Monsoon Church - The Roark Revival

ROARK REVIVAL VOLUME 12: “MONSOON CHURCH” SPRING 2017 EXPEDITION & COLLECTION

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 pecime 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 ppe tite 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 ne wed rendezvous b e t we e n Ro a r k a n d h i s m u s e Si m o n e. Wi l l t h e g r eat sw i n d l e o f l o v e a nd danger tempt our p r o t a g o n i s t ? Or wi l l h i s t h i r s t f o r sp eed b e f u l f i l l ed b y a t r u st y E nfield and the s ecret wi n d s we p t b a n k s t h a t l e a d h i m t o t h e Mo n so o n C h u r ch .

D i sc over 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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ONE: KEEP ON TREKKIN’ b y K E V I N O ’ S U L L I VA N It was late spring, the tail e n d o f t h o se insufferable months when t h e m o u n t a i n passes are open and th e p o p u l a t i o n of Kathmandu swells w i t h a m a t e u r mountaineers, that I finall y h e a r d f r o m Roark. I hurriedly tore open t h e e n v e l o p e , eager for news of my friend , h a l f - h o p i n g that I might find an invit a t i o n o f so m e sorts, to leave the mountain s a n d j o i n m y itinerant friend on some new a d v e n t u r e .

The last I saw of him, he w a s sl i p p i n g o u t of a waterfront dive in Da N a n g , w i t h t h e child bride, or, more likely, d a u g h t e r, o f one of the drunken Viet Ve t s r e m i n i sc i n g about the battles of their you t h a t t h e n e x t table. I left the bar soon af t e r, b e f o r e h e r defection was noticed and h o st i l i t i e s b r o k e out anew. I left Da Nang e a r l y t h e n e x t day, to begin my journey ho m e , w i t h o u t a chance to see my friend aga i n .

What I found was not quite t h e i n v i t a t i o n I had hoped for. It was a sum m o n s. Ro a r k was in the neighborhood, h e w r o t e , a n d I was to join him at a hotel i n Ch e n n a i a t once. Although Chennai w a s m o r e t h a n 2,000 miles away, and monso o n r e l i e f w a s around the corner, I could n ’t sa y n o . I didn’t want to. Although ke e p i n g u p w i t h Roark can be exhausting, o n e n e v e r t i r e s of his company so, without h e si t a t i o n , I settled up some unfinished b u si n e ss, a n d prepared to leave for Tamil N a d u st a t e , o n the southeastern tip of India .

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TWO:

DOUBTING THOMAS W h e n I stepped off the plane in Chennai, t h e m o i st heat almost knocked me over.

T h e f i r s t order of business was to find a “ g e n o ” t o take me into the city. A darks k i n n e d driver waved m e over to his old H i n d u A mbassador. I climbed into the c a r a n d gave him the address of a hotel i n M y l a pore, an old ne ighborhood in the s o u t h e r n part of the city, not far from the a i r p o r t , which was a good thing since the A m b a s s ador did not have air conditioning.I n o t i c e d that the Tamil driver was wearing a c r o s s . He told me h e belonged to the o l d e s t C hristian sect on the subcontinent, o r i g i n a l l y converted by St. Thomas the Apostle.

belonged a n o t h e r p l a n e t . “ W h a t i s t h a t ? ” I asked.

“ D o u b t i ng Thomas was in India?” I asked.

“The chur c h ? ”

“ Ye s , ” h e answered with some annoyance. “ H e w a s martyred here by angry Brahmins.

H i s t o m b is by the hotel.”

“This is w h e r e h e b u i l t h i s c h u r c h , ” h e said, whic h se e m e d d o u b t f u l t o m e .

“A tem p l e of Shiva,” he replied dismissiv e l y. “ T h e r e a r e m a n y su c h temples i n Ta m i l N a d u . ” We drove a w h i l e l o n g e r b e f o r e t h e d r i v e r quickly b r a k e d . “ T h e r e , ” h e sa i d e x c i t e d l y.

At first I t h o u g h t t h a t S h i v a o r S t . Th o m a s in the fl e sh h a d st e p p e i n f r o n t o f t h e Ambassad o r. I l o o k e d t o w h e r e h e w a s pointing a n d sa w a n u t t e r l y u n i m p r e ssi v e cathedral i n t h e n e o - G o t h i c st y l e .

“There is S a n t h o m e ! ” h e e x c l a i m e d .

“And here h i s h o l y r e m a i n s a r e b u r i e d . ” A s w e e ntered Mylapor e I was struck by t h e n u m ber of temples and by their unique a r c h i t e c t u ral style. On e in particular, c a u g h t m y attention. It looked like it

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Yes, I alm o st sa i d , a n d Lo r d S h i v a i s a neighbor o f m i n e .

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THREE: Roark had left a note at the f r o n t d e sk , asking me to meet him at a r e st a u r a n t not far from the St. Thomas C a t h e d r a l . I walked over, from my hotel an d r e a c h e d the restaurant at the appointed t i m e . A s soon as I entered I was accost e d b y t w o uniformed thugs, and dragge d t o w a r d s the back of the darkened room . S t r u g g l e was useless as the two captors w e r e q u i t e strong and had a tight grip on m y a r m s.

I noticed that young men in p r i so n g a r b were leaving the kitchen with p l a t e s f u l l of food. I was soon deposited at a d a r k e n e d booth were I recognized my o l d f r i e n d by his Cheshire cat smile. M y c a p t o r s released me and Roark clasped m e i n a bone-breaking bear hug.

