The Menk, Siberia 1908

In a period when the world was more preoccupied with developments in industrial domains of transport, weaponry but also with scientific exploration, three young men like few for

those times in search of adventures, mysteries, exploration in unknown realms unwalked by human foot, started a long expedition from Budapest in the spring of 1908 to the far north

of Siberia. With the main purpose of cartography locations and prospect potential gold & diamonds mines for the company in Vienna until 1909.

Endowed by the company and their ambition with maps, equipment, and all the resources necessary, they started a three years journey at the end of the world to never return vanishing from the face of the Earth.

After 4 years near Vladivostok, an English archeological team accidentally founds on a Mongol tribe a journal from one of them, with sketches and memories along the expedition that unveil strange things, ended unexpectedly in the spring of 1909. Then more interesting, after three years in 1912 rumors from South America circulated in the port of Rotterdam, that some Europeans who arrived with diamonds, gold, and big aspirations were recruiting men for some expeditions high on the Amazon.

Rumors were never confirmed, they disappeared only their story remains...

As we will continue the story direct from the journal, it will be to the reader’s interpretation of what really happened and be prepared...

Chapter I- Vienna>>>>Budapest

March 04, 1908, on the train, Vienna >>> Budapest From the private Journal of Marko Kovelainer

" I started my journey this morning from Vienna at 08:00 a.m to a long expedition in Siberia, on a train with the first stop at Budapest. Two work colleagues were waiting to complete the team, old friends from the times when I was studying at the university in Cracovia.

The train was heading for Budapest like an arrow raiding through the Alpes serpentines drowned in clouds and a dense foggy blanket covering everything around in mystery. I told myself ” neeee ! is time to escape my compartment boring company, a silent Hungarian priest, two grannies from Tirol a reserved young woman fixed in a book, and role a cigar on the corridor from a fine Virginia tobacco I reached to trade two stakes from a charismatic Irishman in the port of Rotterdam 5 days ago.

I was not smoking much but it was worth admiring the view and puff on in the cold fresh mountain air to detach from my thoughts preparations of the expedition. Once on the corridor, there were some travelers smoking and drinking coffee, two noisy Italians were talking forever near our compartment so I retreated just nearby the wagon end to have my silence. Italians talk too much in the morning, smoking on a train in zones with epic natural views has become for me like a mini visionary ritual where I see things through my mind's eye, detached in a visionary state of consciousness where all things aligned as I wanted, in a way...

As I was smoking admiring the valley the fir forests stretching along the railway in a phantomatic fog losing their shape in a mysterious gradient to the slopes of the mountains. The train was tromping his rhythms with speed, woods scents in the cold air with vanilla smoke were animating my sensory in an aliveness that I have not felt for a long time, and with the mind at the expedition, I was in my element...

Preparing to return in the compartment the train slowed approaching a very small village, I decided to make a visit in the restaurant wagon to serve some coffee. Arriving there a dense cloud of smoke that you can cut with scissors was blurring my visual spectrum of the crowdy multinational pub. At the bar, a polite Austrian barman offered me very fast an aromatic coffee with honey and two forgotten biscuits from the last century, probably to get rid of me and return to his poker game with 3 drunk fellows...

" Two koronas sir!

" Of course, I almost forgot...

In the meantime, the train stopped, silence and cold air wawed inside as the wagon door was open. After a long waiting to see newcomers before I almost wanted to close the door, a hand appeared unveiling a heavy solid man full of tools and equipment hanged on a backpack bigger than him. The man passed reserved giving a common salute with heavy steps towards the next wagon to find a free seat.

" Good day gentlemen ” I and some returned a polite co-salute others not even disturbed to observe him. Distancing with his muddy boots and huge backpack it was clear that is a miner from these parts. The train realigned in rhythm and all things returned to normal, wagon bar tumult smoke and nonsense talks. Sipping my coffee and looking around the ambient people around gaining transparency for my mind temple silence reducing exterior sound volume.

I started to project options for potential routes after Ekaterinburg, in the Ural mountains. Also writing in my mental journal some memories and just before the “bar club” atmosphere almost reached some old dormant habits I stepped out heading towards my compartment. After stumbling upon a fat French peasant selling cheese on the corridor, I finally returned to be surprised by the new atmosphere in my compartment and our new fellow the miner, who just got on the train. They were all talking even the reserved woman at the left end corner near the window. Trying to squeeze to my seat on the right side near the window, the two grannies where weaving stories with the priest, and the miner was talking with the young woman with Russian accent negotiating a red sparkly gem on the cross of my way...” excuse me, just a moment “, taking my seat, after the coffee, I was more active and maybe open to train conversation.

" Are you mining in this zone sir? I asked our new friend, his coat was dusty and the boots were so dirty full of mud, herbs and if I focus zoom in a little there are two bugs moving, like a micro-ecosystem he formed. ” Yes young man, just across that valley for gold and stones, and you sir what is your field of activity? ” he asked rapidly to deflect attention, scratching his boots on the floor.

