Rain (The Quest Trilogy-Book Two) (19 page)

“He is … gone. I was tired of that body. It was too old.”

“Gone? Where?” asked Rain, dreading the reply.

“Inside the well. I dumped his body there.”

Rain consulted his Geeya in his mind.

‘What is this thing talking about? Wanting to attach itself to me?’

‘He is asking you only to humor you. If he wanted, he could attach himself to you right

now.’

‘Then why doesn’t he do it?’

‘Because if you are an unwilling body, then it will cause him pain to remain attached to you. And he prefers not to have to bear that…’

‘What will happen if I let him attach himself to me?’

‘Once it is attached, it will start showing you nightmares. As the days pass, it will slowly begin to gain control over your body, its main aim is to kill you eventually.’

‘I’ll never let that happen! I’ll kill it first with my sword.’

‘Not possible. A fantôme is quicker than a ray of light. Before you have even drawn out your sword it will enter you and tear you to shreds.’

Rain fell silent, contemplating his next move.

‘I’ll need a plan, won’t I? Some way to weaken it … slow it down.’

‘If you want to save your body and your life, then yes.’

‘What is its weakness?’

‘I cannot tell you that, but I am sure it is something you will be able to figure out on your own.’

‘It’s not light … definitely. Light’s help cast the strongest shadows. Is night the time when it is weakest?’

‘The night is the time of shadows. They are not weak at night.’

‘Shadows cast in water are weak … is that a solution?’

‘A fantôme is afraid of water, yes.’

‘Hmm … I think I just might make it out of this mess yet.’

Rain looked up at the shadow.

“I have made my decision.” he began, cautiously.

The fantôme edged closer. “Yes?” it breathed.

“I would be honored to have you attach yourself to my body, but in return, I want you to give me a wisdom. Also …” continued Rain, taking the time to get up and move some distance away from the fantôme, “it is night now, and I am tired …”

The fantôme remained silent. Rain went on.

“So I suggest you take my body during the daytime, because by then I will be rested and happy.”

“You are correct.” said the fantôme. “Tomorrow, then. When the sun is at its highest.”

“We have a deal.”

Rain was somewhat relieved. He had until morning to figure out some way to save himself. He spent a tense and restless night, completely on alert and not sleeping a wink. The first rays of the sun finally broke through, announcing the arrival of dawn. Rain waited until the sun had come up fully and then led the shadow outside.

“There is a special place I would like to go to, where I will give my body up to you.” explained Rain.

The fantôme followed obediently in his wake, two shadows walking side-by-side. One Rain’s own, and one free of any bodily attachments.

On his walk yesterday, Rain had crossed a large pond where ducks were swimming. He made his way straight to the pond.

“Why don’t you tell me the wisdom while we are on our way?” suggested Rain, hoping against hope that the fantôme would comply.

“All right.” said the fantôme. “This is a mistake I have seen many humans commit, especially in this place. Always live in the present, but while you are at it, don’t forget to plan for the future.”

What an apt wisdom, thought Rain. Right now, he only had his present to live in. If he planned correctly, he would have a future, too. If not, then his present as well as his future was doomed.

“What mistake did the people of this place make?” asked Rain.

“They didn’t plan for the future. They had a bumper crop one year. More than they had ever harvested in their entire lives. They celebrated and made merry, believing that their stocks would last them forever. Two years later, severe famine struck … and the people starved to death. There were a few who tried to leave for greener pastures but they, too, starved before they could reach anywhere.”

“Right …” said Rain, stealing a glance at his chain, “we must plan for the future, too.”

A claw was glowing. He had his wisdom. Now, he had to get rid of the fantôme somehow.

“Why have we come here?” asked the fantôme, as soon as they had arrived at the pond.

Rain could hear the fear in its voice. “Do you see that tree on the other side of the pond? My father always said make a new beginning under a tree … it will bring good luck. His words are most important to me and that is where I would like to give my body up to you. Below that tree.” said Rain, fibbing his way through.

