Path of the Tiger, стр. 464
‘How do you feel, cub? Strong? Healthy? Full of vitality and life?’
‘Er, well, aye. Aye, guru ji, tha’ is how I feel, actually,’ William answered, feeling quite surprised at the man’s uncannily accurate diagnosis of his current state of health. ‘But I dunnae understand how, nor why. I also havenae felt no cravings for my, um, my medicine, which is unusual for me, or at least it has been in recent times.’
‘Your medicine? And what might that be?’
‘Opium, guru ji. I need it, fir … fir pain.’
The man stroked his beard contemplatively before replying.
‘I see, but I do not think that you will need it any longer. Indeed, you will never again need to take any form of medication, nor see any doctors, not for the rest of your life.’
William frowned, raising a confused eyebrow.
‘I’m no’ sure what you’re getting at, guru ji.’
‘And that is fine, cub! It is how it shall be, for now. There will be many things that will confuse you, that will confound you, that will mystify you about the changes that you are going through. All of this is perfectly normal though; death and rebirth are massively traumatic events, and the human mind, so used to its very restricted view of existence, so hampered in development by the unbreakable shackles of mortality, will naturally be overwhelmed when thrust into the post-human state, the state into which you have been reborn. The state of near immortality.’
‘Im-, immortality? Did I hear you right? You surely cannae mean that.’
‘I mean exactly that, cub.’
‘I mean no disrespect, guru ji,’ William ventured cautiously, ‘but are you sure you know what tha’ word means? Is English maybe no’ your first language, like?’
The man chuckled, the corners of his mouth stretching upward and to the sides in a jovial smile.
‘I know exactly what the word means, I assure you! And I do not use the term lightly, my boy. And, to be sure, there is no more suitable word in your English tongue to describe what I am talking about: immortality is what I said, and it is precisely what I meant. I know that the concept must seem utterly inconceivable to you, and that you cannot possibly grasp the reality of it. I understand that even considering the notion as a remote possibility must fill you with trepidation … yet believe it you must, for it is the truth of your new life.’
William shook his head and sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to wrap his head around what this man was saying to him.
‘What is this … this “rebirth” an’ this “new life” you’re talkin’ about? And why dae you keep calling me “cub”?’
The man chortled loudly, his laughter richly imbued with compassion and sympathy.
‘Oh young cub, young cub!’ he chuckled, radiating a sense of calm yet infectious joy and contentment. ‘You have so much to learn! I cannot deny that I feel somewhat envious of you right now. My own death and rebirth were nothing like yours, and it took me many years to find my way, for I had neither teachers nor guides … not good ones, at least. But you, you are here at the centre of the universe, with us to help you! You are freshly reborn, thirsting for knowledge, hungering for development! Oh, by the powers of the universe and all the energy streams, I can feel your yearning, I can taste it! You have so much potential, cub, so much! My friend saw it when she first laid eyes on you in the forest, when you were with your expedition. She has a gift for these things, you see. We all have our own unique set of gifts, and we are all very eager to discover – and keen of course to help you discover – what yours are.’
‘I … I dunnae have no gifts. I’m no’ special,’ William muttered. ‘At least I dunnae think I am. But … now that I think ay it, you’re no’ the first person tae tell me tha’.’
The man narrowed his eyes and stared intently at William.
‘Really? In your former life, someone told you these things?’
‘Well, he didnae put it exactly like you did, but my former commanding officer, Captain Liversage, he told me he saw great potential in me. His last orders were tha’ I be promoted tae lieutenant, but there was … an incident, an’ it couldnae be done.’
The man nodded, intertwining the fingers of both hands.
‘Hmm, I see. Well, you must understand that everything in this existence happens for a reason, cub. You were not meant to be a lieutenant in an army, you see. It was simply written in your fate. Such things are for lower mortals; men of violence and thuggery. These murderers are dressed up in glorious-looking uniforms, yes, and they have gratuitous excesses of wealth, titles and power bestowed upon them for the massacres they commit. However, despite what society and your culture would have you believe, such fellows are not to be respected, nor admired. Yes, young one, there is much that you need to un-learn before you can begin to truly comprehend what we will teach you. You may regret the missing of that opportunity now, but trust me, when you have learned a few things, and your closed eyes have been cleared of the cataracts that currently blind them, you will bow down and praise the universe and its energies