Tuk started up the steps and found them perfectly suited for his small size. He chuckled.

"What is it?" Annja asked.

Tuk pointed at the stairs. "My entire life I have been forced to deal with stairs that are made for larger people than myself. I've had to adjust my stride accordingly. And yet here..."

"They are made for people of your size," Annja said. She seemed to be having trouble walking up them. "I can see that."

"It is another indication, I suppose, that this may be my home."

Annja took the steps two at a time. "I'm understanding the trouble you might have had back in the world I'm used to."

Tuk shook his head. "It wasn't trouble. Just one of those things. When you don't feel normal, it seems the rest of the world doesn't quite fit you all that well."

"And here, everything seems to fit."

"Perfectly," Tuk said. He paused and looked back at the parade of people who remained motionless as they watched him.

He couldn't see a single face that did not bear a wide smile. "They seem so happy," he said.

Annja nodded. "I think they are happy because you have come back."

Tuk frowned. "Really?"

Annja nodded and continued up the steps. "We've got a few more steps to climb. Let's get moving."

At the top of the staircase, Tuk again paused and looked back. Prava nodded his head slowly, still smiling.

Tuk turned back and saw the brilliant red tapestries swaying in the breeze. And beyond them, he could see an open pavilion. In the middle of the pavilion sat three stone thrones.

Two people sat on either side of an empty one.

And Tuk stepped forward to receive his answers.

16.

Annja crested the steps and took a breath. She hadn't realized quite how troubling they would be, and even after resorting to taking them two at a time, she still found herself struggling to keep up with Tuk. The smaller man seemed to simply float up the stairs with no problem. Not for the first time, Annja had a pretty good indication of how it felt to be different from the world around you.

As they came off the steps at the top, she marveled at the brilliance of the red tapestries fluttering in the tropical winds. Their finery could not be underestimated, she decided. They looked nothing like any of the fabrics she had seen during her many travels. But she did have the feeling that they were all handmade. There didn't seem to be any type of machinery present in this place so far.

Stone thrones in an open pavilion in front of her beckoned them. Tuk walked ahead and Annja rushed to stay beside him. As they got closer, Annja could see that two of the thrones were occupied. An old man sat on the one to her right and the throne on the far left had an old woman seated there.

The throne in the middle was empty.

The smiles the old man and woman wore were indescribable in that they seemed to contain more joy than Annja thought possible. Tears rolled down their faces as they watched Tuk approach them.

They exchanged a glance and their smiles grew even broader. The old man lifted his hand and urged Tuk forward to a spot on the pavilion ten feet from the thrones.

The old woman gestured for Annja to stand back a little bit. Annja stopped on the spot the old woman indicated and contented herself with observing everything that seemed to be unfolding in front of her.

Tuk stopped at the prescribed spot and the old man and woman took an entire minute to examine him up and down. Finally, with a great deal of clearing of his throat, the old man spoke.

"Tuk, you are returned to us by the will of the harmonious universe seeking to restore that which was, for so long, the cause of unbalance within our hearts and within our kingdom."

Tuk said nothing, but Annja noticed that there was a smile building on his face that seemed to be spreading with every second.

The old woman spoke, as well. "I have dreamed for so long of this day-the day of your homecoming-that I often feared it would never come. But my faith in the universal scheme of totality has been rewarded and you have found your way back to your rightful home."

"My rightful home?" Tuk's voice sounded small.

The old man nodded. "You are not just Tuk. You are the one who was stolen from our kingdom."

"Stolen?"

The old woman smiled. "Long ago we helped a traveler who had fallen ill in the snows outside of our walls. We brought him here and nursed him back to health. He was beyond words with grat.i.tude, but when he looked around at what we had here, he wished to tell the world of us. We begged him not to, but he seemed determined to persevere."

The old man cleared his throat again. "This man stole you from the royal nursery when you were but a single year of life." He glanced at the old woman. "Your mother and I despaired beyond whatever may be deemed reasonable. We searched for you for many years, never knowing if you had survived your ordeal and lived somewhere out in the other world."

"I did," Tuk said. "I did survive. But I must admit I have no recollection of this man of whom you speak."

"That is because he did not survive the journey back to the other side. When he stole away from us in the middle of the night, he took you wrapped up under his arms. But as soon as he got back to the other side, he was struck by what must have been a terrible storm. He lasted long enough to get you to safety-and for that we must be eternally grateful and forgiving of his transgression-before he himself succ.u.mbed to the elements and perished in the snows of the mountains."

"You know this for certain?" Tuk asked.

"We found his body within a week after you were taken," said the old woman. "But you were nowhere to be seen."

"We searched everywhere for you," the old man said. "And when it became apparent that you could not be found, we had to face the possibility that something terrible had befallen you. Our hearts grieved, but perhaps something within us would not let us completely believe that you were dead."

"I could not feel your death," the old woman said. "And you were bonded to me like nothing else in this world. I felt certain that I would know if you had perished on the other side. And yet, I never once did."

"She knew you were alive. Somewhere," the old man said. "And it appears that she was right. You were alive. But you were also alone."

Tuk smiled. "I am alone no longer."

The old woman started weeping with joy and Tuk rushed to her side, hugging her tightly. She clutched at him and kissed his cheeks. Annja found it difficult to watch the scene through her misted eyes.

Tuk rushed and hugged his father and the old man's voice cracked with joy at his touch. "Long have I waited for the second coming of my only son," he said. "My heart has always been heavy with grief and guilt over something I should have been able to prevent."

"I do not blame you, Father," Tuk said.

