The Quantum Cypher

by Aaron Maximus

  “Beautiful, isn't it?” She whispered.

  “Yes, it must have taken them years to carve this statue out of a single stone, not to mention the intricate colouring and the fact that it has not faded being exposed to the elements is amazing.

  “Maybe it was painted recently,” she uttered.

  “I heard of Eric's magical healing session. He has been begging me to fill up the water bottles with the water from the tap there,” she pointed, where he was with Ava filling up his water bottle.

  CHAPTER 5

  “Still thinking about what happened?” asked Cara, looking at Andy, who was gazing out of the train window deep in thought.

  “Yep. What’s surprising is the fact that, he said ‘Sales Director’. How did he know that? I never told him anything about my profession and he also said you are far from home.

  “Okay, now that could be just a generic statement considering we are all tourists. You really don’t have to put yourself through this. He must have confused you with someone else.

  “I doubt it,” said Andy.

  “He was quite certain and there was a mischievous look in his face as he knew that I would take him seriously and ponder over it. Then you should have seen the way he cured Eric’s leg the bruises just disappeared in 5 minutes and believe me, they were no minor scratches. He just wiped it with water. He said the water had healing powers. But it's one thing to hear another to see it for yourself.”

  “So, what do you plan to do about it?” Cara sighed impatiently.

  “Its 2 months away, and if it does turn out the way he predicted. Congrats! Let's party!”

  “I guess you are right. No point in dwelling on it, but the experience is very intriguing and has made me curious.”

  “Come now, we have a holiday to enjoy,” said Cara, “And we need to get off at the next stop to see the Po Lin Monastery. The place is supposed to be beautiful and has a vegetarian restaurant where we can grab lunch.”

  “Oh no, another Temple,” cribbed the kids. “Can’t wait for tomorrow. I am looking forward to Disney Land and guess what? I get to buy a toy of my choice.”

  “Yeah, right! Andy smiled, “Here we go again. At this rate, we will need an extra suitcase to take all the stuff you guys purchased.”

  Po Lin Monastery is a Buddhist monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

  The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland and was initially known simply as,’The Big Hut’. It was renamed to its present name in 1924. The main temple houses three bronze statues of the Buddha – representing his past, present and future lives – as well as many Buddhist scriptures.

  The restaurant inside the monastery served fresh vegetarian food that lived up to the family’s expectations and they topped it with green tea. Back at the hotel room Andy ordered a bottle of Sake and looked out at the beautiful view of Victoria Harbour when suddenly he had a vision of sitting in a pool of blood holding a sword.

  Why am I getting such a gruesome image? he wondered, looking at the night sky from his window.

  “Start packing everything you need for the Disney Land trip,” cooed Cara. “It's a long way from here and we must take the shuttle in the morning to the train station at 5:30 A.M., so hit the bed everyone, that goes for you too, ‘Mr. Sake’.

  CHAPTER 6

  Sitting by a pool of blood the figure stares down at the sword lost in thought. His armour was made of metal and his hands were covered in blood, but he showed no signs of being aware of where he was as the sun was about to set and then he heard the clank of metal. Turning around, he saw an axe being wielded at him.

  Waking up with a sudden jolt and breaking into a sweat, Andy searched frantically for the light switch. Unable to find it, he grabbed his mobile phone. It was 2:35 A.M.

  “What is going on?” hissed Cara. Being a light sleeper, she was always aware of any noise or disturbance during the night. Her brothers always depended on her to open the door when they would come home late after a night out with their friends.

  “Just a nightmare,” dismissed Andy. "What was it about?" Asked Cara.

  “Can't remember. But I felt like there was some impending danger.”

  “You are sweating profusely. Maybe you should have another shot of Sake and sleep,” said Cara.

  Walking over to the window and looking at the beautiful view, Andy could see the activity in the Cruise ships with disco lights on the terrace. Lights from the minivans dropping off staff after their duty and taxis transporting tourist. Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps like many metros around the world. The influx of tourist and the sea port lead to a steady stream of activity. Opening a mini bottle of whisky and a packet of crisps Andy settled down on the couch, a couple of sips and he was fast asleep.

  At 5:30 A.M., the alarm sounded and Andy slowly stirred on the couch to reach the alarm clock. I feel like being runover by a truck, let me have some strong coffee, he thought switching off the alarm on the phone, he softly shook Cara, “Don't go back to sleep. We have to go to Disneyland today and the kids are looking forward to it."

  “I have just called the concierge and booked the taxi. It will be here in 45 minutes,” informed Andy.

  Heading over to the kid’s room, he switched on the lights and pulled the curtains open. The sun was yet to rise, but the activity on the streets was increasing as he could see people walking and jogging towards the seaside pathways.

  Slipping into bed with Eric and Ava, he slowly whispered into their ears, "Wakey Wakey! It’s Disneyland today!"

