The Secret of Ka (27 page)

Amesh shrugged. "They testified against me at the trial. They lied so the others could go free."

"I know. I read the transcript from the trial."

"You did?" Amesh asked, surprised.

"Your grandfather shared it with me. It was filled with lies. But if you think about it, Amesh, my father was the only one who showed any guilt. It's because he's the only one with a conscience. The only one who cared about what you were going through."

"Sara, you don't understand. I am guilty," my father said.

"Not the way the djinn says you are," I replied. "You have to listen closely and trust that I know more about this situation than you do. If not, Amesh's djinn will take your head with that sword, and Amesh will end up a thrall for all of eternity."

Amesh snorted. "Talk, talk, talk. That's our darling Sara. Do you have anything else to say before Dear Dad does lose his head?"

"Why is Spielo here? Is he here to be a thrall in your place?"

My remark caught Amesh off-guard, but his surprise quickly changed to anger. "I'm not a traitor like you. Spielo's here to witness the revenge that's his due. That's all."

He spoke with conviction. I realized then he might have been telling Spielo the truth, or at least as much truth as a possessed person could. I saw the loneliness Amesh's pain had brought him. Still, it was hard to trust a guy with a sword in his hands.

"I hope so. I hope you're not about to put him through the same pain you're going through."

"No one knows what I'm going through!" he shouted, and his damn hand wouldn't stop flapping. He was right, in a way. I had to shut up and deliver. Fixing his hand wouldn't save him in the long run, but at least he would know a moment of peace.

Also, even more pressing, if I healed Amesh's hand, my father would probably get to keep his head. It was possible Amesh might try to return the favor and stop Darbar from harming my father. But I doubted anything would keep the djinn from collecting his ultimate prize.

I just wished I could order Lova to kill Darbar and end it. But if she killed him, it would be equal to two wishes. Then I would end up the thrall!

I stepped forward and took Amesh's wounded hand.

He tried to shake free but I wouldn't let him.

"I can stop your pain," I said. "I've brought my own djinn with me. Darbar knows she's here and he knows she's more powerful than he is. That's why Darbar's afraid to kill my dad. He knows I'll take revenge." I paused. "I told you, I'm willing to bargain."

Amesh finally showed interest. "What are you offering?"

"My djinn will heal your hand. Make it like it was before you were attacked. When it was strong and you were whole."

Amesh stared at me a long time, the moon bright in his black eyes. He was not aware but the sword in his hand began to lower.

"Will that be your first wish?" he asked.

I shook my head. "My second."

"It will cost you."

"I don't care."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because you're in pain."

"Why?" he repeated.

"Because you're right, there's no love without sacrifice." I paused. "I'm going to prove to you that I do love you."

His voice trembled. "You don't know what the price will be."

I turned to Lova. "What will it cost?"

She spoke quickly. "The Carpet of Ka. I fix his hand, you give it to me. Agreed?"

I turned back to Amesh and my father and repeated what they had been unable to hear. "She'll fix your hand in exchange for the carpet," I said.

"But you love that carpet," Amesh said.

"Not as much as a certain Turkish boy."

My father was worried. "Sara, I know you're trying to do the right thing. But I've researched flying carpets, and if this is in fact the Carpet of Ka, then you mustn't hand it over to the djinn."

"Why not?" I asked.

"They could use it to destroy mankind."

Lova came forward so she stood by my side. "We would only use it to defeat the Anulakai," she said.

I knew what a skilled liar Lova was, but I sensed that she was telling the truth. The djinn wouldn't waste its power turning against mankind.

"I'm sorry, I can't let Amesh suffer any more," I told my father. "I have to surrender the carpet."

"Sara, no. It's too important," my father pleaded.

"I'm sorry, my mind's made up." I sat down across from Lova, who seemed more than pleased to sit near me. For a while I meditated, letting my mind settle. Then, when I was ready, I started my wish.

