Dwandv:: The Battle for the Gate

by Dinkar Goswami

  Danta felt Gerua mentally distancing herself from the events unfolding around her. Her breathing became deep and slow, and in turn, it slowed down her heart, unlike an ordinary person whose adrenaline flow in such a situation would cause an accelerated heartbeat. Gerua’s mind grew extremely calm as her brain processed the information around her. She examined the terrain, space, strength, and tactics of her attackers. Her mind slowed down everything external, while her body moved at such speed that everything around her appeared to her in slow motion. Her body secreted hormones that provided her with great speed and agility that was required to neutralize her attackers. Danta became weightless on her back, and in perfect unison, oxygen and hormones enriched the blood coursing through her body, giving her superhuman strength. She adjusted her stance slightly, providing her with superb balance and giving her the ability to move deftly over the ground.

  As her body prepared for the aghori attack, she formed a controlled telepathic link with Danta, letting him know her thoughts and actions. Danta could hear his mother’s thoughts and predict her every move, even though she did not speak to him. He let go of all his thoughts and focused only on adjusting his weight to Gerua’s actions, which improved her balance and agility. Gerua had realized earlier that the sadhu was a telepath and had also established a separate link with the sadhu so that the two of them had a three hundred sixty-degree view of the events that were unfolding around them.

  On reaching striking distance, the aghori with the club brought it down on Gerua diagonally, meaning to hit her where her neck met her right shoulder. The other aghori lunged forward with his staff, preparing to stab Gerua in her solar plexus. Gerua moved to the right, lowering her body, her right leg bent as her left leg caught up with her right, and the club passed harmlessly to her left. Moving, she struck the aghori with her elbow on the left temple, which caused the aghori to fall to Gerua’s left onto the staff of the other aghori and then tumble toward the sadhu.

  As they fell, other aghori sprang out in front of the sadhu, one pausing in front of him with a club and the other two circling to his right and left. At the same time, the first two aghori had gotten up, and they surrounded Gerua and Danta. Four more aghori appeared in front of Gerua and Danta. The aghori were no longer screaming and charging. Instead, they circled Gerua and the sadhu. Five more aghori appeared. Fourteen aghori now surrounded them. The fifteenth aghori lay unconscious in the bushes. The sadhu had kicked him on a point over his heart, knocking him out.

  Danta drew a deep breath right down to his stomach as he had been taught. Simultaneously, Gerua’s hand felt the cold handle of the urumi. She twisted the handle one notch and whipped out the sword, which crackled as energy flowed through it. She did not want the sharp blade to cut off limbs. She would just use the urumi to grab the aghori or knock them out. The sadhu was capable of defending himself, and his chief concern was the welfare of Danta and Gerua.

  Danta, despite the commotion, noticed a young snake, a naga that had been injured by the first aghori’s trident; the trident had fallen on the naga during the attack on them. The young naga had been watching Gerua and Danta after they crossed the stream. The naga were serpent or dragon-like ethnic beings. Usually with the body of a snake or a snake-like dragon, the naga could shape-shift into a human form with a torso and head of a human attached to a serpentine body. The naga could also change their size. The young naga had adopted the snake form, and his curiosity was aroused when he witnessed the unusual excitement the primates and the birds expressed on being around Gerua and Danta. He had been following them ever since and was totally entranced by the behavior of the forest.

  Gerua had mentally linked with the sadhu, who silently asked her to leave the aghori to him. Gerua acknowledged this request. Although all three could communicate with one another silently, for the time being, Gerua requested that the sadhu should not establish a link with Danta and to keep the link with her to a minimum. The sadhu agreed, realizing that Danta had to maintain his focus on Gerua.

