Chapter 6. The Hard Way to the Truth
- Of course, Kate, of course! No one can ever compare to me in the field of inventive incendiary! - and again Castle could not resist innocent boasting. Now, for added convenience, the reflector of his lantern looked up into the sky. - Actually, there are a lot of ways of amusement, and your mere presence near me turns any rock into magma!
- Don't stand aimlessly at the "crater", Castle, and it's hardly just our "unrivaled" ardor," leaving a tender, cherry-scented kiss on his cheek, Kate turned her eyes to the stars. - It's much simpler and more complicated, but that's not even the point. If we have a common path, and so does the common good, why aren't we still there? Why are we still standing still, wasting our precious minutes in idle chatter? And if it's only because of some "insurmountable" circumstance, I'd really, really like to know!
The hint was clearer, but it was not reproach or annoyance that guided Kate, but only understanding and a slight irony. And Castle drew Beckett to him with a contented sigh. Their kiss was brief but fervent and passionate, then Kate, politely warning her husband's flare-ready eloquence, pressed the tip of her index finger to his nose. As he imagined his beloved grinning enigmatically, Castle rounded his eyes.
- Nothing for me...er...us! Just such cute, especially in the pitch black of reciprocity naturally drives me crazy! - with obvious erotic overtones, Castle objected. If he hadn't put his arm around Kate's waist, he probably would have covered his heart with his hand. - And no matter how ironic you, dear, are about "recharging" my dick from the most powerful energy passes of the earth and sky, I think that...
- Shh!" Kate gently took Rick's walking hot face in her hands, tracing the outline of his parched lips with her fingertips, and kissing it softly and caressingly. - Don't get caught up in unrealistic fantasies, Castle! Why don't we just go, huh?
- O'kay! - Rick muttered meekly, kissing the open palm tenderly. - But I still won't calm down! You know what I mean!
Beckett's answer was to bow her head obediently on his chest. The tight rubber of the lantern pressed unpleasantly against his temples, and relieved to be free of it, Rick slowly lowered his chin to the silky crown of his wife. Trying to hold Kate as tightly to him as possible, he closed his eyes dreamily. How wonderful it was to have them together, always and everywhere! And what else could be better than her frail shoulders in his strong but gentle embrace? And the intoxicating, berry-bitter scent of her hair that makes him so heavy and dizzy? And the supple, responsive, familiar to the smallest mole? They would have cuddled like this for probably more than an hour or two or three hours, pushing indomitably toward the finale, if it hadn't been for Kate's rationality. Castle's impatient, strong fingers, passionately massaging her lusciously firm ass, sent familiar, languid goosebumps running through Kate's body, but Beckett wouldn't be Beckett if she didn't gently but adamantly rest her palm against his chest. Their "love" chemistry was sharp and strong, I couldn't tell you, but it would have been better put to good use. Elsewhere, at another time, and, preferably, without too many words.
They reluctantly lowered their arms, and, bracing themselves, they stood for a moment. They stood for a moment, forehead to forehead with their eyes closed, soothing their restless hearts and uneven, confused breathing, then Castle's lantern took its rightful place again. And though uncomfortable is uncomfortable, it's imperative to look under your feet. The more so, the two bright orange beams beating in the distance are the most powerful light power against the vicious and unyielding demons of darkness.
- Come on, Castle! - softly but forcefully, Kate commanded, and with a firm intertwining of fingers pulled Rick after her. The pebbles that littered the ground at the foot of the cliff, near which the monk had inexplicably and mysteriously disappeared, rattled underfoot, and the narrow, winding path winding around the boulder led the couple Castle back into the dense thicket. Again the tropics encircled the path from left and right and below, and even wove a dense tent over their heads, which made it a little uncomfortable, but it was only thanks to some unknown human hand that the little space from the wilderness had been taken away, that it was much easier to walk.
At last, after about a hundred paces, in the light of the lanterns the outlines of some structure were outlined, which could only be seen when they got nearer. The construction turned out to be a four-post colonnade in traditional Oriental style: bent corners of "layered" tiles, which, according to local beliefs, set off evil spirits back to heaven; prismatic section supporting pillars of solid marble, with Buddhist symbols, hieroglyphs and nonchalant faces of Buddha on lovingly hewn edges. There were impressive granite plates laid at the base of colonnade, and the same plates starting the ascending stairs to somewhere in the darkness from the back side of the portal.
