Текст книги "The Warriors Of Shambhala"

Автор книги: Sergii Sheludchenko

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 17 страниц) [доступный отрывок для чтения: 7 страниц]

‘Yes, Commander! I looked through almost all of the information about the sector. The third planet from the local sun, in which the number of nautical references are "possibly habitable." It has a strange name called "Terra". But here the nationality is not indicated, and there are no databases and offshore ports.’

‘Data is not available, because the ports are not available. Ten years ago, the planet was generally absent on the navigation charts. Look at the scanner, can you see anything similar to the orbital complex at least? I see a load of rubbish and a dozen strange structures in orbit. Their satellites use technologies that time has long forgotten.’

‘According to the records of the scanners, communication goes only to the surface of the planet. Not even a hint of the presence of offshore lighthouses. The planet was at the initial stage of technical development. Before departure, I spoke with an officer of the Special Department. He said that life on "Terra" was not formed as a result of abiogenesis, but then fighting, which occurred in the sector. It is here that they met the combined forces of the Galactic Exotics. The residents of "Terra", who were descendants of astronauts, were able to hang on to the only habitable planet in this system.’

‘Why are they not evacuated?’

‘The Department has announced that it is closed for quarantine. A pair of rockets stuffed with viral strains hit the planet’

‘And now?’

‘What is needed now? Mineral resources are not available, or rather are, but in such a volume that it is of no interest to the industry groups. There is no sense to comprise a military base here in this suburb, you know this yourself. The Special Department[12]12
  Military counterintelligence division of the GPU – OGPU – NKVD – USSR State Security Committee.


[Закрыть] said that the natives have managed this planet and divided it into states on racial grounds, which were close to the galaxy.’

A sharp buzzer made the lieutenant pay attention to the scanner screen.

‘This is a signal of the opening of the tunnel!’

Eric typed something into the computer keyboard, increasing the power of the control devices.

‘We have finally come. We will give the package a couple of weeks and will… Damn!’ The packet boats convulsively vibrated, which were controlled by the power of the main engines. Moving the ship to manual control, Olaf stared at the picture on the screen. The nose of a light cruiser crawled out to cast a blue glow into the tunnel. The classifier of the packet boats precisely defined the ownership and type of ship, finding it easily on the database of opponents.

‘We will leave on the beam of "Terra" and I do not think that they will open fire on this side of the planet!

Eric watched the actions of the commander in silence, not quite understanding what was happening. There was a ship, even if not the Imperial, the computer identified him as a possible opponent. But the cruiser did not take any aggressive actions; we should have first contact with the guest, and not get bogged down.

‘We do not have time to go into hyperspace; I will try to dive into the atmosphere!’ The Major was nervous as he knew what threatened the meeting with the Arktarians. A bright flash blinded Eric. He felt a sharp pain around his temples, with colored circles swimming before his eyes. The lieutenant fell into the black abyss of oblivion. Pictures from the past, extracted from the depths of the brain, surfaced in his mind.

Waves lazily ran ashore in the shallow tide. His feet were sinking into the soft wet sand. Eric confidently strode along the plot of land on time, released by the ocean without fear of hurting his feet on the sharp edge of the shell. In contrast to his home planet, Velburge, shellfish simply did not exist. The man was heading towards a small island, located at the edge of the spit. After some time, the tide would hide an artificial bridge, which connected the shore with thr protruding boulders in the middle of the Gulf. Then the young man would be left alone for a few hours, surrounded by the gentle waves of the ocean.

For seven years, while being at the school of navigators, Eric often came to this island. Life in the big city was unusual for a boy who grew up in a small working village, and he constantly sought solitude. Eric tried as much as possible to come here and relax on a nice piece of land surrounded by water. He felt at home among the rock piles. The island became only relief for the young boy of fifteen years old, torn from his parents and thrown seven years into a strict world of rules and regulations.

Graduation will be tomorrow. Years of study were now behind him. Eric will get a short vacation after the graduation, and then he will go to one of the naval auxiliaries of the Imperial Navy for further service. Seven years and, finally, his goal will have been achieved. School navigators for people from the colonial district had only three planets of the Empire, representing different educational institutions. The boys from poor families and orphans could only become cadets. After passing the test, they were placed in quarantine for a long time, where the boys took a short course in psycho training and physical fitness. Then the entrance exams and only the most worthy were received into the school of navigators.

