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The Fakir and the Science of Miracles/Chapter Five: Appearance of the Fakir

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Chapter Five:
Appearance of the Fakir

Time went on; Katya was now 14 years old.

The spectators were no longer impressed by a girl, who was hovering under the dome of the circus. All the complications of the number that Mr. Franz had invented were not noticeable to the public. It did not matter how many turns in the air were made, or how difficult were the jumps in the performance… — the spectators were just not surprised by the skill of aerial acrobats!

Katya also worried that the previous ovations and cries of enthusiasm had now been replaced by lackluster applause and boredom among many of the public.

Mr. Lurie himself was indignant at the fact that everything in the number was now “as old as the world”. He threatened to drive Mr. Franz out of the circus if he did not make a new number.

And then Franz came up with a “death number”: the net-trampoline is removed, the safety cord is uncoupled in front of everyone, and Katya must jump from under the dome itself, every time seriously risking her life…

Tom offered to make a spare cord, which would be invisible to the public. But Franz did not even listen, saying:

“It is not good to deceive the public! Maybe you can play a fool and deceive fools, but I’m doing a real job!”

… Before the first performance, Tom admonished Katya:

“Do not uncouple the cord! After all, this is a very ‘distasteful’ number!… Spit on this audience, on this Franz, on the director!”

“No! When everyone shrinks from fear for me, and I jump — it will be so great! I must succeed!”

“Your head is being turned by the desire for applause, glory, and triumph! Why risk your life so much? It’s just a manifestation of pride!”

“This is my skill!” — Katya pouted.

Then she embraced and kissed Tom:

“Everything will be fine!”

… Recently, Katya had become stubborn: she argued with Tom, insisting on her way even when she was clearly not right.

Tom reasoned that this was because she was going through her “transitional age”. He said to himself: “The girl is growing up! She does not like too much care. She wants freedom and admiration from fans…”

* * *

Tom worried so much for Katya every time that, after a few months of such performances with her jump from under the dome, some of his hair had turned gray.

He had an inner feeling that everything was going wrong… He was trying to figure out a way to change this.

He even spoke with the director, Mr. Lurie, so that he would give the order to ban this number.

But the conversation turned out to be fruitless:

“Mr. Lurie, I ask you: let’s cancel this number! Give me two weeks — and I will make a no less spectacular number for Katya, one without such a senseless risk!

“The execution of this jump has been incorrectly conceived: the danger is too great, and it is very easy to make a mistake! And, no matter how hard she trains, this risk will not be decreased! Yes, I understand: we all live under God and the days of our lives are numbered… But here — Katya tempts fate every time! You cannot do it this way!”

“Leave it, Tom! All is well! Katya herself agrees to do this number. It would be different if she was afraid or did not want to…

And so, what you say is just ridiculous! Many circus performers work without insurance — and there is nothing to worry about!”

Tom tried again:

“Yes, there are always risks. Even by just eating a cookie, someone can choke and die!” — Tom pointed to the table, where there was a cookie jar and a cup of tea near Mr. Lurie, and continued: — “But there are also risks that are senseless and unreasonable! Why do you need this horror in the hall before the jump, or the cries of nervous young ladies?! Moreover, in this number, there is almost no beauty! And the technique is very doubtful!”

“That’s enough, Tom! Do not object! Crowds stand in line for tickets to see this number with a deadly leap! I do not intend to cancel anything! This conversation is over!”

Tom realized that he was powerless to influence the situation.

… Everything was fine for the first, second, third, and even fiftieth time… But then something terrible happened…

Tom saw everything while standing behind the scenes.

Katya only hesitated for a split second… She flew in the air, and did some flips… But the trapeze just barely slipped past the tips of her fingers…

If Tom had been nearby instead of Franz, he would have pushed the trapeze closer to her, he would have caught this fraction of a second and accelerated the movement of the trapeze… But Franz… did not notice… And the result was fatal…

… Katya’s flattened body lay on the ground of the arena, screams of spectators could be heard, and panic was all around… An entertainer tried to calm the audience. At once, Madame Matilda appeared with some dogs and monkeys…

… Katya was carried in Tom’s arms to her room.

