by Amanda Lees
‘One stroke of this,’ the Ayah crooned. ‘And you’re dead, Kumari. As dead as that mother of yours. My saintly, beloved sister.’
Her sister? Surely not. Mamma had been the Ayah’s cousin. Despite her breaking heart and bewildered mind, Kumari struggled to work it out.
‘Yes, that’s right.’ It was as if she’d read her thoughts. ‘You’re my niece, Kumari.’
‘Then how could you do this?’ said Kumari.
‘Believe me, it makes it much easier.’
She swung back the sword and the entire stadium gasped. At that precise moment, Kumari dived. Rolling backwards, she flung herself to her feet, arms outstretched as she had been taught. Karali was a magnificent art but it was no match for a sword. Laughing, the Ayah lunged again and again, slashing with the deadly blade, trying to find Kumari’s weak spot. Jumping, ducking, dodging, Kumari fought to evade her. She could see the kidnappers encircling, blocking off any exit.
Still the Ayah came at her, unstoppable, frenzied. For once in her life, Kumari was thankful a ritual had not worked. Not a single one of her Powers had been renounced. She was still a goddess. And it looked like the only way out of this was to summon up divine help. Faced with the sacred sword, Kumari knew that not even her Powers would be enough. Frantically, she rubbed at her amulet, trying to remember the ancient words.
‘OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA
MAMA SARVA RANDZA . . . ’
Duck, dodge. Slash, slash, slash. The Ayah was gaining ground. Any moment now she would thrust through her skin. And that would be the end of her.
I don’t want to die, thought Kumari. I’m not going to let her kill me.
‘DUSHEN DRODA SHINDHAM KURU SOHA . . . ’
Chanting, howling to the gods. Come on, come on, help me!
And then she heard it, the roar again. The sound of a thousand lions. Except that there was only one and it was stalking across the stage. A gorgeous monster of a beast, its massive white head framed by a flowing silver mane. Its tail swished as it padded towards the Ayah, a flick, flick of fury. A collective gasp of disbelief, the crowd paralysed by the spectacle. On the lion’s back, a woman clad in burnished gold and scarlet robes, her black hair rippling down her back. The woman’s lovely face bore an expression that would turn fire to ice. Her eyes locked on to the Ayah’s, inexorable in their hatred.
‘Mamma!’ cried Kumari.
The lion opened its jaws and roared again. Its massive teeth glinted. In one bound it was by the Ayah’s side and then it snatched her up. Dangling, shrieking, from its mouth, the Ayah gibbered in terror. The sword fell from her outstretched hand and clattered to the floor.
Frozen to the spot, Kumari stared. She had done it. She had summoned Mamma.
‘Mamma!’ she called again and staggered towards her, reaching out for her hand.
Oh, to hold her, to touch her.
Her Mamma turned and looked into her eyes, her fierce expression suddenly gentle.
‘I have to go now, little one. Be brave, Kumari.’
‘No!’ Kumari sobbed, almost at her side. ‘Don’t go. Don’t leave me.’
There were so many questions still to ask, but this was not the time.
For one split second, her fingers met her Mamma’s. The briefest touch and she was gone. Rising up, up above the crowd, a goddess riding on her lion. Still screeching, the Ayah in its jaws, legs kicking, arms flailing. The tears streamed down Kumari’s face, blurring her last sight of her Mamma. All at once, the lion disappeared from view. They were gone, flying towards the heavens.
Brushing her tears away with her sleeve, Kumari turned to see her kidnappers running, throwing their weapons to the ground, begging the gods for forgiveness. An arm slipped around her shoulders. The RHM hugged her. Stern, crusty old RHM was actually holding her in his arms.
‘Come, Kumari,’ he said. ‘Dry your tears. It’s all over.’
Carefully, he bent and picked up the sacred sword.
‘We will take this home with us.’
A soft cooing as a feathery missile hit her chest. It was Badmash, snuggling up, kissing her. And then they were all there, her friends, surrounding her with their love. The lights went up, the crowd began to cheer, feet stomping, hands clapping. Convinced it was all part of the show, they shouted their appreciation. Jack Raider ran out on stage.
‘Give it up for Kumari!’
She could see Simon Razzle being lead away, Deranged dusting down their stage outfits. It was business as usual for HUNK. Suddenly, she felt very tired.
‘I want to go home,’ she said.
‘We’re going to take you there,’ said Ms Martin.
They left Raider standing on the stage, soaking up the glory.
