He pulled himself upward on an elbow and turned toward the figure, which seemed to flicker in the undulating shadows. Then he recognized the profile of Vasant Rao. The verses stopped abruptly and the Rajput turned to examine him.
"So you're not dead? That could be a mistake you'll regret." Vasant Rao's face sagged and his once-haughty moustache was an unkempt tangle. He stared at Hawksworth a moment more, then turned back to the lamp. The Sanskrit verses resumed.
"Where the hell are we?"
Vasant Rao paused, and then slowly revolved toward Hawksworth.
"In the fortress village of Bhandu, ten kos northwest of the
town of Chopda. It's the mountain stronghold of the Chandella dynasty of Rajputs."
"And who the hell are they?"
"They claim direct descent from the ancient solar race of Rajputs described in the Puranas. Who knows, but that's what they believe. What we all do know is they've defended these hills for all of time."
"Did they take the caravan?"
A bolt of humiliation and pain swept through Vasant Rao's eyes for a moment and then his reserve returned. "Yes, it was taken."