The Gemini Child

by Shea Meadows

  David exhaled and seemed to deflate. “I know she’s not really a baby, but she chose us to protect her into physical adulthood. She wants to work with us, and we see her as an equal. Your plan could end whatever good we are able to do if we are trapped in the Bi Mo Chu.”

  “What if we figured out some way to trick Ta Yi out of the Bi Mo Chu? If we had them both in one location outside the cube, we could poison them and hand them over to the elders in spirit world. Then we would be free to release everyone else in the cube,” Ricky said.

  Moon looked quizzically at her sister. “We are open to anything that sounds possible. The plan is not yet set in stone. What are you thinking?”

  Ricky shook her head. “I have nothing concrete yet. Some half-formed possibilities. We have some knowledgeable people in our group who had interactions with both Norton Reston and Ta Yi in other incarnations. Chi was a young boy when he knew Reston, but is now a shaman. Susan Fry used to be Lee Gee then was bestowed the title of Empress Wang Ji. Even our dad, George, was a general in the army of Emperor Zhuanxu.”

  “You’re right,” David said. “Nory was given a monkey named Houzi by Du Yuesheng, who we found out was the sorcerer Wing Yi who helped create the original Bi Mo Chu. We can get in touch with Du easily. He would never let Norton Reston harm Nory.”

  “And then there’s Bonta,” David continued. “Her ability to draw possibilities into realities is amazing. Our group may have ideas on this that we can’t even imagine.”

  Moon smiled. “Now you’re sounding like the master strategists that stopped the planet Prime from taking over the Earth. Talk to the others, and come back tomorrow night with them to practice with the etheric tools. We are willing to help in any way that will reduce the risk.”

  David’s eyes widened. “I realized something we haven’t explored. Has anyone looked at the Akashic Record of Ta Yi? He hasn’t had any new incarnations lately but before the life in which he was sucked into the Bi Mo Chu, he might have been a man of power in earlier dynasties.

  Ricky smiled and gave David a hug. “Brilliant, dear! The beings in the oldest dynasties seem to have been reborn into dynasties after that. Maybe you can help with that Qian? I’ve found it difficult to read the records of those who exist in the cube. Perhaps you can do another look around?”

  Sima Qian smiled and nodded. “Excellent idea. I’ll get right on that. You two go back to your bodies, and I will send the information in a dream.”

  Hugs were shared and Ricky and David returned to their bodies, cuddled together and drifted into sleep.

  Ricky toured the Tomb of Sima Qian in her dream. Wandering through the exhibits portraying his life, she admired all that their famous spirit guide had done for his country. She shuddered when she realized he had been tortured and emasculated after being falsely accused of being a traitor. Even after that, Sima Qian continued to write his legendary book Records of the Grand Historian, which was one of the main resources for the history of the ancient dynasties.

  Ricky smiled at the paintings and statues, which didn’t resemble how she saw Qian in spirit world. His chosen image was that of a healthy young man with an easy smile and a compassionate nature. As she mused on this, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to find Qian behind her.

  “You must be bored with all this overblown aggrandizing. It makes me seem perfect, but really, I made as many mistakes as the next man,” he told her with a grin.

  “I have checked the Akashic Records for Ta Yi, as David suggested. I had to wander back through all the dynasties between the Han and the Xia, looking for his energy thread. His record has as many holes in it as Norton Reston’s. He reincarnated several times. Once he was a scholar in the Qin Dynasty, before that he lived in the Zhou Dynasty as a duke in the bureaucracy, and earlier still in the Shang Dynasty as a general. This confirms David’s suspicion that the souls involved in the ancient dynasties continued to switch rank in other incarnations.

  “Now to the life that means the most for your group: Ta Yi lived at the beginning of the Xia Dynasty, and, in fact, was its creator. He was the famous Yellow Emperor, also known as Hang Yi. He was the grandfather of Zhuanxu, who we know was Norton Reston in a former life.”

  Ricky let out a whoop of celebration that echoed through the dream Temple. “Oh, so very perfect! We can definitely use that to our advantage. Thank you so much.” She hugged Qian, who returned the hug then disappeared.

