Whiteout III: 2 (Halls of Gold)

2. Halls of Gold

     Waking moments came sparingly as I was dragged through the strange land. I could not tell whether I was asleep or awake, but when in doubt the firm hands on my arms always reminded me. Slowly I left my drowsy state and watched the landscape around me pass by. The road we were on was smooth, soft almost, and shone radiantly. It’s solid gold. The road is solid god-damn gold! Even with a massive headache I was able to wonder how much one of the road bricks would sell for back home.

     James walked beside me with a man behind him pushing him forward. “This one is awake. Lift him.” The world turned for a moment as I caught my balance and stood. “This time you will walk or you will not wake up. Is that understood?” The voice was deep and threatening. The man spoke in a permanent bass tone, rumbling from deep within him. “Is that understood?!”

     Jesus gods are touchy. “Yes I understand.” I had decided that shooting my mouth off to an already angry deity was likely not one of the best ideas. I walked forward and shot a pained grimace at James who was sporting a bloody nose and a black eye. “They don’t like backtalk?” I mouthed at him. Hot fire ran up my spine as the man behind us lashed me.

     “You will not speak to the other prisoners. You will walk and do nothing else. Is that understood?”

     They have drill sergeants in Shangri-La? Well I’ll be damned if I’m going to listen to some cocked up god of war about what to do with my life! The whip rustled as he drew it behind his back to strike once more. “Understood.” We both muttered, and continued to walk. The golden streets made for easy traveling as the hillside fell away into a deep valley. In the distance I could hear roars of strange and no doubt dangerous creatures.

     The gods shuddered at the sound. Scared by creatures of your own imagination. Pity the gods have to have such small minds for foresight. I wonder if they can hear my thoughts. If they’re gods they could potentially hear my thoughts right? I’M SAILING AWAYYYY, CHARTING A COURSE FOR THE VIRGIN SEA!

     “They can’t hear your thoughts outlander, but I can.” A woman masked in a thin blue veil with powerful arms stepped forward from behind me. “Don’t say another word unless you want my friend back there to whip you again.” I was distracted by her beautiful flowing dark hair and piercing eyes that glowed beyond the veil she wore to hide them. She was beautiful, as I suppose most goddesses would be, but I hadn’t been expecting it.

     The muscular gods of war seemed straight forward, but a beautiful and dangerous woman, let’s just say I have a type and I was in trouble. “Don’t even think about it. I would have your fingers before you so much as even flexed a muscle.” The men behind me chuckled. “I’ll have yours too if you’re not careful!” She yelled back at them. It seemed that even in the realm of the gods some idiots still played to gender stereotypes.

     Wonderful, we find the lost society and most of them want to kill or dismember us. As we walked deeper into the valley the sides grew steeper until they enclosed us tightly on both sides. It had become a tight canyon, barely fitting us three across, and then abruptly it ended. We walked until the two men in front of us stopped at a rock face that appeared to be the end of the line. I looked at James quizzically, but he just stared straight forward, trying not to get hit again. I don’t blame him, I’m just a slow learner.

     The gods and goddess began to chant, harmonizing in the canyon. The thick walls echoed back and forth with their sonorous tone, throwing it every which way. Sound filled the air as if there were hundreds more of them chanting alongside us. Rumbles from beneath the earth shook the ground and the strong smell of sulfur punctuated the air. The previously bland, grey rock split at the middle and opened into a large, dark tunnel. The gods marched forward, and we followed.

     Inside was a tunnel, dimly lit from paper lanterns suspended in space. The sides were carved into pictures of gods, men, creatures, and war. They seemed to extend endlessly upward in a tunnel that continued to widen. Above I could not see the ceiling, only the twinkling of tiny paper lanterns that floated there watching us. Each was a different color, giving it the appearance of the cosmos. It was truly beautiful and as in most of my situations I would have appreciated it, had I not thought that I was most certainly about to die.

     The last time I had been in a temple a cult had tried to kill me, and I had just lost my demi god. Things were not looking good for James or I. At least we weren’t being chased by the beast anymore, and it was warm. So warm in fact that my winter coat began to feel burdensome and I felt that I might pass out again. It had been hours since we had had water, and the walk wasn’t helping. The deeper we got, the more the heat increased.

