Chapter IV
Lara woke up in a comfortable bed. She looked at the window and saw an array of skyscrapers. She tested her body to ensure she could move. All was well, but her head hurt as she tried to get up.
"Where do you think you are going?" - asked Diana walking into the room.
"Humm… Where are we?"
"Beijing. The doctor was here to see you. You have a minor concussion, but will be fine."
"What happened?"
"You don't remember? We were in the cave and it started collapsing. I pulled you out just in time."
"Oh. Well, thank you. I don't recall that. All I remember was getting the neck… The necklace! Where is it?"
"Hush, I have it, it's safe."
"I need to examine it. It seems to be part of something."
"Yes, it looks like it connects to something else. Probably the next piece of whatever is we are looking for to open the box. But for now, you need to rest. I will go get us some food. You stay here and try to sleep a bit more."
"How did we get to Beijing?"
"I, hum, flew us here."
"You can pilot a jet? What else do they teach you at the Louvre?!"
Diana laughed but didn't reply.
"Quiet now. I'll bring food soon."
Lara resigned to the need to rest and closed her eyes.
Diana thought to herself "I better go get that jet."
The sun was low and it made the glass buildings reflect its golden light. Lara woke up and looked at the city's skyline. She had been to Beijing before on archaeological sites, but never had the chance to admire its modern beauty.
She reached for the stone box over the table. It was quiet now, the cyan light barely shining. Her head didn't hurt anymore and she was anxious to examine the necklace.
Lara looked around and noticed the hotel seemed very high-end. The curtains were an elegant crimson, the bed sheets were pastel, lined with golden strings, giving it a delicate shimmer, soft to the touch like egyptian cotton. The furniture was dark and new, but inspired in vintage styles. The room was large and had two separate bedrooms, a living room and a window seat. She looked at the symbol discreetly embedded on the curtains and recognized the brand. It was indeed a very nice hotel.
"I brought dumplings!" - said Diana cheerfully walking into the room.
Lara turned and saw that Diana was wearing the necklace.
"Looks good on you."
"Well, I thought it was best to keep it close, for safekeeping. Now, let's eat and we can then talk about this mystery with our bellies full."
Lara looked curiously at Diana. How could she transition so well between museum director, cave explorer and graceful hostess? The woman was as much of a mystery as the box itself.
As they ate, Lara felt her strength coming back and her mind sharpening. She didn't like the feeling of being vulnerable, especially beside a stranger, but even though she only knew Diana for a couple of days, she felt a natural trust towards her.
"Now, shall we see what this necklace can do?" - Diana took it off and placed it on the table then got up to get the box and placed it beside the necklace.
Nothing happened. No drums, no light.
Lara took the necklace, looking for markings. "There does seem to have anything written on it, yet there is a texture alongside the pendant." She turned it round and round in her hands and finally laid it on the box's lid.
At the touch of the gold against the stone, blue inscriptions started appearing in place of the previous ones.
"Look!"
They both watched intently as the box's letters shifted into new words:
"Closer you are to unlocking this power. Do not treat this lightly. Meditate thoroughly before you continue."
And with that, all letters disappeared and the blue light ceased. The box now looked ordinary.
"That was disappointing…" - Lara sighed, leaning back on the chair.
Diana looked intrigued. Why would the box lead them here and then stop the quest? Unless…
"Meditate! We must first meditate on the subject of power."
"But how will the box know we are meditating? I don't think it's that clever." - replied Lara a bit sceptical.
"Perhaps we have to take it somewhere, a place known for its meditative environment. Like a buddhist temple! There must be one in Beijing from the 14th century when the box was created." - theorized Diana.
They paused to consider what possibilities. Lara looked around and saw a tourist booklet on the nightstand. It recommended a variety of places to visit around the city.
"Look! The Guanghua Temple was built during the Yuan dynasty, same period of when the legend about the lovers came to life. That can't be a coincidence."
"I agree. Let's take the box there in the morning."
As the sun rose on the horizon, the two adventurers were gearing up for a tour of the Guanghua Temple. Hair up, cargo pants on and backpacks loaded, they marched onto the busy streets of Beijing.
When the women arrived at the temple's entrance gate, they marveled at the light-grey walls and the protecting lion-looking statues. Lara pointed to the one on the left:
"They are called foo dogs. The female - yin - guards the cub, which symbolizes nature and protects those who live in the house. The male - yang - guards the globe, symbol of the world and protects the house structure itself. They are common in all Chinese houses and temples."
[Entrance to the temple: wiki/Guanghua_Temple_(Beijing)# ]
Diana admired Lara's knowledge and took a closer look at the foo dogs. She had seen them at the Louvre, but never actually examined them or thought about their meaning. In all her decades living among mortals, she was still learning.
They entered the temple and headed to the main room, arriving at the face of three Buddhas statues. They bowed, placed apples on the offering table and sat on the floor. The golden Buddhas stared back at them with sublime but kind expressions.
[Buddha statues at the temple: . /iHowBmYqXfV2MJfv8 ]
"What do we do now?" - asked Lara.
"Let's place the box on the floor. Perhaps it can feel where it is, just like it felt the gold from the necklace."
Diana put the box on the ground. Nothing happened. They looked at each other disappointedly. Had they misinterpreted the message?
"We can look at it again later. Since we are here, shall we actually meditate?" - proposed Diana.
Lara nodded and loosened her muscles. Both women got into lotus position, closed their eyes and started pacing their breath. A light breeze grazed their skin and the world outside seemed to fade away. Diana felt the energy of the temple flooding her being. It was a bright and powerful energy, yet kind and gentle. They stayed in this meditating state for a while, until a blue light pierced through their eyelids.
