The Quest for the Fuji Cipher (A Richard Halliburton Adventure Book 4)

by Garrett Drake

  “How’d you guess?”

  Bhodi laughed. “He’s not exactly the friendliest person you’ll ever meet, and I wouldn’t consider him the best at conversation. I used to work as a translator for the British embassy before I joined the order here. It had been so long since I spoke in English I was beginning to wonder if I’d forgotten the language.”

  Richard nodded. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll see what I can find out about the craftsmen.”

  “Good luck,” Bhodi said. “You’ll need it.”

  Richard wandered down the hallway toward the common area, searching for any clues that could lead him to the craftsmen hall. After three days of searching, he was beginning to wonder if the craftsmen were mythic and Hisako had been running a con on him.

  He was about to give up and return to his room when a door was flung open, one he hadn’t noticed before. But that wasn’t surprising, since it appeared to be made out of rock and blended in with the rest of the wall. Inside, several men sat around a table, including three men wearing suits.

  Why would they need to have a secret passageway within their own monastery?

  Richard tried to act like he didn’t pay any attention to it, but his final glance met with the eyes of a monk scrambling to pull the door shut. He scowled at Richard before disappearing.

  At least I know it’s not a myth.

  Richard retired to his room for the night, inspired anew on how to gain access to the hidden room. And he needed to figure it out quickly before he wore out his welcome.

  Chapter 17

  WHEN RICHARD AROSE the next morning and headed to breakfast, Saichō was waiting in the hallway. He twirled a beaded necklace around his fingers before putting a hand to Richard’s chest.

  “We need to talk, Mr. Halliburton,” Saichō said before guiding Richard out of the flow of traffic.

  Other monks quietly maneuvered around the two men until they reached a corner.

  “Good morning,” Richard said. “Another lovely day here.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying your time here, but I came to inform you that it’ll be your last,” Saichō said. “The council convened last night, and the majority of the members feel as if you’ve been a distraction, preventing others in their quest for personal enlightenment. And as you know, that is our primary purpose here.”

  Richard nodded. “I understand. Was it something I did? Something I said?”

  “Not at all. We just like to maintain a certain balance within the monastery, and some priests have felt a disturbance.”

  “Well, I certainly don’t want to be thought of as intrusive,” Richard said. “I just wanted to capture the essence of what you do here and how Japanese Buddhist monks exist.”

  “I’m sure you have more than enough by now for any book or magazine article you want to write,” Saichō said. “And that’s why you’ll be leaving in the morning after this winter storm passes. It’ll be easier for you to navigate down on a sheet of fresh snow rather than solid ice, which is what will happen after the sun starts to melt all the precipitation we’ve had the past few days and then it refreezes.”

  Richard nodded. “I trust your judgment. It’s truly been an honor to live here for the past few days.”

  “You’ve been a joy to host, my child,” Saichō said, placing his hand on top of Richard’s head. “I hope this part of your journey leads you to find your own enlightenment.”

  Richard placed his hands together in a prayer-like posture and bowed his head. Saichō returned the gesture before shuffling toward the dining hall.

  When he was gone, Richard entered his room and sat down on his bed to think for a minute. There wasn’t much time left now. He still hadn’t seen the first room full of craftsmen or Prince Naruhiko either. But Richard was convinced they were still there—and he didn’t believe Saichō’s reason for requesting an early departure.

  * * *

  AFTER LUNCH, Richard asked Ito what their evening chore was.

  “Your favorite,” Ito said. “We’ll be cleaning out the latrines.”

  “It’s my last night here,” Richard said. “And I’d like to bless you for your kindness and handle that chore on my own.”

  Ito laughed. “By all means, please do it. I’ll remember this act of generosity and selflessness from you.”

  “Is it ever!” Richard said. “I’m not sure I’d make my most hated enemy do that. It’s far more than just a sacrifice.”

