Roark Artifacts - Vol. 12: "Monsoon Church"

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A R T I F A C T S O F

ADVENTURE

Monsoon Church

ROARK REVIVAL VOLUME 12: “MONSOON CHURCH” SPRING 2017 EXPEDITION & COLLECTION S TO RY b y K E V I N O ’ S U L L I VA N PHOTOGRAPHY by DYLAN GORDON & JAMIE THOMAS T he s earch for Roark a g a i n t a k e s s h a p e i n a p l a c e t h at t est s t h e en d u r an ce o f n o t o n l y one s phys ical s pecim e n , b u t t h e c o r e o r t h e i r s p i r i t u al i t y, r eso l v e, g o d g i v en w i t s an d a ppetite for curry. In d i a , t h e l a n d o f e n c h a n t m e n t a n d ex o t i c sp l en d o r i s t h e set t i n g f o r a re newed rendezvou s b e t we e n Ro a r k a n d h i s m u s e S i m o n e. Wi l l t h e g r eat sw i n d l e o f love and danger tem p t o u r p r o t a g o n i s t ? Or wi l l h i s t h i r st f o r sp eed b e f u l f i l l ed b y a trusty Enfield and th e s e c r e t wi n d s we p t b a n k s t h a t l ead h i m t o t h e Mo n so o n C h u r ch .

D i scover what ins pir e d o u r Vo l u m e 1 2 c o l l e c t i o n i n t h e t al e o f t h e “Mo n so o n C h u r ch . ” R oark’s collection is i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e Ho l i n a t u r e o f t h e r eg i o n , l o cal t ex t i l e t ech n i q u es, w ood blocks and the i m p e n d i n g m o n s o o n . Yo u ’ l l a l s o f i n d h i n t s o f h y st er i a, m asal a an d a vivid dis play of chrom a t i c p s y c h e d e l i c a . En j o y.

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MONSOON CHURCH

ONE: KEEP ON TREKKIN’ I t wa s l a t e s p r i n g , t h e t a i l en d o f t h o se i n s u ff e r a b l e m o n t h s wh e n t h e mo u n t ai n p asses a r e o p e n a n d t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f K at h m an d u s we l l s wi t h a m a t e u r m o u n t ai n eer s, t h at I f i n a l l y h e a r d f r o m Ro a r k . I h u r r i ed l y t o r e o p en t h e e n v e l o p e , e a g e r f o r n e w s o f m y f r i en d , h a l f - h o p i n g t h a t I m i g h t f i n d an i n v i t at i o n o f s o m e s o r t s , t o l e a v e t h e m o u n t ai n s an d j o i n m y i t i n e r a n t f r i e n d o n s o m e new ad v en t u r e.

Th e l a s t I s a w o f h i m , h e w as sl i p p i n g o u t o f a wa t e r f r o n t d i v e i n Da N an g , w i t h t h e c h i l d b r i d e , o r, m o r e l i k e l y, d au g h t er, o f o n e o f t h e d r u n k e n Vi e t Ve t s r e mi n i sci n g ab o u t t h e b a t t l e s o f t h e i r y o u t h a t t h e n ex t t ab l e.

I l e f t t h e b a r s o o n a f t e r, b e f or e h er d ef ect i o n wa s n o t i c e d a n d h o s t i l i t i e s br o k e o u t an ew.

I l e f t Da Na n g e a r l y t h e n e x t d ay, t o b eg i n m y j o u r n e y h o m e , wi t h o u t a c h an ce t o see m y friend again.

W h a t I f o u n d wa s n o t q u i t e t h e i n v i t at i o n I h a d h o p e d f o r. I t wa s a s u m m o n s. R o ar k wa s i n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d , h e w r o t e, an d I wa s t o j o i n h i m a t a h o t el i n C h en n ai at o n c e . Al t h o u g h Ch e n n a i wa s m o r e t h an 2 , 0 0 0 m i l e s a wa y, a n d m o n s o o n r el i ef w as ar o u n d t h e c o r n e r, I c o u l d n ’t s a y n o . I d i d n ’t w an t t o . Al t h o u g h k e e p i n g u p wi t h R o ar k can b e e x h a u s t i n g , o n e n e v e r t i r e s o f h i s co m p an y s o , wi t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , I s et t l ed u p so m e u n f i n i s h e d b u s i n e s s , a n d p r e p ar ed t o l eav e f o r Ta m i l Na d u s t a t e , o n t h e so u t h east er n t i p of India.

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TWO:

DOUBTING THOMAS W he n I stepped off the pl a n e i n Ch e n n a i , t h e moist he at almos t knocked m e o v e r. Th e f i r s t o r der of bus ines s was to f i n d a “ Ge n o ” t o t a ke me into the city. A d a r k - s k i n n e d d r i v e r w ave d me over to his old Hi n d u Am b a s s a d o r.

I climbe d into the car and g a v e h i m t h e a d d r e s s o f a hot el in M ylapore, an o l d n e i g h b o r h o o d i n t he southern part of the c i t y, n o t f a r f r o m t he a irport, which was a g o o d t h i n g s i n c e t h e A m bassa dor did not have a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g .

I not i ce d that the Tamil d r i v e r wa s we a r i n g a c r oss. H e told me he belo n g e d t o t h e o l d e s t C hri stia n s ect on the s ubco n t i n e n t , o r i g i n a l l y c onve rte d by St. Thomas t h e Ap o s t l e .

“ A t e m p l e o f S h i v a, ” h e r ep l i ed d i sm i ssi v el y. “ Th e r e a r e m an y su ch t em p l es i n Tam i l Na d u . ” We d r o v e aw h i l e l o n g er b ef o r e t h e d r i v er q u i c k l y b r ak ed . “T h er e, ” h e sai d ex ci t ed l y.

At f i r s t I t h o u g h t t h at S h i v a o r S t . T h o m as i n t h e f lesh h ad st ep p e i n f r o n t o f t h e Am b a s s a d o r. I l o o k ed t o w h er e h e w as p o i n t i n g an d saw an u t t er l y u n i m p r essi v e c a t h e d r a l i n t h e n eo - G o t h i c st y l e. “ Th e r e i s S an t h o m e! ” h e ex cl ai m ed . “ Th e c h u r ch ?”

“ Doubting Thomas was in I n d i a ? ” I a s k e d . “ Ye s,” he ans wered with s o m e a n n o y a n c e . “ He wa s martyred here b y a n g r y Br a h m i n s .

H i s tomb is by the hotel.”

A s w e e ntered M ylapore I wa s s t r u c k b y t he number of temples a n d b y t h e i r u n i q u e a r c hite c tural s tyle. One in p a r t i c u l a r, c a u g h t my atte ntion. It looked l i k e i t b e l o n g e d a nothe r planet. “What is th a t ? ” I a s k e d .

“ Th i s i s w h er e h e b u i l t h i s ch u r ch , ” h e sai d , wh i c h s e em ed d o u b t f u l t o m e. “ An d h e r e h i s h o l y r em ai n s ar e b u r i ed . ” Ye s , I a lm o st sai d , an d L o r d S h i v a i s a n e i g h b o r of m i n e.

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JAMIE THOMAS, Revivalist

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THREE: Ro a r k h a d l e f t a n o t e a t t h e f r o n t d esk , ask i n g m e t o m e e t h i m a t a r e s t a u r a n t n o t f ar f r o m th e St . Th o m a s Ca t h e d r a l . I wa l k ed o v er, fr o m m y h o t e l a n d r e a c h e d t h e r e st au r an t at th e a p p o i n t e d t i m e . As s o o n a s I en t er ed I wa s a c c o s t e d b y t wo u n i f o r m e d t h u g s, an d dr a g g e d t o wa r d s t h e b a c k o f t he d ar k en ed ro o m . St r u g g l e wa s u s e l e s s a s t h e t w o cap t o r s we r e q u i t e s t r o n g a n d h a d a t i g h t g r i p o n m y ar m s . I n o t i c e d t h a t y o u n g m e n i n p r i so n g ar b we r e l e a v i n g t h e k i t c h e n wi t h p l at es f u l l o f fo o d . I wa s s o o n d e p o s i t e d a t a d ar k en ed boo t h we r e I r e c o g n i z e d m y o l d f r i en d b y his Ch e s h i r e c a t s m i l e . M y c a p t o r s r el eased m e a n d Ro a r k c l a s p e d m e i n a b o n e- b r eak i n g bea r h u g .

M y c a p t o r s l a u g h e d j o v i a l l y, a s Ro ar k h an d ed th e m a f i s t f u l o f r u p e e s .

“W h a t ’s t h e n a m e o f t h i s p l a c e , Mi d n i g h t Pas s a g e ? ” I a s k e d .

“Th i s wa s Si m o n e ’s i d e a , ” h e s a i d . “A p r i v at e jo k e , y o u m i g h t s a y. ” J u s t t h e n a n o l i v e - s k i n n e d , d ar k - h ai r ed bea u t y r o s e f r o m t h e t a b l e a n d s t ep p ed i n t o th e l i g h t . I h a d s e e n Ro a r k wo r k h i s m ag i c on b e a u t i f u l wo m e n b e f o r e b ut t h i s o n e bel o n g e d t o a c l a s s o f h e r o wn . “S o m et i m es, wh e n Ro a r k i s n o t s o n i c e . Or r e l u ct an t t o d o m e a f a v o r, I h a v e t o r e m i n d h i m o f D ak ar, ” she said.

“Sh e wo n ’t l e t m e f o rg e t i t . ”

PRISON BOUND “ On l y wh e n I n e e d y o u r h e l p . ” Ro a r k l o o k e d a t m e a n d s h o o k h i s h ead . “ Wo m e n c a n b e r u t h l e s s ! ” “ An d r e s o u r c e f u l . ” I t wa s c l e a r t o m e t h a t Ro a r k an d S i m o n e h a d a l o n g h i s t o r y. Th e i r b a nt er w as at t u r n s p l a y f u l a n d s p i k e y. Ne i t h e r w as i n t h r al l o r i n t i m i d a t e d b y t h e o t h e r a n d at t i m es t h er e wa s a f r a t e r n a l a s p e c t t o t h ei r r el at i o n s, wh i c h l e f t a t i n g e o f i l l i c i t er o t i ci sm w h en t h e i r f i n g e r s wo u l d l i g h t l y t o u ch . I h ad a g u t f e e l i n g t h a t i f e v e r t h e r e wa s a m at ch f o r m y f r i e n d , h e h a d f o u n d i t i n Si mo n e.

