by K. T. Tomb
She would not be able to keep that up for long. Even a Daughter of Eve had her limits.
Shala limped out of the forest and froze when she saw the snake.
Jess ran at it again. Her ankle bothered her more and more with each attempt. She jumped again and landed on the tail. It whipped around as she tried to hang on. She kept her eyes on the sword as her head started to spin. She started to lose her grip, but she knew that it was all up to her and it was probably her last chance. Jess knew she had to find inside of her, whatever Evan had found inside of him if she was going to finish the task.
She felt the tail whip up in the air. That was her chance. She saw the ledge that she needed to be on. Her head spun so much she almost fell off of the snake’s back but she knew it was her last chance; Eden would be lost if she couldn’t do it.
Jess’ arms shook as she pushed herself off of the snake. She could barely see the ledge as she twisted her body for the right angle to land. Her back slammed into the mountain. She slid down and suddenly stopped. She was there.
There was no time for celebration. As she pushed herself to her feet, she could see that the snake was finally getting its bearings. Her gaze went to the sword and then the snake; it was gearing up to eat both her and the tree. She cleared her mind and thought of nothing but the sword and what she had to do.
If this was to be her last battle, then she would die saving her beloved Evan in her beloved Eden. Nothing was worth more than that.
She screamed as her body ached, and she ran along the narrow ledge with everything she had and reached toward the sword; launching herself from the ledge. It was all or nothing.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jess saw the snake open its jaws as she stretched for the sword. Her fingers grasped the hilt and she smiled as the snaked closed its mouth around her.
It fell to the ground and coiled up while it faced Knight. He forced himself to stand up and glared at the snake, taunting it.
“Come on, you son of a bitch! I will crawl down into your ugly gut and pull her out of your lifeless carcass if I have to! Come on!”
The snake was about to strike at him, when its underside started to glow red. Knight backed up against the base of the mountain. The snake appeared to be in pain and started to swing its head back and forth. It slammed its head several times into the ground as the red glow grew brighter.
All of a sudden, the snake exploded. Pieces of snake flew in every direction. Knight hid his eyes from the explosion, but couldn’t avoid being covered in snake guts.
When he saw Jessima IL Eve standing in the middle of the carnage, Evan’s heart leaped in his chest. She stood before him, wielding the flaming sword just as she had in his painting. That was how it was all supposed to look.
It was finally over.
Epilogue
Calisto, Shala, Madeira, Jess, and Knight sat with their backs up against the base of the mountain as they heard a helicopter closing in.
Remembering that one of the Chinooks had taken Alexey out of Eden and the other was still sitting a couple dozen yards away from them, Knight was confused. Was Alexey coming back?
Jess helped Knight up. All five of them strolled toward where the Chinook landed. The sliding side doors opened and Geronimo jumped out.
“Hey, dudes! Wow. You guys look like shit. I’m kind of glad I was out there instead of in here.” He clasped his hand over his nose as he took in the smell. “I take it we won?”
“The smell of victory, my friend,” Knight grinned. “And I am sure glad to see you too.”
Boris Milek stepped out as well. He was smiling.
“I would like to congratulate you on your victory. I, too, have been victorious.” He stepped out of the way to reveal Alexey Konstantin and the Iranian pilot bound and gagged.
Geronimo gently placed his hand on Knight’s shoulder.
“Once you and Jess tie up your loose ends, we can be on our way.”
Knight smiled at Jess. She smiled back at him.
Something in the glance the two of them shared tipped him off.
“You’re not coming back, are you?” Geronimo said, with less enthusiasm.
“No, Geronimo. We’re not going back,” Knight said confidently. “Somebody has to get things back up and running around here.”
That’s fantastic!” Geronimo replied.
“Sarcasm?” Jess asked.
“Man, I’m going to miss the two of you.”
Shala looked at Milek.
“How do we know we can trust the mortals to keep our secret?”
Milek smiled.
“The world appears to be a better place with you Amazons in it. We will not disclose your location.”
“Daughters of Eve,” Jess corrected. “We’re not Amazons.”
Calisto smiled at Jess.
“Actually, we need a new Mother Daughter and I nominate Jessima IL Eve!”
“I second the nomination!” shouted Madeira.
Jess looked at Shala.
“What about you Shala?”
The glare on Shala’s face slowly transformed into a smile.
“I guess I make it unanimous.”
Jess embraced her sisters as she stared at Shala.
Calisto walked up to Milek.
“Would it be alright if some of us came with you?”
“Yes,” Shala added, looking back to Jess for approval. “We would like to see the world again.”
Jess nodded. “They can go with you if you are good with that, Milek.”
“I see no problem with that,” the Russian answered.
“Can I ask you a favor though?” Jess continued.
“Anything you like. I am in a very generous mood.”
“Could you please leave the second helicopter here? We will have to get supplies from time to time.”
“Agreed,” Milek answered. “Well, then, shall we be going? Yes?”
He got back into the helicopter.
