by Shea Meadows
Ricky walked back to the group where others were examining different replicas and chatting with ghosts that were curious about visitors that could hear them.
“I heard that, Mommy. Are you really going to free her?” Nory asked as Bonta handed her back to Ricky.
“She will be freed, but she will end up before the council of elders, justifying her behavior,” Ricky replied.
Chi was standing near Bonta. “The ghost was right you know. The things in the legends were fueled by the imaginations of the people telling the story. Each time it was told, the subjects of the tale became more grandiose.”
“But, Honored Grandfather, we know that things of this sort happen in the higher dimensions. We saw evidence of that in Shibaozhai. You left your body and changed into a young warrior. A man from America traveled out-of-body to protect Nory and David. When he died in battle, his body died as well. Might not the stories told in the legends be true in the etheric dimension?” Chew asked.
Chi nodded. “Yes, you are correct; the energy in the physical is stuck in predictable forms. The scene we experienced in the Red Pagoda was fluid and changeable. It is so with the etheric level. Some legends might simply be etheric experiences reported by those who worked in the higher dimensions. In the physical, the events might have looked very different.”
Ricky nodded. “We are talking to ghosts and interacting with witches and sorcerers. To those watching from the observation area, we are a group wandering around among the statues. They don’t know we are a learning of things that happened centuries ago.
“When we tell the story of our journey on our return, to some, we will say we visited many of the famous antiquities of China and made new friends from this country. To others, we will tell the story of the Bi Mo Chu, and the pagoda at Shibaozhai. We will tell how all of us worked together with the guides to overcome a malevolent ghost. Those graced with the true story must have the eyes to see and the energy to experience such occurrences,” Ricky concluded.
Chew smiled. “To some it will be fiction, to others, truth. I understand.”
After more conversations and explorations, the group contacted Wu Liu who guided them back to the parking area so they could travel to the Han Warrior Guesthouse. On the way, they stopped for dinner in a fast food restaurant. Ricky once again changed the sleepy Nory’s clothes in the ladies’ room.
“Will we sleep and then get up and strategize? I hate to say it, but Kang is upset. I promised him he could conduct our tour through the Yangling Mausoleum. He had to bribe an official or two to get permission for an early viewing. Then we traveled two hours away instead. If I pull out again, he’s going to lose face,” Ho informed them, as they drove back to the guesthouse after dinner.
“Ho, can you work in the etheric dimension?” David questioned.
“You mean like you guys, when you go out-of-body?” Ho asked in return. “I’ve never done it, but I see and hear ghosts so maybe I’m halfway there. Would it make it easier for everyone if I tried?”
Ricky nodded. “We would all go to bed, then make the intention to work out-of-body while we’re sleeping. Moon will create a safe reality in spirit world for us.”
Chew piped up. “I can work out-of-body. Honored Grandpa taught me.”
“Okay, that’s settled. We will meet when we have drifted off. I will contact Moon and bring the tools. We will sweep you up with us, Ho, if that works for you,” Ricky said.
Ho grinned and nodded. “Then we’ll have to get up early so we can tour the Han Mausoleum with Kang. When do we go after Norton?”
David sighed. “Not sure. If we can do what we came to accomplish tomorrow, then we can all leave the next day. If we can’t…”
“If you can’t, you will do what needs to be done the day after that and as many days more as it takes. Sung Ho, can you change our tickets if need be?” Chi asked. “My grandson is my companion because I am an elder. We honor elders in our culture above all other considerations, so the school will not object.”
Chew patted the camera he wore on a cord around his neck. “The pictures I’ve been taking will be wonderful. The school will find my presentation worth waiting for.”
Ho laughed. “I can certainly take care of changing ticket timing. I choose not to worry about mundane things like the government or my job. What we are doing is important.”
***
Around nine-thirty, almost all were asleep. It had been difficult for Ho to reject the offer of a beer from Kang and cut short reminiscence about the “good old days.” Kang grunted but his ruffled feathers had been smoothed when Ho promised they would be up, fresh, fed and ready to tour the Yangling Mausoleum by eight in the morning.
Ho tossed and turned with the excitement of going out-of- body. He had a surprise for the others, but didn’t know how they would respond to it. He was about to give up when a familiar face floated over his bed.
Auntie Sung Pee Win puckered her lips and shook her head. “Don’t worry, not haunting you, nephew. We are grateful you gave us an honorable way to leave. Our deliverers are gathered in a special cave in spirit world. Everyone is there but you. I promised to show you the way. Here, take my hand.”
Her ghostly fingers grasped his hand, and Ho felt his etheric body slip out of his physical form. In what seemed like one tick of the clock, he landed in the midst of the group who applauded his arrival. Ricky gave Winy a hug. “Thanks for bringing him, Winy. I’ll let you get back to orientation.”
Ho looked around and smiled. “Either this is a very detailed dream, or I’m out-of-body. Glad you sent someone familiar. It wasn’t difficult at all.”
“So, we should start getting organized,” David said. “You know all of our guides, correct?”
“Yes,” Ho said as he bowed to each of the consultants. “It is good to have experts in the ancient arts to advise us.”