She was still alive…

He agonizingly waited for a doctor…

The doctor’s words sounded like a verdict:

“I’m powerless in this case… If she does not die in the next few days, then she will remain a cripple, and she will never walk again… So, perhaps, to die is the best way for the girl. I’m not a magician…”

… Tom followed the doctor:

“I have savings, I saved for my old age, I will give everything! Let’s take her to the hospital! Maybe it’s possible to do something!”

“You can pray if you believe in God. Besides, she would die before we even reached the hospital…”

… Tom looked desperately after the departing crew…

Snow fell on his red-haired wig, tears of despair and powerlessness appeared in his eyes…

He did not even know what to ask from God: for a quick and painless death for Katya — or for her to survive?

At that moment, a stranger touched his shoulder:

“Perhaps, I can help you?”

He was a tall Indian wearing the European dress of a rich man and a snow-white turban. He introduced himself:

“I am the fakir Ra-Mak-Mey.”

Tom had heard this name before.

In the circus world, there are famous magicians who show old tricks, wrapping them in a new entourage. But there are also those who, under the mask of tricks, do what the experts in this matter cannot explain in any way.

There were legends about the fakir Ra-Mak-Mey, newspapers published articles about his miracles, or, on the contrary, there were attempts to “expose” his tricks. But these attempts to “expose deception”, however, did not reveal the secrets of the magic of the fakir.

Tom also knew that their director had sent a letter to Mr. Ra-Mak-Mey with a proposal to perform in his circus.

The dark brown eyes of the fakir were special. They as if opened a passage to other worlds…

Tom… suddenly began to believe in the impossible, in a miracle…

“Katya fell from under the dome…,” — Tom deliriously began to explain.

“Let’s go: we can help her in time!”

* * *

Katya was in a coma. Life was about to leave her body.

The fakir, staying next to the girl’s body, told Tom not to enter and to close the door to the room.

It took about half an hour.

Tom prayed without words. He put all the strength of the soul into a request to God to save Katya, to restore her health! He asked God to forgive him for having very seldom remembered Him all his life, he said that he was ready for any sacrifices, he was ready to give any promises and to keep them, he was ready to give his life… Only let her live, let her recover!

When the door was opened, Tom thought that a wave of unusual warmth spilled out of the room, but then — it was as if the waters of the ocean poured through that open door!

… He recalled how several times in his childhood he felt what he himself called the Presence of God. In those years, as a child, he did not see the Divine Light, and did not hear His words, but knew for sure: God is near! This was accompanied by a feeling of great joy, tenderness, and happiness! But later — all of this… was forgotten behind the bustle and sorrows of an uneasy life…

Now he was covered with a wave of a similar state, but a thousand times stronger!

Then the wave subsided.

Katya breathed evenly and seemed to just be asleep, as if nothing had happened…

Ra-Mak-Mey said:

“She will now live in this body for a long time. Her body is already healthy, but we will not wake her up for a while, so as not to make others around feel uncomfortable with a healing by the Will of the Higher Powers.”

“Do you know how to work miracles?”

“This was nothing more than the possession of a knowledge that can be used to restore the matter of the body…

“Let’s go to have dinner and talk.”

They settled down in a quiet corner of a half-empty hall in a small restaurant next to the circus. Ra-Mak-Mey ordered them vegetarian food, juice, and water.

The dinner passed in silence, the conversation started after.

Ra-Mak-Mey peered into the space around Tom’s body and inside it for a long time, as if he saw right through the body and soul. Then he said:

“In fact, everything happens in accordance with the Divine Plan.

“As for the healing, there are different levels from which man can influence what surrounds himself or herself.

“Man is not only a body!

“And the human body, if one considers it carefully, is not only bones, muscles, and internal organs…

“However, all of this consists of the smallest particles that are organized in a certain way and move and interact according to certain laws. There are — how would I say it? — ‘rules’, which control how the material body is formed and manifested in this world.