My captors laughed jovially, a s Ro a r k handed them a fistful of rupees.

“What’s the name of this place , Mi d n i g h t Express?” I asked.

“This was Simone’s idea,” he sa i d . “ A private joke, you might say.”

Just then an olive-skinned, d a r k - h a i r e d beauty rose from the table and st e p p e d into the light. I had seen Roark w o r k h i s magic on beautiful women b e f o r e b u t this one belonged to a class of h e r o w n .

“Sometimes, when Roark is not so n i c e .

Or reluctant to do me a favor, I h a v e t o remind him of Dakar,” she said.

“She won’t let me forget it.”

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PRISON BOUND “Only when I need your help . ” Roark looked at me and sh o o k h i s h e a d .

“Women can be ruthless!”

“And resourceful.”

It was clear to me that Roa r k a n d S i m o n e had a long history. Their b a n t e r w a s a t turns playful and spikey. N e i t h e r w a s i n thrall or intimidated by th e o t h e r a n d a t times there was a fraternal a sp e c t t o t h e i r relations, which left a ti n g e o f i l l i c i t eroticism when their fingers w o u l d l i g h t l y touch. I had a gut feeling th a t i f e v e r t h e r e was a match for my friend, h e h a d f o u n d i t in Simone.

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FOUR: TIGER BY THE TAIL O ver a dinner, delivered b y g r u ff wa i t e r s d r e s s e d a s g u a r ds, I l ear n ed t ha t Simone was the dau g h t e r o f a Fr e n c h d i p l o m a t a n d h ad b een ra ised in s everal differen t c o u n t r i e s a l l o v e r t h e g l o b e . S h e w as, t o say the leas t, world-wis e a n d s p o k e m u l t i p l e l a n g u a g e s . S h e h ad c ome to India with her m o t h e r a n d h a d o rg a n i z e d a r e n d ezv o u s w i t h R oark in M unnar, a hill s t a t i o n i n n e a r b y Ke r a l a s t a t e , w h er e t h e E nglish colonial adminis t r a t o r s s p e n t t h e i r s u m m e r s , d u r in g t h e R aj .

D uri ng t h eir s tay there w a s a n i g h t l y c u r f e w a s a r o g u e t i g er w as p r owling the tea fields , lea v i n g b e h i n d a t r a i l o f e v i s c e r a t e d l i v est o ck a nd pe ts. “Was it a Tamil t i g e r, ” I a s k e d . “ No,” re plied Simone. “It wa s a Be n g a l . ” O ne night, while Roark a n d Si m o n e we r e d r i n k i n g i n t h e i r q u ar t er s, t he y l ea rned that the locals 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 , w ho ha d started out on Burg u n d y b u t s o o n h i t t h e h a r d e r s t uff , i n si st ed o n j oi ni ng the hunt and Si m o n e h a d t o p h y s i c a l l y r e s t r a i n h i m f r o m l e a ving t heir hotel. Roark, t i r e d f r o m t h e wi n e a n d b o o z e , so o n cu r l ed u p and fe ll as leep as gentl e a s a k i t t e n .

T he y woke up to find th e m o o d h a d s h i f t e d i n M u n n a r. T h at d ay R oark wa s greeted with gr e a t d e f e r e n c e b y t h e l o c a l s , s o me o f w h o m g enufle c ted before him. Th i s i r k e d Si m o n e , wh o t h o u g h t i t w as sexist and an indication o f p o s t - c o l o n i a l s e r v i t u d e . La t e r, w h en so m e c hildre n danced around the m c h a n t i n g “ Ba a g h ! Ba a g h ! ” s h e f el t t h ey w ere be ing impudent. The h u n t wa s a p p a r e n t l y s u c c e s s f u l b ecau se t h e

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t i g e r wa s n e v e r h e a r d f r o m ag ai n an d t h e c u r f e w wa s l i f t e d . Th e i r t r a n q u i l i t y w as, 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 Si m o n e r e c e i v e d a c a l l f r o m a h o t el cl er k t e l l i n g h e r t h a t h e m o t h e r h a d n o t r et u r n ed t o h e r r o o m f o r s o m e d a y s . S h e h ad l ef t b e h i n d s o m e o f h e r t h i n g s , n o f o r w ar d i n g address, and an unpaid bill.

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Simone w a s fina lly a ble to dra g R oar k out of t he Toddy B ar and le a d him ba c k to the ir hote l. R oa rk w as i n el evat ed spi r i t s f r om the pa lm w ine a nd s e e mingly immune t o al l of Si m one’s appeal s, re luc ta nt to a ba ndon the re ve ls in the hi l l count r y but Si m one had trump c a rd to pla y. S he pre s e nte d a le tt er f r om R oar k, sm uggl ed out of M a urita nia n pris on, re que s ting he r hel p. H ow he w ound up t her e, I don’t know, but it w a s the re s ult of com pl i cat ed chai n of event s tha t be ga n in D a ka r, a nd a la rge ra ns om w as i nvol ved. I don’t know w ha t s trings w e re pulle d, w ha t re s our ces w er e cal l ed upon, but R oa rk’s s igne d off his le tte r w ith the w or ds, “f or ever i n debt .”

w he n s he c a lle d R oa rk a c ow a rd, the choi r chi m ed i n w i t h der i si ve la ughte r a nd more c ha nts of “ B a a gh! B aagh! B aagh! ” w hi ch f ur t her inc e ns e d Simone . “ W ha t is it w ith th ese f ool i sh peopl e and t hei r s he e p? ” s he a s ke d. (I re c a lle d, from m y t r avel s, t hat “baagh” w as the H indi w ord for tige r but, s inc e I don’t know w hat l anguage i s mos t c ommon in K e ra la , I ke pt tha t possi bi l i t y t o m ysel f .)

