AROUND the yul, a chill winter wind whirled and beat against the dense fabric walls. But, the tents were well secured, their tensile construction made from verticle poles and heavy, woven yak-hair strips, all sewn together. 

Pitched close to a well-travelled path these were the temporary abodes of pilgrims who made their annual trek to Kang Rinpoche, a holy mountain, steeped in religion, myth and magic, and part of the Kailash Range in Tibet. 

In December 1941, this particular yul had welcomed two unusual companions.

From one of the tents, a curious pair of eyes peered out from the tent's doorway and looked up at the imposing south face of the peak. A natural vertical cleft combined with horizontal strata carved a swastika into the face of the mountain. To Buddhists, it was a holy symbol, the embodiment of Surya, prosperity and good luck. But, in these troubled times, the emblem bore an entirely different significance. It was now more commonly associated with the Nazis.

"I don't get it, Cloudy," the boy shouted against the whistling draughts. "How can something so holy be adopted for such hatefulness and cruelty?"

Enjoying the climate, a nimbus - a body of undulant vapour - hovered close by, protective, watchful. Within its mist evolved a face, although distorted somewhat by its composition, it nonetheless bore a human semblance. It spoke with an unearthly tone, its ebb and flow like a deep, resounding echo. "It symbolises power, little one. The very thing your fanatics crave."

"And yours," the boy retorted with a smirk as he peered out between the tent's resilient woven flaps.

Cloudy's echo boomed slightly with a sardonic laugh. "Yes, indeed. At least she is where she deserves to be."

"An' just whe' might that be?" Asked a voice out of the blue. 

The Nimbus spun around, its misty tendrils automatically reaching out to keep the boy safe. But, on seeing three men emerging from a portal's chromatic centre, its defences lowered. 

"We have only come to ask for yo' help," explained Yarko in his refined New England twang. "Ma friends insisted on accompanyin' me."

The boy, peering around the side of the tent door, grinned when he saw who stood in front of Cloudy. He dashed out to greet the visitors. He beamed at them all but spoke to one in particular. "Mr Zanzibar!"

"Wishmaster," she smiled, bittersweet, as the boy rushed up to her. 

"You know you can call me Davy, Mr Zanzibar." The boy chuckled.  "Are you well?" 

The question caught the magician off-guard. How to answer, she wondered, stumbling for a response. But little Davy, young though he was, noted her discomfort. "Well, you look very fine to me, but gosh, I'm sorry we couldn't help you get back to the way you were."

Hunkering down, so she was eye-level with the boy, Zanzibar spoke quickly. "Well, as it happens, you may be able to do just that."

Davy the Wishmaster and Cloudy exchanged a look then studied the group before them. Yarko the Great stood tall, refined in his suit and cape which billowed out in the wind. His turban, fixed well in place, was adorned with his magic gem. Jim Andrews, aka Dynamo, was resplendent in his red and yellow costume - muscles bulging with a thin aura of static buzzing around him. And Zanzibar, undoubtedly now female but dressed in the most stylish tuxedo Davy had ever seen. It wasn't hard to deduce this visit was not social.

"Gee, well, I don't know how I can help exactly," Davy began. "But let's go in before we freeze out here and then we can talk. It's real cosy in here." He gestured to the tent. 

All entered, including Cloudy who shrank his proportions so as not to 'smother' the guests while inside. He remained, nonetheless, close to the doorway.

A fireplace, made from three large stones and an iron tripod, sat in the centre of the large tent. Meat stew bubbled in a suspended pot, the steam rising, escaping through the smoke vent above. Davy ushered everyone to the pallets draped in furs and blankets and bade them sit. They complied, and all sat cross-legged around the cooking fire.

Judging by Dynamo's twitching nostrils and downturned mouth, the aroma was not particularly to his liking, but he politely refrained from saying anything, much to Davy's relief.

"I guess you're all wondering what I'm doing here?" the boy asked, his cherub-like cheeks glowing from the heat of the fire.

