Starting in the forbidden valley of Palas in Pakistan, Paine travels through the former territories of the Soviet Union -- from Arctic Northern Russia, through the lands of Genghis Khan's Golden Horde and into Soviet Central Asia -- Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and into the wild Tien Shan. She follows ancient trading routes, travelling in the footsteps of merchants and armies, chasing legends of goddess worship, traditions of Orthodox belief and stories of pagan superstition. Her quest finally ends on the island of Karpathos in Greece, where in a tiny church on Easter Sunday she finds the mysterious amulet -- a powerful talisman that is still used to ward off evil spirits. Sheila Paine's search evolved into an unexpected journey full of twists and turns, dead ends and discoveries, ultimately revealing the ancient threads that bind Central Asia and Eastern Europe.  (CAS163, $19.95)