Airship Stowaway

A New Friend

Soon they had left the rooftop, Lopsang leading the way down flight after flight of stairs. "We have many novices at the monastery. I think it would be best if you stayed in the dorm of the older boys. But during the day you will not be able to join them at prayer and study, because you do not speak our language."

Joanna didn’t like the sound of that very much. Letting people think she was a boy was one thing, but trying to maintain the pretence while living with a group of them was quite another. “I haven’t ever stayed in a dormitory before. I don’t mind staying in a really tiny room,” she said hopefully.

Lopsang paused on the stairs, turning his head to look back at her. “I will see what I can do.”

 ”Perhaps I could do work of some kind," said Joanna, trying to catch her breath. Any exertion made her feel dizzy. "To repay you for your kindness."

"That is very noble of you, Joseph. Thank you."

And so it was, after Lopsang found her a tiny cell, almost completely filled by its cot, that she was introduced to Gansung, the caretaker of the Potala Palace. Gansung greeted her with little more than a grunt, and set her to work sweeping out a training hall. 

She found that the work channelled her nervous energy as she diligently swept the hall from one side to the other in a methodical pattern. She had to take frequent rests, due to the altitude sickness, and she was afraid that she would not get it done in time. But when Gansung returned, he grunted in apparent satisfaction, and motioned for her to follow him. 

After walking through a maze of narrow passages, they emerged into a large canteen filled with long trestle tables and noisy young novices. They all had saffron robes and shaven heads, like Lopsang, but where he was dignified and reserved, they were playful and loud. None of them paid her much attention, for which she was grateful. But then she realised she didn't know how things worked: where did the boys get the food? Was it served to them?

She turned to ask Gansung, but the caretaker had disappeared. Now she really felt awkward. Did any of these boys even speak English? A sudden image of the 'prentice gang on Aeropolis flashed into her mind. She felt a moment of panic. 

"You must be the new boy," came a voice from her other side. Joanna turned to see a young Indian boy, standing there with a grin on his face. "I'm Deepak," he said, extending his hand. 

She shook it cautiously. "Jo."

Deepak smiled even more. "I'm very pleased to meet you! We've all been dying to find out more about you. Did you really come all the way from Aeropolis?”

"Yes," said Joanna, her expression clouding.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you must be missing your home and your family! Don't worry, everyone feels that at first. It will get better."

"But I'm not staying very long!"

"No, no, of course not," said Deepak. But his eyes showed doubt. There was an awkward pause.

"So you are far from your family as well?" enquired Joanna at last, remembering Lopsang's advice not to dwell on the past. 

"Oh yes, I grew up in Dharamsala, in India," said Deepak. "My whole family is there! I am the first one to even leave India," he said proudly.

Joanna smiled. His enthusiasm was infectious. "How long will you be in Tibet?"

Deepak frowned slightly. "It depends on my aptitude for study. A few more years, probably."

"And will you go home to be a monk in a monastery in India?"

"Oh no!" laughed Deepak. "If I remain a monk, I will stay here, and achieve enlightenment! But most novices leave the monastery after a few years, get married, and live a normal life."