She sniffled loudly and turned to the kitchen table. Grabbing up a handful of papers and a manila envelope, she shook the fistful of documents and shouted, “I found this. He left it for us. He planned everything!”
Ren put his hand on her arm. He quickly scanned the documents and frowned. “I think you should read this aloud, Kells. Would you mind?”
The manila envelope had been sent priority mail from a law office in Mumbai. The first page was a letter. I began:
My Dear Ones,
When you receive this letter, I will be dead. I know you have many questions that I could not answer before, and there are still many things I cannot share with you now. As you may have guessed, the amulet I wore healed me of minor wounds, prevented disease, and kept me alive for centuries. It also has more power than we had previously thought.
It has the ability to control time and space. I discovered this potentially most dangerous of powers purely by accident when I tried to protect Nilima on the ship. The amulet physically removed us and set us adrift in the cosmos.
It took me a while to understand what had happened to us and to learn how to control the amulet. I was also able to erase Nilima’s memory of the event. Forgive me, my dear, but I wanted at least one of us to recover from the experience and be able to live a normal life.
During that interval, I was able to see time unfold before me. I learned more of the universe than a man should know. It’s a terrible burden to know the future. I didn’t want that for you, Nilima.
If there had been any way to guarantee a successful outcome without my demise, I would not have sacrificed myself. Please believe this. I would have preferred to help you finish Durga’s quest and would have enjoyed bouncing your children on my knee, Miss Kelsey. I had no desire to leave you, but it was necessary.
If I survived, one or all of you would have been killed. I could not let that happen. When Lokesh took the amulet, I used its power to send him into the past, for that is where he was fated to go. But this does not mean he is gone for good, and this does not mean you are safe from him.
I also know definitively that it has always been your destiny to overcome Lokesh, and there is only one way you are able to accomplish this—through the power of the tiger.
This power was destined for two worthy sons of India to wield, and though I cannot tell you more at this time, I will say that I can think of no men finer or braver than the two of you. Destiny has chosen well. The lives of many have been entrusted to your care. Consider your actions carefully. There is still much work to be done.
Miss Kelsey, I bequeath to you my library. All the books that I own now belong to you. This library will be the beginning of your own collection. Whether you leave them here or take them with you when you marry, they are yours. You are a daughter to me, and this gift is nothing compared to what you have given me.
Study the books that talk about Durga’s creation. This knowledge will help you in your journey. Take care of Ren and Kishan—they both need you—and guard your piece of the amulet well. It is the only object protecting the world from Lokesh, and he will stop at nothing to take it from you.
When you knew him, Lokesh was still a mortal, but in the past he has embraced evil and allowed his soul to fester in darkness. Through black magic and his manipulation of the amulet, he has become a demon and though he will fall into your hands, it will not be in this time or in this place. To defeat him, you must journey into the past and confront him when he is at his most powerful.
I have included the translation of the fourth prophecy to guide your way. Nilima can take you to the Andaman Islands where you will seek the City of Light. Do not fear the flame, Miss Kelsey, for if you are prepared, it will not hurt you. The object you are seeking is called the Rope of Fire. It will transport you to the time and place I sent Lokesh. There you shall meet a guide who will aid you in your battle. To use the Rope, simply think of when and where in time you need to go and whip it in a circle. A vortex will open, and you will be able to leap through time.
Nilima must stay behind and take care of all the difficulties that will arise in the company due to my death. If she journeys with you into the past, she will perish. She must not go!
I wish that I could be with you. I wish that I could tell you everything. But I promise you that I have seen your future, and I know that you will be victorious. You will overcome the monster. Rely upon one another; trust each other. Ahead lies a lifetime full of love and happiness for all of you.
There is a story about a king and his son that may give you some comfort: An oracle foretold that the boy would die by snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage. The king, distressed at this news, vowed that his son would never marry and taught his son to find fault with every princess who came to seek his hand.
Years passed, and then one day when the king was away, a young woman stormed through the castle doors and accused the prince of wrongly imprisoning her father.
The prince was shocked. No woman had ever spoken to him in that manner before. His eyes fixated on the smudge on her cheek and her one eye that was a shade bluer than the other. But as she continued to beseech him, those thoughts fell away, and he soon noticed the curve of her figure, the gleam in her eyes, and the shine of her black hair.
The prince demanded that her father be freed. Instead of pledging her undying thanks, the woman gave a stiff curtsey, which only made the prince love her more. The prince declared his feelings for the woman, who merely scoffed at him with disdain. However, his persistence won out in the end, and she came to love him as fiercely as she once reviled him.
Despite the king’s misgivings, the two were married, and the king told the new bride of the oracle’s prediction. On the fourth night of their marriage, the new bride set out every piece of gold, silver, and jewelry the couple had. Both she and the prince kept vigil all night long and waited for the serpent. She lit lamps, told her husband stories, and sang to him to keep him awake.
