The Dragon's Descent (23 page)

As Vero's eyes drifted high above the town, he saw the mountain's summit—Adam's Peak. From a distance, it looked as if a walled castle sat on top of a sheer mountain, with nothing but jungle directly below. But Vero knew it wasn't a castle—it was a Buddhist temple. He was where he needed to be to find the Book of Raziel, yet, as he looked at the vast landscape, his heart sunk. He had no idea where to even begin the search. Just as he was about to groan in desolation, Vero felt a hand on his shoulder, jarring him from his thoughts.

“My aunt says we need to check into the hotel,” Kane said.

Vero nodded. He followed the others as they walked through the town. It was crowded with locals and pilgrims. Vero saw the travelers were from many different backgrounds—from obvious Westerners in jeans and shorts to Buddhist monks with shaved heads in orange robes.

The hotel was about a half a mile walk off the main street, and appeared to be made up of charming cottages surrounded by eucalyptus trees on the edge of endless tea plantations. The soothing sound of rambling water only enhanced the tranquil setting.

“You'll be in one cottage, and my aunt and I will be in the one next door,” Kane said as he held open the cottage door for Nora.

“Where is Adrik?” Nora asked, stepping into the cottage.

“She went to check on dinner for tonight.”

Tack, Clover, Vero, and Kane followed Nora into the cottage. It was a quaint room with bamboo floors and a
terrace that overlooked a green lush courtyard. Two beds sat in the middle of the room, enclosed with mosquito nets.

“They must have some killer bugs here,” Tack noted as he touched the fine white mesh over one bed.

“Yeah, but I'll deal with the mosquitoes any day over the leeches.” Kane chuckled.

“Leeches?” Clover said, her face white.

“Be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants when we hike up the path,” Kane said. “You can get leeches just by brushing up against leaves.”

“Noted,” Clover said, and swallowed hard.

“Here's what we're going to do,” Nora said, placing her backpack on the bed. “We'll take a nap—”

“But we just did on the bus,” Tack interrupted.

“You could use another.” Nora eyed Tack. “Then we will have a late dinner and begin our ascent around eleven o' clock.”

“I agree with Tack,” Clover said. “I'm not tired.”

“Guys, it's a four-hour hike up 5,200 stairs to the summit. I don't want you pooping out halfway up,” Nora said.

A worried look came over Tack. “That reminds me. Are there bathrooms on the climb?”

“Yes,” Kane answered. “But I can't promise toilet paper.”

“I'll bring a roll in my backpack,” Clover said.

“And hand sanitizer,” Nora added.

Vero drew the curtains, shrouding the room in darkness.

“I guess that means we're taking a nap,” Tack said.

“I'm tired,” Vero said.

“Then I'll see you in a few,” Kane said as he stepped out, shutting the door behind him.

As Vero lay in the bed, the fine mosquito net swaying in the wind reminded him of graceful angel wings, and his
mind was racing. He couldn't sleep. How was he going to do this? He had come so far, all the way to the other side of the world, yet he still had no idea how to find the book. What if it wasn't in Sri Pada at all?

Vero sat up. He saw Tack zonked out next to him. In the other bed, his mother slept soundly with Clover. He was jealous of their peaceful minds. He longed to be able to turn off his brain and relax, but it wasn't happening.

Vero swung the mosquito netting aside and stood. He put on his sneakers and walked out the door. The sun wasn't nearly as bright as it had been when they had arrived in the village—he realized it would soon be dusk. Vero strolled to a meandering river. The region was so fertile—clotted, dewy plants and shrubs clung to the gently sloping hills. It was so verdant and picturesque that, for a moment, he thought he was back in the Ether.

As Vero made his way through the greenery, he saw a cluster of large boulders nestled at the edge of the river and headed toward them. As he got closer, he saw someone sitting on one of the largest boulders, facing the water. It was a boy who, based on size, looked to be about eight or nine years old. When the kid turned his face in Vero's direction, Vero saw that his head was completely shaved, and that he wore a saffron robe with a yellow sash tied across his waist. The boy was sitting in the lotus position with his legs crossed and his palms turned upward.

“Oh, sorry . . .” Vero said as he backed away.

“It's okay,” the boy said.

“Hey, you speak English,” Vero said.

The boy nodded. “My grandmother went to English schools in India and taught it to me.”

“You were meditating?” Vero asked.

“Yes, I'm getting much better at it.”

“Are you really a monk? I mean, how old are you?”

“I'm only nine. I'm not yet a monk.”

“So how does that work?” Vero asked, sitting down on the adjacent boulder. “Aren't you kind of young to make a decision like that?”

“Are you too young to be an angel?”

Vero's eyes went wide, suddenly alarmed. “What are you talking about? Who told you that?”

“No one told me. I saw it when I was meditating. I'm Chiko. It means ‘light of wisdom.' ” Chiko bowed his head to Vero.

“I'm Vero . . . um . . .” Vero stammered.

“Truth. Latin for truth.” Chiko smiled.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You're pretty smart for a little kid,” Vero said.

“I'm on the road to enlightenment, but I'm not there yet. I have many years of life at the monastery before that moment happens.”

“You live in a monastery, away from your parents?” Vero felt troubled at the thought.

“Since I was seven. I haven't seen them since.”

“Don't you miss them?”

“Every day it gets easier, but this is who I am now. I cannot change that any more than you can change who you are.”

Vero took in those words for a moment then nodded, while his eyes drifted to the monastery at the top of the mountain. “Is that where you live?”

“No, my monastery is far away. We are here on a pilgrimage.”

“Have you been to the top?” Vero excitedly asked.