“But I cannot cross the pond.” said the fantôme, backing away.

“Have no worries,” said Rain, hastily trying to reassure the fantôme, “Just attach yourself to one of these ducks, it will help you cross over to the other side safely.”

The fantôme remained silent and immobile. Rain could sense its unease.

“I give you my word. The ducks are excellent swimmers. You have nothing to fear from crossing the pond once you are attached to one.”

Rain watched the fantôme move hesitantly towards a duck and then mould itself to the duck’s form.

“Let’s go.” said Rain, stepping into the pond.

The fantôme waited until Rain had entered the pond fully and then gingerly, it dumped itself onto the water. Just as Rain had expected, the minute the fantôme hit the water, its fear took over and it began to paddle ahead in a frenzy. Rain slowed down, waiting for it to cross ahead of him. As soon as it had its back to him, Rain drew out his sword and slashed it though he neck of the animal. There was a scream and then the body of the duck sank to the bottom of the pond like a dead weight. Rain ran out of the pond.

“I did it! I did it!” he cried jubilantly.

His Geeya smiled and floated over. “You certainly did. And now …”

“It’s time to leave!” cheered Rain.

He was swept off his feet as the scene around him whizzed past. The next thing he knew, he was back in the forest.

*****

CHAPTER 15

“Where’s Rainbow?” said Rain.

Heart dumped the logs of wood in his hand and turned around.

“Rain? Welcome back, brother. Quest go well?”

“Thanks, yeah, the Quest was fine. Where’s Rainbow? I don’ see her anywhere. And why are you packing up here?”

“Rainbow left just yesterday morning. Her pea-clock was ticking. And we are packing because …” trailed off Heart, pointing to the sea.

The sea had receded from the shoreline. It had gone so far back that only wet land was visible as far as the eye could see. And there, in the centre, was a large opening like a yawning gap, leading under the ground.

“Okay … so a path has been revealed in the middle of the sea-bed. But this doesn’t explain why you’re packing up.” said Rain, walking over to his backpack.

Subodh came hurrying towards the two of them.

“Well, well. Just in time, you are.” He coughed on spotting Rain. “What are you standing there, posing for? On the double, boy. On the double!”

“Now you know why we are leaving, brother Rain.” said Heart, smiling down at the rope he was binding into knots.

“Because of Subodh?”

“Yes. He says this is a sign. We must leave. I was wondering how you would find us when you got back. But that seems to be a moot point now. Come to think of it, that’s probably why Subodh wasn’t worried at all yesterday. Would you please pass me that bag of cured meat?”

Rain did, and then got busy with helping the two of them. Since they had very few belongings, most of which was packed anyway, they were done pretty quickly.

They sat down for one last meal at the beach and then headed out towards the opening in the middle of the sea. It was very dark inside and smelled strongly of ammonia and sulphur.

“Peeoo! Sure is stinky.” remarked Rain.

“Brother Rain, do you have a flash light by any chance?”

Rain pulled one out of his belt and handed it to Heart.

They walked for a short distance, guided by the single beam of light. The path took a sharp turn and then the tunnel opened up into what seemed to be the belly of the sea.

Rain and Heart stopped in their tracks.

“How are we supposed to go on?” asked Rain.

“Just keep walking!” growled Subodh.

When neither of them budged, he took matters into his own hands and walked straight out into the sea. Subodh didn’t choke; didn’t drown. Neither did he get wet.

He seemed to be standing in the middle of the sea, absolutely unaffected by it. Rain and Heart joined him where he stood, realizing only then that they were standing inside a clear glass bubble that separated them from the sea ahead. When all three were inside the bubble, it separated from the mouth of the tunnel and floated out into the sea. It was like being on a fantastic underwater adventure from where they could see enormous whales and manta-ray’s floating by peacefully without disturbing, or getting disturbed, by them.

