Whiteout III: 1 (Through the Gate)

Book III

Shangri-La

 

1. Through the Gate

     Manchester grabbed James and pointed his machine gun right at his throat. Should have added a clause about not harming my team members. Never trust a clever person, they will always find a way to get ahead of you. “What are you doing Harvey? We swore not to harm each other.”

     “I’m not going to harm you, but I might harm him. The way I see it, we have one option right now, and that is to pass through the gate. You’re coming with me one way or another.”

     “Why? Why not go yourself and leave us to die out here if you’re so sure? Wouldn’t that accomplish your goal anyway?”

     “Mostly I need someone to go through the portal first, and I don’t want to risk any more of my men. Our numbers are too low already.”

     “Let me go then, don’t take the kid.” We had no idea what would lie on the other side of the portal. Most of the legends had described absolute chaos and destruction. I wasn’t going to let James sacrifice himself for Manchester’s ends, it wasn’t right.

     “Nice try Mr. Ventner, but I can’t let you go through alone. The kid is my insurance policy. He affirms that you will follow me through the portal. So, James is it? Time to get moving if you want to keep your head.”

     Jesus, this guy.

     “Don’t worry Nick he’ll be fine.” Whispered Lopsang. “Let him pass.”

     “What’s he saying?!” Yelled Manchester.

     “That I should break my pact and turn you into red mist. Luckily for you I’m a man of honor, but the second our journey is over you better watch your fucking back. James, I’ll be right behind you.” The sweet scent of the flowers portrayed a misleading aura of calm. Passing through the portal wouldn’t be as easy as walking through a door, it never was. In my experience doors to any room with treasure in it usually try to kill you in some way.

     “Figures.” Was all James said. He grabbed is crossbow and prepared to head through the gate.

     “Oh no you don’t. I don’t want you waiting for me with a taught bolt on the other side.” Manchester took the crossbow from him and broke it over his knee.

     “Damn you Harvey. That was expensive.”

     “You want me to go unarmed into a realm of chaos?!”

     “James, now isn’t the time to argue the point. You stay here, you’re dead anyway. Might as well do as Harvey says. Head on through, we’ll be there shortly after. Assholes like him always get their comeuppance in the end.” I winked at Manchester, trying my best to make him nervous.

     “Yes Mr. Ventner, that’s all very poetic, but I’m afraid not the way the world works. You see men with power rule. End of the story. Now get moving James before my trigger finger gets any itchier.” His men watched silently from the back of the cave. He might have been paying them well, but their misgivings were becoming clearer by the second.

     He better give them a bonus or I might not have to kill him in the end. James stepped forward toward the gate. The gods almost seemed welcoming with their outstretched arms, but their faces were those of judgement. Harsh eyes and angular features inspired fear, not welcome. It was a paradoxical statue, meant to confuse and bewilder. “Everything is going to be fine James.” He moved forward onto the diamond just between the two statues.

     “Do I just walk through?”

     “Worth a shot.” As I said it the diamond lit up beneath his feet, shooting green and blue light out of its edges. The eyes of the figures lit up in blazing color and steamed with heat. A deep voice rumbled from within them, too low for us to understand. Between the two stone pillars a golden door appeared and opened ever so slightly.

     “Well, here goes nothing.” From the crack in the door blue mist edged its way into the room. James walked forward and slipped through the crack, vanishing in an instant, along with the door he had passed through. The room was only stone once more. The flowers from the ceiling shuddered as a wind filled the top of the cavern. Sweetness filled the air, and then once again it became still.

     “Did he make it?” I asked Lopsang.

     “I think so. We’d know if he didn’t.”

     “Well who’s next?” I asked.

     “That will be me.” Said Manchester. “I’m going to protect my investment. My man will stay behind and ensure that you follow after your little friend.” One of the men pointed a gun at me and smiled. “This is one small step for man.”

     “Oh get off your fucking high horse and walk through already.” Manchester bristled and shouldered his machine gun, walking up to the diamond. He stood on it and for a moment there was no reaction.

     “Why isn’t it working?” Then the diamond lit up again. Only this time red light shot from the floor, binding Manchester in place. “What’s happening?!” The gods’ eyes lit up red and their judgement turned to grimaces, and finally open mouthed rage. The stone eyes widened, revealing fire within. “Do something you idiot!” Manchester shouted at his remaining men. They ran to help him, but in an instant red fire shot from the eyes. The first man was hit in the head and dropped to the floor instantly, shattering into a pile of smoke and ash.

     The second man was less lucky. The beam hit him in the stomach, where he started to burn slowly. His screams echoed off of the cavern walls. “Oh god no!” Were his last words as the fire consumed his neck and finally his face. The room smelled awful, as burning people often do. I’ve run into my fair share of cannibals, I can’t be sure how exactly they deal with the smell.