FOREVER IN DEBT

Thi s n ews t hr ew Si mo ne i nto a pa n ic . H er mo the r, a s the w ife of a di pl oma t, h ad l i ved i n ma ny, fa r mor e un s ta bl e pl a c e s in the Third Worl d a nd woul d cer ta in ly b e ale rt to a n y da n ge rs tha t Puduc he rry m igh t pro vi de. Sim one r us h ed o ut to fi nd Ro a rk. She found him, af t er gr ea t di ffi cul t y, ho ldi ng cou rt like s o me gra nd “ Sa hib” in a r un- down To ddy Bar, su rro und e d by w or sh ipf ul w orke rs from t he nea rby t ea pl an ta tio ns a n d a d oz e n or s o e mpty pla s tic c ups on the di r t f l oor. Roa r k do wn e d a p a lm t odd y in one gulp, to the voc al app rov al of h is aud ie n ce a s Simo ne wa lke d in. W he n Simone i nfo rm ed hi m t ha t her mo the r wa s m is si ng, h e w ipe d his mouth an d shr ugge d hi s sho uld ers . H is ini ti al r es p ons e w a s to s ugge s t t hat m am an was hav ing a ro ma n ti c try st w ith a Ta mil be llboy a nd woul d sh ow u p, i n du e ti me , fol lo we d b y any n umbe r of e xc us e s f or i na ct ion . Si mo ne conc lu de d th at eithe r R oa rk s e c re tly w is he d he r m oth er i l l, o r h e wa s a n o utrig ht c o wa rd . She thought tha t ch al le ngi ng hi s m an hood i n f ro n t of hi s fa n s mi ght do the tric k but

FIVE:

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SIX: A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

D ay s p a s s e d an d S imo n e ’s mo t he r did not re a ppe a r. The re w a s n o p o o l b o y, n o r ra n s o m n o te . B ut the re w a s , fina lly, s ome a c tio n ab le in fo rmatio n co n c e rning the w he re a bouts of de a r old M a ma n . It c a me fro m a lo ca l Ta mil girl w ho ha d until re c e ntly, b ee n w o rk in g a s a s erv an t to a Fre nc h fa mily in Puduc he rry.

Sh e w as le t g o w h e n th e fa mily joine d a ne a rby a s hra m but, sh o rtly b e fo re h e r d is mis s a l, the re a rrive d a w orldly Fre nc h w o ma n w ith an ap p a re n tly impe rious , c ontine nta l a ir, w ho ha d o n c e b e e n s c h o o lmate s w ith the mis tre s s of the hous e .

Simo n e ’s family h ad liv ed in s ome of the w orld’s mos t v o la tile re g io n s – th e M id d le Ea s t, We s t A fric a , Indoc hina d u e to h e r fa th er ’s d ip lo ma tic pos tings a nd the vic is s itude s o f d a ily life re q u ire d a h eig h te ne d a le rtne s s to the myria d r i s k s o n e e n co u n ters liv in g in a hot s pot. B ut c oups , c a rte ls , c i v il w a rs a n d e p id e mic s h ad n ot, e vide ntly, s te e le d Simone ’s mo th e r a g ain s t th e s e d u c tiv e pow e rs of India ’s ric h s piritua l t r ad itio n s . T h e y h a d s n a re d ma ny a n unw itting We s te rne r b efo re h e r, in clu d in g th e ers tw hile c onve nt s c hool c hum i n tro d u c e d S imo n e’s mo th e r to the a s hra m. Imme dia te ly a fte r sh e e n tere d T h e C ity o f G o ld , the mothe r re nounc e d the w orld a n d a ll o f h e r w o rld ly p o s s e s s ions . “ Wa s y o u r mo th er a relig io u s pe rs on? ” I a s ke d. “ N o t in th e lea s t, ” s h e s aid . “The nuns ma de s ure of tha t.”

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S imo n e h ad mad e a n u mb er of a tte mpts to s pe a k to he r mothe r b u t h a d b ee n re b u ffed . “W ha t ke e ps you from ma rc hing in th ere an d lea v in g w ith y our mothe r? ” I a s ke d. “ Sure ly the y c a n ’t s to p y o u . ” “ Yo u d o n ’t u n d ers ta n d , th is pla c e is diffe re nt, “ s he s a id. “ It is lik e its o w n city, w ith i ts ow n s e c urity, its ow n la w s . The y b rib e g o v e rn men t o ffic ia ls to be le ft a lone . It is like its ow n c o u n try. ”

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SEVEN: TIGER I w ok e up the next da y, m y h e a d h e a v y f r o m a ll the wine. Roark a n d Si m o n e h a d a l r e a d y gone out and had lef t n o m e s s a g e f o r m e .

I grabbed a map fr o m t h e f r o n t d e s k a n d he a ded out onto the st r e e t s , h o p i n g t h e f r e s h a ir would clear my 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 a ggres s ively at the s h o r e l i n e . Th e c o a s t of Tamil Nadu s eeme d u t t e r l y v u l n e r a b l e ,

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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 e w mo 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 a c k seat o f t h e B u l l et 5 0 0 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 e r y, v er y l arg e cat .