  Ito held up both hands. “If there’s one thing we must be careful of, it’s taking pride in our humility. It just might counteract all the wonderful energy you’ve been sending to me.”

  Richard covered his mouth with both hands. “That’s not what I meant at all.”

  Ito smiled. “It’s okay. You’re just exploring your path. But I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t point that out to you.”

  “Thank you,” Richard said. “I’ll try to keep that in mind for next time.”

  Richard spent the rest of the day keeping busy with other duties Ito had assigned along with praying in the temple. Growing up in Memphis, church was never optional. He appreciated the moral guidance he received there but hadn’t considered Biblical teachings beyond that. The cultural importance of the Christian faith wasn’t lost on him, and he saw that same type of devotion exhibited by the Buddhist monks. However, the practice of prayer was something he found mundane in every religious expression, save those moments when he was staring death in the face or his grief was too much to bear. And while he wasn’t thrilled about the amount of time spent in the temple chanting prayers, Richard felt he needed some extra help if he was going to escape the mountain with pictures of the cipher.

  After prayers, he sought out Bhodi near the front gate.

  “Find what you were looking for?” Bhodi asked as soon as he noticed Richard.

  “I thought this is a journey, not a treasure hunt,” Richard said.

  “Of course, but I—never mind.”

  Richard moved in close, continuing their conversation in hushed tones. “I’m being kicked out tomorrow morning and will be heading down the mountain. So, I’m going to need that ear.”

  “I’ll have it for you before you leave,” Bhodi said.

  Richard nodded and patted Bhodi on the back. “You have a good evening.”

  After Richard returned to his room, he grabbed his camera and hid it beneath his robe. He proceeded to collect the supplies for cleaning the toilets and went to work. When he was finished, he ventured into the hidden room, keeping his head down to avoid drawing attention. Between quick glances, he was able to survey the room and get an idea of what was going on. Across the far side, several monks sat hunched over a desk, meticulously carving symbols into cylindrical pieces of wood. In the center of the room, a round table was stacked with finished ciphers. Men in suits inspected each one, examining every inch before putting down the device and moving to the next.

  Richard meandered through the room until he reached the toilets in the back corner. No one seemed to pay him any attention. He needed to cause a diversion, to draw their attention away from the ciphers and enable him enough time to pocket one. But getting close wouldn’t be easy given the number of men nearby. However, he noticed Saichō was talking with the outsiders.

  That’s my ticket to get close.

  Richard approached the table, bucket in hand.

  As he neared Saichō, the priest turned around when one of the men pointed at Richard.

  “What are you doing in here, Mr. Halliburton?” Saichō asked. “Who gave you permission to enter this room?”

  “I’m finishing up my final assignment to clean the toilets,” Richard said.

  “Are you sure? I swore I saw someone in here not ten minutes ago cleaning them.”

  “That’s what I was told to do,” Richard said.

  “By whom?”

  “I don’t know the monk’s name,” Richard said. “He saw me with a bucket and pointed me toward the door and made a cleaning motion.”<
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  “I’m sure you misunderstood. This area is restricted for craftsmen only.”

  “I see,” Richard said as he palmed one of the ciphers and discreetly pulled it into his robe. “I won’t complain about not having to clean latrines.”

  As Richard headed toward the exit, he saw Bhodi enter and cruise around the room. He never made eye contact with Richard, who was halfway out the door when he heard one of the men shout something in Japanese.

  Richard didn’t need a translator to know what they said: They’d just discovered a cipher was missing.

  Chapter 18

  RICHARD HUSTLED DOWN the hallway and ducked down another corridor. He scanned the area to see if anyone had seen him, but it was clear. Without waiting another second, he dashed to the toilets, which were empty. He entered one of the stalls and pulled out his camera.

  Setting up the cipher on a ledge, he started to take picture after picture, turning the device to capture all the different positions. He was almost finished when he heard footsteps just outside. As he scrambled to put away everything and hide the cipher, he was jolted in the back when the stall door swung open.

