The Book of Bones by Natasha Narayan

contains the finest of Kung Fu wisdom.”
    â€œWhat is Kung Fu?” Rachel whispered.
    â€œAn ancient Chinese system of fighting. Usually there are no weapons involved, just the skill of the fighter. It’s what they call martial arts … a bit like boxing but more sophisticated, in a way.” Isaac replied. He can rarely resist an opportunity to show off.
    â€œThis doesn’t ring true,” I said. “I would have thought guns and bombs were more your style than bare hands.”
    Cyril turned his chill gaze on me. Inside I felt very, very cold. “I would have thought
you
would understand, Kathleen. In Shambala we conquered mortality. The Book of Bones will enable us to—how shall I put it—perfect our perfection!”
    â€œPerfect our perfection!” Cecil murmured. “That’s good, brother, very good.”
    â€œWhat the Hades are these guys talking about?” Waldo whispered to me. “They’re about as perfect as a pair of gargoyles.”
    â€œLook here,” Isaac interrupted. “I’m not being rude, just trying to understand. Are you saying you want this Book of Bones as a sort of health manual?”
    Cyril inclined his head. “Precisely.”
    Something was wrong with the Bakers, despite their seeming good looks. Something that was making them desperate for this Book of Bones. The withered hands, the rotten smell that they gave off when one came too close.
    I remembered the words of Maya, the guardian of Shambala. She had predicted that their beauty was a curse. It would quickly wither in the outside world. Did they believe this thing was a talisman, which would help them in some way? What was this Book of Bones?
    â€œI don’t understand,” I said. “Why me? I mean, if you want this Book of Bones so much, why don’t you just go and get it. Or if you don’t want to risk your um … good looks, send one of your minions.”
    â€œSharp as ever, Miss Salter,” Cecil murmured. “The reason is simple. It is said that only one who is ‘pure of heart’ will be able to remove the Book from the monastery. Our experiences in Shambala convinced us that, although you are an infuriating nuisance, you have some valuable virtues. So we have entrusted you and your friends with this little commission.”
    For the first time, I knew I had some power. “No,” Isaid firmly. “I will not play your game.”
    â€œYou’re quite sure about that?”
    â€œBully and bribe all you like! We’re not going anywhere!”
    â€œYou know I’m almost glad to hear you protest,” Cecil said. “You see we cooked up a little insurance policy. Tell them, Cyril.”
    Cyril’s rubber lips pulled back over his perfect teeth. “We thought of torture, pulling your fingernails out one by one, that sort of thing. But it was so messy. Then we came up with something a little more subtle.”
    â€œA plan sprung fully formed from Cyril’s fertile mind,” Cecil interjected.
    â€œA little something was added to your food yesterday,” Cyril said, slowly drawling the words for maximum effect. “One of you has been poisoned.”
    â€œWhat?” Waldo asked dully.
    â€œI repeat. One of you has been given a deadly poison.”
    â€œJust … one of us?” I asked.
    His pale blue eyes scanned us, looking over each of us in turn. Was it my imagination that they lingered a little longer on me? They were openly amused. My heart beat faster and my hands began to tremble. Was I the ill-omened one? Somehow I just
knew
it was me.
    Cyril held up his gloved hand to silence our uproar. “This is a fatal poison, deadly and subtle. The ‘chosenone’ won’t feel anything yet. But be assured. Our chemist is a
very
talented man. If you are not back from Peking with the Book of Bones, in precisely five months you will go off to meet your maker; I promise you that.