" I ’m a cartograph an explorer, but also prospecting for gold or diamonds for a mining company, in 5 days I’m in Siberia for a new work project. ” Siberia!?!!! the young woman sprang amazed. ” Now that’s a wonderful adventure my young friend and ...” replied the miner interrupted by the woman. ” Svietlana Amarenko ” the woman suddenly stretched her hand in a fancy style, like she was the most important person from this train, expecting a custom that was long forgotten here.

" Marko Kovalainen, from Rotterdam miss ” simulating the hand kiss gesture of courtesy for expected manners, is very interesting how she becomes open to the conversation once she heard about gold, precious stones and 30 minutes ago I never existed, maybe shiny stones do open hearts of beautiful women imprisoned in their over self-esteem, there was no doubt she was a very beautiful Russian woman at 26/27 from high-class society, with red hair and green hazel/eyes sparkling of life, on my scale she was a 10 comparative with my 8, but I have my wolf dragon spirit energy to compensate, just before to not make obvious the analytics flow in my mind I asked her... ” And where are you heading? miss Amarenko, home in mother Russia?

" Yeahh in Ekaterinburg, after a train change in Budapest ” now this was interesting with a subtle suspicious feeling.

" Now, what a coincidence! Ekaterinburg is my last stop after my colleagues will join me from Budapest” - Ahhh ! wonderful” she replied short, observing her look holding much more unspoken, feeling I know her from somewhere but I don’t remember from where and I sense she feels knows more about that i can feel or remember, is an interesting feeling impression that many have sometimes encountered people along “your journey”.

The miner politely suggested an intention to speak, like he was forgotten by miss Amarenko

" Can I have my stone miss? Or she wants to see others?

" Ohhh, of course, sir will be my great pleasure”, she replied with a French adulatory tone to recover her importance in the miner’s eyes, that looked at me, for the dialog continued naturally. ” You are Finish Marko? Kovalainen is a rare name with nordic roots, the minner asked while figuring two other beautiful stones for Svetlana in stone fever.

" No just quarter from my father's grandfather, have you been in Siberia? You seemed a walked person.

" I was....ohhhh very long time ago my friend, is an amazing land with forests mountains and unexpected adventures, you should take miss Amarenko with you,

since both of you will go to Ekaterinburg...., figuring a smile under his mustache

" Oh no no sir, I don’t want to break her fancy nails in the hard land wilderness” i continued testing her, they were the kind of people you meet first time in your life open to talking forever about everything.

“WHAT !!! Ha ha ha! you assume you know people after 10 minutes Marko Kovalainen, intervened the Russian woman hiding her subtle irritation under her satisfied smile at the attention given.

“No miss just saying, you don’ seem to be the kind for exploration”

“Ahhhh...!? Well for your notes in the journal you hide in the left pocket, I work at the geologic institute in Ekaterinburg and I have many escapades in the Ural mountains also 4 expeditions in the far lands of Siberia, probably more then you will make with your actual Dutch naivety” the ping pong dialog continued like we're best friends from childhood, both enjoying it.

" Ohhh miss excuse me, I was not aware, now I know, thanks for your sharp info update, but still I can’ take you, we all make assumptions in our journeys is natural”, trying to feint her like I was not naive or rude mocking, in attempt to get of her sharp tongue, observing her tens accumulating.

" Of course natural it is, but to get back on the subject line I have my own program full in Ekaterinburg for a geology meeting.

It was just an interesting suggestion to animate conversation, from our friend with his lovely stones, so how much will the blue crystal cost? ” she replied more relaxed returning to the miner company

" Very true miss ” I approved politely opening my journal, giving the last glace observing her returning a satisfied smile. As all the members in the compartment continued their conversations, I tried to put some notes when a headache that was searching me after the coffee in the restaurant wagon intensified altering my focus...., then just before I almost dive into my world

" What do you think Marko? Hey look at this stone! ” she figured a beautifully green crystal

" Is beautiful, it matches your eyes green light you sometimes have, I replied forcing me to hide my head each discomfort.

" I ′ l take it ” the old miner and the lady both satisfied with their first trade continued, I returned to my journal trying to write something unsuccessfully, looking on the window to the trees covered in snow prepared to melt as the spring sun was giving more heat every day, my eyes were tired.

" Hey, Marko! Are you ok? You seem pale tired”miss Amarenko returned observing my discomfort, as the others were engage talking among them

" Is ok, just a temporary headache from the coffee and smoke.

" Do you want me to give you something? Something...special from Siberia? her wide eyes sparkled fixing me with that kind of look that you don’t know if she wants to kill you or she wants to fuck you, others noises around faded like we formed our own private dimension, I do maintain a sense of doubt here, also felt a familiar tone in her changed voice, the thing is you never know what happened on the branches you came from, also beautiful things may hide dark intention, but it was to much in a way for her to be some kind of crazy which on a train and also a Russian geologist.

