“Huh?” Ty was momentarily speechless. “Others were here looking for treasure too?”
“Can you tell me who they were? Did they tell you what they were looking for?”
“No.”
“Did they find anything?”
Ashi contemplated her answer. “They find something.”
“Can you tell me what it was?”
She shook her head.
Ty's thoughts were twisting and turning at Ashi's revelation. Later, he related the conversation to Vincent.
“Maybe it's not such a bad idea to bring her along with us,” Vincent said, thoughtfully.
“No, definitely not a bad idea. I'm sure she knows something,” Ty concurred.
“When we get to Thimpu I'll try to arrange to get her out of the country with us...maybe a student visa would work.” Vincent shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “We'll see how it goes.”
It was only later, when Ty's thoughts continued their convolutions that he realized he didn't know what Ashi meant earlier. Was she telling him she didn’t know what the treasure seekers found or did she know what they found and didn't want to tell him.
****
The next morning, the whole atmosphere in the monastery changed from sleepy peacefulness to charged activity. The horses were being prepared in the courtyard; a contingent of archers was assembling. Ty presumed they would act as bodyguards for Ashi and the team. The mist shielded their view of the valley below.
People milled around at the sidelines of this activity and as time passed, more people joined them until the whole courtyard had the anticipatory feeling of a parade that was about to begin.
Lamas packed Ashi's horse, which carried an ornate saddle and bridle, with a sleeping roll and side saddlebags. Finally, Ashi appeared and every bit of action and noise stopped; every head turned in her direction. A black bag, intricately embroidered with white thread, was slung over her shoulder and across her chest with a wide strap. Ashi joined the group, standing near their horses, and said good morning with a sunny smile.
“That's smaller than my carry on,” Cheryl murmured.
“Wonder what's in it?” Ty said softly, leaning toward Vincent. “Maybe the treasure.”
Ashi smiled at him as if she had heard him from across the courtyard.
“A dirty patched kira, an old pair of skivvies and a dozen religious books that are medieval both in age and superstitious beliefs,” Rishi said sarcastically.
Therese looked at him with disgust.
“Rishi!” Vincent said sharply, as Ashi neared the group.
Rishi snorted and turned away. “Huh. Mountain girl--she doesn't even know what I'm saying.”
Ashi continued to smile pleasantly but Ty had the uncomfortable feeling that she understood perfectly well.
The forlorn murmuring of the crowd grew louder. Ty imagined the gist of what they were saying. Don't go. We adore you. We would miss you. An older lama approached Ashi. He handed her a small bag, a gift, and spoke words in Bhutanese that were clearly sentimental. She took the bag and he cupped her face in his hands as he gave her farewell advice. She dropped her bag and cupped his face as well, fervently replying in kind. The monk's face was anguished as he attempted to drop to his knees.
Ashi said, “No,” and tried to pull him back to standing but he fell to his knees in front of her, his eyes fixed at shoe level. Ashi sank to her knees too and they held each other's hands, then hugged a farewell.
Ty understood that this was her Rinpoche, precious one, caretaker for many years, her dear friend in many previous lifetimes.
“What is she thinking? It's like she's never coming back.” Rishi snorted again.
“Really, Rishi, that is enough,” Richard said, speaking the sentiment the whole group was thinking.
She mounted her horse and the procession began, Ashi leading, with the archers in two lines on either side of her. Her face was sad but she sat up straight and held her head regally as she waved at the crowd of people, who were shouting endearing words of goodbye. The group passed through the gates and she turned again to wave at her Rinpoche.
They traversed the same trails back to Trashigang. Ashi rode easily on the horse, as if she rode every day of her life, sticking close to Ty. When they passed the overhang where they had camped before, the scary faces now looked smiling and benevolent.
Even Tenzin noticed it, saying, “The spirits are happy now.”
Before the group entered Trashigang, the archers turned back, the group continuing to the Hotel Druk Denjong, overlooking the town square. Even though they were half the earth away from home, Ty felt he was back in civilization.
****
The next morning, Decki arranged for a huge van, big enough to fit all of them. The seats were comfortable and it was roomy, with large windows. Decki explained that this van would take them all the way back to Paro. Ty could see relief on each face, each having had enough of roughing it for a while.
Ashi was thrilled with the van. She stared at the driver and pulled herself forward so she had a view of his feet. She rolled down the window and stuck her head out, laughing.
“Like a dog,” Rishi observed, rolling his eyes.
She then lifted herself off the seat and stuck her arms outside too, waving them in the wind. Her delight rubbed off on the others with the exception of Rishi.
