by Abhishek Roy
The bitter cold wind buffeted against my cheeks which were the only exposed portion of my body. In the last few metres of the fall, I straightened my body a bit more and finally, I hit the surface of the water. I shot into the water without much splash and went deep inside.
The unnatural warmth of the water coursed through my skin and soothed my strained nerves. However, it seemed to be warmer than before. A lot warmer. Moreover, it seemed shallower, as if some of the water had drained away.
In addition to that, there was a strange glow illuminating the water in a deep red colour. I looked down to see the lake bed gleaming like an underwater fire. There were patches of glowing red and yellow which were spreading rapidly. They looked like lava puddles but directly beneath me, I saw the dark fissure that was draining the lake.
I spent some time admiring the visibility due to the underwater glow. Suddenly, my eyes fell on a stone slab. A perfectly cut square slab with a strange sign inscribed on its surface. I dived a bit deeper to see the inscription clearly but couldn’t see it through the haze of the water.
Ram was floating in the water a metre or two above me. Our eyes met and we shared an understanding that we were still not away from danger.
I looked back and saw the formidable hole bored into the hill’s face, the dark hole which had led us to the hall of revelations, through which I half expected to see the hulking men pouring into the lake, trying to catch us but they didn’t come. Both of us had seen the puddles of lava at the bottom of the draining lake and wasted no time and swam to the surface.
I looked up at the Shrine on the ridge and realised that the stone mound was but a mere concealment, hiding the Norwegian Shrine from the keen and prying eyes. The presence of an ancient old Norwegian Shrine in Asia would certainly stir up controversy.
There up on the deck, the pale men Baldr called Jargantaans, were looking at us and casually disappeared inside the structure and showed no signs of pursuing us. The water was getting warmer every second and maybe they didn’t want to burn themselves like in Meerut. Seizing the opportunity, we decided to flee from the biosphere.
“Come quick inside!” Vivek ushered us inside the tent where we shed off our wet clothes and put on our dry attire.
***
Meanwhile, a cargo truck stopped at the outpost of the biosphere. The guard asked the lone driver for his ID. When the guard read it, he got the biggest shock of his life.
Name: Rajendra Sharma
DOB: 15/4/1994
Father’s Name: Suresh Sharma
Address: 592/H, Bharat Bhavan, 45 North Road, Badrinath.
Reg. no: 3324H456387J898EJJK8EURUE9
“Hey! Come here!’ he called another guard. “Doesn’t this look similar to the ID of the guy who brought food supplies for the ISRO base?“
“Which one?” his friend asked him.
“The one who came here at around... “ he quickly flipped through the pages of the register, “11.30 pm.“
“Oh! Now I remember. See? I had told you that he was sweating. We need to sound the alarm!” he said and rushed towards the alarm but his colleague stopped him.
“Even this guy could be an imposter. Search the online directory. Only then will we be sure.”
The truck driver was ordered to wait for some time while the two guards hurried off to their small computers. It took them a few minutes of checking their directory and matching the picture with the face of the truck driver to find out that the previous driver was an imposter. An instant later, one of the guards spoke into his walkie-talkie, ordering for a convoy of troops.
Kapittel 23
Elsewhere
BALDR’s SECRET BASE
March 10, 2017, Friday, 1115 hours GMT
“I want that boy!” shouted Baldr after switching the projector off. His words echoed off the walls of his room panelled by reinforced metal. “I explained to him everything and yet that bloody insolent weakling turns his face away from me!“
Baldr had been on Earth for several occasions now, mustering all his military power and on various other matters. This time however was his biggest operation and most ambitious mission. Recently, he had hacked into the system of Huginn and Muninn and used them to gain secret intelligence. While he had already damaged both Huginn and Muninn, as the hacks and modifications had made the flight system pretty faulty for which the supposedly agile aircraft had to pay the prices.