  They jumped off the bed with excitement.

  Ten minutes later, both kids had finished brushing their teeth and were off for a shower. Andy was wondering how he was going to get through the day sinking back into the couch for a few winks when a pillow came flying at him. Pulling him from the couch Cara ushered him into the toilet.

  "You can sleep all you like when you get back," she grinned.

  As Andy stared at the toilet mirror, he found a stain on his T-shirt. Removing his t-shirt, he examined it. Not whisky, it’s too dark. Looking closely he realised, it was blood.

  CHAPTER 7

  Memories flooded back to his teenage years. Playing football in the neighbourhood playground, he would come home to suddenly find blood dripping from the nose. He would tell his mum what happened and if there was anything to be worried about. Nothing serious, she would tell him,"It's just the heat and your body is growing."

  Watching his nose, Andy thought. It's been 15 years since the bleeding had stopped. The AC temperature was set to 21 degrees so it's not the heat. Must have been the dream. I guess it was quite realistic. Unfortunately, I don't remember anything except the emotion of being in great danger, he thought.

  The taxi was waiting by the reception door. It was a 45 minutes’ drive through picturesque locales. The Taxi stopped in front of the Disney station and the kids got off and rushed over to the ticket counter. They were looking forward to the day and finally it was here.

  Hong Kong Disneyland is a theme park located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. They first visited the Mystic Manor, an old house with a built-in carriageway taking one through the house. Eric then ran over to the Jungle River Cruise, a ride through the river surrounded by wild animals that had Ava at her wit's end, when a hippopotamus rose out of the river to open its mouth wide open. The attractions looked so real that it can easily be mistaken for the original. Toy Soldier Parachute Drop followed next, where you are asked to sit in a large parachute shaped seat that is lifted high into the air. The ride was not scary but Eric loved the toy story theme and took the ride three times in a row. Bugged Ava pulled them over to the Festival of the Lion King, a musical extravaganza of music and dance showcasing the Lion King story. It was almost sundown and there were so many rides still left to be experienced. Andy had left the best for last. The Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, a ride not for the faint hearted. The min
e cars sped through the mountain. The highlight of the ride caught Cara and Ava by surprise when the cars suddenly travelled in the reverse direction. The kids screamed in excitement and never wanted the day to end.

  They visited the shops to pick up gifts and memorabilia for friends back home. At the end of a memorable and fun filled day was the most spectacular Disney firework show that dazzled the night sky. They managed to find a place in time for a magical show. Returning to the Disney station, which featured Mickey themed train with windows in the shape of Mickey’s face.

  CHAPTER 8

  Catching the last train out of Disneyland, Andy’s family found themselves waiting for the taxi. It was late and there were many people waiting for their turn. Finally, a taxi pulled over, but Andy decided not to take it. Cara looked at Andy in absolute amazement, “the kids are tired and it’s late at night. What was that all about?” she demanded.

  "I just didn’t feel good," said Andy.

  But luckily for him, another taxi pulled over. Andy quickly perched himself in the front seat and the kids along with Cara got onto the back. The taxis in Hong Kong were red in colour and had an antique look. However, the interiors and engine performance matched that of a modern saloon. As they were heading out, Cara pointed out to a taxi that they had ditched earlier. The driver stopped to enquire if they had a spare jack as the car had a flat tire. Glancing back, Andy saw Cara looking at him in amusement.

  “So, you’re a psychic now.” She quipped.

  Andy smiled and said, “Was just a lucky guess."

  Getting back to the hotel room, Andy settled the kids into bed and walked over to the mini bar to grab the whisky.

  “Do you need anything?” he asked, Cara. Maybe some red wine. Heading back to the mini bar, Andy picked up a fine bottle of red wine from Italy.

  “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” asked, Cara. "You look tired," she said. "Let’s take it easy tomorrow and shop around. Hong Kong is known for the busy shopping areas and one can find anything under the sun."

  Andy woke up to find Eric staring at him, “That’s a surprise. You are up early."

  “I could not sleep as the room was very cold,” said Eric.

  “Give me 10 minutes. I will have a quick wash and then we can head over to the restaurant for breakfast.”

  “No way Dad, they serve the same food every day. So let’s go somewhere else."

  "That reminds me, where are mum and Eva?”

  “They have gone to the swimming pool and will take some time to come."

  "In that case, let’s both step out for breakfast. I know you don’t like the food, but I promise to take you to a great place for lunch.”

  Just as there were picking up the breakfast, Eric looked at Andy in panic.

  “Your nose is bleeding. I’ll call mum."

  "Just relax, it is a condition I have had since childhood." Andy went on to explain how he had this condition and what his mum used to say to him.

  “So, I guess you are still growing up,” giggled Eric.

  Returning to the room, they found the ladies back from their swim. Eric quickly updated them on what had transpired during breakfast.

