Chapter 4. The Unusual Guide
- Hey! Is the hot water still running? - Rick's loud voice, interrupting the cooing of the waterfall, pulled Kate out of her sad thoughts. Sitting down on a rock beside his wife, Castle gently placed his large, soft hand on her shoulder and, as if gauging her resistance, gently pulled her toward him.
- I've never met a monk with such instructions! - Beckett grinned modestly, cringing at the hot, tickling breath in the fold of her neck.
- According to Caelian, a messenger from the abbot is about to arrive! We were going to have a feast, and I have come to summon you to the table! - He kissed Beckett tenderly on the velvety cheek, playfully retorted Castle, and then turned serious, looking anxiously at his favorite profile.
- Is something wrong, Kate? - he inquired thoughtfully.
Beckett squinted her eyes. Even in the moonlight she could see his anxiously shifted eyebrows and his anxious, worried gaze. Carefully picked up a heavy wet strand, Castle put it behind his wife's ear and gently smoothed it. Kate's smile grew wider and softer from such relentless attention. It's nice to be taken care of!
- Everything is wonderful! - she replied with a touch of irony, feeling a bitter lump of irritation underneath her. - A waterfall, the tropics, and you near; what could be more exhilarating. Except that the road was very tiring.
Swallowing through her strength, Kate covered her eyes and bowed her head, settling comfortably on his knee.
- Kate, I understand perfectly, but, as you know, things have never been easy between us. Our journey here is the best proof of that," Rick grinned sadly, his fingers twiddling subtly as he dipped his fingertips into his wife's lovely, wet curls. It was his trademark gentleness. - But it always worked for us!
- The difficulty hasn't disappeared, it's just changed shape," Kate slipped her hand under her cheek for comfort, moving her head subtly in time with his fingers, "and you know how I feel about it. If modern medicine can't even help us, what can these people, so far removed from civilization, do? - With a deep, interrupted sigh, Beckett added softly: - Maybe I should have insisted on the natural way. My arrogance hurts both sides...
- Kate, Kate," said Castle caringly, heartfeltly, the way only he did, now speeding up, now almost slowing down the relaxing caress, "IVF is not going anywhere from us. Given the variety of natural ways, there is always a small chance of success.
- Good! - Kate responded with unspeakable gratitude. The bleaker the moments in life, the more caring and attentive Castle was. How lucky she was to have him after all!
Straightening up, Kate immediately met his lips, seeking a kiss. This sweet prankster had been waiting, one hundred percent sure that she would live up to his hope, and Beckett didn't let her down. Kissing eagerly and fervently, they began stroking each other excitedly, hastily running their palms under each other's clothes, when suddenly Kate pulled away, breathing heavily.
- Rick, what about the monk? - She was quite naturally indignant, and she could hardly catch her breath.
- What about the monk? - Castle grumbled unhappily, fidgeting in his seat from the burning excitement. - He can wait, nothing will happen to him...
His lips met her index finger, and his gaze settled on the imperiously raised eyebrows.
- Respect, Castle! Respect immediately! - she commanded, biting her lip unassumingly. - And please, put out your fuse for a while! I think there will be time to spend it profitably!
- I've got enough for a hundred Reeks," Castle said with a disappointed sigh as he bowed his head meekly. - How am I supposed to go now? - He mumbled, hinting evidently at his bulging pants.
- A natural mixer will help you! Well, for a start..." Kate grinned imperceptibly, her eyebrow twitching characteristically. - Once you freshen up, any interference with movement will be negligible!
Castle lifted his head and stared thoughtfully at the sparkling magic of the water, then grinned benignly.
- Kate, wouldn't you like to be Fetid?
- Ke-em? - Beckett did not immediately understand, feverishly wondering what the Greek names had to do with it. - Is that another one of your muses? Oh, please...
- It's simple, my love. It's only Achilles' mother. Hold my heel and look at me, handsome!
Kate responded by setting her cheek up for a kiss, only rolling her eyes signally. Rick pressed his lips lightly against her cheekbone, then kicked off his boots deftly. He hopped up and peeled off the clinging clothes and walked to the edge of the bowl with an unmistakable grunt, scratching his chest thoughtfully. The whirlpool in the center of the pool looked tempting, but it was one thing to drink the mountain water by the swallow, and quite another to plunge into it. Uncertainly shrugging his shoulders, Castle tasted the water with his foot and with a loud foolish shriek pulled it away, almost falling over.