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EIGHT:

SURFING

O ver bre akfas t Roark info r m e d u s t h a t we h a d a s t o p t o m ak e, f i f t y k ilome te rs down the coast , wh e r e t h e r e wa s a n a n c i e n t Shi v a t em p l e b u i l t right on the coas t. P u d u c h e r r y wo u l d wa i t . I wa s s u r p r i sed , si n ce I didn’t know Roark to hav e a s t r o n g i n t e r e s t i n c u l t u r a l l an d m ar k s.

H e didn’t. He informed u s t h a t t h e b e s t wa v e i n Ta m i l N ad u , i f y o u t ime d i t right, was in fro n t o f a n a n c i e n t Sh i v a t e m p l e . “I ’ v e b een k ee ping an eye on the cond i t i o n s , ” h e s a i d .

So ha d I. The s ky was dar k a n d a n g r y a n d i t l o o k e d l i k e t h e B ay o f B enga l was going to whip u p a c y c l o n e a t a n y m o m e n t . “T h i s st o r m c ould ma ke for s ome epic M a h a b s , ” h e s a i d .

R oark a nd Simone took o ff o n t h e Ro y a l En f i e l d a n d I f ol l o w ed i n a t a xi, he a ding for the Sho r e Te m p l e , o n e o f t h e o l d e s t s t o n e t em p l es i n sout hern India.

A s I w as f umbling in my p o c k e t , l o o k i n g f o r r u p e e s t o p a y m y d r i v er, I not i ce d Roark talking to a t h i n , d a r k s k i n n e d m a n wi t h an ascet i c c ast a nd s un-bleached ma t t e d h a i r p i l e d o n h i s h e a d . He l o o k ed l i k e t he hol y men one finds all o v e r t h e s u b - c o n t i n e n t , t h e d i ff e r en ce b ei n g t ha t his face was decorated i n z i n c r a t h e r t h a n t h e b r i g h t co l o r s o n e a s soc ia te s with the holy me n . Th e t wo m e n we r e e x a m i n i n g a q u i v er o f boa rds laid out on the s a n d a s I wa l k e d u p a n d Ro a r k i n t r o d u ced me to G ov inda, who Roark d e s c r i b e d a s h i s “ Su r f i n g Sa d h u . ” Wh en h e spoke I noticed his accen t wa s m o r e Ca l i f o r n i a n t h a n Ta mi l . H e t o l d me he w as from North Cou n t y Sa n Di e g o a n d l e a r n e d h o w t o su r f at a b r ea k be neath the S elf Rea l i z a t i o n Ce n t e r.

R oark pi cked out a board a n d Go v i n d a l e f t u s wi t h a b l essi n g . “I t hought Sadhus renounced t h e m a t e r i a l wo r l d , ” I s a i d .

R oark jus t s miled, then tu r n e d t o f a c e t h e o c e a n b e f o r e h i m .

T he se a l o oked rough, unm a n a g e a b l e , b u t Ro a r k wa s p a t i e n t , w ai t i n g

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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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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 .

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

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

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 m o st i m p r essi v e an d I t h o u g h t t h i s w as t h e r easo 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 beach . I assu m ed t h at so m e o f t h e l o cal Ta m i l s 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 o r 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 i n g , d o w n t o h er b l ack , l ace u n d er w ear.

I t was, 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 wi n 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 o n 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 l e w al l s at Mad h y a P r ad esh .

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 l p 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 in 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 e d , 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 t h 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 i m 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 di 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 men 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 e n ce o f a g o d d ess.

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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 te ll the y s tru gg led wi t h s o m e o f t e r m s d r aw n f r o m t h e Ved as. H e

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 h is th es is on N ietz sch e w as r ej e c t ed . Up o n hi s re t u r n t o C al cu t t a, h e s pen t mu ch of his time w atch i n g c ri c k et m at ch es a t E d en G ar d en . H i s o n l y amb ition w as to wr ite ab ou t cr i c ke t f o r o n e o f C a l cu t t a d ai l i es. H e w as tur ne d do wn by th e S tates man a n d t h e Tel e g r a ph , w h o t o l d h i m h e l ack ed s ufficie nt E nglis h s kills, a sl i g h t he ne v er f o rgo t , a nd t o o k a j o b w i t h a Be nga li -lan gua ge w eek ly, w rit i n g ab ou t sp or t s. He l e ft t h i s j o b a f ew y ear s later, un der une xpla ined circ um s t an ces , a ft e r t h e m at t er w as set t l ed o u t o f co urt .

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 ™ .

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

NINE: ETERNAL RETURNS

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TEN:

VIVA LA FRANCE Monsoon Church

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.

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ELEVEN: THE CITY OF GOLD That nig h t , a f t e r k n o c k in g b a c k s ev era l b o ttle s o f w ine ove r dinner, I e x c u se d m y s e lf an d retu rn e d , alo n e , to my hote l room. I h a d l e a r n e d , f ro m p rev io u s e x p e rie n ce , n o t to ma ke t he mist a k e o f t r y i n g to k ee p u p w ith my tire le s s frie nd, especially i f d r i n k i n g w as in v o lv ed . N o t if I w an ted to func tion t he follo wi n g d a y. Si m o n e, ev id e n tly, h ad n o s u c h proble m and Roar k l a t e r c o n f i d ed in me th a t s h e w a s th e o nly pe rs on he knew wh o c o u l d d rin k h im u n d e r th e ta b le. I d e c ide d to read up m o r e o n t h e a s h ram, b efo re h ittin g th e s ac k.

