“It’s been called to my attention.”
She watched as Luke disappeared into the hut. What had happened just now? She was bewildered and frightened, and yet, there was the tiniest seed of hope.
“I only wanted to do what was best for him. I wanted him to have a normal life after what he’d gone through,” she whispered. “But was I doing it for him or for myself? Have I been such a coward that I came close to losing him, Hu Chang?”
“You will have to answer that for yourself,” he said quietly. “I can only say what I’ve told you before. He was born of a remarkable mother, and his hard life honed and sharpened him until he, too, is remarkable. You have to accept that remarkable people have to be allowed their space.”
“And all the rules and guidelines are thrown out the window? I tried so hard to let him know I didn’t want to smother him.”
“He knows that. He’s worked it all out for himself. He’s even put you both in a position where you’ll have to work the rest out together.” He smiled faintly. “You should be proud of him.”
“Proud? I’m terrified.”
“And proud.”
“Yes, I think so.” She was remembering Luke’s expression, his intensity, the sincerity. It had shocked her, but there had also been another sheer primitive emotion that could have been deep maternal pride. “I don’t know. The last thing I needed was to have to start reworking a relationship under these circumstances.” She whirled on him. “And you could have helped. You could have tried to persuade him to stay in Hong Kong.”
“I could have,” he acceded. “But he is your son. Would you have listened and obeyed?”
No, and neither would the boy she had faced tonight.
Hu Chang said softly, “He has been thinking, and waiting, and this was his time.”
“What about Cameron? He got you up here, didn’t he? Why did he permit it?”
“You will have to ask him.”
“But he did know you were bringing Luke?”
“I’m sure you’ve found that it’s difficult to keep anything from Cameron.”
“Why would he—”
“You’re having trouble blaming me, so now you attack Cameron?”
“Why not? He has broad shoulders. I’m sure he can take it.”
“Hu Chang!” It was Luke calling from the doorway.
“Ah, yes, the boy is still concerned about your bare feet.” He waved. “We’re coming. Catherine decided it wasn’t worth her time to chastise me. We’ll be right in.” He reached into the jeep and turned off the headlights. Darkness except for moonlight and the faintest light streaming from the tiny window of the hut. “You’d best hurry. Luke will be upset with me if you’ve developed frostbite. He had a lesson from Cameron earlier on resistance to the elements, but I don’t believe he relates it to you.”
“Cameron, again.” She moved quickly toward the hut. Her feet felt ice-cold now that she had become aware of them. “I don’t want Luke’s learning anything from Cameron.”
“You’ll have a hard time keeping Luke away from him. The fascination has started to take hold.” He shook his head ruefully. “Once that happens, it’s all over.”
“You’re speaking from experience?”
“Yes.”
“It would take a lot to fascinate you.” She stopped at the door. “I have to know about Cameron, Hu Chang.”
“You know more about him than a good many do right now.”
“Bullshit. Not enough. He can do anything with Erin, and he might be as dangerous as Kadmus to her for all I know. I have to know everything if I’m going to protect her.”
He stared at her thoughtfully. “Are you sure that’s all?”
“What do you mean?”
He tilted his head. “It’s no more than I expected. He’s curious about you. He’d naturally make an effort to draw you closer. Fascination…”
She stiffened. “No way. I just have to know. Will you tell me?”
“I’ll consider it. Although there could be some element of threat connected to it.”
“You mean that old chestnut about ‘if I told you, I’d have to kill you’? Cameron’s already used that on me.”
“Really? He threatened you?”
“No, he said he’d try very hard not to kill me.” She smiled recklessly. “So you see, you have nothing to worry about.”
“I’m beginning to see many things.” He opened the door for her. “And one of the things is that you may need more knowledge than I thought necessary to get you through the next weeks.”
“Then talk to me, tell me about Cameron.”
“I’ll consider it,” he repeated. “Now go over to the stove and warm yourself while I go talk to Luke. He was rude to me just now, and that’s not to be tolerated. I must make it clear to him that emotions must be controlled.”
Catherine watched him move across the room to where Luke sat by himself on a pallet before she turned to the corner where Erin was settled. She, too, was lying on a pallet and still covered by the black blanket. But her underclothing had been stripped off and lay in a neat pile beside her.
Cameron was gently drying her hair and looked up at Catherine. “You took long enough. How are your toes? It doesn’t take long to get frostbite up here.”
“Cold. A little numb. But I’m beginning to feel them again.” She made a face. “Everyone seems to be worried about my feet, even my son.” She came closer and looked down at Erin. Her eyes were closed, but they opened, and she smiled.
“Hi, how are you doing, Catherine?”
She smiled back at her. “Better than a couple hours ago.”
“Me, too.”
“Hu Chang will be over here to take a look at you in just a minute. He’s a wonderful physician, and he’ll fix you up. He had to go over there and give a stern reprimand to my son for not being respectful to him.” She chuckled. “With all hell going on around us and Kadmus licking at our heels, he still felt bound to teach Luke.”
“He’s right,” Cameron said. “Discipline is important. You can’t let it lapse just because the battle hasn’t started.”
“That’s your son?” Erin was looking across the room at Luke. “He’s beautiful, Catherine.”
“Yes, he is.”
Erin’s face was troubled. “But he shouldn’t be here. I told you what happened to Jafar.”
“And it scared me to death.” She looked at Cameron. “But the death of children doesn’t seem to bother Hu Chang or Cameron. They’re the ones who decided that he should be here.”
“Cameron?” Erin was looking at him. “Is this the way it has to be?”
“The boy will be safe, Erin,” he said quietly. “I promise you.”
She gazed at him a moment, still frowning. Then she nodded. “Then I know it will be okay. But it still worries me.”
Cameron gazed quizzically at Catherine. “And you?”
Did he expect her to give him the same trusting reply just because he’d made a promise? Yet, for some strange reason, that promise had given Catherine a sense of security and relief that had no basis on reality. “I don’t know it will be okay. But Luke and I will get through it together.” She fell to her knees and took Erin’s hand. “And we’ll take you with us, Erin.”
Cameron chuckled. “You notice she’s leaving me and Hu Chang behind in the dust. She’s not any more pleased with us than you are.” He looked beyond Catherine’s shoulder. “It seems that Hu Chang is finished with your son and is coming to tend Erin. She won’t need you. Why don’t you get out of those clothes and warm up?”
She didn’t move. “When will you have word about Kadmus?”
“Soon. I’ll let you know.”
“We should take turns standing guard.”
“We’ll discuss it later,” he said firmly. “I had the pilot who flew Hu Chang in bring you and Erin clothing. It’s on the chest over there. You can’t fight for Luke or Erin or anyone else bundled up in that blanket.”
She hesitated and got to her feet. “You’re right.” She turned toward the chest. “But it’s a very good blanket, Cameron. Fantastic. I’m still curious about your friend who gave it to you.”
“Among a thousand other questions,” Hu Chang said as he stopped next to her. He gazed down at Erin. “So you’re the woman who has been causing so much trouble. Now it seems I have to put you back together.”