All the Gates of Hell Read Free

remember. Whether you do it here or back in Medias makes no difference to me."
    "I'm no goddess! I'm Jin Lee Hannigan. I've lived in Medias most of my life and you've known me for years!"
    "The one doesn't change the other. I wasn't sure at first, but when you smacked me with that hard little fist of yours you saw something, didn't you? So did I. Your contact with me generated a vision. That's an attribute of a bodhisatva."
    Jin had a little more idea of what he was talking about now. She had heard of the bodhisattvas through her mother. She at least knew what spiritual corner of the cosmos Teacher was talking about.
    "Dammit, how can I be a bodhisattva ? I'm not even Buddhist!"
    Teacher shrugged. "What has that to do with anything? You are what you are. You have a job to do. A job, I might point out, that you've been slacking on for the past couple of centuries."
    "Job? I work at the Legal Aid office. You know that. And what's this 'centuries' nonsense? I'm only twenty!"
    "Your fleshly incarnation may be twenty but the real you inside is a lot older than that. And I'm talking about your actual job. As the mortal incarnation of a goddess -- ok, technically a bodhisattva -- you have many attributes but only one real power. That power brings obligation."
    Jin just glared at him. "What power? What obligation?"
    "To bring those suffering in torment out of hell. You are the mortal incarnation of the Goddess of Mercy, Guan Shi Yin."
    (())

Chapter 2
     
    Teacher walked past Jin back toward the two huge guardian statues she'd passed on her way in. Jin hesitated then fell into step behind him.
    "I hope you appreciate your place in the scheme of things," he said over his shoulder. "The ability to fetch a person out of hell is quite a talent. I'm the anointed king of these regions but even I can't do that. I can only put them there."
    "You do realize I don't believe a word of this," Jin said.
    "Yes, and that's very strange. A Bodhisattva may choose to incarnate for any number of reasons, but normally they do so with their memories intact. It took me nearly a hundred years to track you to this plane and nearly another seventy to get a rough idea of your location! I hope you're wearing that physical body for a good reason."
    "Why shouldn't I be wearing a physical body? I'm a living person."
    He shrugged. "Granted, if there's a better way to patch into space and time I don't know what it might be, but incarnation does have its inconveniences. Pain, for one." Teacher felt the side of his face, gingerly. "For a moment I thought you'd broken my jaw."
    "I did my best," Jin said grimly.
    "You always do." Teacher stopped in front of the door that was flanked by the statues. "The guardians mark the way you came. If you really want to go back to Medias, this is the way."
    Jin reached for the door, hesitated. "That's it? I walk out of this mad house and I'm done?"
    "You most definitely are not 'done.' I said this is the way back to Medias and it is. There is a catch, of course."
    Jin sighed. "Yes, I was expecting that. What is it?"
    "Simply this: when you came down the passageway the first time, you thought it was deserted. Now you'll know better. Your third eye is opening, Jin -- " Jin gasped and reached for her forehead, but Teacher smiled and said, "Metaphysically speaking. It was already happening or I wouldn't have been able to find you. You're waking up, like it or not. Perhaps you'll remember more when you meet what's waiting for you in the passageway."
    "What is it?"
    "I can't tell you that. You'll deal with it or you won't, but it stands between you and Medias."
    "Fine, so how do I open this door? It's locked."
    "No door is locked or barred to you, Jin. Didn't I mention that? That's an attribute of Guan Yin, in case you were wondering. You'll discover the others in time."
    Jin leaned close, examining the door. It looked solid enough. "It damn well is locked. Where's the key?"
    "You're the key."
    Jin felt a shove on her back and she