Spell, Crook and Handle Pt. 08

"If I can I will," she replied and smiled.

"I want you to talk to Nick and make sure there is no attempt for a manned mission to the city."

"Why," Kat asked seeing how upset I was.

"If we send someone down there will be reprisals. I don't want to be responsible for that many deaths." I said and fell silent.

"I will talk to Nick for you Louis," she said. "This is really bothering you isn't it?"

I let my silence speak of how serious I was taking this. What followed was the longest two days of my life. I kept to myself until we dropped anchor over the sunken city and then like the rest of the crew I got caught up in the excitement of launching the drone. I stared up as the crane lifted the gleaming bulk of Valin up and deposited it safely over the side of the ship. The onboard systems were all in the green as it sank from sight and the few of us allowed to enter the control room and watched the live feed. It took hours for the drone to drop down the five miles to the top of the city. Valin powered up the untested technology, the sonic-light and waited for the data to come streaming in.

"It is working," Magnus proudly said as the child of his thought began scanning key structures. "I can't believe it but there we are. The last secrets of the pyramid are going to be revealed."

"I will be thrilled when this is over with," I said earning a contemptuous glare from the chief engineer.

"You are still spooked by a couple of silly characters," he shot back.

"Those runes were a warning. A warning given by an intelligent species," I reminded him.

"How do I know that you didn't carve them yourself?" He argued.

"Did he leave the strange DNA too," Shauna stepped up in my defense.

"You are still processing those samples," Magnus warned. "Don't open your mouth until you have all the facts."

"The same could be said for you Magnus," she snapped. "You are assuming Louis somehow managed to carve those characters with some sort of tool even you can't identify."

That shut him up, or it could have been the ever growing image of the pyramid in a level of detail we had never seen before. The previous scans gave us a certain level of resolution but the water had impeded the sensors. The sonic-light cut through that interference and gave us gorgeous high definition holograms of not just the statues but every aspect of the pyramid. Sadly, one of those details was what could only be an airlock. The perfectly circular door screamed a way into the pyramid. I felt my argument for leaving this place in peace fading as Valin took a second pass at that area of the monument. It was flanked on either side by stooped gargoyle like statues. The hologram didn't do them justice since each statue was over two hundred feet in height. That made the portal into the pyramid's interior at least a hundred feet in diameter.

"There is a way in," Magnus cried out. "We have to go in now!"

"No we don't," I argued. "If we ignore that warning people could die. Hell this ship and its crew could be placed in jeopardy!"

"You have been against a manned mission since the beginning, why? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't demand for an expedition to the city."

"It is inhabited," I growled. "It isn't a ruin. It is a fully functional and occupied complex."

"How the hell could you know that?" Magnus argued.

"This..." Kat replied as the holographic display changed. The mile high dome of the Black Cathedral hung there for all to see. "There are other sites and they are populated."

Magnus stared at the image and watched as the image shifted showing the entirety of the inner surface and it's star map. It revealed the dais and Great Cthulhu sitting upon his throne. Kat had added a person to give a hint of the scale involved. The others gawked at the hologram and Magnus shook his head. His expression of shock was mirrored on every face except mine and Kat's.

"You knew," Magnus whispered. "How old is it?"

"I had artifacts carbon dated to three thousand millennia. Some are younger and a few quite a bit older." I spat out still upset that Kat had revealed so much.

"Impossible," Magnus argued but he knew I had the data to support the claim. "Why keep this secret?"

"Really, do you think any nation on Earth would let me reveal such a discovery? It would destroy every major religion and crush humanities belief that we are the masters of this planet. Think of the panic. Richard's little discovery is still being argued and that is just a single artifact. I have hundreds in my possession far older that would cause a worldwide meltdown."

"What is Numenor's slant on things here?" Magnus asked Kat.

"Nick wanted to test his new technology while aiding the Japanese people. He wanted to see a tsunami warning system put into place. I agree with Louis though, a manned mission is a bad idea. We are talking about beings that are far older than humanity. We should respect their desire for isolation."