Late that night, the god of death, Yama, arrived in the guise of a cobra, but his eyes were dazzled by the lights and the wealth heaped on the floor. He swayed to the lilting songs and at dawn, unable to fulfill the prophecy, he slithered away.
I tell you this story for two reasons. First, I want you to remember that even though your feet have been set on a path that is not of your choosing you still have the freedom to decide your own destiny. I want nothing more than for you to be happy. This story is an excellent example of twisting fate to your benefit.
I would also have you know that I chose my fate and I could not have wished for a better death or have more hope for a beneficial outcome. Do not mourn me, but consider instead the blessings of a life well lived.
There is a saying, “When a father gives to his son, both laugh. When a son gives to his father, both cry.” You have given me much, my sons. I am proud of you. I have often wept at the thought of leaving you, but I know that you will be able to go on without me. Take good care of my Miss Kelsey.
I will leave you with a sonnet. Perhaps the reading of it will soothe us all.
SONNET 30
William Shakespeare
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste:
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night,
And weep afresh love’s long-since-cancell’d woe,
And moan the expense of many a vanisht sight:
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o’er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restored, and sorrows end.
I will think on thee often, my dear friends. Until we meet again.
—Anik
Kadam
As if in silent tribute, Ren and Kishan switched back to tigers. My hand dropped heavily to my lap, and I stared silently out the kitchen window. Nilima wept softly.
“Why didn’t he tell me? I could have shared this burden with him,” she declared emotionally.
“He didn’t want that for you,” I replied and rubbed her back. “He didn’t want that for any of us.”
Scooping up the papers, I read through Mr. Kadam’s translation of the fourth prophecy.
Flames of the skies,
Sunset and Sunrise,
Await you with blazing breath.
Caldera descend
And Qilin defend
While Rakshasas seek your death.
When Bodha is near,
That which you fear
Will threaten to tear you in two.
But with armor and sword,
You will find your reward
And spells of illusion undo.
The Lords of the Fire
Intend to conspire
To keep you from what you need.
A burning lash
From Chimera’s cache
Is a prize they surely won’t cede.
Then when you have won
And your task is done,
It is time to cross to the past.
When destiny draws close,
Overcome your foes
And bring India peace at last.
“There’s a note attached to the prophecy,” I read. “‘I have compiled this list of what I believe you will be up against in this last journey. First, you must travel to the Andaman Islands, where you will take a boat to Barren Island, a tiny volcanic isle that has a diameter of only three kilometers. There are directions on how to find Barren Island in the GPS I installed into the watercraft.
‘Once you arrive on the island, climb to the top of the cliff and then descend into the caldera. You must proceed with caution. This volcano is active, and the cliff is precipitous. It erupted this year. This island is uninhabited by humans, but there will be other creatures that are not of this world. You must brave the flame to enter Bodha, a fabled City of Light that is found at the core of Earth.
‘Not much is known about the city or its inhabitants, but there is an account written by Willis George Emerson of a lost sailor from Norway who found the entrance to the underground city through a cavern at the North Pole. The story by Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth, is reminiscent of Bodha as well. In that case, the adventurer journeyed to the center of Earth through volcanic tubes in Iceland to find a lost world.
‘Some of the other creatures you may come across on this journey according to the prophecy are Qilin and Rakshasas. A Qilin is a creature from Chinese mythology. It has the head of a dragon and the antlers of a deer and is covered with fish scales. It is said to be a gentle creature and symbolizes good luck. Rakshasas are shape-shifting man-eaters that use magic and illusion to catch their prey. They are warriors and difficult to kill. They have venomous claws as well.
‘Be wary of the Chimera, which Miss Kelsey most likely has already heard of. It is a lioness with a snake tail and an extra head that is usually represented by a goat. The Chimera breathes fire and is very dangerous.
‘You will also cross paths with the Lords of the Flame, trickster twin brothers who are powerful and greedy. They can be played against each other, but if they unite against you, the result may be tragic. One of them fights with a Gáe Bolga—a notched javelin-like spear. Its tip opens into thirty barbs upon impact. The only way to remove the weapon is to cut it out. The other twin wields a pair of barbed whips.
‘I do not know what types of creatures Sunset and Sunrise are, so I would plan for the worst and hope for the best. This is all I can prepare you for. Good luck to you all.’”
Nilima sniffled as I set the papers down and felt a tiger nose touch my leg. Ren looked pointedly at the stairs. I knew exactly what he wanted to say. It was time to put this long day behind us.
After Nilima and I said good night, I climbed the stairs with my two tigers trailing along behind me. They settled on the floor in my room and watched me move about through sleepy eyes narrowed into slits. I climbed into bed and tried to burn every detail of Mr. Kadam’s face into my memory forever.
10
the birth of durga
It was a Hindu custom to mourn for thirteen days, but we decided to mourn for three days and then follow the tradition of keeping a lamp lit for another ten.
Mr. Kadam had said to look up Durga’s creation, and I dutifully immersed myself in study that led me to an interesting theory. The Durga stories told of many weapons, and with Ren and Kishan researching at my side, we jotted down a quick list to keep track of them all.
