"And I'll tell you more," I cut in, shouting to the crowd. "I shall go into the mountains this night. I shall do what the patriarch Leeunghi did and I shall return. I will prove to you there is no yeti and that Ghotak does not speak for the spirit of Karkotek. Karkotek does not want you to open your land to the newcomers. When I return you shall know the truth."
Ghotak shot me a frown. I'd taken him offstride again. This time it was he who had to go along.
"The temple bells will summon you tomorrow," he said to the crowd. "Once more Ghotak's word has been challenged and once more the spirit of Karkotek must answer. The snows in the mountains will run red again, mark my words."
I walked away and the crowd began to slowly disperse. Khaleen handed Wilhelmina and Hugo back to me, and Hilary Cobb stood by watching Khaleen press herself against my side. I caught her quick glance.
"That was bloody well done," she said. "Why are you pressing your luck?"
"Meaning exactly what?" I asked.
"Meaning why go into the mountains tonight?" she asked. "Despite what I just saw, you're not invincible. Nobody is."
"She is right, Nick," Khaleen said. "I am afraid for you. Do not go."
"I must," I replied. "First of all, he took up the challenge and I can't back down now. But more important, it may force him into a direct, open move. I've got to come to grips with him. We're running out of time. I've got to get to him before he gets to me."
"The yeti will kill you as he killed my father," she said tonelessly. I exchanged glances with Hilary over Khaleen's head.
"Forget the yeti, Khaleen," I said. "He won't lay a hand on me. Or should I say paw?" I grinned down at her and she turned aside, — serious and unsmiling.
"Yeti or no yeti," Hilary cut in, "you're setting yourself up as a sitting duck. I don't like it at all."
There was real deep concern clouding her blue eyes and I grinned at her. "Careful, Hilary," I laughed. "You're sounding positively sentimental."
"Do you have to joke about everything?" she snapped at me, her eyes mirroring a sudden hurt.
"It helps," I said, and I held her eyes with mine. "But thanks, anyway," I added, softly. "I appreciate your concern. It shows that beneath the never-say-die journalist there might be a girl."
"Go to hell," she snapped and walked away. I laughed and went on with Khaleen.
Chapter VI
Khaleen had lain her small, warm form beside me on the bed as I rested. It was late afternoon when I finally awoke, and I felt rested and refreshed. I was also filled with the edgy anticipation that always swept over me when I felt I was getting into direct action against the main problem, in this case Ghotak. I had thrown him another direct challenge, and I knew he had to answer it. His luck had been phenomenal but I knew he couldn't count on another bear or snow leopard doing me in. He would have to bring some insurance himself, and I'd be ready and waiting for him. Khaleen helped me get my gear together and she clung to me at every opportunity. She had only the silken robe on, and I could feel the softness of her beneath the gown.
"Come back to me, Nick," she breathed as I started to leave, her slender arms around my neck. I looked deep into her eyes and saw again the things I dared not see. Her eyes were the eyes of a woman in love, and that was bad. Not for me but for her. I hoped, silently, that it was really emotional upset, fear, and gratitude, and would disappear once all this was over. I looked back at her small form in the doorway as I headed out. I saw a terrible resignation in her eyes and I knew she didn't believe I would return.
I waved and trudged on, supremely confident I'd not only return but hoping I'd have the pelt of whatever the hell strange creature had slain her father. I had the Marlin 336 slung over my shoulder. It could blast a hole in an elephant and could certainly handle leopard or bear. The blue-gray light of dusk was already beginning to gather as I reached the narrow pass that led up into the mountains. I had decided to follow the same trail the old man had taken and camp pretty close to the same spot I was not halfway there when darkness started to close in, and the wind began to howl in its eerie, bone-chilling wail. The mountains, with their fangs of ice and jaws of yawning crevasses, were as real an enemy as any other. One misstep and Ghotak would have his victory without lifting a finger. On my back was a pack made up mostly of heavy blankets, some food and water, and a small first-aid kit. I was only figuring on a one-night stand, so there was no reason for extra equipment.
I moved slowly, cautiously. The night had turned colder, and the sky was overcast and starless. I felt snow in the air. Fingers aching from cold that penetrated even the warmest gloves, my face tight and reddened, I laboriously pulled my way upwards, grateful for every few feet of rocky ledge. I'd reached the ledge where the old man had camped and decided to move higher, where I could dimly discern a wider ledge. I reached it, finally, and was glad I had. It was somewhat protected from the worst of the wind and was part of a series of small, mountain plateaus. Moreover, there were enough scrub trees to gather ample wood for my fire. I set up camp, putting the pack down against the rock wall that towered up at my back, and started a small but warming fire. In its light, I could see that the area was riddled with tall, vertical crevices, deep ribs in the rock, and towering above me, jutting out over my head, was a huge overhang of snow-covered rock. The small ledge of the plateau led upwards, curving out of sight, and I didn't bother to investigate how far it wound its way up. I wasn't going any farther than this. With the Marlin at my side, the fire in front of me, I leaned back against the rock wall and listened to the chilling wail of the wild wind as it whistled through the mountains. The hours dragged by, and I undid my small packet of food. I'd brought a tin cup and some packets of instant coffee. With water made from melted snow, it wasn't half bad. At least, up there with the icy winds mounting in fury, it tasted downright marvelous. I was just putting away die other packets I'd brought when I heard a noise, the sound of someone or something approaching along the ledge.
I grabbed the Marlin and pushed away from the fire, crouching just outside the circle of light. The visitor was coming closer and then I saw the form, a dark bulk in the night, moving carefully toward the fire.
"Hello, Yank," the figure said. "Are you there? I can't see you."
I almost dropped the Marlin and I shook my head and looked again. I wasn't seeing things. The figure was there, now beside the fire, looking about I got up and walked toward the fire.
"What in hell are you doing up here?" I demanded angrily. "Are you out of your damned head?"
"Don't get excited, old boy," she answered, flashing a somewhat frozen smile. "I'm not staying here."
"You're damn right you're not," I exploded. "You're getting the hell back to the village."
"Oh, no," she said. "I'm camped just around the bend and down a ways. You can't see my fire from here but I can see the glow from yours. I decided that if you've come up here it must be important, and therefore it's important to me. Or, I should say, to my story. Besides, I've as much right as you do to go mucking around in these mountains."
"You and your damned story," I said. "You could have gotten yourself killed just getting up here."
"Nonsense," she retorted. "I'll wager I've done more skiing and mountain hiking than you have. But I just stopped up to see if you've any tea. I forgot to pack some when I left, and I'm a bit thirsty."
I put the Marlin down, looked at her, and shook my head in resignation.
"Go on back, Hilary," I said. "I can't be worrying about you and looking out for you. If there's trouble I'll have my hands full just staying alive myself."