Whiteout II-16 (The Devil at the Gate) [2 of 2]

 This is Part 2, Link to Part 1 

Nick began to feel clarity as he took deep breaths to calm himself. It took him a moment to realize it, but they were full breaths. He inhaled deeply and felt no need to gasp. His lungs did not burn and in fact, drank the air up. He removed what remained of the ragged, rubber oxygen hosing from his gear, and threw it on the ground. “Looks like we don’t need these in here,” he said wearily.

     As he stood up, he took in the state of the team. Almost everyone had bits of what remained of other team members clinging to them, but for the most part, those who had made it through were unscathed. There was one exception, a man who had caught the yeti’s ire just as he went through the gates, but Nick did not think him long for the world. It was unfortunate, but judging by the amount of blood coming from his leg, the creature had nicked a major artery. Poor bastard’s only got a few minutes left max.

     “Show some respect Nick. A man is gravely injured over here,” said Manchester.

     Hypocritical for a man who uses workers as bait. Nick decided to let it pass, as Manchester was currently being covered in the man’s blood, and went to check on Lopsang and James instead.

     Both men were brushing themselves off and staring up at the large stone tablet that was blocking the doorway they had come in through. Lopsang was speaking in hushed tones. “All these years I have dwelled in the shadow of the mountain, and now I know. My father’s stories were true. This gate was the only thing keeping us safe for all of these years.”

     James was wearing the same stunned look on his face that he had the first time they were attacked. “The bolts didn’t even graze him,” he muttered. “We can’t kill it, there’s no way.”

     “Maybe not with the weapons we brought,” said Nick, trying to avoid defeat, even if he felt it. “Old faithful may have finally let me down,” Nick patted the harpoon on his back, “but, everything can be killed.” On the inside, Nick was trying to calm the beginnings of panic. The yeti would find a way to get to them eventually, and once they got out, he would be out of oxygen. He shot a sideways glance at the dying man. Well, there’s one problem solved. The man’s leg was in pieces, but his oxygen tank was intact.

     Nick inhaled deeply, trying to induce calm, and smelled for the first time, the pungent aroma of tropical flowers. He looked around the room for the source, and found that from the cave ceiling above them, exotic flowers hung in impossibly long chains. Each set of blooms was attached to a solitary vine, and at the bottom, a wooden tag hung down. Nick tried to read what the first one said, but could not make out the language.

     At the far end of the room, opposite from where they had entered was a large stone archway with natural light streaming through it. On either side were massive stone statues of gods with their arms outstretched. Both stared at a wide circle, etched in the floor just before the entrance. In its center was a dazzling diamond, inlaid into the floor that radiated powerful blue light. Between each of the god’s legs was an ornate, stone tablet, with carved characters on it.

“Lopsang, what are those?”

     Lopsang looked in the direction of the archway and gasped. “Those are the guardians of Shangri La.” Almost immediately after saying it, he dropped to his knees and said a quick prayer. “They have been depicted in many ways, but this has to be them. In every tale, their arms are outstretched to welcome weary travelers, and they carry a warning to outsiders.” Lopsang paused for a moment, mulling it all over. “What we just passed through has to be the outer wall. That, is the real gate.”

     Nick could not help but be humbled by the god’s omnipotent stare. “What do those say?” asked Nick, pointing to the tablets. He didn’t like the look of the stone circle in the floor. It had ‘trap’ written all over it, and he had been stung by one-too-many poison darts to go galivanting past it without understanding the rules.

     “I’m a bit rusty in this language,” said Lopsang sheepishly.

     “You don’t speak it?” Nick only spoke one language well, and the others, were mostly just curse words and the phrase ‘don’t shoot, I’m a geologist.’ He found that the last bit didn’t work as well when he was carrying a weapon, but it had saved him a few times.

     “Well I didn’t exactly have any other demi-gods to practice with,” said Lopsang dryly. “I believe it says: Welcome to all who would enter this kingdom, but heed our warning. This is a place of peace, and can only be entered as such.”

     “Not bad for ‘rusty’,” said Nick. “But I thought Shangri-La had been mired in war for centuries.”

     “If you believe the stories, it was a one point a refuge for Buddhist monks during times of trouble, and a peaceful place. The problems started, when out of boredom, the gods started creating new life. Divine power brought divine consequences.”

     Nick did not want to think about the sort of unholy abominations that were born out of a deities boredom. Pushing the thought from his mind, he asked: “What’s the other tablet say?”

     “It refers to the door we just passed through. The door opens at the rise of the sun, and the rise of the moon. However, once through, it remains shut until the sun rises again.” Lopsang looked confused.

     “It still doesn’t explain why the creature was unable to follow us through,” said Nick. “Does it make any mention of the yeti?” Prickles ran up and down his spine at the mention of the name.

     “No, just the two messages about the doors.”

     “What about on this?” asked Manchester from the far end of the room. He was bent over, examining the base of a large carving, just like the one they had seen at the top of the spine. Once again, the yeti was depicted as snarling, with red wax flowing from its eyes and mouth. Beneath it was a large pile of offerings ranging from small pieces of gold, to bones.

     “Even the gods make offerings?” asked Nick. That can’t be good.

     Lopsang hurried over to where Manchester was standing and ran his hands over the statue’s base. “This one is easier to read. Remember this, our greatest folly. We have created death, and banished it to the place between worlds.”

     “Oh shit,” said Nick as the pieces fell together. “The yeti isn’t a divine being, it was just created by them.” The idea of killing the product of a god, made their task seem all the more impossible.  

     “Why would they make such a thing?” asked James, walking over to look at the carving.

     Lopsang continued reading. “Death is our sentinel, guarding the gate to the end of time. In exchange, death walks freely on the mountain, through the realm of men, unbidden in the winter snow.”

     “That’s one hell of a bargain,” said Nick with an aggravated sigh. “They get a guard dog, and the only expense is the realm of men. I knew there was a reason I didn’t like gods.” He looked to the ceiling, fearing that he might get struck by lightning, but no divine intervention came.

     “Well gentlemen, the guard dog is out,” said Manchester, shouldering his pack. “Let’s get through the gates before it comes back.”

     “Hiking trip to a place even gods describe as war-torn?” asked Nick, smiling. “I think I’ll pass.”

      “Even if it’s your only chance at survival?” Manchester’s temper was rising once more.

     “I don’t believe in absolutes.” Nick’s tone was cheery, as it often became in times of absolute despair. “By all means, Harvey, take what’s left of your team and go through. As far as I’m concerned, our venture is done.” He made a sweeping gesture toward the large stone statues. Secretly, Nick had every intention of passing through the gate, just no desire to be the first one to do so. He cast a wary glance at the diamond on the floor. This is some sort of trap, I know it.

     “Alright Nick, have it your way.” Manchester pulled out his gun, and leveled it at James’s head.