“FOREVER ROAMING”

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Monsoon Church

“TIGER LOTUS”

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FOUR: TIGER BY THE TAIL Over a din n e r, d e l i v e r e d b y g r u ff wa i t e r s d r essed as g u ar d s, I l ear n ed that S imon e wa s t h e d a u g h t e r o f a Fr e n c h d i p l o m at an d h ad b een rais ed in se v e r a l d i ff e r e n t c o u n t r i e s a l l o ver t h e g l o b e. S h e w as, t o s ay the lea s t , wo r l d - wi s e a n d s p o k e m u l t i p l e l an g u ag es. S h e h ad come to In d i a wi t h h e r m o t h e r a n d h a d o rgan i zed a r en d ezv o u s w i t h Roark in Mu n n a r, a h i l l s t a t i o n i n n e a r b y K er al a st at e, w h er e t h e Englis h co l o n i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s s p e n t t h e i r su m m er s, d u r i n g t h e R aj .

During thei r s t a y t h e r e wa s a n i g h t l y c u r f ew as a r o g u e t i g er w as prowling th e t e a f i e l d s , l e a v i n g b e h i n d a t r ai l o f ev i scer at ed l i v est o ck and pets . “ Wa s i t a Ta m i l t i g e r, ” I a s k e d .

“No,” repli e d Si m o n e . “ I t wa s a Be n g a l . ” One night, wh i l e Ro a r k a n d Si m o n e we r e d r i n k i n g i n t h ei r q u ar t er s, they learne d t h a t t h e l o c a l s h a d o rg a n i z e d a h u n t f o r t h e t i g er. R o ar k , who had s ta r t e d o u t o n Bu rg u n d y b u t s o o n h i t t h e h ar d er st u ff , i n si st ed on joining t h e h u n t a n d Si m o n e h a d t o p h y si cal l y r est r ai n h i m f r o m leaving the i r h o t e l . Ro a r k , t i r e d f r o m t h e w i n e an d b o o ze, so o n cu r l ed up and fell a s l e e p a s g e n t l e a s a k i t t e n .

They woke u p t o f i n d t h e m o o d h a d s h i f t ed i n Mu n n ar. T h at d ay Roark was g r e e t e d wi t h g r e a t d e f e r e n c e b y t h e l o cal s, so m e o f w h o m genuflected b e f o r e h i m . Th i s i r k e d Si m o n e, w h o t h o u g h t i t w as s exis t and a n i n d i c a t i o n o f p o s t - c o l o n i a l s e r v i t u d e. L at er, w h en so m e children da n c e d a r o u n d t h e m c h a n t i n g “ Ba ag h ! B aag h ! ” sh e f el t t h ey were being i m p u d e n t . Th e h u n t wa s a p p ar en t l y su ccessf u l b ecau se the tiger wa s n e v e r h e a r d f r o m a g a i n a n d t h e cu r f ew w as l i f t ed . T h ei r tranquility wa s , h o we v e r, i n t e r r u p t e d a f e w d ay s l at er w h en S i m o n e received a c a l l f r o m a h o t e l c l e r k t e l l i n g h er t h at h e m o t h er h ad n o t returned to h e r r o o m f o r s o m e d a y s . Sh e had l ef t b eh i n d so m e o f h er things , no f o r wa r d i n g a d d r e s s , a n d a n u n p a i d b i l l .

Monsoon Church

JAMIE THOMAS, Revivalist

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“SIMONE”

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S i m o n e w as f i n al l y ab l e t o d r ag R o ar k o ut of t he Toddy Bar and lead hi m b ack t o t h ei r h o t el . R o ar k w as i n el ev at ed s pi r i ts f r om the palm w ine and seem i n g l y i m m u n e t o al l o f Si m o n e’s appeal s , r eluctant to abandon t he r ev el s i n t h e h i l l co u n t r y b u t Si m o n e h ad t r um p car d to play. S he pr es ented a l et t er f r o m R o ar k , sm u g g l ed o u t o f Mau r i t a ni an pr is on, r eques ting her hel p.

H o w h e w o u n d u p t h er e, I d o n ’t k n o w, b u t i t w as the r es ult of complicat ed ch ai n o f ev en t s t h at b eg an i n D ak ar, and a l arge r ans om w as involved.

I d o n ’t k n o w w h at st r i n g s w er e p u l l ed , w h a t r es our ces w er e called upon, but R o ar k ’s si g n ed o ff h i s l et t er w i t h t h e w o r ds , “f or ever in debt.”

i n cen sed S i m o n e. “Wh at i s i t w i t h t h ese f ool i s h people and their s heep?” sh e ask ed . ( I r ecal l ed , f r o m m y t r av el s, that “baagh” w as the H indi w or d f o r t i g er b u t , si n ce I d o n ’t k n o w w h at l an g uage is mos t common in K er al a, I k ep t t h at p o ssi b i l i t y t o m y sel f . )

FOREVER IN DEBT

Th is new s th re w Simo ne into a p a ni c . He r m o t h e r, as t h e w i f e o f a d i p l o m at , ha d live d in man y, f ar mo re un st a b l e p l ace s i n t he T hi r d Wo r l d an d w o u l d cer tain ly be aler t to a ny da ng er s t ha t M un na r m i g h t p r o v i d e. S i m o n e r u sh ed ou t to fin d R oar k. Sh e f ou nd h i m , a f t er g r ea t di ff i c ul t y, h o l d i n g co u r t l i k e s ome g ra nd “S ah ib” in a ru n -d o w n To d d y B ar, su r r o u n d ed b y w o r sh i p f u l w or ker s f ro m th e nea rby tea p l a nt a t i o n s an d a d o ze n or so em p t y p l ast i c cu ps on the dir t flo or. R oar k d o wn ed a p al m t o dd y i n o n e g u l p , t o t h e vo cal app rov al o f h is aud ien ce a s Si m o ne wa l ke d i n . W he n S i m o n e i n f o r m ed him th at he r moth er w a s mis s i ng , h e w i pe d h i s m o ut h an d sh r u g g ed h i s s hou lder s . H is i nitial r es po ns e w as t o su gg es t t ha t m am an w as h av i n g a ro mantic tr ys t w ith a Tami l be l l b o y a nd w o u l d s ho w u p , i n d u e t i m e, fo llow ed by a ny n umb er o f e x cu se s f o r i n a ct i o n . S i m o n e co n cl u d ed t h at eith er Roa rk se cr etly w is he d h er m o t h er i l l , or h e w as an o u t r i g h t co w ar d .

S he tho ugh t th at c hallen g in g h i s m an ho od i n f r o n t o f h i s f an s m i g h t d o the trick bu t wh en s he c alled Ro a rk a co wa rd , t h e ch o i r ch i m ed i n w i t h de ris ive la ugh ter and m ore cha nt s of “Ba a gh ! B a ag h ! B aag h ! ” w h i ch f u r t h er

FIVE:

SIX: A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Da y s p a s s e d a n d Si m o n e ’s m o t h e r d i d n o t r eap p ear. T h er e w as n o poo l b o y, n o r r a n s o m n o t e . Bu t t h er e w as, f i n al l y, so m e act i o n ab l e in f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e wh e r e ab o u t s o f d ear o l d Mam an . I t cam e fr o m a l o c a l Ta m i l g i r l wh o h a d u n t i l r ecen t l y, b een w o r k i n g as a s e r v a n t t o a Fr e n c h f a m i l y i n Pu d u ch er r y. S h e w as l et g o w h en t h e fa m i l y j o i n e d a n e a r b y a s h r a m b u t , sh o r t l y b ef o r e h er d i sm i ssal , th e r e a r r i v e d a wo r l d l y Fr e n c h wo m an w i t h an ap p ar en t l y i m p er i o u s, co n t i n e n t a l a i r, wh o h a d o n c e b e e n sch o o l m at es w i t h t h e m i st r ess o f th e h o u s e .

Sim o n e ’s f a m i l y h a d l i v e d i n s o m e o f t h e w o r l d ’s m o st v o l at i l e re g i o n s – t h e M i d d l e Ea s t , We s t Af r i ca, I n d o ch i n a- d u e t o h er f at h er ’s dip l o m a t i c p o s t i n g s a n d t h e v i c i ssi t u d es o f d ai l y l i f e r eq u i r ed a hei g h t e n e d a l e r t n e s s t o t h e m y r i a d r i sk s o n e en co u n t er s l i v i n g i n a h o t s p o t . Bu t c o u p s , c a r t e l s , c i v i l wa r s an d ep i d em i cs h ad n o t , ev i d en t l y, s t e e l e d Si m o n e ’s m o t h e r a g a i n s t t h e sed u ct i v e p o w er s o f I n d i a’s r i ch s p i r i t u a l t r a d i t i o n s . Th e y h a d s n ar ed m an y an u n w i t t i n g West er n er bef o r e h e r, i n c l u d i n g t h e e r s t wh i le co n v en t sch o o l ch u m i n t r o d u ced Sim o n e ’s m o t h e r t o t h e a s h r a m . I m m ed i at el y af t er sh e en t er ed T h e Ci t y o f Go l d , t h e m o t h e r r e n o u n c ed t h e w o r l d an d al l o f h er w o r l d l y pos s e s s i o n s .

“Wa s y o u r m o t h e r a r e l i g i o u s p e r so n ?” I ask ed .

