by Daniel Diehl
From a quarter mile distant, the path began a slow, winding assent up the mountainside. Before they reached the halfway point, the silence of the valley was shattered by a series of thunderous base notes. The returning pilgrims had been spotted and the ceremonial horns were sounding to welcome them back from their long journey. The deep, rolling tones echoed up and down the valley, bouncing back and forth from ridge to ridge.
“Oh, dear, I fear we have been recognized.” Lu Shi seemed honestly embarrassed by the impressive welcome.
“I guess they’re glad you’re back.”
“So it would seem, but it is hardly cause for such a fuss. There will, of course, be a formal ceremony of welcome once we are inside. That will give both of you an opportunity to meet Sun Wang To, our Panchen Lama.”
“I look forward to meeting your spiritual leader, but I don’t want to impose on the community.” Merlin struggled onto one elbow to get a better view of the monastery.
“Nonsense.” Lu Shi patted the filthy arm of Merlin’s fur coat. “He will be overjoyed to meet a man of your special talents.”
“I’ve been called many things but never a ‘man of special talents’.”
Lu Shi chuckled and patted Merlin’s sleeve again as the tiny, bedraggled parade rounded the last bend before approaching a huge, red gate. Jason’s jaw dropped in amazement when they passed through the ponderous doors. Just inside the gate was a small, pagoda-like structure under which they passed. The interior of the complex was dominated by a huge courtyard whose surface was cobbled in intricate designs. Extending more than three hundred feet from left to right and two hundred from front to back, the open space was surrounded by galleried cloisters identical to those adorning the outside of the building. Clustered around the courtyard were dozens upon dozens of monks, all dressed in identical red robes and saffron shawls. Directly ahead was a long, low set of stone steps leading to the building’s main entrance. Stationed on each side of the stairs were three immense horns, each of which must have been fifteen feet in length. On a dais at the top of the stairs were three monks. Although dressed in the same red and saffron robes as the rest of the company, their exalted status was proclaimed by heavy, floor-length red capes and huge yellow hats surmounted by a feathered crest, which made them look like Napoleonic cavalry officers or Inca kings.
Following the lead of Lu Shi and the monks bearing Merlin’s litter, Jason approached the stairs and bowed low. The man in the center of the dais began speaking. “We welcome our brothers back from their long pilgrimage to our spiritual home. From across the valley we saw that there were five in your party and assumed you had brought a guest. Sadly, one of the brothers seems to be missing and his place taken by another; but undoubtedly we shall hear about this in due course. Please introduce us to your new friends.”
Lu Shi stepped forward and bowed before speaking to his superior. “Revered Holy One, I have the honor to present Mr. Merlin and Mr. Jason, they have been of great aid in ensuring our safe arrival home. As is apparent by our sad appearance, the journey has not been an easy one. I beg you to accept these men as honored guests into our house.”
The Panchen Lama walked down the stairs with an ease of movement that belied his obvious age. Stepping toward the stretcher where Merlin lay he smiled, deep creases scoring the amber skin around his eyes. After laying his hand gently on Merlin’s forehead, he smiled at Jason. “I am Sun Wang To and you are now our guests and under the protection of this house and all that is good. Be welcome and be safe. Remain as long as you wish and until the wounds of your body and spirit are healed.” Then, in slow succession, he embraced Ton Lo, Lin Piao and Lu Shi. When he came to Lu Shi, he paused long enough to request a full report of their travels and how they wound up in such a state. Before turning to remount the stairs, he looked back toward Merlin and Jason. “When you feel up to it, I would be pleased if you would join me for a meal so that I may come to know you properly. Some of our brothers will now show you to your rooms and see to your needs.” With an almost imperceptible wink, he added “I think possibly a bath would not be inappropriate.”
