Part 29 (2/2)

So this was the lesson? That she had to accept things in her life that had the appearance of a trap and only then would it cease to be one? She frowned. Somehow she expected the lesson would be a little bit more significant than this.

But she realized that her expectations had made it more than it was supposed to be. And like the waterfall, she should just simply accept it as it came to her and let it be what it was, with no distortions or disturbances.

Annja smiled. That was it.

She felt relaxed and calm. And strangely aware.

She looked up into the waterfall, seeing the roaring white and blue of water as it frothed and tried to chomp down on her body. But Annja knew how to beat it, by accepting it, and didn't fear the frigid waters any longer.

She frowned.

Something looked peculiar higher up. Splotches of darkness where there ought to have been light. The rock face behind the waterfall wasn't flat and solid.

But more like a honeycomb.

A honeycomb, she wondered, that might just be a series of caves?

She stepped off the ledge and found herself walking into Ken's arms.

”Hey.”

He smiled at her. ”I came to help you out of the waterfall.”

She noticed immediately that his clothes were also gone. They stood naked together in the cold water.

”How did you know that I was done?”

”I knew. Let's leave it at that.”

Annja smiled. ”You knew I'd find the answer, didn't you?”

”For some people, the waterfall is a test they will never be able to surmount. For other people, it is but one more test along the path. You are a warrior, Annja. I've told you that before. And now you know it's true.”

”It was amazing.”

”What worked for you may not work for someone else. It's important to realize that there are no paths that are perfectly identical. Beware of anyone who tells you there are. No person walks the path exactly the same way, and that's how it should be. We are all individual and unique, as are the routes to our own enlightenment. What you've done tonight will bring you that much closer to becoming invulnerable.”

Annja looked around them. The trees swayed in the breezes. She could hear crickets now that she hadn't heard earlier. Even the moon overhead seemed more brilliant than it had prior to going into the water.

”I almost feel like Eve in the Garden of Eden,” she said.

Ken kissed her then, his lips closing over her own. She pressed into him, kissing him and letting her lips part as they grew bolder with each breath.

When he pulled back, she said, ”Wow.”

He smiled. ”Is that a good thing?”

”It's a horrible thing,” Annja said. ”Come here and do it again.”

They moved out of the water, both of them almost dry by the time they got back to their sleeping bags. Annja sank into hers, feeling the material wrap around her in warmth.

The fire threw shadows across Ken's skin as he stood in front of Annja. She reached out to him and he sat down next to her.

”Kiss me again,” she told him.

He did and Annja drew his sleeping bag over them both, nuzzled herself against the warmth of his skin, and accepted the natural progression of things with a great deal of happiness.

30.

Annja stretched out in the sleeping bag. They'd made slow, leisurely love under the stars and the moon while the crickets and the waterfall serenaded them. It was one of the most utterly relaxing moments in Annja's recent life.

She got out of the sleeping bag and slid back into her clothes. Ken did the same. While Annja certainly didn't want the night to end, they did need sleep if they were going to find the mysterious temple where the vajra vajra lay hidden. lay hidden.

She watched Ken pull on a turtleneck sweater. He had been one of the most considerate lovers she'd ever had. And more than ever before, she wanted to help him find the vajra vajra.

”I saw something in the waterfall,” she said.

He slid his socks on. ”What was that?”

”I looked up into the water. I thought I saw something farther up.”

”What?”

”It looked like it honeycombed inward. Maybe the caves are up there. That's what I was thinking.”

Ken frowned. ”Maybe. But you said you looked right into the water? Are you sure you'd be able to see that well considering it was dark and the rush of water might have distorted your vision?”

”Well, I saw it and then I felt a pull toward it.”

”Okay,” Ken said. ”We can check it out in the morning. But right now I think we should get some sleep.”

”It's been a long day,” Annja said.

”Yes.” Ken pulled his sleeping bag over toward Annja. ”And a hard day, too.”

Annja grinned again. ”Well, the night was the hard part.” She turned over and closed her eyes, feeling safe and secure in the small glen by the waterfall. She deepened her breathing and soon enough drifted off into sleep.

WHEN THE YOWL BROKE across the glen, it sounded like a banshee screeching mixed with the cries of a wounded animal. across the glen, it sounded like a banshee screeching mixed with the cries of a wounded animal.

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