The City o f Go l d wa s, a cc o rd in g to its o w n lite ra tu r e , a mode l communit y, m a d e u p o f p e o p le fro m all o v er th e w orld, in which Th e Te a c h i n g – th e p h ilo s o p h ica l fo u n d ation of Sri Gos wami ’s m o v e m e n t - w a s u s ed as a p rac tic a l g u ide line for harmonio u s l i v i n g .

It had b e e n b u i l t , o v e r a p e rio d o f d e c a d es , fo llo w ing the plans of a f a m o u s Fr e n ch arc h itec t w h o , it w as n o te d, onc e worked i n t h e a t e l i e r o f L e C o rb u s ie r. T h e c e n terp i e c e of the communit y wa s T h e M u llig a ta w n y, an o n io n -s h a p ed building t iled in so l i d g o l d , t h at w a s u s e d a s a p la c e o f w ors hip, meditatio n , a n d a sse m b ly.

The ashra m h a d t h e n eg o tia te d a s p ec ia l c h arte r w ith the Indian g o v e r n m e n t t o o p e ra te a c c o rd in g to its ow n la w s and enjo y e d t h e su p p o rt o f v a rio u s in te rn atio n a l bodie s , i ncluding UNE SC O, I M F, W TO a n d th e O TO . O n e of its ke y selling p o i n t s wa s i t s c la im to d is p en s e w ith th e e xc ha nge of currency. I n st e a d , a c o mp lic a te d s y s tem o f b arte r a nd c hits was us ed , wh i l e t h e h a rd c a s h w as h e ld fo r s a fe k e e ping by the financial o ff i c e r s o f t h e a s h ram. I fell a s le e p , a t tha t point, and drea m e d t h a t t h e M u llig a ta w n y w as a g ia n t ba nk va ult, filled to t h e b r i m wi t h g o ld c o in s . A s it w o u ld tu r n out, the dream w a s n o t f a r o ff , b u t mo re o n th at late r.

I was aw a k e n e d t h e n ex t mo rn in g b y v ig o ro u s k n oc king a t my door. R o a r k l o o k e d n o w o rs e fo r w e a r. N e ith er, for tha t matter, d i d Si m o n e . T h e tw o o f th em rema in ed b u s y w hile I slept. Ro a r k c h i d e d me fo r my la z in es s a n d a n n o u nc e d tha t he had a p r o m i si n g l e a d , a F re n ch man w h o , h e h ad be e n told, once s at a t t h e r i g h t h an d o f T h e M as te r an d k n ew the s e c re ts of The C i t y b e t t e r t h a n a n y o n e els e o u ts id e o f its w a lls .

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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 .

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 suspicious circumstances.

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No t s u r p r i s i n g l y, Co m s a t r a n a f o u l o f t h e new l e a d e r s h i p i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r G o sw am i , his p r o t e c t o r, l e f t t h e s c e n e . Hi 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 e vi ct ed f r o m th e Th e Ci t y o f Go l d . “ Ca n y o u im ag i n e m y des 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 of He a v e n . ” Co m s a t s e t u p c a m p i n Pu d u c h e r r y, w h er e, he s a i d , h e c o u l d “ g a t h e r i n t e l l i g en ce” ab o u t th e n e w a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . At f i r s t C o m sat w as to l e r a t e d a s a m i l d n u i s a n c e a n d h e m an ag ed to r e t a i n t i e s t o s o m e f e l l o w a d e p t s w h o st i l l liv e d i n t h e Ci t y o f Go l d b u t , a f t e r 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 e mp t s o n h i s lif e , h e we n t f r o m b e i n g t h e a s h r am ’s m o st lo 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 s si 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 of a l u n a t i c , a s Co m s a t s c a n n e d t h e st r eet an d n e a r b y t a b l e s b e f o r e c o n t i n u in g w i t h h i s nar 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 th e b o d i e s a r e b u r i e d , ” h e s a i d .

Sim o n e e x p r e s s e d a l a r m . “ C’ e s t v r ai ?” sh e as k e d .

Ro a r k q u i c k l y a s s u r e d h e r t h a t C o m sat w as usi n g a f i g u r e o f s p e e c h .

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THIRTEEN:

RADIANT CITIES

A s I lis ten ed to C o ms a t’s ra nts , my e ye s gla z e d ove r, I might h av e d o ze d o ff th e n a n d t he re ha d not a fe w la rge ra indrops y an k e d me o u t o f my s tu p or. I w onde re d if the re w a s a nything o f u s e to b e g o tte n fro m this ma n. H e ha d a n a xe to grind, to b e s u re , a n d w a s n u rtu rin g a w ound tha t w a s , I thought, mos t lik ely s e lf-in flicte d .