  The aghori in front of the sadhu growled like an animal that was about to make a kill. The sadhu raised his staff and hit the aghori on his chest about two inches above his left nipple. The aghori fell on the ground gasping, unable to move. Before the aghori touched the ground, the sadhu whipped his staff to the left and then to the right, hitting the two aghori nearest him at a precise point on their temples and knocking them out. There was a gap in the aghori circle, and the sadhu turned his attention to Gerua and Danta. He saw Gerua whipping her urumi with dizzying speed around herself and Danta. The lightning-fast movements of the flexible blade kept the aghori at bay. Neither the sadhu nor Gerua wanted Danta to witness a violent and bloody death of any of the aghori. They had to fight the aghori without fatally wounding any of them. Both Gerua and the sadhu had a superb understanding of the pressure points in the body that could be targeted to temporarily paralyze the body or limbs without killing.

  Gerua knew that the aghori could not hurt her or Danta. The shield from the belt she wore protected them and toughened their cells. As long as Danta was in contact with her, she could shield him. The aghori would never even know of the shield even if they hit her. The shield the belt provided did not just provide a force field–like protection but turned their body cells into armor at an atomic level without impeding mobility or functionality. Even their hair and nails were armored while remaining flexible so that their mobility would not be impaired. It was like having a microscopic molecular armor over each cell that was always at least twice as strong as any adversary’s weapons, making the protection provided by the belt impenetrable and indestructible. The belt recognized any and all weapons conceivable and could dissipate any form of energy launched at them.

  Gerua realized that the path behind her was clear, so she stepped back to her right, and the sadhu did the same. She whipped her urumi on to the farthest aghori holding a club. The urumi wrapped around the aghori’s left wrist. She pulled the trapped aghori with such force that his feet left the ground, and he flew headfirst into the head of the aghori next to him, knocking out both of them. Both the aghori fell into the bushes and were entangled in the vines. The other aghori saw the two aghori falling prey to Gerua’s skill with the urumi and paused momentarily. Gerua saw the opening and moved to the position where the sadhu had been, and they traded places. The remaining aghori tried to reform the circle, but Gerua flailed the long blades of the urumi, maintaining an opening so that the aghori could not surround them.

  Gerua and Danta were behind the sadhu who was now attacking the aghori while Gerua played a defensive role. Suddenly, two more sadhus armed with staffs came bursting out of the bushes. The sadhus entered the clearing, instantly assessing the situation. Before the aghori could react, the two sadhus hit the aghori nearest to them with their staffs, knocking them out. The other aghori hesitated, confused. Their circle broke up further. The sadhu, sensing the confusion, redoubled their attack on the aghori.

  The sadhus began to move among the aghori with lightning speed, their attacks a blur. Though moving with astonishing speed, they landed precise blows with their staffs, causing the aghori to drop to the ground one by one. The sadhus used their staffs to disarm the aghori of their tridents and clubs, and with precisely executed kicks and punches, they put the aghori to ground. Most of the aghori were now in the bushes, trying to get out of the clutches of the vines grabbing at them. Others lay in the clearing unconscious. The sadhus gathered the tridents and clubs of the aghori, shattering them against tree trunks. The first trident that had fallen on the young naga was hidden in some bushes, and the sadhus missed it.

  CHAPTER 36

  IMMORTAL

  Gerua switched off her urumi and put the blade to the casing on her hip. The casing swallowed the urumi. She kept the belt shield active.

  The three sadhus approached Gerua and Danta, smiling admiringly. After exchanging greetings with Danta and Gerua they briefly huddled together excitedly talking to each other. Suddenly, there
was a huge commotion in the forest farther south. They all heard loud shrilling and screeching noise of animals scattering in panic. Something large was hunting in the forest, most likely a powerful predator.

  The sadhus stopped talking and looked in the direction of the noise. They instinctively surrounded Gerua and Danta in a protective posture. Meanwhile, the aghori who had regained their senses were trying to get up.

  Danta untangled his legs from around his mother’s waist and loosened his grip from around her neck and jumped down. Gerua was caught by surprise by Danta’s seemingly erratic behavior. Having broken contact, Danta was no longer shielded. She deactivated her belt and removed the protective shield. She needed to have physical contact with him and then activate the belt again to protect both of them. She lunged for Danta and said, alarmed, “Danta, no…” The sadhu beside Gerua tried to grab Danta too, but the boy deftly leaped forward. With the aghori on one side and the creature causing havoc in the forest, everyone was disturbed except for Danta.