“And, within every body, there are certain layers that are invisible to the ordinary eye, which are as if nested within each other.

“And, furthermore, there is a soul — a living immortal entity — that must control this body.

“Both bodies and souls live according to the laws, created by God.

“And if you understood how it is possible to control processes in bodies — from the spiritual world, then it would not be surprising that one can restore any damage in one’s own body. This can be done by one in relation to one’s own body, however, there are also exceptional cases when one can help another in healing.

“You would be surprised that healing the body is much easier than healing the soul!

“Katya’s situation is a kind of advance for her, a chance to correct some of her own mistakes. And, even more important, it is an opportunity to learn a lot and help other people.

“If we cannot explain it to her, then this tragic situation is likely to be repeated again — one way or another.”

Images of her falling began to appear before Tom’s inner gaze, and fear squeezed him like a vise…

The fakir stopped the growth of this emotion by using simple words, and it became clear that he could as if read everything that was happening in Tom’s thoughts and emotions like an open book.

“Fear is one of the most destructive emotions! Do not give in to it! You yourself taught this to Katya! For a person, fear can be useful only as a security deterrent against those processes and events of which the soul is not yet ready.

“I would not have been able to heal Katya, prolonging the life of the soul in her body, if God had not pointed out the possibility of a very favorable further course of events, useful not only for Katya herself, but also for many other people.

“If Katya did not have the possibility of a complete spiritual transformation, then her further life in the material world would not make any sense!

“I’m telling you this because you, Tom, played an important part in Katya’s fate.

“By the way, you prayed and spoke of your readiness to carry out any tasks from God!”

“Yes: I prayed and asked for this, I am ready!”

… Suddenly unpleasant thoughts slipped through Tom’s mind: what if the Hindu does not actually heal with the Divine Force…

“Doubts destroy faith!” — Ra-Mak-Mey said and fell silent…

Tom thought: “God, direct me so that I serve only You and not some powerful but dark forces! Only to You I gave promises! And I thank just You for saving Katya!”

Ra-Mak-Mey, as if listening to Tom’s thoughts and appreciating his resolve, continued:

“Jesus often said to those who were healed: ‘Your faith has saved you!’”

“Are you Christian?”

“In the conventional way, no, but it does not matter. Do you think that Jesus Himself was a Christian — in the modern sense of the word?

“Most likely, if Jesus were to come to the Earth now and started talking to people about God and healing others — then all the ministers of all Christian churches would have declared Him to be a false prophet or even an antichrist, just as the worshipers did in that old time.

“But, in fact, everything is so simple: GOD EXISTS! This is the basis and essence of faith!

“He is not restricted to any particular religious tradition or belief of mankind! He is One for all people!

“He is the Creator of the entire universe!…

“However, in India, most people only worship the ‘god’ Ganesha or other make-believe ‘gods’. They perform all sorts of rituals or do Hatha Yoga exercises. And they are sure that this is enough…

“You asked about my faith. I am not a slave of any religious doctrine.

“I will say one other thing: almost all people worship God or ‘gods’, but only very few personally know Him, the One Whom they worship!

“But Jesus knew the One Whom He called the Heavenly Father.

“I, too, know the Divine. For me, It is the Reality.

“He is ONE! Although, He is composed of a Multitude.”

“Are you a Messenger of God?”

“I’m just a person who has learned to look a little behind the ‘illusory world’ — into the Divine world and who has studied some rules and laws by which the Divine Primordial Consciousness controls His Creation. I do not know everything, and I continue to study.

“And the one, who studies, inevitably wants to share the acquired knowledge and experience — with other people who might need it.”

… On this day, and over the next few days, Tom and the fakir talked a lot with one another. They became very close, because Tom had found someone who could answer questions about life and death, and the purpose of everything that exists in the universe. These were the questions that had long haunted the soul.

… Ra-Mak-Mey signed a contract with Mr. Lurie and stayed in the circus, preparing to show his number.

Tom invented a shortcut for the long eastern name of the fakir — and he, along with everyone else in the circus, began to call him simply Mr. Ram.