The old man nodded and then gestured to the empty throne next to him. "Then take your rightful place beside your father, my son. And rejoice, for you have found your home once more after many years away."

Annja felt tears flowing down her face as she watched Tuk seat himself on the throne that looked like it fit him perfectly. He smiled at his mother and father and then at Annja.

Annja waved and felt silly at the same time. She'd known Tuk for barely a day and yet she was moved to tears watching the reunion between a child and his parents.

"Annja."

She looked up and saw that Tuk's mother was now gesturing for her to come forward. Annja walked closer and then stopped just short of the throne.

"You have played a part in bringing Tuk back to us. For that, we are beyond grateful."

Annja shook her head. "It wouldn't be right for me to take any credit for what has happened. Any part of mine in this has been purely coincidental."

Tuk's mother smiled. "I know that one such as yourself doesn't truly believe in coincidence. You have seen things-done things-that defy such an explanation as simple chance."

Annja said nothing. Tuk's mother was right. Annja didn't believe in coincidence, but that didn't mean she'd helped bring Tuk back, did it?

"If anyone deserves your grat.i.tude, it is Tuk himself," Annja said. "Although I've only known him for a day he has impressed me in ways I could never imagine. Your son is a force unto himself. He saved my life and the life of a dear friend of mine. Were it not for Tuk's help, we would have certainly perished."

Tuk's mother smiled. "And yet you were the catalyst for bringing him home to us, so please do accept my grat.i.tude."

Annja bowed her head. "Thank you."

"You mentioned your friend. This is the one called Mike?"

Annja looked up. "Yes. He was badly injured out on the mountains." Did it make sense to mention the airplane crash? Did they know what airplanes were here? Annja decided to keep things as simple as possible.

"He is no longer injured," Tuk's mother said. "He is resting now comfortably. I believe he will awake within the hour if you can wait."

"His rest is more important than me seeing him," Annja said. She smiled. "So, it was your people who took him from the cave while we slept?"

Tuk's mother nodded. "When we learned that someone had found the portal, we sent people to investigate. As you can imagine, we are much more guarded about our existence as a result of what happened to our son so many years ago."

"Understandably so," Annja said.

"While you slept we were able to observe and see that Mike was badly injured. We brought him through first since he would have died had we not."

"I am indebted to you for that act," Annja said. "And I'm sure I speak for Mike when I say thank you."

"We have spoken to Mike. It was he who told us about both you and our son. It's how we knew that there was a chance our boy had returned to us."

Tuk's father coughed once. "As you can imagine, we were beside ourselves with hope. And I apologize for the manner in which you were transported. But we've found it's best if no one knows quite how they get here."

"The perfume," Annja said.

Tuk's father nodded. "A slight sleeping gas derived from some of the flora that grow here. It's quite harmless except that it does produce a nearly complete state of slumber. It wears off with no adverse effects after a time."

"It was a beautiful scent," Annja said. "But I suppose that's the point, isn't it?"

"Indeed."

"How should I address you both?" Annja asked. "I'm a.s.suming that you are both rulers of this incredible place. Are you the king and queen?"

Tuk's father nodded. "Officially, we have those t.i.tles, but we are known by much simpler names. I am Guge and my wife is known as Vanya."

"Guge?" Annja frowned. "There was a monarchy of kings in Tibet known as the Guge. Are you related to them?"

Guge nodded. "I am a descendant of that dynasty. I am Guge XXV. Tuk is actually Guge XXVI."

Tuk blinked. "I rather prefer my own name, actually."

Vanya laughed and Annja was surprised at how musical she sounded. "We will call you whatever you wish to be called, my son. It does not matter so long as you are here with us."

Guge nodded. "It is as your mother says, Tuk. However you wish to be known is acceptable. You were named Guge at birth, but if Tuk suits you better, then we will make the alteration accordingly."

"Thank you."

From the left side of the pavilion an attendant swept up toward Vanya's throne. She hurriedly whispered something in the queen's ear. Vanya turned and looked at Annja.

"Your friend Mike, is he rather a stubborn sort?"

"Mike?" Annja frowned. "Well, I guess you could describe him that way. When he gets his head wrapped around something, he does tend to be a little tenacious."

"It appears he is a bit headstrong about his condition and is refusing treatment because he-"

A sudden noise to her left made Annja turn. Hobbling in on a crutch was Mike, brus.h.i.+ng aside his medical staff with a flick of his hands. "Leave me alone, dammit. I'm fine-" He stopped short.

"Annja?"

Annja broke into a wide grin. "Hey, Mike."

The effect on Mike was instantaneous. He broke into a hobbled run that carried him across the pavilion toward Annja. He dropped the crutch and swept her up in a bear hug.

"Jesus, I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Put me down, you big lug." But she hugged him back and felt an immense joy over his apparent healthiness.

Mike put Annja down and reached for his crutch. Annja looked at his thigh and saw it was bandaged in some of the same gossamer material that comprised the tapestries and clothes of everyone present.

"Your leg-how is it?" she asked.

Mike shrugged. "It feels marvelous, actually. I was in a bad way when they brought me here. I was in and out of consciousness. Fever. The works. I don't think I would have lasted another hour to be honest."

"That doesn't seem to be a problem now," Annja said.

"Good to go in a short time, I think," he replied. He turned and bowed to the queen and king. "I can't thank you enough for taking care of me."

Guge smiled. "We help others where we are able to do so. It was our pleasure to aid you. Although I am told you must still be careful and not exert yourself until your leg has enough time to heal."

"I won't run any marathons, that's for sure," Mike said.