“No t i n t h e l e a s t , ” s h e s a i d . “ Th e n u n s m ad e su r e o f t h at . ”

KUMAR’S TUK-TUK

Si m o n e h a d m a d e a n u m b e r o f at t em p t s t o sp eak t o h er m o t h er b u t h ad b e e n r e b u ff e d . “ W h a t k e e p s y o u f r o m m ar ch i n g i n t h er e an d l eav i n g wi t h y o u r m o t h e r ? ” I a s k e d . “ S u r el y t h ey can ’t st o p y o u . ” “ Yo u d o n ’t u n d e r s t a n d , t h i s p l ace i s d i ff er en t , “ sh e sai d . “I t i s l i k e i t s o wn c i t y, wi t h i t s o wn s e c u r i t y, i t s o w n l aw s. T h ey b r i b e g o v er n m en t o ff i c i a l s t o b e l e f t a l o n e . I t i s l i k e i t s o w n co u n t r y. ”

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SEVEN: TIGER A ft er an overnight bu s r i d e a c r o s s t h e i n t e r i o r to C hennai, I s lept fo r a f e w h o u r s i n a d i n g y c olonial hotel. When I a wo k e , m y h e a d wa s he a vy from all the w i n e . Ro a r k a n d Si m o n e ha d already gone out a n d h a d l e f t n o m e s s a g e for me. I grabbed a m a p f r o m t h e f r o n t d e s k a nd headed out onto t h e s t r e e t s , h o p i n g t h e fre sh air would clear m y h e a d . I s t a y e d o n t h e shady s ide of the tree - l i n e d s t r e e t s a n d g o t a c lose up view of s om e o f t h e f i n e e x a m p l e s of the unique Dravidia n a r c h i t e c t u r e f o u n d i n Sout h ern India. I felt d r a wn , h o we v e r, b y t h e shore, which I knew to b e n e a r b y, a n d g u i d e d by the map, made my wa y t o wh a t I e x p e c t e d to be the placid water s o f t h e Ba y o f Be n g a l .

I wa lked along the p r o m e n a d e t h a t p a r a l l e l s the c oas t and noticed t h a t d e s p i t e t h e g l o o m y ski es , the beach wa s t e e m i n g wi t h p e o p l e a nd activity.

Wome n i n b r i g h t l y c o l o r e d saris s trolled the bea c h e s t i g h t l y c l u t c h i n g the h ands of their c h i l d r e n o r e a c h o t h e r.

I noticed that all gav e a wi d e b e r t h t o t h e shoreline, and nobod y s p l a s h e d a m o n g t h e w aves , that, I notice d , we r e l a p p i n g r a t h e r

IN THE TANK

a g g r e ssi v el y at t h e sh o r el i n e. T h e co ast o f Ta m i l N ad u seem ed u t t er l y v u l n er ab l e, d e f e n sel ess, ag ai n st t h e cy cl o n es t h at r i se u p o u t o f t h e B ay o f B en g al an d t h e t su n am i s t h a t t r av er se t h e o cean an d I r em em b er ed , as t h e s ki es o v er h ead d ar k en ed an d r ai n cl o u d s e n c i r cl ed t h e ci t y, t h at i t w as t h e b eg i n n i n g o f m o n so o n seaso n . I w as st r u ck b y t h e f ear o f i mm i n en t i n u n d at i o n . Wh en I r each ed t h e s t a t u e o f t h e Mah at m a, cap t u r ed m i d - st ep , l e a n i n g o n h i s w al k i n g st i ck , I t u r n ed i n l an d , t o wa r d s t h e saf et y o f m y h o t el .

J u s t as I w as ab o u t t o en t er, I h ear d a l o u d r o a r t o m y l ef t . S t ar t l ed , I q u i ck l y t u r n ed t o s e e R o ar k d r i v e o n t o t h e si d ew al k b esi d e m e , m o u n t ed o n a b r an d n ew R o y al E n f i el d Co n t in en t al G T. S i m o n e sat b eh i n d h i m , h er a r m s cl u t ch i n g t i g h t ar o u n d h i s w ai st . R o ar k r e v v e d t h e en g i n e l o u d l y, b ef o r e t u r n i n g t h e k e y t o o ff . “Wh at d o y o u t h i n k ?” h e ask ed . “ Be a t s t h e h el l o u t o f t h e o l d 3 5 0 , ” I sai d , r e f e r r i n g t o t h e b r o k en d o w n h u n k o f m et al h e h a d w h en I f i r st en co u n t er ed h i m o n t h e r o a d s i d e i n K at h m an d u .

I s h o u l d n o t h av e b een su r p r i sed t h at R o ar k h a s m an y f r i en d s i n h i g h p l aces, i n cl u d i n g Ro y a l E n f i el d ’s i n t er n at i o n al h ead q u ar t er s, i n Chen n ai . R o ar k d i sem b ar k ed an d g al l an t l y l i f t e d S i m o n e f r o m t h e b ack seat , an d t h e t h r e e o f u s st ar t ed t o w ar d s t h e f r o n t d o o r t o g e t h er. B u t as I l o o k ed b ack at t h e sh i n y n ew m o t o r cy cl e, I saw so m et h i n g t h at cau sed m e t o d o a d o u b l e t ak e: d an g l i n g f r o m t h e b ack s e a t o f t h e E n f i el d G T w as w h at ap p ear ed t o b e t h e o r an g e an d b l ack st r i p ed t ai l o f a v er y, v e r y larg e cat .

23

Monsoon Church

“ARTIFACTS”

25

EIGHT: SURFING WITH SHIVA Over breakfas t Ro a r k i n f o r m e d u s t h a t we had a st o p t o m ak e, f i f t y kilometers do wn t h e c o a s t , wh e r e t h e r e wa s an an ci en t S h i v a t em p l e built right on t h e c o a s t . Pu d u c h e r r y wo u l d wa i t . I w as su r p r i sed , si n ce I didn’t know Ro a r k t o h a v e a s t r o n g i n t e r e st i n cu l t u r al l an d m ar k s.

He didn’t. He i n f o r m e d u s t h a t t h e b e s t wa v e i n Tam i l N ad u , i f y o u timed it righ t , wa s i n f r o n t o f a n a n c i e n t S h i v a t em p l e. “I ’ v e b een keeping an ey e o n t h e c o n d i t i o n s , ” h e s a i d .

So had I. Th e s k y wa s d a r k a n d a n g r y a n d i t l o o k ed l i k e t h e B ay o f Bengal was g o i n g t o wh i p u p a c y c l o n e a t a n y m o m en t . “T h i s st o r m could make f o r s o m e e p i c M a h a b s , ” h e s a i d .

Roark and Sim o n e t o o k o ff o n t h e Ro y a l En f i el d an d I f o l l o w ed i n a taxi, heading f o r t h e Sh o r e Te m p l e , o n e o f t h e o l d est st o n e t em p l es in s outhern I n d i a .

As I was fum b l i n g i n m y p o c k e t , l o o k i n g f o r r u p ees t o p ay m y d r i v er, I noticed Roa r k t a l k i n g t o a t h i n , d a r k s k i n n ed m an w i t h an ascet i c cas t and s un- b l e a c h e d m a t t e d h a i r p i l e d o n h i s h ead . H e l o o k ed l i k e the holy men o n e f i n d s a l l o v e r t h e s u b - c o n t i n en t , t h e d i ff er en ce b ei n g that his face wa s d e c o r a t e d i n z i n c r a t h e r t han t h e b r i g h t co l o r s o n e as s ociates wit h t h e h o l y m e n . Th e t wo m e n w er e ex am i n i n g a q u i v er of boards lai d o u t o n t h e s a n d a s I wa l k e d up an d R o ar k i n t r o d u ced me to Govind a , wh o Ro a r k d e s c r i b e d a s h i s “ S u r f i n g S ad h u . ” Wh en h e s poke I notice d h i s a c c e n t wa s m o r e Ca l i f o r n i an t h an Tam i l . H e t o l d me he was fro m No r t h Co u n t y Sa n Di e g o a n d l ear n ed h o w t o su r f at a break beneath t h e Se l f Re a l i z a t i o n Ce n t e r.

Roark picked o u t a b o a r d a n d Go v i n d a l e f t u s w i t h a b l essi n g .

“I thought S a d h u s r e n o u n c e d t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d , ” I sai d .

Roark jus t s mi l e d , t h e n t u r n e d t o f a c e t h e o c e an b ef o r e h i m .

The s ea look e d r o u g h , u n m a n a g e a b l e , b u t Ro ar k w as p at i en t , w ai t i n g

for the winds to c h a n g e d i r e c t i o n . Hu g e granite boulders h a d b e e n p l a c e d t o f o r m a breakwater, pr o t e c t i n g t h e t e m p l e f r o m e ros ion and the r i s i n g s e a . Th e b r e a k wa t e r was in place duri n g t h e t s u n a m i , wh i c h l e f t the S hore Temple u n t o u c h e d b u t p r o v i d e d a nother unexpecte d g i f t f r o m t h e s e a s o n when an ancient st o n e l i o n wa s e x p o s e d wh e n the receding ts unam i wa v e s t o o k c e n t u r i e s o f sand with them.

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“ S U R F I N G S WA M I ”

Monsoon Church

T he three of us wande r e d a r o u n d t h e t e m p l e , like children in the tid e p o o l s , e a c h wa n d e r i n g off alone, exploring, b u t c a l l i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n of the others when s o m e d i s c o v e r y wa s m a d e .

b e a c h , seem i n g t o h o l d t h e w av e o p en , as i t c u r l e d , l i k e a h an d cu p p i n g t h e ai r, ar o u n d Ro a r k an d h i s su r f b o ar d . H i s v an i sh i n g act wa s mo st i m p r essi v e an d I t h o u g h t t h i s w as

I followed S imone int o t h e m a i n t e m p l e .

t h e r e aso n f o r t h e su d d en ch eer i n g I h ear d o n t h e b each . I assu m ed t h at so m e o f t h e l o cal Ta m i ls w h o h ad co m e d o w n t o t h e b each t o wa t c h , w er e ex p r essi n g t h ei r ap p r o v al o f h i s p e r f or m an ce b u t i t w asn ’t h i s p er f o r m an ce t h e y w er e ch eer i n g . I l o o k ed t o m y l ef t an d s a w S i m o n e, st r i p p i n g o ff t h e l ast o f h er c l o t h in g , d o w n t o h er b l ack , l ace u n d er w ear.