Eric's parents worked most of their lives in the quarries of a huge quarry-planet situated in one of the industrial sectors. After the transition of their native system under the protection of the Empire the residents were resettled to Staindsburg, ostensibly for the development of new territories. Staindsburg was named after the dark red sediment or ore dust called "Red Devils" and it became his home. Eric was born and raised there.

Working down the mines was the only prospect for local residents. Each family dreamed that their child would get out of this hell. Thousands of children tried their luck annually, submitting applications to a variety of educational institutions, but only a few managed to leave the planet. The Empire chose only the best. On the day when Eric passed the test and received a cadet's uniform, it turned into a celebration for the whole village.

Graduates were awarded the qualification of "technician-navigator", after graduating from high school, which corresponded in rank to a naval Lieutenant. Pilots who signed a contract, were on the provision of the Empire, and after the expiration, they could easily get a job on merchant ships. By the end of the contract, most browsers had the qualification of "master pilot". Flights were provided by such specialists, costing several thousand intergalactic dinars. But the price was quite reasonable for the peddlers. The cost of cargo was much higher than the cost of shipping. The fact that the ship was run by cool professionals that ensured the safety of the goods. However, few graduates of navigator schools were searching for such jobs. Money that had been received for the contract was quite enough for a comfortable existence. The majority were consultants at the military departments and groups of Astro Control, someone passed on the staff posts, but most prolonged the contract. Although a native of colonial remote places were unavailable highest goods of imperial life, Eric realized that the contract was the only way to get the family out of Staindsburg’s mess.

The man was lying on his back with outstretched arms. The pleasant warmth of stone, heated during the day by the hot Velburg's sun, was caressing his body. The Azure sky abyss was dissolving him in its arms. The tide was beginning. The Sound of the surf was strong, and the sandbar had disappeared under the water. Eric closed his eyes. The gold star will shine on his chest tomorrow, determining his rank and position in society. Although he was only twenty-two, by the standards of some galactic systems he was still a very young man. Therefore, Eric felt the strength and willingness to overcome any difficulties. He escaped from the clutches of the "Red Devil", and his family would not have to earn a livelihood by ingesting toxic dust from the quarries.

* * *

Dan Reynolds could not take his eyes off the scenery while sailing for the aircraft porthole. Mountain peaks, sheltered snow-white caps of snow, were striking in its beauty and grandeur. The speed and altitude "of Hercules" was given the opportunity to fully enjoy the splendor of the Himalayas.

It was no more than an hour’s flight to their destination. Taihang was holding himself. Sergeant Quinn Dexter was a huge well-built black man, and Corporal Vincent Santini was an Italian-American, both staring at the Chinese girl. In fact, Dan was glad when they were instructed to accompany Taihang. It was at least some variety.

On board, except for the pilots and the escort group, there was another passenger who caused special interest to the commander. There was a cute little girl in the form of a Warrant officer sitting in the first class. However, as soon as the plane gained altitude, she produced a "tablet" and delved into reading, ignoring the others. For a while, Den watched the girl, but then lost all hope to get acquainted, so he decided to take a nap.

Suddenly, the plane shook, and it abruptly went to the side. The fuselage of the helicopter trembled like a patient in a fit of fever. Reynolds drew a “Beretta” holster from his chest and moved suddenly. Dexter and Vincent, cursing, took a place next to the Chinese girl. A smile flashed across Taihang’s face. Probably, the American looked pretty silly from the outside. Dan hid the gun and looked at the girl.

‘Senior group, go to the cockpit!’

Holding onto the chair, Dan went to the pilots.

‘We're losing altitude. Failure of two turbines, the machine at any time may fall into a tailspin.’

‘What has happened?’

‘I cannot understand. Right on the nose swept a ball of fire. Look, even the glass has begun to melt.’

In fact, on the windshield of the cabin light traces of melting were seen.

‘I cannot imagine what the temperature should be and what is happening to the body of the aircraft. We need to sit down, but there is nowhere to go. There are mountains everywhere.’

‘Did you try to get in contact with the nearest airport?’

‘It is useless, there is no connection.’

‘Where are we?’

‘Tibet is the nearest locality, Gerze. Maybe there is a village in the highlands, but they are not specified on the map.’

‘Try to get the car. In any case, we will be on the ground.’

‘We will try, you have to inform the passengers that they have to fasten their seatbelts, group them and we will try to find a place.’