  Richard swallowed hard as he rose to his feet. “That’s no way to—”

  He froze as he locked eyes with the man in front of him. It was Bhodi.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Would you believe me if I told you I was using the toilet?”

  “Why was your back against the door? That’s an odd position.”

  “I was just—”

  Bhodi reached out and frisked Richard. He tried to step backward, but when he did, he bumped into the toilet and lost his grip on the cipher, which tumbled out from beneath his robe.

  Bhodi knelt down to pick it up. “How do you explain this?”

  “Well, I, uh—”

  “You knew exactly what you were doing. You’re a spy, aren’t you? I should’ve known.”

  Richard placed his hands up in a posture of surrender. “I know this looks bad, but—”

  “I don’t want to hear your lame excuses. Do you realize the Kenpetai is involved with this project? They’re going to kill you when I return this and tell them where I found it.”

  “Let’s think this through,” Richard said. “It doesn’t have to happen like that. Don’t forget that if I don’t deliver proof of your death, the samurais are coming for you. And you’ll suffer the same needless fate.”

  “Don’t make this about me,” Bhodi said.

  Richard shrugged. “It is whether you want it to be or not. My fate is in your hands, so to speak. I’m dead if you turn me in. But you will be too. So, the real question is what do you want to do? Are you willing to sacrifice your life for a cipher that your country won’t be using in a year from now anyway?”

  Bhodi pursed his lips and eyed Richard carefully. “Damn you. I knew the priest should’ve denied you access to the monastery.”

  “What happens next is really simple,” Richard said. “You sneak this back into the room and claim that you found it on the floor. Everyone will be relieved, you’ll be a hero, and I’ll be able to convince the blood-thirsty samurais down the mountain that you’re dead.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “You don’t have to like it,” Richard said. “I’m not asking you to do anything immoral.”

  “You’re asking me to lie.”

  “No, I’m asking you to pretend like you found the cipher on the floor. And refuse to tell anyone that we ever met and talked here.”

  “Fine,” Bhodi said. “I’ll go along with your little charade, but this is the last time I ever do anything for you.”

  “In that case, I promise not to ask anything else from you.”

  “Good,” Bhodi said as he snatched the cipher from Richard and marched out of the bathroom toward the secret chamber.

  Richard poked his head out of the room and peered in both directions to make sure no one noticed him. Satisfied that the corridor was empty, he eased into it and returned the cleaning supplies.

  After he went back to his room, he rolled up his film and scrawled a word on there so he’d remember what it was: “Fuji Film”. He stashed it in a pouch sewn into the wall of his backpack. When he picked it up to finish stuffing it, he found a small object wrapped in a piece of white cloth lying beneath the bag. He carefully peeled back the strips, revealing a severed ear. Richard gasped before covering it back up and tucking it away safely into his bag. Then he blew out his candle and went to bed. A few minutes went by and he didn’t hear any shouting or yelling. And while he wasn’t sure if Bhodi had succeeded, Richard felt like now was a good time to pray.

  I need all the help I can get to escape this mountain with my life.

  He fell to his knees at the foot of his bed and bowed his head, muttering a short but succinct prayer: “God, please help Bhodi. Amen.”

  * * *

  BHODI TOOK A DEEP BREATH before tugging on the handle to the secret room. Once he was ready to carry out the ruse, he headed toward the table where all the ciphers were being stacked. He gritted his teeth and knelt by the table, hesitating as he went to place the device on the ground.

  The thought of betraying his country made him shudder. He’d fought in the war against Russia nearly twenty years earlier as an eighteen-year-old. While serving for Japan during that conflict, he met other soldiers who were still pining for the old ways of the samurai, which piqued his interest. And in a strange, meandering path, he found himself betraying his beloved country, the one he was willing to sacrifice his life for. He felt dirty. But being dirty was better than being dead, killed by the blade of his former samurai friends.