"Trakur Analova La," I said firmly. "It is the wish of your master, Sara, that you fix Amesh's right hand in exchange for the Carpet of Ka. You are to use all the powers you possess to make his right hand whole, free of pain, strong, like it was before it was severed from his body. In exchange, Trakur Analova La, I'll turn over the Carpet of Ka to you. This is my second wish with you, Trakur Analova La, and it is binding in so far as all wishes between humans and djinn are binding—as specified in the ancient laws governing such contracts." I opened my eyes. "Agreed?"

Lova hesitated. "You put extra conditions on this wish."

"Only the conditions that have existed since humans and djinn began to exchange services. You know the laws as well as I do." I paused. "Do you agree to fulfill my second wish?"

"Yes. Give me the carpet."

"Fulfill my wish and I'll give you the carpet," I said.

Lova did not argue. Standing, she walked toward Amesh, but he raised the sword and stepped back. Naturally, he couldn't see her. I wasn't sure what his problem was. Then I realized that Darbar was doing everything he could to interfere.

"Relax, Amesh, listen to me," I said. "Stand still; let her heal you."

Amesh seemed to hear me. He relaxed somewhat and put down his sword.

Lova was near Amesh when she suddenly raised her hand and struck out to the right. I saw blue sparks and smoke in the air. "Darbar is trying to hinder me," she said calmly.

"Can he stop you?" I asked.

"He lacks the power. And he is spread thin."

I could only assume her last remark related to Darbar's control over the others inside the cave. Lova acted unconcerned about the interference. But she raised a hand and shot out more sparks.

I heard a faint telepathic message pass between the two djinn.

"
This is the Carpet o
f
Ka. We must obtain it at all costs.
"

It was Lova lecturing Darbar. He heard her and backed off.

The message was chilling. The djinn must want it a great deal.

Was my father right? Was I making a mistake?

I glanced over at my father and he was focused on Amesh. I could see that Lova had lifted his transplanted hand into her hands. Now she was gently stroking it, all the while humming a hypnotic melody, a song that needed no words. Even though Amesh could not consciously hear it, I suspected that her song and her touch were having a profound effect upon him.

Lova signaled for me to approach.

I stood and walked over. "What do you want?" I asked.

"Sara?" Amesh whispered, confused, his eyes closed.

"Shhh, relax, everything's okay. I'm talking to the djinn," I said.

"Your hand," Lova said.

"My hand?" I asked.

"Your touch transmits your energy, and Kalas are powerful. It will help with the healing."

Lova was flattering me. It made me wary.

"You're changing the deal," I said. "You're supposed to heal him on your own."

"It requires tremendous energy to offset the wish of another djinn."

At least she wasn't asking for blood. I offered my hand, and Lova gripped it tightly. I immediately felt slightly dizzy.

I spoke to Amesh. "You didn't hear what was said, but I'm giving my djinn some energy to help fix your hand."

"The pain's going away," Amesh whispered, his eyes still closed. I stroked his hair with my other hand. He had laid down the sword.

"That's good, that's all that matters," I said.

"Sara," he gasped.

"Shhh. Don't say anything. Let the healing continue."

"I'm so grateful."

"You never deserved this pain in the first place," I said.

The healing took another ten minutes, with me giving energy the whole time and Lova sucking it up. My dizziness increased, and I staggered. My father stood silent and did not interfere.

Lova suddenly stopped humming and I opened my eyes, which I did not recall closing. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Amesh's right hand had lost its sickly yellow color. Indeed, it was impossible to tell his right hand from his left.

Amesh flexed his fingers, causing my heart to shake with joy. Relief filled his face and he leaned over and kissed me on the lips. Yes, right on the lips, and if a first kiss like that was not worth one magic carpet, then it was pretty close. It was the greatest kiss of my life.

"It's perfect," he kept saying. "Just perfect. There's no pain." He hugged me, with both hands. He was able to hug me hard. And I hugged him back. "I cannot believe you did this for me."

"I only wish I could do more," I said, feeling weak.

Our eyes met and he nodded. Because he knew what I meant. We were not out of the woods yet.

Lova had her hands out. "The carpet," she said.

I reached for it in my pack. "You have promised never to use it to hurt mankind."