C o ms a t lis ted th e man y c rime s of the ne w a dminis tra tion, th e “ ju n ta ” th at h e s a id s e iz e d c ontrol of the a s hra m a nd w as p e rv ertin g th e M as te r ’s me s s a ge . It w a s true , he ha d to re lu cta n tly a d mit, th at u n de r this group’s le a de rs hip, Supe r Yo g a ™ h a d b ec o me a v e ry s uc c e s s ful a nd luc ra tive c ha in, but th ey h a d als o res o rted to s ha dy pra c tic e s to find the funding fo r co mp le tio n o f T h e C it y of G old. The ne w a dminis tra tion b eg an to c u t co rn e rs , s p e e ding up c omple tion of the job, a n d g o in g a g ain s t th e p la ns a s a pprove d by The M a s te r. The a rc h itec t w h o h a d o v ers e e n the proje c t for thirty ye a rs w a s a p o p lec tic , b u t p o w e rle s s . “ Ye t th e y a n n o u n ce th a t th e y w ill c omple te the C ity of G old in a fe w d a y s ! Big s p e c ta c le . B ut it’s not how it w a s e nvis ione d; I’v e s e e n th e b lu e p rin ts , ” s a id C oms a t. “ A nd ye t the y a re a lre a d y p re p arin g to b u il d a nothe r a s hra m in the he a rt of E u ro p e!” “ In E u ro p e? ” as k ed R o a rk. “ It w a s th e M as te r ’s d y ing w is h tha t ins te a d of bringing E u ro p e to th e a s h ram, w e w ould bring the a s hra m to the E.U .” “ A n d a b an d o n Ta mil N a d u ? ” “ M e rc i, n o n , ” h e rep lied . “D id D is ne y a ba ndon A na he im w he n h e w e n t to F lo rid a ? H e d id not. Tokyo? Pa ris ? N on.” “ T h at’s g o in g to ta k e a lo t of mone y.” “ O u i, b u t th e y h a v e, I h e a rd, jus t a c quire d the prope rty. A s illy w o ma n d o n ate d h er family la nd, outs ide of Pa ris . A s ha me .”

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FOURTEEN:

BURGUNDY

S imo n e g a s p ed . We left Co m s a t a t the ta ble a n d w h ile R o a rk an d I p o nde re d w he the r th ere w as a n y th in g o f s ignific a nc e to g le a n fro m o u r in tervie w, Simone re ma in ed s ile n t. F in a lly, R oa rk a s ke d he r w h a t s h e w a s th in k in g . “ I’m th in k in g ab o u t th e a s hra m outs ide o f P aris , ” s h e s a id . “ O n my mothe r ’s s id e, th e re is a lo t o f la n d , in B urgundy.

It h as b ee n in th e fa mily for ge ne ra tions a n d g en era tio n s . H u n d reds a nd hundre ds o f y ea rs . M a n y times th e f a mily ha s be e n a p p ro ac h ed to s e ll. ‘Yo u could ma ke a lot o f mo n e y if y o u s ell, ’ th ey s a y.” “ Wo u ld y o u r mo th er g iv e i t a w a y? ” a s ke d R o a rk . “ A b s o lu me n t p a s ! T h e la n d be longs to the fa mily. A n d to F ra n ce . ”

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FIFTEEN: THE VAULT The next couple of days we r e h e c t i c . We i n i t i a l l y t r i e d t o e n t e r the City of Gold as visitors b u t w e r e t u r n e d d o w n - o u r a r r i v a l i n the city, and the reason for o u r a r r i v a l , h a d n o t g o n e u n n o t i c e d and repeated attempts to re a c h S i m o n e ’s m o t h e r b y p h o n e a l so met with failure. We did, h o w e v e r, l e a r n t h a t S i m o n e ’s f a m i l y estate had been signed over t o t h e a sh r a m .

Meanwhile, as The City of G o l d n e a r e d i t s c o m p l e t i o n , t h e r e was a visible spike in the n u m b e r o f f o r e i g n e r s i n P u d u c h e r r y and caravans of official 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 c i t y streets. The local papers no 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 a r i e s, including heads of state a n d U . N . o ff i c i a l s, a n d l o c a l g o ssi p turned towards the probabilit y o f r a i n a n d i t s e ff e c t o n t h e c l i m a x of the celebration, the cerem o n i a l l a y i n g o f t h e f i n a l g o l d t i l e o f Mulligatawny, while the Sy m p h o n y O r c h e st r a o f I n d i a p e r f o r m s “Also sprach Zarathustra.”

Simone was on the verge of despair and Roark became uncustomarily quiet. Was he beset by doub t s? We r e n ’t w e a l l ? Th e n w e r e c e i v e d a crucial bit of information: t h e Mu l l i g a t a w n y c o n t a i n e d a v a u l t , where the currency and oth e r v a l u a b l e s su r r e n d e r e d b y t h e n e w “citizens” of the The City o f G o l d w e r e st o r e d , b e f o r e b e i n g laundered and transferred to o ff sh o r e a c c o u n t s.

“That’s where we’ll find it,” sa i d R o a r k .

“The change of title?” I aske d .

“What about my mother?” a sk e d S i m o n e .

Roark ignored her. “We’v e g o t t o g e t t h e b l u e p r i n t s t o t h e Mulligatawny!” he said. He w a s, o n c e a g a i n , a m a n o n a m i ssi o n .

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Vautrin was sitting in a chair when we entered, his head obscured by a cloud of pungent smoke, as Dr. Amir, 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 renchman.

One d ay I accompanied Roark to a meeting in a s e e dy ta ttoo pa rlor wit h M onsi eu r Vaut r in, a Fre nc h exp a t re p ute d to ha ve be e n a m er cena r y i nv olv ed in a ction s in Mo z a mbi que , A ngola , a nd the Com oro s.

Aft er l ear ni ng th at the Cit y of Go d a rc h it ec t ha d “ die d of a broke n he art ,” m y hope s bega n to fla g , b ut R oa rk wa s unda unte d. This was a cha ll en ge he a c cep te d with no i nte nt io n of los ing. R oa rk de li ber at el y le f t me i n the da rk abo u t so me of h is s c he me s , a s he an d Si mo ne ex plo re d al l a v enu e s , i nc lud ing th os e tha t involve d el em en ts o f t he Tam il Un de rw orld a n d, f or s ome une xpla ine d r eas on, a r eq uest f or a n el e p ha n t.