CHAPTER 27
The plane sat on the tarmac, engines fired up and running. The steps stretched up ahead of her. At the top of them stood the RHM, beckoning her inside. Ms Martin and Theo were already aboard. She placed one foot on the bottom step and then stopped, unable to take another. Turning, she looked at each face in turn: Ma, CeeCee, LeeLee. Hannah. Charley. Chico.
‘I don’t want to leave you,’ she cried.
‘You have to go, Kumari,’ said Ma.
Kumari gazed at that kindly face all crumpled up and felt her own heart splinter.
‘We’ll think of you all the time,’ said Ma as she gave her one last squeeze. Each in turn held her tight.
‘Friends forever?’
‘You bet.’
At last it was Chico’s turn. The lump in her throat threatened to choke her.
‘I got you this,’ he said. ‘It’s why I was late.’
In his outstretched hand, a box. Inside that, a necklace. Dangling from it an intertwined K&C.
‘So you don’t forget,’ he said.
Forget? How could she forget? Come to that, how could she leave him?
She looked back and saw the RHM. She knew now what she had to do. The old Kumari would have tried to stay. The new one knew it was impossible. She had grown so much, learned to think not just of herself. Knew who and what she was. Understood what that entailed. She did not belong here, in the World Beyond. She had a job to do back home. One day, she would take her place as queen. In the meantime, she had to learn all she could. There was still room, however, for one last impulsive act.
‘Come with me,’ she said, taking Chico’s hand. ‘As far as the Kingdom.’
That irresistible smile spread across his face. ‘Just try and stop me,’ he said. Whipping out his cell phone, he punched in a number.
‘Just got to clear it with grandpa, you know.’
‘Of course. I know.’
She walked ahead up the airline steps, leaving him to his conversation, praying he would follow, wondering if he would. And then she heard his footsteps behind her. Her heart flooded with relief.
‘It’s OK,’ said Chico. ‘He says he trusts I’m doing the right thing.’
‘He’s a wise man,’ smiled Kumari.
At the door, Kumari turned once more. They looked so small, standing there on the concrete. She raised a hand and waved. Ma blew her a final kiss. The RHM placed his arm across her shoulders.
‘I’m proud of you,’ he said. ‘One day you will make a worthy queen.’
‘You mean it?’
Incredible!
And then the RHM was ushering them in and she was strapping on her seat belt. She gulped and Chico squeezed her hand. The engines roared beneath them. Then the plane was turning, gaining speed, racing for the skies. She could feel a gentle touch brush away her tears. A touch as light as a feather. She looked down at Badmash, nestled in her lap, his wing tip wiping her face.
‘We’re on our way’ she whispered.
As she stared out at the night sky, she could have sworn she saw a lion flying.
In its mouth, the Ayah, mouth agape, screeching.
On its back, her Mamma, forever beautiful.
But only vengeance would set her free.
CHAPTER 28
The snows were so deep that even the Sherpas struggled. ‘How much further?’ gasped Ms Martin.
‘You see that ledge?’ said the RHM. ‘That’s where we leave the Sherpas. From there, we go on alone.’
Thanks to the RHM, they had been able to plot an accurate course.
Above them, the peaks reached up into the clouds. The air was so clean it was dizzying. As Kumari drew it into her lungs she could scent home. The Kingdom must be very close now. Although she did not want to say, she was beginning to weaken. Her legs were like two sacks of wet sand. Dragging them along, her footsteps faltered. Instantly, there was a hand at her elbow.
‘Keep going,’ said Chico. ‘Come on, Kumari, you can do it.’
‘You betcha,’ said Kumari. Could she really? She was not so sure. They had trekked now for hours and the clock was still ticking. It would only stop once she crossed the border and entered the Kingdom. All at once her tired eyes focused on a peak that she recognised.
‘The Holy Mountain,’ she whispered. Was Mamma back there in its foothills? Stuck in limbo with her fearsome lion? At least now the mystery of her death was resolved. Or so it seemed.
At last they reached the ledge and the Sherpas unloaded. Chico slipped the bag containing her journal over his shoulder. She had nothing else to bring, apart from her presents from all her friends. And what a present from Ma -her precious, feathered hoodoo duster. It poked out the top of the bag confusing Badmash somewhat. Occasionally he threw it a jealous glance or tried to peck it, convinced he had a rival.
‘It’s not a bird, Badmash,’ said Kumari. ‘You’re the only bird for me.’
Still, he sulked all the way up the mountain, only perking up when they neared the peak. At the plateau before the peak, something wondrous appeared. Ahead, the fringes of a lush forest rose like an oasis above the snow. The borderlands, at last. Above the forest, a golden light as if the sun were bathing just this spot. Suddenly, a creature darted from between the dense green leaves.
