Free With These Eyes by Horst Steiner

from
a block of colorful marble. Pink and green swirls within shimmering
white rock gave this unique piece of art a regal appearance.
Isabelle didn't care too much for the word altar . It sounded
a bit too much like religious obsession and magic to her. Fuji
never really needed to give it a name when Isabelle was around, but
it was where they would go when they chanted. Fuji had taught
Isabelle the ancient practice that was said to align one's spirit
with the rhythm of the universe. The mentor took a match with his
right hand and lit a couple of incense sticks from a nearby box.
His left hand placed the incense in a burner on the top of the
altar. With the same match still burning, he lit two candles, one
near either side of the altar. Centered between the candles, two
cherry-wood doors were hinged onto the rock face above. Fuji opened
the doors, revealing a rectangular recess, a couple of feet in
height. Hanging unrolled in the recess was a paper scroll. The
parchment was covered in symbols of an ancient Chinese language
long lost in modern days.
    Pleasant bamboo-scented smoke drifted through
the clean spring air. The calendar said it was winter but Southern
California had as much of a winter as sunny Florida or the French
Rivera. It was just a time for some of the trees to put on a fresh
coat of leafs for the new season. It was the end of February and it
certainly felt like spring. Isabelle felt an abundance of life
energy around her. Fuji reached into another box and pulled out two
strands of crystal beads. Their faceted edges reflected the
sunlight in a beautiful shimmer. He handed one to Isabelle. Fuji
swung a wooden mallet towards an enormous prayer bell that resided
to the right of the altar. The bell was shaped just like a kettle -
open at the top. Its melodious sound felt cleansing and brought a
sense of harmony to Isabelle's swirling thoughts. A few strikes of
the bell and Isabelle and Fuji's voices filled the air in
unity.
    "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo,
    Nam Myoho Renge Kyo,
    Nam Myoho Renge Kyo..."
    Together the two would chant the ancient
mantra for the hour that followed.
    Night had fallen by the time the two friends
finished. It was time for Isabelle to leave and face her troubles.
"Look after Tonati. He's all the protection you need." Fuji took a
satchel that was filled with loaded syringes, just like the one
Isabelle had injected at breakfast, and handed it to her. An
expression of genuine concern came to Fuji's face as he searched
for an answer in Isabelle's eyes. "How is your health?"
    It seemed her illness was not on her mind.
Isabelle was busy considering all the other issues that were
affecting her life at the time. "I'm fine." Isabelle embraced Fuji.
She realized that without his help, the illness would be the only
thing occupying her thoughts.
    "Thank you, Fuji."

 
    11 ISABELLE'S NIGHT UNDER SIEGE
    Not much later, Isabelle was in her car and
on the way home. The streets were empty. Even regular traffic was
nowhere in sight. Isabelle recognized a single sports utility
vehicle from her new-found entourage as it tried to stay in her
blind spot as best it could.
    A few blocks before she arrived at home,
Isabelle noticed the SUV break off its pursuit and leave her trail.
A push of the number one button on her remote and the
cast-iron gate to her driveway swung open. The street was empty
when Isabelle made her turn. The young woman drove past her garage
and parked in front of her house. Isabelle stepped inside. She
didn't usually feel the need to lock her door. Isabelle was
immediately greeted by Tonati. His stature and razor-sharp claws
would have intimidated anyone who didn't know Isabelle's puma. All
the young finder of truth saw in the cat’s eyes was his love for
her. Tonati had been with Isabelle since the time when she still
lived in the jungle as a child with her mother. After Isabelle left
the jungle to live with her father, Tonati had remained a spiritual
bridge to nature for Isabelle.
    Isabelle could