Desperation and Decision Read Online Free

and stationed himself near the
fireplace. He was dressed in a dark, quiet costume that looked like
shimmering black silk pajamas. His feet were bare. More silk was
bound in a sort of turban around his head, framing sleek dark skin,
glittering dark eyes and high cheekbones.
    A slightly fairer-skinned boy in a bright
orange nightshirt affair that exposed his spindly legs darted out
of what was clearly the nursery suite but was scooped up and
shepherded away by an exotic little lady in dark green brocaded
robes who bowed her way out, chattering music at the child in her
native tongue and smiling timidly at the roomful of people. She
even noticed Twist and I and dipped her head, but no one else took
note of our presence, their attention captivated by the small,
dark-clad man.
    "This is – uh – this is Mowgli, whom we met
during that concert series in India," Mr. Campbell explained.
    Doctor Mac rose and approached the small
stranger, who looked up without any expression into the American
giant's narrowed blue eyes.
    "He might be a bit shy around strangers,"
Mrs. Moore-Campbell warned.
    The small man rose on his toes before Doctor
Mac. From the folds of his tunic he produced a globe-headed,
rosewood walking stick with a flip of his muscular wrist. Grasping
it in both hands he gave it a twist, exposed an inch or two of
thin, sharp blade, then slipped it back into place.
    "I had a toy like this once." Mowgli
presented the sword-cane to Doctor Mac. "It was the king's ankus,
an elephant goad made of gold and ivory and encrusted with jewels.
Six men killed each other for it in one day after I pulled it out
of a treasure pit in an old city. I threw it back into the pit, but
still men kill for things they cannot eat."
    "Thank you for returning it," Doctor Mac
said. "It really isn't very valuable and I absolutely was not out
to kill anyone. That's just a reminder of a verse I learned as a
boy, 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature ...'And it's also helpful for when I forget another verse,
the one that says I should turn the other cheek." He grinned at the
broad, dazzling white smile that broke the small stranger's
inscrutable expression. "The pickpocket that cut my glove open was
after my grandfather's watch, and he got it, too."
    "Both verses are very good things to be
reminded of," nodded the small man. "Were it not for such
Scriptures as that first, I would still be prowling the jungles of
India thinking myself half a wolf and liking to hear a fat German
tell me I am a forest god." Mowgli took a handsome silver pocket
watch from his clothing and held it out to Doctor Mac. His wife
gasped.
    "These scars are very interesting." Doctor
Mac took the stranger's hand. "They appear to be bites from some
large animal."
    "We played rough, my brothers and I. You
should try harder to remember that second verse, or put a little
oil on the slide of your sword sheath next time." A pleasant chime
sounded from below the garden somewhere.
    "Mac, you had better come and see the
constable," Mr. Campbell reminded him. "I'll come with you, if you
like. And by the way, we want the lad released into our custody if
at all possible."
    Mr. Campbell summoned the mob-capped, sleepy
nursemaids attending to the children. They were herded away to bed
with protests of "Not being the least bit sleepy," and wanting to
"play some more with the great black kitty and the dear Indian
boy."
    "What is this all about, chief?" I heard
Doctor Mac say as he stepped into the cupola with Mr. Campbell.
"That was our half-naked rescuer, as plain as day. Isn't he
attending the interview with the officer?"
    "Don't be an idiot, Mac," Mr. Campbell's
voice faded as the lift descended out of sight.



Chapter Three
    "Lady Phoebe, lookee what the rain blew in!"
Oliver Twist pulled me to my feet and dragged me forward. Mrs.
Moore-Campbell whirled and quickly extended a hand to me.
    "Your highness! Oh, no. Again I must beg your
forgiveness!" she cried. "We were so