As she rose to her feet, her body felt stiff and painful like she had completed a marathon the day before and forgotten to stretch. A few shallow lacerations had been cut into her hands, which she noticed had been cleaned and bandaged to prevent an infection from setting in. Apart from that, there was nothing to show how close she had come to death.
‘Hello?’ She opened the door with caution. ‘Esteban, are you there?’
The corridor was empty. As with the bed chamber, it was illuminated only by candlelight. There were no windows. She figured that maybe she was back underground, but could not be sure. The air felt different. It felt thinner. Of course, that could just be down to her weakened state. Emmy had long ago learned not to place too much trust in her physical senses. Rather than try one of the two other doors leading off from the corridor she decided to follow it to the end. It terminated at the foot of a stone spiral staircase.
Her only option was to climb the stairs. She took down one of the candles to guide her way as this time there was no light emanating from within. The steps were narrow and slippery so she used her free hand to stabilise herself by placing it on the inner spiral. The rock felt cold to her touch. It was almost freezing, reminding her of her geographic location. After 37 steps (she could not resist the impulse to count them) she came to a wooden door. The hinges were cast from thick steel, but it had no lock. It would not be necessary to use plastic explosive like Jack had with the one in the caves.
Just thinking of the dead soldier was like swallowing a sharp rock, tearing at her insides as it made its way down to her gut. His was not the first dead body she had seen. Many had died in front of her eyes and all of them soldiers, most no older than Jack.
How old was he – 23, 24? Such a terrible waste. The numbers did not make the loss any less painful or the tragedy any less unjust.
She pushed on the door. As it swung outward, she had no real idea of what she would find on the other side. An abandoned temple, a supply depot – it could be anything. A food hall filled with ravenous monks had certainly not crossed her mind.
***
Dr Stark sat with a smug grin spread across her face as the colonel looked over the report she had prepared. She always suspected that Emmy had been holding out on them. They all did. Now she not only had the confirmation, but the evidence as well. After this, she was guaranteed to be assigned full control of the project.
‘And all of this has been verified?’ the colonel asked.
‘Yes, sir,’ she replied. ‘Emmy did a good job of destroying much of her original notes from the program at Jackson’s Hill, but she did not delete everything. I came across this in a previously overlooked entry in Charles Nguyen’s journal. As you can imagine, he was spooked by what they discovered that night. Who wouldn’t be? It’s not every day that one encounters a ghost.’
The colonel briefly glanced up from the paper to gauge the scientist’s body language. The dilation of her pupils indicated she was speaking in earnest. She genuinely believed that this latest development involved the paranormal.
‘I assume there are other interpretations of the events,’ he said, hoping to bring the scientist back down to Earth.
‘Sure, there are alternate theories, but none so elegant. This explains why she was so reluctant to cooperate. It completely dwarfs the significance of any prior application of the technology. It also explains what we encountered during yesterday’s disastrous experiment. In time, we may actually have a direct line to the afterlife.’
‘You make too many assumptions,’ said the colonel. ‘I thought that science dealt only with evidence.’
‘The evidence is in your hands.’
‘The script to a particularly bad episode of the Twilight Zone is in my hands. When you make contact with Elvis, I may begin to believe you have something to work with. Until then, I expect you to tread with your feet on the ground. I’m already getting it in the ass over the debacle with the Chinese. If we take this to Washington without something more concrete they’ll think we’re merely fabricating the whole thing to cover our failures. If you want me to take this seriously, you’re going to have to provide a specimen.’
‘A specimen?’
‘I think you know what I mean. If you want me to believe in ghosts – I want to see a ghost. The next time something turns up in the base that shouldn’t, you’re going to trap it.’
***
The monk placed a bowl of soup in front of Emmy before joining her at the table. Apart from a couple of muted nods of acknowledgement, his brethren paid her little attention. In the whole time since she had woken she had not seen another woman.
‘I guess I have you to thank for saving me,’ she said to the monk who had given her the soup, not really expecting a verbal response in return.
A non committal smile confirmed her assumption.
‘You’re probably wondering what two foreigners are doing lost in the mountains so far away from the designated camps. Hell, I’m starting to wonder that myself.’
She raised a spoonful of the soup to her mouth expecting it to be hot. It was actually at the perfect temperature for consumption. Once she had drained the spoon, she placed it onto the table and lifted the bowl with both hands. Her ordeal had left her weak and that first taste of sustenance ignited her cravings like a drug. She sucked and slurped at the delicious liquid inside until there was none left. As she placed the now empty bowl back onto the table, she noticed that the monk sat opposite was staring intently.
‘You must think me such a slob,’ she said, brushing away a dribble of soup from her chin with the back of her hand.
‘Not at all,’ the monk replied. ‘I am just happy to see that your strength has returned.’
Emmy was taken aback. She had assumed the monk was unable to understand her.
‘You speak English?’
‘Yes, though not as well as I would like.’
‘Well, you sound pretty fluent to me.’
‘Thank you. Your kindness is most appreciated.’