A group of monks appeared to escort Jason and Merlin to the second floor of the compound. Shown to adjoining rooms, Jason asked directions to the nearest bathroom where he immediately started scrubbing away encrusted layers of mud and grime. Despite aches, pains and bone-deep exhaustion, he felt more comfortable and relaxed than he had in weeks. The serenity of this place was definitely infectious. Once the great horns in the courtyard fell silent the loudest noise was the slapping of the monks’ sandals against the paving stones.
A few doors away, Merlin was helped from his litter and into a tub of hot water scented with healing herbs and spices. Once carried back to his room, Lu Shi appeared to rewrap the foot in clean bandages, bringing with him an old fashioned, high-backed wheelchair fitted with soft cushions. As desperately as Merlin wanted to explore his fascinating new surroundings and meet his host, within an hour of their arrival both he and Jason were sound asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
During lunch the next day Sun Wang To proved himself to be a charming and personable host. Completely unlike the austere cleric Jason expected to find in charge of a monastery, the Panchen Lama was a man of broad sympathies and gentle, playful humor, sometimes giggling at his own jokes.
Jason and Merlin were both full of questions but their concerns were entirely different. While Merlin was desperate for theological discussion, Jason’s interest lay in his surroundings; the engineering necessary to construct the fantastic Temple of the Clouds, the brightly painted murals on the walls and the hundreds of strange objects decorating every porch and room. Shifting his attention back and forth between his guests, Sun Wang To did his best to address each query, ensuring that neither of them felt left out.
“I know this is a difficult question, but could you explain the basic tenants of the Buddhist religion. I know nothing about it and think understanding other faiths can help a person understand their own.” Merlin shifted uneasily in the massive wheelchair, trying to find a position comfortable for his throbbing ankle.
“A wise man knows there is no such thing as too much knowledge. Learning is the way to all enlightenment, and it is enlightenment itself which is at the core of Buddhist striving. Enlightenment comes only when one’s intellect and spirit transcends desire, which is the root of all suffering. We suffer because we desire not only that which we cannot have, but also that which is inherently bad for us.”
Merlin hunched forward, fascinated by this strange concept. “But if you desire nothing, how can there be any striving of the mind and spirit? Without desire, there is no progress.”
“The idea of progress, like all physical reality, is no more than an illusion which must be transcended.”
The conversation bounced back and forth between Merlin and the Lama like a Ping-Pong ball until Jason’s eyes started to glaze over. “I really hate to be a wet blanket here”, Jason interrupted, “but I am afraid this is all a little bit beyond me. If no one minds, I think I’ll wander outside and look around.”
The Lama inclined his head gently. “Please feel free to explore, only remembering not to interrupt the brothers while they are at prayer. This old men’s discussion of the unknowable must bore a young man such as yourself.”
“Oh, no. It doesn’t bore me, it just confuses me, and I’m afraid I don’t know enough about it to contribute anything.”
“Please return any time you wish Mr. Jason, my door is always open to you.”
“Thank you.” Jason bowed awkwardly, not knowing the proper form for excusing himself from the presence of a Buddhist holy man. “I’ll see you later, Merlin.”
“Enjoy your day, Jason.” Merlin said with a slight smile before turning back to the conversation. “So at least we can agree that in both Buddhism and Christianity the spirit is of primary importance.”
The old monk stared into the distance, nodding his head slowly before answering. “Yes. We can
agree on that.”
Sun Wang To winked slyly, leaned forward slightly, locking his limpid, brown eyes with Merlin’s shockingly blue ones. “But I think you did not come here only to discuss theological niceties.”
“You’ve been talking to Lu Shi.”
The Lama nodded almost imperceptibly. “It is my understanding that you are considerably more than the humble former priest you claim to be and that you have made many powerful enemies.”
“So it would seem.”
“There are many roads to enlightenment Mr. Merlin, but none of them can bear fruit if we are killed by our enemies. Possibly, we should continue exchanging thoughts at a level more specific to the web which seems to have entrapped you and your young friend.”
