The futility of it all. All those years of life cancelled out by a moment of viciousness.

He could not dredge up a shred of hope for seeing the necklace returned before the end. No one could find it in time, not even the highly recommended Repairman Jack. If it was in her karma to die without the necklace, then Kusum would have to accept it. At least he had the satisfaction of knowing he had done everything in his power to retrieve it.

A knock at the door. The private duty nurse stuck her head in. “Mr. Bahkti?”

He repressed the urge to scream at her. It would feel so good to scream at someone.

“I told you I wished to be alone in here.”

“I know. But there’s a man out here. He insisted I give you this.” She held out her hand. “Said you were expecting it.”

Kusum stepped toward the door. He could not imagine…

Something dangled from her hand. It looked like—it wasn’t possible!

He snatched the necklace from her fingers.

It’s true! It’s real! He found it! Kusum wanted to sing out his joy, to dance with the startled nurse. Instead, he pushed her out the door and rushed to the bedside. The clasp was broken, so he wrapped the necklace about the throat of the nearly lifeless form there.

“It’s all right now!” he whispered in their native tongue. “You’re going to be all right!”

He stepped out into the hall and saw the private duty nurse.

“Where is he?”

She pointed down the hall. “At the nursing station. He’s not even supposed to be on the floor but he was very insistent.”

I’m sure he was. Kusum pointed toward the room. “See to her.” Then he hurried down the hall.

He found Jack, dressed in ragged shorts and mismatched shirts—he had seen better dressed stall attendants at the Calcutta bazaar—leaning against the counter at the nursing station, arguing with a burly head nurse who turned to Kusum as he approached.

“Mr. Bahkti, you are allowed on the floor because of your grandmother’s critical condition. But that doesn’t mean you can have your friends wandering in and out at all hours of the night!”

Kusum barely looked at her. “We will be but a minute. Go on about your business. “

He turned to Jack, who looked hot and tired and sweaty. Oh, for two arms to properly embrace this man, even though he probably smells like everyone else in this country of beef eaters. Certainly an extraordinary man. Thank Kali for extraordinary men, no matter what their race or dietary habits.

“I assume I made it in time?” Jack said.

“Yes. Just in time. She will be well now.”

The American’s brow furrowed. “It’s going to patch her up?”

“No, of course not. But knowing it has been returned will help her up here.” He tapped his forefinger against his temple. “For here is where all healing resides.”

“Sure,” Jack said, his expression hiding none of his skepticism. “Anything you say.”