Emmy blushed.
‘My kindness? If anything, it is I who should be thanking you. We would have frozen to death for sure in that storm. Where is Esteban, by the way?’
‘Esteban? This is the gentleman you were with – yes?’
‘We are colleagues. Our team was sent to survey the mountain and we got separated from the group.’
‘There are others?’
‘No, I mean, yes. You should not worry about that. Can I see Esteban?’
She was not comfortable lying to somebody who had shown only kindness and therefore hoped he would not press the matter too much. Luckily for her, he did not. She was informed that Esteban’s injuries, though not serious, would require more recuperation time than her few cuts and bruises. He was still sleeping and she would be advised as soon as he woke.
After the dining hall had cleared the monks returned to their daily duties whilst Emmy was given a tour of the monastery. Her host was named Yonten. He explained to her how his order had been displaced during the Chinese occupation. Those who were not killed were put into prison and only a small number now remained. For decades they had existed hidden in exile, but now they were returning to the mountains, albeit in extreme isolation, such as the settlement she now found herself a part of.
‘We discovered some tunnels earlier,’ she told him. ‘They were abandoned, but the artwork and architecture is very similar to what you have shown me today.’
‘It is possible they once belonged to this order. There are ways in and out of this building that even I am not aware of. Was there anything in particular that interested you in these tunnels?’
She paused for a moment to go over her cover story.
‘There were some paintings that caught my attention. I think they may have related to astral travel.’
The monk presented open palms. She guessed this was his equivalent to a shrug.
‘I took photographs, but my camera was...lost in the storm.’
‘That is unfortunate. If it would please you, I am happy to show you what paintings we have here. Perhaps they are similar.’
‘I would be honoured.’
The monk escorted Emmy to another chamber. It was one of the larger rooms she had seen and it housed an altar at one end, which was occupied by a golden statue of the seated Buddha. Incense burned either side of the figure, lending an intoxicating, almost dreamlike ambience to the place. A series of pictograms lined each of the walls adjacent to the altar and they resembled those in the underground temple. There was one notable difference, however. None depicted the ethereal silver cord, as the scientists affectionately referred to the bond between the conscious mind and the body.
‘Do these images tell a story?’ Emmy asked the monk.
‘Yes, a story,’ he replied. ‘It is not one that you will hear outside of these mountains. This is the legend of Meh-Teh.’
The central figure in the drawings began to appear more familiar. She now recognised its unique shape and bearing.
‘You are talking about the Abominable Snowman, aren’t you? These pictures are of a yeti.’
‘You are sceptical of the legend?’
Emmy could not conceal her amusement, though she was careful not to offend.
‘It is nothing more than what you say – a legend. At best it could be some rare species of bear or big cat that has strayed from its territory. I do not accept the existence of mythical beings.’
‘Fortunately, belief is not a prerequisite of existence. And Meh-Teh is more than a myth. A thousand years ago there were members of my order who had mastered the power of meditation to such an extent that they could leave their Earthly vessels and travel on a higher plane.’
Emmy’s spine went rigid. The monk was confirming her interpretation of the paintings in the caves, though he himself may not have seen them. What is magic to one person is science to another. Was it really possible that others could have mastered her same achievements without the aid of advanced technology?
‘What does astral travel have to do with yetis?’ she asked.
The monk shook his head, but he did so with a smile on his face.
‘I think that there is great disparity in our understanding,’ the monk told her. ‘Your mind is corrupted by your Hollywood movies. When people bear testament to having been in the presence of Meh-Teh what they have witnessed is the tulpa.’
‘Tulpa?’
‘Tulpa is consciousness made solid. It is when an individual makes real what they see in their mind’s eye. The most gifted monk can project his consciousness into a second body that is able to survive the extreme conditions of the mountains. Of course, this is an ancient practice and nobody has been able to achieve it for hundreds of years.’
Although she did not say it, Emmy knew that the monk was wrong. The tulpa had returned to the mountains, but they did not come through meditation. That was Charlie’s big secret. That was what had defeated them and killed Jack and taken Jimmy. They were projecting their thoughts into a physical and possibly indestructible second body.
‘Were they dangerous?’ she asked.
The question took the monk by surprise.
‘Our order is peaceful and has been for as long as its followers have inhabited these mountains. In theory, a tulpa could be used to commit malevolent acts, but none who possessed the strength of mind to create one would ever have used it for such ends. If they did, there are sacred chants that would neutralise the being. But as I say, that is not necessary.’
‘Chants?’
‘We use many mantras. Most commonly, they are to clear the mind for meditation, but there are some with more practical uses. One such verse can be used to calm an excited tulpa.’
‘So if one were to attack, you could stop it?’
‘You misunderstand. Tulpa would never attack, as you say. The tulpa were benevolent and protected those blessed to be in their presence. Again, I refer you back to your Hollywood movies. It is they that took beauty and created a beast.’
‘I apologise if I have offended you. I am just curious, that is all.’