While visiting Earth on various occasions, Baldr had to create makeshift headquarters in different places on each mission. He had always had a longing for a permanent safe haven. Finally, he decided to rebuild an ancient one and supervised the project singlehandedly. It had been a mammoth project but it progressed smoothly. The end product was staggering and yet, it was concealed from the human eye.
After the completion of the project, when the operations were on full swing, Baldr sent Huginn to Earth and had acquired intelligence on the boy. He looked ordinary but what was not normal was his blood. Huginn was fitted with a new kind of technology which could distinguish between the inhabitants of each dimension without even touching them and the easiest way of distinguishing is by scanning the DNA. This device was discovered centuries ago, a device that didn’t need an organic sample to scan the genetic code. It was way ahead of its time and was used even now.
After Baldr got to know the boy, he used all his hacking techniques and his sources to gather more information about him and what he acquired about his life and parents was sensational. For his recently developed hoodwinker like disposition, the information was a delight. He could not only use the boy as an invaluable hostage but also could use him in his fight for supremacy as a political tool. Immediately, he planned to bring the boy to himself. The boy was to be tested. Baldr sent some of his minions behind him in Meerut.
Meanwhile, there was the crisis of Makto going on in Asr- Gawa. Therefore, he had to travel from one dimension to the other extensively and could not stay in peace in one place at all. Along with the crisis, the pandemic made their scientific research extremely slow. Scientists couldn’t think like they could before the fateful event.
After the Meerut incident, everything had gone according to plan. However, Nanda Devi Biosphere.. .where the final decision was to be made between capturing and recruiting the boy, everything had veered away. The boy along with his friend had escaped and Baldr was no fool to underestimate the incredible mind given to the boy by the experiment he had gone through. He, if he desired to, had the potential to find the key to activating the ancient tele porter. If he did.if he was to reach Asr-Gawa on his own, not as Baldr’s minion, then all hell would break loose.
Meanwhile back in the Nanda Devi area, the quake induced by the boy had all but decimated infrastructure inside the shrine. Things were strewn all over, and it was inexplicably getting warmer all round. Baldr had escaped getting hurt since he was present only as a hologram and was safely thousands of miles away in his secret base, most of his Jargantaan troops had been killed.
“Oh no!” Baldr muttered under his breath. “Another problem to be repaired. Our hiding place can be revealed to the world!” He went and plonked his body on the lavish free floating leather chair behind his huge desk and turned on the communicator. The projectors were used for long distance or inter dimensional calls only. Using the projectors would have been a waste.
“This is the Transporter Cell,” said a voice talking in Asurian, riddled with static. “Whom should I connect this call to?“
“General Migdur please.” replied back Baldr.
“Right away,” his voice was replaced by more static. Baldr waited patiently for a few seconds after which a deep voice spoke on the communicator. “This is Migdur, sir. How may I help you?“
General Migdur was the cleverest of the Jargantaans in Baldr’s army. No wonder Baldr had promoted him to General’s rank. Migdur enjoyed the power he had over the other Jargantaans and also supervised the functions of the base. Besides, he was one of the first Jargantaans to be recru
ited by Baldr and had been with him for enough time to get used to his irritable and restless nature. “Did I tell you about Thorson...”
“Yes you did sir. I am very sorry about that. If the region wouldn’t have been under surveillance and guarded so thoroughly by the Military, our people would have caught him for sure. After all where can they hide in the Himalayas, a place riddled by mountains and ridges? Only because of those guards are they not being able to come out into the open.”
“I know Migdur...,” Baldr’s voice was calming down but he still sounded dismal. “It is not their fault too. They cannot risk unveiling their identity.” I need you to do me another favour, Migdur.“
“Certainly sir. Anything you wish.”
“Ready the tele porter for me will you? I have some unfinished work back in Asr-Gawa.”
“Surely sir. It will be done. Anything more?”
“Shh..... “ said Baldr.
A sharp noise startled Baldr. He jumped back with an ashen look on his face. Then he gathered himself as he found out that the noise is coming from a television set at the corner. He had almost thought that they were here again.......
