The two of you fought right before we left." He made it a statement.
"Yeah, we did," Jonny agreed reluctantly. "It all ended on a pretty sour note. How did you know?"
"Kefira told me. She is worried about you. What was it this time?"
"You're supposed to be resting."
"Do not try to change the subject. What did you fight about?"
"The same old stuff . . . school. How did Kefira know about it?"
"Jessie told her."
"How did Jess know about it?"
There was the briefest hesitation before Hadji replied, "I do not know."
"Come on, Hadji, don't hold out on me. I sure didn't tell her. I don't like putting her in the middle between Race and me, so I try not to rant to her too much about it. She gets angry for me and that only makes things worse."
"Why would you feel that your arguments with Father would put Jessie in an awkward position with Race? He has never taken sides in this dispute."
"I know he's never said anything, but . . . "
Hadji reached out and laid his hand on his brother's arm. "Jonny, Race has never voiced an opinion one way or the other about any of this, not even to me. Whatever his feelings in the matter, he has kept them to himself. Do you not understand how much he and Estella have suffered over this entire situation? Both you and Jessie have closed them out. They feel as though you are strangers and it hurts them a great deal."
"You think I don't realize that? But Hadji, I really don't know what to do. I don't know whom I can trust anymore."
"I know that you do not. How do you think I felt when I began to realize that you did not even trust me. Imagine how Race and Estella feel, knowing that their only child no longer trusts them." Jonny didn't reply. Finally, Hadji sighed. "I told you the truth. I do not know how Jessie found out about your fight with Father. Kefira would not tell me. All she would say was that the two of you fought again and that whatever had occurred had infuriated Jessie. So are you going to tell me what the fight was about?"
"I already told you. It was over school again."
"But there must have been more to it than that."
Jonny remained stubbornly silent for a long time, but when he realized that Hadji was just as likely to wait him out on it, he finally admitted, "He offered to get me admitted into M.I.T. if I would go back to school."
That was enough to cause Hadji to try to sit up. "He offered to get you admitted to M.I.T?" he demanded. "But that is what you have been insisting on all along!"
"Shhhh. Keep it down! And don't sit up. You're supposed to be resting."
Hadji eased himself back down again, but did not let the subject drop. "Tell me about this. Why, when you have won every concession that you looked for from Father, are the two of you still fighting? This does not make sense."
"You didn't hear him, Hadji. Yeah, he offered to get me admitted for Spring term . . . on the provision that I drop back to no more than 10 hours a week at my job. You know, it's not that I don't want to go on to school. I've talked to Dr. Rankin and Dr. Sikes about this stuff already. M.I.T. doesn't have an early admission program the way Columbia does. And they get very few dropouts. For me to go back on-campus as a full time student, which is what he wanted me to do, would not only mean violating fixed admissions standards, but also bouncing some poor schlep who's already enrolled to make room in the core curriculum classes for me. It would also mean that the timing for all of my other classes would be off by a semester as well! A lot of the courses I need are fall only or spring only and are designed to be taken in order. Without the prereqs, I'm screwed. And the only way to fix that is to carry overloads every term and go full time during summer, too. With everything I've got to do at work right now, there's no way I can handle it. And . . ."
"Jonny," Hadji interrupted gently, "you are babbling. Take a deep breath and tell me what it is about it that truly upset you."
Jonny rubbed his face and thought again about his last argument with his father. Finally, he admitted wearily, "It . . . it was his attitude, I guess. You know, Hadj, I've worked really hard . . . trying to well at work, trying to balance my time with Jess with what it takes to do my job, to continue the things I think are really important, like our work with the Children's Outreach Program, to maintain the building we live in and help our neighbors. I won't lie and say that I haven't made some mistakes, but overall I think Jess and I have done pretty well for ourselves. But he's not prepared to give me any credit whatsoever. Do you know what he said to me? He said that it was 'nice' of Mr. Blackman to have given me a job, but that I had to realize I was little more than a charity case. He also said that the only reason I got it in the first place was because I was his son. I can still hear him . . . sounding all righteous and condescending . . . "
Hadji sighed softly, wondering if they would ever find a way to mend the rift between father and son.