‘I assure you that you have not offended me. As for your curiosity, perhaps you will be so kind as to join me in meditation later. When your mind is at rest you may find yourself more receptive to the answers that you seek.’
‘Thank you,’ replied Emmy. ‘I will be glad to take you up on your offer.’
Chapter 30
Jimmy had answered all of their questions. It did not occur to him to lie. He simply told them what they wanted to know. Most of their questions pertained to him anyway, so he did not think that he was betraying anybody by cooperating. They were actually a lot more civil to him than the Americans had been with their questioning.
He told them about his powers and he expected that they would want to see a demonstration. They did not. All they requested was a sample of his blood to analyse. After roughly a day had passed they returned to his cell.
‘What will you do with me now?’ he asked, sensing they had not come to merely ask questions this time.
‘Nothing,’ replied the general. ‘You have cooperated and given us everything that we require. I will have my men prepare some provisions for you and then we will let you be on your way. I am sure that with your unique abilities you will have no trouble finding the nearest settlement from where you can arrange onward transportation.’
‘And what about Dr Rayne and the soldiers?’
‘They need no longer concern you. You were their prisoner and now you are a free man. I suggest you do not give them another moment’s thought.’
A little under three hours later, Jimmy left the compound. A fresh covering of snow concealed the tracks he and his friends had taken on their way through the valley, but that was of little consequence to Jimmy. The path he needed to take was shown to him and it did not retrace his earlier steps. Instead, it led him upward and into the mountains themselves.
General Tao, meanwhile, was most pleased with what he had gained from his audience with the young psychic. The sample of Jimmy’s blood had been sent straight to his underground lab for testing where it had indeed provided the key to unlocking the potential of the radioactive by-product from the astral projection experiments. By combining Jimmy’s mutated blood with the serum distilled from the radiation they were finally able to stabilise the formula. It was now ready for human consumption. First though, he had one other use for it. He was going to use it to destroy Emmy Rayne for good.
***
‘You saved my life,’ said Esteban.
‘We saved each other,’ replied Emmy. ‘It’s just a shame we couldn’t do the same for Jack and Jimmy.’
Esteban’s head dropped. He did not take failure well and to lose not one but two comrades was a particular blow.
‘Jimmy will find a way out and when he does I’ll make sure I’m there for him. This mission is not over yet and this time we will have the advantage. They won’t be able to trap us again.’
‘You think that was a trap?’
‘Of course, they knew we were coming,’ replied Esteban. ‘In fact, they lured us in. They knew that by shutting down our astral capability it would result in a manned retaliation. The whole thing was a set up to get hold of you.’
‘But they got Jimmy instead,’ said Emmy. ‘What will they do to him?’
‘That depends if they can figure out what he is. Knowing Jimmy, this shouldn’t take them long. The kid has no concept of deception.’
Emmy did not want to think about what kind of experiments a hostile force could subject Jimmy too. She did know, however, that human experimentation was not Charlie’s style. Neither was the attack at the base. Using an energy burst to block astral travellers was one thing, but using the technology to kill went against everything she and her former partner stood for.
‘Something isn’t right,’ she told Esteban. ‘Charlie would never have gone along with that attack on us. We have to allow for the possibility that he’s no longer
overseeing the Chinese astral program. The question we need to ask ourselves is as to who will have replaced him.’
‘My guess is the military. Didn’t the same thing happen to your original project?’
‘It would have done had I not shut it down. Which, we absolutely must make sure to do again. This technology cannot become weaponised.’
‘I agree, but you have seen their defences. It would take a sizable force to get past those astral guards. Your EMP stunt caught them by surprise, but next time they’ll be expecting it.’
‘I know, but I already have another plan. It’s a long shot, but one of the monks here has offered to teach me meditation. I may be able to achieve an astral separation without technological help. That’s something our enemy will never expect.’
‘Maybe, but I fail to see how it will help us. The last time we approached that base as astral travellers they repelled us before we even knew what was happening.’
‘This time it’ll be different.’
She went on to tell him about the legends of the tulpa. He did not share in her optimism, but what other option did they have? Reluctantly, he agreed to give her plan a try.
***
Monitoring stations were set up at several locations. A military hospital, a civilian hospice and even a cemetery were all marked out as possible places for an interaction. Not having astral capability was a drawback, but it did not prevent the recording of observations. Dr Stark was hopeful and Colonel Rodman was sceptical, but both of them had an equal stake riding on the outcome.
The first night passed without incident. There were fluctuations in the energy signatures of those under surveillance, but no out of body experiences. No deaths. It was day two of the experiment that brought with it the most promising data. The patient was named Ethel Barlow. She was eighty six years old and suffering from chronic liver disease. The doctors had given her three months. She lasted five.
At the moment of her passing, a small energy signature was recorded emanating from her body. Not long after, a second, slightly weaker energy materialised several feet above her body. At the moment the two energies met, they vanished completely as if they had annihilated one another. It was the exact same outcome as the ill fated experiment in the base, but with one major difference. This time it had been expected.
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