Shambhala by Brian E. Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

the food or cloth,” Bahi fires back.
    “Just eat the food,” Bandar says as Bahi smiles in amusement.
    Bahi bites into the crispy, fried samosa . The potatoes, peas, and spice filling are warming. He enjoys every bite before moving onto several bananas.
    “Thank you, Bandar. If not for you, I would be starving and perhaps dead by now.”
    “Friends don’t thank. Brothers do for each other without the need to be thanked,” Bandar says as a matter of fact.
    “Well, it is my feeling of gratitude, then, to have you as my brother.”
    “Me too,” Bandar says before ripping through a banana skin with his teeth.
    The two sit in the silent morning as the sun dances upon the river. With bellies full, they settle into the warmth of the moment, drinking in the day.
    “We better get along if we’re to reach Kavi before nightfall,” Bandar warns. They both rise up.
    They walk up a narrow path buzzing with insects feasting on small, violet wildflowers that speckle the bushes. They reach the road and proceed to cross it once again—entering the jungle. Bahi looks back at the road, taking in a deep breath of confidence, before turning toward the vast jungle ahead.
    They walk for hours, delighting in the beauty of the jungle, passing soft, gleaming waterfalls; massive, ancient trees; and numerous species of insects and other animals. They stop for a brief rest, enjoying some fruit Bandar has gathered.
    “How do you know Kavi,” Bahi enquires.
    “All the animals know Kavi, the great black-face monkey mystic. He’s a respected sage here in the jungle. Many times he has come to our clan to teach us the wisdom of the jungle.”
    “Monkey?” Bahi asks, still jaded from the last encounter with Rakesh.
    “He is no mere monkey. He is wise beyond our imaginations. Some say he takes the form of a monkey only to relate to the jungle life, but is in fact the ancient spirit of the forest. But I don’t know about all that,” he utters, shrugging his shoulders.
    Bahi feels content, trusting that anyone worthy of such reverence is worth a shot. What else is there to do? he thinks, realizing his options are limited to Bandar’s help. Moving on, they come to an ancient forest where even the youngest trees look to be about seven hundred years old. Thick vines that put the trunks of younger trees to shame hang from large branches as the sun makes its way through treetops, dappling the jungle with serene light. Walking with admiration and awe of such sudden beauty, they come to a massive tree that melts into the ground with large knots that bubble out in all directions. Bandar stops to look up. Bahi fixes his gaze upward, squinting to see what Bandar is looking at. He notices a large, hollow opening far up, shrouded with thickly hanging vines.
    “Kavi lives there?” Bahi asks with concern.
    “Wait here,” Bandar says as he climbs his way quickly up the wide trunk to the opening above.
    Watching as Bandar enters what looks to be a carved-out hollow of the tree behind the draped vine, Bahi sits on one of the many large knots that protrude from the base of the enormous tree. He is quickly drawn to his feet as the tree begins to rumble, sending a vibration along the jungle floor. The tree begins to open slowly like a lion’s mouth. Bahi does a double take, not believing his eyes, as he jumps back. The base of the tree stretches open to reveal Bandar, now standing in the entrance with a proud smile.
    “Come on, quietly,” Bandar waves him in.
    Entering the immense hollow of the tree, Bahi marvels at a beautiful, carved, spiral staircase that leads up the trunk. Random holes beam in sunlight as the two climb the long steep stair, corkscrewing higher and higher. Bahi runs his hands along the inside of the trunk as they ascend higher, still boggled by this incredible experience. Reaching a platform about halfway up, Bandar knocks on a small doorway intricately cut out in curious designs of swirling symbols foreign to him. The dark, wooded