Then everything happened as in a film. A sharp turn and a minute later a hard blow came. The plane for a while was sliding on its belly, scattering in all directions and pieces of wing were falling off. There was shock and silence. When Reynolds came to his senses and got out, he could not understand how the pilot was able to accommodate the freighter in such a tiny area, sandwiched in a ring of granite boulders. The passenger compartment suffered the least. Vincent and Dexter got off with light injuries, but the Chinese girl had been badly hurt. Taihang for a long time did not show any signs of life. It was not possible to determine the severity of the injury, which he had received. In any case, we gave him a tranquilizer injection. Dan left the girl and Taihang in the care of Vince and went with the sergeant to inspect the cockpit. Unfortunately, none of the crew had survived.

‘Look around, maybe you will find something useful. Cover the bodies; we still cannot bury them, because of the rocky ground.’

‘I'll do it, Commander.’ Reynolds returned back. The girl was sitting in a chair that Vincent took out from the passenger compartment.

‘What happened to the pilots?’

‘No options. How are you feeling?’The commander moved closer to the girl.

‘I am fine, but here it is very cold.’

Reynolds was wearing an assault jumpsuit, so he almost did not feel the cold. But the girl’s dress uniform could not help her in such conditions. Dan gave her his jacket.

‘Take my jacket, Vince will ignite the fire now, and it will be warmer.’

The girl felt fine, and the head of the group went to Taihang, who was lying on the canvas precipice. Her Chinese eyes looked up at the sky, without noticing Reynolds. Handcuffs! Perhaps, in such a condition of being escorted it wasn’t possible to manage without them. Dan disconnected the fixed bracelets.

‘This is the end, American!’

‘Do not hope.’

‘People don’t have the right to dispose the destinies of people. Everything is under the will of Heaven.’

‘Did you think about the sky, when you poisoned people with drugs?’

‘Your country sells arms, it is an obvious death. My death is sweeter. I am giving people the opportunity to forget the nightmare in which they live. I have little interest in money. I am a warrior, the same as you. But the difference between us is that you risk your life for some unknown reason, and I live in the name of the clan. My death will not change anything, but people will always remember me. When you die, people will forget who is lying under the gravestone in a week.’

‘Indeed, people will forget me. I am happy to recall the company, which is waiting for me in the next world before my death. After all, I have procured a one way ticket to the death for scum like you. I think that you will join them sooner or later.’

‘The will of Heaven is for everyone.’ Taihang closed his eyes.

Well, if he started the philosophical discussions, therefore, he will survive. The Chinaman was right in one thing: the situation was almost hopeless.

Reynolds sat down by the fire, which Vincent fired up.

‘How is our samurai? But he is not a samurai. Samurais come from Japan. And our friend is Chinese. Drag him closer to the fire, God forbid; he will be bent from a lack of fighting spirit and low temperature.’

Reynolds obviously exaggerated about the spirit. The Chinese have enough hardness in the whole group of samurai, but the difficult question was with the weather. You can, of course, burn all furniture from seats and plastic parts of the cabin. What will be then? We'd better use rubber from wheels to signal a fire, when someone, maybe, will notice the smoke.

‘I think that they are aware of the fact that the aircraft was is missing. The search party will find us. It makes no sense to leave the accident place. The fuselage can hide us from the wind. I will inspect the area and look for where it is better to ignite the signal lights.’

The Chinaman seemed to have fallen asleep, while the injection was working that the corporal had made. The girl wrapped herself in a protective jacket, putting a chair closer to the fire. Still we need to take care of her outfit. Reynolds decided to examine the cockpit again, or rather what was left of it. Dan was lucky, among the scattered debris; he found two warm flight suits.

Having solved the problem of companion gear, the second jumpsuit, they put on Taihang together. Now a cold night did not seem to be so terrible. Dexter had just finished equipping the shelter, and Vincent set about cooking dinner from the scarce transport rations.

‘Sir, you seem to be going to look for a place for a fire. I can accompany you, the only problem is with the shoes.’

‘One minute. I think I saw the boots in the cabin’, Vincent reacted instantly. In a second a pair of heavy landing boots flew out of the broken window.

‘The size, however, is too big, but the problem is solved.’ Vincent handed the girl a piece of cloth.

She smiled for the first time. Reynolds drew attention to the facial features of the girl. The figure was usually something to worry about, but in this case, nature had given her a beautiful figure and a pretty face. I wonder what a girl does in the army. Somehow, Dan wanted to kiss her. But Reynolds immediately drove out those silly thoughts. Although he said to himself, it is not so bad if the instincts will come back to him.