  “Mite!” he shouted, holding up the device. “Did anyone notice this one beneath the table?” he asked in Japanese.

  Prince Naruhiko picked it up and inspected it. Satisfied, he placed it back on the table and recounted the ciphers.

  “They’re all here,” he announced, eliciting cheers from all the monks. The Kenpetai members’ celebration was far more subdued.

  Naruhiko shook Bhodi’s hand, thanking him for what he’d done. Then the prince turned to Saichō, who was standing to the right. The entire conversation was within earshot of Bhodi, who strained to hear what they were saying as they talked softly.

  “How did this happen?” Naruhiko asked.

  Saichō shook his head. “I don’t know. Someone must’ve lost count, and in the chaos one cipher got knocked off the top.”

  “I have half a mind to alter the cipher and start all over, but the general wants all these deployed as soon as possible so we can begin transmitting secret messages again among our intelligence operatives.”

  “I understand,” Saichō said. “I will do my best to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

  “You better do more than that. Vow that it won’t.”

  Saichō held up his right hand. “I swear it’ll never happen again.”

  “Very good,” Naruhiko said. “Now carry on.”

  Bhodi eased away from the two men, stealing toward the door. He put his hand on the doorknob and turned it before glancing over at Saichō, who was explaining to one of the craftsmen about a new procedure to make sure no cipher went missing for even a minute. Remaining frozen, Bhodi stared at Saichō. The priest caught the guard’s eye.

  “Did you need something?” Saichō asked.

  Bhodi took a deep breath and exhaled. He swallowed hard before releasing the knob.

  “Bhodi?” Saichō said again.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact there is something I need to speak with you about. There’s something you need to know.”

  Chapter 19

  THE NEXT MORNING, Richard awoke before morning prayers and checked his pack to make sure everything was in place. His camera, the film, the ear for the samurai warriors—everything was secured. As he pulled his pack over his shoulders, a knock at the door startled him.

  Who could that be this early?

  When Richard answered it, he fo
und Saichō standing in the doorway, swinging a lantern in one hand while clutching a beaded necklace in the other. He eyed Richard cautiously.

  “Did you think I was going to let you walk out of here without speaking to you first?” Saichō asked.

  “I wanted to give myself plenty of time to get down the mountain in case I ran into any trouble.”

  Saichō stroked his chin. “Are you expecting trouble, my child?”

  “Well, it’s mountain climbing. You just never know what to expect. Better to proceed with caution.”

  “I see. Well, before you go, let’s take a little walk.”

  Saichō gestured for Richard to exit his room. Despite the alarming visit and the odd behavior the priest exhibited, Richard steadied his breathing and nodded slowly.

  “Of course,” he said. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

  Richard fell in lockstep with Saichō as they strolled along the corridor.

  “I want to find out about your time here and get a sense for what you plan to write about the Shoshu Buddhists you met here and your general experience while at this monastery.”

  “To be honest, I learned a lot about myself. I’m not sure I’m anywhere close to enlightenment, but I feel like I have a better understanding of who I am.”

  “And who are you, Mr. Halliburton?” Saichō asked as he stopped and glared at Richard.

  He was caught off guard by the sudden surge of animosity and stumbled backward until he bumped into the wall. His eyes widened as he tried to determine the true intent of Saichō’s question.

  “I’m a free spirit, an adventurer, a man who can’t be bound by borders or inhibited by challenges.”

  “Like the challenge you’re facing on your descent?”

  Richard paused before nodding. “Yeah, it’s not going to be easy. The storm that just blew through here isn’t going to—”

  “Enough,” Saichō said with a growl as he moved within inches of Richard. “I saw the compassion you had for one of Mother Nature’s broken and hurting creatures, and I broke one of my own rules: One moment doesn’t define a person. While I have used that many times in extending grace to those who have made a mistake, I never considered the opposite side and how someone might be able to fool me by behaving a certain way for a short period of time.”