Page 66 of Tiger's Tale
“We still might be able to find it.”
Are you saying we have the ability to travel between worlds?
“Not everyone can, obviously. But yes. I can teach you how.” The White Shaman clapped his hands together and rubbed them, a gleam of excitement entering his eyes. “I have to say, I haven’t been this animated in decades. This is going to be fun, isn’t it?”
I don’t believe I ever considered myself to be an annoying sort of person. Now I can see why Miss Kelsey might find me tiresome on occasion.
“Tiresome? Who finds us tiresome? Most people who are granted an audience consider themselves fortunate to be allowed in our presence.”
On second thought, I do think there is much we have to learn from one another. A drop of humility might go a long way with you, my friend. Your humble living circumstances notwithstanding. I only hope we can accomplish this feat before my corporeal form expires.
“You might get lucky. It could be simply floating frozen in the cosmos.” The White Shaman looked around his cave. “You don’t care for my home? Where do you live?”
Let’s just say I’m very glad I can’t feel the frigid air. I’m more used to a hot climate, as I spend most of my days on the continent of India.
“Indeeah? I’ve never heard of such a place.”
Truly? How curious. You can travel between worlds, and yet you don’t discover the continents of your own planet, preferring instead to remain on a glacier at the top of the world. The ghost glanced out the cave opening at the swirling lights.Well, at least you have a lovely view. But let us make haste. I would like to keep the use of my extremities. Though I am simply a spirit at present, I daresay I can feel the cold seeping into my fingers and toes. How do we proceed?
“Come, then. I will prepare a special tea. After I’ve consumed it, I’ll begin walking from the back of the cave toward the fires, passing between them. You’ll then come from the opposite side and head toward me. We’ll meet in the center, and by the time I get to the cave opening, you should be with me, sharing my body. That will hold you together until we find yours.”
Is sharing your body safe? It won’t cast out your spirit?
“It should be safe enough. That is unless we never find your form, then it might become a problem. And no, you cannot cast out my soul. At least I don’t believe you’re strong enough, should you be so inclined. Normally, a visiting soul cannot do such a thing, assuming the host doesn’t go willingly. Which I won’t. We’ll be able to share information easily, and you can then see all I do, though I’ll still be in charge of my body.”
I can’t take it over?
“Not unless I allow it.”
Can I leave anytime I want to?
“Yes.”
Very well. Make your tea. I promise you I won’t linger. If we don’t find my body, I’ll...Well, I don’t know what I’ll do, but I don’t want to end up wandering.
“You won’t have to. At that point I can help you find your way to the sky people if that is your desire.”
Sky people?
“You don’t have sky people on your world?”
Ah. You are speaking of an afterlife.
“Yes. That would be an accurate translation.”
Then yes. You can help me journey to the sky people at the appropriate time.
“Very good.” Vesako could sense the spirit watching him closely as he prepared his tea. “You do this also, don’t you?”
I do, though I do not use psilocybin mushrooms.
“That’s an interesting word. Psilocybin. What does it mean?”
It means that the mushrooms you use to create visions or dreams contain a drug or a chemical that affects your mortal frame. It alters your perceptions of time and space and, or, auditory, sensory, visual, coordination, etc. It can also cause panic and anxiety.
The White Shaman stopped chopping. “I sense you are older than myself.”
Perhaps. I don’t knowwhenyou are. For that matter, I don’t even knowwhereyou are, other than the Arctic, based on my assessment of the sky outside.