An hour later, the bubble began to rise towards the surface. It carried them safely to the shore, and then popped. In front of them lay an open vista of orange-gold sand and open blue sky. When they turned behind, the ocean had gone.

They were now surrounded on all sides by the golden sands.

“I don’t believe this …” said Rain, “are we on a
desert
?”

“Desert it is …” said Heart, scanning the horizon, where for miles and miles the only thing visible was open land and dunes of sand. They were glad they had brought along the plastic roof of Subodh’s makeshift hut. It appeared that this would be their only shelter here.

And so they walked on, resting under the shade offered by the tarpaulin during the scorching heat of the day and traveling by night, battling thirst, hunger, and sometimes, severe sandstorms.

Rain used this time to learn lessons that only the desert could teach: lessons of silence and patience. He would mull over the wisdoms he had collected till now for hours, or indulge in conversations with his Geeya that took place entirely in his mind.

‘
How long have I been here in Quniverse now?’

‘Just above two years.’

‘So far, I’ve got five wisdoms down. Seven more to go. Wonder when my next Quest will come along.’

‘Doesn’t look like it’s going to take place anytime soon.’

Rain picked up a handful of the cold desert sand and let it slip between his fingers. It was becoming punishingly cold during the nights. His hands and face were dry and cracked and his lips felt like crocodile skin.

But he could make it rain.

That was their only source of water here, but it was the most important resource of all in a place like this. Sometimes, though, Rain would be so exhausted that he wouldn’t even be able to do that. They continued in this manner, passing over hills and dunes as they crossed the silent desert. They traveled on for two months with no end to the desert in sight, growing more tired and weary with each passing day. Rain and Heart were ready to set up the tent and camp out in the middle of nowhere but each time, Subodh would prod them onwards, saying ‘we’ll travel for just one more day.’ And each time, they would get up and follow him reluctantly.

One day, as they wearily climbed over yet another dune, Heart, who had reached the top first, fell to knees and cried out in gratitude. “Heaven’s be praised! We are saved!”

Spread below them, like a lump of gold in a coal mine, was a large, serene oasis.

Date trees grew in abundance, animals were scattered around, grazing peacefully and there were several broken and half-pitched tents.

“How come there are no people here?” wondered Rain. “It looks like a perfectly habitable place.”

“Correction, it looks like a perfectly habited place.” said Heart.

Subodh was surveying the surroundings with a frown on his weathered features.

“The sands here are singing songs of bloodshed.”

Now that they were walking in the oasis, they came across several dismembered and decayed bodies and human skulls. There were swords and armors scattered around the place.

“Everyone here has been killed.” said Rain. “Some by sword and others because of a lack of someone to heal their wounds.”

“If we could have gotten here earlier …” said Heart.

“Then we would be lying in the sands, just like they are.” rasped Subodh. “It was not our job to do, or we would have reached here to do it. Now stop dwelling on the lost and save those surviving.”

“Nobody is surviving.” said Rain.

He received a blow to the back of his head. “Are animals not living beings to you?” said Subodh.

“Okay, okay. I’m on it!” said Rain, rubbing the back of his head and moving away from the old healer. “He’s going to have to heal my damaged head one day, I tell you.” he muttered to Heart.

The first thing Subodh did, however, was to take a bath. Then, he took his first sip of the sweet oasis water. They cooked for themselves a delicious meal of meat and dates with spices and after that, lay down for their first restful nap in more than two months.

*****

Life in the desert was much easier now they were in an oasis. They always found something to keep themselves busy with and one day at a time, nine months passed by.

A most peculiar thing was happening with Rain, though. His chain was glowing continuously since the last month, with nothing of significance taking place. He was tending a flock of sheep when his Geeya materialized out of nowhere.

“Puffy giving you trouble?” she asked, pointing to a fat, grey sheep.

“Puffy is always giving me trouble. So what’s new?” answered Rain drily. “Got any news for me?” he asked, looking up hopefully.