4.

It was sunset before they carefully moved Chavadzy to the temple infirmary.
"Will he live?" asked Dayan at the Russian's bedside.
Bart shrugged. "I have done the work of man, as much as any doctor can. What remains is the work of God, but I'm inclined to think God is on Chavadzy's side right now."
Dayan bowed to him. "Very well, sir, I shall sit here and wait for God to reveal Himself. I wish to be at my father's side, as well."
Dash lay sedated on a second cot beside Chavadzy's.
"I have something important to tell our Russian friend when he wakes up," continued Dayan. "I'm sure it will help him recover quickly. Damba, you go with them to the valley. Guard Madame well."
Brad moved protectively to Romelle's side. "No, thank you, gentlemen, I'll look after her."
"You're right, lad," Bart said wearily. "She'll be safe with us. Besides, there should be two of you here to spell each other on sleep. We all need to rest. I'll ask the senior lama to bring you food."
"Yes," agreed Dayan, "we shall have many things to discuss tomorrow, especially if my father is recovered."
For the first time since the morning, Bart smiled. "Your father has the strength of many. I expect he'll be up and at his prayers by dawn."
In the first rays of morning light, Bart returned with Romelle and Brad to the temple infirmary.
Dash was sitting up, and Chavadzy was awake.
The Russian was the first to speak when the Americans came in. "Zdrvstuite, good morning, bonjour, my friends! As you can see, I am alive, fit, and a very happy man."
Bart smiled. "Happy to be alive, I presume."
"Indeed," Chavadzy replied, "but doubly so for the good news I have received from Prince Dayan."
They all turned to Dayan.
"I told you last night I wished to be at his bedside because I had important news which would make him well. Do you see? I was right!"
"Are we allowed to share in the news?" asked Brad. "Of course," Chavadzy intruded. "Prince Dayan is going to arrange a meeting with the Phantom General to discuss the Tsar's offer of arms and munitions."
"So he does exist, after all!" Romelle exclaimed.
"Yes, Madame, and I wish to apologize for having been evasive when you mentioned him earlier," said Damba with a bow. "I did not know then that you are a living goddess, Lady Tara in the flesh. I realize now that I can trust you even with my soul."
Embarrassed, Romelle waved her hand and shook her head. "Accord me no divinity, I beg you. I am the most ordinary of mortals. It's only happenstance that I am involved at all."
"Not so!" Dash declared vehemently. "Entire lifetimes have placed you here - Captain Duncan's and your mother's among them. Do you think it was mere happenstance that drew you to Dragon's Heart at precisely the moment in a span of hundreds of years when you were supposed to be here? Do you imagine you simply happened along at the critical moment in which I was about to be murdered - the one man in the world who knows the meaning of the Seventh Eye? What conceivable coincidence could have positioned you to be the first being I saw when I opened my eyes, with the ruby glowing in your hands, with the Living Buddha's medallion shining on your breast?
"Several weeks ago, I had a dream. It was so real to me at the time that when I woke it seemed there was no difference between the waking and the sleeping. I dreamt that a woman floated toward me through an archway of roses. She wore a white veil, and a crown. I could not see her face through the veiling, but on her white breast, above seven white lilies, nestled the Seventh Eye. A voice murmured softly in my ear: The Lady Tara approaches. She is a blessing of God. Be ready. Salvation is at hand. Where the Seventh Eye sees, lies the answer to all."
Startled, Romelle spoke. "At my wedding a few weeks ago, I approached the altar looking just that way. I wore a veil, with a ducal coronet on my head, seven calla lilies in my arms, and the ruby on my breast. All you say must be true, sir. It is as though my entire life has brought me to this moment just to bring you the ruby. I have been spared in the most extraordinary ways, just to bring you the Seventh Eye. I still, however, do not understand its meaning."
"I shall explain soon enough," Dash said. "Ah, there is so much to be told amongst us all!"
Bart nodded, taking up Dash's wrist to read the pulse. "Indeed, there's a lot of ground to be covered, but right now I want you to relax and forget both Heaven and earth. Your blood is playing a nice tune. I want to keep it that way. Dayan, massage your father's temples and put him to sleep. As for you, Chavadzy, you don't fool me a bit. It's all you can do to keep your eyes open. Take this pill, my friend, and rest. Those of us who are up and around have several things yet to do. We must dispose of the Manchus' corpses. The other lamas who came with you from the frontier have already taken their six horses and turned them loose to run with the herds in the south valley."
As he spoke, the four lamas came into the infirmary, addressing Dayan in Mongolian.
"The Manchus have been taken away," reported Dayan. "These priests will stay here throughout the day. Damba and I must establish contact with the Phantom General for you, Doctor Chavadzy. I would like to suggest, Madame, that you and your father and the lieutenant take the day for yourselves. You have been unstinting in the use of your time for everyone else."
Romelle nodded. "I accept that offer."
She took both Bart and Brad by the hand. "So many questions are ballooning in my mind that I doubt my new divine powers are needed to fly us down to the valley."

Table of Contents · Continue