Merlin drummed his fingers on the table deciding how much he could safely reveal. Finally he nodded. “Very well. I’ll tell you a story. You may find it unbelievable, beyond comprehension even, but I assure you it is entirely the truth.”
“If all Lu Shi tells me is true, I doubt that you can add much which will amaze me.”
“Wait until I’m finished and then decide.”
Outside the Lama’s quarters the high walls of the monastery kept out most of the cold mountain wind, leaving the pale sun to wash over the golden roof tiles and into the courtyard like a shimmering blanket of light. Perched on a length of railing, Jason stared across the open space at a row of large brass canisters on the far side of the cloister. Mounted vertically on some kind of axle, they were occasionally spun by a passing monk who would pause and raise a hand to the top of the drum before spinning it gently and moving off.
“You find the prayer wheels fascinating?”
Jason jumped reflexively, startled by the unexpected sound of Lu Shi’s voice at his shoulder. “Is that what they are? What do they do?”
“They are filled with prayers. When you see one of the brothers insert a slip of paper into the top of the wheel, he has written a prayer on it. Then he spins the wheel, sending out his prayer and all of the others that have been placed inside. The use of the wheels, along with traditional prayer and meditation, is part of our daily observance.”
“Huh.” Jason nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Maybe I’ll have to try that sometime.”
Lu Shi crinkled his eyes in pleasure. “Are you then becoming a Buddhist?”
Jason turned to face his friend, shaking his head slowly. “No, but it never hurts to keep all the bases covered.”
“Ah, yes. Covering the bases. A baseball term. I understand. You see, I did more than study medicine while I was in your country.”
“Honestly, Lu Shi, what do you think about western culture?”
Lu Shi sighed, collecting his thoughts. “Quite amazing. Everyone rushes toward some unknown end, which they seldom even pause to contemplate. While it is undeniable that the west has produced many wonderful technological advances, they are...I think…a bit...”
“Shallow. Is that the word you are looking for?”
“Possibly. But I would not wish to comment so harshly on a society I do not comprehend.”
“I understand. But you’re right.”
“You do not think the average American would appreciate the situation in which you and your friend have become involved, then?”
“No. I don’t. I’m not even sure I understand it and I’m in the middle of it.” With an ironic snort he added. “No. I am sure. I don’t understand it. I guess I haven’t gotten to that stage of enlightenment yet.”
Not wanting to probe too deeply, or add to Jason’s distress, Lu Shi shifted the conversation. “And your friend, Mr. Merlin, is his ankle giving him much discomfort today?”
“He’s ok. He’s with your Lama; they’re having a great time discussing the finer points of Buddhist versus Christian theology.”
“Then I am certain they are having a wonderful time. Our venerable Lama loves nothing so much as a good debate. He finds it one of the more enjoyable paths toward his personal enlightenment.” Lu Shi did his best to suppress a smile.
“I got lost on the enlightenment part of their talk. That’s why I came out here. But, yes, I think Merlin’s ankle will be ok.”
“As I said before, he is very lucky. At his age the damage could have been much worse. May I ask...” Lu Shi coughed gently. “...is Mr. Merlin much older than he at first appears?”
Jason stared long and hard at the monk’s impassive face before answering. “Yes. Much older.”
“I assumed this might be the case. For reasons which escape me, one seldom meets a young wizard.”
“Do you meet many wizards in your line of work?”
“Not many. But I think we are more open to such possibilities than many westerners.”
“Yeah. Well, if we don’t get back to England soon, the westerners may become open to a lot of possibilities they don’t want to think about.”
“It was more than just Ling Chu, then?”
“Oh, yeah. I don’t even know how long we’ve been gone. Do you happen to know the date?”
“I believe that by your reckoning it is now January the fourth.”
“Already? God, I missed Christmas and didn’t even know it.”
Changing the subject to keep Jason from brooding, Lu Shi said “Come, if you like I will give you what you American’s call the fifty cent tour of the monastery.”
