With the light streaming in through the door, I could see the inches of dust and the plants creeping up between the cracks where the walls met the floor. I sucked in a breath and blew it out. “Animals have been living here,” I said.
Kadam smiled. “I would think so. This hut would make quite a cozy den.” His eyes trailed me as I walked around the small space looking at everything. “Nothing’s lived here in a while, I believe.”
“No,” I admitted. “None of the scents are fresh.”
He nodded as if satisfied with my assessment. “Shall we sit?” he offered, gesturing to the table. Touching the amulet at his throat, he froze time around us to make sure his other self wouldn’t happen upon us while we spoke.
We took positions, Ana next to me, and she used the Golden Fruit to provide a small tea for us. Kadam smiled with delight. “You remembered my favorites,” he said to Ana as he filled his mug.
I peered over at her to find a happy blush creeping across her cheeks. “I remember everything you taught me.”
“You were an excellent student,” he said. “Much more moldable than this one,” he added, nodding to me. “Perhaps by now you know how stubborn he can be.”
Ana laughed and I found I liked the sound so much I forgot to be irritated that the joke was on me. After we’d eaten, I said, “Tell me what I must do.”
Kadam pushed away his crumb-filled plate and steepled his fingers. “You must guide me in finding Kelsey and leading her here, where I, as Phet, will counsel both her and Ren to find the Cave of Kanheri.”
“So, I tell you where she is?”
“No. Not at all. Your main purpose here is to give me hope. To give Ren hope. After seeing Phet and discovering that there is a prophesy, I will visit Ren over the years, and though I cannot free him, I will tell him that there is a way to break the curse if we are patient enough to wait for it.”
“You mean wait for her.”
“Yes, exactly. I have already whispered the idea of a shaman in this jungle to a few of my old contacts, and they shared the information with my other self. I plotted courses and searched this jungle for many years before I discovered this hut. It lies far away from any road, even in Kelsey’s time.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay, so why me?”
“You know as well as I do the dangers of crossing paths with yourself. It will be safer for me not to encounter a future, or past, version of myself. Speaking of which, don’t forget to tell me that after the chosen girl is found, she and her tiger must come here alone. I must stay far away as I will be posing as Phet at that time.”
“Got it. So, when will you be here?”
“Within a few moments of my restarting time.” Kadam rose and placed a hand on my shoulder. “The two of you are doing well. I wish you luck in completing the rest of your list.” He leaned down to my ear. “And don’t forget to bring that scroll on your next few adventures.”
I grimaced at the word adventures but nodded. He restarted time, then disappeared with a pop and we were left alone.
“May I borrow the scarf?” I asked. “If Kadam is arriving soon, I’d better change.”
“Can I stay and watch?” Ana asked as she wound the scarf around my neck. I’d bent down and our faces were very close.
My eyes drifted to her lips, and when she inched closer, I backed away and cleared my throat. “I suppose you can. Just make yourself invisible.”
She phased out of time, her body shimmering and then disappearing while the threads of the scarf went to work, transforming me into the stooped man called Phet. When it was done, I plucked at my homespun robe. I ran a hand over my bald head and licked my lips, feeling the gaps in my mouth where teeth should have been.
I heard a giggle come from the corner of the room and turned, nearly stumbling on my scrawny legs. “You don’t look like yourself at all, Sohan,” she remarked.
Giving her a wide, gap-toothed smile, I asked, “Do you miss my hair more, or my teeth?”
A ghostly hand touched my arm. “Hmm. I’d have to say your muscles.” Ana shook my arm slightly. “You’re as scrawny as a chicken.”
I laughed and snuck a hand around her waist, surprised to find her waist higher than it normally was. Apparently, I’d shrunk in height as well as muscle. “I think I’m still strong enough to wrestle with a goddess.”
She shrieked and pulled away. I was about to seek her out by scent when I heard a voice. “Hello?” someone called from outside.
“Come in,” I hollered back in my normal voice. Then I remembered Phet didn’t talk like that. “Come! Come, young man,” I said in a singsong tone and pushed open the small door.
A younger Kadam poked his head in. “Thank you,” he said. “It’s been a long time since someone called me young.”
Peering at him in the way I guessed an all-too-fake wise man would, I said, “I perceive you are aged past your years and are, as yet, young in the ways of this world.”
“I suppose I am,” Kadam said. “I’ve been traveling a long way.”
“Travel far. Ah, yes. Phet see. You are”—I paused, trying to channel Phet—“you are most welcome. Drink for you?” I asked.
“Please and thank you,” he answered as he took a seat.
I turned to the non-kitchen and wrung my hands for a moment but then felt something pressed into them. Anamika had made a steaming mug of tea. I patted her invisible hand and headed to the table, plopping the mug down in front of Kadam.
“There,” I said as he sipped. “Drink all as good for you. Now tell Phet of your travels.”
“Yes, well, I am in the jungle searching for a shaman.”
“Shaman?” I cocked my head. “What is shaman?”
“A man who knows answers.”
I laughed. “All mans knows some answers. Are all mans shamans?”
“No.” Kadam smiled. “I’m seeking a man who knows a specific answer. You see, there is a tiger, a pair of them actually—”
“Ah!” I said. “You wish break the tiger’s curse. You pursue remedy.”
He set down his mug abruptly. “You know of it?” he asked, hope lighting his expression.
I felt a ghostly hand on my shoulder and warmth reverberated through my frame, filling me.
“Beautiful warrior goddess, Durga, is strong. She speak to my ear. Very soft are her words, but smart mans listen women. Particularly goddess.”
Ana’s invisible hair fell over my shoulder as she blew softly in my ear. I cleared my throat noisily, rubbing my extra-long lobe with my fingers, and continued. “She partial to tigers but only one special girl can help. Girl is favored of goddess. Girl love tiger. Alleviate his pains and sufferings.”
“How do I find this girl?” Kadam asked. He’d pulled out a pad of paper and was jotting down notes very quickly.
“Phet dream tigers. One pale like moon. One black as resembling night. Girl is devoted, exceptional. She will find her tiger. Free him. Then you know.” My voice had softened as I remembered Kelsey. “Girl is alone, no family. She cares for tiger. Her hair is brown like bark of tree, her eyes dark and soft. Bring such special girl to me. I will guide more.”
I realized then that Anamika had drifted away. Turning my head, I tried to catch her scent but she was hiding from me. I continued. “When she come, you stay back. Only girl and tiger can enter jungle.” Frowning, I ended with, “This is the one favored by Durga, who breaks tiger’s curse.”
At the mention of the goddess, I reached out mental fingers, trying to connect to her, but she had cut herself off from me. “Yes,” Kadam said. “I will bring her. Thank you. Thank you so much!” With that, he leapt from his chair, inclined his head respectfully, shouldered his pack, and left.
When he was gone, ghostly hands grabbed on to my thin robe and shoved me against the wall.
Chapter 27
Shrine of Earth