     I stumbled and fell. The gold floor was there to catch me and I was on my back staring up at the sea of lanterns floating overhead. Not a bad image to go out to. Certainly better than freezing to death on the mountainside, or being disemboweled by the yeti. The man with the whip was above me raising it when the goddess came to my aid, staying his hand. She was stronger than the men. The mere touch of her hand was enough to make the man recoil backward.

     “His thoughts dwell on the creature. They have seen it.”

     My vision began to fade again, but her arm touched mine and flooded me with a cool breeze. My large coat was removed and I could breathe again. Clarity came to my vision once more and I stood. I told you that everyone always wanted to know about the yeti. That didn’t just start when I got home.

     “She will learn what he has to say about it soon enough. We must continue or we will be late.” Said one of the others.

     “You are right, let us continue.” The march began again, this time with a much more pleasant breeze to it. James’ winter coat was removed as well and he seemed to perk up a little bit. Well, as much as someone can in a hostage situation.

     I found my thoughts drifting to Lopsang. I wondered how long until sunset. Being in this strange land made it difficult to tell time. Hours may have passed or minutes. The march continued on endlessly, the beat of feet on a metal path, throbbing in my now painful head. When one inconvenience leaves another will always surface to take its place.

     Out of the darkness came light. A massive pagoda loomed in the shadows, white and luminescent. The walls were flake gold, shining through the darkness with black trim around the edges. Bridges stood tall and narrow over ponds lit from below with a rainbow of colors, stark against the dark contrast of the surrounding landscape. The howling of tiny monkeys filled the air as they clambered and swung around a garden on a lower terrace.

     The area hung in what appeared to be a large cavern with no end. The golden bridge led directly to an archway with a long, red bridge stretching to the front of the pagoda. Each side was lit with the same hanging lanterns that floated above, casting orange light out into the darkness. As we crossed I glanced briefly over the edge and saw other such pagodas and castles floating below. All paled in comparison of the beauty that lay before me.

     The scent of water and fresh fruit filled the air, calming me even in my present danger. As we crossed the bridge a series of terracing walkways presented itself, leading down to the gardens, or alternatively up to the pagoda steps. I longed to explore what lay beneath, but the pagoda’s doors hung open, inviting us in. I never saw what lay in those gardens and the possibilities fill me with wonder even today.

     As we were led in the calming nature of the gardens disappeared for a more ornate beauty. Sculptures and paintings were in abundance. Each possessed its own unique style, belonging to no known cultures, and possessing no common theme. It was a mish-mash of art from all history, but it managed to come together in a gorgeous medley that was absolutely breathtaking.

     We walked through a side door and into a small room where a woman sat on a plush cushion eating an apple. The room was mostly burnished wood with very little distractions. All of our guards left, except for the goddess, who stayed behind and shut the doors. The room was cooler than the rest. The woman remained with her back turned to us, criss-crossed on the cushion. No one said a word. I’ve never been one for uncomfortable silences.

     “So what’s the plan then? Tell us we broke into your sacred place and then kill us? Because I’ve had a really long day and am ready to just get on with it.” The woman remained silent facing away from us. Surprisingly I was not given any lashes for my outburst. I took it as a silent permission to continue. “Look, I just came to find a yeti; I had no intention of coming to your city. That was more of the guy who you fried at the gates thing.” It was half true, but I didn’t see any harm in leaving out the fortune and glory part. Natives never like it when you tell them that you’re there to steal their gold.

     “Silence yourself fool. These outbursts do not become you. I am trying to focus.” Said the woman with her back turned. I felt slightly offended by it.

     She kidnapped us and held us at spear point. Where does she get off on telling us to wait?! The goddess behind me kicked me in the back of the leg bringing me to my knees, while simultaneously grabbing me by the neck like a freshly plucked chicken.

     “Keep those thoughts to a minimum. I’m here because if I suspect you to be a danger, I kill you. That’s my part, now why don’t you play your part as the prisoner that’s grateful that he hasn’t yet had his head separated from his body.” She released me quickly.

     “Come now Siana, no need to be rough with our guests. They are understandably confused, and with confusion comes anger. We know this better than most. Why don’t you both have a seat? We have much to discuss…”