"So I have," Lova said, taking the carpet and tucking it under her arm. To the others it appeared to float in midair without support. Lova turned to her invisible partner, then spoke to me. "Darbar says he has business to complete inside."

"My father's no longer a part of this business," I said, then to Amesh, "Tell Darbar to release him."

Amesh turned and tried to do as I said but met with resistance. Once again, I couldn't hear everything Darbar said but it sounded like he was trying to imply that my father was the ultimate authority when it came to the attack.

"How does he know that?" I demanded.

Amesh relayed the question. Darbar replied that if my father was not killed, then the third wish would be left unfulfilled. Amesh took a step back at that suggestion.

"Then we'll leave it unfulfilled," he said.

Darbar screamed at him. I did not hear words—I heard a screech in the ether. Darbar was not going to let Amesh get away on a technicality. Shaken, Amesh looked to me for help. The pain had left his eyes but his fear had not. He put his head near mine.

"Do you have a plan?" he whispered.

"Sort of."

Darbar ordered Amesh to pick up the sword and the shiny black djinn lamp, which I had not seen since the island. With Darbar leading the way, keeping a firm hold on my father, and Lova bringing up the rear, we entered the cave.

I whispered to Amesh. "Where did you get that sword?"

"In the Shar Temple." He paused. "But that's not what you really want to know."

He was right, of course. There was another question that had haunted me for a long time.

"When you made the second wish on the island," I said. "And Darbar gave you your hand. What did he ask for in return?"

Amesh looked miserable. "Your full name."

"I was afraid you were going to say that."

W
E WALKED DOWNHILL
at a steep angle for fifteen minutes before we reached the cavern that housed the Shar Temple. It was different from the ones we'd seen on the island. It had marble columns supporting a pretty golden roof. And it was much larger and not enclosed.

The size of the cavern that sheltered the temple was stunning. Modern lights had been brought down to provide a steady source of illumination, but even a dozen high-powered searchlights were not enough to brighten the chamber. I was looking at an excavation job—if Becktar had in fact done the work—that had taken years to accomplish.

Inside the temple I saw a large pool of water that circled an altar. The rear of the pool appeared separate from the rest and it was not a mere hot spring—that sucker was boiling, pouring off layers of steam. The backside of the temple was choked with red-colored fog.

Yet there was an even more intriguing sight.

Along the edge of the cavern were other structures that looked like vaults of some kind. They appeared to be made of a mixture of metal and plastic. It was hard to be sure in the weird light. They were dark blue and had doors that riffled open and shut like those on an elevator. A few of the doors were open and led to dark hallways.

I did not see any lit buttons or control panels per se. However, there were clusters of crystals near the doors. I suspected these were the controls. Frankly, the vaults and the temple looked as if they had been built by two different races.

The exterior of the temple was ringed with torture holes, from which I could hear unceasing groaning sounds.

I turned to Amesh. He was still carrying the lamp, but had put down the sword. "Tell Darbar to stop torturing those guys," I said. "And to lay off my dad. He's not going anywhere."

Showing shame, Amesh turned to his invisible djinn and ordered it to remove the captors from the holes. He assured Darbar he had control of the situation. It was nice to see the dramatic change in Amesh. Now that he was pain free, he was almost normal again.

Yet I was getting my hopes up too soon. He was desperate, having made his three wishes, and desperate people did desperate things.

"Darbar says they're to suffer as I have suffered," Amesh told me after conferring with his djinn. I chose not to argue, but turned to Lova instead. I wanted to see how she stacked up against Darbar.

"Lova, release all the prisoners from those holes," I said.

"Is that your third wish?"

"No."

"That's asking too much without making a wish."

"Lova, if you don't do what I say right now, we'll part company and you'll never see me again."

Lova was not ready to let me go. I had only one more wish to make and she had me. In minutes, she managed to lift the four boys—as well as Mr. Toval and Mrs. Steward—out of their pits. My dad went over to help his partners to their feet, while the guys collapsed on the floor. They had been in the longest and their legs were shot. Yet the good thing about this kind of torture—good in a relative sense—was that their relief was immediate. A minute after they lay down, their cramps began to ease up.