I t wa s, I ad m i t , a m ag n i f i cen t si g h t , b u t o n e n o t u su al l y seen o n I n d i an b each es w h er e t h e w o m en ar e u su al l y w el l co v er ed u p i n f l o win g sar i s. I t h o u g h t t h at S i m o n e l o o k ed l i k e on e o f t h e g o d d ess d ei t i es car v ed i n t o t h e t e m p le w al l s at Mad h y a P r ad esh .

T he s hrine was dedic a t e d t o Sh i v a a n d h a d a tie re d pyramid ris ing a b o v e i t , wi t h i n t r i c a t e c a rvings , and at its ce n t e r a we l l - wo r n l i n g a m tha t was of particul a r i n t e r e s t t o Si m o n e , st ood erect. It was s u r r o u n d e d b y v o t a r y offerings including s o m e r i c e s p r i n k l e d a t i t s ba se, s ome wilting fl o we r s , r o t t i n g f r u i t a n d sm elt of s poilt milk. I e x p l a i n e d t o h e r t h a t , in the Shiva tradition , t h e l i n g a m i s a s y m b o l of the productive an d c r e a t i v e p r i n c i p l e o f na ture. “It has nothi n g a t t o d o wi t h s o m e sort of obs cene phall i c c u l t , ” I s a i d , b u t s h e see med unconvinced.

Si m o ne danced playf u l l y a r o u n d t h e s h r i n e , in w hat appeared to be a f u s i o n o f b u r l e s q u e a nd Bollywood, attra c t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n o f som e of the touris ts a n d y o u n g b o y s . Ro a r k re ma ined focus ed on t h e wa v e s .

T he sea looked angry t o m e . Ro a r k wa t c h e d inte ntly as the tide d r o p p e d , wa i t i n g f o r the wind to s hift. Su d d e n l y, a wa r m b r e e z e be a t agains t our back s . Ro a r k s t o o d u p a n d sm i l ed. I was amazed a t h i s a b i l i t y t o r e a d the conditions , to anti c i p a t e t h e c h a n g e i n t h e w i nd s . To me he s ee m e d l i k e s o m e s o r t o f c onjurer, as magnific e n t i n h i s o wn wa y, a s the stone lion.

R oark waxed the boar d t h a t h e h a d b o r r o we d from a local and wa i t e d f o r a l u l l b e f o r e pa ddling out to wh e r e t h e b r e a k e r s we r e looming high. I wat c h e d Ro a r k s l i d e i n t o his firs t wave. F or a m o m e n t h e d i s a p p e a r e d into the gray-green wa t e r, b e f o r e , t o m y a ma zement coming ou t t h e e n d o f i t . Th e s p r a y ble w hard from the w a r m wi n d c o m i n g o ff t h e

Si m o n e t h en w ad ed i n t o t h e ch u r n i n g w at er a n d d o v e u n d er a w av e, p o p p i n g u p l i k e a d o lp h i n af t er t h e w av e h ad p assed , an d s wa m w i t h t h e g r ace o f a m er m ai d o u t t o wh e r e R o ar k w as si t t i n g . I co u l d see R o ar k o ff e r i n g h er a p l ace o n h i s su r f b o ar d b u t sh e r e f u s ed , sh ak i n g h er h ead . R o ar k ap p ear ed t o b e l a u g h i n g . A set o f l arg e w av es ap p r o ach ed a n d I f ear ed f o r S i m o n e’s saf et y. R o ar k sw ep t h e r o n t o t h e b o ar d an d l ay d o w n o n t o p o f h er.

To g e th er t h ey r o d e t h e w av e i n , w h i l e l ay i n g p r o n e, o n e at o p t h e o t h er, R o ar k an g l i n g t h e b o a r d so t h at i t st ay ed i n t h e g r een p ar t o f t h e wa t e r, o u t r u n n i n g t h e ch u r n i n g w h i t ew at er.

Th e y r o d e u p o n t o t h e b each an d I r eal i zed wh a t t h e r easo n w as f o r S i m o n e’s r el u ct an ce t o c l im b o n t o t h e b o ar d an d w h y sh e w as l a u g h i n g . S h e l ef t t h e w at er w i t h p r i d e, s t a n d i n g t al l , co v er i n g h er b ar e b r east s w i t h h e r a r m s b ef o r e sl i p p i n g o n h er b l o u se.

Th e m en o n t h e b each n ei t h er ch eer ed n o r j e e r e d , i n st ead t h ey b o w ed t h ei r h ead s h u m b l i n g , aw ar e t h at t h ey w er e i n t h e p r e s en ce o f a g o d d ess.

29

NATE ZOLLER, Revivalist

31

NATE ZOLLER, Mahabs

33

Monsoon Church

35

It wa s d ur ing th is per iod of kn oc k i n g ab ou t , t h at h e re co g n i zed t h er e w as a s pir itual aw ake ning in h is co un t ry, m o s t l y i nv ol v i ng f or ei g n er s, w h o w er e dr aw n to I ndi a b y its r ich sp iri t u al t ra d i t i o n s . H e sa w a p o st er ad v er t i si n g a lec tu re by a lea ding gu ru , ju st b ac k f ro m a s uc c es sf u l t o u r o f t h e West , an d de cide d to s ee w hat it w as abo ut . Ma n y i n t h e au di e n ce a p p ear ed t o b e f r o m Eu rop e o r Ame rica . H e no ticed t h a t t h e au di e n ce wa s sp el l b o u n d , al t h o u g h he cou ld tell the y s tr u ggl ed w i t h so m e o f t er m s d r a wn f r o m t h e Ved as.

S ri Go sw a mi , th e gro up ’s f o u n d er s h o w ed l i t t l e i nt e r est i n t h e sp i r i t u al matte rs in his yo uth. H e w a s a n a vi d s po rt s f an an d h i s y o u t h f u l am b i t i o n w as to w rite abo ut cr ick et fo r o ne o f t h e C a l cu t t a da i l i es. H e g o t i n t o a un iver s ity in E ngla nd, w her e he st u di e d p hi l o so p h y, bu t lef t w i t h o u t a d eg r ee w hen his the s is o n N ietz sch e wa s r ej e c t ed . U p o n hi s r et u r n t o C al cu t t a, he s pen t mu ch of hi s time w a t c hi n g cr i c ke t m at c h es at E d en G ar d en . H i s on ly amb ition w a s to wr ite a b o u t cr i ck e t fo r o ne o f C al cu t t a d ai l i es. H e w as tur ned d ow n b y th e S tat es m an an d t h e Te l e gr ap h , w h o t o l d h i m h e lac ked s uffici ent Englis h sk il l s , a s l i gh t h e n e ve r f org o t , an d t o o k a j o b w ith a B eng ali-la ngu age w eek l y, wr i t i n g a bo ut sp o r t s . He l ef t t h i s j o b a f ew ye ars later, un der u nex plai ned c i r cu m st a nc e s, a ft e r t h e m at t er w as set t l ed ou t of c our t.

Ro ark and S imone ret ir ed ea rly t ha t ni g ht , an d I u se d t h e t i m e al o n e t o r ead up o n th e s pir itual mov emen t t h at h ad s n a re d S i m o n e’s m o t h er.

T h e b r i g h t l i g h t t h at w en t o ff i n Sr i G o sw am i ’s head w as to link Eas t t o West t h r o u g h t h e p h i l o so p h i cal co r r esp o ndence of N ietzs che’s idea of t h e E t er n al R et u r n an d t h e Ved i c i d ea o f r ei ncar nation. N ot w anting t o al i en at e p o t en t i al West er n f o l l o w er s, G o swam i claimed to have no r eligious aff i l i at i o n al t h o u g h m u ch o f w h at h e ca l l ed “s pir itual technology” w as cu l l ed f r o m t h e H i n d u t r ad i t i o n . Th e t eachi ngs appear ed to be an incoher ent m i sh m ash o f t ech n i q u es cu l l ed f r o m t h e Vedas combined w ith ideas dr aw n f r o m t h e w r i t i n g s o f St . A u g u st i n e an d t h e G er m an P hilos opher s . H e thought t h e g o al o f ach i ev i n g m o k sh a, t h u s r el easing ones elf f r om the endles s cycl e o f r eb i r t h s w as t o o n eg at i v e f o r h i s West er n f ollow er s . I ns tead the goal w o u l d b e t h e cr eat i o n o f t h e ü b er m en sch , t hr ough the patented pr actice of S u p er Yo g a ™ .

H e l ef t t h e l ect u r e d eep l y i m p r essed w i t h the H ol y M an although he f elt that h e co u l d sp eak En g l i sh b et t er t h an h i m . T hi s w as the ker nel of ins pir ation t h at g r ew i n t o a g r eat m o v em en t an d , u l t i mat el y, an ideal city.

NINE: ETERNAL RETURNS

Monsoon Church

37

TEN:

VIVA LA FRANCE

Th e n e x t m o r n i n g we s e t o u t ear l y an d a r r i v e d i n Pu d u c h e r r y a f e w h o u r s l at er.

Th e c i t y h o s t e d a n u m b e r o f b u i l d i n g s t h at we r e t y p i c a l o f Fr e n c h c o l o n i al ar ch i t ect u r e, b r i n g i n g t o m i n d m y f i r s t i m p r essi o n o f Ha n o i , wh e r e Ro a r k a n d I h a d b eg u n o u r l ast a d v e n t u r e . Th e s t r e e t s we r e w i d e an d em p t y, t h e s t r e e t s i g n s a l l i n Fr e n c h . We f o u n d a h o t e l a n d b o o k e d t wo r o o m s, b ef o r e set t i n g o u t t o r e c o n n o i t e r t h e a r e a , dr i v i n g u p t o t h e g a t e s o f t h e Ci t y o f Go l d .

Ro a r k a n d I r e m a i n e d i n o u r r en t al car, as Si m o n e s t r u t t e d u p t o t h e g a t e. S h e w as an i m p r e s s i v e wo m a n , e v e n when sh e w asn ’t t r y i n g b u t s h e t o o k t o a n o t h e r l ev el w h en sh e p u t s o m e e ff o r t i n t o i t . Sh e h ad t r an sf o r m ed h e r s e l f , b e f o r e o u r e y e s , i n t o a f em m e f at al e, a p p r o a c h i n g t h e g u a r d h o u s e w i t h a co n f i d en t g a i t , t h r u s t i n g h e r b e s t f e at u r es f o r w ar d .

