Nearing Varanasi, a small group approached. They were dead tired of their trip but their purpose drove them to do it.
---
After the man and Keith had a look around the temple, the lean man gave up. He held Keith's hand and talked.
"I am sorry little one, our efforts were vain. In what district do you live?"
"I came here with my father, we had a long journey just to admire this... mandir. Unfortunately we weren't prepared for such an amount of people and we did not plan on a checkpoint. I ... I really don't know what to do."
Keith lied through his lips, he thought about how he was supposed to find his father, his trip companion and what they'd do next once reunited. Nothing came up to his mind and his eyes became teary.
"I, Devdas, propose you to come at my place, and have some rest. The sky is darkening and we'll just get tired by continuing our search."
He put the kid down and kept holding his hand while they walked.
'What kind of parent doesn't look for his child when he's not around?'
About ten minutes later they arrived at a cosy house. Devdas lit two candlesticks on and gave one to the kid.
Keith could distinguish most of the house's appliances without its light. There were animal pelts as carpets, half eaten by moths, probably old ones. A bow hanged on the living room's wall and an altar with a tiny statue standing. A woman with a flower crown.
The man was lone. The house was big yet there was no family member to be seen. Parts of the house were decorated while the room with the altar gave off a completely different vibe. The boy turned to the man and bowed slightly while speaking.
"Mister, my name is Keith. I regret to impose you the situation I'm in, I know I've spent your time and energy until now. Therefore I thank you for your hospitality."
'How polite, good manners will lead him farther than his parents.' Thought Devdas while untying his turban. A meter long of white and grey tangled hair descended down his back, revealing how old the man actually was. He hadn't much wrinkles but even his facial hair was white.
"You can sleep in this room, we'll go out tomorrow morning. If you want to look around by yourself, you'll be welcome here for the night. I might not guarantee you a meal, I don't have much for myself already."
The man was kind to his eyes. He gave him his own room, in the middle of it stood a huge bed. There was a embroidered bedsheet on it, and multiple overfilled pillows at its head.
The moment Keith closed his eyes, he found himself in the Explanation.
He had difficulties to walk in this black puddle and there was not much light around. He frowned at the 'sky' and noticed not only the lights weren't stars, their shapes and concentrations made no sense.
Straight lines bordered them, few of them moved at a lazy pace.
He focused to distinguish more. He looked at the two light clusters in the sky and his eyes widened.
"That's the city seen from above!"
Keith felt his momentum changing, as if he was pulled to the ceiling when looking at it.
'It's a map. Most of the blurry points aren't part of the reality, it's pretty accurate though.' Show said. He emerged from the tar, it was like glued to his body and it let the light reflect on his mass.
'Once I finish separating the meat from the skull, we can pinpoint your dad's location, using a curse.'
"Can I help?"
'Not now! You would eat it savagely. Give me an hour or so, once the old guy is asleep we'll act. I'll wake you up, just look at the map carefully, we're about.... here.' Show said, pointing a so insignificant light Keith had to ask him four times where it was be cause he lost it from sight.
Outside, in the chamber there was a shadow with tens of hands meticulously dissecting the buffalo's head. It ripped skin, muscles without pulling out unnecessary bone like upper teeth, but it did get rid of the remaining vertebra sections.
An hour passed and Keith woke up. The shadow hid the skull while he fed on the meat. The size of the skull left plenty to eat. Minced brain parts and eyes, its soft cheeks and ear cartilage did not last long.
Later, when the kid behaved more humanly, Mister Show spoke.
"We'll make a blood compass. Put this on."
Show broke the lower jaw and handed the massive skull on Keith's head. The gap between its teeth raw was perfect to fit his head, but it was still hard to keep in place. Show helped keeping it steady while saying.
"We go next room."
The moment he went through the door, he stepped in a blood puddle. Devdas was laying next to his bed with a peaceful expression and a slit on his throat.
"You put your hand at its centre and you think hard of Lorbe. Then we wait for it to react."
'That's it?' Keith asked.
"As simple as killing one person each time you need to find someone else. This old man has nothing to do else than going to this temple and pray. No one will look for him. Now do it."
His flat hand against the floor, they saw it. The blood puddle extended, distorted to fit the city's shape. Multiples dots began to appear, the coagulating blood was fast to dry and it reminded him of the map in the Explanation.
From the border of the circle, the a dried blood line appeared until it touched the boy's hand. It drew an arrow of crust on his left side.
"Judging from the two big spots here, probably the temple and the mandir, that should be the east of the city."
He saw Keith licking his hand while looking at the fresh corpse, Show understood the sudden urge and he spoke to dissuade him from eating it.
"Fight your hunger boy, there's nothing to hunt in this city but mice and rats, we need reserves!"
That didn't even made Keith flinch. Mister Show repeated him 'fight the hunger' in his mind until he couldn't see the full black pupils any more. The kid finally snapped back after a few seconds of suspense.
"We'll depart tomorrow morning. There's no need to rush, this city is full of guards and deep night workers, we won't incur any risk. Let's go back to sleep."
The Explanation had already changed a little. The sky map had now red lights, and a line passed through it, touching a gigantic imprint of his hand. Show stood next to him while he played with a floating clean buffalo skull.
---
Moore, on his side had found a remote believers' branch. They had a house constructed around a flowery garden. The fresh grass under his feet was a soft carpet and the light smell of flowers made him teary. Finally, some help.
"HELP ME! The demon came to the city!"
It woke up the building that came with their half worn nightshirts.
"What is this nonsense have you came to tale us brother?"
One of them asked, and Moore replied.
"The demon in the disguise of a child came to the city today, taken as an hostage, I couldn't fight against the monster! He ate my buffalo in a bloodbath and forced me to carry the cart in its stead. I've been tortured to obey!"
He said, brandishing his half healed, crooked arm.
"He's not taller than this, but his shadow extends to the size of a house and its teeth, as big as knives gives sight to an endless void. His many black arms held me and broke my limb while his mouth feasted on my buffalo. I beg of you, help me. Help your city."
He could see by torchlight, the elders' faces of deep concern. They began whispering in groups. Then Moore's story was known by all of the believers. Some stroke their beard, some scratched their head and few rubbed their eyes. One with a cane spoke.
"And how come you've survived to tell the tale?"
Moore gulped down his saliva.
'Did it let me escape?'
"I've escaped during daytime. I've never seen the demon during the day. He lost me from sight and I ran here as fast as I could."
All were sceptical.
"Multiple arms, eating flesh, dark skin... Are you not talking about Kali the demon?"
Few nodded behind him.
Moore fell on his knees, he put his head against the dirt and his hands in front of him, facing up. He said with all his might.
"I am not delirious, I came here because I seek help, not harm. I'd admit your wisdom goes beyond this man's blabbering. But might your faith as well? I've seen the monster eat dozens of animals whole on our way here. He is but a stomach with a mouth. He acts childly but you'd let him grow up? He'll swallow this city."
And so fear grew. Moore's big mouth was his best asset for business certainly. Convincing people was his profession.
The dozen people whispered again for a minute. Once they nodded in unison, one other, with a golden piercing on the nose spoke.
"I am Mani, the script living under this roof. I'll write your story and Ravi, here, will help you gather men. He's close to the people and to the nobles. Soon, this city will know a new event and it'll be shaken by what you've brought us. From this day, it is your duty to fight the consequences of your deeds."