Febuary 13th Tibet

The winds bellowed down the mountain, a volley of natural force pushing down on anyone trying to rise against it. 'Stay down' it warned. But he would not turn back, not on man's request nor nature's demand, not until his work was done. Through the gale he pushed onwards; a large man, tall and solid, dressed in furs and bulky thermals, hood and a dark mask to keep out the relentless cold, twin hiking sticks in hand he marched upwards with purpose and conviction.

At last he came to what he sought after weeks of searching, a grand archway carved into the mountain centuries ago by ancient hands, no subtlety. Cautiously he entered, removing his goggles and hood but not touching his mask he surveyed the entrance. Satisfied he produced a flash light from his bag and crept down the entranceway of the cave until he arrived at a flight of ancient stairs leading down deeper into the heart of the mountain. Like a passage to the ninth circle of the inferno, he remained fixed on his descent, unfazed by the cold and darkness. The seat of Lucifer awaited him.

At the bottom of the stairs was a line of chambers connected by a single route leading to a large chamber adorned with pillars and statues like a grand hall, one way in and one way out. in the heart of the chamber lay a huge pit, "Finally," he groaned in relief, " The Lazarus Pit." name after the resurrected saint. Around the walls of the chamber hung a line of wooden touches dowsed in oil, the man reached in his coat pocket and pulled out a lighter, using it to light one torch then the others to better illuminate the room. He walked towards the pit, pulling off his mask he grimaced in frustration at what he saw. It was empty. All drained away except for a drop of luminous green liquid. "Why?" he demanded. Then he looked again, the chamber contained remnants of scientific equipment, broken bottles and beakers, a irrigation machine lay abandoned by someone who was here before him; someone who also knew of this forbidden place. Upon closer inspection the man found papers littered on the ground like confetti, he collected all that he could find and tucked them into his rucksack, next to a supply of explosives and a detonation device.

Back through the chambers, up the staircase, out the mouth of the cave and out into the snow. the man, his stony face masked, trekked down the mountain with the wind behind him; his work was done. Now he had a new mission.

As he descended the mountain he looked up, digging into his pockets he pulled out the detonator and a cell phone, he pressed two buttons, one detonated the explosives he scattered around the pit, and the other speed-dialled a number for a guide to take him back to the nearest city with an airport.