Land Of The Thunder Dragon

by Dave Williams

  After they had passed, a young guy carrying what looked like a large metal cylinder strapped to his leather backpack came up to them with a huge smile. He whipped a big bright coloured cloth out of his backpack, laid it on the ground and started setting up cups on the blanket. “Tea for everyone,” he announced as he unscrewed the lid from the big metal cylinder that turned out to be a big Thermos flask. Steam escaped as the lid was removed, and everyone moved closer as he poured the strong tea and handed out the steaming cups. It was especially exciting when he rummaged around in his pack and pulled out a bag full of something that looked like doughnuts. He explained that they were Tibetan Bread, and he began spreading a thick layer of jam onto each one as he handed them out.

  “These will get you to camp no problems,” he said. He was very happy to receive the Oohs and Aahs as they bit into their sticky treats.

  Once finished, David rested looking up at the sky through the branches of the Rhododendron trees. He could see a bird shape circling high in the sky and realised that Druk was overhead. “Hello,” he said.

  A voice came into his head, but not through his ears. “Hello David, how are things going down there.”

  David was amazed to realise that he could have this conversation with Druk without speaking aloud. How cool is that.

  David replied, “Actually, we are having fun. Someone tried to shoot us before though, at the base of the monastery climb. But we are ok now, I think. Did you see our video that we posted?”

  “Yes, I did, and I think it was exactly the right thing to do. I think that you just ensured that you all remain safe from those people. Don’t become complacent though David, stay alert, there are many other dangers in the mountains. I will remain overhead for as long as I can.”

  “What other dangers should we be looking out for then?” asked David, a little alarmed.

  “The natural ones, Tigers, Bears, Snow Leopards, are all dangers that your Grandfather can explain to you. He knows these mountains and its inhabitants very well. The not so natural ones however, we won’t know about until you have to deal with them. The only advice I can give you, is to stay alert and be ready, as will I.”

  David sat quietly for a minute, finishing the last of his tea. “The thing that worries me the most at the moment is how to find the ‘Princess’. It’s not the actual mountain is it?”

  “I don’t believe so David. But once again, if you head in the right direction, the path will somehow become obvious, or the Princess will find you.”

  David looked down at the staff, “Things To Do, Places To Go.” It said.

  David laughed, “I think I’m being hurried up by a stick Druk, I’ll talk with you again later.”

  “Enjoy your hike David, especially the time with your family. And yes, we can talk any time you like.”

  Skye walked over and offered David a hand to get up from his seat on the log. “Where have you been at David?”

  “Right here… Oh.” He pointed up through the trees and Skye could just make out the shape of Druk overhead.

  “Oh, were you chatting telepathically?”

  “Yep.” David replied. “Pretty amazing hey. But really, she was just warning us to not let our guard down. There are other dangers around here. I think we should catch up to Grandpa Jack and have a chat.”

  Skye looked up to see Grandpa Jack disappearing along the rocky trail. “So much for sticking together,” she laughed as Sonam and Pema took an arm each as they walked off.

  Pema said to them both, “You can’t hold him back here kids. He’s in his element.”

  “That’s exactly what we need to discuss with him Grandma Pema,” said Skye. “Druk is warning us to be alert and not let our guard down.”

  “That’s enough of the Grandma word guys, please just call us Sonam and Pema. We really don’t want to feel as old as we actually are you know.” Sonam rolled her eyes.

  “And don’t worry about the old fella,” Pema said with a wicked grin, “He’s as alert as he could possibly be, and out in front because he is checking the trail for unusual tracks.”

  Just at that moment, they almost bumped into Grandpa Jack, down on one knee looking closely at something on the ground.

  “What is it Grandpa Jack?” asked Timothy as he knelt down alongside him with one hand on Jack’s shoulder.

  Grandpa Jack didn’t answer him immediately, he looked over to his right into some thick bushes. Trying hard to see what was hidden there.

  Finally, he responded very quietly to Timothy. “I had a feeling that we were being shadowed for the last hour or so.” He turned back to the trail and pointed to something in a little muddy spot. “This is a snow leopard paw print, it’s very fresh. But curiously, it has been placed here deliberately for us to see it.”

  “How could you know that Grandpa Jack?” Wayne asked, looking over both of their shoulders.

  “Well,” Jack said slowly, trying to piece together in his mind exactly what was going on. It was as if he was talking directly to whatever was hiding in the bushes. “Snow Leopards don’t come down this low. We are not even through the three thousand metres elevation yet. Also, the pony train is ahead of us now, and was through here only about half an hour ago, right?”

  Timothy joined the mental dots, “So, you can see all the hoof prints from the ponies, and this paw print overlaps one of those, on top. That means that this Snow Leopard was here less than half an hour ago.”

  “Well done Timothy,” said Grandpa Jack, “And?”

  “And,” Wayne continued, “And, it’s heading in the opposite direction to whatever you’ve got spotted in the bushes over there.”

