The Lab

Then there was a head's up on the food from Cheryl, “don't expect soda or any kind of fast foods, expect tea and yak milk, if milk is wanted, be open minded to what is served and show respect and appreciation as food is precious to these people”. Tim had further information where he would stay, Panchen thought Tim should stay somewhere separate from the teenagers because he felt that they needed to figure out each others weaknesses and strengths; they would after all be up against the most monstrous being ever chosen to attack humanity. They had a huge weight to bear, they just didn't know the true gravity of the situation they were in. Panchen Lama knew that these young ones held the ability, with the help of their God, Buddha, or the most holy ones, to defeat and protect all of them. The Bank's family spent most of the afternoon playing board games and bonding, in silence, as each of them had their separate thoughts about what was to come. Ryan missed Samantha and worried about her. He was experiencing the growth and maturity that comes with the realization that life is precious and can be snuffed out in a moment. Meagan's thoughts were crowded by messages from different sources such as the girl she would soon meet that she had led out of the dark place, and away from the evil red light that preyed on all of them, the one she and the others would confront and dominate, well, at least hoped to dominate. Meagan had thoughts of the quiet little girl, Kirsten, that she had changed from an autistic child in need of human interaction, to a happy blossoming girl who would reach out to others, and who invaded her thoughts and dreams now with words of encouragement for going to Lhasa where she was needed. Tim had thoughts of his children and their DNA, what were they capable of doing now?, who was the mastermind of all of this?. As the Air Canada flew closer and closer to Lhasa, Jinpa prepared to take care of yet two more teenagers, wondering what they would be like. He was given Ryan and Meagan's size measurements and he had picked comfortable yet exquisite materials to have robes and tunics and sleeping clothes made into, as he had done when Choden and Dorje had arrived. Jinpa had figured out how to make a rich chocolate milk with a fine dark chocolate he had found in the village, and yak's milk. He hoped that the new arrivals would like his concoction as much as Dorje and Choden did. Panchen Lama and the elders slept very little as they discussed how and when the evil one would emerge. One of the elders was strolling outside by the bird sanctuary at dusk that evening and noticed a bright blue shape, lifeless on the ground outside of his cage, the Macaw, “Dawa”, that Choden loved so much. As the monk bent down to pick up the bird a large fowl smelling shadow appeared over him with no warning, now two lifeless forms were on the ground. Jinpa and Choden found the two, Jinpa hustling Choden back inside the monastery, ending any future outside excursions. Jonathon and Cheryl had a late night dinner at a local restaurant that featured a delicious white fish bathed in a delicate lobster sauce. As they ate they prepared to intercept the Banks at the airport the following day after spending the night at Jonathon's condo, the first night they had ever spent together as a couple, and the last night they would ever spend alone. As a delicate fruit tart was set in front of them, Jonathon explained to Cheryl about his leads to find the person who put a hit on Tim Banks. “The hit man from Anchorage has a brother-in-law that lives in an estate on St. Lawrence Island, in the Bering Sea”, he explained to Cheryl, as she sliced into the flaky crust, a smile turning up the corners of her mouth, “this man's name is Manchester Underwood, also the owner of one of the largest pharmaceutical conglomerates in the world, and the employer of the man found dead on the floor of Tim Bank's house in Maryland”. Jonathon went on, having Cheryl's full attention, “I have been in contact with agents in Alaska and Mr. Underwood is our 'man of interest', and under surveillance as we speak, we know that he is an eccentric recluse and is not likely to run. We have information from the Alaska agents that Manchester may be ill or dying because a doctor visits him on a routine basis. Our case on him is solid and we are biding our time waiting until the right moment to arrest him”. Jonathon felt satisfied that the mystery of who the mastermind is had been solved, and that now he could tend to the upcoming astral event, and to the Bank's family, and to the monks and teenagers at Potala Palace....and to Cheryl. Louis entered the store where he picked up Manchester's special foods he requested on a daily basis. A sea plane sat outside the old country store on Koozata Lagoon, the pilot waiting for Louis to place his next order for Mr. Underwood's eccentric taste. It was a full time job for the pilot to fly back and forth to Alaska and gather delicacies brought in from all over the world at Manchester's request. As Louis gathered the day's special meal of reindeer, salmon berries, and Proseco, he wrote down a list to give the pilot for the next day. Louis sat pen in hand, poised over his food list thinking of a special meal and began writing: Puffer fish from Japan, Caciocavallo Podoloco, (a cheese meaning “horse cheese”, made from a rare Italian cow's milk), and ingredients for Baked Alaska. While Louis drove back to the estate, Dr. Blakely was let in by Trisha and led to Mr. Underwood's bedroom suite. Manchester waited for him while watching the monastery on a monitor.