"And you know what the really sorry part is?"
"What?"
"Ben Sikes and Garrett Blackman tell me the same thing . . . that they want me to go back to school . . . and the idea doesn't even rankle. But when my own father suggests it . . ." This time it was Jonny that sighed. "This isn't getting us anywhere. It's all old ground, and I don't even know why we're going over it again. Furthermore, you aren't getting any rest. So let's just drop it, okay? I really don't feel up to discussing it any more."
"Allow me ask one more question, and then I will let the matter go for now."
"What?"
"You said that Mr. Blackman and Dr. Sikes have asked you to go back to school."
"Yeah."
"Are you going to do it?"
"Probably. Mr. Blackman and I talked about it that night at the party and he explained the way it would work. Blackman Communications has an interactive classroom in the building and there are a bunch of people going to M.I.T. and taking classes that way. It's a special pilot program that the school has with our company. The curriculum and requirements are all the same as if I was attending class on campus, it's even all the same courses, it's just that we don't have to go to campus to attend and the program is structured a little differently for those of us that work full time."
"You would be carrying a full load and working full time?" Hadji asked with concern, thinking of how pressured his brother was already feeling.
"Not exactly. Mr. Blackman says that school will be incorporated into my job description so the time I spend in class will be part of the formula used to determine my workload."
"It sounds as though Mr. Blackman has a great respect for the people that he employs."
"One of the corporate tenets is that the most valuable asset of the company is the people that work there, and from everything I've seen, they really do mean it. Do you know, I won't have to pay a dime to take classes? Tuition and fees are a fully paid company benefit as long as you are enrolled in a certified degree program applicable to your job and you maintain good standing grade-wise. Plus, they reimburse you for all related expenses like books, application fees, and all of that stuff. There's also employee assistance programs, a company-based credit union, a full gym in the building for employee use, on-site daycare centers, company sponsored community programs, and all sorts of other things. I'll tell ya, Hadji, someone up there was really looking out for Jess and me when I landed this job."
"I believe you are right, my friend. Are you going to tell Father about going back to school?"
Jonny was quiet for a long time. Finally, he said, "No. Maybe it's petty, but I'm not going to give him the satisfaction. This isn't something he engineered. It's something I've found a way to do on my own. When I finish, I'll tell him, but he's not going to have the chance to take credit for it."
"Jonny . . ."
"No, Hadji. I mean it. I don't want him to know about this. If it turns out that I can't hack working full time and going to school and I'm forced to choose between the two, I'll tell you right now that I'll choose my job. I love what I'm doing and I'm not going to give it up. But I'm also not gonna go through the misery of listening to him tell me 'I told you so' or be forced to endure an escalated harangue about quitting school. I don't need that crap."
Before Hadji could think of a response, Thakur materialized out of the darkness near them. "Excellency, Mr. Patel has returned sooner than expected with transportation. He says that if you feel able, it would be best if we move quickly so that we may be undercover before daybreak."
Hadji sat up regretfully, knowing that his window of opportunity to discuss talk with Jonny about the situation had just evaporated. "Go back to Mr. Patel and tell him we will join him shortly. Then return so you can guide us to his location. In the meantime, we will gather things here. What of the others?"
"Mr. Patel's nephew has been sent to them with instructions."
"Very good. Take my message to Mr. Patel and then return to us."
Thakur sketched a respectful bow, and replied, "As you command, Excellency." Then he turned and disappeared again.
Hadji reached out and laid a hand on Neela's knee. "Mother, are you awake?"
"Yes, my son."
"Can you go back to where we stopped earlier and make certain we left nothing behind? Jonny and I will take care of the things here."
"Yes," she replied and left quickly.
"I wonder how long she was awake," Jonny said in a low voice, sounding uneasy. "Do not worry, Jonny. What my mother hears, she does not repeat. Let us go. I truly do need to sleep for a while and I believe I will find it easier to do if I am not out in the open."
"Then let's get going so you can do just that."
To Be Continued . . .