"Well, yes, ma friends and I ah curious," Yarko responded with a smile.

"It's quite simple really," Davy started to explain jovially. "It's the perfect altitude up here for Cloudy." 

His audience met him with raised eyebrows and looks of surprise. Davy chuckled and then continued. "I didn't understand it myself, but he explained it all to me real well. Seems this place is like a recharge outlet for him, kinda like a generator." He giggled some more as the three visitors nodded.

Cloudy remained silent but was pleased his little friend had understood his reasoning for coming to Tibet.

"These folks kindly allowed us shelter," Davy said, indicating two women and a man at the rear of the tent. 

Wrapped in pulu garments, with scarves swathed around their heads, the pilgrims stared back at the boy and his visitors. 

Their unfathomable expressions drove Dynamo to wave and smile a greeting to them. The three individuals remained impassive, affording no welcome but equally no dismissal of the new arrivals. The costumed hero then shrugged and returned his attention to the Wishmaster and his friends.

"So, Mr Zanzibar, how can we help?" Davy asked, his eyes wide, full of anticipation.

The female magician cleared her throat. "Firstly, Davy, under the um -  circumstances - you can drop the 'mister'. Zanzibar will do nicely."

"Okay!" Davy agreed, without question.

The boy's instant acceptance of this request once more surprised Zanzibar. She quickly noted how nice it would be if everyone could be so accommodating. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "We all know you both helped - very successfully, too - in ridding New York of the Sorceress of Zoom." 

"We sure did, Mr... sorry... Zanzibar," Davy chirped.

The magician managed a weak smile. "Well, now I must know to where did you banish her?"

At this, the Nimbus stirred. The brume seemed to expand and roil before settling again, its misty face looking directly at Zanzibar. "And why do you need to know this?" 

"Because she is the only one who can reverse the spell cast upon me."

"Hmm," was Cloudy's response. Nothing more did he utter.

"Oh! Well, that might be a problem, I'm afraid," Davy piped up.

"An' how so?" Yarko asked.

"Well, you know I make wishes..."

Yarko and Dynamo nodded, patient. Zanzibar, however, remained rigid.

"And I have to be very careful about the wishes I make."

Zanzibar's mouth tightened a little. "Yes, we know this, and when you wished for the Sorceress to go away, she did!"

"But, I wished for something more," Davy said, his voice becoming a little subdued.

Dynamo spoke for the first time as he leaned in a bit closer. "Tell us, little guy. Don't be shy." 

A most apologetic look washed over the boy's face. "I wished that whatever she used to cause the mess she'd made, didn't work for her anymore. So, y'see, I doubt even she will be able to undo what she has done to you, Zanzibar."

An uncomfortable silence ensued.

*****

For your information:

Yul -  Usually 3 or 4 black tents grouped together allowing 500-1000 m distance between each. Members of a yul are extended families, friends. Once, occupants also included the remnants of brigades from the era of collectivisation. 

Kang Rinpoche - better known to many as Mt Kailash - one of the most revered holy sites in the world. Four separate religions consider the mountain sacred, and it is pilgrimaged by thousands of people each year. 

The swastika mentioned in the above story is factual, and there are many photos to evidence this, one of which I have put at the top for you to see. Granted, not easy to make out clearly with the snow, but it is there, honestly.

Kailash is viewed by many in the Hindu-Buddhist worldview as the centre of the world. There are theories abound considering its supernatural power, with some even claiming it is a pyramid built by aliens. (ref:  http://tibetpedia.com/central-tibet/mt-kailash/) 

Surya - is a Sanskrit word which means the Sun. Surya also involves the solar deity in Hinduism, particularly in the Saura tradition found in states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha. 

(ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya)

Pulu - is a traditional Tibetan woollen fabric and the primary material for making robes, boots, hats, and other Tibetans garments. Pulu has been produced for more than 2,000 years, and it's fine and thick, soft and smooth, made of Tibetan felt and usually white. Sheep wool is the raw ingredient.