cobra. The snake was now much larger and arranged each of the eight heads to face one of the men.
Raj became aware that he was standing in a puddle where he had wet himself from the shock. He was overcome with shame and turned away hoping to leave unnoticed. This can’t really be happening, he thought to himself.
A loud sound came from behind and he turned back to see what had happened. The snake was growing larger and towered high over the men. Without warning, it struck. The eight mouths openied at once and shot down in a blur. Instantly, each man was swallowed whole.
Raj screamed out loud, and finally found the strength to move his legs and run away from the horrible scene. Behind him only silence, the pounding of his shoes against the cobblestones seemed to echo all the more loudly. As he neared the entrance of the alley, he found his father waiting for him with his arms crossed in consternation.
“So my son, you have decided to assert your independence in this great city. You have the look of one with a new, yet terrible knowledge, and have you wet yourself? Share with me what has happened.”
Raj struggled to catch his breath, embarrassed that his father had noticed how he had shamed himself. He tried to put into words what he had seen. He finally found his voice and, when he had finished his tale, his father looked at him for a moment and then roared with laughter.
“My son, your imagination makes me laugh. The men of the Nagas worship the snake, but the master never eats his servant. Come, we have much to prepare for morning. Let’s retire to our room.”
Raj was stunned by his father’s lack of interest or concern for what he had witnessed. He wondered whether the men had actually sacrificed themselves in the ritual they performed. Was it a grand trick to scare him because he had dared to spy on them?
The next day, when his father’s business was complete, they returned home. Afterward, Raj spent many hours researching the various religious cults and sects of his homeland. Although he rejected most of the religious beliefs he had read about, he had witnessed one of the rituals. It was this single experience, and his studies, that led to his interest in paranormal phenomena.
He believed that this trip would prove to be fruitful. He hoped some secret regarding the phenomenon in the Northwest Triangle might be revealed. Perhaps it would be him who unraveled it. Even so, if his parents ever discovered what he was doing, they would undoubtedly force him to return to India before he was prepared to do so.
Nineteen
“I guess you’ve never seen anything like that before.” John reached for the remote control to turn off the television as he sat on the couch to face Emily.
“No, and I admit I’m a little freaked out right now.” Emily shifted in her seat and pulled the hair back from her face with both hands before letting it fall to her shoulders again.
“Well, it’s like I said earlier, I’ve experienced some weird shit before and that’s how I ended up in the P.I. class. That kind of phenomenon is why we’re going on this trip.”
Now that she’d had a taste of what could be expected, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to go, and it showed all over her face.
John noticed her expression of doubt and felt he should try to put her at ease. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to the weirdness. With the kind of people we have in our group, there’s bound to be a lot more weird experiences before we’re finished.” Thinking back to Sherri’s ghostly prediction, he added quietly, “Maybe a hell of a lot more.”
“Yeah, but when I decided to come on this trip it seemed a lot safer than dealing with those thugs who were trying to kill me earlier.” Her eyes showed the anxious frustration she felt.
“Look, Em, did Sherri’s apparition, or whatever it was, try to shoot you or anything? Did she approach you in any kind of menacing way?” He sounded calm as he questioned her. “I
Raj became aware that he was standing in a puddle where he had wet himself from the shock. He was overcome with shame and turned away hoping to leave unnoticed. This can’t really be happening, he thought to himself.
A loud sound came from behind and he turned back to see what had happened. The snake was growing larger and towered high over the men. Without warning, it struck. The eight mouths openied at once and shot down in a blur. Instantly, each man was swallowed whole.
Raj screamed out loud, and finally found the strength to move his legs and run away from the horrible scene. Behind him only silence, the pounding of his shoes against the cobblestones seemed to echo all the more loudly. As he neared the entrance of the alley, he found his father waiting for him with his arms crossed in consternation.
“So my son, you have decided to assert your independence in this great city. You have the look of one with a new, yet terrible knowledge, and have you wet yourself? Share with me what has happened.”
Raj struggled to catch his breath, embarrassed that his father had noticed how he had shamed himself. He tried to put into words what he had seen. He finally found his voice and, when he had finished his tale, his father looked at him for a moment and then roared with laughter.
“My son, your imagination makes me laugh. The men of the Nagas worship the snake, but the master never eats his servant. Come, we have much to prepare for morning. Let’s retire to our room.”
Raj was stunned by his father’s lack of interest or concern for what he had witnessed. He wondered whether the men had actually sacrificed themselves in the ritual they performed. Was it a grand trick to scare him because he had dared to spy on them?
The next day, when his father’s business was complete, they returned home. Afterward, Raj spent many hours researching the various religious cults and sects of his homeland. Although he rejected most of the religious beliefs he had read about, he had witnessed one of the rituals. It was this single experience, and his studies, that led to his interest in paranormal phenomena.
He believed that this trip would prove to be fruitful. He hoped some secret regarding the phenomenon in the Northwest Triangle might be revealed. Perhaps it would be him who unraveled it. Even so, if his parents ever discovered what he was doing, they would undoubtedly force him to return to India before he was prepared to do so.
Nineteen
“I guess you’ve never seen anything like that before.” John reached for the remote control to turn off the television as he sat on the couch to face Emily.
“No, and I admit I’m a little freaked out right now.” Emily shifted in her seat and pulled the hair back from her face with both hands before letting it fall to her shoulders again.
“Well, it’s like I said earlier, I’ve experienced some weird shit before and that’s how I ended up in the P.I. class. That kind of phenomenon is why we’re going on this trip.”
Now that she’d had a taste of what could be expected, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to go, and it showed all over her face.
John noticed her expression of doubt and felt he should try to put her at ease. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to the weirdness. With the kind of people we have in our group, there’s bound to be a lot more weird experiences before we’re finished.” Thinking back to Sherri’s ghostly prediction, he added quietly, “Maybe a hell of a lot more.”
“Yeah, but when I decided to come on this trip it seemed a lot safer than dealing with those thugs who were trying to kill me earlier.” Her eyes showed the anxious frustration she felt.
“Look, Em, did Sherri’s apparition, or whatever it was, try to shoot you or anything? Did she approach you in any kind of menacing way?” He sounded calm as he questioned her. “I
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