  Ricky startled out of sleep and looked around with foggy eyes. David was lying beside her. She was tempted to wake him and tell what she’d learned, but he looked peaceful. Chances were they would have very few peaceful nights until this challenge was over. She quietly got up and stood beside Nory’s crib. The baby was wide awake, lying on her back, and smiling up at her mother.

  “I’m in need of a dry diaper,” Nory informed Ricky.

  “No problem, dear heart. I have been traveling around most of the night. Daddy and I had a long conversation with Moon, the Chinese guides, and Shri. I’ll tell you about it as I change your diaper,” Ricky said.

  Ricky reviewed everything that had been discussed and answered several questions as she went along. “And here is the best part: I had a conversation with Qian in a dream. He informed me that Ta Yi was the Yellow Emperor in a former life. That gives us a way to convince both Norton Reston and Ta Yi to speak to us on neutral ground. We can most likely avoid going into the Bi Mo Chu after all.”

  “Wow! You’ve put in a good night’s work,” Nory replied. “One thing before we go back to sleep. Did Moon tell you where we found the cave?”

  “No, I forgot to ask. Where is it?” Ricky asked.

  “It’s in an ancient stone well which has steps carved into the sides. It will be tricky to climb down into it with physical bodies. It’s about two miles from the Yangling Mausoleum, in woods near the tomb of Empress Wang Ji. It looks the same as it did when I was there with my former father in 1936,” Nory answered, her telepathic voice sounding excited. “I will be able to show you when we are ready to go there.”

  “Wonderful, dear heart. We’ll tell the others tomorrow on the way to the Sima Qian Temple,” Ricky said as she settled the baby into her crib.

  ***

  The group was up and dressed by seven the next morning, gathered around the kitchen table egg and ate egg and vegetable omelets, rice, breakfast rolls and fruit provided by Ma Li Juan. Their hostess scurried around providing tea and coffee and laughing with the baby who was making entertaining noises and giggling when Li Juan tickled her. It was nearly impossible for Ricky and David to pass on their new information to the group with Ma Li Juan listening. Ricky started the discussion with as little detail as possible.

  “We just heard from a friend of ours, Moon, who told David and me that we have to visit the memorial Temple dedicated to the scholar Sima Qian. She said we’d find things there that will help us with our research.”

  “Yes, she had some pretty compelling information but said we would most likely want to verify it ourselves,” David chimed in.

  Just then, Kang came in the house following his morning meditation and overheard what was being said. He looked at Ho with a confused expression. “I thought you’d want to start with the Yangling Mausoleum since the person you are researching lived in this area. You said you’d like me to be your tour guide,” Kang commented.

  Ho nodded, looking uncomfortable. “Yes, that is true. Please forgive me. We can do that tomorrow, if you have time free then. Our friend Moon is doing research for us which points toward the Sima Qian Temple. She says it is vital we see what she discovered.”

  “It seems like a wild goose chase, but you know what is best. I can take your group tomorrow and do other errands today,” Kang answered with a shrug.

  “I did look up the man you mentioned. He lived here in the nineteen thirties before the war. He was arrested by the Japanese invaders and sent to Shanghai for trial. Nothing more was said after that.” He turned to Chi. “Honorable Chi, you a
re mentioned in the records as his assistant. If not for you, I am sure he would have been arrested much earlier,” Kang commented.

  Chi nodded. “The man was a painful mix of villain and scientist. I learned from him, even as I was ashamed of what we were doing. He was obsessed with the early dynasties and could not resist appropriating many artifacts and hiding them away. To his credit, he never sold anything he found. I know of only one item he shipped out of the country, but I was too young to stop him.”

  Kang nodded. “His records are contradictory. Some admired his ability to find objects others had missed. Many locals sold antiquities that were hundreds, maybe thousands, of years old. They traveled to Shanghai with sacks full of items when the officials were too involved in protecting their own interests. It was a chaotic time.”