‘A snow leopard!’ cried Kumari.
The leopard paused and stood stock still. It was as if it stood there in greeting. Just as suddenly as it appeared it was gone, vanishing into the snows. She knew, though, that this was a signal. That she was nearly home. Just a few hundred yards and they would be at the edge of the forest. Beyond the trees, the seemingly impenetrable petrified waterfall that protected the boundaries of the kingdom.
Branches brushed against her face as they made their way through thick pine and rhododendron, her hair snagging on a twig that sneakily stuck out. It brought it all back, that night running through the forest, her Mamma’s hand freeing her from the branches. This time, though, it was Chico who helped her on her way.
‘Not long, Kumari, not long,’ called the RHM.
Ms Martin looked concerned. ‘Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.’
Come on. I can do it. We’re so nearly there.
And then they were there, standing by the vast wall of quartz crystal.
Concealed within the plunging folds of the solidified waterfall, the eastern entrance to the kingdom. The quartz wall rose hundreds of feet, smooth as glass, insurmountable. It practically encircled the kingdom, stopping short of the western frontier. The RHM stood to one side and gave a discreet little cough. Kumari knew in her heart it was time to say goodbye. Still, she stared at them all, taking in their features. Ms Martin, sweet Theo. Chico. Her friends.
‘Thank you for everything,’ she said as Ms Martin held her close.
‘You’re welcome. And Kumari, thank you.’
A hug from Theo and then she was gazing at Chico’s feet. She could not bear to raise her head and look him in the eyes. Was it really so great being a goddess? With all the stuff that went with it? She was going back to that big, old empty palace. No friends to hang out with. No school to attend. No HUNK. No Ma. No Chico. For a long, long moment the world stood still as the thoughts whirled round her head. Then they settled and she knew what to do.
‘Goodbye,’ she said, holding out her hands.
He took them and pulled her to him. The kiss he dropped on her lips tasted sweeter than any candy.
‘I got you this. If you need me, just call,’ said Chico. He was pressing a cell phone into her hands. Sadly, she shook her head.
‘That won’t work here.’
‘Then call out for me. In your heart. Wherever you are, I will find you.’
She had to go now or she knew she never would. Turning, she walked to the waiting RHM. Badmash flew ahead, leading the way as they slipped between the rocks and disappeared. She could hear Ms Martin sob and then all was silence, as if a veil had been dropped between them.
Behind her, the friends she would never see again.
Ahead lay her home, Happiness and Papa.
KUMARI’S JOURNAL
(TOP SECRET. FOR MY EYES ONLY.
EVERYONE ELSE KEEP OUT!
THIS MEANS YOU!)
Home
Moon: Twelfth
Time to avenge Mamma.
THE EIGHT GREAT
POWERS OF A GODDESS
1. The Power to be Invincible in Battle with the Sacred Sword
2. The Power of Extraordinary Sight
3. The Power to Run with Incredible Swiftness
4. The Power to Become Invisible
5. The Power of Rejuvenation
6. The Power to Levitate or to Fly Through the Sky
7. The Power to Move Freely Through the Earth, Mountains, and Solid Walls
8. The Power to have Command over the Elements
THE FIVE GREAT
GIFTS OF A GODDESS
1.
The Gift of Eternal Life – and the power to grant the same
2.
The Gift of Beauty – inner and outer
3.
The Gift of Tongues – the ability to speak or understand any language
4.
The Gift of Courage – often exhibited in extremis
5.
The Gift of Wisdom – usually displayed by the more mature goddess
GLOSSARY
The spelling of these words can vary.
Ayah
South Asian word for nanny or nursemaid – comes from the Portuguese aia, meaning ‘woman tutor’, which in turn is derived from the Latin avia meaning ‘grandmother’ (just in case you want to impress someone!).
Ay caramba
Flexible Spanish expression roughly meaning ‘wow’ – often used by Bart Simpson.
Badmash
Hinglish (a mixture of Hindi and English) for ‘naughty.’
Bakwas
Rubbish/not very good.
Butter lamp
A metal container in which clarified yak butter or vegetable oil fuels a flame – often found in Himalayan temples.
Fatte
Awesome.
Gyps Vulture
Genus of Old World vulture now under threat of extinction in Asia.
Hoodoo
African-American folk magic.
Kumari
From the Sanskrit, meaning ‘princess’ or ‘maiden.’ Although there are living goddesses in Nepal known as Kumaris, there is no connection with our heroine.
Momo
Little dumpling filled with savoury mixture (yum!).