" Well yeah sure what is it? Taking a very small glass recipient with a green dense liquid from her purse, she leaned closer with a vibrating presence

“Are you a dreamer Marko? ...We call it Ayahuskala the magic milk of the forest, like a potion made from special plants by the Evenki native tribes of Siberia, with relaxing valences.

" This sounds good, I am an everyday dreamer and I do need to disconnect release a heavy cloud of thoughts from my mind, give me that! to drink a little. - Hey! mister what do you this is whisky ? a little respect here is required, this potion was made from over 300 herbs from all around Siberia it has soul mana from the Great Forest Spirit you need to resonate attune harmonic presence, can you do that ? - - Of course miss ” , I replied making a serious shift in my attitude ” i am ready, just lead the way ”

" Ok , here you are, enjoyyyiii ! 5 drops maybe 3 will be enough for you as a dreamer ” Holding a mysterious expression with an excited smile she offered me a spoon with a very aromatic liquid that presented a magic inner glow and weird properties..., I took a fast sip relaxing, than a suave magic voice like a chant of the fairy whispering

" Don’t fly to far Marko...don’ fly to far far far...farrrr you go ty fly far in the sky iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrfar luuuu’ fade la lu ” distancing in a fading echo, my eyes slowly closed, blank all dark . After a short silence like another set of eyes opened, it was all white to bright to distinguish forms, then gradually a fragile view accompanied by a murmuring sound started to give contour outline around in a new vibrational spectrum of reality, still hearing the voices in the compartment distorted and very slow like I was in another compartment in the same space.

A tick tack sound followed” tick tack ~ tick tack ~ tiiick taaack ~ tick taaaaak tiiiiick taaaaaaacccckkhhhh....elongating continue in wawes of time-space elasticity until it becomes too long to have meaning or rhythmic in my time-frequency or I entered in a timeless state inside dimension ...?

This was interesting, suddenly I become lighter floating..., then I feel like a vortex forming around and through me absorbing me in a fast ascending spin and

in two seconds, I was projected outside the train hovering above it, it was amazing, instinctually I continued to elevate higher, feeling that I'm anchored on the train with an invisible cord, once I reached a higher altitude with a panoramic view in the sky I could see a spiral of white steamy smoke imploding down from the train locomotive tromping at maximum speed. It was fascinating I had similar dreams projections but this one was special at another level of conscious sensory. Looking around, the landscape's vastness covered in white snow and gilded from place to place with golden rays of the morning sun. I have to be a great painter to hold this in my feeling vision memory and use it when I need to inspire my creatives or writings, like self attunement creative vibe.I always wanted to fly see and feel things from a bird's eye, the sounds on the ground tend to blend in a distant musical life blanket, almost transforming in color waves. Wobbling in the sky fascinated, three ravens arrived so close to me that i could touch them, and started making rounds around croaking insistently like they were trying to tell me something or like a warning I sensed ...then I saw it ohhhh!!!! No no no, just a few hundred meters ahead of a tunnel in a massive mountain...this was a problem as I was anchored on the train and I was very high, trying to descend fast unaware of how to do it and unaware of what will happen if I hit the mountain, but the train was too fast dragging me faster then I could get out of this situation, in 3 seconds we were there and I was projected higher in the sky above the mountain with the three ravens spinning around me in a turmoil of feathers sun rays and clouds.

Then things were spinning so fast around me that I started to lose clarity and sight until it becomes all blurry and I was feeling heavy falling very fastback on the train.

Feeling a real physical shock like an impact I was back on my seat in the compartment, almost empty only the priest was there, the train was slowing down, and looking on the window more houses people acquired density like an approach to an urban zone. This was a short dream...

" Hey! We’re the hack, are we? I asked the priest amazed while checking my body if I’m still in one piece.

" We are in Budapest son, you slept almost 2 hours, in 3 minutes we are in the Central station. Instinctually I put my hand in my right pocket and I found a paper card ” Svetlana Amarenko, professor Ekaterinburg institute - Pavlovski 69 - H 126" aha! she was real

" Hey, where are the others?

" They left to compartment earlier just before you woke up, to take their luggage and avoid scrimmage, they all do it, I don’t know why we are in Budapest”, the priest replied in a bored tone like he knew everything on this route.

What can I say this was an experience to remember. Somehow I expected a “good-by ” sayonara in the good manners require from the miner and especially from miss Amarenko, is like we had a connection vibe an unfinished story here, more than a temporary train kamarad, but as they say, most of the occasional train friends are colder in the stations when they feel a return in their world.

The thing is I remembered that we have the same train to Ekaterinburg and maybe she delayed her goodbyes for later in a bigger picture I was not yet able to see encompass, although we will not share the same compartment as this was an Express to Siberia with all seats reserved. We will leave the things to unfold naturally, I also have to return to my world.

I have two friends waiting for me here in Budapest, to form our team for the long expedition.