He r s t y l e o f f l i r t a t i o n wa s b o t h i n t i m i d at i n g a n d we l c o m i n g , a n u n s e t t l i n g co m b i n at i o n f o r m o s t m e n . Th e s u n d r o p p ed b en eat h t h e c l o u d s a s i t g o t c l o s e r t o t h e h o r i zo n an d w e c o u l d s e e , b e y o n d t h e Ci t y’s g at ed w al l s, a s t r a n g e , d o m e - s h a p e d b u i l d i n g . I t sh o n e b r i l l i a n t l y, i t ’s g o l d t i l e s r e f l ect i n g t h e su n ’s r a y s wi t h b l i n d i n g i n t e n s i t y.

Si m o n e r e t u r n e d wi t h a h a n d f u l o f b r o ch u r es a n d t h e t h r e e o f u s , h e a d e d b ack t o w ar d s Pu d u c h e r r y.

39

ELEVEN: THE CITY OF GOLD T ha t night, after kno c k i n g b a c k s e v e r a l b o t t l e s o f wi n e o v er d i n n er, I e xc us ed mys elf and r e t u r n e d , a l o n e , t o m y h o t e l r o o m . I h ad l ear n ed , from previous experie n c e , n o t t o m a k e t h e m i s t a k e of t r y i n g t o k eep up with my tireles s f r i e n d , e s p e c i a l l y i f d r i n k i n g was i n v o l v ed . N o t if I wanted to functio n t h e f o l l o wi n g d a y. Si m o n e , ev i d en t l y, h ad n o such problem and Ro a r k l a t e r c o n f i d e d i n m e t h a t sh e w as t h e o n l y pe rso n he knew who c o u l d d r i n k h i m u n d e r t h e t a b l e . I d eci d ed t o r ead up more on the as hram , b e f o r e h i t t i n g t h e s a c k .

T he City of Gold wa s , a c c o r d i n g t o i t s o wn l i t e r at u r e, a m o d el c ommunity, made up o f p e o p l e f r o m a l l o v e r t h e wo r l d , i n w h i ch T h e Te a ching –the philoso p h i c a l f o u n d a t i o n o f Sr i Go s wam i ’s m o v em en t w as us ed as a practica l g u i d e l i n e f o r h a r m o n i o u s l i v i n g .

It had been built, ove r a p e r i o d o f d e c a d e s , f o l l o wi n g t h e p l an s o f a fa mous French arch i t e c t wh o , i t wa s n o t e d , o n c e w o r k ed i n t h e a te lier of Le Corbusi e r. Th e c e n t e r p i e c e o f t h e c o m m u n i t y w as T h e Mul ligatawny, an oni o n - s h a p e d b u i l d i n g t i l e d i n s o l id g o l d , t h at w as used as a place of wo r s h i p , m e d i t a t i o n , a n d a s s e m b l y.

T he as hram had the n e g o t i a t e d a s p e c i a l c h a r t e r w i t h t h e I n d i an government to opera t e a c c o r d i n g t o i t s o wn l a ws a n d en j o y ed t h e support of various i n t e r n a t i o n a l b o d i e s , i n c l u d i n g U N E S C O , I MF, W TO and the OTO. On e o f i t s k e y s e l l i n g p o i n t s w as i t s cl ai m t o dispens e with the ex c h a n g e o f c u r r e n c y. I n s t e a d , a co m p l i cat ed system of barter and c h i t s wa s u s e d , wh i l e t h e h a r d cash w as h el d f o r safe keeping by the f i n a n c i a l o ff i c e r s o f t h e a s h r a m . I f el l asl eep , at tha t point, and dream e d t h a t t h e M u l l i g a t a wn y wa s a g i an t b an k v au l t , fille d to the brim wit h g o l d c o i n s . As i t wo u l d t u r n o u t , t h e d r eam w as not far off, but more o n t h a t l a t e r.

I w as awakened the n e x t m o r n i n g b y v i g o r o u s k n o c k i n g at m y d o o r.

R oark looked no wor s e f o r we a r. Ne i t h e r, f o r t h a t m a t t er, d i d S i m o n e.

T he two of them rema i n e d b u s y wh i l e I s l e p t . Ro a r k ch i d ed m e f o r my lazines s and anno u n c e d t h a t h e h a d a p r o m i s i n g l e ad , a F r en ch m an w ho, he had been to l d , o n c e s a t a t t h e r i g h t h a n d o f T h e Mast er a nd knew the s ecrets o f Th e Ci t y b e t t e r t h a n a n y o n e el se o u t si d e of its walls .

Monsoon Church

41

TWELVE: SATELLITE OF LOVE Th e Fr e n c h m a n wa s wa i t i n g f o r u s, at a caf é, o n a t i n y s i d e s t r e e t , wh e r e w e j o i n ed h i m at a n o u t d o o r t a b l e . He wo r e a Pan am a h at an d a wr i n k l e d , wh i t e l i n e n s u i t t h at st an k o f sw eat a n d p a t c h o u l i , a n d k e p t h i s d ar k g l asses o n t h r o u g h o u t o u r i n t e r v i e w, e v en t h o u g h t h e s k y r e m a i n e d d a r k a n d o v e r c ast .

“DEINCARNATE”

He h a d , h e t o l d u s , f o l l o we d S r i G o sw am i t o So u t h e a s t e r n I n d i a m a n y y e a r s b ef o r e, d u r i n g a p e r i o d o f s p i r i t u a l c r i s i s . T h e cr i si s w as s o o n r e s o l v e d a n d t h e Fr e n c h m an b ecam e o n e o f Go s wa m i ’s f i r s t f o l l o we r s , an d w as g i v en t h e n a m e Co m s a t . “ Th a t ’s a n u n u su al n am e, ” s a i d Ro a r k . “ I s i t Hi n d u ? ” “ No t e x a c t l y, ” s a i d Co m s at . “I t w as t h e e a r l y 6 0 s a n d Th e M a s t e r was i n t er est ed i n u s i n g c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a t e l l i tes t o sp r ead h i s message.”

Co m s a t q u i c k l y r o s e u p t h e r an k s t o b eco m e t h e g u r u ’s p e r s o n a l s e c r e t a r y, w o r k i n g cl o sel y wi t h t h e M a s t e r a s h e wo r k ed t o co m p l et e h i s t e n - v o l u m e m a g n u m o p u s cal l ed “T h e Te a c h i n g . ” Hi s c l o s e n e s s t o t h e Mast er ex ci t ed t h e j e a l o u s y o f s o m e o f h i s f el l o w ad ep t s, s o m e o f wh o m we r e p l o t t i n g t o sei ze co n t r o l o f t h e a s h r a m e v e n b e f o r e S r i G o sw am i ’s d e a t h , wh i c h , h e h i n t e d , o ccu r r ed u n d er s u s p i c i o u s c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I t ’s r u m o r ed t h a t t h e “ De i n c a r n a t e s ” f r o m C h en n ai we r e i n v o l v e d .

43

No t s u r p r i s i n g l y, Co m s a t r a n af o u l o f t h e n e w l e a d e r s h i p i m m e d i a t e l y a f t er G o sw am i , h i s p r o t e c t o r, l e f t t h e s c e n e . H i s m an u scr i p t s we r e c o n f i s c a t e d a n d h e wa s ev i ct ed f r o m t h e Th e Ci t y o f Go l d . “ Ca n y o u i m ag i n e m y d e s p a i r, ” h e a s k e d . “ I t wa s l i k e b ei n g cast o u t o f He a v e n . ” Co m s a t s e t u p c a m p i n Pu d u ch er r y, w h er e, h e s a i d , h e c o u l d “ g a t h e r i n t e ll i g en ce” ab o u t t h e n e w a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . At f i r st C o m sat w as t o l e r a t e d a s a m i l d n u i s a n c e an d h e m an ag ed t o r e t a i n t i e s t o s o m e f e l l o w ad ep t s w h o st i l l l i v e d i n t h e Ci t y o f Go l d b u t , af t er t h e f i r st o f wh a t h e s a i d we r e a s e r i e s o f a t t em p t s o n h i s l i f e , h e we n t f r o m b e i n g t h e ash r am ’s m o st l o y a l a d e p t , t o b e i n g i t s c h i e f d i ssi d en t .

I wo n d e r e d i f we we r e l i s t e n i n g t o t h e r av i n g s o f a l u n a t i c , a s Co m s a t s c a n n ed t h e st r eet a n d n e a r b y t a b l e s b e f o r e c o n t in u i n g w i t h h i s n a r r a t i o n , i n a h u s h e d v o i c e . “I k n o w w h er e the bodies are buried,” he said.

Si m o n e e x p r e s s e d a l a r m . “ C’ est v r ai ?” sh e asked.

Ro a r k q u i c k l y a s s u r e d h e r t h at C o m sat w as using a figure of speech.

THIRTEEN:

RADIANT CITIES

As I lis t e n e d t o Co m s a t ’s r a n t s , m y e y es g l azed o v er, I m i g h t h av e dozed o ff t h e n a n d t h e r e h a d n o t a f e w l arg e r ai n d r o p s y an k ed m e out of m y s t u p o r. I wo n d e r e d i f t h e r e w as an y t h i n g o f u se t o b e gotten f r o m t h i s m a n . He h a d a n a x e to g r i n d , t o b e su r e, an d w as nurturin g a wo u n d t h a t wa s , I t h o u g h t , m o st l i k el y sel f - i n f l i ct ed .

Coms at l i s t e d t h e m a n y c r i m e s o f t h e n ew ad m i n i st r at i o n , t h e “j u n t a” that he s a i d s e i z e d c o n t r o l o f t h e a s h r am an d w as p er v er t i n g t h e M as ter ’s m e s s a g e . I t wa s t r u e , h e h a d t o r el u ct an t l y ad m i t , t h at u n d er this gro u p ’s l e a d e r s h i p , Su p e r Yo g a ™ h ad b eco m e a v er y su ccessf u l and lucr a t i v e c h a i n , b u t t h e y h a d a l s o r e so r t ed t o sh ad y p r act i ces t o f i n d the fund i n g f o r c o m p l e t i o n o f Th e Ci t y o f G o l d . T h e n ew ad m i n i st r at i o n began t o c u t c o r n e r s , s p e e d i n g u p c o mp l et i o n o f t h e j o b , an d g o i n g agains t t h e p l a n s a s a p p r o v e d b y Th e M ast er. T h e ar ch i t ect w h o h ad overs ee n t h e p r o j e c t f o r t h i r t y y e a r s w as ap o p l ect i c, b u t p o w er l ess.