“Somebody grab her feet. I think she’s going to jump,” he said sourly, slumping down in his seat.
The trip back to Paro was much smoother and shorter than their trip to Eastern Bhutan. Ty scanned the roadside but couldn't even detect where the mudslide had been. They stopped in Thimpu and picked up their luggage, which had been sent back with their first set of drivers when the mudslide occurred. Ty was relieved to see it was untouched. The first thing he did was pull out his cell phone to try to reach Jenna, but couldn't get phone service. He felt a pang of longing for her, so tired of being away from her.
They checked into Uma Paro, a hotel built into the side of the forested mountainside, overlooking the Paro valley. When they checked into a lodge, Ty noticed everyone in the lobby turned, singled Ashi out from the group and stared at her.
Therese nudged Cheryl and said in a low voice. “This is the first time since we’ve been in Bhutan that everyone didn’t stare at us.”
“Well she is beautiful,” Cheryl replied.
“I don’t think it’s just that. She has such…,” Therese searched for the right word. “…such presence.”
Richard joined the conversation. “She walks like a queen.”
“She is radiant. But she seems so peaceful too,” Therese added.
Therese and Cheryl volunteered to share a room with Ashi. Later, when they met for dinner Ashi chose an empty chair next to Ty. Her roommates sat at the other end of the table.
“She really is a trip,” Cheryl said, pouring tea for herself and Therese.
“I do not believe she has ever seen a flush toilet before,” Therese said, laughing. “She flushed it about ten times, watching the water go down.”
“Toilets are very fascinating,” Rishi said.
“You are so cynical,” Cheryl said. “Were you always like that?”
Rishi chuckled.
“And why don’t you like her?” Therese asked.
“I like her well enough. I can’t really believe we’re bringing monk girl back with us.”
“That doesn’t sound like you like her,” Therese said, understating the obvious.
Rishi leaned forward, his arms on the table. “You know I’ve seen enough of these ass-backward girls in India to last a lifetime. They don’t know anything. All these people here think she's so special--they'd just as easily worship a horse.” He turned toward Cheryl. “And I’m not cynical. I’m practical. Guess what? Decki says there’s an excellent black market here. He’s going to get me some smokes.”
“Just what you need,” Cheryl said. “Maybe it'll improve your outlook.”
“And don’t get poor Decki in any trouble. He’s done so much for us,” Therese added, as Rishi rose from the table.
“Anybody interested in going to the UK before going home?” Vincent asked. “I'm going to check in with Garrett Cooper again before we go home. I think he has some explaining to do.”
“I've always been fascinated by the archaeology of England- knights, King Arthur and Stonehenge. I'll go,” Therese said.
“It'll be good to have another female along to help out,” Vincent said, nodding his head in Ashi's direction. “Cheryl, how about you? Feel like going to see the Queen?”
Cheryl sighed. “I'm done for now. I just want to go home.” Her face hung and there were bags under her eyes. The rugged trip had even taken a toll on Cheryl.
“Okay, anyone else?” Vincent asked.
The same hollow-eyed look was on each of the other team member's faces and nobody answered.
The next morning, as they were driving to Paro airport, Ashi spotted her first airplane in the sky. She clasped her hands over her mouth, her eyes unbelieving. After a few moments she regained her composure enough to ask, “Do my eye bug out of my head?”
The group burst out laughing at this unexpected question.
“Where did you hear that?” Vincent asked.
“Rishi say that when I see car. He say my eye bug out of my head.”
“And you think she can't understand you, Rishi,” Cheryl commented.
“You know we're going on a plane to visit the UK, don't you, Ashi?” Therese asked kindly.
“Oh, yes. I know. I never see airplane before today.”
“You know that sometimes the engines don't work and the plane falls out of the sky and the plane crashes and everybody dies,” Rishi said, adding whistling and explosion sound effects.
“Why are you trying to scare her?” Cheryl asked angrily.
Rishi shrugged. “She should know what she's getting into. Are you afraid, Ashi?”
“No.” She appeared puzzled. “Are you afraid, Rishi? Please do not be afraid. You are with me. You are safe.”
There was silence.
“You know, I do feel safe with her,” Cheryl said.
Rishi stared at her, unable to think of a reply.
Ashi was as excited by the airplane experience as she was with her first car ride. Before takeoff, she even tried to open the window. She announced that she wanted to feel the wind on her face, eliciting another snort and eye roll from Rishi.