  “Thank you for looking up the records,” David said. “I imagine we should finish our meal and get on the road. It’s about two hours from here to the Sima Qian Temple, is that correct?”

  “Yes, we have a bit of driving to do,” Ho said then turned to Kang. “We will return late this evening and will explore the Han Museum tomorrow. We will most likely stop at the Terracotta Warriors after exploring the Sima Qian Temple.”

  Kang grunted. “The Warrior Museum takes at least a day to tour. I don’t know how you think you can do both in a day.” He swept his hand through the air then shrugged. “It is your tour, not mine. You best get on the road. Give us a call if you would like a late dinner here.”

  Ricky smiled. “We wouldn’t think of asking for dinner that late. We will pick up food on the way. Thank you for all your hospitality.”

  Kang bowed to them and left. By eight, they were settled in the car, and David and Ricky were filling them in as Ho drove toward Hancheng. Ricky ended their information with the revelation that Ta Yi had been the Yellow Emperor, Hang Yi, in a former incarnation.

  Ho whistled. “That could be extremely helpful in planning strategy.”

  “What it means is that Ta Yi was Norton Reston’s grandfather when Norton was the Xia Emperor, Zhuanxu. We might be able to coax Ta Yi out of the Bi Mo Chu if he isn’t all that happy with Norton’s plan to take over the cube dynasty.” Nory said telepathically.

  Ricky nodded. “She’s right. That’s our best bet for ending all of this in Norton’s cave rather than in the Bi Mo Chu. We’d like to prevent the experience of being dragged across the world to Minneapolis as we are sucked into the cube.”

  Susan shuddered. “Lee Gee certainly did everything she could to prevent having to become a citizen of that reality. I have to agree with my former self on that one.”

  “I think we have to wait until we’ve picked up the tools Moon and her advisors have waiting for us,” Chi said. “We must determine the key positions in this plan. We need negotiators, a flute player and two poison dart blowers. We will be in the etheric together tonight, testing our skills.”

  David nodded as he looked at the tourist map he’d been given by Kang. “Did you know the Yellow Emperor’s Mausoleum isn’t far away from Sima Qian’s Temple? I wonder if we should be stopping there, too.”

  Ricky shook her head. “We wouldn’t be taking the trip we are if Sima Qian’s Temple wasn’t the best place for them to hide the etheric tools. We can pop over to the Yellow Emperor’s Mausoleum when we’re working in the etheric. It’s going to be a very long trip as it is.”

  “My former parents took me there when I was Nellie. The energy was awesome. Mommy is right. We can get there in the blink of an eye without our bodies,” Nory agreed.

  They made only one stop on the way to their goal for a bathroom break, and the purchase of supplies that were to be part of their strategy. Two and a half hours later, they arrived at the Sima Qian Temple. It looked much the same as it had when Ricky and David had visited without their bodies. Ricky fed the baby and told the others how they planned to reach where the tools were hidden.

  “There are teenage staff members who observe the tourists. I will watch them to see if they are watching us,” Ho said. Everyone voiced additional opinions and their understanding of the plan.

  David put Nory in the baby carrier, and Ricky arranged her on her father’s back. Bonta arranged the new diaper bag they had purchased with a collection of baby supplies that they planned to use as a distraction.

  The group walked up the long stairs with the rest of the tourists and paid for admission. The workers wore bright red vests. Ricky counted four of them on duty, including the person handing out admission tickets. They were given a map describing the features inside the building and in the garden around the tomb. The back door had no alarm on it. People were exiting and entering the door and a sign indicated it was the way to Sima Qian’s tomb. Ricky smiled as she played tourist, walking through the rooms that she had seen in her dream. She almost expected Sima Qian to tap her on the shoulder, so she wasn’t surprised when his voice whispered in her ear.

  “The workers like to take breaks together, so none of them are near the tomb at the moment. This is your time. Remember: the gate around the tomb is broken near where we hid the packets.”

  Ricky nodded and mouthed “thank you” then tapped David on the shoulder and pointed toward the rear door. David walked over to George, Ho and Susan and said. “Let’s go out back and see the tomb.” Bonta, Chew and Chi were close enough to hear him, so they followed close behind.