NINETEEN:

TATTOO YOU

Pe rha ps R oa rk s e ns e d my dis c omfor t as, once t he conver sat i on s te e re d tow a rds the pa rtic ula rs of po t ent i al pl ans, he suggest ed I w a it for him a t a ne a rby c urry s hop. Roar k j oi ned m e a shor t w hi l e la te r, a s I w a s finis hing a c up of c h ai . I knew bet t er t han t o ask him for de ta ils of the c onve rs a tion a n d I knew al l I needed t o know a bout the tw o me n. I w a s , how e ve r, c ur i ous about Vaut r i n’s t at t oo.

Wa s it, pe rha ps , s ome ve rs e by the fam ous poet - cr i m i nal Fr ancoi s Villon? “ Tha t’s not ve rs e ,” s a id R oa rk. “ It’s a l i st of hi s si ns. H e’s havi ng the m ta ttooe d s o tha t he w on’t forge t t hem .”

N or, I ima gine , w ill a nyone e ls e .

D r. A mir w a s no le s s da unting a f i gur e w i t h a unabr ow and uns miling fa c e . H e w a s not, a s I firs t t hought , an i m m i gr ant but pa rt of the s iz e a ble Ta mil M us lim c om m uni t y t hat r em ai ned i n t he s outh a fte r Pa rtition. I don’t know w h at ki nd of doct or he w as but he ha ndle d the ta ttoo gun w ith the preci si on of a surgeon. I t w as m y unde rs ta nding tha t ta ttoos w e re forbidden by I sl am but i t w as cl ear tha t w e w e re in the pre s e nc e of me n w ho r ecogni zed no aut hor i t y but the ir ow n, tha t the ir provinc e w as t he U nder w or l d and t hey w e re , by c hoic e , in le a gue w ith the dam ned.

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.

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 li g at aw n y. T h ei r

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response was to point out tha t t h e o n l y vision that may have been com p r o m i se d was that of the architect, with w h o m sh e was then sleeping, and they ha d , i n f a c t , realized Sri Goswami’s vision b y b r i n g i n g the great project to completion. W h e n sh e was evicted from her home in T h e C i t y o f Gold for violating the terms of h e r l e a se –“totally bogus,” she said- he r m i ssi o n became to manifest the visions o f b o t h h e r spiritual master and the architec t .

“How do you intend to do that, if y o u d o n ’t mind my asking?” asked Roark.

“With this,” she said, unfurling a b l u e p r i n t of the Mulligatawny.

“And this,” she added, rubbing h e r sw o l l e n belly.

She smiled serenely before a n n o u n c i n g that she was carrying The Mast e r i n h e r womb.

“You mean to say you’re c a r r y i n g Goswami’s child?” asked R o a r k . H i s skepticism was apparent in his v o i c e . F o r good reason, considering that Th e M a st e r had been dead for some years now.

“No,” she answered patientl y, a s i f trying to explain something b e y o n d t h e comprehension of a mere ch i l d . “ I ’ m carrying The Master himself. I a m t h e vessel through which he has c h o se n t o return.”

As we left, blueprints in hand, sh e st o o d beaming serenely by the gat e o f h e r alternate City, in an apparent sta t e o f b l i ss or

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EIGHTEEN:

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FIRE DANCE It w as th e e v e o f th e b ig c e le bra tion. The c louds tha t ha d hung o v e r th e city th e p a s t few da ys da rke ne d the s kie s a nd a dde d to th e o min o u s mo o d in o u r little c a mp. R oa rk ha d re tre a te d to h is ro o m w ith S imo n e fo r m uc h of the time , a nd w hile I notic e d mu ch co min g an d g o in g o f s ome s tra nge c ha ra c te rs w his pe ring in Tamil an d F ren ch , I n o tic e d little e ls e , a s R oa rk a nd his a s s e mb led cre w p re p are d f or the a s s a ult on the M ulliga ta w ny.

A lth o u g h I d o u b te d th a t I w a s a priority to Inte rpol, the re w as n o re a s o n to in v ite a c los e r e xa mina tion of my tra ve l d o c u men ts . Ro ark d ec line d my offe r, ma de w ith s trong re s e rv atio n s , to s e e th is th ing through w ith him, re ga rdle s s of its p o ten tial o u tco mes . I h a ve to a dmit, I fe lt re lie ve d w he n h e d ec id ed it w o u ld b e u n fa ir to je opa rdiz e my fre e dom, by in v o lv in g me in s o me th i ng more c omplic a te d, a nd le ga lly d u b io u s , th an th e s imp le re trie va l w e ha d hope d for. Still, I h ad to s p ea k my p iec e . It se e me d ma dne s s to me to c hoos e the n ig h t o f th e b ig c e re mo n y to e xe c ute w ha te ve r pla n R oa rk ha d c o n c o cte d : ev ery d ig n ita ry w ould ha ve his or he r ow n s e c urity d eta il in ad d itio n to th a t p rovide d by the C ity of G old.

R o a rk lis ten ed p a tie n tly a s I voic e d my re s e rva tions ; I ha d, a fte r all, re ma in ed a free ma n, in la rge pa rt, be c a us e of my n atu ral av ers io n to u n n e c e s s a ry ris ks . W hy s ta c k the de c ks a g ain s t y o u rs elf? “ Yo u k now w he re I’m going,” he s a id. “ I d o n ’t k n o w w h ere y o u ’re going,” I re plie d. “ H ow w ould I? ” “ D o n ’t o v erth in k it, ” s aid R oa rk, s e e ming to dis mis s my w o rrie s w ith a w in k .