- What is it, Castle? Is it biting? It's strange, but I didn't see any "jaws" there! - Kate waggled her eyebrows mischievously. - And you?
- You think I'm lucky? - Castle waved his hand doomfully. - Okay, Daddy-bear, let's go!
After stomping, Rick pushed himself hard off the stone ledge. His legs tucked in flight, he plunged into the water with a loud splash, and immediately surfaced, howling like a madman:
- Ugh! Ackh! Shit!" His lips were torn, interjections mixed with hard words. - Kay...! Sei... I turned... ... man... Ugh!
He was diving like a rafter being pulled down a choppy river, beating his hands about haphazardly, or jumping up and down quickly, stroking his icy flanks, but that wasn't what caught Kate's attention. Nibbling her lip enigmatically, she watched relentlessly at the tight, bouncing, foam floats of Castle's luscious buttocks. Needless to say, it was one of her favorite parts of his body. Kate simply adored it for its pliant firmness, responsiveness to caress, and delightful appearance.
"Oh, my God! Good thing no one can hear my thoughts!"
Chuckling to herself, Kate pulled a dry towel from Castle's bag. It was unlikely she would ever admit to anyone that she had "chased" her husband away solely for this. The natural surroundings alone were worth it!
- So that's what you are, a real "white whale"! - she whispered with restrained lust, rising toward him. She threw a towel over his cold shoulders and back, and rubbed him hard while she kept her hands on his chest, muttering something like, "Byr-byr-byr. His skin was steadily and pleasantly cold through the wet fabric, and Kate was eager to shed her clothes so that she could quickly snuggle up to him, so unique, exciting, loving, ready to do anything for her. And she was willing to do anything for him. Let his faith inspire his aspirations, and let her help him to the best of her abilities. And it didn't matter at all who believed what, or didn't believe at all.
Kate switched to his chest and stomach, enthusiastically and with light pressure wielded a towel, but Castle somehow looked not at her, but somewhere to the right and up.
- What are you, Castle? - wrapped her arms around his torso, Beckett pressed her ear to his chest, peering with undisguised interest in the same direction. - Is something wrong?
- I noticed a shadow on the edge of the bowl," Rick said quite seriously, hugging him back, "it's possible that we have guests.
- We won't keep them waiting long! - She lifted herself up on tiptoe and kissed him softly on his icy lips. - Get dressed and let's go!
Interlocking their fingers tightly, they approached the fire. Greedily licking the pliable wood, the fire danced at full irrepressible force, casting uneven glares on two motionless silhouettes. One was Caelian, and the other was...
With a meaningful hum, Castle let go of Kate's hand to stow her things in the trunk, and Beckett sat down on the wicker mat, carefully spread by the fire itself. The monk sat directly across from her. With his eyes closed, he tucked his legs under him and rested his palms on his hips, swaying subtly back and forth. In the light of the fire his saffron-colored casa seemed dyed to a rich crimson. When Kate said hello softly, not a muscle twitched on the Buddha devotee's face. He merely bowed his head and laid his hand over the carved wooden staff to his right.
- Can he hear me? - Beckett turned to the guide, biting her lip incomprehensibly. - Does he hear me?
- He tries," the Tahai smiled white toothed, "but I shall be your dragon-man. You may ask all the questions you see fit.
- I'll do it! - Castle yelled above Kate's ear, and wrinkling, she even involuntarily recoiled, but Rick, sitting down, immediately pulled Kate gently to him. As if he was apologizing. - Hi! I'm Richard Castle, traveler in unknown worlds and also - the writer, and this is Kate - my wife. She and I are never apart! - and with a perplexed look on his eyebrows, he added to whoever he was talking to. - Did I miss something?
His question hung in the air, for when he stopped rocking, the monk opened his eyes and, smiling quietly, said something softly.
- He says his name is Mua Tuo Phe. He is the nephew of the abbot of Wat Phra Keo monastery," Caelian rushed to help, "and is ready to accompany you to the temple as soon as you have eaten.
