False Horizon. Alex Archer

the hall table and sank down to his knees. It was essential he give himself enough time to take in all the ambient sounds of his new environment. If he moved too soon, he would risk being surprised by someone he hadn’t noticed.

      But if he took too long, the woman might return at any moment and spot him.

      Tuk’s heart thundered in his chest.

      His ears perked up. Conversation. It came from a number of voices farther on in the penthouse. Tuk strained all his senses.

      With a quick gulp of air, Tuk moved deeper into the penthouse.

      5

      Tsing ushered Annja and Mike into a grand living room. Annja could make out a large wraparound leather sofa that faced windows looking out over the city of Katmandu. The pervasive scent of incense hung heavy over the entire penthouse and Annja quickly realized that the sickly sweet smell was too cloying for her.

      “Please make yourselves comfortable,” Tsing said. He reclined on the farthest portion of the couch and pulled his feet up under him. “I really don’t want this to be an adversarial relationship. Everyone always makes out so much better when things are nice and civilized, don’t you think?”

      Annja raised her eyebrows. “Since when is tossing someone off a roof nice and civilized?”

      “It’s not,” Tsing said. “And it’s a reminder that as cordial as I’m being right now, that mood can quickly turn. You’d do well to remember that.”

      “Noted,” Annja said. “Now what is this all about? Even if Mike did borrow money from you, he certainly hasn’t reneged on that deal, has he?”

      “No,” Tsing replied. “He has not. And, in fact, I fully expect him to repay me as he promised. But that’s not really the issue.”

      Mike said nothing so Tsing continued. “What this is about is what he used my money to purchase. And I know full well what it was.”

      “What?” Annja asked.

      “A map that shows the way to Shangri-La.”

      Mike frowned. “How did you find out?”

      Tsing smiled. “You might say that I’ve had an almost obsessive interest in locating it for the majority of my life.”

      “Really?” Mike said.

      “And I know what the rumors are and who has what for sale. As I said, my obsession with the place has led me to have quite the network of contacts.”

      Annja shook her head. “If that’s the case, then why didn’t you just buy the map yourself before Mike came to you?”

      Tsing shrugged. “Sometimes people can be particular about who they happen to deal with. And I’m afraid that my reputation tends to precede me. I, of course, made overtures to purchase the map earlier. But the seller refused, saying that he would not do business with me.”

      “I’m surprised he didn’t end up taking a dive off the roof,” Annja said.

      Tsing smiled. “Violence is always a means to an end. But there are often better alternatives. If he would not sell to me, then it was merely a matter of arranging for someone else to buy it. In this case, I made sure that your friend Mike here found out about it.”

      Mike frowned. “You baited me?”

      “As much as my reputation precedes me, so, too, does yours. You are one of the few professors who have not gone along with the more outlandish theories of where Shangri-La truly is. I have known of you for some time now. I’ve bided my time. Waited. And when you learned about the map, I knew you would come here and seek to buy it.”

      “But how did you know I’d come to you?”

      Tsing shrugged. “I know everything about your financial situation. There’s little that cannot be accomplished with a few keystrokes these days. Even here in our rather remote portion of the world, we can still reach out and discover all we need to know. The map was too expensive for you. Yet after you laid eyes on it, I knew you would need financing for it. But you wouldn’t seek help from conventional means. After all, what if it turned out to be a ruse? You would become the laughingstock of your peers. No, you did exactly what I expected you to do. You came to me.”

      “And you gave him the money,” Annja said.

      “Absolutely.”

      “Knowing full well that he would buy the map with it.”

      “Yes.”

      “And then you would have what you needed.”

      Tsing shook his head. “Well, not quite. You see, I am bound by some rather perturbing aspects of my condition. I suffer from a skin ailment that prohibits me from going out into bright light. I dare say that I would make for a poor explorer. As such, the map is not as useful to me as it would be to someone else.”

      Mike sighed. “You used me and now you want me to do your dirty work.”

      “I want you to use the map to find the fabled location and then report back to me here,” Tsing said.

      “What do you hope to gain from that?”

      Tsing smiled. Annja noticed the utter whiteness of his polished teeth, even in the dim light. “I am part optimist and part fool believer. If the legends that surround Shangri-La are to be believed, then the place is a utopia of mystical qualities. I may, in fact, travel there by night and eventually find a cure for my condition.”

      Annja laughed. “I’ve known people who thought that they could find magical places before. And each time they’ve been sorely disappointed.”

      Tsing turned slightly to better face Annja. “And what brings you over here, Annja Creed? Is it just the promise of adventure with an old friend? Or is it something else?”

      “What do you mean?”

      “I mean nothing more than I asked.” Tsing smiled broadly now. “I have long enjoyed watching you on that delightful show. You have so much more…presence than that other rather pitiable woman.”

      “Thanks. I like keeping my clothes on, if that’s what you mean.”

      “But your reputation also precedes you, doesn’t it?”

      “I doubt it.”

      “I know, for example, that you are an inherently dangerous woman.”

      “Says who?”

      “Says any number of witnesses to your rather adept fighting prowess. If rumors are to be believed, and I must admit I’m a bit of a sucker for such tales, then you have quite a formidable manner about you.”

      Annja frowned. What else did Tsing know about her? She wasn’t comfortable with the direction the talk was heading. The last thing she needed was Tsing asking about her sword. Had he heard rumors about that, as well?

      “This is quite a nice place you’ve got,” she said. “How is it you came to afford it?”

      Tsing waved his hand. “A trifling matter not worth much discussion. I simply happened to make a great deal of money and invested in the right places. That’s all.”

      Annja raised an eyebrow. “And the government here? How is it you escape their attention?”

      “As I mentioned before, violence is only one method to achieving a goal. It is useful at times, yes, but overall it’s a deplorable thing to have to resort to. Often, better outcomes can be had if a little bit of leverage is applied.”

      Annja grinned. “And your proximity to Tibet probably doesn’t hurt, either, huh?”

      Tsing’s eyes narrowed. “Are you driving at something?”

      “Just a theory,” Annja said.

      “Care to share it?”

      Annja