The Goddess Legacy

Chapter 31

“A cave?” Allie blurted.

“Oh, yes. Rather famous here now, but only since independence from the British. Before then it was obscure. Almost inaccessible, in the side of a mountain, it’s a site that draws many devotees these days for pilgrimages. You have to hike several kilometers from the nearest road to reach it, but every year, more do.” Divya paused. “But I’m afraid that doesn’t help much, because as I said, there is no temple per se. Just a shrine and some carvings. Certainly no mosaics.”

“What about the translation? Could it be garbling the script somehow, mistaking temple for something else?”

“Anything’s possible,” Divya conceded, appearing to lose interest.

“I have an old photograph of a mosaic that could relate to this,” Allie said.

Divya appeared surprised. “You do?”

“Yes, let me find it.” Allie slid her phone across the desk and began swiping through photographs.

Divya held up her hand, and when she spoke, her voice was almost a whisper. “Stop. Go back. You have a photo of the entire dagger?”

“Well, yes, but the script is only on the blade…”

“Let me see it.”

Allie reversed to the full image of the dagger and passed the phone back to the grad student, who studied it intensely before sighing. “It is as I suspected. On the hilt, you can see the abrasions.”

“Yes. Is there some significance to them?”

“Not really. I mean, there’s no message, if that’s what you’re asking. But it confirms my suspicion.”

“Which is?”

“It’s not a dagger. It’s a sword. A miniature sword.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because it was gripped in the hand of one of our most famous Hindu deities.”

“Who?”

“Kali. She is often depicted with, among other things, a sword. Sometimes several. This must have been separated from another relic, which is where the abrasions came from. I’d bet my doctorate on that. It is the sword of Kali. You can tell by the stylized serpents molded into the handle, as well as other giveaways I won’t bore you with. But I’m certain.” Divya hesitated as she scrutinized the image. “It’s possible that the message is a partial one, and that there is more script that completes it elsewhere on the depiction. That would not be unusual.”

“Really?”

“I have seen relics from the same period with similar approaches. One completes the other. There is no way of being sure, of course, without seeing it, but that is the most likely given the partial nature of the script.”

Allie absorbed the information and then scrolled to the black-and-white image of the mosaic. She handed Divya the phone. “Recognize that?”

Divya studied the image and then passed it back to Allie. “I’m afraid not.”

Allie’s shoulders slumped. “Are you certain?”

“It’s obviously a very old photo. I’m more an expert on linguistics than theology or archeology. I’m sorry.”

“Do you know anyone who might be able to help?”

“I can check with some of the professor’s colleagues. But you have to understand — there are so many minor temples in India, it would be nearly impossible to place it unless there was some noteworthy aspect of the mosaic. And frankly, this looks like a typical depiction of Kali dancing or standing on the body of Shiva. It is a classic image that appears in many place — the rough Hindu equivalent of Christian icons of Jesus with a halo, looking skyward in prayer.”

“Oh. It’s that common?”

“Yes. Perhaps now you see why it’s difficult to say with any certainty where the photograph was taken.”

“I understand. Could I leave a copy with you to show around and see if anyone can identify it?”

“Sure, but with the professor’s death, I have many tasks that will have to take priority.” Divya’s voice trailed off with her last words, her attention shifting back to the murder of her mentor.

“What’s your email address?” Allie asked.

Divya gave it to her and Allie sent the image as an attachment from her phone. The Indian woman confirmed that she had received it, and Allie stood, seeing nothing to be gained from lingering.

“Where exactly is Shiv Khori in Kashmir?”

“West of Salar Dam. Maybe… twenty or so kilometers. There is a village south of it: Ransoo. It has become more developed as more devotees make the pilgrimage. They estimate half a million will pass through the cave this year, maybe more, so it is not hard to find.”

“Then there are buses? That sort of thing?”

Divya frowned at the question. “Of course. It is rural, but getting more developed. However, as I said, there is a long stretch, perhaps three kilometers, that must be traveled on foot.”

Allie smiled. “Divya, let me give you my local phone number in case you find anything out about the mosaic. I would be extremely grateful if you would call me if you do.” She jotted the number down on a message slip and handed it to Divya. “I have a foundation that will soon be making grants to worthwhile causes. If you’re interested, I’d like you to stay in touch — I would love to provide some sort of support for you to help with concluding your studies.”

Divya’s attitude chilled, and Allie realized instantly she’d misstepped.

“Thank you, but I am adequately supported already. My family has been very fortunate — my father is CEO of a major technology company here.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, I meant no offense… I just thought that, well, I wanted to show my appreciation.”

“It is easy to conclude that everyone in India is poor, but that is not the case. It is an understandable misconception.”

Allie nodded, chastened, and decided to cut her losses. “Thank you so much for all the help, and I’m sorry about the professor. He was very sweet. What a tragedy.”

Moisture welled again in Divya’s eyes. “Yes. It is.”

Drake was standing in the shade of one of the trees when Allie emerged from the building. She rushed to him and took his hand, surprising him, and they walked together to the main road while Allie described her meeting. Drake listened in silence and then stopped before they reached the boulevard.

“You said there’s another icon?” he asked.

“No, I said she believes the dagger is a miniature sword that was clutched in the hand of another icon — probably Kali, if she’s right.”

“Kali. Isn’t she the goddess of death?”

“No. She’s the Hindu deity of quite a few things, including destruction of evil.”

“Why do I keep thinking death?”

“Probably from bad B movies.”

They resumed walking and, when they reached the sidewalk, began the process of attracting the attention of a passing rickshaw or taxi. Drake glanced at Allie as they waited for the light to turn.

“So what’s the next step? We know there’s a cave mentioned, but the rest is nonsense — what’s your professional assessment, Dr. Allie?”

“If the dagger had script on it, maybe the other relic does, too.”

“The sword, you mean,” he said, patting her bag.

“Potato, potahto. We need to find the other relic.”

“Kali.”

“Missing a sword.”

“Uh-huh. That should be a piece of cake. Because we don’t have enough on our plate.”

She swatted his chest. “You wanted adventure. This is adventure.”

“I thought it would be easier. Maybe involve more eating and drinking. And air conditioning.”

“Whatever.”

“How are you planning to find it?”

“I haven’t figured that part out yet.” She waved at a cab streaking toward them from the light, and smiled back at Drake. “But maybe it won’t be that hard. Because if we can figure out where the dagger came from, that should lead us to Kali.”

“The sword,” Drake corrected.

“And there’s one person who probably knows.”

Drake’s eyes lit with understanding. “This sounds like a job for Indiana Singh!”

“Who seems to like his money well enough.”

“Root of all evil.”

She nodded. “The love of it, anyway.”