The Chronicles of Shamballa

Chapter LXVIII: Darker

Ram looked at Carey, shocked at his words while Carey stared at the mountains ahead.

“But why Sahib?” Ram asked. “ How can I possibly let you go alone?”

“Ram, people get hurt if they stay with me; look at the Princess, she’s struggling with her life and I don’t know whether I will be able to help her or will I ever find the lost kingdom...”

“Sahib.. I know you will, do not give up hope and do not worry, we have come such a long way together and this is the final step... I know you will find the lost kingdom and you will cure her highness...I will stay with you ... you need someone to cook for you Sahib...”Ram argued.

“It’s not your fight Ram, I hate to see you suffer like this,” Carey replied coldly.

“No Sahib, it is my duty, from my grandfather’s time, we have been serving, not once Sir we have abandoned our duty,” replied Ram emotionally.

Clearly, Carey failed to recognise the emotion and loyalty in his voice and shook his head in disbelief.

“Well then, don’t tell me that I didn’t warn you, I can’t guarantee your safety on the way ahead,” he replied nonchalantly failing to realize what an arse he was for speaking to his faithful servant in such a manner.

But to be fair, Carey was overwhelmed by the journey and the difficulties and top of that, the woman he loved was lying half dead because of him. So he took out his frustration on Ram, who was wise enough to stick with him. The night was falling on the steppes but Carey had no intention of stopping. Unlike the other night, there was little wind and snowfall that evening which was peculiar. Unbeknownst to him, he was gradually moving upwards on a steep rocky mountain. He was too frustrated to recognize that the further ahead he went, the lesser the snow around him. This time, they had fire torches with them to navigate the way but he should have listened to the Yetis who asked him not to travel at night- he was going in the wrong direction.

“Ah, Ram, I think we should take a break- the air- its- its very light,” said Carey.

“Yes, Sahib, there’s a rock over there, I brought some food, I will start a fire,” replied Ram.

“Isn’t it peculiar?” said Carey.

“What is?” asked Ram.

“It’s not that cold in here, and look no snow, it’s like a mountain in Nepal, not in the Himalayas,” said Carey waving his torch around while Ram started a fire.

“Hm, it is odd, really, let me check my compass, here- um, so we are supposed to be heading north, and- what? North is that way? How on earth did we lose direction?” remarked Carey.

“Sahib? Some bread for you,” said Ram handing him some food.

As Carey took the bread from his hands and looked at him, he was shocked to see that Ram’s face was distorted and torn. He cried out in shock and waved his torch at him.

“Get away from me, you monster!” Carey shouted.

“Sahib? Sahib? It’s me, Ram Babu, what happened?” Ram yelled.

Carey looked closely at him and saw that he was perfectly normal.

“Wh- What? I thought- I had seen a ghost,” said Carey recovering from the shock, “must have been the stress and the high altitude,”

“Relax, have some water, I think we should rest here tonight, this place seems nice,” said Ram trying to comfort him.

“Yes, I agree, I am in no shape to move further,” he replied.

Within an hour or so, they had a humble dinner and rested around the fire. Ram as usual fell asleep quickly. But Carey lied down and looked at the stars that shone brightly above the mountain. It was as if, he could touch them with his bare hands. Then he realized something and suddenly sat upright.

“Wait a minute, this isn’t normal. How can this place be so warm? We are in the Himalayas, the temperatures drop below zero even during the day,” he said to himself looking around.

He stood up and began inspecting the place. It looked like any other rocky mountain but it was unusually warm. The surroundings were pitch black except for the place they stood near the fireplace. He knew that he was off course but he couldn’t possibly find his way back in the darkness. Ram was sleeping peacefully due to exhaustion and he was all alone in that strange place feeling an impending danger coming along. Suddenly he hears footsteps in the distance and he immediately picks up his torch and points in the general direction. Nothing! There was absolute silence for a few seconds and then he hears the same footsteps coming from the other direction. He turns around and points his torch in the other direction but again, nothing but absolute silence for a few seconds. Suddenly, he feels a strange sensation in his back, as if someone’s hand was creeping on his back. He froze in fear and slowly turned his head to the right. To his absolute horror, he saw a bloody red hand on his right shoulder. He was so scared that he couldn’t even scream in fear and began shivering.

“You are going to die…” said a voice from behind.

Carey pulled all his strength and somehow managed to move and shout. Ram Babu woke up to see his master jumping around madly. Carey eventually realized that the hand has disappeared from his shoulder and there was no one but Ram Babu around.

“Oh God, Oh dear God, there’s something in this mountain, Ram, we’ve got to move, we’ve got to get out of here,” said Carey.

“No, no, Sahib, not this time, you have to fight, I’ve seen you, you have powers, gifts from the Gods, what are you so afraid of?” said Ram trying to talk some sense into him.

Carey immediately stopped moving and calmed himself down. Amidst all the worries and frustrations, he has given into his fears and forgotten who he truly was, a warrior monk, reincarnated. He had the power to fight back and abilities that could defeat witches.

“You are right Ram, Oh, I have been so selfish, so ridiculously selfish,” he said groaning and burying his head into his palms.

“Don’t worry Sahib, it happens, I’m glad that you’ve realized,” he said.

Carey looked at Ram and once again he saw the horrific figure of a corpse standing and staring at him instead of Ram. Something was clearly haunting him on that strange hill, something was in the air…