  There was a crisp feel to the air and a sharp breeze from the north. Ricky reached up and pulled the hood of Nory’s jacket up around the baby’s head and closed the zipper. The group walked around the tomb, talking about the cypress tree that had grown up through the top of the structure.

  Bonta, who was carrying the newly purchased diaper bag with the top unsecured, tipped it forward, and disposable diapers and small bottles of lotion fell on the ground. The men stood behind her as Susan and Ricky sunk down to the cobbled court pretending to help pick everything up. Susan and Bonta blocked the view of anyone who might be watching as Ricky pulled up the loose section of fence, moved the stone, and uncovered the packets. These were put in the diaper bag in a plastic container. The whole thing took about two minutes, and other tourists came out to the tomb just as they were zipping up the diaper bag.

  The group stayed near the tomb for another ten minutes, reading the placards, examining the old script and talking about Sima Qian as a historical figure. After that, they spent another fifteen minutes inside the temple.

  “I don’t know about you folks, but it’s past my lunch time. Let’s stop and get something we can eat as we drive to the Terracotta Warriors,” Ho said to the group, speaking loud enough so people near them could overhear. Everyone agreed and they casually walked past the staff and the other tourists, all a bit nervous until they were driving away.

  * * *

  Chapter 21

  “Why do I feel like we stole something?” George commented.

  Ricky sighed. “I felt guilty, too, even though the guides left those things specifically for us. I think we better open the packets to be sure we have what we expected. I’m too close to the baby to handle unknown objects. Who would like to do it?”

  “Can I please? I love looking at newly found artifacts,” Chew said. “I promise not to handle the poisons.” Ricky handed the plastic container back to him.

  “It is as Moon described: a packet with a vial and a jar with powder in it. Don’t worry; I have no desire to open the containers. The next one is three flutes. They look old and weathered. We will examine them to see which two are different. The third packet has several gemstone cylinders that look like they would fit into the flutes. Not sure how we can put poisons in them,” Chew reported.

  “Put everything back in the plastic container. We’ll figure out how to work with them in the etheric,” David instructed.

  “I believe I should be the one to play the flute,” Chi said. “Norton Reston had a jade flute with small diamonds embedded. He played it in the cave, and it made an eerie sound. He found it inside
a Han Dynasty vase buried deep in the earth. I fell in love with the music. Norton sent to Hong Kong for a ceramic one for me. Strange to remember that act of kindness now.”

  “Do you think that you should play the flute first and then hand the instrument to Reston to play, if he seems willing?” Ricky asked.

  Chi nodded. “But timing will depend on what is done to lure Ta Yi out of the Bi Mo Chu. Both must be there before Reston is handed the flute. Two people will send the poisonous energy patterns from the mock flutes when we are sure that the energy will stun them both.”

  “I notice you’re drawing, Bonta. Is it about our coming confrontation with Norton Reston?” David asked.

  Bonta shook her head. “That isn’t what’s coming now. I’ll show it to you when it’s finished drawing itself.”

  Soon after, Ho stopped and Susan went with him to order food that could be eaten in the van. They came back with some youtiao bread sticks, chicken and veggies, baozi steamed meat rolls and almond cookies, along with a good supply of napkins and insulated containers of lemonade and tea.

  After their meal, Bonta passed Ricky the finished drawing. It showed the group standing in a gallery with a sign at the left of the picture stating “Pit 2.” All of them had moved up slightly in frequency. They were still in their bodies but able to discern the energy trails of those who had been part of the reconstruction of the statues. Bonta had used colored pencils of many hues to designate an overlapping web of past encounters with the statues by multiple people. Some of the replicas had ghosts in them, as designated by bright energy around them; others did not.

  In the drawing, Ricky’s figure was pointing out one line of energy that was unique: it glowed cherry red and was thicker than the rest. Behind the group was a room that was labeled “Restoration Workshop.” The red energy line led to that door.

  “We’ll have to find a way into that workshop. Any ideas?” David asked.