Shadows of Shambhala (An Arcane Adventure of Capt. Gideon Argo and The Flying Zombies) by Tony Simmons

Author:Tony Simmons [Simmons, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Syndicate Studio
Published: 2018-02-09T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

Under the Earth

23 September 1932

Sanskrit Month of Asvina, Buddhist Year 2475

From Doc Riley’s Journal:

T

he trail of blood spatter and corpses we followed took us deeper into the earth. Rough rock walls gave way to passages carved smooth as marble, with decorative friezes cut into the stone near the dead crystals. With the corridors in darkness, only our lantern illuminated the shapes by casting shadows into the carvings. The weird angles of light and darkness gave the graven images a sepulchral aura.

“These show tales of the Kalacakra Tantra, the Wheel of Time,” Pasang whispered as we passed them. “They tell of the Siddhi, the sun worshippers who founded the City of Light, and of the palace of the god Indra, and the final form of Vishnu — Kalki.”

“Kalki, the destroyer?” Argo asked.

“Destroyer of Filth,” Pasang said. “He will usher in the golden age of Satya Yuga, judge the righteous and unrighteous, and nothing with the shadow of evil will survive.”

Zed grunted. “Bob’s your uncle.”

“Kalki will have to kill everyone on the planet, if that’s the case,” Johnny-D said.

Tally shouldered her rifle, put one hand on Johnny’s back as they walked. “We better hope he keeps busy elsewhere.”

Argo came to a halt, and we gathered close. A black cloak and wide-brimmed hat lay on the floor of the corridor. Argo picked them up and handed them to Pasang.

“These were Kenston’s,” he said. “Any idea why he’d leave them?”

She shook her head, her eyes wide in the lantern light. Her fingers found bullet holes in the fabric of the cape.

“Wait. Is it getting brighter?” Zed asked.

Argo switched off his lantern. We stood in the dark for several seconds, waiting for our vision to adjust. I couldn’t tell a difference, but Argo declared he saw a glow along a narrow passage to our left. Switching the lantern back on, he led us along its sloping floor, which became stairs as we descended. After a sharp turn, even I could see the glimmer of light ahead.

We made another pair of turns and found ourselves at the foot of the stairs, congregated upon a wide observation deck with a floor of jade stones the size of platters and a railing of ivory and pearl. The deck overlooked a vast, green valley. Little white cottages lined a sparkling river that ran toward distant mountain ranges lost in mist. The sounds of jungle birds and wildlife carried on the warm breeze — a macaw flew past, and the deep rumble of a lion’s roar rose from the distance.

Above us, at the apex of a cloudless blue sky, a white star glimmered and warmed our faces. Pasang stripped off her wooly overcoat, and Zed tossed his coat aside, flexing his arms in the sun.

“We can’t be on the surface,” Tally said. “We were going deeper into the mountain all this time.”

“We are inside Meru,” Pasang answered.

“That sky vaults too high,” Johnny said, craning his neck. “This valley, that artificial sun — wouldn’t fit inside the mountain.”

“We are also not inside Meru,” Pasang said.

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