The trio rounded the edge of the mountain and saw lush green slopes descending down into a small valley. Oracle Lake glistened in the bottom of the valley with brilliant rays of dazzling sunlight bouncing off of it. Behind the lake, the majestic Himalayas rose up in an overwhelmingly intricate crescendo of peaks and valleys. The mountains encircled and contoured the lake.

“…breathtaking.” Hunter let his breath out slowly as his jaw dropped.

As each of the explorers rounded the edge, they slowed their gait and eventually stopped, dropped their jaw, and stared into the vast chasm of air bounded by the mountains and ending in the mirror-like pool at the nadir. The zenith of the scene that stretched out before them consisted of the infinite space of the sky and the few cirrus clouds that floated near the top of the troposphere.

Hunter began walking again first. He paid no attention, however, to the ground or where his steps landed. His eyes continued to survey the beautiful panorama that lay before him.

As they approached the lake, they stopped and laid their packs down by a pile of rocks. Hunter’s hand moved to the satchel slung around his broad shoulders. His fingers rubbed the lapis stone in the satchel. Hunter wandered towards the lake while contemplatively massaging the stone. He stared out into the water as he rubbed the stone and tossed it up and down lightly.

“Well, Hongo, let’s go ahead and get unpacked and let Sherlock Holmes over there figure out why we came here.” Tiyana said, referring to Hunter.

“Yes.” Hongo grunted softly as he began taking out and arranging tent materials.

Hongo distractedly tried to build a campsite, but the beautiful panorama had him nearly as captivated as Hunter.

Hunter stood at the lake’s shore. His arms were stretched out in front of his face. His index fingers and thumbs jutted straight out, making a square. Hunter peered through this square.

“Tiyana, the monastery from the painting. It would be just about there, directly in front of us. Across the lake. In the side of the mountain. Over the ridge.” Hunter spoke distractedly.

Tiyana looked up from her newly built campfire. She had just finished rigging a spit over the fire.

“So, I suppose you want us to go there.” She replied.

Hunter said nothing so she spoke again.

“I don’t see a path. Any ideas?”

“Sweetheart, uh, give me a minute.” Hunter walked to his wife, kissed her briefly, and then strode purposefully toward the water. He waded in up to his waist. The cold water stung his skin. He submerged the hand that held the lapis stone and began waiving the stone through the water.

“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon…” Hunter muttered under his breath. “Show me the way.” He said to no one in particular. “Show me something.”

Then a thrum coursed up his arm. He heard it and saw it. The stone thrummed louder. It began glowing with that intense lapis lazuli blue. The stone itself went from being opaque to being almost transparent. The water hummed along with the stone. Hunter could feel his body vibrating. After a few fleeting moments, he panicked and ran for the shore with as much speed as he could muster in the vibrating water.

From the shore, Hunter looked up. He felt the earth rumble beneath him. He heard movement like boulders scraping against each other. He looked up and where the monastery had been in the painting, a passageway was appearing. The stones rolled away, crushing foliage and causing a small avalanche of sand, dirt, and pebbles.

“That’s it Tiyana, Hongo!” He cried jubilantly. “Just like in the painting. Ha ha!”

Hunter was like a child with a new toy. Tiyana’s heart skipped a beat in her chest. She felt excitement course through her body. Mixed in with the excitement, however, was just a slight twinge of fear.

“You did it!” She exclaimed. “I can’t believe it.”

“What have you done? The amazement never ceases with you, bwana.” Hongo added, shaking his head in amazement.

Hongo felt like he should be surprised, but he was not. At this point, he was ready for just about anything. The trio lost no time in clambering up the slope to the place where the stone had rolled away.

----------

I'm going to stop putting reminders to vote if you like the story here because I'm worried that it's becoming cliché. From here on out, please remember to vote at the end of each chapter if you are enjoying the story!

Thanks!