"I see and what does Nick want now that we may have a way in?" Magnus prompted.

"I don't know. I will have to contact him." Kat said. She took over the holographic display again and sent a message to her brother.

Nick's bleary eyed image appeared and he looked around at everyone. He waved and listened as Kat and Magnus informed him of their discovery. He looked at the streaming images coming from Valin. He was keenly interested in the circular door as a possible way into the pyramid. I told him about the warning and my fear about a manned mission. He nodded but I could see the hunger in his eyes. He wasn't listening to me. He saw only that he could go where no human had ever set foot before. Nick didn't give an answer right away but I feared he would side with Magnus.

"Finish the scan of the pyramid, retrieve Valin and return to port. We have done enough for today." Nick ordered.

We were parked over the city for two days while the drone worked uninterrupted for over forty hours. Once the full scale and scope of the pyramid had been revealed even Magnus had to admit the structure was something humans couldn't possible reproduce. Valin was on its way back up when the sonar picked up an object rising from the depths. Magnus watched in horror as the massive sonar signature grew and grew. He ordered Valin to switch on the sonic-light to get a clear picture of the thing rising from the lightless abyss. I knew it by sight but the others cried out as the hologram took shape. It was a mass of tentacles, mouths and eyes. It was Dagon.

It moved impossibly fast in the water and snatched Valin the way a child grabs a toy train engine. The tentacles made short work of the drone. Once the outer armor was compromised the pressure of the depths did the rest of the work. Valin was crushed and compacted to the size of a baseball in seconds flat. The feed died and the captain called for the raising of the anchor and firing up the engines. We were leaving. I had to admit that the crew kept it together as we fled the area in a near panic. I looked at Magnus and he was ashen and shaking.

"What the FUCK was that," he cried out in Norwegian.

"That was Dagon," I said. "You still want to go down there?"

"How do you know what it was... oh right... let's just get the hell out of here." He growled shaken to his core.

I don't know if he was angrier that Valin and his prototype sonic-light was destroyed or that he had seen the big baddy that lorded over the city below us. I was actually thankful to Dagon for his appearance. He had argued for my point better than I ever could have. I felt that a disaster had been averted and I could relax. Many people commented that I was back to my old self on the jaunt back to Tokyo. The Kobayashi Maru dropped anchor in Tokyo bay and we returned to the university to look over all of our data. I focused my full attention on deciphering the artifact that Richard had uncovered.

The months ticked by and my weekends were spent at the mountain shrine so that I could continue my training. The Tengu seemed quite pleased with my improvement as well as my mood. By midwinter I was splitting my time between the shrine and the university. I was reaching a crucial stage in my training and the fewer distractions the better. It was during this time that I learned lessons that would change my life forever for good and for ill. I was introduced to the Japanese magic known as Ofuda. It involves prayers, sacred paper and the creation of powerful seals. The seals work on certain types of beings. I was to discover that I was one such entity.

I had noticed the construction of the small shack and took little attention to its completion and how it would impact my life. I arrived at the shrine and my teacher was there with one of his younger students. I had great news for him and he had news of his own for me. I was so excited it was hard to keep my focus.

"I did it," I told him as I greeted him.

"It is good to see you too Louis-san," the Tengu replied smiling. "Tell me all about it as we make our way to the waterfall."

"I cracked the code on the relic. I know how to open it." I told him.

"Your hard work appears to have paid off twice fold," he said as cryptic as always.

"Twice over, I don't understand," I said as we reached the meditation pool.

"You will in a short while," he said. "I want you to clear your mind of your worldly accomplishment. I have a test for you and it will require you full attention."

"Yes Sensei," I replied as I stripped down and moved to sit beneath the ice cold torrent.

It was very difficult to clear my mind. I had spent months working on this solution to the exclusion of little else. My only diversion had been my training here. It was here that I was able to forget about my work and focus on more immediate concerns. I pushed aside the relic and all that it represented and focused on my breath. I inhaled for a count of four, held my breath for four seconds; I exhaled for a count of four and finally allowed my lungs to be empty for four seconds. I repeated that until I felt the Tengu's presence once more. When I opened my eyes the sky was darkening. The sun had set and its light was fading from the world. I left my place and followed my teacher to a spot that overlooked the valley below.

