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This did the trick. Remi said, “What are the odds Kathmandu has an REI outlet?”
As expected, the odds were nil, but they did find a Nepalese Army surplus shop a few blocks west of Durbar Square. The equipment they purchased was far from modern but of decent quality. While neither of them was remotely convinced an exploration of the Chobar Caves would further their cause, it felt good to be taking action. This had become one of their mottos: when it doubt, do something. Anything.
Shortly before seven they pulled back into the Hyatt’s parking lot. As Sam climbed out he spotted Russell and Marjorie standing beneath the turnaround awning.
Sam muttered, “Bandits at three o’clock.”
“Oh, yuk.”
“Don’t open the tailgate. They’ll want to go with us.”
Russell and Marjorie jogged over to them. “Hey,” Russell said, “we were getting worried about you. We came by to see how you were doing, and the concierge said you’d rented a car and left.”
Marjorie asked, “Everything okay?”
“We were mugged twice,” Remi replied, deadpan.
“And I think I was tricked into marrying a goat,” Sam added.
After a few seconds, the King children broke into smiles. “Oh, you’re kidding,” Russell said. “We get it. Seriously, though, you shouldn’t wander off—”
Sam cut him off. “Russell, Marjorie, I want you to listen to me. Do I have your attention?”
He got two nods in return.
“Between the two of us, Remi and I have traveled in more countries than either of you can probably name—combined. We appreciate your help, and your . . . enthusiasm, but from this point on, we’ll call you if we need you. Otherwise, leave us alone and let us do what we came here to do.”
Mouths hanging half open, Russell and Marjorie King stared at him. They glanced at Remi, who simply shrugged. “What he says, he means.”
“Are we clear?” Sam asked them.
“Well, yes, sir, but our father asked us—”
“That’s your problem to solve. If your father wants to talk to us, he knows how to reach us. Any more questions?”
“I don’t like this,” Russell said.
Marjorie added, “We’re just trying to help.”
“And we’ve thanked you. Now you’re testing our limits of politeness. Why don’t you two run along. We’ll call if we get into trouble we can’t handle.”
After a few moments’ hesi
tation, the King children turned and walked back to their Mercedes. They pulled out and slowly passed Sam and Remi, staring hard at them through Russell’s rolled-down window before accelerating away.
“If looks could kill,” Remi said.
Sam nodded. “I think we may have just seen the true faces of the King twins.”
7
CHOBAR GORGE, NEPAL
They set out shortly before four the next morning, hoping to arrive at the gorge before sunrise. While they had no idea how strictly the Chobar Caves’ no-trespassing rule was enforced—or whether the area was even patrolled by the police—they didn’t want to take any chances.
At five, they pulled into Manjushree Park and found a spot under a tree not visible from the main road. Headlights off, they sat in silence for two minutes, listening to the tick-tick-tick of the Nissan’s engine cooling down, before climbing out, opening the tailgate, and gathering their gear.
“Did you really expect them to tail us?” Remi asked, settling her pack over her shoulders.