‘Will you take me to our companions? I do not mind a little exercise.’

‘It is better to help Vincent; a woman does not have to climb the mountains.’

‘He can handle it without me. I'm a soldier for you like everyone else. Make up your mind, Commander. Sometimes a woman’s opinion is useful in such situations.’

‘Everything is ready for the night.’ Dexter’s black face appeared from the black hole in the fuselage.

‘Okay, you guys bring the Chinaman and if he wakes up, feed him. We will be there soon.’ The searching of the area for the fire did not take a long time. Reynolds decided to rekindle Dan who was silent most of the way, sometimes glancing in the direction of his companion.

‘You are not very talkative. We spent the whole day together, and I have the impression that you do not have a name. Maybe I'm wrong?’

‘My name is Dan Reynolds. You can call me Dan.’

‘That’s very nice. My name is Ellen Parsons. You may call me Helen.’

‘How did you get into the army?’

‘I'm an expert in computer technology. I have only been in the regular units for a couple of months. I was working in the Pentagon. But my father was transferred to Asia, and I had to go with my family.’

‘So your parents were afraid to leave their little girl in the house alone?’

‘Do not laugh, I love my parents.’

‘How old are you, Ellen?’

‘Only such a low-life as you could ask a girl this question. Do not worry, I'm old enough to make my own decisions.’

‘Let's go back to the camp, Helen. It’s quite dark and the guys are probably getting worried.’

Reynolds sent Vincent and Dexter to relax after the dinner, and he took up the signal fire duties. It was necessary to throw wheel tyres into the fire during the night to make the flames stronger. Helen tried to help him, but Dan insisted that she went to bed. The day had been stressful, and who knew what will happen tomorrow. Reynolds was sitting close to the fire, and in four hours will raise some wine. A gust of wind whipped across his frustrated face, forcing him to tighten the collar of his jacket.

* * *

The indicators on the scoreboard flashed at a furious rate. An unknown ship, breaking the atmospheric shield, raced towards the base. The scanner transmitted on the screen the image of an uninvited guest. A minute later a monstrous picture of the explosion indicated the place of contact with the surface of the planet spaceship.

‘Packet-boat class "A". Shoot the emergency capsule at an altitude of three thousand meters!’ The operator looked at the attendant, waiting for further instructions.

‘Determine the point of landing capsule! All this information is forwarded immediately to the Magistrate communicators.’

The emergence of the imperial ship did not bode well. Only an order of cosmos plans and visitors from space occasionally visited the “Terra” sector. The Council Hall was buzzing like a disturbed hive. The Supreme Master entered accompanied by four guards, dressed in silver protective overalls. The Council members stood up, welcoming the head of the Order. The Master gestured, inviting participants to take their seats, and went to the point immediately:

‘As you know, a guest from the sphere visited us. Perhaps the navigation equipment was out of order so the crew was unable to land the ship. Bioskanery fixed the weak radiation emergency capsule. Suppose the onboard ball of packet boat managed to send a distress signal and location coordinates of the ship before entering the atmosphere. When he came to sector one, the probability that it will be heard, is negligible. But if somewhere nearby there is a support group, there can be problems. Radars of earthlings are primitive; they will still allow secure objects in orbit.’

‘And if someone except us will try to establish contact with the military starships, and even more so to attack them, we cannot control the situation.’

‘I ask for words!’The keeper of the Sacred Gate went into the center of the room. ‘I think we have to eliminate all traces of the disaster and isolate the crew.’

‘What do you mean by “isolating them’? That means the ability to restrict movement, or, as you expressed together to eliminate the traces of disaster. Let me remind you that the death of any living being is contrary to the Charter of the Order!’

‘Teacher!’

The man was dressed in purple clothes, standing at the entrance to the hall. The Supreme Master respectfully bowed at the sight of him. The Master of the Order was not usually present at the meetings of the Board. Their task was to transfer knowledge of the members of the brotherhood and strengthen the spiritual power of the Order. At the time, each of the novices took the hardest cycle selection in the Abode of the Sacred Law; the members of the Magistracy weren't the exception. The honoring of teachers, which had been built into the walls of the Temple of Knowledge, remained in the hearts of the brothers for life.