“Yet the y a n n o u n c e t h a t t h e y wi l l c o m p l et e t h e C i t y o f G o l d i n a f ew days ! B i g s p e c t a c l e . Bu t i t ’s n o t h o w i t w as en v i si o n ed ; I ’ v e seen the blue p r i n t s , ” s a i d Co m s a t . “ An d y e t t h ey ar e al r ead y p r ep ar i n g t o build an o t h e r a s h r a m i n t h e h e a r t o f Eu r o p e! ” “In Eur o p e ? ” a s k e d Ro a r k .

“It was t h e M a s t e r ’s d y i n g wi s h t h a t i n s t ead o f b r i n g i n g E u r o p e t o t h e as hram, we wo u l d b r i n g t h e a s h r a m t o th e E . U . ” “And aba n d o n Ta m i l Na d u ? ” “M erci, n o n , ” h e r e p l i e d . “ Di d Di s n e y ab an d o n A n ah ei m w h en h e went to Fl o r i d a ? He d i d n o t . To k y o ? Par i s? N o n . ” “That’s g o i n g t o t a k e a l o t o f m o n e y. ” “Oui, b u t t h e y h a v e , I h e a r d , j u s t a c q u i r ed t h e p r o p er t y. A si l l y w o m an donated h e r f a m i l y l a n d , o u t s i d e o f Pa r i s. A sh am e. ”

45

JAMIE THOMAS, Mahabs

47

Monsoon Church

FOURTEEN:

BURGUNDY

Si m o n e g a s p e d . We l e f t Co m sat at t h e t ab l e a n d wh i l e Ro a r k a n d I p o n d e r ed w h et h er t h er e wa s a n y t h i n g o f s i g n i f i c a n c e t o g l ean f r o m o u r i n t e r v i e w, Si m o n e r e m a i n e d si l en t . F i n al l y, Ro a r k a s k e d h e r wh a t s h e wa s t h i n k i n g . “ I ’ m t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e a sh r am o u t si d e o f Pa r i s , ” s h e s a i d . “ On m y m o t h er ’s si d e, t h er e i s a l o t o f l a n d , i n Bu rg u n d y. I t h as b een i n t h e f a m i l y f o r g e n e r a t i o n s an d g en er at i o n s.

Hu n d r e d s a n d h u n d r e d s o f y ear s. Man y t i m es t h e f a m i l y h a s b e e n a p p r o ach ed t o sel l . ‘ Yo u c o u l d m a k e a l o t o f m o n ey i f y o u sel l , ’ t h e y s a y. ” “ Wo u l d y o u r m o t h e r g i v e it aw ay ?” ask ed Ro a r k . “ Ab s o l u m e n t p a s ! Th e l a n d b el o n g s t o t h e f a m i l y. An d t o Fr a n c e . ”

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FIFTEEN: THE VAULT Th e n e x t c o u p l e o f d a y s we r e h ect i c. We i n i t i al l y t r i ed t o en t er t h e Ci t y o f Go l d a s v i s i t o r s b u t w er e t u r n ed d o w n - o u r ar r i v al i n t h e ci t y, a n d t h e r e a s o n f o r o u r a r r i v a l, h ad n o t g o n e u n n o t i ced - an d r ep eat ed a t t e m p t s t o r e a c h Si m o n e ’s m o t h er b y p h o n e al so m et w i t h f ai l u r e.

We d i d , h o we v e r, l e a r n t h a t S i m o n e’s f am i l y est at e h ad b een si g n ed over to the ashram.

M e a n wh i l e , a s Th e Ci t y o f G o l d n ear ed i t s co m p l et i o n , t h er e w as a v i s i b l e s p i k e i n t h e n u m b e r o f f o r ei g n er s i n P u d u ch er r y an d car av an s o f o ff i c i a l v e h i c l e s h e l d u p t r a ff i c o n t h e ci t y st r eet s. T h e l o cal p ap er s n o t e d t h e a r r i v a l o f v a r i o u s d i g n i t ar i es, i n cl u d i n g h ead s o f st at e an d U. N. o ff i c i a l s , a n d l o c a l g o s s i p t u r n ed t o w ar d s t h e p r o b ab i l i t y o f r ai n a n d i t s e ff e c t o n t h e c l i m a x o f t h e cel eb r at i o n , t h e cer em o n i al l ay i n g o f t h e f i n a l g o l d t i l e o f M u l l i g at aw n y, w h i l e t h e S y m p h o n y O r ch est r a o f I n d i a p e r f o r m s “ Al s o s p r a ch Z ar at h u st r a. ” Si m o n e wa s o n t h e v e rg e o f desp ai r an d R o ar k b ecam e u n cu st o m ar i l y q u i e t . Wa s h e b e s e t b y d o u b ts? Wer en ’t w e al l ? T h en w e r ecei v ed a c r u c i a l b i t o f i n f o r m a t i o n : t h e Mu l l i g at aw n y co n t ai n ed a v au l t , w h er e t h e c u r r e n c y a n d o t h e r v a l u a b l es su r r en d er ed b y t h e n ew “ci t i zen s” o f t h e Th e Ci t y o f Go l d wer e st o r ed , b ef o r e b ei n g l au n d er ed an d t r a n s f e r r e d t o o ff s h o r e a c c o u n t s. “ Th a t ’s wh e r e we ’ l l f i n d i t , ” sai d R o ar k . “ Th e c h a n g e o f t i t l e ? ” I a s k e d. “ W h a t a b o u t m y m o t h e r ? ” a s ked S i m o n e.

Ro a r k i g n o r e d h e r. “ We ’ v e g o t t o g et t h e b l u ep r i n t s t o t h e M u l l i g a t a wn y ! ” h e s a i d . He w as, o n ce ag ai n , a m an o n a m i ssi o n .

53

55

D r. H a djir w as no l ess d aun ting a f i g u r e w i t h a un ab r o w an d u n sm i l i n g f ace.

H e w as n ot, as I f irs t th ou gh t, a n i m m i g r a nt b u t pa r t o f t h e si zeab l e Tam i l

Vautrin was sitting in a chair when we entered, his head obscured by a cloud of pungent smoke, as D r. H adjir, the shop’s proprietor, carefully added a new line to a lengthy text that began, with already faded ink, at the top of his arm. Since I don’t read French I could only guess that it was an excerpt from a poem, an aphorism, or prayer that held special meaning to the Frenchman.

Vautrin seemed tightly bound, ready to spring at any moment. His lean, chiseled face betrayed no emotion and a Gauloise seemed to be permanently fixed to his lip. I remember Roark telling me, back in Hanoi, that the toughest customer you’ll find, anywhere in the world, is a F r en ch man .

O ne day I accompanied Roark to a meet i n g i n a s ee d y t at t o o p ar l o r w i t h M ons ieu r Vau tr in, a F ren ch exp at r e pu t ed t o h a ve b ee n a m er cen ar y i n v o l v ed in actio ns in M oza mb iqu e, A ng ol a , a nd t h e C om o ro s.

A fter lear nin g that th e City of Go d a r ch i t ect h ad “ di e d o f a b r o k en h ear t , ” my ho pes b ega n to fl ag, b ut Ro a rk w as u n d au nt e d . T hi s w as a ch al l en g e he accep ted w ith n o inte ntion o f l o si n g. Ro a rk de l i b er at el y l ef t m e i n t h e da rk a bou t s o me of hi s s che m es , as he a n d S i m on e ex p l o r ed al l av en u es, inc ludin g th os e tha t inv olv ed e l em en t s o f t h e Tam i l U n d er w o r l d an d , f o r s ome une xpla ined r eas on , a req ue st fo r an el e p h a nt .

NINETEEN:

TATTOO YOU

P er h ap s R o ar k sen sed m y d i sco m f o r t as , once the conver s ation s teer ed t o w ar d s t h e p ar t i cu l ar s o f p o t en t i al p l an s, he s ugges ted I w ait f or him at a n ear b y cu r r y sh o p . R o ar k j o i n ed m e a sh or t w hile later, as I w as f inis hing a cu p o f ch ai . I k n ew b et t er t h an t o ask h im f or details of the conver s ation an d I k n ew al l I n eed ed t o k n o w ab o u t t h e t w o m en. I w as , how ever, cur ious ab o u t Vau t r i n ’s t at t o o . Was i t , p er h ap s, som e ver s e by the f amous poet cr i m i n al F r an co i s Vi l l o n ?

“T h at ’s n o t v er se, ” sai d R o ar k . “I t ’s a l i s t of his s ins . H e’s having them t at t o o ed so t h at h e w o n ’t f o rg et t h em . ” N o r, I i m ag i n e, w i l l an y o n e el se.

o f a su rg eo n . I t w as m y u n d er st an d i n g t h at t at t oos w er e f or bidden by I s lam b u t i t w as cl ear t h at w e w er e i n t h e p r esence of men w ho r ecognized no au t h o r i t y b u t t h ei r o w n , t h at t h ei r p r o v i n ce w as the U nder w or ld and they w er e, b y ch o i ce, i n l eag u e w i t h t h e d am n e d.

Mu sl i m co m m u n i t y t h at r em ai n ed i n t h e sout h af ter P ar tition. I don’t know w h at k i n d o f d o ct o r h e w as b u t h e h an d l ed t he t attoo gun w ith the pr ecis ion

57

SEVENTEEN: BLISSED OUT We c a u g h t a b r e a k wi t h a c a l l f r o m C o m sat . “ Go s e e t h i s wo m a n , ” h e s a i d af t er g i v i n g u s a n a d d r e s s o n t h e o u t s k i r t s o f P u d u ch er r y. “ I t h i n k y o u m a y f i n d w h at y o u ar e l o o k i n g f o r. ” Th e s k i e s l o o k e d o m i n o u s , a s i f p r ep ar i n g f o r a d e l u g e o f e p i c p r o p o r t i o n s w h en w e p u l l ed u p t o a c o m p o u n d j u s t o u t s id e P u d u ch er r y.

