Except for Ishaq, the men were standing along the sides of the cave.

Ishaq was reattaching a large tarp to the front of the cave. The outside was painted to resemble the rest of the mountainside. Not only did it help to camouflage the natural cave but it helped keep them warm whenever they were here.

Nanda was near the back of the cave. She was facing Sharab. The ceiling sloped severely and the Kashmiri woman's back was bent slightly so she could remain standing.

There was a band of blood staining the ankle of her pants. The cuff must have worn the flesh raw yet Nanda had not complained. The corners of her mouth trembled, her breath came in anxious little puffs, and her arms were folded across her chest. Sharab decided that was probably an attempt to keep warm and not a show of defiance. They were all perspiring from the climb and the cold air had turned their sweat-drenched clothes frigid.

Sharab walked slowly toward her prisoner.

"Innocent people died today," Sharab said.

"There will be no retribution, no more killing, but I must know. Did you or your grandfather tell anyone about our activities?" Nanda said nothing.

"We did not destroy the temple and the bus, you know that," Sharab added.

"You've lived with us, you must have heard us making plans. You know we only attack government targets. Whoever attacked the Hindus is your enemy.

They must be exposed and brought to justice." Nanda continued to stand where she was, her arms bundled around her.

But there was a change in her posture, in her expression. She had drawn her shoulders back slightly and her eyes and mouth had hardened.

Now she was defiant.

Why? Sharab wondered. Because a Pakistani had dared to suggest that Indians could be enemies to Indians? Nanda could not be so naive. And if she did not agree, she did not want to defend her countrymen either.

"Samouel?" Sharab said.

The young bearded man stood.

"Yes?"

"Please take care of dinner, including our guest," Sharab said.

"She'll need her strength."

Samouel opened a frost-covered cardboard box that contained military rations. He began passing out the pop-top tins.

Each of the shallow, red, six-by-four-inch containers was packed with basmati rice, strips of precooked goat meat, and two cinnamon sticks. A second cardboard box contained cartons of powdered milk. While Samouel handed those to the men All got a jug of water from the back of the cave. He added it to the powdered milk, pouring in skillful little bursts that kept the ice that had formed in the jugs from clogging the neck.

Sharab continued to regard Nanda.

"You're coming with us to Pakistan," Sharab informed her.

"Once you're there you will tell my colleagues what you refuse to tell me."

Nanda still did not respond. That seemed strange to Sharab. The dark-eyed woman had been talkative enough during the months at the farm.