“Oh, that would be great.” Jason tried to pull himself out of his funk. “Can we go down into the foundations?
“If you like. It is mostly storerooms and workshops, but you may see them if you wish.”
* * * *
“I believe you will find the library of particular interest. Our collection is very old and quite extensive. Tragically, there are so many volumes in languages which no one here can read that we do not even know what we have.” Merlin hardly heard the Lama, his attention completely absorbed by the thousands of books, scrolls and manuscripts stacked nearly to the room’s cavernous ceiling. “Possibly here we will find the answers you seek.” The Panchen Lama waved a bare arm expansively around the room, adding “Of course, to help you, I must know the exact nature of your problem. You have explained your ancient battle with this woman le Fay, but not the precise nature of the threat she poses.”
Merlin pulled his attention away from the sea of books and looked at his host. “My most immediate problem is that I seem to have lost my scrying glass and can’t keep track of Morgana’s actions. Do you know what a scrying glass is?” The Lama shook his head and scowled. “Some call it a crystal ball. It’s a means of viewing another person and their actions without them knowing it, generally through the use of a crystal, although some people use a bowl of water for the same purpose.”
Sun Wang To’s eyes flew open. “Ahh, you mean the portal of divination. Yes, yes. I understand. Sadly, we do not have any means of helping you create one.” He paused in thought, gazing into space until, suddenly, he held up an index finger. “If it is of any use to you, however, I do have a recipe for an unguent which renders the wearer invisible to another person’s...what did you call it...scrying glass.”
“Really?” Merlin’s eyes lit up.
“Yes. If you like I shall have the apothecary make you up some and give you the recipe to take with you. It is a trifle, but if it is of any use to you...” the meaning clear, the Lama let his words trail off.
“If it could keep her from locating us, that would be far more than a trifle.”
“You shall have it in a few days but, again, this is a minor thing. What else can we do to help you?”
“She, or at least some of her friends, like Ling Chu, seem able to control elemental demons. What did your monks called them, tulpas?”
“Yes, tulpas. We have some books on them. How to create them, how to control them. They are essentially concentrated thought, beings of the mind. Like children, they are only evil if they are taught to be evil; their reputation for malignancy lies in the fact that they are so often summoned by evil men like Dr Fu
Ling Chu. Their ability is limited, but if they are not tightly controlled, they can exercise some small individual existence. That is when they are most dangerous, when they are uncontrolled.”
“I’ve dealt with demons before, but it’s always good to know alternative ways to dispel them.”
“In our volumes of esoteric knowledge there are reputed to be spells on controlling more than sixty-thousand different kinds of demons; but who can possibly remember the right spell at the right time. I will show you the books and you may read them at your leisure. But still, you know as well as I, that these creatures, while dangerous in their small way, are not a threat on the scale you seem to feel this woman poses.”
“What do you know about serpents?”
“Do you mean venomous snakes?”
“No. Far more dangerous serpents. Legendary serpents.”
“Ahh. You must be referring to the Mongolian death worm. As you say, they are largely legendary, but are supposed to appear like gigantic eels, swimming through the sands of the Gobi, inflicting horrendous damage with an electrical charge. I have never personally seen one, but neither have I seen London, yet I have no reason to doubt its existence.”
“This death worm must be a fascinating creature, but I had something more impressive in mind.” Merlin drew in a long breath before taking a leap of faith. “What do you know about dragons?”
Sun Wang To shrugged. “Like everyone, I know stories and legends. Their images have appeared in Chinese artwork since the beginning of time. Supposedly, there are many kinds of dragons, some good ones, which bring such things as the rain, and some bad, which can bring great destruction. But these are tales for children and primitive minds.” Pausing in his discourse, the old Lama turned toward Merlin. “Surely, you do not mean to imply that such things really exist?”
“I’ve seen them. I have been there when they attacked my countrymen and slaughtered them by the hundreds.”
The Lama’s eyes grew wide with wonder. “And you believe this woman controls them?”