Th e a r c h i t e c t u r e wa s m o d e r n , u n l i k e an y t h i n g e l s e a r o u n d e x c e p t , p e r h a ps, t h e C i t y o f Go l d , j u s t a f e w m i l e s a wa y. O u r co n t act , Ho l l y Ra n g o l i , a n Am e r i c a n w o m an i n h er m i d - t h i r t i e s , wi t h a b r o a d - s m i l e an d l o n g , h o n e y - b l o n d e t r e s s e s , g r e e t ed u s. S h e w o r e t r a d i t i o n a l I n d i a n g a r b a n d h e r w r i st s co v er ed wi t h b r a c e l e t s . He r m a n n e r s e em ed t o co n v ey a s t a t e o f p e r p e t u a l b l i s s b u t o t h er w i se t h er e wa s n o t h i n g e x c e p t i o n a l a b o u t h er ex cep t , p e r h a p s , t h e b i n d i o n h e r f o r eh ead an d a prominent bulge under her sari.

“HIGH & DRY”

Sh e h a d a l s o b e e n a n a d e p t o f S r i G o sw an i a n d h a d l i v e d f o r a f e w y e a r s at t h e ash r am a n d h a d s e e n s u c h s p i r i t u a l g r o w t h , i n su ch a s h o r t t i m e , t h a t c e r t a i n m em b er s o f t h e c o m m u n i t y c o u l d n o t c o n t a i n t h ei r en v y.

I t ’s k a r m a , s h e s a i d . Sh e h ad w o r k ed h ar d d u r i n g h e r p a s t l i v e s a n d t h i s w as h er r ew ar d .

I t p r o b a b l y d i d n ’t h e l p t h a t sh e m ai n t ai n ed s h e e n j o y e d a s p e c i a l r e l a t i o n sh i p w i t h T h e M a s t e r, h i n t i n g t h a t i t wa s a l s o an er o t i c o n e, a n d t h a t i t c o n t i n u e d a f t e r h is d eat h . C o m sat h a d wa r n e d u s t h a t s h e wa s a b i t “f l ak y, ” wh i c h s e e m e d t o m e , a n u n d er st at em en t . I ’ v e b e e n i n t h e r e g i o n a l o n g t i me an d t h i s o n e wa s a b o n a f i d e s p a c e c a s e .

Th e Ci t y ’s f a t h e r s f i n a l l y h a d en o u g h o f h er wh e n s h e i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e y h a d co m p r o m i sed t h e M a s t e r ’s v i s i o n b y c u t t i n g co r n er s i n t h e i r h u r r y t o f i n i s h t h e M u l l i g at aw n y.

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Th e i r r e s p o n s e wa s t o p o i n t o u t t h at t h e o n l y v i s i o n t h a t m a y h a v e b e e n c o m p r o m i sed w as t h a t o f t h e a r c h i t e c t , wi t h wh o m sh e w as t h e n s l e e p i n g , a n d t h e y h a d , i n f act , r eal i zed Sr i Go s wa m i ’s v i s i o n b y b r i n gi n g t h e g r eat p r o j e c t t o c o m p l e t i o n . W h e n s h e w as ev i ct ed f r o m h e r h o m e i n Th e Ci t y o f G o l d f o r v i o l a t i n g t h e t e r m s o f h e r l e ase – “t o t al l y b o g u s , ” s h e s a i d - h e r m i s s i o n b ecam e t o m a n i f e s t t h e v i s i o n s o f b o t h h er sp i r i t u al master and the architect. “ Ho w d o y o u i n t e n d t o d o t h a t , i f y o u d o n ’t m i n d m y a s k i n g ? ” a s k e d Ro a r k . “ Wi t h t h i s , ” s h e s a i d , u n f u r l i n g a b l u ep r i n t o f t h e M u l l i g a t a wn y. “ An d t h i s , ” s h e a d d e d , r u b b i n g h er sw o l l en b e l l y.

Sh e s m i l e d s e r e n e l y b e f o r e a n n o u n ci n g t h at s h e wa s c a r r y i n g Th e M a s t e r i n h er w o m b . “ Yo u m e a n t o s a y y o u ’ r e c a r r y i n g G o sw am i ’s c h i l d ? ” a s k e d Ro a r k . Hi s s k ep t i ci sm w as a p p a r e n t i n h i s v o i c e . Fo r g o o d r easo n , c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t Th e M a s t e r h ad b een d ead f o r s o m e y e a r s n o w. “ No , ” s h e a n s we r e d p a t i e n t l y, as i f t r y i n g t o e x p l a i n s o m e t h i n g b e y o n d t h e c om p r eh en si o n o f a m e r e c h i l d . “ I ’ m c a r r y i n g T h e Mast er h i m s e l f . I a m t h e v e s s e l t h r o u g h w h i ch h e h as chosen to return.”

As we l e f t , b l u e p r i n t s i n h a nd , sh e st o o d b e a m i n g s e r e n e l y b y t h e g a t e o f h er al t er n at e Ci t y, i n a n a p p a r e n t s t a t e o f b l i ss o r

d issociation .

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“BAD GANESH”

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J A C K B A I L E Y, R e v i v a l i s t

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EIGHTEEN:

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FIRE DANCE I t wa s t h e e v e o f t h e b i g c e l e b r at i o n . T h e cl o u d s t h at h ad h u n g o v er t h e c i t y t h e p a s t f e w d a y s d a r k en ed t h e sk i es an d ad d ed t o t h e o m i n o u s m o o d i n o u r l i t t l e c a m p . Ro a r k h ad r et r eat ed t o h i s r o o m w i t h S i m o n e f o r m u c h o f t h e t i m e , a n d whi l e I n o t i ced m u ch co m i n g an d g o i n g o f s o m e s t r a n g e c h a r a c t e r s wh isp er i n g i n Tam i l an d F r en ch , I n o t i ced l i t t l e e l s e , a s Ro a r k a n d h i s assem b l ed cr ew p r ep ar ed f o r t h e assau l t o n t h e M u l l i g a t a wn y.

Al t h o u g h I d o u b t e d t h a t I w as a p r i o r i t y t o I n t er p o l , t h er e w as n o r e a s o n t o i n v i t e a c l o s e r e x a mi n at i o n o f m y t r av el d o cu m en t s. R o ar k d e c l i n e d m y o ff e r, m a d e wi th st r o n g r eser v at i o n s, t o see t h i s t h i n g t h r o u g h wi t h h i m , r e g a r d l e s s o f i t s p o t en t i al o u t co m es. I h av e t o a d m i t , I f e l t r e l i e v e d wh e n h e d eci d ed i t w o u l d b e u n f ai r t o j eo p ar d i ze m y f r e e d o m , b y i n v o l v i n g me i n so m et h i n g m o r e co m p l i cat ed , an d l e g a l l y d u b i o u s , t h a n t h e s i m p l e r et r i ev al w e h ad h o p ed f o r. S t i l l , I h a d t o s p e a k m y p i e c e . I t s e e m ed m ad n ess t o m e t o ch o o se t h e n i g h t o f t h e b i g c e r e m o n y t o e x e c u t e w h at ev er p l an R o ar k h ad co n co ct ed : e v e r y d i g n i t a r y wo u l d h a v e h i s o r h er o w n secu r i t y d et ai l i n ad d i t i o n t o t h a t p r o v i d e d b y t h e Ci t y o f G o l d .

Ro a r k l i s t e n e d p a t i e n t l y a s I v o i ced m y r eser v at i o n s; I h ad , af t er al l , r e m a i n e d a f r e e m a n , i n l a rg e p ar t , b ecau se o f m y n at u r al av er si o n t o u n n e c e s s a r y r i s k s . W h y s t a c k t h e d eck s ag ai n st y o u r sel f ? “Yo u k n o w wh e r e I ’ m g o i n g , ” h e s a i d . “ I d o n ’t k n o w wh e r e y o u ’ r e g o i n g , ” I r ep l i ed . “H o w w o u l d I ?” “ Do n ’t o v e r t h i n k i t , ” s a i d Roar k , seem i n g t o d i sm i ss m y w o r r i es w i t h a wi n k .

Ro a r k t u r n e d t o wa r d s t h e t e l ev i si o n set . C am er as h ad b een set u p t o c a p t u r e t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e g u est s, as t h ey st r eam ed d o w n t h ei r ai sl es f i l l i n g t h e s e a t s s e t u p i n f r o nt o f T h e Mu l l i g at aw n y. A cer em o n i al f i r e wa s l i t , s e n d i n g f l a m e s d a n c i n g h i g h i n t h e ai r. T h e cam er a t h en cu t t o t h e g o l d e n d o m e , i l l u m i n a t ed b y t h e f i r el i g h t as t h e su n set b eh i n d i t a n d t h e o n l y wo r r y e x p r e s sed b y t h e co m m en t at o r s w as w h et h er t h e we a t h e r wo u l d h o l d o r t he r ai n - r i p e sk y w o u l d u n l o ad u p o n t h e g a t h e r e d g u e s t s . I wa s m e s m er i zed b y t h e sh eer sp ect acl e t h at w as b e g i n n i n g t o u n f o l d a n d , b y t h e t i m e I b r o k e o u t o f m y t r an ce, R o ar k wa s g o n e .

W h a t I k n o w, o f t h e e v e n t s t h at n i g h t , I g l ean ed m o st l y f r o m w at ch i n g t h e m u n f o l d , i n r e a l t i m e , o n t el ev i si o n , al o n g w i t h m i l l i o n s o f o t h e r s a r o u n d t h e wo r l d . I t w as b r o ad cast l i v e, i n E n g l i sh , F r en ch , I t a l i a n a n d h a l f a d o z e n o f I nd i a’s o ff i ci al l an g u ag es an d d o m i n at ed h e a d l i n e s i n n e ws p a p e r s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d i n t h e en su i n g d ay s.

