— Chapter Twenty —
There was a tranquil feeling of majesty and reverence within the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Imperial Palace. A bamboo scaffold had been erected around the golden coloured Buddha, which smiled down on the three figures knelt below.
After an hour of chanting and prayer, Pon left the other two and, with a small glass case in his hand, ascended the scaffold until he reached the head of the 50’ statue. The monk slowly and reverently slotted the four rods on the base of the glass case into four newly drilled holes on the head, and slid the glass box into place. The monk then stood back and looked at his task. He stared at the contents of the glass case and bowed to the small jewel encrusted box inside. He glanced at the large green emerald that was next to the holy relic. The two treasures would remain together until the end of time.
Pon looked down at the two that remained below and he felt honoured, to be the one who would site this, the most holy of relics, into its final resting place.
The two figures looked up at Pon and the holy relic. A beam of sunlight shone through a small skylight in the temple and hit the new addition. The gemstones and gold box gave off a radiant glow. It threw light from all the colours of the spectrum around the top of the statue’s head, which appeared as a ‘halo’ and left all in the room to imagine that Buddha himself was present at this holy ceremony.
Pon climbed down from the scaffold and joined Taksin and the great Thai King. They all stared at the wondrous light show going on above their heads. They all felt in awe of the spectacle and continued in silent prayer for another hour.
They left the Temple and Taksin escorted Pon to the monk’s quarters, and then he would join Taksin and the King in the stateroom and brought up to date with the happenings within Salaburi, and more importantly the Tinju.
Pon washed and ate with the palace monks and when he’d finished, he made his way across the vast grounds of the Royal palace and shown into the stateroom by two guards.
He entered the stateroom, and met with Taksin, the King and Crown Prince Maja Vijiralongorn. He bowed at the party, and the King invited him to take a seat in a large armchair. On a table were laid out plans, pictures, and 3D images on computer screens.
The King enquired about his journey to recover the holy treasure and Pon gave his account in full to the King, whose face sometimes portrayed a look of shock and horror, even though he knew that to a Tinju, it was all part of his training, although Pon never mentioned the events of the previous night, although he smiled when he thought back to them.
The King and Taksin informed Pon of the work now being carried out in Salaburi. The original plan to transport fruit and medicines to markets had been greatly enhanced by the discovery of large mineral deposits found in the nearby area. Salaburi would be the most significant mining area in Thailand for minerals. Prospects for the future of Salaburi were excellent and the village would be wealthy and develop into a small, modern town, with hospitals, schools, and gemstone laboratories. Thailand would once again have its own ruby and sapphire mines, which would be the envy of the world. The town would still be self-sufficient with all this wealth. The King felt that only few outsiders would go into the village and there would be only minimal disruption to the surrounding jungle, as they intended to use a new mining technique that the King had been interested in developing.
Taksin then told Pon about the plans for the new Tinju and informed him that all the elders had agreed. He also told him that, all of the surviving young monks had returned to the Tinju to carry on with their calling. New monks and instructors had already arrived and they were just waiting for their head instructor and new ‘Prime Master’... Pon.
The King proposed that Pon should continue as a Tinju, but as the Prime Master. He also wanted him to be the royal bodyguard to his son the Crown Prince. That would mean he would travel around the world with the prince as an envoy and representative of Thailand and its monarchy
Pon would also be given a residence at the palace, befitting his new rank if he chose to accept.
“This invitation,” continued the King “would also extend to your family.”
Pon looked confused by the Kings last comment, but let it pass, as he had some plans of his own. He hoped that the King could offer him guidance and wisdom on his decision.
Pon thanked the King for his gracious proposal and told them about his ideas. The three listened to Pon as he relayed his thoughts, ideas and the reasons behind them. The room went silent, as the King thought about the information, and he thanked the monk for his honesty, and would grant his wish, but first he wanted Pon to return to the village and discuss the matter with Vitchae and the other elders before making his final decision. Pon rose, bowed at the party, left the room and returned to the monk’s quarters. The King, the Crown prince and Taksin chatted amongst themselves. Taksin got on his Sat scan portable phone and rang Khun Penmark, the chief surveyor in the village, and gave him a message for Vitchae, and inform him that their warrior would return to the village first thing the next morning.
A white Bell jet Ranger helicopter waited on the palace helicopter pad the next morning, with its rotors idling as it waited for its passenger, who stood well away from the rotors, and ignoring the constant waving of the pilot for him to board. Pon was afraid to get on the helicopter and had to be gently pushed by the aircrew and seated in one of the four passenger seats. An airman strapped Pon into his seat. With constant reassurance, the monk started to relax until the pilot opened the throttle and the gentle idle turned into a large roar. The airman closed the door and all that was heard was a gentle hum and the yells of their passenger. Once airborne, Pon relaxed a little, the airman sat next to him and engaged in conversations about the village, his home and the airman’s family.
The helicopter flew around Pong-Nam-Rom and the previous meeting point. Pon had relaxed a little, as they were not as high as the aeroplane and he could clearly see the land. The pilot banked the aircraft and the airman pointed out to Pon the large build up of heavy machinery, bulldozers, road-rollers and cranes.