“Yesterday, and I am going back again tonight.”

“It's so beautiful here. Some people think that the garden of Eden was near Sri Prada,” Vero said. “Have you ever heard that before?”

Chiko's head bobbed once.

“Then is it true?”

Chiko shrugged. “I don't know.”

“Thought I'd give it a shot.” Vero sighed. “Because I really have nothing to go on. I'm hoping to find it.”

“But you do have the information you need,” Chiko said.

Vero looked to him.

“Meditation brings wisdom,” Chiko said. “The masters tell us that.”

A lightbulb went off for Vero. His face lit up as he thought about his Vox Dei. The archangels had taught Vero that whenever he reached a crossroad, he should train his mind to listen for his Vox Dei—God's voice. And it was true. In times of uncertainty, his Vox Dei would always be there for him. It was just tricky to clear his mind of other thoughts so he could hear what God wanted to say. Vero thought that if he learned to meditate, he might hear his Vox Dei more clearly.

“Can you teach me to meditate the way you do?” Vero asked. “Sometimes I can concentrate, but not always. I need to get better at it.”

“For starters, it helps to be in a comfortable position,” Chiko said.

Vero crossed his legs like Chiko.

“This position is comfortable for me, but if it's not for you, find a different one,” Chiko said. “Some people like to kneel, or I've seen some monks do it while standing or walking.”

“I'll try your position for now,” Vero said, straightening his back and laying his forearms onto his thighs with his palms facing up.

“Close your eyes,” Chiko said. “When you exhale, count your breaths. Concentrate on it entering and leaving you. Breath is the absolute essence of life.”

Vero closed his eyes.

“You will become distracted by the sounds that surround you, and the thoughts within. Acknowledge them, but do not attach yourself to them. Let them roll off you. There are many obstacles to concentration—hatred, anger, laziness, worry—but the worst is . . . doubt.”

Vero opened his eyes and looked at Chiko. The boy was right. Doubt was something he had always struggled with. Even though he had many moments of unwavering faith in God, eventually doubt always seemed to creep back into his mind. But Vero was determined that he would erase doubt forever from his mind.

“But, Chiko, how do the masters tell you to clear your mind?”

Chiko did not respond. He was staring straight ahead as if he was in some sort of trance. Vero then realized that he was meditating with his eyes open. This little kid didn't even need to shut his eyes for concentration! A pang of jealousy shot through Vero. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. But he heard the splish-splash of the water as it rushed over rocks and twigs. The distant sounds of
car engines distracted him. The chatter of a flock of wild parrots rang in his ear. Every little sound seemed amplified. But when something landed on his nose, he had had enough! Vero's eyes shot open as he swatted a bee from his face.

He looked over at Chiko, who was still meditating with his eyes wide open. Vero watched as the bee landed on Chiko's arm. Vero raised his hand to swat it away, but then lowered his arm. He watched, fascinated, as Chiko did not stir even with a bee on his arm.
What amazing concentration
, Vero thought. After a few moments, Chiko turned to Vero.

“Why did you give up?”

“I had a bee about to sting me!” Vero yelled. “So did you, on your arm.”

Chiko turned his arm—there was a throbbing, red welt.

“I guess it stung me,” Chiko said.

“How can a bee sting you, and you don't even flinch?” Vero shouted with frustration.

“It wasn't always like this,” Chiko said, smiling. “When I first started to meditate, I once got so distracted by a butterfly that I ran off to chase it.”

“So how did you overcome the distraction?”

“One day, when the masters were ready to give up on me, I watched a monk walk barefoot across hot, burning coals. Afterward, his feet were not even burned.”

“Yeah, I've heard of fire walking.”

“I talked to the monk later and asked him how he was able to do that,” Chiko said. “And you know what he told me?”

Vero shook his head.

“He said, ‘Before I start my way across the hot embers, I do not think that I can get burned. Rather, I think that I have already successfully made it across . . . Where the mind leads, the body follows.”

Vero took that in for a moment.

“Maybe you should think about that the next time you try,” Chiko said, standing up. “Good-bye, Vero.”

Chiko extended his hand to Vero, who shook it. “I will send many good thoughts your way as you continue on your quest.”

17

ASCENT INTO THE NIGHT

A
fter Vero said good-bye to Chiko, he walked back to the bungalow and fell asleep. His encounter with the boy gave him a renewed sense of peace, enabling him to finally relax and get a few hours of shut-eye. The next thing Vero remembered was Tack standing over him, shaking him awake for the second time that day.

“Dude, it's time to get up,” Tack said. “Your mom and Clover went with Kane and Adrik to get food.”

Vero looked out the window. It was dark outside.

“What time is it?” Vero asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Nine at night,” Tack answered. “After we eat, we start the climb.”

Vero looked closely at Tack. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, I packed my backpack.”

Vero shook his head. He gazed at Tack, refusing to look away. “I mean, are you really ready?” Vero asked with the utmost seriousness.

Tack held Vero's intense stare then nodded a moment later. “I am.”

Clover and Nora walked into the bungalow carrying several Styrofoam boxes of food.

“Dinner's here!” Clover announced as she placed the food on the bamboo desk in the corner.

“Lots of rice to keep us full,” Nora said, opening a box. “We also bought protein bars and bottled waters.”

Vero sat up. “Thanks. Where are Kane and Adrik?”

“We're to meet them outside as soon as we're finished,” Nora said. “I still can't believe the coincidence. What are the odds that you run into a kid you know in Sri Lanka?”

Tack, Vero, and Clover all exchanged secret glances.

“Yeah, what are the odds?” Vero said with a forced smile.