As the Supreme Master noticed the appearance of the packet boat, it was most likely an accident. No doubt, the crew needed help. We were able to assist them so will not see any of the inhabitants of the planet. We can not violate the Charter of the Order by harming human beings. The technical capabilities of the base must be set only to assist the victims. The Master nodded his head slightly, while expressing agreement with the decision of the Master.

* * *

A snowy wave came into the camp, sweeping away everything in its path. The terrible rumble preceding the avalanche occurred suddenly as a warning to all living things on the approaching danger. According to the plan, it was the day to reach the top. Igor thought about selecting a group for the night and took into account all possible aspects related with weather conditions and the safety of his climbers. Samoilov had frequently been to the Himalayas. Thank God this was not the most difficult ascent in his climber's career. Difficulties arose only because of the newcomers, who were in the group. Of course, two weeks of training did not allow for full preparation of his climbers. Igor managed to pull the five new climbers almost to the top of the mountain at a height of 4000 meters. One more day of torment and the descent will begin. When Samoilov had got acquainted with the team, he was surprised of what led these people to the mountains. Two Frenchmen who decided to spend a vacation in an exotic place, the rest just adventurers who probably lacked excitement. Basically, the guys were good. In the mountains, people reveal themselves immediately. Samoilov’s assistant was young, but quite experienced and was in tandem with his leader.

Life had thrown him into the mountains of the Hindu Kush, since man could not say goodbye to the snow-capped peaks. He talked little about himself. He said only that as a child he was fascinated with hang-gliding and wanted to become a military pilot. He was a bit eccentric, but he knew that this was the case and Samoilov gladly took him as one of his companions.

Before getting a job Igor could not find a use for his knowledge and talents. He worked as a loader, and then coached the children in mountaineering. All this he spent fifteen years in the mountains. By accident, the travel company representatives came to him, who had the idea to add mountaineering to their services. Initially, Igor refused, arguing that mountains is not the place for amateurs. But the director of the company convinced him to choose the easier routes. And the financial incentive was a key factor. Samoilov agreed. But when he was informed that the first rise will take place in the Himalayas, there were no bounds to the instructor’s concerns. More experienced groups were beginning with less difficult routes. Unfortunately, the money was paid, and the firm did not want to lose its face, and Igor had to go to the base camp to prepare for the expedition.

When Samoilov heard the roar rising, he had just finished a communication session with the base camp. There was no doubt, there was an avalanche. It was the worst thing that can happen in the mountains. The last thing that Igor saw, while he was jumping out of the tent, was a snow drift that tore apart the French tent. Samoilov fell to the ground, covering his head with his hands. He was thrown into a terrible cycle which ended in a severe blow. He felt like a juggernaut had crushed him, even taking away the sensation of air. The instinct of self-preservation was stronger than common sense. He tore his hands into the snow pack, trying to get out of the cold grave. After a while it became easier to breathe. More effort and Igor looked up at the starry sky. His muscles were demanding to have a rest, but he could not think about himself when people were buried under the snow.

As it turned out, Igor was thrown near to the camp. Where once stood the tent there was now a flat, sheltered area in which snow sparkled in the moonlight. Samoilov examined every centimeter of the former camp on all fours. He tried to dig into the snow, but he realized that this idea had come to nothing.

A barely perceptible sound came from the western edges. Igor was listening. It seemed to be a moan. Samoilov crawled to the edge. A thin safety cable went into a dark abyss of gorges. Igor pulled the cable slightly.

‘Help!’ It was someone from the Russians, but it was difficult to determine the voice. Getting comfortable, Samoilov began to choose a rope slowly. Igor took about twenty minutes to pull the climber to the lower border.

‘Stas, is that you?’

‘Yes, it’s me.’

Samoilov helped his partner to get to the site. Stas lay on his back and closed his eyes.

The boys kept silent. What else can be said, when everyone understands the consequences of what had happened. There was no communication; the people are likely to have died. If an avalanche had demolished the base camp, they would have had nowhere to wait for help. They could only hope for a miracle.

* * *

‘Incredible! This is the fourth mutation in a year!’ The Supreme Master walked around the room, leafing through the pages of the tablet.

‘The child was taken a few hours ago.’ The head of the medical department handed the master a monocrystal of the records of recent surveys. ‘Some wardens picked him up on the outskirts of the city located in the European part of the continent. The boy was found unconscious with initial signs of a terminal condition.’

‘This is the first manifestation of this strain?’