  Danta looked at his mother, smiling apologetically as he realized he had distressed everyone with his sudden unexpected behavior. “Mom, it’s okay. It is Garuda. He is not going to hurt us.” It was evident to Gerua that Danta had made contact with Garuda when he was still on her back. Was Danta able to establish separate telepathic links with multiple entities? She knew Garuda was an immortal and a super siddha who rarely needed to use his siddhi. His colossal reputation was enough to fill his enemies heart with dread. Could Garuda know about the gate, and would he tell them? Even though her mind was racing, Gerua remained outwardly calm surrendering to her instincts and training, waiting for the immortal to appear.

  The flapping grew louder and a huge eagle-like creature appeared in the sky above them, momentarily hovering above. His large feathery red wings were joined with red and white flight feathers. Each massive feather was red from the point where it joined the wing and white on its tip. He had a wingspan of thirty feet. Garuda had a bright orange humanoid body with muscular legs, and his bird-like feet must have been at least thirty inches, with six-inch talons. The wings were attached just behind his four arms, and his hands were big and strong, accommodating retractable talons. Garuda was more than twelve feet long from head to toe. He had head, wings, talons, feet and beak of a massive eagle and body and limbs of a powerful well-built humanoid giant. He had a white head, red-and-white feathers, and a golden body. Danta did not even flinch. He knew that Garuda was not targeting them. Gerua and the sadhus instinctively ducked when they saw Garuda. Abruptly Garuda flew past them, extending long legs forward like an eagle about to grab prey, suddenly diving into the canopy a short distance away from the clearing.

  When Garuda came back up, he held a huge constrictor in his talons. The snake lunged at Garuda’s legs with its sharp teeth but could not pierce the scaly, leathery hide. Garuda lowered his head, and he struck the constrictor’s head with his massive beak knocking it out so the snake hung limply in his talons. Garuda abruptly turned his attention to Danta as if he heard Danta speak, and then looked at the limp snake in his talons. He dropped the snake onto a tree a little further from the clearing, and flew toward the clearing.

  Garuda folded his wings and landed on the ground in the clearing. The sadhus’ knees gave in and they keeled over their knees on to the ground, prostrating before the Garuda. Garuda was an immortal they had never expected to see in their life. Yet this terrifying deity with awesome supernatural powers, and an attitude not to be trifled with, had appeared before the boy in his full majestic form. They were totally overwhelmed by his presence, not knowing how to react.

  Treading softly, Garuda stepped forward on his bird-like feet, his formidable golden body shining in the sunlight. Garuda wore the armor of flexible golden molten metal, with an adjustable metallic belt adorned with precious stones holding it secure. His shoulder armor was made of the same metal. An unusual golden ring gilded with precious stones appeared to attach his feathery head to the body. Garuda’s chest armor was also decorated with precious stones, and he wore matching shin guards. The flexible metal armor rippled along with his muscles when he moved.

  The petrified aghori on the ground struggled to somehow get away, their faces agonizingly expressing shock. Garuda spread his huge wings and opened his beak wide, his huge mouth a huge dark chasm, making the aghori cringe even more. Then he leaned toward the fallen aghori and opened his wings, fully clasping them in front with a thunderous sound, repeating the process in each direction. The aghori were ripped from the bushes’ grasp and thrown back into the forest. They scuttled away from the clearing trying to get as far away as they could.

  Garuda finally folded his wings and turned around to face Danta and Gerua moving forward gently. The sadhu in-between Garuda and Danta scuttled out of the way on all fours. Garuda extended his upper arms toward Danta and lifted him in the air, gently holding him with his massive hands. He then stretched his lower hands, palm up, beneath Danta’s feet until the boy was standing on them.

  “You frightened everyone,” said Danta, his eyes twinkling as Garuda raised him to his eye level.

  Garuda spoke in a deep, soft voice. “But not you.”