  “You did not have this problem for over 15 years. Wonder what caused it?” enquired Cara. “It’s the second time this has happened after I’ve come to Hong Kong. But I don’t think there’s anything to worry. Let’s go out and have some fun shopping," urged Andy.

  It was a beautiful day and the family enjoyed their walk to the metro station. As they were boarding the train, Andy felt a tug on his pants. Running his hand down into the pant pockets he realised that the wallet was missing.

  CHAPTER 9

  Horrified at the thought of being stuck without any money, credit cards and the long-drawn process of applying for duplicate documents made Andy break into a sweat. It was just the start of their vacation and being out of the country only made things worse. Looking at his face, Cara realised that something was wrong, “Are you ok?”

  “Someone stole my wallet as I was getting into the train,” panicked Andy.

  “Oh no. What will we do for lunch,” said Eric with a horrified look!

  Andy could not stop himself from laughing.

  "I have lost my wallet and all you can think of is lunch?”

  “I am sure he will faint if you tell him there is no lunch,” added Eva.

  “Don't worry guys. I have my credit card in my purse with some cash” said, Cara.

  "We can manage, thank God," grinned Eric.

  “Let's get off at the next station and place a complaint with the police."

  10 minutes later, Andy was explaining what had happened to a police officer who listened intently and took notes. He asked them where they were staying and when they plan to leave. He led them into his office and lodged a complaint on a computer. “Do you have a local cell phone number where I can reach you?” “No, don’t have one. But if you call the hotel and leave a message, I will call back,” said Andy.

  “As a precaution, please inform the banks that you have lost your cards as things could get out of hand very fast. Especially, if the perpetrator starts to use your credit cards online."

  “So, what you want to do now,” asked Cara.

  “Do you want to go back to the hotel and relax or do we stick with the plan?"

  “Let's stick with the plan,” said Andy. “The cards all have a pin number. So nothing to worry about and there's really nothing much that we can do now except wait. So let's not waste the day. I will call the hotel and inform them as the hotel key was in my wallet. I will also request for a duplicate key. Anything of value in your bags and suitcase?”

  “Yes. I have left some jewellery in the room” replied Cara. Getting off the phone, Andy guided the family into the train to Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, is a large bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. The statue is sited near Po Lin Monastery and symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and faith. It is a major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong and is also a popular tourist attraction. Getting off the train the Andys took the Ngong Ping Cable Car, a 5.7-kilometre (3.5 mi) long bi-cable gondola lift system (referred to by its operators as a "cable car") linking between Tung Chung (where it connects the MTR Tung Chung station) and Ngong Ping (where the Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha are located). The cable car journey offers a 25-minute aerial alternative to the current one-hour journey by Tung Chung Road, allowing visitors to glide across Tung Chung Bay and up to Lantau Island towards Ngong Ping Plateau. Getting off the cable car, the family visited the Ngong Ping Village. Built next to the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal, occupies a 15,000 square metre site and has been designed to mirror and uphold the cultural and spiritual veracity of the Ngong Ping area. Traditional Chinese architectural designs are a feature of the Ngong Ping Village, which contains an assortment of shopping and dining experiences. They also visited a number of key attractions including Walking with Buddha, the Monkey's Tale Theatre and the Ngong Ping Tea House.

  CHAPTER 10

  “It's 10 P.M.,” said Andy, getting off the metro station. “We were lucky to get the last train back to Hong Kong.”

  Walking into the Hotel, they headed over to the reception area and told the clerk about the lost key card. A couple of minutes later, the front office manager said the request has been handled and the key was changed. A key card lock, he explained, is a lock operated by a key card, a flat, rectangular plastic card with identical dimensions to that of a credit card or driver's license, which stores a physical or digital signature which the door mechanism accepts before disengaging the lock.

  He handed over the key card and bid farewell. On entering the room Cara shouted out loud, “STOP! Someone has been in the room.”

  Stepping into the room, she found nothing unusual. Andy looked at Cara and she pointed to the writing table. Andy’s wallet was on the table with a note. Picking it up cautiously,
he read, “Sorry for the trouble. Don't tell the police.”

  Quickly checking the contents of the wallet, he found everything intact except the room key. Looking around, they found it near the doorway.

  “He must have slipped it under the door after he went out, or dropped it on the way out.”

  "Check the luggage guys,” Instructed Andy.

  For the next hour, the family checked their luggage and went through all their belongings.

  “Nothing’s missing,” said Cara. “Nothing’s gone, and the wallet is back. What was he looking for, jewellery?” said Eric.

  “Mum, where is the jewellery? Did you put it in the safe?”

  “No, I did not. It’s in the suitcase.”

  She quickly rummages through the suitcase, pulls out a black leather case. Opening it, she let a sigh of relief.

  “It’s all here.”

  “Now this is really strange,” said Andy.

  “Don't tell me the thief came all the way into the room, taking a huge risk just to leave my wallet back."