The mention of Tibetan suicides stirred Adam's memory of his own clash, in the not-so-distant past, with a black magician also claiming Nazi connections, who called himself the Head-Master. On that occasion, a number of the Head-Master's initiates had yielded up their lives to their elemental patron in order to secure for their leader a measure of extra power with which to defend his citadel. Adam wondered if the thousand Tibetans found in Berlin might have been party to some similar working of black magic, designed as a last-ditch attempt to turn the tide of victory against the Allies.
Peregrine, meanwhile, was staring hard at his sketch of the figure from his dream, his hazel eyes owlishly round behind the gold-framed lenses of his spectacles.
"What about Green Gloves himself?" he whispered. "Did he survive the war?"
Tseten's response was a troubled frown as he shook his head and began to answer through Jigme.
"His fate is unknown," Jigme said, his eyes on his master's face. "Rinpoche presumes that the man then calling himself Green Gloves is dead by now, for of necessity, he would have been of mature years during the twenties and thirties, in order to have achieved what he did.
"As for the colonies we have noted - Rinpoche says it is probable that these were dispersed, their members left to fend for themselves as best they might. It was a time of great turmoil. It is possible that at least a few of these refugees found their way to Switzerland, black ngagspas among them. A number of Buddhist communities flourish there today - though he cannot imagine any of them having Nazi connections. Certainly, no Buddhist known to us would be involved with something like this," he finished emphatically, gesturing toward Peregrine's photographs and sketches. "Our beliefs demand that we respect all life. We do not kill anything."
McLeod heaved a gusty sigh. "Well, whatever else may be going on here, it doesn't sound like Green Gloves himself is likely to be a threat."
This utterance earned him a sharp look from Tseten, who immediately rattled off a vehement response in Tibetan. Jigme listened impassively, then turned back to McLeod.
"Are you aware how successors to such great lamas as the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa are chosen, Inspector?'' he inquired.
Looking slightly nonplussed, McLeod shook his head.
"You do know about the Tibetan Buddhist practice of deliberate reincarnation?" Jigme said, continuing at Mc-Leod's nod. "Very well. When a great lama dies, a search is instituted for a child with certain distinguishing physical characteristics who will recognize possessions of his predecessor and thus prove by this, and other means - perhaps visionary guidance and instructions left behind by that predecessor at his death - that he is the new incarnation of the spiritual Principle which uses the body of this official. A similar process is followed to establish lesser successions - even black magic successions, I fear."
Adam had sat forward during this recital, and spoke as soon as Jigme had finished.
"Are you saying that a reincarnated version of this Green Gloves could be at the bottom of all this?"
Both Tseten and Jigme responded with emphatic nods, and Tseten began speaking again in Tibetan.
"It is definitely possible," Jigme translated. "Such a successor, discovered just before the war and since trained up for that purpose, would now be in his prime - a formidable enemy of the Dharma, or Law, if he is not kept in check. Such a man, equipped with powers carried over from previous lifetimes, could as well have access to information about a submarine sent out at the end of the war specially designated to preserve and hide - "
The old lama abruptly stopped speaking. Left without the means to finish the sentence, Jigme glanced inquiringly at his master.
"To preserve and hide what?" Adam prompted.
There was an extended pause, during which Tseten appeared to weighing up his answer. Jigme stared at him intently. When Tseten slowly began speaking again, it was clear that Jigme's halting translation was exactly literal, that Tseten now was venturing even beyond Jigme's knowledge.
"It may already have occurred to you to wonder how and where I might have come by the information we have been discussing," Jigme said. "I sense that it is appropriate that you be told. By no means were all of the members of the Berlin and Munich colonies of which I spoke allied with Hitler. After the collapse of the Reich, some did seek refuge in Switzerland, but a few succeeded in winning their way back to their native homeland. One of these found his way to the monastery where I myself had become abbot. He it was who told me most of what I know about Green Gloves and his involvement with the rise of the Third Reich.
"Among the tales that he had to tell," Jigme continued, "is that Green Gloves was reputed to have brought with him from Tibet a chest containing a fabulous treasure. Opinions varied as to what that treasure was - my informant favored precious gems, which were gradually sold to finance certain activities of the Berlin colony - but mere physical wealth would have meant little to a man who possessed what they call the Keys to Agarthi. I do not suggest that the chest contained these so-called Keys - for we have already established that they have no physical dimension. What I do fear is that this chest may have contained the means by which to access the Keys."
Tseten paused, apparently gathering his thoughts, and Jigme likewise paused, in rapt anticipation.
"Which is?" Adam finally asked, in an attempt to restart the narrative.
The old man sighed and went on, Jigme softly echoing him in translation.
"We have in our tradition something known as Termas, or Treasure Texts, which are discovered from time to time to advance enlightenment and keep our religion evolving. In opposition to the Termas, there also exist false Termas - you might call them Black Termas - anti-Buddhist texts whose mastery could be said to produce reverse enlightenment. En-darkenment, if you will, or black magic. Not only does the use of such texts result in evil, but such involvement precipitates the practitioner into horrific realms in the next life."
Tseten indicated the sketch of Green Gloves, where it lay beside Peregrine's photos and other sketches and the flag. "I believe that Green Gloves may have possessed some of these false Termas - that these were what constituted his treasure. Given the outcome of the war, it is doubtful he was able to put these false Termas to their evil use - perhaps he died before he could do so. If so, and if he knew death was approaching, he would have made provisions to safeguard his most precious possession, to transport it to a place of safety - a place from which his successor is presently attempting to recover it."
' 'Are you saying that U-636 may have been carrying these false TermasT' Adam asked.
Tseten nodded.
"I can think of no other possible connection between this man" - he indicated the sketch of Green Gloves - "and any German submarine. All the evidence before me points to an enterprise laid, if not by Green Gloves himself, then by his followers on his behalf, to recover the submarine's evilj cargo. As their strength lies partly in secrecy, we can be sure they would not risk calling attention to themselves for the sake of any ordinary treasure of gold and jewels."
His listeners traded glances, and Adam returned his gaze to the old lama, mulling what he had just heard.
"This is certainly consistent with what we know of attempts to smuggle other valuables out of Germany after the war," he said. "It's common knowledge that many art treasures and other objects of value ended up in South America, and many top Nazi officials also made their escape there. In many instances, the safest form of transport by far was by submarine."