"What do you know of Ofuda," he asked as we enjoyed the view.

"Not much," I admitted. "It involves rectangles of paper and calligraphy but beyond that nothing at all."

"Shinto priests use Ofuda to seal away evil spirits," the Tengu said. "But it works on many different types of beings and not just Oni." He said and gestured for his disciple to bring out a rose wood box. "Open it but do not touch what is inside."

"Yes Sensei," I said taking the box.

It was a shallow box about two inches deep. It was wide and long and the lid was recessed into it so that I had to push down and slide the lid down to open it. There was a dazzling object inside that made my eyes water. I had to blink profusely to see the single sheet of paper inside. I closed the box and wiped my eyes clear.

"It is as I feared. You, like myself, as under the sway of such things. I am going to teach you how to defeat this kind of magic."

"Thank you Sensei," I said. "How do I do it?"

"First I need you to go into the shack that has been built. Once inside I will reveal the secret."

I did as I was told. I walked over to the shack, opened the door and went inside. The interior was very simple and its only luxury was a single wooden chair. I heard the door close behind me and a moment later my feet felt like they were on fire. I hopped onto the chair and sat cross legged on its seat. I called out to the Tengu and he replied.

"Do you remember your calligraphy lessons," he asked from beyond the door.

"Yes Sensei," I replied.

"Good," the Tengu replied. "Remember, you must be like water."

He was gone. I knew he had walked away but he had promised to give me the secret of defeating Ofuda. I wanted to curse but I found myself smiling instead. He had done it to me again. I closed my eyes and cleared my thoughts. I remembered my calligraphy lessons and how I had learned the basic Kanji characters first. Those characters allowed me to build other more complex ones. Changing one part of a character changed the entire meaning of the message. It was obvious. I had to somehow pierce the magic and change one of the characters. This was a test.

I extended my perception to the astral and there blazing all around me a mystical cage. The lock was the spell written on the paper. It was hard to stare at the Kanji for too long but I managed to read the spell. I withdrew back to the mundane and brought each character to mind until I found the one that would be easiest to change and at the same time free me. Two steps down and only one left to accomplish, but how? How the hell was I supposed to change that character?

Once again I peered into the astral and made several attempts and each failed but with each failure I learned something. In the end of my first series I was sure that the character I had chosen was the correct target of my efforts. I knew that I could eventually free myself but it was going to take time. It came down to trial and error. I looked at it as dealing with high voltage wires. I didn't dare touch them directly but I could coerce the flow of power.

Again it was Hiro's words that saved me. You must be like water. Water conducts electricity very well and it was that principal that was my lock pick. I imagined droplets of water falling on one of the characters adding a single angled line to it. Change the character change the meaning altogether and thus dismantling the spell. My first attempts failed but not without some results. The droplets evaporated before they even contacted the character I had chosen. But the sizzle and sparks told me that I was on the right track.

I changed tactics and instead of drops I thought about a water laser. I would carve that line with an unstoppable stream. The contact was intense but almost immediately I could see the line begin to form. I failed. I didn't have the mental stamina to finish the line. I rested and tried again and again. It might have been a hundred times or a thousand, I don't know. It took a long time, a very long time until my will was diamond hard. It blazed in the darkness of the astral plane and formed that damn line. The fiery white thing faded and died. I passed out. I slept. I dreamt.

I was floating. I was on some nameless sea. The night sky above me was filled with billions of stars. I could see forever and it looked amazing. I tried to lift my head but I was too weak. I drifted on a nameless current. I could feel the movement and I let it take me where it wanted. I hit a shore and crawled to my knees. The black sand beach stank of rotted fish and worse. I found the strength to stand and looked around. There was a pinnacle of rock not too far away. Drawn to the spike of stone I stumbled forward. Naked, as always it seemed, I walked to the monument. I looked up and stopped cold. There at the center of the sky was a queer configuration of stars. There were thirteen of them, one at the center and twelve circling it. I was looking at the sultan and his court. I lowered my gaze and stared at the stone and shivered. Where was I? Oh dear god where am I?