A portly lady presenter was reading out the headlines in a rapid and stylish accent.- Today, in addition to India’s defence Ministry ordering for 150 French Cryogenic CT-440s, we have breaking news that because of an earthquake a huge chunk of Mount Nanda Devi has fallen off Instead of the solid rock and ice, there stands a 20 to 30 feet wide gaping hole. Incredibly...
The video footage of the lady was replaced by a video of the gaping hole on the high on the upper portion of the mountain facing east, with the fissure encircle in red. Instinctively, Baldr’s face contorted into a frown.
....the hole has revealed... The reporter continued- a huge metal plate beneath the surface. While this might look normal, on closer inspection one would notice a number of bolts and places where welding has been done. Right now many people are trying to analyse the scene through the video footage but another dozen scientists are planning to launch a team there and analyse the fissure up close.
The video was replaced by that of a number of civilians, presumably scientists, all huddled up together and scrutinising the video.
The conspiracy theorists have created a plethora of theories already. While some believe that the metal is the part of a structure concealed within the mountain and could have been made by some ancient yet advanced civilisation, some believe that it is the part of a secret Chinese base.
The truth is yet to be revealed but whatever it might be...I am sure it will astounding! This is IndiaNews and we will be back after a short break.
“Did you check out the news?” Baldr asked him, leaning over the microphone to talk clearly.
“No sir. I afraid not. Is it something about us?”
“Of course it is about us. The media has spotted a hole on the eastern side of the mountain. Better fix it fast.”
“We will be on it, sir. You need not worry about it.” assured Migdur.
“They are planning on sending a group of scientists too, you know?”
“The fissure will be covered up before they even get out of their offices.”
“Thank you for that.” whispered Baldr, letting out a sigh of relief.
Baldr switched off the communicator and actually took a minute to compose himself. Too much was getting out of control. With the boy running loose, and the Mandaa local Government going after the fissure, he was jumpy. The noise of the television set coming on was eerie. He had almost thought that they, the ones who are feared by all in Asr-Gawa were coming after him again. If they came to realize what he was after, then he was done for.
***
Kapittel 24
Mathias’s story
NANDA DEVI BIOSPHERE RESERVE, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA
March 10, 2017, Friday, 1610 hours IST
Vivek, Ram and I strode quickly towards the truck. We needed to exit the biosphere before our little ruse was discovered.
“Along with the sliding stone, the earthquake and the draining out of the lake would have been designed as a defence mechanism. The cliff is anyways, very hard to scale. Over that, the lake would also form a moat of lava and block out the path to the hole in the cliff face. No one would be able to get inside the temple unless one used a helicopter to land on the deck.” Ram said while we jogged to the truck.
“True, but what do you think would need such protection?” I asked him.
“There might be something valuable inside. In fact, the traps can also be used to stop robbers from escaping the shrine itself.” I suggested.
Just as we reached the truck,
“Look at the convoy, guys!” Ram pointed down the road. Vivek and my gaze followed his direction and sure enough, a convoy was heading our way. The convoy consisted of five armed vehicles and we feared that they might as well be coming for us.
We decided to go the opposite way, towards the Indian border when we spotted another convoy coming in from that side too. To our horror, we realised that we were cornered.
“Quick! Head back! We need to hide somewhere.” cried Vivek.
“What about the car?” asked Ram, his green eyes wide with fear.
“Leave it here. Taking it with us won’t be much of a difference. If we take it with us, it won’t be long till it breaks down. They are anyway going to spot it. Better leave it here.”
We ran parallel to the cliff with no concrete plan in mind. We just hoped that we could hide in the shadows or in a niche somewhere. We kept searching but didn’t find any. As the sound of the vehicles amplified, so did our heart-beat. By the time we reached the small incline, I looked over my shoulder to find nearly twenty men pouring out of the vehicles and scrutinising our truck. All of a sudden, “There! By the small hillock!” an officer cried, pointing directly at us.
