It was well after lunch when Guru Pari made an announcement. ‘It’s time you met someone, Arul. On the other side of the lake.’ Arul looked at Navira questioningly, but she only shrugged, confused as he was.
They walked around the south edge of the lake where Keeran was waiting. He slapped Arul on the back with a huge grin. ‘You’ll find this fellow very interesting, and that’s putting it politely.’ His grin widened even more.
‘You’ve been to see him?’ Asked Navira.
‘The first day after we arrived. While you were snoring, Guru Pari and I went to this fellow’s hut,’ Keeran said.
It was a difficult walk over the loose gravel, but eventually they reached the far side of the lake, Guru Pari leading them to a small ravine. It led into a dead-end, and there set against the back cliff was a tiny stone hut. A cold wind swirled around the cliffs and into the ravine, making the hut’s wooden shutters bang, the clapping echo bouncing off the cliffs. The dwelling had a single wooden door, stacked stone-walls, and roughly shaped wooden shingles for a roof.
The whole thing appeared rather rundown.
Out in front, there was a stone hearth, around which were strewn dented copper pots. ‘Why didn’t we stay in this hut, instead of out there next to the lake?’ Arul asked Guru Pari.
‘Master Seri doesn’t…um…isn’t used to people, Arul. Not anymore.’ There was no sign that anyone was home. ‘Master Seri! Are you there?’ Guru Pari called out, his voice echoing through the ravine. ‘I’ve brought someone to meet you! Come out!’
A high-pitched voice sounded from within the darkened hut. ‘Go away! I’m not seeing anyone!’
‘Come out, Seri…,’ began Pari.
He was cut off by a loud ‘SHHH!’
Guru Pari shook his head, but persisted. ‘I’ve brought Arul to see you.’
There was a long silence, followed by the creaking sound of someone getting up from a bed. A tiny, ancient looking man opened the door and stepped out. He stroked his scraggly white beard and examined the visitors.
‘His features are a bit delicate for a man, aren’t they?’ Navira whispered to Arul.
‘Shh! He might hear you,’ Arul whispered back, his eyes still on Seri. The old man’s small chin and large eyes gave Arul the impression Seri was highly intelligent, much like Guru Pari.
Seri blinked at the visitors with cloudy grey eyes, fingering his plaited hair, cascading like an avalanche of snow all the way to his waist. ‘Arul you say? Arul?’ He said it as if he doubted what Guru Pari had said.
Seri made his way forward towards the gathered party. He nodded at Pari and then went on to study the others in turn. He glanced at Keeran, sniffing at him before examining Navira with a smile. Finally he stood in front of Arul and stared up at him for a full minute, making Arul take an uncomfortable step backward. The old hermit muttered, ‘He looks so much like her, does he not, Pari?’
Guru Pari’s shoulders slumped. When Seri turned back to Arul, tears welled in his eyes, large as raindrops.
I look like who? Are they talking about Amma?
Seri held Arul’s shoulder and gently touched his cheek. Arul could feel Seri’s hand shaking as though a dam of emotion was about to break inside his frail body. Arul stood silently, wondering what remained unsaid.
Seeing me made him very sad. Seri and Guru Pari seem to know more about me than I do.
Keeran suddenly blurted out, ‘I’m hungry!’ Navira glared at him, her leg lashing out. ‘That hurt! And I’m still hungry,’ cried Keeran, hopping on one leg. Seri jerked his face up and started to laugh, his shrill voice reminding Arul of a forest bird that lived near Sailem. Even Guru Pari began to chortle.
‘I like this fellow, Master Pari. I like him!’ Seri and Guru Pari walked past Arul and headed towards the lake, laughing in fits.
The teens looked on in amazement before breaking into giggles themselves. Keeran whispered, ‘I think they’re old friends.’
Seri and Pari strolled on the shores of the lake for some time as the teens sat by the stone hut, dozing. Jaya wandered up sat on Arul’s legs. Arul winced. ‘Hey! You’re really heavy!