  By now, the whole troupe was bunched up looking over the three bush tracker’s shoulders, trying to see and hear what they were talking about.

  Skye reinforced the shield she had placed over them all.

  “And?” Grandpa Jack said again.

  Timothy looked in the direction the paw print was heading and then back the other way toward the bushes. “There are no other tracks Grandpa Jack. Not in either direction. But it is muddy in both directions, you would think there would be more than one print.”

  “Exactly,” Grandpa Jack said as he got up from his kneeling position and began walking towards the bushes he had been studying.

  As everyone lunged to prevent Grandpa Jack from walking into big trouble, there was a low burbling growl from the direction of the bushes. It sent a spine-tingling chill through David, and then there was a crashing rush in the bushes as something unseen took off in the other direction, away from them. They could here it smashing through the undergrowth for a little while longer. Then they all turned to Grandpa Jack who was standing there with his hand clasping his chin in thought.

  Grandpa Jack finally spoke, “Why would a Tiger want to pretend to be a Snow Leopard?”

  “That was a Tiger?” gasped Skye.

  “Oh Yes,” replied Grandpa Jack. “You could tell from that low growl. Definitely a Tiger. Very Curious.”

  “Were we in danger just then Grandpa Jack?” Skye’s dome shield was almost crackling from the power she was putting into it subconsciously.

  “Oh Yes,” He said again. “Most definitely. He knew that I knew we were being tracked. He decided to have us believe that he was a Snow Leopard.”

  “Why would that be?” Skye asked as they began to walk on, huddled closely together.

  Grandpa Jack was obviously still trying to put the puzzle together in his mind. “Snow Leopards are quite solitary creatures, but they are also not a danger unless you are a Bharal, a Himalayan Blue Sheep, or a Marmot. He was trying to make us feel that we were being watched over by a friend.”

  Jack turned to eyeball the whole group. “Know this, all of you,” he implored. “A Tiger will never be your friend, and must not be trusted. Ever.”

  David piped up, “Yes, on recent events I have to agree with you Grandpa Jack. But that doesn’t explain why he was tracking us.”

  “I think the real que
stion, is who is he tracking us for?”

  Everyone thought on that last comment for quite a while as they continued up the trail.

  They all filed onto a suspension bridge to cross the river from the right-hand bank to the left. The sky was growing dark, David couldn’t quite tell if it was getting late, or whether it was going to rain. Probably both, he thought. They were in a deep valley and the sun was behind the hills to one side, so it was impossible to tell how far off sunset was.

  Just after that, they emerged into a high fenced clearing. Several tents had been erected around a central larger tent. The ponies were grazing around the tents, with the bells around their necks making a soothing melody that reverberated around the otherwise quiet camp site. They collapsed exhausted into folding camp chairs placed out the front of the larger tent.

  Just at that moment, snow began to fall gently all around them, the world seemed to go very quiet.

  Grandpa Jack suggested that they all get comfortable in their tents and stay warm until dinner was ready. “They have been set up for two people per tent.”

  Naturally, Wayne and Timothy claimed a tent together. David was about to suggest that he share with Flynn, when Lurch disappeared into Flynn’s tent.

  “It seems synthetics need sleep too,” David said, a little miffed.

  “It’s ok David,” said Skye, you can share with me. I am a bit over being the solo girl.

  On either side of the tent, they saw a big fluffy warm sleeping bag on a camp mat. They crashed onto one each and laid back with arms folded behind their heads to make a pillow. It was so comfortable as they looked silently at the roof of the tent. They could just hear the soft swishing sound of the snow sliding down the sides of the tent. With the soothing sound of the ponys’ bells in the background, they were soon fast asleep.

  Chapter 40

  “Only The Farting Bit”

  David was dreaming that Skye was shaking him, trying to get him to wake up.

  “David, are you ok?” Skye was calling out very loudly.

  He knew that he should wake up, Skye sounded distressed. But he wanted to go back to his dream. He’d been back in the cavern under the Takstang Monastery, talking to the Tiger. Talking was the wrong word. David had actually been interrogating the Tiger, threatening him with the staff. He wasn’t quite sure why the Tiger was afraid of it, but he was trying to make sure that he remembered that when he woke up. He was on the verge of understanding the reason he was tracking them. He wanted Skye to stop shaking him, he needed to finish the interrogation.

  The Tiger was disappearing into the back of the cavern. He was escaping. David was extremely frustrated, he could feel himself being drawn out of the cavern against his will. The Tiger smiled.

  At that moment, Grandpa Jack came to the tent door. “Are you two ok?” He called out as he undid the zip.

  “Damn,” said David. “Do you guys realise what you just interrupted? I almost had him.”

  “Had who?” Grandpa Jack asked, at the same time signalling to Tandin, that hot tea would be a great idea.

