Danger at Dahlkari by Jennifer Wilde Read Free Book Online Page B

at that face! I know a killer when I see one. He’s a cold-blooded, merciless heathen. Look at that twisting mouth and that beaklike nose. Look at those eyes ! Hold it, you brigand! Don’t make a move!”
    â€œHe does look—rather savage,” I agreed, “but we mustn’t make snap judgments. He might well be our salvation. He might be able to take us to Dahlkari.”
    â€œDahlkari,” he said in a harsh, gutteral voice.
    â€œSee, he—he understood that word. Dahlkari,” I repeated. “We want to—to go to Dahlkari. Do—do you understand? Dahl-ka-ri. Mc—McAllister.”
    A deep crease formed above the bridge of his nose as he frowned. “McAllister,” he said, nodding slowly. “Eng-lish. So-jour.” He spoke with great effort, obviously finding the words difficult to pronounce.
    â€œHe knows who Reggie is, Sally. He knows he’s an English soldier. I don’t think he’s a Thug. Let me talk to him. I—perhaps I can make him understand what we want.”
    â€œI don’t trust him, Miss Lauren.”
    â€œI—I don’t either, but we—we haven’t much choice.”
    Most of my fear was gone now, and my voice was steady. I pushed a damp brown wave from my brow and stepped a bit closer, standing beside Sally. I saw the large leather canteen hanging from his saddle horn, and the rider noticed me looking at it. He grimaced and reached for the canteen, tossing it toward us. It landed at my feet. Sally’s arms had begun to droop a little, as though the pistol were too heavy for her to hold. She watched me pick up the canteen and unfasten the top.
    â€œYou drink first,” I told her. “Take—just a few little sips. I don’t think you’re supposed to drink too much at first.”
    â€œYou go ahead,” she said, “I’ll keep him covered while you drink. I don’t like the sly look in his eye. He—he looks like some bloodthirsty pirate on horseback, probably has a dagger concealed under that robe. You finished?”
    With one hand Sally held the pistol pointed shakily at the rider, taking the canteen with the other. She drank cautiously, her eyes never leaving the man, then returned the canteen to me. I took one more tiny sip before fastening the top back on. Nothing, I knew, would ever taste better than those few sips of cool, lovely water. Already I could feel the dizzy weakness leaving, some of my strength returning.
    â€œI—I think he’s friendly, Sally. If he planned to murder us, he’d hardly have given us the water. Let me try to make him understand. Just because he has a—a treacherous face doesn’t necessarily mean he is .”
    â€œTalk to him then,” Sally said, “but I’m keeping him covered. If he tries anything I’ll blow him to kingdom come—” Sally was beginning to enjoy herself, the pistol giving her considerable confidence.
    â€œDahl-kari,” I said carefully. “We want to go to Dahlkari, to Lieutenant Colonel McAllister. Do you understand? Dahl-kari, Mc-Al-lis-ter. Look, Sally, he’s nodding. I think he understands. Will you take us to Dahlkari?” I used appropriate gestures, pointing first to him, then to us, then to the east as I said “Dahlkari,” speaking as I might speak to a particularly dense child.
    â€œMc-Allister,” he growled. “English soldier. Dahlkari.”
    â€œLet him try something,” Sally muttered, “just let him try.”
    â€œMcAllister will—will give you much money. Money? Rupees. Many, many rupees. You—take—us—to—Dahlkari. McAllister—pay—many—rupees.”
    He nodded again, a terse, abrupt nod, and I felt certain that he understood. He slung one leg over the saddle and slid to the ground in one quick movement. He was extremely tall, well over six feet, with a powerful build. He resembled no Indian I had ever