     Manchester screamed in the middle of the room. “Let me through! This is my dream! This is my destiny. I have to see the world beyond! Please! Why won’t you let me come through?” The gods turned to him, stone limbs suddenly limber and mobile. “Oh please no. I’m not ready for this. I don’t want to die. This was supposed to be my great adventure!” Their mouths opened and hot beams of fire shot from them, illuminating Manchester in a masterful blaze. His hat flew off in flames to the other side of the cave.

     His scream was only momentary, and then there was nothing left of him. The flowers shook above once again and the stone gods returned to their open armed stance. Three new flowers budded on the ends of the vines. One was black with tiny streaks of white, in which was written Harvey Manchester. I couldn’t even begin to process what had just happened. The man who had so long been the bane of my existence was gone in a flash of fire and pain.

     “What just happened?”

     “He got his comeuppance. I left out one key interpretation of the tablets there. You must enter Shangri-La unarmed. It’s how they prevented explorers from ruining the utopia they had created.” Manchester’s hat still smoldered in the corner, orange embers clinging to the edges. I could see James’ broken crossbow right next to it.

     “Well I’ll be damned, the last thing he did was help us. Unintentionally, but he did it. I guess this is the end of our journey pal. See you on the other side.” I said talking to the flower and stripping myself of all weapons. I felt naked without them, but it was a damn site better than being scorched to death by vengeful stone idols. The knife I had carried with me for years now lay on a stone floor where I would likely never see it again. I suppose now’s not the time for sentimentality.

     “Lopsang you should go through first. I’m not much good without my weapons. You’ll protect him better than me.”

     “There’s one thing I forgot to mention.”

     Oh no, come on. We can’t do this alone.

     “I can’t come through. It’s part of the bargain I made. The gods would see right through me if I did. I sold a piece of myself for those powers, and they will want to reclaim what is rightfully theirs, and I’m not ready to die yet.”

     “Ah the drawbacks of making deals with those in the land beyond.” There was nothing that could be done about it. I knew it, he knew it, and so we shook hands. “What are you going to do now?” I asked, pulling him into an embrace.

     “Wait for the gate to open, and then try like hell to kill the creature before you get back! How’s that for fortune and glory?”

     “You’ll make a monster hunter yet.” We paused in silence. It was the end of the line for our journey, and it had come so quickly. “Use the last of those bottles in the bullets I left. Maybe it’s got a weak spot somewhere.”

     “If there is, I’ll find it. Go now, James is waiting for you on the other side and he may not be safe for long. I do not know what you will find there. I wish you luck Dr. Ventner. You are a good man, despite what you try and project to the rest of the world.” He smiled at me and I smiled back.

     “Maybe someday Lopsang, maybe someday.” I turned around and walked to the diamond. As I stepped into it a cold sensation filled me. Oh shit, I’m going to die. I forgot a weapon somewhere on me! Mercifully the diamond once again glowed blue and green. The portal opened before me, revealing once again the gold door. “This is the end of the line Lopsang! Good luck with your monster! I’ll see you on the other side.”

     “Go with luck Dr. Ventner.” I stepped toward the door and into the blue mist.” The world behind me disappeared into an intense silence. All around me was nothing but the mist. It was cool and smelled crisp, like falling water. Hesitantly I walked forward through it. There was no frame of reference for where it began or ended. As I walked the mist just continued to billow, obscuring my vision.

     Out of the blindness there came the sound of a waterfall, followed quickly by more, until all I could hear was the sound of rushing water. Ahead of me the mist gave way to a green light, piercing through the shroud. The water grew louder as I walked toward it. In an instant the mist was gone and I was blinded by the clarity that followed it. For a moment I closed my eyes, shielding them against whatever had created the light. When I opened them I got my first good look.

     Verdant hills stretching on beyond the horizon. Water trickling down in rivers and streams, pure as could be, all perfectly blue. The colors were more vibrant than anything I had ever experienced. Above me a constantly shifting sky portrayed hues of blue, red, and yellow, all mixing in strange contours. It felt a bit like being inside of a painting. Angular rocks stuck out from mountainsides that carved impossibly high into the sky. It was beautiful. Words cannot describe what I saw beyond that portal, or even begin to do it justice. By nature of putting it into words I have tainted the memory by making it real.

     Beauty filled every inch of my waking vision, and then I saw James. On either side of him were tall men dressed in flowing robes adorned with strange bones and metals that glinted in the light. “Get on your knees.” They held James between them at knifepoint.

     “I thought this was supposed to be a peaceful place!” My vision went black as something thudded against the back of my head and I fell to the ground.