I was dragged forward then. I knew what a paper clip felt like when it came into the sphere of influence of a magnet. I was suddenly next to the obelisk. I screamed as I tried to step back.

"No... no... no... NOOOOOO!"

The thing rose up behind the thousand foot pinnacle and dwarfed it utterly. It was the same monstrosity from my other dream. But now there was only the obelisk between it and me. The eyes, all of them, focused on me and the mouths opened and shut as we stood there motionless. The sound of crashing waves snatched my attention from the beast. I turned and looked at the titanic wave looming over me. I threw up my hands as it fell.

It was Hiro that was shaking me awake. I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a fetal position outside. I was outside! I sat up slowly and Hiro and his other student gave me room. The Tengu was all smiles as he offered me his hand up. I stood and leaned heavily against him. I was so weak. They caught me under my arms and helped me to the kitchen table. They prepared fish, rice and tea. I ate and drank as if I hadn't done so in a week. I slowed my pace and returned to my mindfulness.

"How long," I asked.

"You should rest," Hiro offered.

"Hiro, how long has it been?"

"Six weeks," he said. "You did very well."

"Six... six weeks," I said. "You call that good."

"It took me six months," he said. "You are a very clever man."

"My family must be crazy worried," I said as I rushed to my feet and was felled by a wall of dizziness.

"Patience, I have been in contact with them. They know you were facing an ordeal and it would take time. I have also contacted the University."

I sat until my strength returned. I felt my face and my goatee was now a full-fledged beard. My hair was passed my shoulders. It might be a good look. I stripped out of my clothes. I walked slowly to the waterfall so that I could cleanse my body and spirit. Hiro left me alone. I sat beneath the pounding water and let it drive away my fatigue, my pain and the last remnants of the nightmare. After an hour or so beneath the hammering force of the waterfall I stood up. It was time to leave. I walked to the shrine. Hiro had my things packed. God, I hated when he did that! I couldn't help but smile and give him a very unmanly hug. He endured it as the mountain does the rain.

"You always have a place here," he said.

"I know. This is just a break. I need to focus on why I am here in Japan. Thank you for everything."

"Don't be a stranger," he said and laughed.

I picked up my backpack and slid it over one shoulder. I began the long walk down the mountain. It wasn't until I was near the edge of the village before that I got any kind of cell signal. I fired off an email and waited at the local watering hole for my ride back to Tokyo. I dug out cash from my pack and set it on the bar. I had polished off the first bottle of Sake and had bought drinks all around three times when my lift arrived. I left the remainder of money behind and told them to drink my health for however long the money lasted. I made a few friends that day.

I stepped outside and walked towards the helicopter. The door closest opened and a flash of red hair told me my love interest was in full panic mode. She raced over and flung her arms around me. Her body molded to mine and her kiss was fierce and intoxicating. I scooped her into my arms and carried her to the waiting aircraft.

"I missed you," she said after breaking our kiss.

"I know. I missed you like hell too."

"Are you okay," she asked as I put her back on her feet.

"I am okay," I said watching her climb into the helicopter. "I have missed that ass of yours."

"Just wait until I get you home," she said over the sound of the rotors.

"It will be torture until then."

I climbed into the helicopter and sat in the back with her. I guess I shouldn't have been shocked to see Yuki at the controls. We buckled up as the copter left the ground. I kissed my little redhead over and over again until we had to stop of try fucking in the tiny space allowed to us.

"I was so damned worried," Kat said.

"I would've warned you if I could have." I told her giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Am I still a part of the project?"

"Of course you are, when they learned you were at a shrine they understood."

"I hate to ask but I needed to know," I said and she just nodded.

"I kind of like the beard," she said.

"Forty five days without sex," Yuki chimed in. "Somebody is in for a pounding."