  “No, not me. I am happy to see you. Why didn’t you come see us earlier? Mom thinks she is lost,” Danta said, boldly smiling.

  “Your mother is doing fine. But then you know that already. The aghori have seen me. They will change their tactics. They are everywhere, performing their sinister rituals, terrorizing innocents, and casting sinister spells. I would destroy them all but I am not to interfere. But atleast those aghori won’t bother you anymore and others will be cautious. And… I will be watching you,” said Garuda.

  “Okay, but please don’t hurt the naga anymore, and can you take care of the vetala watching us when we leave. Please scare him away so that he doesn’t follow us,” Danta requested.

  “I will take care of the vetala. I don’t take the naga people, only the serpents that are always snake.”

  Garuda lowered himself on one knee, bending forward and bringing his palms in which Danta was standing down till they were just above the ground. Danta stepped off his palms. “You should go. Your mother is getting anxious. You and your mother must find your own way.” He briefly looked at Gerua who was now standing up head bowed, palms clasped together in front of her chest, respectfully.

  Garuda clasped his upper palms in front of his chest and said namaste to everyone. He pointed his beak up, leaped toward the sky and was gone in a flash, disappearing into the bedazzling sun.

  The sadhus stood up looking at the sky dumbfounded. Not able to see the Garuda anywhere, they lowered their heads staring at Danta agape. They had just witnessed Danta and Garuda interact as if they were good friends. Being able to witness Garuda’s presence was an extraordinary and great honor, and they owed it to Danta. The immortals were elusive and never showed themselves to mortals in their full grand form. No matter how large they were, they hid themselves well, whenever they were on this world. No one had ever seen Garuda in thousands of years. They were sure that Danta had never met Garuda earlier either. Yet, the boy had been absolutely confident and they had seen how he was discerningly able to distinguish between friend and foe. They had never expected to behold such a miracle.

  They also understood that Gerua could have taken care of the aghori without their help. She was obviously exceptionally trained. They had come to see the boy and to evaluate whether Gerua was a worthy mother. How wrong they were to doubt Gerua! They felt ashamed. The sadhus took a moment to converse with each other and agreed that they would head back to their akhara.

  “Mother,” said the sadhu who had addressed Gerua as ‘child’ earlier, “our lives have been sanctified. We must take your leave now. We must return to our other brethren. They must be anxious to hear from us.”

  Gerua and Danta stood next to each other with their hands clasped in front of their chests. “Thank you for your help and for your blessings. Namaste,” said Gerua.
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  The sadhu touched Gerua and Danta on their heads one by one. Just then, the two fairies appeared from the thicket, buzzing around Danta.

  The first sadhu looked at Danta in amazement again and spoke. “Take this,” he said, offering Danta a rudraksh necklace. “It will protect you and help you purge any being of evil,” he explained and put it around the boy’s neck.

  And with that, the sadhus disappeared into the thicket and were swallowed by the trees as they raced toward their akhara.

  Gerua looked at Danta and smiled. “You were good! Shall we get going? Look, the trees are showing us the way.” Gerua was a little disappointed in her heart. Garuda had not even remotely mentioned the gate and had ignored her completely.

  The trees appeared to part toward the left, inviting them to move in that direction. She took Danta’s hand and they began walking through the opening in the trees.

  “I will miss them. I really liked the first sadhu. He was funny.” Danta spoke with a hint of disappointment.

  “Yes, he was funny. He will go back to his cave and meditate. Sadhus in the akhara will hear of his awe-inspiring tale. The word will spread. People will have hope again.”

  “Maybe that is why Garuda showed himself?” said Danta nodding.

  Gerua looked at him smiling.

  Danta did not smile back. “Mom, there was a young naga that was injured accidentally when the first sadhu kicked the first aghori. I think he was just watching us out of curiosity. He slithered away. I hope he was okay.”

  “I am sure he will get help. We are in naga country now. The other snake people are probably watching us. The naga people are very good at reading people’s auras. So if the grown-up naga have seen us, they’ll know that we are just passing through and we wish them no harm,” Gerua said reassuringly. “We should be fine.”