- Well, here's the first symbolic sign! - Castle said thoughtfully. He gently unclenched his fingers, lowered his backpack to the ground, and readjusted his lantern for some reason. Somehow Kate expected Rick's rather educational in terms of architectural features comments, but Castle, having asked Beckett to stay where he was, slowly, very slowly, approached the column with the largest face of Buddha. He humbly bowed his head and gave the deity three deep wai and sighed noisily, loudly: you could feel his serious excitement. Kate could have sworn she heard a loud whisper. Then Rick waved a hand inviting them to join him, and then he grabbed the strap of the backpack from Kate's hand and shouldered it immediately. Now the steps of the ancient staircase, bristling with time and worn by hundreds of pilgrims' feet, awaited them. Just another obligatory test of their uneasy happiness.
- How long do we have to climb, I wonder? - Beckett seemed to say it to herself, but Castle immediately pressed her hand to his chest.
- No matter how long it takes, Kate, this night will be ours and ours alone! - inhaling deeply, Castle involuntarily tried to dispel his wife's fears. - We must get there before sunrise! Only by worshipping Buddha early in the morning a man approaches enlightenment! Only at dawn, reflecting one's face in the fresh water of the bowls, does one realize one's greatness and purify oneself from those dark, superficial things which prevent one from living fully! And I want a new life! In you, Kate, and in all of us!
Saying this, Rick believed in his own words, blindly. If hundreds and even thousands of people had reached the temple with the help of Buddhist spirits, why couldn't two more people, flattered by a ghostly but still hopeful hope, join them? He, at least, certainly is, so let's go!
With each step the ladder became steeper and steadier, pulling into the rocky crevice like a slow worm into its hole, but like clockwork soldiers, they stubbornly moved forward. Here already one of the lanterns blinked for the last time and went out. Now their legs and lungs refused to serve them, and their clothes and shoes were soaked with sweat. Hot, heavy drops of bitter-salt covered their eyes, and their fingers, knotted together, went limp with an unrelenting cramp. But it didn't matter now that the cave's yellow eye beckoned with confidence, beckoning them with its accessibility. Even the darkness, as if listening to their pleas, parted slightly, and the scattered light of distant stars fell on their heads.
- Oof! I think we're here! - Castle squeezed himself out as he stepped onto the last step. There was a stone outcrop just above her waist, and Kate let go of her lover to relieve the strain on her shoulders. Rick sat down with pleasure on the rough boulder, unfastened the straps, and smiled blissfully at Kate, puffing out audibly. An incredible lingering languor took hold of his exhausted but unbroken body, but there was no way he was going to plop down right there. While Kate's tiredly wobbly legs scouted the area, he'd just about come to his senses. After all, they still have a whole backpack full of unspent energy under their belt!
- Whoa, Ka-asl! - Rick could hear Beckett's voice, tired but with notes of unspeakable joy. - What a huge hole we have here!
- A burrow or just a crawlspace? Either way, not many options! - Castle summed up, massaging his wildly throbbing calves with effort. - This is either the abode of outcast gnomes, or the last refuge of the last of all dragons in the world, or, at the worst, it is the entrance to the datsan!
As he mustered his strength, Rick hurried to his wife, remembering to check his watch. After that, the cruel sun would rise and timid local spirits, crammed into the deepest crevices, would absolutely forget their great, viviparous mission. And they need, necessarily need the result, because if you do not come to it, you are sure to say goodbye to faith. Maybe the very last faith in this world.
"I swear! We'll make it, Beckett!" - Castle was adamant to himself, walking in on his wife from behind. Kate was standing on a small patch at the cliff's edge, her hand at her side and the other hand ruffling the clumped strands at the back of her head, looking at the entrance to the cave in the light of the lantern. A soft orange glow filled it from the inside down to the vault, marking the irregular shape of the yawn. From it, somewhere in the unexplored depths, descended another staircase, made with no less love than the ascending one: narrow but low steps, a railing of tree slices, protecting against falling on rocky precipices, and impressive "bridges" of stalagmites, not at all impeding the advance, but on the contrary, causing a serious interest. At other times, Beckett would have enjoyed such an unusual and unforgettable photo shoot, but when their happiness is at stake, entertainment should be forgotten, giving priority only to the one for two.
With a sigh, Beckett looked over her shoulder: Rick was standing right behind her, panting noisily, confusedly.
- Well, what have we got? - I could tell there was a mute question in his gaze. - Don't you mean to tell me we're going to have to descend a silk rope to the bottom of the grotto? That's a turn of events even I hadn't envisaged!
- There's just another ladder," said Kate, turning her head reproachfully on another of her husband's fantasies, not forgetting to react with her eyes. - Are you coming, Castle, or what?