‘First, to which we have access. We do not know how many people were hospitalized on the planet.’

‘Do you have any suggestions?’

‘We do not. There is a lack of equipment, personnel and chemical components. They are ahead of us by three or four cycles. The boy was immersed in a cryogenic chamber. In my opinion, the only correct decision is as soon as possible to send him to the medical center of the sphere. Let their experts do the work. We have selected all the necessary material for our laboratory.’

‘The nearest transport will be in two months! We cannot get in touch, you know, the radius of the transmitter is limited. There is still a packet boat… I need time to think and consult with the teachers.’

‘Hurry up, master. If the virus gets into the sphere, the consequences maybe irreversible. We have ships and the crew training will take no more than two weeks.’

‘Crew!? Do you know that the Templars cannot go aboard warships?’

‘What about novices and guards? They are not covered by the ban.’

‘I cannot make a decision without the consent of the Masters and the Council!’

* * *

The growing rumble of drums merged with ritual chiming of bells. Huge ragdong pipes[13]13
  Ragdong pipe is a musical instrument in the shape of the pipe, which can be made up.


[Закрыть] were roaring. An overture was broken on the highest note, only a low monk’s voice who chanted Sutra disturbed the peace of the monastery. The abbot of the Datsan, Kuabgan Chetsang Rinpoche, sat in the middle of a small room on a wooden platform, symbolizing the throne. For more than half a century he led a monastic community that hid among the Himalayan snows of Maitreya Buddha. It is the highest mountain monastery of Northern Nepal. Steep cliffs and inaccessible peaks surrounded the monastery, keeping it quiet. Just a gentle brook flowing into a small lake, brought some excitement in this harsh landscape. Few people, who devoted themselves to the faith, can live for many years in the strong chains of glaciers. The community of the Datsan consisted of two llamas, seven monks and three novices. All of them are located in the front of the rector on the ground floor, sitting on benches in two rows facing each other. The smaller the merit of a monk to the community, the more he was away from the altar. The novice was given a place at the entrance of Datsan. On the right hand was Chetsang Kushog, and on the platform below the abbot’s throne sat Iungten – an old man, who came to the monastery from the Land of the Snows. After his appearance the abode of forgotten people gained incredible popularity: pilgrims from China, Nepal, India, Tibet, rushed to the gates of the temple, eager to witness the only person still alive who managed to go to Shambhala. Hundreds of sacrificial pyramids grew around the lake. But for more than six months Iungten refused to meet pilgrims and retired to a small cave, situated on the northern slope behind the monastery. The old hermit further increased the interest to the people to choose Gomshten’s life. Among the monks there were rumors that Iungten saw a vision in a dream that predicted him to live alone. Only one of the novices could violate the privacy of the elder. From time to time Iungten came to the monastery and took part in ritual ceremonies and church services. He was sitting on his throne next to the abbot today.

The Interior of the Datsan hit his rigor and asceticism. It was rumored that the former rector to the sect of Sakia-pa were conquerors and protectors of demons. The present teachings also represented the doctrines of Gelug-pa; yellow caps that give a vow of complete celibacy and solitude. Statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were resting behind the abbot were laid out on the stone altar. A silver shrine with the remains of monks, who devoted their lives to the Maitreya’s monastery, gleamed behind them in small depressions. Two rows of columns that separated Datsan on the central, left and right sides, were decorated with thangkams[14]14
  Thangkam is a Tibetan fine art image, mostly of a religious nature, made by glutinous paints or printed on silk or cotton fabric, pre-primed with a mixture of chalk and animal glue.


[Закрыть] with images of Buddhist pantheon saints. Huge cloths of orange and yellow colors with slogans and excerpts from sutras hung from the wooden beams. Lamps were placed at the corners of the Lha-khang and thus struggled with the darkness. In the flickering light of their celebration, which took place in the temple, it looked an ominous mystical ritual. Monastic toga color of a ripe pomegranate blended with bunting. The smoke of smoldering incense filled the Datsan with a bluish mist. Vacillating in the flickering light the shadow of Buddhas created the illusion of movement. Suddenly, the howling ragdong pipes resembled huge sea shells. Timpani thunder heralded the end of the morning prayer. The abbot and monks motioned up and headed for the exit. The sun will rise in a few minutes. While in the mountains of Nepal it is very uncommon to admire the colors of sunrise and sunset, as the monks faithfully observe the ritual of greeting and farewell with great light.