The Sacred Vault_ A Novel - Andy McDermott [114]
‘Eddie, we’re in a sacred Hindu temple,’ Nina chided him. ‘Behave yourself.’
Girilal laughed. ‘It is all right, Dr Wilde. Shiva has a sense of humour - some say Ganesha was created from his laughter! Now please, make yourselves warm. I will be back soon.’ He went into the darkened hall.
Eddie took a combined paraffin heater and stove from his pack and set it up. ‘This’ll be cosy,’ he said as he lit it. ‘Better than kipping in a tent, though.’
‘What’s the plan?’ Nina asked.
‘It’ll be night soon, so best bet’s to start off at first light tomorrow and head for that ridge. We should be able to get over it before it gets dark again - if we can find a way up.’
‘A safe way,’ added Kit. ‘After what Girilal said, I’m wondering if we should have brought more climbing gear.’
‘We’ve got enough,’ said Eddie, nudging his pack. Metal clinked inside it. ‘Long as we don’t have to scale any sheer cliffs, we’ll be fine - if the weather holds.’
‘Do you think it will?’ said Nina.
‘Place like this, it can completely change in five minutes. Only way to know is to keep an eye on the conditions, and if it gets dodgy be ready for it.’ He looked at the others’ packs. ‘Okay, so who’s got the nosh?’
Provisions were retrieved, and sleeping bags unrolled and laid out around the heater. Kit started preparing the food. Nina looked into the adjoining hall. ‘Girilal?’ she called. ‘Do you want anything to eat?’ No reply. ‘I’d better see if he’s all right,’ she said, concerned that the long, cold trek might have finally taken its toll.
The next, larger room was dark except for a faint orange glow, the temple windowless as further protection against the weather. Padding closer, she saw the light was a candle, behind a curtain. Girilal’s voice reached her, speaking quietly in Hindi. She parted the curtain and entered the small chamber beyond. ‘Girilal? Are you okay?’
The old man was sitting cross-legged on the stone floor before a small altar, the flickering candle beside him lighting the turquoise walls. He looked round, startled. ‘No, you should not be in here!’ he said, scrambling to his feet.
‘I’m sorry!’ said Nina, backing out. ‘I just wanted to make sure you were all right.’
He composed himself, and lowered his head. ‘No, I should apologise. I should have told you what I was doing, and asked you not to disturb me. It is my fault.’
Despite wanting to respect his privacy as he prayed, Nina couldn’t help but look at the altar. ‘Is that . . .’
‘The Shivalingam, yes.’ While lingams were usually cylindrical, this was instead a small three-sided pyramid of polished black stone, red stripes painted across it. ‘For those who have reached enlightenment, Lord Shiva will manifest himself as a pillar of cosmic light and bless them.’
‘Have you . . .?’
‘No.’ He shook his head with sad resignation. ‘I am not worthy. I have too much to seek forgiveness for.’ He picked up the candle, and gently but firmly ushered Nina out of the chamber. ‘Now,’ he said, his voice becoming more positive, ‘you said something about food?’
22
Even inside the temple, cocooned in her sleeping bag and wearing several layers of clothing, Nina still woke up shivering. Eddie was already awake, heating water on the stove. ‘Morning, sunshine.’
‘Morning,’ she said blearily. ‘What time is it?’
‘About twenty to seven. Sun’ll be up soon. We’ll need to get moving once it is. Got a lot of walking ahead.’
‘Can’t wait.’ She sat up, seeing that the outer door was ajar, letting in a slit of predawn light. ‘Where are Kit and Girilal?’
‘Kit’s gone for a piss. Dunno where the old guy is; he went out about twenty minutes ago. Maybe he’s taking a dump.’
Nina groaned. ‘I could have lived without you putting that image in my head, Eddie.’ She unzipped the sleeping bag. ‘What’s on the menu?’
‘Coffee first, then breakfast. Lots of high-calorie stuff - we’re going to need it. Cereal, porridge, that kind of thing.’
‘Mmm. Delicious,’ she said, unenthused.
‘Hey, you wanted to come here. I had another