Chapter One - Richard Lewis

"No!" Reed shouted, resuming his sprint. There was a moment's confusion as the
men turned to him. Then the palace lads sprang on him, two grabbing his hands and the
third putting the tip of a spear to his throat.
"Ah, Tuan Davis," Dharma said. "Don't worry. We will let you go unharmed so
you can tell your bosses that we have found Luhde Srikandi."
Naniek watching him silently, uncaring of her nudity.
Reed struggled against the hands that held him.
"She is not Luhde Srikandi," he said. "None of these women are."
"You have heard her confess," Dharma said.
"Yes," Naniek said. "I am Luhde Srikandi. Let the others go."
Summoning all his strength, Reed almost broke free, but the youth with the spear
jabbed his throat, the tip forcing his head back.
Dharma shoved Naniek to her knees. Grabbing her hair, he yanked back her head
and put his keris to her throat. He didn't look at her, but at Reed, light playing across his
handsome face but not touching his black, black eyes.
Reed held his stare. "I know who Ludhe Srikandi is," he said. "I will make your
house fall down around your head."
Dharma held still for a second and then chuckled. He lifted his keris away from
Naniek's throat. "Let Tuan Davis go," he told the boys. They released him and stepped
away.
Dharma said, "If you do not want your lover to be Luhde Srikandi, then who
should it be? You tell me, Tuan Davis. You point one out. We will let her be Luhde
Srikandi. "Pick one, Tuan Davis." Dharma pointed his keris at the row of kneeling
women. "If you want your lover back, pick one of these to be Luhde Srikandi in her
stead."
Desak moaned and cupped her swollen belly. Several of the others lifted their
heads to look at him with fractured, pleading eyes. He knew them, Gerwani women. He'd
taken their photographs and put their names on his list.
Reed wanted a wind to howl and blow out the flames. He didn't want to see their
eyes. He wanted the world to stop spinning and let him out of this madness.
Naniek straightened her back. "Don't, Reed." Two words, one his name, calm and
measured.
Dharma shoved her back down with his foot, exposing her neck. Reed tightened,
ready to spring at him, but the unwavering point of Dharma's keris stopped him. Dharma
crooked a finger, and one of his men came over. He held a machete, and lifted the blade
over Naniek's neck.
"Pick one, Tuan Davis, or your lover will die."
Reed's bones trembled. He knew that this fine Balinese, this salt-of-the-earth
farmer, was not playing games.
"Reed, no," Naniek said. Her voice was strong and clear. "It is all right. I am
ready. I am not afraid."
Forgive me Naniek but that I can't do and these women are doomed anyways they
will all be killed the bloodlust is ready to burst and all I can do is save you
He closed his eyes. The ground under his feet wobbled. His arm was so heavy, so
heavy, but he lifted its impossible weight. He pointed a trembling finger.
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