  David thought about what he was going to say, he didn’t want to sound, unhinged. “I had been dreaming that I had the Tiger cornered in the cave below Takstang. We were having a conversation, where I was on the verge of understanding why he was tracking us.”

  One of the young porters arrived with three cups of steaming tea on a beaten tin tray. Jack took two, and handed them through the tent flap, then took the third for himself and sat down on a low stool, thanking Tandin for bringing his blanket to wrap around his shoulders. He was still warm, as he always sleeps in his clothes while trekking, so the blanket prevented him from losing that heat.

  Jack looked down at his feet and the pattern that their movement had made in the snow.

  “David. And Skye. We must take this very seriously. Don’t just dismiss it as a crazy dream. You have a connection, perhaps for obvious reasons, but it may be one that your enemies aren’t happy about. This could be a good way to get an insight into what is going on.” Grandpa Jack saw Pema’s head emerge from her tent, looking worried at the commotion. Jack indicated that things were under control and there was no hurry to get up.

  “It’s just getting light guys,” Grandpa Jack continued, “Wrap a blanket around yourselves and come out here to enjoy the sunrise, the sky has cleared, and it will be beautiful. We can talk about it as we get ready to leave. It’s the best part of the day right now.” Jack took a long draught of his strong tea and nearly choked. It was tea how the porters like it, very strong, very sweet and very milky.

  Tandin laughed from in front of the cooking tent and raised his own mug to salute Jack. Jack realised that they were drinking the tea that they had just got ready for themselves as they rose from their own sleep. That was how it had arrived so fast.

  David and Skye emerged to gasp at the snowy wonderland, gently lit by the first glow of morning. “Wow,” was all they could say as they drank in the scene, while drinking in their tea.

  “Welcome to day two in the mountains kids,” said Grandpa Jack.

  “I can’t believe how beautiful it is,” said Timothy as he emerged from his tent. Tandin rushed over with two more mugs of tea and they were gratefully accepted by Timothy and he handed one through the tent flap to Wayne. “How good is this?” Everyone heard from inside the tent.

  Skye, David and Grandpa Jack cracked up laughing as the tension broke and they all began to relax.

  Timothy scratched his head at that. “What was so funny about that? I don’t get it.”

  Skye rolled her eyes, “Well, while you’ve been scratching, snoring and farting your way through the night. I heard everything by the way and my tent won’t be so close to yours tonight. David has been having violent dreams that we’ve been trying to help him understand in the hope that we will get some insight on how to be careful today. So, yes, seeing you guys emerge so free of cares and worries did make us laugh, but no, it wasn’t actually funny.”

  Wayne’s head emerged from the tent. “Hey Tim? Did any of that just make any sense to you?”

  “Only the farting bit Wayne. Only the farting bit.”

  Chapter 41

  “They May Not Be Humans”

  Gigantic black talons dislodged chunks of ice from the peak, as Druk slowly rotated her body through the sun’s first rays, trying to get warm.

  She was paying the price of staying vigilant throughout the night. Hundreds of years trapped in a dungeon that was one constant temperature had made her soft. Druk knew that she would harden up with time, so she just had to put up with it. Looking down from the peak that she was perched upon, she could see David’s camp far below. She knew it sounded silly, but she wished that she too could enjoy a hot cup of tea with him as the sun rose.

  She let out a mighty roar that shook the whole valley. It actually caused a few small avalanches. Leaping into the air and spreading her wings, she imagined their foe, cowering in the bushes far below.

  Druk opened a connection to David. “I picked up on the context of your dreams during the night David. Subconsciously you were broadcasting them. I don’t understand why there is still a negative undercurrent about your mission. If you are not successful, everyone will be wiped from existence. Have you formulated any ideas from this new information David?”

  “Good morning Druk. I found your roar very comforting just then, I’m not sure about everyone else though. There were a few porters who panicked and scurried back into their tent,” David Chuckled. “Now that you mention it though, I have an inkling as to why someone is still against our mission. The real question is who or what stands to benefit from humanity’s extinction?”

  Druk thought on that for a moment. “You know, I hadn’t been thinking that way. I had been thinking purely from a human perspective. ‘Which group of humans stand to benefit.’ It may not be a group of humans at all.”

  “Exactly,” said David. “You are not human Druk, I presume that you would live on. The Tigers, The S
now Leopards. Animals in general.”

  “In actual fact David, I am not sure if you are correct about me. As my purpose is to be the bridge between humanity and the environment, if humanity ceases to exist, that might just include me as well. I actually don’t know on that one.”

  “Let’s think on this as we travel today.”

  David turned away and looked at the rest of the group just standing there looking at him as if he was an alien.

  “I was talking with Druk,” David said. At the same time, he noticed the flashing red light that meant that Lurch was recording him.

  “Sure you were,” said Wayne, rolling his eyes and crouching down to get his bed roll from the front of his tent. “You totally missed breakfast by the way.” He walked off onto the trail heading out of camp.