The Ice Man

by John W. Steele

Part 1 appears in this issue.

conclusion

In time I grew bored with Sonam and used my abilities to seduce other women like her. Without remorse, I entered the dark path. And the bright virtue within me transformed into a raging fire. Sonam understood I was no longer enamored by her. In time her countenance dimmed, and her shining buoyant mind grew heavy with shame and humiliation. One dark night she hurled her body from a cliff and died on the jagged rocks below.

When the Arhats learned of my sacrilege, they plucked out my eyes and entombed me in a cell carved deep in the bowels of a mountain. There was no escape from this place and I was kept under constant surveillance by powerful lamas. I knew the dark path had destroyed me. When I could no longer bear my guilt, I sat in the full lotus posture and entered a deep trance from which I never returned.

The deeds of my life were not all bad and I had accomplished much good. Because of my transgressions, the Lords of Karma determined I should be reborn as a Snow Tiger and confined to this cave for a hundred lifetimes.

When I arrived here I found the Gaki. I suppose his presence is a compassionate act on the part of the karma lords. There is always someone less fortunate than yourself. I shudder to think what the Gaki must have done to end up in such a deplorable state. His actions must have been far worse than mine. If you want to understand the present, you must look at the past. And the two pilgrims now shivering on the mountain were about to reap the demerit of their previous deeds.

* * *

The morning was born and a pewter sky drew a cloak over the heavens. Ice crystals hung in the air and sparkled like diamonds. I walked over to the cliff and gazed down on the slope. The mendicants were strong and they had made great progress. I knew in a short time they would appear on the ridge.

I walked back to the cave and unshackled the Gaki. I told him he could have the cherub, but the bearded one was mine. He was compliant now and eager to serve. I ordered him to ascend to the ledge of retributions. He hopped down the narrow passageway that wound to the cliff, and I could hear him twitter.

I knew the bearded one was hungry for idols; he’d grovel before me with little encouragement. But the cherub... the damn cherub would not be fooled by words or concepts. I sensed he was aware of the infinite intelligence that surrounded him. A special demonstration would be needed to lure him to the area where the Gaki waited. The leaden hour had arrived. The pilgrims had suffered much to witness a feat of magic. And a miracle I would give them.

I crept out to the sacred spot of power near the ledge and sat on my haunches. Breathing... long breaths long, short breaths short, deeper and deeper into the void. The primal energies surged through the tanden. In time an opening appeared in the wall of the force field. Yes... it was time.

The molecules vibrated faster and the atoms of my body tore from their orbits and careened through the infinite void of space within me. The strands flexed, and the shapes of the molecules were recreated.

I trembled as my muscular hind legs shriveled and deformed into the decrepit tube like appendages of a human. The horny sheaths of my hand claws retracted into my skin, and my powerful paws morphed into the frail fingers of an anthropoid. The thick plush hair of my coat receded into my flesh only to grow out again transformed into a crimson wool robe; filled with holes and threadbare. My magnificent mane shriveled away, replaced by a mantle of raven colored hair and a tangled ragged beard. The yellow eyes sunk into my head and my nose flattened. And like a serpent reduced to a worm, I am the image of man.

I will sit now and enter Samadhi. One more illusion, to tread asunder the will of the cherub. Soon the seekers will learn why they fear the darkness. And why the truth is a disappointment.

* * *

In time I heard the crunch of footsteps coming from the dry ice on the ridge to the east. I focused on my vibrations, flooding them with energy. The snow around me began to melt; a golden aura of light filtered through my flowing robe and surrounded me like glowing mist.

The bearded one spoke first. “Look! There he is, see the light... it’s beautiful. I knew we would find him!” His voice quivered and rang with hope and anticipation. I could hear the scrunch of boots in snow quicken as my prey grew nearer.

It’s him... it’s him, at last I’ve found him, the bearded one said. He tottered forth, fell on his knees and prostrated himself before me. The cherub stood in the distance just out of the sight of the Gaki. A time of waiting had arrived.

“O venerable teacher,” the bearded one said. “What is the purpose of my life?” His eyes were filled with tears and an innocent smile shone on his face.

I raised my arm above my head and in so doing created heaven and earth. I heard the footsteps of the cherub draw closer.

The bearded one looked at my hand suspended in the air. “I don’t understand?” he said. “Why was I born? I beg you, master; please enlighten me.” The fool wanted words. Another idiot that believed a picture of food would satisfy his hunger.

The cherub approached and stood defiant before me now, and he did not bend the knee. “Yes, holy man, why are we here?” he said. I sensed the note of sarcasm in his voice.

“Vast emptiness, and nothing holy,” I replied. There was a moment of silence as each man measured the words. A deep laugh rumbled from the belly of the cherub. I knew he’d answered his final question, and he would die a free man.

The face of the bearded one grew red and fierce. A blue vein inflated on his forehead. “Vast emptiness and nothing holy... what kind of bullshit is that?” he said. “We travel thousands of miles and risk our lives to find the truth, and you insult us? You just sit there and babble nonsense like a spit dribbling idiot! What kind of holy man are you? I wanna’ see you levitate... you son of a bitch!” There it was... the energy I craved. I drew the power of his anger into me; my transformation would be easy now.

From high above a twitter like that of a sparrow rang in the sky. The cherub raised his head and looked up at the wall of rock. Like a falling boulder the Gaki sailed down from the ledge, the wicked claws of his hind legs open and flexed. Claws tore through the shell of the parka and ripped into the flesh of the man. The Gaki dug his razor talons deep into the cherub’s chest and raked them down into the soft innards of the abdomen. One final scream and the cherub tumbled to the ground, his organs lying in a pool of blood in the snow.

The bearded one’s mouth dropped open, and he stood petrified. He screamed, pulled his ice axe from its sheath and then began to run. With little effort I shed the awkward image of man and once again morphed into my superior tiger body.

I leaped from my spot and pursued him down the side of the mountain. The chase did not last long. When I closed in upon him, he turned and raised his axe above his head.

“Get away from me you ungodly bastard,” he screamed. A roaring growl bubbled up from the depths of my belly and with a powerful leap, I knocked him to the ground. He buried the ice axe in the heavy muscles of my shoulder. Ferocious saber canines pierced the soft flesh of his neck and I tore out his throat. A rattle sputtered from his lungs, and the blood from his throat spurted into the snow. He died quickly. I dragged his body up the side of the mountain and into the cave.

That night the Gaki lay on his back and purred like a contented cat. In his claws he held the head of the cherub. His rasping tongue probed the gaping red eye socket of the skull. Even in this hell world, the Gaki had found a brief moment of bliss.

I supped on the heart of the bearded one. His body was dense and he’d provide meat for a long time. Once picked clean, the skeletons of the pilgrims would join the huge mound of bones in the catacombs of the cavern. Many had preceded them, and many more would follow.

I licked the wound in my shoulder. It was deep but it would heal. I savored the pain and knew my suffering was the pathway to liberation. I gazed into the darkness and contemplated the fate of the bearded one. If he could have sustained the concentration he knew the second before he died, he would have had no need of holy men.

A storm was rising in the west. Soon a blanket of ice and snow would rage at the mouth of the cave like a hurricane. I rested my head on the belly of the bearded one. Golden slumbers flooded my eyes, and for a while... just a little while... I would dream of Princess Sonam.