R o a rk tu rn ed to w ard s th e te le vis ion s e t. C a me ra s ha d be e n s e t u p to c a p tu re th e arriva l of the gue s ts , a s the y s tre a me d d o w n th e ir ais le s fillin g the s e a ts s e t up in front of The M u llig a ta w n y. A c e re mo n ia l fire w a s lit, s e nding fla me s d an cin g h ig h in th e a ir. The c a me ra the n c ut to the golde n d o me , illu min ate d b y th e fire light a s the s un s e t be hind it a nd th e o n ly w o rry ex p re s s e d by the c omme nta tors w a s w he the r th e w ea th er w o u ld h o ld o r the ra in-ripe s ky w ould unloa d upon th e g a th ere d g u e s ts . I w as me s me riz e d by the s he e r s pe c ta c le th at w a s b e g in n in g to u n fold a nd, by the time I broke out of my tra n ce , R o a rk w as g o n e .

W h at I k n o w, o f th e ev en t s tha t night, I gle a ne d mos tly from w atc h in g th e m u n fo ld , in re a l time , on te le vis ion, a long w ith millio n s o f o th ers aro u n d the w orld. It w a s broa dc a s t live ,

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i n E n g lis h , F ren ch , Italia n a nd ha lf a d o z e n o f In d ia ’s o ffic ia l la n g ua ge s a nd d o min ate d h e a d lin e s in n e w s pa pe rs a r o u n d th e w o rld in th e e n s u ing da ys .

T h e p re s e n ce o f s o man y ca me ra s in the c r o w d e n s u re d th at th e re w o u ld be s ome i n d e lib le imag es , b eg in n in g w ith the n o w ico n ic p h o to g rap h o f th e mys te rious d ark -h a ire d b e a u ty ’s u n e x p e c te d a rriva l a t th e ce re mo n y a s trid e a brightly c o lo red e le p h a n t. Ro ark ’s d etourne me nt b ec a me th e s u b jec t o f en d le s s ne w s a n a ly s is u n til it s lo w ly re c e de d from t h e h e a d lin e s an d its p lac e at the top of t h e n ew s . H o w ev er, it is a p h e nome non o f th e a g e th at e v en th e mo s t innoc uous e v e n ts h av e an a fte rlife , a nd a c lip o f S imo n e ’s s trip te a s e , d u b b e d “ Fire D an ce , ” ap p e a re d o n Yo u tu b e , a lmos t i m med iate ly, rec e iv in g o v er 500,000 h its in th e firs t 2 4 h o u rs alo n e .

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NINETEEN: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO NOT SEE YET BELIEVE I sat transfixed in front of my t e l e v i si o n set, well into the night, until t h e e a r l y morning hours before cock’s c r o w, watching the live coverage. I t h o u g h t I heard a familiar voice, shouting “ Li v e b y the palm, die by the palm” comin g f r o m t h e flames. I feared the worst for m y f r i e n d s, when it was announced, over t h e i m a g e of smoldering Mulligatawny, t h a t t h e bodies of the perpetrators had no t y e t b e e n retrieved. A grim-faced South A si a e x p e r t appeared on the screen and dec l a r e d t h a t this was obviously the work of a l i t t l e known Zoroastrian group, adding t h a t t h i s threat deserved to be taken se r i o u sl y b y the Indian government.

I was watching the live b r o a d c a st of investigators sifting thr o u g h t h e smoldering ruins of the golden do m e a s t h e dawn began to break and the f i r st h e a v y drops of the monsoon rain bega n t o f a l l .

The sky rumbled with thunde r a n d t h e electricity in the room flicker e d w h e n I sensed a presence in the room, b e si d e m e .

The room was dark, the only lig h t c o m i n g from the TV set, and I could ba r e l y m a k e out the figure of a man stand i n g i n t h e doorway. I was exhausted, e m o t i o n a l l y drained, and wondered whethe r I w a s dreaming or hallucinating. “ R o a r k , ” I asked, incredulously.

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He st e ppe d i nt o t he c ol d blue light but st i l l I c oul d not m a ke out his features .

Ne i t he r di d he a nswe r. “U nles s you show m e proof, I wi l l not believe it is you,” I sa i d. “ Don’t be a n a sshol e , wh o els e w ould i t be ? ” he re pl i e d.

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Monsoon Church

Ne e d les s to s ay, Roark returned, wi t h S imone, her mother, and, if you believe w hat w as printed in the pa pers , a s tack of promis s ory notes , unt old millions of dollars , Euros , rupe es , dinars , and pes os that had be e n kept in M ulligataw ny. But w e all know how unreliable the media can be.

An inves tigation w as begun into the Ci t y of G old and they w ere cited for num erous violations of the P uducherry fi re code, but the city’s juris diction in t he matter is currently being contes ted i n court.

The Burgundy property re m ains in the hands of S imone’s fa m i ly and her mother, claimed s he si gned them over in a delirium, after ge t t ing food pois oning from s ome ra nc id dahl.

We laid low a couple of days before he a ding north together, s topping i n Mahabalipuram, s o that S imone c oul d leave an offering at the s hiva l i ngam. They decided to s tay, as a ne w s w ell w as beating agains t the Shore Temple and there w ere other boa rds in G ovinda’s quiver that Roark wa nted to try, and I continued on to Che nnai, then K athmandu, as cending, onc e again to my H imalayan home, in t ha t far off range w here Lord S hiva ha s h is earthly abode.

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