Calisto and Madeira also got in. They were excited to see the outside world. Right before Shala got in, she leaned to Jess and said, “The traitor is dead, Jessima. No need to worry about her anymore.”
“I hope not,” Jess smiled. “You are always welcome here, my sister.”
“Thank you,” Shala replied and scrambled away to join the others.
Geronimo hugged Evan tightly. “I’ve got to tell you, Evan, those guys in black are pretty cool.”
“You know who they are, don’t you?” Knight responded.
“Hell yeah!” replied Geronimo, laughing. “But they picked up your tank from the hillside and helped me fry some Iranians. So, I sort of owe ‘em one, you know? You and Jess take care. I have a great adventure to tell Molly about.”
Jess was about to say something, but Geronimo continued, “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to leave out certain details.” He winked and gave Jess a bear hug.
***
As the Chinook flew out of sight, Jess and Knight were alone for the first time.
Knight frowned as he watched it disappear over the Mountain of God.
“I’m honored I was helpful in fulfilling the prophecy, but I’m a little worried.”
“About Shala?” Jess responded. “She got what she wanted. She is free to move about the world and explore it as she likes. I assume that will keep her busy enough.”
Evan shrugged in response.
“One of the best ways I know for avoiding jealousy,” Jess continued, “is to not hold grudges.”
“Yeah,” Knight nodded. She might be on to something there.
“Yeah,” he said again. “I think you’re right, Jessima IL Eve,” Knight replied, matter-of-factly. “I guess we can start with the repopulation now.”
“Evan Knight!” she said as she slapped at him playfully.
“One thing, though, Jess,” he said. “When it comes to things like Eden… there always has to be a representative of good and a representative of evil. Good has you in its corner. So, who’s the evil?”
J
ess said nothing as she kissed him.
The End
Return to the Table of Contents
THE PEACHES OF WANG MU
A novel by
K.T. TOMB
The Peaches of Wang Mu
Published by K.T. Tomb
Copyright © 2014 by K.T. Tomb
All rights reserved.
(Previously published under the pen name, Steve Rollins.)
The Peaches of Wang Mu
It had been years since Max had returned from his assignment in Beijing, China.
The experiences he’d had on that adventure had been surreal; even until today he didn’t know if he would believe the story if someone had told it to him. After debating over it with himself for years, he decided to write his story down and even as the first pages of the novel emerged, he was convinced that he had made the right choice. Max Harper had encountered a real-life goddess on his travels and since then he had never returned to China.
He sat at his desk for weeks researching everything he could find about the Xi Wang Mu and when he was finished, he took the manuscript and placed it in a wooden box, tied it with a braided cord of crimson silk and wrapped it all up in brown paper.
On the front of the parcel he wrote:
Virginia Huffington
Huff and Puff Agency
1006 Ferrymore Crescent
Knightsbridge, London
SW1X 0HJ
For a few moments, all he could do was sit back at the desk and stare at the brown parcel before him. Several times he considered throwing it into the red and orange flames of the roaring fireplace, but he gave in to none of those rash impulses.
He pulled out the top drawer of the desk and took out a few items.
A few sheets of his personalized stationery, a crisp white envelope, and a folded piece of aged parchment. Then he took out a meerschaum pipe carved in the shape of a tiger’s head, a snuff box of beautifully carved jade and a box of matchsticks.
Meticulously, calmly, he opened the box and pinched the tobacco within it repeatedly before finally placing several pinches into the pipe’s ornate chamber. He tapped it down and lifted it to his mouth, pausing for a moment before picking up the box of matches and lighting the tobacco within it.
He would tell his story. It would be the first of many, he was sure. But certainly, it was of absolutely critical that Miss Huffington understood the great importance of what exactly it was that he was about to entrust to her.
He lifted the pen and began to write.
Chapter One
According to the Chinese legends, in order to keep their bodies in perfect condition, every three thousand years, the gods must eat the peaches of long life and drink the elixir of immortality from the Garden of the Western Paradise. This garden is tended by the Queen Mother Wang Mu, an old woman who has the fangs of a tiger and the tail of a panther. She lives alone and is protected by birds of prey and fearsome beasts. She also controls plagues and evil spirits. However frightful her appearance and her powers, Wang Mu is a motherly figure to all the gods in heaven.
In her enchanted garden grow the coveted peaches, which she plucks and serves at a sumptuous banquet for the gods. She is an alchemist, or a person who practices the art of combining substances that will transform. Wang Mu can mix many elixirs, or magic potions, including the one that will ensure immortality for the gods. In more recent versions of the story, the Queen Mother is shown as a graceful and extremely beautiful woman.
The fabled Garden of the Western Paradise is thought to reside in a remote section of the Kunlun Mountains. These spectacular peaks are located in western China between Tibet and Xijiang and soar as high as twenty-five thousand feet. In mythology, the mountains are the home of the Chinese gods, as well as the site of life-restoring herbs. Historically, the Kunlun range was part of the Silk Road, a caravan route between China and Persia used for trading silks, spices, and gold.
