Descent by Roland Smith

Author:Roland Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780358056027
Publisher: HMH Books
Published: 2020-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

Bats in the Belfry

We found Josh on the far side of the cavern, sitting at a table, writing on a sheet of paper. Sitting next to him was a young monk, a girl about my age. She gave us a smile as we walked up. Josh was concentrating so hard on his work that he didn’t see us standing there. He was writing a sentence. The letters were large and crude, but legible.

I am a climber. I climb mountains.

He pushed the paper over to the girl, then noticed us.

“Hey! Good to see you on your feet. I was worried.” He looked at Norbu. “I’m Josh.”

“My name is Norbu.”

Josh looked back at me. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“This is Jampa. She’s teaching me to read and write. I think writing might be harder than reading. My hand doesn’t do what I want it to do.”

“You are doing very well,” Jampa said.

I couldn’t remember learning to read or write, just like I don’t remember learning to walk. But someone must have taught me, and I’m sure it was hard, even though I take walking and reading for granted now.

“Everything is hard when it’s new,” I said.

“Tell me about it.” He put his pencil down and stretched. His joints cracked like a string of firecrackers. “This is the longest I’ve sat in a chair in decades. It’s no wonder I didn’t like school.”

“We can continue tomorrow morning if you like,” Jampa said.

“Absolutely,” Josh said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help.”

Jampa got up from the table. “Same time tomorrow then.”

“I’ll be here.”

Jampa walked away into the shadowy cavern.

“She’s great,” Josh said, looking after her. “Very patient. I’m going to get this down.”

Given Josh’s determination, I had no doubt about that. This was as excited as I had ever seen him.

“I’m bushed,” Josh said. “I think I’m going to soak in the hot springs, then hit the sack, or, more accurately, the hay. Are you up for that?”

“I’m not even remotely tired,” I said. “I think I’ll wander around for a while.”

“Good plan. Did you hear that Yash is giving monks climbing lessons?”

“Yeah.”

“We had breakfast with a group of guides. They were asking questions about how to rappel. Rather than explain, Yash offered to show them.”

“What about Zopa?” I asked.

“Haven’t seen him since we got here. I heard that he’s with the abbot.”

“Dawa,” I said.

“Is that his name?”

I told him about my brief encounter with the little man.

“Wow. Fifteen years in a lama roost. What was that like?” Josh grabbed the workbooks Jampa had given him, as well as his stubby pencil. “I’m not sure I can find my way to the hot springs or my cell.”

“I’ll show you,” Norbu offered.

“I’m going to look around the library,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Breakfast is at eight,” Norbu said, smiling. “In the morning.”

“I’ll be the first one in the dining room,” I said, already feeling a little hungry and wondering how I was going to make it to the next morning.

I started at the top of the dome and worked my way clockwise along the narrow circular catwalks.

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