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Th e p r e s e n c e o f s o m a n y c a m er as i n t h e c r o wd e n s u r e d t h a t t h e r e wou l d b e so m e indelible images, beginning with the now i c o n i c p h o t o g r a p h o f t h e m y st er i o u s d ar k h a i r e d b e a u t y ’s u n e x p e c t e d ar r i v al at t h e c e r e m o n y a s t r i d e a b r i g h t l y c o l o r ed el ep h an t .

Ro a r k ’s d e t o u r n e m e n t b e c a m e t h e su b j ect o f e n d l e s s n e ws a n a l y s i s u n t i l i t sl o w l y r eced ed f r o m t h e h e a d l i n e s a n d i t s p l a c e at t h e t o p o f t h e n e ws . Ho we v e r, i t i s a p h e no m en o n o f t h e a g e t h a t e v e n t h e m o s t i n n o c u o u s ev en t s h av e a n a f t e r l i f e , a n d a c l i p o f Si m o ne’s st r i p t ease, d u b b e d “ Fi r e Da n c e , ” a p p e a r ed o n Yo u t u b e, a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y, r e c e i v i n g o v er 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 hits in the first 24 hours alone.

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NINETEEN: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO NOT SEE YET BELIEVE I s a t t r a n s f i x e d i n f r o n t o f m y t e l ev i si o n set , we l l i n t o t h e n i g h t , u n t i l t h e e a r l y m o r n i n g hou r s b e f o r e c o c k ’s c r o w, wa t c h i n g t h e l i v e co v e r a g e . I t h o u g h t I h e a r d a f a m i l i ar v o i ce, s h o u t i n g “ Li v e b y t h e p a l m , d i e b y t h e p al m ” co m i n g f r o m t h e f l a m e s . I f e a r e d t h e w o r st fo r m y f r i e n d s , wh e n i t wa s a n n o u n ced , o v er th e i m a g e o f s m o l d e r i n g M u l l i g a t aw n y, t h at th e b o d i e s o f t h e p e r p e t r a t o r s had n o t y et bee n r e t r i e v e d . A g r i m - f a c e d S o u t h A si a ex p e r t a p p e a r e d o n t h e s c r e e n a nd d ecl ar ed th a t t h i s wa s o b v i o u s l y t h e wo r k o f a l i t t l ekno wn Zo r o a s t r i a n g r o u p , a d d i n g t h at t h i s th r e a t d e s e r v e d t o b e t a k e n s e r i o u sl y b y t h e In d i a n g o v e r n m e n t .

I wa s wa t c h i n g t h e l i v e b r o ad cast o f in v e s t i g a t o r s s i f t i n g t h r o u g h t h e sm o l d er i n g ru i n s o f t h e g o l d e n d o m e a s t h e d aw n b eg an to b r e a k a n d t h e f i r s t h e a v y d r o p s o f t h e m o n s o o n r a i n b e g a n t o f a l l . Th e s k y r u m b l ed wi t h t h u n d e r a n d t h e e l e c t r i c i t y in t h e r o o m fli c k e r e d wh e n I s e n s e d a p r e s en ce i n t h e ro o m , b e s i d e m e . Th e r o o m wa s d ar k , t h e onl y l i g h t c o m i n g f r o m t h e TV set , an d I co u l d b a r e l y m a k e o u t t h e f i g u r e o f a m an s t a n d i n g i n t h e d o o r wa y. I wa s ex h au st ed , em o t i o n a l l y d r a i n e d , a n d wo n d e r ed w h et h er I wa s d r e a m i n g o r h a l l u c i n a t i n g . “R o ar k , ” I a s k e d , i n c r e d u l o u s l y.

He s t e p p e d i n t o t h e c o l d b l u e l i g h t b u t st i l l I

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c o u l d n o t m a k e o u t h i s f e a t ur es. N ei t h er d i d h e a n s we r. “ Un l e s s y o u s h o w m e p r o o f , I w i l l not believe it is you,” I said. “ Do n ’t b e a n a s s h o l e , wh o e l s e w o u l d i t b e?” he replied.

Ne e d l e s s t o s a y, Ro a r k r et u r n ed , w i t h Si m o n e , h e r m o t h e r, a n d , i f y o u b el i ev e

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wh a t wa s p r i n t e d i n t h e p a p er s, a st ack of promissory notes, untold millions of d o l l a r s , Eu r o s , r u p e e s , d i n a r s , an d p eso s t h at h a d b e e n k e p t i n M u l l i g a t a wn y. B u t w e al l k n o w h o w u n r e l i a b l e t h e m e d ia can b e. A n i n v e s t i g a t i o n wa s b e g u n i n t o t h e C i t y o f G o l d a n d t h e y we r e c i t e d f o r n u m e r ou s v i o l at i o n s o f t h e Pu d u c h e r r y f i r e c o d e , bu t t h e ci t y ’s j u r i s d i c t i o n i n t h e m a t t e r i s c ur r en t l y b ei n g c o n t e s t e d i n c o u r t . Th e Bu rg u n d y p r o p er t y r e m a i n s i n t h e h a n d s o f Si m o n e ’s f am i l y an d h e r m o t h e r, c l a i m e d s h e s i g n e d t h em o v er i n a d e l i r i u m , a f t e r g e t t i n g f o o d p oi so n i n g f r o m some rancid dahl.

We l a i d l o w a c o u p l e o f d a y s bef o r e h ead i n g n o r t h t o g e t h e r, s t o p p i n g i n M ah ab al i p u r am , s o t h a t Si m o n e c o u l d l e a v e a n o ff er i n g at t h e s h i v a l i n g a m . Th e y d e c i d e d t o st ay, as a n ew s we l l wa s b e a t i n g a g a i n s t t h e S h o r e Tem p l e a n d t h e r e we r e o t h e r b o a r d s i n G o v i n d a’s q u i v e r t h a t Ro a r k wa n t e d t o t r y, an d I c o n t i n u e d o n t o Ch e n n a i , t h e n K at h m an d u , a s c e n d i n g , o n c e a g a i n t o m y H i m al ay an h o m e , i n t h a t f a r o ff r a n g e wh e r e L o r d S h i v a has his earthly abode.

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DHANYAVAAD! We’ d l i k e t o g i v e a s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o R o y al E n f i el d M o t o r c y c l e s , El e c t r i c , Da n n e r Bo o t s, Mau r i ce C o l e, Thi r d Ey e He a d l a m p s a n d Gr a y l f o r o u t f i t t i n g t h e Ro a r k i n I n d i a . Cr e a t i v e l y we s a l u t e D y l an G o r d o n , J ac k Ba i l y a n d M a t t Sc h u s t e r. We w o u l d b e n o t h i n g wit h o u t o u r g u i d e s I n s i g h t Hi m a l a y as - B i n o d , B al a an d Ra m .

Ou r “ M o n s o o n Ch u r c h ” Co l l e c t i o n i s av ai l ab l e n o w at o u r f i n e r e t a i l e r s a n d a t r o a r k . c o m .

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R O A R K E X P E D I T I O N S P R O U D LY C O M M E M O R A T E S O U R O U T F I T T E R S : R O Y A L E N F I E L D : Royal Enfield provided the transportation for our journey - to the tune of 5 Continental GT’s. Modeled directly from the 1960’s namesake, the motorcycles are a beautiful convergence of 1960’s styling with modern materials. They guided us effortlessly through the chaotic streets and backfields of Southern India.

S T A N C E : Our friends at Stance provided us with socks and undergarments for the expedition. As always they aided in comfort and style. They also set us loose with a few hundred white socks that were handBatiked just outside of Mudurai, India. We used the ancient process of wax-resist indigo dying with a print we also used on a batiked woven. We’ll make them available come Summer in limited numbers.

M A U R I C E C O L E : MC could be the closest living relative to Roark, so the story goes. When he asked if he could shape a board that suited Roark, we told him to piss off and to stop fucking with us. But he was persistent, so we went to work on the “Shiva.” Roark wanted a utility board, a one board quiver for travel that could perform in various conditions for various styles of surfing. So Maurice crafted a shape with volume spread throughout, low entry rocker, a rounded pin-tail, sharp rails to the nose (because Roark never loses his edge) and fin set-ups for a single, thruster and quad. She’s proven herself in 3’-5’ banks in India, double overhead tubes in Bali and 6’-8’ California point breaks. It’s the most versatile board you’ll ever ride and is adorned with a rangoli print we found on an Indian elephant. The “Shiva” will become available sometime this Summer for limited edition order.

G R A Y L : Grayl provided us with limited edition Roark branded “Quest” water purifiers. They are effective water purification for the rigors of international travel and highly impacted wilderness areas worldwide. The Quest is 99.9999% effective against chemicals, metals, bacteria, protozoa and viruses. You need this. We used all day in the beaver infested waters of Vancouver Island and the septic water in India.

It’s Holy.

E L E C T R I C : Electric’s passionate designers painstakingly created eyewear for our expedition to the Himalayas, and now outfit us with an assortment of shades and goggles on all trips. Roark always exudes calmness and cool under the most extreme conditions - Electric punctuates the vibe with eyewear to match. They were a local favorite in India and 3 pairs were stolen.

T H I R D E Y E H E A D L A M P S : We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Third Eye on a custom headlamp for our trip to India. Headlamps are useful on any trip, not just ones with tents and sleeping bags. We often find ourselves walking around in the dead of night searching for something, someone or perhaps just our minds. But that’s a different story entirely. The lamps have the traditional Indian textile print that we used on a pair of boardshorts and utilize a very bright third eye illumination.

High/medium/low settings easily adjusts to your needs. High setting gives 168 lumens of light to 360 feet.

Low setting conserves energy, perfect for close up work. SOS setting lets others know you need help - Red light preserves night vision, best for wildlife viewing and great for reading in bed. Strobe setting lets others know where you are - or that you wanna dance.

D A N N E R B O O T S : Danner was kind enough to provide our feet with boots made in America of leather.

As always they performed in every condition including a few bars. We’ve enjoyed using them as riding boots for the motos that transition to the trail - their rugged but stylish nature give us an obvious advantage over a lesser bootman.

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