They both opened their eyes and saw the box emanating the light which dyed the previously gold and red room into cyan. They smiled at each other and anxiously gathered around the box. New letters began to appear:
"The path of power has been set in mindfulness and the seeker is ready."
They expected another riddle, but the box seemed to be waiting for something, as it started a pulsating glow. Diana took the necklace off and placed it on top of the box as before. Then, it continued:
"Where the battle was won
flowers climb the walls.
Go to where the circle runs,
amongst old Templar halls."
Their excitement was visible. The room, previously empty, began to welcome a large tourist group. Diana quickly put the box and the necklace inside her leather backpack and both of them left the temple. Walking back to the hotel, they tried to piece together the riddle.
"At least this one narrows things down. 'Templar halls'. It's most liked in Europe." - confirmed Lara.
"Indeed, but where? The templars were present in several regions, not just France as most people think."
"Then we must understand the whole poem. 'Where the battle was won'. Not vary narrowing, but if you combine it with 'flowers climb the walls', we might get somewhere."
"The most puzzling part is 'where the circle runs'. Circles don't run, they wouldn't go anywhere…"
"Perhaps it's 'run' as is 'manage'?"
"Manage what?"
"Ok, let's get back to how riddles work: one piece at a time."
"You're right, Lara, that's how we found the Rainbow Mountains. How about we go to a library and maybe inspiration will come. The National Library of China is not far from here."
Walking fast, they headed to the NLC, the largest library in Asia. Diana asked the librarian where the art section was. She pointed to a hallway and advised they would be closing soon.
"Let's hurry, we have about one hour before they close."
They hurried to the art section and stared at its vast collection.
"'Flowers climb the walls'. What art is known for its flowers?"
Diana immediately saw Notre Dame's rose window in her mind and turned excitedly to Lara: "Gothic!"
She grabbed a volume on gothic architecture from the shelf and flipped its pages. Most gothic cathedrals had a prominent rose window, but not exactly flowers climbing the walls. As the pages passed through, her eyes were caught by one style that had a clearer floral motif: manueline.
"I know where it is!" - Diana said a bit too loud and people around the library gave her a dirty look. It was just a couple of employees beginning to close down.
"Shhh!" - hushed Lara, half laughing - "Where should we go?"
"It's in -"
A loud bang turned their attention to the side door. Three men walked with an evil semblance.
"Very clever you two." - one of them said in English, but with a French accent. - "But the secret of the box has been protected for centuries and so it shall remain!"
The three men started circling in. Their leader drew a gun and the others copied, pointing at the women. Diana looked perplexed, but Lara was quick and drew her gun as well. The employees fled, one of them reaching for his phone as he ran away.
The man continued: "Come now, there are three of us and only one of you with a weapon. Give up this foolish quest and go back to your homes. No one has to get hurt."
"I couldn't agree more." - said Diana, moving towards them. "Why do you wish to stop us? We have done nothing wrong."
"When I heard about the fire in Notre Dame, I knew our secret might have been exposed. We all have vowed for generations to protect the box, by any means necessary."
"There is no need for a fight. We are simply archaeologists trying to understand the power of the box. We do not mean to use it for harm." - tried Lara.
They kept circling one another, like a slow dance of threats. Lara was looking incredulously at Diana: why was she exposing herself like that? No gun or knife to protect her, she could easily get killed!
"No human can control the power that is in that box. It must remain sealed!" - shouted the man.
"I assure you it will remain safe. What does the box contain?" - Diana replied with confidence.
"It is not our job to know. We just have to protect it. If you are not willing to give up this quest, then we must eliminate you."
He fired at Diana, who dove down to avoid the bullet, inhumanly quickly. They all stared at her for a second, then Lara fired at the men and they all took cover behind a huge dark metal table.
As the men fired at Lara and she ducked behind a marble column, Diana decided the best way to end this was to show those protectors that she was not exactly… human. She flew up above them and they all gazed up in awe. She shifted into Wonder Woman's clothes and stood hovering above them.
Lara expression went from shock to understanding, as it all made sense now, especially how Diana moved the huge rock off the cave's entrance. The men looked horrified at first, then their leader looked down and sighed, lowering his gun.
"You're Wonder Woman. - said him with a sigh - There is a prophecy that someone from another world would one day claim the box. I guess that day is now." - he kneeled and put his gun on the ground, his partners doing the same.
Lara looked suspiciously at them. She lowered her gun but kept it tightly in her hand.
"I did not mean to deceive you. I have found the box in Notre Dame and have been following it's clues. I understand that it contains immense power and, if we succeed in our quest, I promise you that this power will not fall into the wrong hands. I give you my word."
The man looked at her in contemplation and acceptance. "Very well. You both seem worthy and intelligent. We spotted you in the buddhist temple and were hoping you would not decipher the next clue, but it seems that you have. We will no longer interfere, but will keep a close eye on you."
"Fair warning. Thank you for your understanding. Are you able to tell us more about this? Who hid it? And why in Notre Dame?" - asked Diana, coming back to the ground.
"All good questions, but we must not reveal anything. If you succeed in your quest, you will understand it all."
Sirens started sounding outside the library. Someone had called the police.
"We have to go." - warned Lara.
"Farewell, my ladies."
They both looked at the men with curiosity. That was quite a change in treatment.
"Farewell" - they replied.
As they exited the library, Diana changed back to her other self, causing Lara to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, well, well, that explains a lot. So, where are we off to?"
"Portugal!"
"Ok, we can take the jet. Hey Diana, where is my jet?"
To be continued...