The Golden Apple of Shangri-La Read Online Free Page A

snow drifted at the far reaches of the valley.
    â€œWinter is coming to Shangri-La,” said Halifax soberly. “Even its removal from the temple is already having effects.”
    â€œBut why would he do this?” Rowena said. “He is a collector, first and foremost, an archaeologist. Even Von Karloff has boundaries.”
    â€œCui bono,” said Jamyang quietly.
    Reed scratched his chin. “Latin. You are most learned, friend Jamyang.”
    Rowena glared at him. “And it means…?”
    â€œ To whose benefit ? The Golden Apple is a great prize, but you are right, Rowena. Even men like Von Karloff know when they are going too far. Perhaps he is not acting merely on his own volition.”
    She began to reload her pistol. “We must get the apple back, before he leaves the valley. Then we can work out who is pulling his strings, if anyone.”
    *   *   *
    Rowena kept the Skylady stocked with several pistols and a rifle, and she took the bigger weapon and outfitted Halifax—though he protested that he was merely an academic—and Kella and two of her Shangri-La women with the remaining handguns.
    â€œI’m surprised he hasn’t made a move yet,” said Reed as they crouched behind a small hillock, a mere fifty yards from the copse. “We took down four of the crew; I saw Von Karloff flee with two more. What of his team of sherpas, I wonder?”
    â€œThey would not have ventured into the valley,” said Jamyang. “They will be waiting at the mountain pass to the north-west of the valley.”
    The sky above them was darkening as thick clouds gathered, and Rowena felt the cold more keenly now. Reed risked raising his head above the hillock and called, “Von Karloff! You know who I am! Surrender!”
    â€œI wish to parlay,” came the answer in English but with clipped, Germanic tones. “I have three men injured. We cannot make it back across the mountains.”
    â€œIt’s a trick,” whispered Rowena. “He surely doesn’t care about his men.”
    Reed narrowed his eyes. “How many can we take in the Skylady , Rowena?”
    She did a quick headcount. “Seven at a push. If we return the Apple the air here should be warm enough to get us over the mountains, but only just. There are too many of us if Von Karloff has three men.”
    â€œWe can’t take you, Pieter,” called Reed. “There’s one too many.”
    There was a pause, then a sudden shot rang out, startling them all into dropping down behind the hillock. Von Karloff called out, “My mistake. I miscounted. I have two injured men.”
    â€œBastard,” said Rowena.
    â€œBring back the apple and we’ll talk,” shouted Reed.
    â€œI cannot,” said Von Karloff from the trees. “I have been entrusted with the task of taking home the prize. Failure is not an option.”
    â€œIs it worth your life?” called Reed.
    There was a further pause. “You tell me.”
    Reed looked quizzically at Rowena, and Jamyang murmured, “Cui bono.”
    â€œTo whose benefit?” said Rowena. “Ask him who he’s working for.”
    "Whatever your paymaster is offering for this piece, it isn’t enough," shouted Reed. "Who is it, anyway, Pieter? The Brass Caliph? Esther LeGris? The Duke of Wessex?"
    There was harsh laughter from the trees, already losing their leaves in the cold wind. "Do you really want to know? It’s Walsingham."
    Reed stood, shrugging off Rowena’s hand on his arm, brandishing his rifle at the copse. "You lie! Come out here, Von Karloff, or we’ll come in there and Shangri-La shall be your mausoleum." Then Rowena gasped as he began to fire a volley of bullets into the trees.
    When Reed’s cartridges were spent he slumped to his knees, as Von Karloff cautiously emerged from the thicket, his arms aloft and a glinting orb gripped in one hand. Behind him limped