“Run guys! Run!” I yelled. Instantaneously, 15 of the officers started running towards us while five stayed by the vehicle. Just as we reached the other side of the hillock, the officers opened fire on us. A fusillade of bullets smacked into the hill face. Wasting absolutely no time, we ran over the hill and backed off towards the small incline, trying to use it as a cover against the bullets.
“Wasn’t the water level a little higher?” Vivek pointed towards the lake with astonishment. Before the earthquake, the water was at par with the land. Now, there appeared to be a rapidly increasing difference between the land and the water surface.
“The earthquake opened up a fissure in the lake bed, draining up the water. Mathias and I saw it when we jumped into the lake from the deck” Ram replied.
“We need to go to the lake.” I told them.
“Why?” cried Ram.
“When I was deep under water, I spotted a perfectly cut square stone slab resting on the lake bed. It could be our way out, especially now that the water is draining away. Now go!” I urged them, my breathing strained.
Ram gave me my inhaler quickly and the three of us were about to go when the inhaler slipped through my fingers. Ram and Vivek didn’t notice this and ran away without waiting for me. I ran after the inhaler which was rapidly rolling down the slope of the hillock. After quite a few steps, I managed to catch up. I bent down to pick it up and no sooner had I stuffed the inhaler in my pocket than I realized that in the desperation of not letting my inhaler go, I had followed it right around the hillock and was now exposed to the military guards.
“Put your hands up in the air!” shouted the nearest officer who was maybe seven to ten metres away. I promptly obeyed him while still in a squatting position. In a second or two the rest of the fourteen officers caught up to him, all of their AK- 47s trained on me. I was trapped.
“Officers. I don’t want any trouble,” I said patiently but got really worried as I felt difficulty in breathing. I really needed a soothing whiff of the inhaler.
“Who are you? Where are you from?” one of the guards asked, loudly.
“I am...Peter Whiteman.” I quickly thought of
an alias. Revealing my real name wouldn’t offer me any help.
“Where are you from?” another guard inquired of me as they slowly advanced towards me.
“I...am from...” My chest was becoming tighter and I really felt the need to take a whiff. My hand slowly went towards the inhaler in my pocket.
“Stop! Your hands should be up in the air!” yelled an officer.
“Sir... I really need to- ,” I replied, trying to convince him of my growing discomfort.
“NO!” he shouted but my hand had already reached the gun-shaped bulge in my pocket which was really the inhaler. The officer over reacted as he presumed it to be a real gun. I was a foreigner in their land and the he had to take full precaution.
Instinctively, his index finger squeezed the trigger and the gun fired a bullet straight at my forehead.
Elsewhere
HIMALAYAS, INDIA
March 10, 2017, Friday, 1620 hours IST
At that very instant, Migdur rotated the key and the tunnel av tunneller fired up. The view behind the device distorted as a tunnel av tunneller was stretched open for Baldr at his own secret base thousands of miles away.
Kapittel 25
Mathias’s story
NANDA DEVI BIOSPHERE RESERVE, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA
March 10, 2017, Friday, 1620 hours IST
Just after the explosion of the gun, a million thoughts flooded my mind. However fast my reflexes were, I couldn’t outsmart a speeding bullet. I could feel the bullet heading towards my skull albeit I had my eyes closed. This had to be the end. While I waited for the bullet to crack my skull and tear away my brain, I thought about my parents about whom Baldr had recently talked to me. If what he told me was true, then I was glad I never had the chance to meet them. Yet, my gut feeling told me that they were better than what he described them to be. Nonetheless, they would be a small part of my life as Ram was the one with whom I had spent all my life. At that moment, I felt remorse. A chance to say goodbye was what I had wanted. Fortunately, he would be safe for the time being as he could seek refuge in the hole bored into the hill face, provided that the lake water did drain away that much. Anyway, I knew that they would find a way to hide. I bade my goodbye to the world I never had the chance to enjoy. I would die an orphan with no one to lament my death other than Ram.
