Page 120 of Tiger's Destiny
“Ah, that’s better.” Phet found a smooth stone to sit on. Anamika immediately positioned herself at his feet like a young acolyte. Ren touched my arm and pointed to a place where we could rest. Kishan quickly positioned himself on my other side and took my hand while frowning at his brother.
“I know you’re all wondering why I am here,” Phet began. “Anamika is correct that I was her teacher when she and her brother were young.”
“And what did you teach?” I asked.
Anamika glared at me. “It would be better to show a respectful attitude.”
“Hey, he’s the one who lied tome. He’s going to have to earn back my respect.”
“Kahl-see is quite right. I deserve her suspicion. I am not who I led her to believe. In fact, I am not who I led any of you to believe.”
“What do you mean?” Ren asked.
“Perhaps it would be best for you to think of me as the Spirit of India. I serve as a protector or guardian. By ensuring Durga’s place in history, I secure the future. In doing this I have assumed many roles, including that of teacher to a young girl who happened to have a brilliant mind for strategy.” He smiled at Anamika.
“Thank you, wise one.”
“Hold on a second,” I said. “This is all backward. You told me that you served the goddess.”
“Yes, I do.”
“But—”
“Be patient, Kahl-see. I will explain all.” He made himself a bit more comfortable and continued. “I was Anamika’s teacher. When she was a young lady I spent several hours a day with her so I could prepare her for what lay ahead. I taught her about war and peace, famine and plenty, wealth and poverty. I tutored her in many languages including English because I knew that one day she would meet the three of you.”
“Was this before or after you met me?” I asked.
“There is no before or after. There is only finished and unfinished.” He smiled at my puzzled expression and held out his hands. “Some of my work I have finished and some remains to be done. But when the work is completed, what was undone will cease to exist and all that will remain is what is.”
My mouth dropped open, and I said, “Phet, you’re killing me.”
With a twinkle in his eye, he confessed. “Sometimes I get confused myself.”
“But why the ruse? Why make me believe you’re one thing when you are actually some kind of supreme all-knowing spirit?”
“It was necessary for me to be the person you saw so that you could become the person I see.”
While I puzzled that out, Kishan suggested, “You mentioned you were here to help us defeat Mahishasur. Perhaps if we could focus on the concrete, the complexities of eternity might seem less taxing.”
“Spoken like a true warrior,” Phet said and rubbed his hands together. “I have always admired your ability to remain steadfastly focused. Very well. We will start with the weapons. May I?”
Anamika offered him the bag, and he removed thegada.
“Ah, a finely crafted instrument. Has this weapon been of benefit to you in your travels?”
Ren answered, “I used thegadain Kishkindha against the needle trees. It wounded them so they left us alone.”
“Hmm,” Phet grunted. “Anything else?”
“I used it against the column in Durga’s temple,” I volunteered.
“I . . . I have a temple?” the fledgling goddess asked.
“Yep. Several of them.”
“We also used it in battle as a weapon,” Kishan added.
“Yes, but you,” Phet said looking at me, “have not wielded it as it was meant to be used.”
