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“I wish I could have done more,” Overholt said

“Things are as they are,” the Dalai Lama said at the door “For noever, you should assemble your men and meet us at the river”

HIGH above Norbulingka, the sky was dotted with a trillion stars The round with a yellow diffused glow A stillness, a quiet The night birds that nors were silent The dooats, caer and the peacocks that ran loose—barely stirred A light wind froht the scent of pine forests and change

Fro scream of a snow leopard

The Dalai Larounds, then closed his eyes and visualized returning He was dressed in trousers instead of robes, a black wool coat instead of a cloak A rifle on a sling rode on his left shoulder, and an ancient cereka, an eht

“I am ready,” he said to his Chikyah Kenpo, or chief of staff “Have you packed the icon?”

“It is safely crated and guarded Like you, the men will protect it at all costs”

“As they should,” the Dalai Lama said softly

The two ate on the yelloall

The Chikyah Kenpo was holding a large, jeweled, curved sword Sliding it into a leather scabbard on his belt, he turned to his master “Stay close”

Then, followed by a cadre of Kusun Depon, they passed through the outer gate and slipped into the crowd The procession quicklya worn dirt path Pairs of Kusun Depon stepped to the rear and waited to see if anyone followed After seeing no one, they uards, who re the path, the guards made sure the rear was covered To the front, pairs of warriors assessed any danger ahead Finding it clear, they continued their progression A handcart containing the icon followed the procession, pulled by a largelike a rickshaw driver late for an appointment

Everyone was trotting and the sound

The sound of water came with the smell of wet moss It was a tributary of the Kyichu River After the party -stones, they continued

quickly ahead

ALONG the far bank of the Kyichu River, Overholt stared at the radium dial on his watch, then shuffled his feet Several dozen Kusun Depon who had been dispatched hours earlier were tending to the horses and mules that would speed the escape They stared at the blond-haired Anation