The helicopter levelled off and the airman explained they would take the route that the road would take to their village. Ten minutes later, they flew over the village. The pilot did a circuit of the village and Pon noticed the amount of activity going on below. They flew over the Wat and came to a hover. A large crowd had gathered at the meeting area and the pilot hovered and lowered the collective, the helicopter slowly descended with only a slight bump as it touched town. The pilot disengaged the engines and the rotors turned to a slow idle swing, and then stopped.
The airman slipped off Pons safety belt for him and opened the door.
Pon stepped off the jet Rangers low fuselage to the sound of a massive cheer from the gathered crowd. He was overwhelmed and wai-ed and bowed to the people. He looked around; there was a small group who started to walk toward him. Pon noticed Vitchae had walked unaided towards him and looked directly at him
‘Is it possible?’ Pon thought, he walked forward and the party met about 20 yards from the helicopter. They all stopped, Pon recognised the tearful old women with Vitchae, it was Banti, his mother, and the man and two women with him must be his father and two sisters .The party wai-ed Pon and he returned the wai. The old women could not contain her excitement any longer, and went and hugged Pon, her tears had now turned into a wail and uncontrollable sobbing and she never wanted to let go. His father and two sisters joined in and hugged their new prodigal son, and brother. Everyone was in tears, even Pon. After a few moments of constant chatter and hugs and, still holding on to Pon, Vitchae spoke.
“Welcome home, Prime Master, there is a lot to tell you, but now enjoy this moment with your family and we can meet up later.”
“Master Vitchae!” exclaimed Pon “has your sight returned?”
“Yes, Pon,” said a smiling Vitchae “The Kings’ miracle.”
‘That explained a lot,’ thought Pon, ‘after all he could make rain.’
The new family was led to the temple and left alone. It seemed the most appropriate place for a miracle. The family chatted, cried and prayed for a few hours and then Pon discussed his plans, he wanted to get their thoughts, before he talked to Vitchae, after all a family should make plans together.
Pon didn’t mention Dam. He thought best that the old woman should continue to think her brave young son perished in the jungle eight years ago; there was no point in muddying his memory as Dam had repented and atoned for his crime. Moreover, Banti had thought that she had lost both her sons, with Jinn, but now her son had turned out to be the bravest of warriors of the Tinju, so Pon decided to let her enjoy this moment and every moment from now on.
Pon and his family left the temple after a few hours. Pon’s father having to prize Banti off their new son and said
“Don’t worry woman, he isn’t going anywhere,”
Pon walked into the monk’s quarters and into Vitchae’s room. The old master was with Cenat and beckoned Pon to join them. Pon sat on the floor along with them and they prayed together and thanked Buddha for his protection and wisdom.
Vitchae outlined the plans for the village to Pon and then led him through to the arena where the new instructors put the new monks through their paces. They saw Pon, stopped what they were doing, faced him, and gave him a long respectful wai. They remained bowed until Pon returned the gesture and asked them to raise their heads. One of the young monks said.
“Welcome back, master,”
The rest of the students echoed the sentiment. Pon thanked them and told them he would be honoured to be their teacher, and looked forward to instructing them on the way of the new Tinju, and they should look forward to the day when they achieved the honour of wearing the red sash and title ‘Warrior’.
Pon was perplexed about his decision and he turned to Vitchae.
“Master,” he said, “I have something to discuss with you.”
“All in good time, Prime Master,” said Vitchae. “Let’s look around the village and see what was happening.”
Vitchae, Pon and Cenat left the arena and the monks went back to their training.
Vitchae had a suspicion about what Pon wanted to discuss, but nevertheless wanted to show Pon everything and try out his new role as Prime Master first. They walked around the village and Vitchae introduced him to all the new arrivals, telling him what they did. “This is Khun Kitwat, he is in charge of the electric supply,” he then pointed at a newly erected wooden hut and lights
“Look we have a generator, and power. We now have electric lights in some of our houses. Your family has it already. Have you ever seen a television?”
The old master rambled on excitedly for the rest of the day and most of the evening. He introduced Pon to Ratray.
“This is the lady who found out that our ornaments are valuable precious stones.”
Vitchae had been trying to convince Pon, and himself, that this was a great move forward, and convince Pon to stay, as he felt he already knew what Pon wanted and avoided the subject.
Eventually, when there were no more people to meet, Pon turned to Vitchae as they sat along with Cenat, inside the Wat.
“Master,” said Pon “I think now is time for our discussion, I would like your wisdom on a decision that I feel I must make.”
A reluctant Vitchae looked at Cenat, who rose and suggested he should leave.
“No, master Cenat, please don’t leave, I would like your thoughts on this also” said Pon.
Cenat returned to a sitting position on the floor. Pon stared at the statue of Buddha and recalled the fateful day when all he could see of his god and his brother monks was surrounded by deadly smoke; he slowly inhaled looking for spiritual guidance.
“What is it Prime Master?” enquired Vitchae and he put his hand on Pons shoulder and asked
“What troubles you?”