- I'm coming!" Rick readjusted the straps of his backpack, fumbled with Kate's hand, and shoved the flashlight she no longer needed into the pocket of the backpack. - So, where's the Buddha's living room?
- Or his sleeping quarters? On the lowest level, of course! - Kate smiled unguardedly. - You'd better watch your step, Castle, or you'll "work" and "work"!
And again their fingers intertwined tightly, and through the scattered glare of light, the centuries-old silence and microscopic platforms with short spans Rick confidently pulled Kate with him. Straight into a stirring unknown future. The bronzes glowed faintly with their modest yellowish flames, illuminating their path with a decent amount of ease. The monks had placed roughly hewn boulders to the left and right of the stairs and provided each one with a lamp or two, creating a gallery of diffuse lighting. And the flame's power was enough to drive shadows to the very corners, and to catch the eye of the leathery curls of bats that hovered under the very vault. Some of the creatures shook their membranes lazily, panting silently, and most of the bats slept peacefully. Even the loud sound of footsteps, clearly audible inside the cave, did not encourage them to spread their wings again.
Somewhere in the distance, water murmured softly. The air in the cave was saturated with refreshing moisture, and it was easier and freer to breathe than outside. The persistent smell of incense and hot oil was becoming more and more evident. Their excitement grew stronger and stronger, and at the end of the last and longest passage they saw the hall of prayer.
It was undoubtedly a natural formation, but to the ellipse-shaped, silent beauty the monks had added their own: terra-cotta tiles on the floor, circular marble pedestals around the stalagmata that supported the vault, full-length statues of deities, and dozens of various-caliber lamps that cast their timid, flickering light into the cave. And almost everywhere on the walls there were petroglyphs, some of whose symbols were hidden by the unevenness of the ceiling and walls.
- They've got a lot going on here," Kate arched an eyebrow, clearly referring to the novices, "but I'm surprised at the Architectural skills of the Oldtimers. To erect such structures without machinery, without modern equipment. How much human sweat and blood has been spilled here!
- I think that the secret helpers had their hand in this, too! - Castle philosophized without a shadow of a smile. - The presence of otherworldly connections with the parallel world, the energy flows between heaven and earth that literally pierce through these rocks, all that informs centuries-old knowledge, and all that the monks adhere to in their lives, is precisely what is called harmony with nature. It's hard for us Europeans to understand them, but I'm sure the monks can't be wrong in their assumptions.
Gazing eagerly at the decorations of the temple, they reached almost the center of the hall, and pausing for a second, Rick gently drew his wife to him under his elbow. In the dim glow of the lamps, Kate noticed how serious her husband's face had become, how tight his lips were pressed together, and his eyebrows pulled together. Rick slowly lowered his hands to Beckett's shoulders, and she immediately felt the rough strength of his fingers.
- Kate! - Rick breathed hotly in her face. - Even if you think our child would have been born without the trip to Thailand, you can't deny that the hardships we've endured have strengthened our union, which was already stronger than a wrought iron ring. You know that, Kate, don't you?
- Yes, I know that, Castle. - outwardly even, with an understanding smile, she replied, but everything in her chest clenched roughly and unpleasantly. God! After all, it's only on the mundane order of things that their future depends, not on any fantastic rituals, but it's Castle! He always believes in what he says. And, as if to confirm the truth of his words and the course of his thoughts, Beckett nodded once more, then she put her arms around Rick's neck and pulled him to her. She fell, clinging to his lips, lapping him in a lingering, arousing kiss, and whispered inaudibly:
- It's about time for action, Castle, isn't it? Have you found that very altar yet?
- Not yet," Rick answered in the same whisper, "because I was looking at you, and only at you, in no small amount of concern. Oh, by the way, where is he?
They made eye-to-eye contact, silently reminding each other of what was bothering them, and then Kate pointed over his shoulder:
- You need to go behind your own back, Castle! And if you don't stop "poking holes" in me with your honest eyes, I'll find a better place for my strength than your hands or your neck!
- I will sacrifice myself! Always! - Castle bowed his head in a subservient manner, scolding himself angrily for his own negligence. And indeed, throughout the short descent he clearly tracked the emotions on Beckett's face, but apart from a tired smile and surprised eyes, he did not notice anything more. And so he was politely pointed out his own blunder, but why would there be any hard feelings? When Kate's small hands, confidently assisting, turned Castle's torso about its own axis, a muffled cry of amazement and delight soared beneath the stone vaults:
- Oh, my God! It's... It's the... It's the Jadeite Buddha!