Weapons
Disc (Chakram)
Conch (Kamandal’healing power)
Missile (Spear Darts from Trident?)
Arrows (Golden Bow and Arrows)
Thunder Bolt (Lightning Power?)
Bell (Needed to Awaken Durga)
Rod (Trident/Trishula)
Axe (Blade of Chakram?)
Magic Armor (New Weapon)
Mace (Gada)
Water pot (Other Name for Kamandal, I think)
Cudgel (Other Name for Gada)
Sword (Actually Two Swords)
Snake (Fanindra)
Rope (Rope of Fire?)
Jewels (Pearl Necklace)
New Clothing (Divine Scarf)
Garlands of Immortal Lotus (Gave to the mermaid
Kaeliora—Durga said it had no power) Noose (Rope of Fire?)
“It appears there are lots of different versions of how Durga was born,” I explained, reading on. “In this text it says Durga was a goddess who was born from the flame. But other books claim she rose from a river, appeared out of a whirlwind, came from a ball of light, and emerged from the cave of a great mountain. Then there’s also a story about Durga being created to battle a demon called Mahishasur.”
“Okay, so the stories vary,” said Kishan.
“Yes, but what’s the common denominator?”
I paused, but they said nothing, waiting for me to fill in the blank. “The amulet!” I exclaimed.
“I don’t get it,” Ren said rubbing his jaw.
“We know that the amulet piece I wear has the properties of fire, and Mr. Kadam said his piece shot him into space. What if each amulet represents one of the elements—fire, air, water, earth, and space—and each of her ‘birth’ stories reflect a different element?” I proposed and handed over my notes on the amulet.
Possible Powers
The roar of Durga’s tiger shook the world.
(Earthquake? Earth Amulet)
Oceans boiled and surf flooded the land.
(Water Amulet or Pearl Necklace)
Mountains crumbled in a thousand landslides.
(Earth Amulet)
Used her divine breath to replenish her armies.
(Food/water/clothing? Using gifts)
Great flames issued forth in all directions.
(Fire Amulet/Rope of Fire)
Dodged mountains. (Earth Amulet)
Encompassed Mahishasur’s army in a sandstorm.
(Air Amulet)
“Okay, then which birth story is the accurate one?” Kishan asked.
“Maybe they all are,” I suggested.
“Um . . . here’s something,” Ren added. “This book talks about a volcanic island that sounds an awful lot like the one Kadam told us to go to. It’s called the Pit of Hell.”
“Really?” I coughed on a bite of muffin. “That’s marvelous.”
“That’s not the worst of it.”
“Good,” I mumbled sarcastically. “I wouldn’t want it to be too easy. So a volcanic island and a battle between Durga and Mahishasur? I think it’s possible that Durga may have had the whole amulet when she beat him, taking into account, of course, that we accept the story literally.”
“It’s a good theory,” Kishan said.
“There’s no mention of anything strange happening in space or time though.”
“No, there isn’t. There’s also no mention of anyone appearing or disappearing.”
“Tell me the story of the battle, so I can picture it in my mind,” Kishan asked.
“Alright. I’ll start when Durga meets Mahishasur.” I thumbed through pages until I found what I was looking for. “‘When the goddess entered the battlefield astride her tiger, all eyes turned to her. The tiger paced slowly forward, and the awestruck men knelt while the demons panted softly at seeing the beautiful goddess. She was calm, fearless. Though she passed squadrons of demon archers, thousands of charioteers, and hundreds of battle elephants, none moved to harm her—each creature was totally awestruck at her power.
‘When at last she reached the demon king, she was surrounded by men with glistening iron axes and black halberds’—wait, what are halberds?”
“It’s like a long spear with an axe on the end,” Ren answered.
“Got it. ‘The battlefield was a river of blood but even the red river could not distract from the red of her lips or the lushness of her hair, so immensely beautiful was she. The demon king fell in love upon seeing her and announced he would take her for his bride. He instructed his men to capture the goddess, but none of them were aware that behind her great beauty was a creature of great strength.
‘Like a whirlwind, she and her tiger rose up and slew each of the demon king’s cohorts. She threw her noose around Mahishasur’s neck, and while her tiger clamped onto his body with his jaws, she raised her sword and cut the demon in half.’”
Kishan whistled. “She sure sounds like my kind of woman.”
I elbowed him in the ribs and Ren rolled his eyes, but Kishan ignored us.
“I would have loved to see her in battle,” he continued.
“I think you’re missing the point, Casanova.”
Kishan grinned, captured my hand, and kissed it. “I wondered what it would take to make you jealous. By the way, I’m nothing like Casanova. I’m strictly a one-woman man,” he said.
I looked up and locked eyes with Ren briefly before he buried his nose in a book again.
“The point is,” I continued without remarking upon his comment, “I think we need to prepare to fight Lokesh the same way Durga fought Mahishasur.”