Read Online The Iron Tiger by Jack Higgins - Free Book Online Page A

into India like wolves. Their name was a byword for cruelty. But those days are gone. Now they must live off the land and the land has little to give.'
     
     
'Can nothing be done?"
     
     
He shrugged. 'Who knows? Brackenhurst may turn up with something in his survey, evidence of mineral deposits worth developing, perhaps. The Khan has his hopes, but I doubt if they will come to much. Bracken-hurst would not be the first geologist to waste his time here.'
     
     
'And yet Hamid tells me the Chinese Government in Pekin has laid claim to Balpur.'
     
     
'And Nepal and Bhutan, even parts of Assam.' He shrugged. 'Words, merely words. But as a matter of interest, there can be little doubt that in other times Balpur was part of the Chinese Empire. Come, I will show you.'
     
     
They went back inside, moved into the central hall, and he opened another door. The room was in dark- ness. Janet heard the click of the switch, but was totally unprepared for what followed.
     
     
On every side a row of glass showcases, each with its own illumination, sprang into view to float la the darkness. But it was their contents which drew from her aa involuntary gasp of admiration. They contained the most superb collection of pottery she had ever seen.
     
     
There were alabaster jars, pale, translucent and delicate, glazed urns in red and black, their colours as vivid as on the day they had been fired.
     
     
Most were unmistakably Chinese and others showed a distinct Chinese influence. There was also a collection of figurines like the one she had seen at Drummoad's bungalow.
     
     
'Jack has one of these,. she said,.He told me it was Greco-Buddhist.'
     
     
That's right. As you're probably aware, Alexander the Great invaded India. Amazing to what extent Greek culture penetrated the entire border area and yet ia India, their literature doesn't evea mention his name.'
     
     
She reached out and touched a delicate and beautiful wine jar which had been painstakingly put together piece-by-piece to judge by tias network of fine lineg that covered it.
     
     
'Where was this discovered?.
     
     
'A burial mound south of the city near the river. There are many such sites. You must visit some of them wMle you are here. There is a most interesting ruin of a Buddhist temple not far from the mission. Breathtaking by moonlight I can recommend it.'
     
     
He smiled charmingly and Jaaet, hesitating, was saved by Hamid who entered at that moment 'There you are.'
     
     
'I thought you were playing billiards?' she said.
     
     
'A variation of our own, a sort of kaodc-oet GOSJ- petition. Jack and Sher Dfl were too good for me..
     
     
'Mr. Cheung was showing me the Khan's collection. I had no idea the Chinese had so much influence in this area in ancient times.'
     
     
'God knows why,' he said. The damned place must have beea an economic liability even in those days..
     
     
Cheung glanced at his watch. 'It's getting late. I really think I must be going. I leave Miss Tate in your capable hands, Major.'
     
     
He went out quickly and she turned to Hamid with a sigh. 'I feel rather sorry for him. We've been standing here talking about the splendours of China past and he isn't even permitted to be a part of China present It must be a terrible thing to be an exile from one's own country.'
     
     
The tragedy of the twentieth century,' Hamid said. 'Did you like him?'
     
     
'It's difficult to say. He puts himself out to be pleasant, but I feel that he's looking at me from behind his eyes if you know what I mean.'
     
     
'An excellent description. What about Sher Dil?'
     
     
'A wonderful man. He's so beautifully correct, so....
     
     
She hesitated and Hamid chuckled. 'So positively British? The Imperial taint still lies heavy upon us. Sher Dil was a Sword of Honour man at Sandhurst in his day. He was also a colonel in the Indian Army as long ago as 1945..
     
     
'What went wrong?'
     
     
'For many years we tried to follow the way of peace in India.