Only now Kate noticed a small mat to her right. Caelian spread it out on a flat wreck, and while the guests cleaned themselves up, laid out the supplies. It must be said that the Thai had prepared for the impromptu feast in earnest. Among the scatterings of litchi and the glossy sides of mangoes Kate spotted hollow beer-mug-like bottles of local Singha beer and plastic bottles of water and lemonade. Packs of rice cookies and dried fish sticks lay in a separate pile, juxtaposed with sliced stalks of young bamboo and luffa fruits that looked like long cucumbers, but with pronounced longitudinal ribs.
- Oh!"-Castle, too, took note of the rich arrangement. Taking the beer bottle from Kate's hands, Rick dashingly twisted the cap and, turning to the monk, raised the drink in a cheerful gesture.
- Here's to the meeting! - Smiling as amiably as possible, Rick gave a clumsy, goofy wai. - And to good luck!
- Luck that we're here! - Kate smiled in tone with him. She declined the beer and opened a bottle of lemonade. Monk gestured for water, and Kaelian followed Castle's example.
It was time for a late meal. The cold, invigorating water and the long journey had whetted their appetites. Swapping places with Kate, Castle knelt at the makeshift table and brought his hand up with a prepared knife, trying it on. Opting for one of the fruits, he deftly trimmed the dense skin and handed the fruit to his wife.
- It is jackfruit, it must be delicious! - he said, peeling himself a similar fruit.
Smiling softly, Kate savored the unique taste of the pulp, and then it was time for the other foods. Caelian was not far behind the Europeans, either. He chewed appetizingly, wiping off sticky traces of fruit juice with his wrist. The monk, however, like all Buddha followers, was much more restrained. He was content with a few cookies and a fish stick, which he chewed with a kind of reverent reverence. When he saw the well-fed couple sitting in a row, he raised his head expectantly.
Everything was clear. Sighing heavily, Rick glanced at his wife. Trying to look unperturbed, Kate with apparent calmness twirled a lock of brown hair on her fingers, but only Castle knew what the gesture meant. Of course, Kate was not in the least bit nervous. The most important thing now is to be careful with words, and funny phrases are absolutely inappropriate here.
- Ahem, I think you can guess why we came here," Rick began gently and leisurely, letting the interpreter take his time. - We'd like to have a big family, but for some strange reason God won't allow it. Maybe the planets are in the wrong row," Castle couldn't resist, but Kate, softly, as if from fatigue, rolled her eyes and pressed herself even closer to him. Almost without blinking, she stared at the fire incessantly. - Perhaps a heavy Aludrans spell had come upon us, and we were in urgent need of their altar. Somehow yours came to hand. Also...
With his head bowed slightly lower, Rick continued to speak, but his voice was no longer as enthusiastic. The monk listened to the translation very attentively, with his clasped hands clasped to his chest, shaking his head, but what he was thinking was beyond his comprehension. At least the expression on his face did not change at all. Mua Tuo waited patiently for the end of the story, and while Castle was quenching his thirst with lemonade, he spoke. The monk's voice was quiet but distinct, and even the noisy waterfall did not disturb him much. With a friendly nod to Caelian, the monk habitually adjusted his caisse.
- He agrees to take you to the temple. You must strictly follow all his advice to succeed. Only the correctness of the ritual will ensure your long-awaited success.
At the approving nod of the Buddhist, Caelian dug into his invisible bag and placed a small stone bowl before him.
- He says it is in your power to awaken the secret powers held by the Buddha. Here is to you the unifying bowl of love. First, burn in it a sack of dried Tibetan herbs.
And Caelian tossed Rick a braided herbal pyramid on a similarly braided string. With raised eyebrows in surprise, Castle turned the pouch with interest, carefully crumpled it with his fingers and handed it to Beckett. There was an unfamiliar, pleasant, but slightly pungent smell from the herb. Kate placed the pyramid in front of her and examined it with a skeptical squint. Only Castle could piously believe in such nonsense, and she would see the future ritual as a prelude to their intimacy. The more unusual the setting, the sharper, hotter, and longer their love will be. Tested more than once