'I'd like to be present while you examine her,' Bradan said.
'I know you would.' Chaturi smiled with her eyes. 'You may stay beside her, Bradan.'
'Where are we going?' Melcorka asked, as Bradan helped her to her feet.
'This lady is going to talk to you,' Bradan said. 'Just do as she tells you, Mel, and everything will be fine.' That black-and-white mass was back, drifting beside them as Chaturi led them back into her hut.
'Hello, Melcorka,' Chaturi said quietly, as she placed Melcorka opposite her. Bradan sat cross-legged in the corner, watching intently.
'Hello.' Melcorka smiled at Chaturi. 'Where am I?'
'You are somewhere safe.' Leaning forward, Chaturi touched Melcorka's forearm. 'You tell me where you are.'
Melcorka retained her smile and the dazed look in her eyes. The black-and-white cloud formed beside her. 'I am here,' she said.
'Do you know where here is?' Chaturi asked.
'Somewhere safe,' Melcorka said.
'I want you to help me,' Chaturi said. 'Could you do that?'
Melcorka nodded, as eager as a child. 'Yes, I can do that.'
'Thank you.' Taking hold of both Melcorka's hands, Chaturi stared into her eyes. 'I want you to let me inside your head. Is that all right?'
'That's all right,' Melcorka said.
'Look at me, please,' Chaturi said. 'Look into my eyes and don't look away.'
Bradan desperately wanted to help. He ached to get Melcorka back to herself again. He watched as Chaturi focussed on Melcorka while that black-and-white miasma drifted around them both. Chaturi's face altered as she concentrated, and there was a definite wince as she connected with Melcorka.
Oh please, dear God, help Melcorka. Whatever it takes, help Melcorka. Take my life and my mind if it restores Mel to herself.
The black-and-white miasma moved toward Bradan and returned to Melcorka, as Chaturi's face altered.
Bradan was not aware of the passage of time. He only knew that Chaturi was probing within Melcorka's mind. He saw the pupils of Chaturi's eyes dilate until there was no white left, and then shrink back to normal. The miasma remained, formless, hovering beside Melcorka. A bird called outside, the notes strangely elongated, as if time had slowed down.
Bradan again felt the jerk as Chaturi emerged from Melcorka's mind. Chaturi slumped, with perspiration sliding down her face and her eyes wild and unfocused.
After a few moments, Chaturi asked, 'Who did this to her?'
'Who did what?' Bradan already knew the answer. The kanaima's curse.
Chaturi touched Melcorka's head. 'Somebody has cursed this woman. Who put a curse on her?'
'There was a kanaima on the other side of the world,' Bradan said. 'Melcorka was herself before then, and has not been right ever since.'
'I've never heard of a kanaima,' Chaturi said. 'If you can find him, he might lift the curse.'
'She is dead,' Bradan said. 'Melcorka cut off her head before she could finish the curse.'
'That is a pity.' Chaturi sighed. 'Dead people cannot remove their curses.' She thought for a few moments, with her hand remaining on Melcorka's head. 'I saw blankness inside here, yet Melcorka is still there. She is inside, striving to get out, desperate to escape the prison of her mind, fighting to remove the swamp of unease and doubt and negativity of the curse.' Chaturi looked into Bradan's eyes. 'A curse of this strength would have killed most people. Melcorka is a very strong woman to survive.'
Bradan felt a surge of relief. 'Is there hope for her?'
'With this woman,' Chaturi nearly smiled, 'there will always be hope. Your Melcorka will not give up until she is dead, and I doubt she will give up even then.' She looked directly at Bradan. 'What did this kanaima say? What were the exact words of the curse?'
Bradan thought back to the battle on the island. 'She said: “I curse you. I curse you in your body and in your mind. I curse you in your possessions and your strength. I curse you in your travels and your weather. I curse you until the balance of the world is restored.” She was going to say more but Melcorka cut off her head.'
'A pity your friend had not been a little faster. I suspect this kanaima was a black witch, which are evil things whatever name they go under. They can communicate with demons and do nothing but harm.' Chaturi sighed. 'But at least we know what we have to do to restore Melcorka to herself again.'
'What is that?'
'Why, what did the curse say? The kanaima cursed Melcorka in her body – well, you can see how weak she is – and the kanaima cursed her in her mind, which has evidently been altered. Melcorka now has the mind of a child. The kanaima cursed her in her possessions, now she has lost her sword, and the Thiruzhas have taken your ship.'
'That is all accurate,' Bradan said.
'The kanaima cursed her strength, and by the look of Melcorka she can barely stand upright. It cursed her travels; soon afterward, a storm drove you well off-course.' Chaturi sighed. 'Whatever that kanaima was, it had power; it was in touch with the demons of the underworld.' Chaturi lowered her voice. 'It may even have been a demon itself.'
Bradan nodded. 'How can I lift the curse?'
Chaturi sighed. 'It won't be easy. The kanaima said your friend was cursed until the balance of the world is restored. Are you sure that is what it said?'
'As far as I can remember,' Bradan said.
'All right then. If the balance is restored, then Melcorka will recover.'
Bradan held Melcorka as she swayed to one side. 'Is the world unbalanced? And if so, how can we restore it?'
Chaturi looked grave. 'Have you heard of the nine Siddhars?'
'I have not,' Bradan said. 'Educate me.'
'We do not have time to learn all about our religion,' Chaturi said. 'Perhaps I can tell you later, if you wish to learn.'
'I always wish to learn,' Bradan said.
Chaturi nodded. 'In that case, you are already a practitioner. Now, listen and I will say this simply. A Siddhar is a spiritual seeker who has attained his goal.
