simple
€2 black silk dress, and Jack Drummond on her left in a white dinner jacket. Father Kerrigan sat on the Khan's right hand next to Mr. Cheung, and Hamid and Colonel Sher Dil, commander of the Khan's small army, faced each other, magnificent in dress uniform.
'Father Kerrigan has made you comfortable, Miss Tate?' the Khan asked.
'He couldn't have done more.'
The Khan sighed. 'It would have pleased me to have had you as my guest here at the palace, but he is a stubborn old man.'
'And if that's true, then I know another sot a thousand miles from here,' the priest said, speaking with the familiarity of an old friend and reaching for the brandy decanter. 'Would you imagine it, Janet, he wanted me to forsake every other blessed patient I have, close the mission and move in here?'
The Khan shrugged helplessly. 'What can one do? He even refused the soldiers I sent At this moment, who guards the Hope cf BalptnT he challenged the old priest
Tell me first who in Balpur would harm him,' Father Kerrigan countered.
The Khan sighed. 'You see, Miss Tate, I am not even ruler in my own house.'
'If you must know, old Nerida's sitting at the boy's bedside this very moment,' Father Kerrigan told him. 'She'd cut off her arm rather than move from that spot before I return.'
"You have seen Keriia today?' the Khan said to Janet 'He is well?'
She nodded. 'But still a little weak. An injury of this kind is a great shock to the whole system, especially for a child,'
'A child who will be a man In another itee years, an important distinction. Under oar customs, he must then be presented to the people, ready to take my place if need be. That is why I am anxious that he starts oa the journey to America with as little delay as possible.'
'We must wait for another few days,' Father Kerrigan said. Tm sure Miss Tait agrees with me.'
The Khan glanced at Janet and she nodded. 4I think Father Kerrigan is right. And we've time to spare. Kerim can be back within a month of the operation, you know.'
He threw his arms wide. Then I must bow before flie wind. You play chess, Miss Tate?'
®Not very well, I'm afraid.'
'Father Kerrigan considers himself a master. It is my painful and frequent duty to prove otherwise.'
'Indeed, so?' the priest said, pushing back his chair and rising, glass of brandy in hand. 'If your Highness would be good enough to lead the way to the usual place, we can get down to tag business of maJaag you eat your words.9
'A pleasure.' The Khan got to Ms feet and looked enquiringly at the others. 'Gentlemen?'
Hamid glanced at Drummond and Sher DiL "Billiards?'
They both codded and Cheiisg smiled across at Janet 'Which leaves Miss Tate and myself. With the Khan's permission, perhaps I could show her some of the treasures of the palace?'
'Please do. It should take me no longer than aa hour to encompass the downfall of this turbulent priest.
1g that a fact, now?' Father Kerrigan said in mock anger and they went out
Hamidj 'Sher Dil and Drammond had their heads together for a moment, something to do willi a report over the radio from Indian Army Headquarters about patrol clashes in the Ladakh area. Cheung joined them and Janet moved to the window and looked into the garden.
It was very beautiful Great, Grecian-style jars were spaced along the terrace, filled with dwarf iris, and the scent of hibiscus was heavy on the night air. Lower down in the shadows, the slender cypress trees stood like straight sentinels, dark against the sky, and the moon was full.
Cheung paused beside her. 'A startling contrast, isn't it? In here all the beauty in the world, a garden by night. Beyond those walls, a harsh, sterile land where even mere existence is a struggle.'
'Has it always been this way?.
He nodded. 'In the old days, the tribesmen raided
€2 black silk dress, and Jack Drummond on her left in a white dinner jacket. Father Kerrigan sat on the Khan's right hand next to Mr. Cheung, and Hamid and Colonel Sher Dil, commander of the Khan's small army, faced each other, magnificent in dress uniform.
'Father Kerrigan has made you comfortable, Miss Tate?' the Khan asked.
'He couldn't have done more.'
The Khan sighed. 'It would have pleased me to have had you as my guest here at the palace, but he is a stubborn old man.'
'And if that's true, then I know another sot a thousand miles from here,' the priest said, speaking with the familiarity of an old friend and reaching for the brandy decanter. 'Would you imagine it, Janet, he wanted me to forsake every other blessed patient I have, close the mission and move in here?'
The Khan shrugged helplessly. 'What can one do? He even refused the soldiers I sent At this moment, who guards the Hope cf BalptnT he challenged the old priest
Tell me first who in Balpur would harm him,' Father Kerrigan countered.
The Khan sighed. 'You see, Miss Tate, I am not even ruler in my own house.'
'If you must know, old Nerida's sitting at the boy's bedside this very moment,' Father Kerrigan told him. 'She'd cut off her arm rather than move from that spot before I return.'
"You have seen Keriia today?' the Khan said to Janet 'He is well?'
She nodded. 'But still a little weak. An injury of this kind is a great shock to the whole system, especially for a child,'
'A child who will be a man In another itee years, an important distinction. Under oar customs, he must then be presented to the people, ready to take my place if need be. That is why I am anxious that he starts oa the journey to America with as little delay as possible.'
'We must wait for another few days,' Father Kerrigan said. Tm sure Miss Tait agrees with me.'
The Khan glanced at Janet and she nodded. 4I think Father Kerrigan is right. And we've time to spare. Kerim can be back within a month of the operation, you know.'
He threw his arms wide. Then I must bow before flie wind. You play chess, Miss Tate?'
®Not very well, I'm afraid.'
'Father Kerrigan considers himself a master. It is my painful and frequent duty to prove otherwise.'
'Indeed, so?' the priest said, pushing back his chair and rising, glass of brandy in hand. 'If your Highness would be good enough to lead the way to the usual place, we can get down to tag business of maJaag you eat your words.9
'A pleasure.' The Khan got to Ms feet and looked enquiringly at the others. 'Gentlemen?'
Hamid glanced at Drummond and Sher DiL "Billiards?'
They both codded and Cheiisg smiled across at Janet 'Which leaves Miss Tate and myself. With the Khan's permission, perhaps I could show her some of the treasures of the palace?'
'Please do. It should take me no longer than aa hour to encompass the downfall of this turbulent priest.
1g that a fact, now?' Father Kerrigan said in mock anger and they went out
Hamidj 'Sher Dil and Drammond had their heads together for a moment, something to do willi a report over the radio from Indian Army Headquarters about patrol clashes in the Ladakh area. Cheung joined them and Janet moved to the window and looked into the garden.
It was very beautiful Great, Grecian-style jars were spaced along the terrace, filled with dwarf iris, and the scent of hibiscus was heavy on the night air. Lower down in the shadows, the slender cypress trees stood like straight sentinels, dark against the sky, and the moon was full.
Cheung paused beside her. 'A startling contrast, isn't it? In here all the beauty in the world, a garden by night. Beyond those walls, a harsh, sterile land where even mere existence is a struggle.'
'Has it always been this way?.
He nodded. 'In the old days, the tribesmen raided
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