The airport in Dehli brought more surprises for Ashi. Her head swiveled as she looked at the various types of people, dressed so differently. She gaped at the food, the magazines and the bright blue and green and red bottles of water. As they walked through the airport to catch their next flights, Ashi stopped short, with her mouth hanging open. A small child sat in the waiting area at his gate, with a portable DVD player on his lap. Elmo and Big Bird were on the screen, discussing the letter C. Ashi stared at Ty and smiled, wonderment and joy on her face. There had been no TVs at the hotel in Paro and Ty realized with amazement that she had never seen a television screen before.
The team split up in Dehli without a lot of fanfare or emotion. They expected to see each other again within days and furthermore, they were all exhausted.
That night they checked into the Belgravia suite of the sumptuous Dorchester Hotel, overlooking Hyde Park. The furniture was traditional, inlaid wood and red velvety chairs. A sliding door in the living room opened onto a balcony with an iron railing. Ty deposited his bags into the bedroom he was sharing with his father and entered the living room to see Ashi standing in front of the television. The news anchor announced, “Good evening.”
“Good evening,” she replied, touching the screen, as if she were trying to touch the man's face. “My name is Ashi.”
When the anchor continued to talk, she tried to look between the flat screen and the wall.
“Man is back there?” she asked Therese, gesturing at the wall behind the TV.
“No, the man is not back there and he can't see you,” Therese replied.
Ty sat near his father at the desk and they both briefly watched Therese try to explain television waves.
“How long will Ashi stay with us?” Ty asked.
“I have such tremendous respect for her. She saved my life. She can visit and stay with us as long as she wants.”
Ty was silent.
“You don't mind, do you?”
“No, of course not. I was just wondering.”
“Besides, after the conversation you had with her about treasure, I have the feeling that she can somehow help us.”
Ashi was awake and ready to go early the next morning.
Therese, who was sharing a bedroom with her, told Ty in hushed tones, “I woke up at 3:30 A.M. and she was sitting there, meditating I think. I told her she had to sleep but she just opened her eyes, smiled at me, then closed her eyes again.”
“Maybe she sleeps sitting up,” Ty suggested.
“Or maybe her time clock is all messed up and she can't sleep,” Therese said.
The two of them were discussing Ashi as she sat on the sofa and intently watched the TV, repeating words to herself.
“She doesn't seem to be tired,” Ty observed.
“No, she doesn't. I'd be half asleep if I had stayed up all night.”
Ashi proceeded to point the remote like Ty showed her the night before, and began to intently channel surf, stopping at a cartoon.
“I can't hear youuuu,” bellowed out from the TV, then the familiar song, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants!”
Vincent glanced at his watch. “Nine o'clock, exactly. Let’s go pay Garrett a visit.”
“Maybe we should phone first,” Therese suggested.
“Oh, no. I don't want to give him the chance to run out on us,” Vincent said, grimly. “He sent us half way across the world for nothing. I am going to demand he tell us what he knows.”
“And it was dangerous...we didn't know how dangerous,” Therese said quietly.
****
After a few minutes in a cab, they arrived at a red-brick building in a quiet neighborhood with narrow streets. There were few pedestrians on the street and none of them gave the group a second glance. They climbed the old, crumbling, cement stoop in front of the apartment house, entered the foyer, looking for a panel of apartment numbers and names to be buzzed in. There was none.
“Not very good security here if we can just walk in,” Ty commented.
“Maybe they don't need any in this neighborhood,” Therese said.
“Huh!” Vincent retorted. “I think they really need it here.”
A second door opened into a narrow, dimly lit stairwell, which led to the stairs.
“Apartment 4C,” Vincent said, as they climbed the gray, dark stairs with a thick wooden rail, gouged and cracked with age.
They found the right apartment and were about to knock on the peeling door when they noticed it was ajar. Vincent hesitated, then knocked. When there was no answer, he persisted, knocking again. When they heard a low groan from inside, Vincent didn't hesitate again. He pushed the door open and strode inside.
They rushed down a dirty, yellow hallway, with cracked linoleum, past a small galley kitchen, which was filthy with dirty dishes and junk piled onto every surface, and into the small living room. Even though there was a window, it was still a dark room. The sofa was covered with a sheet. A stuffed armchair was placed next to a lamp and piles of books lined the perimeter of the floor. One whole wall consisted of bookcases, crammed with books.
They looked around the room. When another weak groan came from behind the sofa, Vincent pushed the furniture out of the way to reveal a bloody man, lying on the floor on his side. He was in the fetal position, cradling his torso. His arm lay at a strange angle, appearing to be dislocated.
Blood streamed from his head. His face was horribly bruised, both eyes already purple. Still, through the bruises and possibly broken face bones, they could make out the features of Garrett Cooper.
Ashi gasped, edged in front of Vincent and cried, “Teacher! Teacher!”