Long ago, because he loved his wife very much, the Grand Hou Yi reluctantly set out on a journey to the Kunlun Mountains where the peaches of long life were grown by Wang Mu, the Queen Mother of the Western Paradise. Hou Yi was unsure of the road, and even less sure of how much strength he had left. When he lived in heaven, Hou Yi had always ridden in the empress’s chariot or straddled the tails of sky dragons to reach the Western Paradise, but now that he lived on earth, he had to walk. He crossed burning deserts, forded cold streams, and trekked over high mountains for thousands of miles.
Finally, Hou Yi arrived at his destination and was greeted by Wang Mu. When Hou Yi told her that his wife wanted a dosage of the elixir of immortality, Wang Mu could only sigh. Unfortunately, she told Hou Yi, the gods and goddesses had just feasted on the last batch of peaches. The next peach crop would not ripen for another three thousand years. When Hou Yi continued to implore her, Wang Mu took one leftover, very imperfect dried-up peach, pounded some herbs and powders, and stirred them together into an elixir. Then the Queen Mother poured the precious liquid into a small vial.
“This potion will take both of you to the heavens. But make sure you take it on a clear night, or you could be trapped halfway between earth and heaven,” she warned.
Carefully, Hou Yi placed the vial in his leather pouch and knotted the bag tightly around his waist. Again, Hou Yi trudged over the same high mountains, forded the same cold streams, and crossed the same burning deserts to return to his wife. When he had lived in heaven, he had not cared about its comforts and luxuries. Because of his status there as a mortal who served the gods, Hou Yi, too, had been invited to sumptuous feasts and had eaten the peach of immortality. The magical potion had enhanced his already powerful body and made him invincible. Now on earth, however, he felt his power slipping away steadily day by day. Although Hou Yi did not resent his banishment to earth, he was beginning to resent his decaying mortal body.
When at last Hou Yi returned home and presented the precious elixir to his wife, Chang’e was delighted. She burned with the anticipation of returning to her sisters in the sky. The goddess begged him to take the medicine immediately, but her husband refused, remembering the warning he had been given by the Queen Mother.
Hou Yi said, “I have undertaken a long journey to fulfill your deepest desire. We must be patient and wait for a clear night when the stars can guide us homeward.”
Chang’e agreed with her husband’s clear reasoning, but her desire to be reunited with her sisters was far stronger than her appreciation of his logic. When her husband left for his daily hunt, the goddess stared at the elixir. As the day and night wore on, Hou Yi did not return. As was often the case, Chang’e spent the lonely night waiting for her husband. Hou Yi often stopped to chat with his neighbors to whom he gave generous portions of deer, rabbit, quail, pheasant, and duck from his hunt, delaying his return home.
Chang’e sighed. The goddess knew by its smell that the elixir was already diluted. The dosage was so weak, she reasoned, that Hou Yi would probably never recover his full strength by drinking his portion, and she would probably never regain her full beauty by drinking hers. Furthermore, they might never even reach heaven.
With these fears in mind, the goddess developed a plan. She would drink both of their portions so that she could return to heaven first, and beg the sun god to forgive her husband for his brashness in having shot down the nine suns. Then she and her sister goddesses could borrow some sky dragons to visit the Queen Mother of the Western Paradise. There, they would persuade her to mix up another dose of the elixir solely for Hou Yi so he could join his wife in heaven.
As she swallowed the elixir, Chang’e felt its bitterness burn her throat. Immediately, her body became lighter, and she felt dizzy. As she ran out into the night, her body floated upward to the stars. Unfortunately, the night was not clear. Chang’e wandered among the stars and lost her way. She finally came to rest, trapped on the cold moon.
Hou Yi was just returning when he saw his wife drifting up to the sky. He called out to her and ran after her shadow,
but she was too far away to hear him. Hou Yi was heartbroken and wept for days. No one could console the grieving hunter.
Hearing his sorrowful cries, the gods took pity on Hou Yi. Hou Yi had served the gods well and always did their bidding faithfully. He never complained about the countless petty tasks assigned to him by the lesser gods of heaven. Furthermore, Hou Yi had saved the earth from droughts and monsters when the gods could not be bothered.
Therefore, once a year, the gods grant Hou Yi the right to ascend to the skies to be with his wife. On that one night, the harvest moon shines the brightest and fullest of the year, reflecting Hou Yi’s love for Chang’e.
***
The Chinese family settled into place in front of his camera wearing their best outfits and smiling broadly as he began to snap photos of them in front of their home. Though his Chinese was a little rough, he was able to communicate well enough to get by and do his job. The photo spread he had been working on in Beijing over the past several weeks was scheduled to appear in National Geographic within the year and he was on a time crunch to get it finished. The two adorable children of the young couple would be a perfect wrap up to the spread.
“There you go. That’s it.” He continued snapping photos as he moved to get a better angle and light. “Just a couple more.” He stopped, thumbed the display and was satisfied with what he saw. “You did very well. Thank you.” Max bowed slightly as he stepped forward.