It was nearly dusk before they all gathered to eat a simple evening meal. Seri brought out a large wooden bowl filled with dried fish spiced with turmeric and salt. They ate under a ribbon of purple sky, the dark cliffs of the ravine looming ominously. Seri picked at his meal and gestured towards the mountains. ‘If you know your way around, there’s food everywhere. Mountain streams filled with fish, wild berries on the slopes. You name it.’
Guru Pari swallowed the last of his fish. ‘I want to take Arul to a place further up in the mountains, to a place very few know of. It’s better if only he and I go.’ He fixed his gaze on Keeran and Navira. ‘I want you to stay with Seri and wait for our return.’
Seri’s eyes widened. ‘You’re taking him to see the tower?’ He chuckled to himself. ‘It’s probably about time. Try and sort out whatever’s causing all those poor animals to stampede through my backyard!’
Navira sat up straight with an indignant look, lips curved downwards. ‘I don’t like that plan, Guru. Why should we stay here?’
Guru Pari searched for the right words. ‘It’s not that you’re any less important than Arul. However, this involves only him. His bloodline.’ Navira stared blankly at Pari. ‘While you wait, Master Seri has something to teach you about herbs. Pay close attention to him,’ Pari said. Navira furrowed her brow and looked at Arul. He simply nodded encouragingly, eyes pleading with Navira to not argue.
Guru Pari rose and regarded them kindly. ‘We’ll leave after Arul’s foot is healed, which with my help should be in a week. Then we’ll head for the high meadow.’
Arul’s eyes flashed. ‘High meadow? Tower?’
Their Guru ignored the question about the tower and spoke about the meadow. ‘Yes, I think you’ll like it, Arul. It’s an extraordinary spot. You’ll see. Oh yes, Jaya will have to stay here with Navira and Keeran.’ Jaya heard his name and looked quizzically at Pari. Guru Pari saw Arul starting to protest. ‘Before you say anything, consider this. Whatever is scaring the wild animals will also affect a wolf. You wouldn’t want Jaya going mad, would you?’
Arul hated the idea of travelling anywhere without his loyal Jaya, but Guru Pari’s logic was convincing. Shoulders slumped, he nodded in agreement.
The following week passed pleasantly enough, the teens recovering their energy by spending long hours basking in the warm sunlight. Jaya found the best boulders to lie on, irritating Keeran immensely. On a few occasions, Arul noticed Jaya suddenly raise his head and stare north beyond the pass.
What is he sensing?
All too soon the departure was upon them. The sun rose into a clear sky as a white disk, dazzlingly bright in the thin alpine air. Arul carefully tested his injured foot with Keeran’s help. It felt as if the sabre-tooth had never clawed it. Keeran slapped Arul on the back. ‘How did Guru Pari heal you so fast?
Above them, the sun passed its midday zenith. At the campsite, Navira and Keeran helped Arul pack for the journey. ‘So what happened to you two after I yelled for you to run?’ Arul said.
‘We ran! I mean, we didn’t know what you were doing, hopping about on that hill like a mad monkey. But then we got the idea,’ Keeran said with a grin.
‘We kept running until we reached this lake. We were hiding behind these boulders when Master Seri found us,’ Navira added. Her face clouded. ‘I thought you were dead!’ She quickly stepped forward and hugged Arul hard. Just as quickly she stepped back, her cheeks colouring.
Arul coughed and looked south to the Brown Hills. ‘A few minutes later and…well… the lions would have caught you.’
Navira followed his gaze. ‘But we’re fine, and they didn’t get us. It’s also okay that Guru Pari wants only you to go with him. I trust him, Arul.’
Arul smiled back. They continued packing in silence. He saw Guru Pari and Seri strolling back from the hut, deep in conversation.
What I’d give to eavesdrop on them. The things they must know…
On the lake, lazy ripples lapped endlessly against the dark rocks, sounding like the footsteps of long-vanished folk. The sun rose behind the wall of mountains, the sky brightened into a golden haze. Shafts of sunlight fell upon the lake, like sparkling blue sapphires floating in a sea of grey.