“While we waited, I had a question for Sima Qian. The witches in the replicas kept referring to Norton Reston as the ‘White Emperor.’ I also remembered Du Yuesheng referring to Reston in the same way.
“Since Reston’s Akashic Record was difficult to read, I asked if there was a figure in Chinese history by that name. I wondered if that would make a difference when we confront Norton Reston,” Ricky said.
Sima Quin cleared his throat. “I confirmed that Norton Reston was the White Emperor during the period when the Han Dynasty was in chaos. His name in that incarnation was Gong Sun Shu. There was a time when the Han divided into many warring regions. Gong Sun Shu was the general in command of the Western Han faction. He longed to be a ruler, and at one time settled in a town by the Yangtze River, not far upstream from the Shibaozhai Pagoda.
“The general saw mist in the form of a white dragon forming over a well. He thought it was a sign from the gods that he should be known as the White Emperor. He built a castle and started to rule the Western Han Kingdom.”
“They call the town he took as his capital, Baidi City. I remember this story. It didn’t turn out well, did it?” Ho asked. “His reign didn’t last long.”
“He ruled a small but peaceful kingdom for twelve years but was overcome in battle by Liu Xiu, who eventually reunited the factions of the Han,” Sima Qian concluded.
“So Norton Reston was an emperor twice over. First, he was little more than a tribal chieftain in the time of the Xia. Those after him had the palaces and the wealth. In the second, he was a usurper, crowning himself emperor. This tells us a lot about Norton Reston’s need to experience the adulation of those around him,” Chi contributed.
“This is something we can integrate into our narrative when we make our stand,” David added.
“There are many questions we can’t answer now, such as why he is obsessed with Nory,” Moon contributed, “but best we get down to business.
“This is an accurate replica of Reston’s favored cave. It looks like a hole in the ground when seen from above and is reached by handholds down a steep wall. If you were going there with a physical bo
dy, it would be difficult. It will be easier to enter in your etheric form. Norton has manipulated the frequency, so he vibrates above the third dimension, in a frequency higher than the ghosts he releases to the Bi Mo Chu. He is very careful not to vibrate at the level of spirit world, or we would have snatched him up long ago,” Moon concluded.
During the next several hours, those in the group took turns with the various roles in the strategy and the plan was changed several times. Those chosen as the primary actors practiced their parts to perfection. The others thought of alternative scenarios that would require changes to their plan.
Ho told the others that he had remembered something about his former incarnations. He was not sure, but he thought he could create a significant diversion that would put Norton Reston off balance. They observed as he demonstrated.
“Good trick, Ho. Very convincing,” Susan said with a smile. “I could almost believe you were him.”
Finally, when there was no more to be done or said, the group returned to their slumbering bodies which had been recharging. By seven, they were up and eating breakfast with Ma Tu Kang and Wu Liu who were to act as tour guides at the Yangling Mausoleum.
Kang was in rare form, the gracious host he had been when they arrived. He unfolded a map and pointed out the best route for them to take through the museum and the burial pits.
There was room in the big van for Kang and Liu. Kang sat next to Ho, bragging about what he had done to get community support for the museum. Liu sat next to Nory and Ricky, chattering to the baby in Mandarin. She had brought along a well-used stroller that they had stored at the guesthouse. The very short drive felt long to the members of the group.
Even though the exhibits were not officially opened, the parking lot at the Yangling Mausoleum was crowded with cars. It was possible for those with connections to view the artifacts, and Kang assured them he was the best connection ever. All of them thanked him profusely.
Nory chattered to her mother as they walked across the parking lot next to David. “They knew about this place a hundred years ago. It was a big source of income for people who stole and sold artifacts. That’s what first attracted my former father.”
“How far from here is Norton’s cave?” Ricky asked.
“About a mile, over that way.” Nory’s baby hand circled around as she looked towards the woods on the east side of the parking lot.
“We’ll have to wait until later to locate it. Can’t do anything with our host and hostess along,” Ricky replied.
“I have a feeling it will be sooner than you think. I feel the same way I felt before we went to the Red Pagoda,” Nory replied. “He’s watching us. Can’t you feel it?”
Ricky nodded. “I wasn’t going to say anything until I was sure. But if you feel it too…”
David’s voice joined the conversation. “I’m having this itching feeling, like a thousand ants are crawling in my energy field. Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Yup, Daddy, that would be it. He’s near,” Nory replied.
They had arrived at the museum. A small woman in a black pantsuit with a red name tag opened the main door for them and gave them each a visitor’s badge. Kang introduced her as Dee Ka Woo, his second cousin on his mother’s side. He conferred with her for several minutes. She drew lines on the map he had shown them that morning. Kang looked a little disappointed but bowed to her with a smile then turned to the group.
“Not everything is opened, even for special visitors. They are still putting in the display cases where the pottery, tools and other daily used items will be displayed near some of the burial pits. Too much going on in some areas to have people parading through the construction,” Kang said with a shrug.
“What we can see are some of the burial pits where they are still working with the statues. You will see the figures in their raw form, before restoration. We are allowed to walk to the pits where the slaves’ skeletons were found, which are called ‘the criminals’ grave yard’”. We can also view the mausoleums of the emperor and empress,” Kang told them as he looked at the new markings on his map.
