THE TRIP TO THE MONASTERY - SECTION 1

 LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC

THE TRIP TO THE MONASTERY - SECTION 1

 Time passed quickly and, before long, the bitter months of winter gave way to a blossoming, soul-reviving spring. The sun now shone with new brilliance, bathing Earth’s myriad creatures with endearing warmth. Birds and animals frolicked in the woods with many competing to win favor with their chosen mates.

 Shoots only just awakened, bashfully poked their heads here and there, as other such contending vegetation indiscriminately raced to claim new ground. Once more the floor of Mother Nature was adorned with vibrant colors other than white or gray, and the fragrance of flowers and budding trees delightfully filled the air.

Along with spring’s magnificence, the renewal, unfortunately, came at an onerous cost.  Before long, the elevated heights would be drenched/ saturated by the incessant downpours, and there would be dangers from lightning strikes as well as persistent fog. Rain soaked, uneven, treacherous topography with slippery grounds, moss ridden often washed-out paths, mudslides, rockslides, dislodged trees and so forth, would bring about many hazards.

These affirmed   deterrents, saying nothing of the dangers from now awakened hibernators, ravenous carnivores, discouraged any would-be impetuous hunters or travelers. That is also why, the mainstream (conventional) pious devotees made the usual pilgrimage in summer months instead, at which point (whereupon) the mountains also offered additional reprieve from the searing heat of the lowlands. 

Heedful of his charges’ security however, Stark had deemed (selected) this less likely period, spring, being the most appropriate time for their trek.

On the appointed day, they therefore rose at crack of dawn and, after completing their last-minute preparations, Stark, Svein and Teuquob (with her hiding but not succeeding entirely her bursting enthusiasm), quietly embarked on the long journey to Heaven’s Gate Spiritual Temple.

                                                                                   ~

Primarily, they would have to go through the treacherous subterranean tunnel that separated and kept their part of the mountain region well hidden from the world.

When they reached the yawning cavernous entrance, as before, Svein gave Teuquob the special root to chew. This time she was well informed of its properties and the reason for its use; so, she took it willingly and likewise it altered her state of mind and cast it in fearless euphoria.

Stark, as an added precautionary measure, shielded the horse’s eyes; then, once Teuquob was in saddle, Svein covering their back and Stark leading the steed by the reins (bridles, straps), the entire group entered the yawning chasm. As they advanced and penetrated further (deeper) into the cavern’s depths, gradually the pitch darkness swallowed them whole. They, however, with sure footing, braved and oftentimes fended off the dire peril (onslaught from unseen, feral entities, creatures), in that endless arena of black until finally, unharmed, they had once more emerged into the light.

The most dangerous part of the trek now safely behind them, after a brief respite, in high spirits they followed snaking, at times treacherous paths with on one side sheer drop carved into the mountain’s ledge.

They ascended and ascended to reach different, more accessible parts. In all that time they had endured well enough, being frequently drizzled upon or drenched by the sudden, capricious downpours that more often than not, impeded their progress.  And they persevered through sudden, violent gusts or unwavering winds that took their toll on the vast perimeter.

 Opting for the most isolated route, they consequently traversed, seeming ceaselessly, over the most dangerous and repetitively treacherous ground. They seldom rested and only infrequently took in sustenance.

Stark and Svein had the fortitude to withstand far more arduous conditions. Their strong stamina would normally enable them to travel interminably for weeks on end and ordinarily, they would thrive on the rigorous challenges; but mindful of Teuquob’s welfare, they took care to safeguard her from any undue strain and to allow her a brief repose now and then, typically when it grew too dark to advance- and so  made frequent unscheduled stopovers in certain caves or some protected cranny in the rock face,  promptly resuming their journey at the first light of the subsequent day.

  As for frequently encountering wild beasts like tigers, mountain cats, wolves, bears and pythons- suffice it to say, it was a marvel to behold their phenomenal abilities to ward off danger, adroit means with which they coerced the deadly aims of the voracious beasts, and rarely, only rarely, as a last resort, did they take a life.  To remedy this infraction, they would then undergo an elaborate purification ceremony. The prescribed moral and spiritual conduct had dictated that they as well abstained from any consumption of meat; hence, their dry rations had consisted of several kinds of beans, rice, and other such grains alongside varied vegetables that made up the bulk of their usual repast on route. But not all leg of the journey was arduous; for instance, the brilliant, azure skies, delightful tapestry of emerald venue meanwhile serving as a backdrop to some of the most magnificent panoramic views, oftentimes took their breath away, invoking and nourishing in all the poetic prose, to be registered once back at their abode, as means of happy pastime, then read aloud or extrapolated upon, on those icy-cold wintery nights.

They had travelled enormous distance, each day being different, yet all the same, every experience blending into that miasmic recipe, till Teuquob had lost all track of time.  What was the most predominant sensation however was that endemic fatigue, with every limb aching, sore, throbbing, and every fiber of her being weary. She had eventually stopped pestering Stark about the approximate distance, the length of time of their destination, zeal having long since being extinguished; she was resigned to simply enduring, however long, this endless trek.

Subsequently, when the expedition rounding the side of the mountain was confronted with yet another range of by then monotonously magnificent peaks, each competing for the brilliant heights with their summits buried in the clouds, she had simply smiled with placid expression on her face and nodded in response with lackluster enthusiasm, to Stark’s assurance, that this was indeed the last leg of the journey.

Mercifully, this part was not as long, and after ascending the invisible, winding goat’s path then the countless stone steps carved into the mountain, they’d arrived before the huge iron gates that fronted the most impressive temple grounds.

Promptly putting their gear down, the younger two (Teuquob and Svein) had held back, while Stark advancing forward had announced their presence to the novice gatekeeper and parted to his palm a seemingly insignificant item, to be delivered to His Esteemed Holiness.  The novice in thoughtful silence, nodded, and turning promptly on his heels, disappeared behind the barred Iron Gate.

This curious exchange had not escaped the notice of Svein, but as it were, soon other matters took his attention away. Teuquob meanwhile, with her fervor renewed, had cast her gaze unafraid on the mammoth guardian spirit statues that flanked the iron gates, then, craning her neck upward she had observed the towering walls encircling the temple grounds. Beyond it she could detect scores of buildings with roofs of purple glazed tiles over high roof beams, and then her eyes trailed to the tip of the magnificent tower, its summit disappearing into the mystic miasma of clouds.

“Why would they build a house of prayer akin to a fortress?” She could not help, but exclaimed with an involuntary shudder, her eyes perusing the foreboding structures and solidly interwoven temple walls, with intermittent watchtowers.

 “Hah?” Svein turned his attention back on Teuquob, for prior his interest had been drawn by that overwhelming sense of being scrutinized by scores of invisible well-armed sentry-guards glaring down on them with distrustful, near hostile antagonistic eyes.

 Stark after his eye contact with Svein and reassuring nod, approached Teuquob (came over) to briefly explain the reasons for this strong fortification.                                                                         

                                                                                                 ~

 (END OF SECTION ONE)

 (Exciting developments, the mystery and facts, regarding the heavily fortified “Heaven’s Gate Spiritual Temple, will be elucidated (expounded) in the next post of - The Trip to the Monastery- Section 2)