Chapter Three
The Guardian Lion Looms
Maria continued to smile, in what she could only hope might be a comforting manner. The other students were giggling, very much enjoying the interaction between student and museum curator. All the while, Maria teetered and tottered about, waving her arm for balance.
She really hadn’t meant to cause any trouble. It was just that the statue she had felt compelled to touch was so ridiculously awesome, and she was, by her very nature, an extraordinarily curious ten-year-old girl.
She wasn’t going to harm the statue… anybody could see that despite its great age, the thing was solidly constructed, and furthermore, it had aged remarkably well, considering how long ago it had reportedly been built. She just wanted to brush her fingertips across its surface, ever so lightly. Nobody would even notice… or so Maria had thought.
The statue was, as Ms. Magellan had informed the students, known as a Chinese Guardian Lion. However, in western countries like the United States, these statues were generally referred to as Foo Dogs… even though they were not dogs at all, but lions. This particular Guardian Lion was enormous, layered with bulging muscles, and downright ferocious.
Intricately detailed, the statue had clearly been sculpted by an artist of unrivaled talent and skill. Every square inch of its surface had been meticulously fashioned, and the end result was a representation so realistic, it was breathtaking.
Though there was a definite similarity to the well-known African and Asiatic lions, there were substantial differences, as well. The body of the creature was nearly identical to that of a typical lion, insofar as the distribution of its mass. It looked like a barrel-chested cat with a heavy build… but it was much, much bigger than any lion that the students of Hollow Oak had ever heard of.
The top of Maria’s coffee-colored ponytail barely reached the shoulder of the humongous, stone beast. Its head towered above her, frozen in a ferocious glare, brow furrowed over its narrowed, penetrating eyes.
Its jaws were opened, displaying perfectly aligned teeth, most of which seemed to be quite pointy. The skin around the mouth and snout wrinkled and stretched, as it loosed its silent roar. The talent that it must have taken the sculptor to render such a likeness… it simply boggled the mind!
Its mane was long and luxurious, filled with curls and swirls, almost like an artist’s stylized depiction of the waves of the ocean. The mane of Guardian Lion’s hair was sculpted from the same slab of granite as the rest of the statue, but it had been crafted with such skill, each strand was visible upon careful inspection. Entwined within the mane, there had been sculpted strange ornaments, which enhanced its regal appearance.
These were not the only adornments that the Guardian Lion wore. Across its chest, there was a thick sash, imbued with many strange patterns and symbols. It, too, was fashioned from the same slab of granite that comprised the rest of the statue. Even though it was of the same color and texture as the rest of the sculpture, it seemed to be something unique to the beast itself, as if it had been draped across its thick body.
Around its ankles, there were thick, patterned bangles, embedded with the likeness of jewels and bells. Finally, there was an ornament of some odd design latched to the tassel of the Guardian Lion’s tail.
The beast sat upon its haunches, and its front legs were extended, with one paw placed flat on the surface of the floor. The other paw rested lightly on a granite globe, decorated with a beautiful, geometric pattern. Earlier, the museum curator had told the schoolchildren that this sphere was a powerful symbol, known in Chinese culture as the Flower of Life.
The paws of the Guardian Lion were tipped with three-inch claws that looked sharp enough to shred steel, were such a thing ever called for. Its grasp upon the Flower of Life, however, conveyed a sense of gentleness and protection.
Although the stone beast was sitting, its sculptor had done a remarkable job of imbuing within it an aura of power. The creature seemed tensed, full of potential energy, and ready to pounce, given the slightest provocation.
The statue gave the impression of muscle rippling throughout the Guardian Lion’s body, just beneath the skin, ready to be put to use. Strategically placed lighting within the museum perfectly illuminated every fine, meticulously honed detail.
Other than its gigantic size, the portrayal was incredibly lifelike. It was a true masterpiece of sculpture. Crafted from granite it may have been, but it looked as if it might leap into action at any moment.
It was so magnificent, in fact, that it was quite reasonable that Maria had felt compelled to linger nearby, gaping at the statue in admiration and wonder. She had found herself drawn closer and closer to the statue, as if some powerful, invisible force was magnetically reeling her in.
Inch by inch, she had shuffled nearer, until she stood in the shadow of the looming Guardian Lion, her midsection pressed against the protective barrier. And then, before she had been able to stop herself, she had begun leaning over the barrier, stretching and stretching, trying to sneak but a single, quick touch.
Which was exactly how Maria had come to find herself in her current, undesirable situation. She had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, and now all of her fellow students had their eyes glued upon her, as she hobbled, and wobbled, and teetered on one foot.