The Paler Shade of Autumn by Jacquie Underdown Read Free Book Online

Jet. He is lying on his side, head propped up by his hand, watching her.
    “Hi,” she says, realising how wonderful it is to see him. He is superbly handsome, she could never think otherwise.
    Jet grins. “Hi.”
    Autumn stands, her muscles groaning, yet appreciating the reprieve from the hard, tiled ground. She stretches her arms high above her head, feeling as though she has awoken from a long, glorious sleep. Jet lifts himself from the floor, stands beside her and dusts at his clothes.
    She looks at him. “Can I meet Darshan and the other kids?”
    His eyes widen. “You would want to do that?”
    Autumn nods. “Absolutely. I’d love to meet them all.”
    “Now?” he asks.
    She nods, and he grins. “Let’s go then.”

Chapter 4
    The late afternoon sun is illuminating the sky with burnt orange tones that intensify as day nears night, transforming the dusty landscape, changing its colour, shadows slinking in where shadows did not exist before. The orphanage is only a brief walk from the temple and as Autumn spies the sprawling branches of the fig tree shading the lethargic building, she hears the laughter of children in the distance.
    Jet glances at his watch and smiles. “They’re out the back playing.”
    “I’ll quickly check on David to see how he is first.”
    Autumn walks the length of the veranda to Jet’s bedroom door. She opens it and is hit with the cool air as it struggles to escape from the small enclosure. David is lying on his side, pallid, eyes closed.
    “David,” she whispers.
    He opens his eyes and looks wearily at her. “Hi.”
    “How are you feeling?”
    “A little better. I haven’t needed the toilet for the last few hours. Maybe that’s a good sign.”
    “Yeah, that is a good sign.”
    “I can’t take the train back to Patna,” he says, tears wetting his eyes.
    Her chest aches for him. “Do you want me to see if I can find a place to sleep at one of the local hotels?”
    He nods as eagerly as a sick man can. “Yes. Even one of the monasteries will be fine.”
    Jet, standing behind Autumn pushes his head through the door. “We have a couple of spare rooms here. There’s no air-conditioning, but they’re clean.”
    Autumn nods. “It’s not going to put anyone out if we stay here?”
    “It’ll be fine.” He turns his gaze back to David. “You just camp in my room tonight. I think you need the air-con more than me.”
    A tear rolls down David’s cheek. “Thanks, mate. I really appreciate it,” he says, voice cracking.
    “I’ll come check again on you later. Are you sure there’s nothing you need?” asks Autumn.
    David shakes his head. “Only sleep.”
    Autumn nods and closes the door.
    She frowns at Jet. “He’s really sick. If he doesn’t improve overnight, he won’t be getting on that flight tomorrow afternoon.”
    “Let’s hope his Karma isn’t entirely bad and it’s only a twenty-four hour thing.”
    Autumn stops midstride. She thinks about how David had called her a prick-tease last night at the hotel and wonders if that has contributed to his condition today. She then shakes her head at her own absurdity.
    “How does this Karma thing work exactly?”
    “I only understand the basics of it. I didn’t mean to accuse Dav—”
    “I know.”
    He nods. “It’s actually a belief that goes back to the time of Aristotle.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Cause and effect, in the Buddhist sense, though. Any action you undertake creates a seed that will sprout when the conditions are right, creating a good or bad result.”
    “Do you believe in it?”
    He doesn’t allow even a pause. “Very much so.”
    She nods, wondering what specifically has happened that has made Jet so adamant in his belief of the concept. Autumn looks down at his hand, considers taking it in hers so she can find out all. But because she has the ability to know unspoken things about others, doesn’t mean she has the right to use it at her whim, in whatever way she chooses.
    He smiles as