Monsoon Mists Read Free Page B

about the goods, and I see no better way of learning than by starting at the beginning, when stones are cut and polished. I never do anything by halves and I’m serious about this. I want to become the best foreign gem merchant in India.’
    The lapidary seemed to read between the lines and Jamie found out later that Akash had heard the unspoken words too. The desperation of a man at the end of his tether, a man needing the distraction of learning. He was wise enough not to mention this at the time.
    From that day on he never questioned Jamie about his reasons again, waiting for the foreigner to be ready to confide his secrets by himself. And he generously taught Jamie everything he knew – splitting, cutting, polishing and valuing – until Jamie was ready to begin to trade. They’d worked together on and off now for a couple of years, their bond growing stronger all the time. Akash wouldn’t just up and leave without some sort of message.
    So where the hell was he?
    Jamie glared at the closed door and gave it an impatient push. It didn’t budge. Muttering a curse, he went round to the back of the house where a high wall encircled a courtyard. From nearby homes enticing cooking smells emanated and voices rose and fell as the occupants went about their daily business, but here there were no sounds. The lapidary workshop was silent and the lathe still. And yet …
    Jamie cocked his head to one side, listening intently. He was sure he’d heard a slight scuffling noise, as if someone was trying to keep another person quiet or confined. Someone could be holding Akash prisoner. He had to check. Backing up a bit, he took a running jump at the wall and managed to heave himself up to the top, straddling it. He slung the other leg over and dropped to the ground, as lithe as a cat, alert and looking for movement. Just inside the open back door of the main building, he thought he saw a shadow shift ever so slightly.
    Right, got you.
    He slipped off his footwear and proceeded barefoot across the courtyard, glancing left and right to make sure he wasn’t ambushed by some assailant. He slid a long dagger out of the sheath at his belt and held it ready. Then he peeked round the door frame into the house and stopped dead. His friend was sitting on the floor, bent forward with his head in his hands.
    ‘Akash?’ He whispered the question, since he didn’t yet know what was happening. It was gloomy inside the house and Jamie wasn’t sure if they were alone, but at the sound of Jamie’s voice, Akash shot upright and blinked.
    ‘Jamie! I thought you were in Burma or Calcutta. By all the gods, am I glad to see you!’
    Since Akash wasn’t bothering to keep his voice down, Jamie surmised there was no danger and put his dagger away. But something still wasn’t right. He looked around the empty room and frowned. ‘I came back sooner than expected. What’s the matter?’
    Akash stood up and came to clasp Jamie in a quick embrace. ‘A lot has happened. I would have sent for you if I could, but I didn’t know how to reach you.’
    ‘Why? Where is your family? Please tell me what’s going on?’ Jamie was appalled to find Akash looking drawn and tired. It was unlike the normally even-tempered man who always worked with a smile on his face.
    ‘They’ve been taken.’ Akash seemed to be struggling for composure and a cold shiver of apprehension slithered down Jamie’s back.
    ‘Taken? What do you mean?’
    Akash swallowed and closed his eyes briefly. ‘I will tell you everything, but you must promise not to breathe a word to a soul.’
    ‘Of course. You know you can trust me.’ Jamie would never do anything to jeopardise his friend.
    ‘Then come, I want to show you something.’ Akash led Jamie outside and into the workshop across the yard, shutting the door behind them.
    While staying with Akash, Jamie had lived like a native and without thinking he sank down to sit cross-legged next to his friend on a floor mat. They spoke in