As Dearly Beloved moved toward the light in the cave, she heard other voices joining her in the sacred chanting. Feeling heartened, her steps became a little surer. She noticed the light was getting bigger.

Welcome, dear one, welcome! a figure in saffron robes turned toward her, with outstretched arms; clashing tingshas rang throughout, bringing a bright sparkle to the air.

Almost running in relief, now, Dearly Beloved reached the figure just as it turned round to face her fully. Instead of the beautiful, smiling visage of a Tibetan monk, she saw only a hideous skeleton facing her.

No! she screamed, You cannot be! Twisting and turning she felt the hands of the skeleton grab at her shoulders. Her heart beat a triphammer of fear which permeated her body and soul.

Beloved One, wake up, wake up! You must come back to us, now, Dearly, now. Fight it, you are strong. Remember your lessons!. Gungzin struggled to rouse her from the astral nightmare.

At that point the Giant, Rek-shin, hugged her to his chest, stilling her flailing arms, rocking back and forth. Gungzin centered and became still. Quickly going into an altered state, he met her in the Cavern. Reaching out with his hands, fingers splayed, streams of golden light entended beyond them, to meld with her feeble strands of shattered aura.

Slowly, they began to back up, while the skeleton laughed in an uproarious and maniacal manner, ordering them to give up their feeble resistance.

All is impermanence! Give it up now and join me in that which you seek, Death! the skeleton's voice dripped with the stinking rot of overripe and dead flowers.

Reaching into his robe, in an instant Gungzin drew his phurbha out and with a bright flash he cut through the strands of passion, aggression and ignorance which the evil one sent out to them.

Breathing deeply, Gungzin returned to his body, cast a questioning glance at Rek-shin, then at Dearly Beloved, still cradled in his arms. Slowly, she began to awaken.