Page 150 of Tiger's Quest
“The Baiga are limited by law now and cannot move about as freely as they did in the past. I will do some more research today. I also have some connections than can take satellite photos of the area and find the tribe at its current location.
“If it warrants more attention, I will inform you and Kishan. You two have had quite an ordeal the last few weeks, so I want you to rest today. There is nothing you can do until I have more data. Go for a swim, watch a movie, or go out to eat. You two deserve a break.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do? I can’t really relax when I know Ren is suffering.”
“Your worrying about him won’t make him suffer less. He would want you to rest too. We will find him soon, Miss Kelsey. Don’t forget that I have led soldiers into battle many times over, and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that all war-hardened troops need R&R, including you. Making time to relax is very important to the mental well being of all soldiers. Be off with you. I don’t want to see you or Kishan until this evening.”
I smiled at him and saluted. “Yes, General. I will convey your instructions to Kishan.”
He saluted me back. “See to it.”
I laughed and went in search of Kishan.
I found him in the dojo working on martial arts and sat on the bottom step to watch him for a few moments. He did a complicated set of aerial leaps and twists that would have been impossible if he didn’t have tiger strength. Then he landed two feet away and faced me with a playful grin.
I laughed. “You know, if you and Ren entered the Olympics you could both win several gold medals. Gymnastics, track and field, wrestling, you name it. You’d both get millions of dollars in endorsements.”
“I don’t need millions of dollars.”
“You’d have pretty girls fawning all over you.”
He smiled rakishly. “I only need one pretty girl fawning all over me, and she’s not interested. Now what brings you down here? Want to work out?”
“No. I wondered if you wanted to go for a swim. Mr. Kadam has ordered us to relax today.”
He grabbed a towel and scrubbed his face and head. “A swim, huh? It might cool me off.” He peeked from around his towel. “Unless you’re planning to wear a bikini.”
I snorted. “I don’t think so. I’m not a bikini kind of girl.”
He affected a deep, dramatic sigh. “That’s a pity. Alright, meet you at the pool.”
I headed upstairs and changed into my red one-piece swimsuit, slipped on a robe, and stepped out onto the veranda.
Kishan had changed into a pair of board shorts and was setting up the net for water volleyball. I’d just tossed my robe onto a deck chair and tested the water with my foot when I felt something cold on my back.
“Yikes! What are you doing?”
“Hold still. You need sunscreen. Your skin is so white you’ll burn.”
He efficiently coated my back and neck with lotion and started on my arms when I stopped him.
“I can take it from here, thanks,” I said, holding out my hand for the bottle. I squeezed out a quarter sized blob of lotion and rubbed it onto my arms and legs. It smelled like coconuts.
Kishan grinned, glanced at my legs, and winked. “Take your time.”
By the time he got the ball and a couple of towels out of the storage locker, I was done.
He asked, “Care for a game of volleyball?”
“You’ll beat me.”
“I’ll take the deep end. It’ll slow me down.”
“Okay, I guess we can try.”
He took a step closer. “Hold on a second.”
“What?”
