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“So? I heard you’re a fast runner.”

“My costume isn’t designed for running.”

“Easy, Lucia. I got you in; I’ll get you out. I promise.”

“I hate promises.”

“Me, too, but I don’t break them. I’ll get you out, even if I don’t make it.”

“I won’t leave you behind.”

“You must if the situation calls for it, Lucienne Lam.”

“If the situation calls for it, will you leave me?”

“Without a doubt,” Vladimir said. “This is about being practical. It’s about survival. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“That’s heartwarming,” Lucienne said coldly. “But you just contradicted yourself on your promise of getting me out.”

“Men are complicated, aren’t we?” Vladimir sighed.

Lucienne ignored him. It was better than showing the contempt she felt.

They came close to the wall at the southeast corner. Vladimir jumped off the roof, and Lucienne followed. As soon as he saw her rolling, then popping into a crouch, he broke into a run toward the wall. Lucienne sped after him. “Give me the bat hook,” Vladimir said.

Lucienne pulled out the military hook from her bag and handed it to him. Vladimir launched the hook. Its claws clutched around several chortens. “Go!” Vladimir flung the end of the rope to Lucienne. The next instant, she had reached the base of the wall andstarted climbing while Vladimir stood watch on the ground. Lucienne flipped to the other side of the wall and hurled the rope back to Vladimir. “You got it?” she asked.

“I never miss.”

A moment later, she saw Vladimir atop the wall, carefully avoiding the sharp chortens. He landed easily, retrieved the bat hook, and ran after Lucienne toward the mountains. The threatening sound of drumbeats faded as they put distance between themselves and the monastery.

“The sweet taste of freedom.” Vladimir laughed. It was short-lived.

Waves of red and yellow robes rose on every mountain, flapping in the wind.

“They’ve discovered our glider and cut out our escape route,” Vladimir said. “Maybe Samye is indeed protected by Bön demon. I never should have parked near the sacred Hepori.”

“Isn’t it a bit late to wallow in regret now?” Lucienne said. “We’ll just have to fight our way out.”

“You’re looking forward to it, aren’t you?” Vladimir accused, pulling out his sanjiegun.

Lucienne arched an eyebrow. “Do you have a better option?”

Usually Vladimir adored the way Lucienne arched an eyebrow. But he didn’t seem to be in the mood, especially when a large army of warrior monks emerged from the base of snow-capped Mountain Hepori, and hundreds of monks ran out of the monastery behind him and Lucienne, shouting unnerving battle cries.

CHAPTER TWO

“Where did they come from?” Vladimir asked. “It’s like a beacon was lit on the Great Wall and the army of the undead popped out.”

“There are too many.” Lucienne inhaled sharply. “They’ll chop us to pieces.”

“We have to activate Plan C.”

“What is Plan C?”

“Forget the aircraft. We get to the north of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and blend in with the tourists. Race you?”

“I’ll run, but not to race you,” Lucienne said in irritation. “This isn’t a sport!”