“Oh, yes, there is the Loujing Stone which is in the middle of the oldest temple site in all of China. The Loujing is said to be the measuring stone used in construction by the Western Han Dynasty. Does that sound like enough for us to see?” Kang asked.
For the next two hours the group followed Kang and Wu Liu, viewing the small statues of people and animals still in the pits, and observing workers freeing them in preparation for restoration. All of the observation areas were underground with dim lighting. Those doing the work wore helmets with head lamps to prevent accidents or damage to the ancient artifacts. The lighting allowed the group to observe any signs of spirit encasement, but only a few ghosts were noted, most of which were partly buried in the dirt.
“This is where my former father did most of his work. I think he waited until they were freed from the earth for restoration before he extracted ghosts,” Nory told her mother.
“That makes sense. He has been at this since before he died in 1942. But there are so many ghosts left to release. Why did he go on to the Qin Dynasty site?” Ricky wondered.
“Maybe he wanted a mix of both dynasties. He might be concerned about Ta Yi’s domination. Maybe it was best to cause a little friction among the upper class so everyone won’t be united against him when he finally shows up in the Bi Mo Chu.” Moon commented.
After viewing the tombs of Jingdi and Wang Zhi, and shuddering at the appearance of their mummies, the group came up from the underground observatory into the yard behind the building. There was a path going up a slight hill directly in front of them. Kang had been lecturing throughout their long walk; only Ricky had noticed that Wu Liu was limping and had a pained expression on her face.
Ricky leaned toward Ho. “Would you ask Kang if Wu Lu is alright? She seems to be having a problem.”
Ho waited until Kang took a breath between sentences then tapped him on the shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, but Wu Liu seems to be in pain. Perhaps we should turn back now?”
Kang looked down at his wife who was trembling with exhaustion and spoke to her in Mandarin. She answered with a long narrative and a painful sigh, and Kang looked to the group in consternation.
“My wife has had a problem with her left hip in the past. The joint becomes dislocated. We have the bad luck that it happened today. I do not want you to miss seeing the Ancestral Temple Site, but she can go no further. I will call Dee Ka Wu on my phone and have her bring a wheelchair. The Loujing site is up ahead. Why don’t you continue on your own? By the time you have viewed it, we should be ready to go to the car.”
The group looked at each other, and George protested. “We won’t leave you alone if she’s ill. We really don’t need to go on with the tour.”
“I insist,” Kang said, a bit of angry bluster in his tone. “It will take at least twenty minutes for someone to bring a wheelchair. That is plenty of time for you to view the site. When you return, you can drop us off at the acupuncture center on the way back to the guesthouse. She will be her usual self by tomorrow. You will only have this chance once to see the Loujing stone without being distracted by tourists.”
Ho nodded. “We didn’t mean to upset you. Of course, we will meet you back at the main doors after we view the last site.”
Kang handed him the map as Wu Liu leaned against her husband’s side with an unconvincing smile.
* * *
Chapter 22
Ho looked at the map and gestured to the rest to follow. They could hear Kang scolding his wife as they walked away. The Ancestral Temple Site, which held the Loujing Stone at the center, was a short walk up a hill.
“I could have helped her,” Chi said, looking over his shoulder. “I am an acupuncturist. I could offer acupressure for the pain.”
Ho shook his head. “You don’t want to get in the middle of their war. Send healing energy if you wish. Kang was always hard-headed and is worse than
I remembered.”
“I have a feeling my former father is close by. Maybe we are supposed to walk to his cave,” Nory contributed.
“No, he’s come to us. Look what’s happening at the temple site,” Moon said.
Everyone stopped and looked up the hill. At first, the site had looked like a square expanse of polished stone about the length of two cruise ships, with a smaller square construct in the middle. Now, a building was sprouting from the ground like a giant, complex mushroom. A trench deepened around the slab, and three arched doors took form on the side of the structure they could see. The outer walls shimmered with brilliant red tile, and a shadowy interior could be seen through the doors. Next, slanted granite roof panels manifested with poles of varnished wood springing up at their tops, and an additional recessed structure with a second slanted roof grew above the first level.
“Have we gone back in time?” George asked.
Moon and the Chinese guides were visible, standing beside the group as they watched the Ancestral Temple being reborn. It was obvious to Ricky that they all were now in another frequency and invisible to anyone in the physical dimension.
“No, we are in Norton Reston’s dimension. For him, the temple has been available since his death,” Moon answered.
Chi shuddered. “I remember it from when I was a boy working for Norton Reston. I could see the temple out of the corner of my eye, but he denied it was there.”
“Ricky, where are the tools?” Moon asked.
“In the back of the stroller,” Ricky answered as she pulled out the packets from the diaper bag and handed them to the people who had practiced with them. She then took out the gold and jade protection pendants created by Shri and handed them around.
Susan took out the ancient scarab medallion she had kept in her backpack and put it around her neck. She stuffed the parts of the Bing Ta Cri in her sweater pockets; the spell for release of the ghosts would only work if the magically charged artifacts were near.
