Closing the Vortex, Unexpected Developments

The shadow returned and said its people had agreed. In the name of Dark Matter, it would form a contract with me. If they ever set foot in this world again, they would have to act according to my will.

I thought perhaps I had persuaded them. If they never came back, then this contract would have no effect on them at all.

But if they came back and refused to honor the contract, they would suffer the harshest heavenly punishment.

Next, it was my turn to do my part. I had to help them close the vortex and lift the confinement.

I walked back to the vortex and placed my palm on it, wondering how I was supposed to undo the thing. But then something astonishing happened. With just a light stroke of my hand, the vortex vanished. In its place appeared a door. Beyond it was darkness as well; nothing could be seen.

Could this be the passage to the dark world?

The shadow said excitedly, "Thank you, thank you so much. The Great Living Buddha was right—only you could help us leave this world. Something that seemed impossibly difficult to us, you accomplished so easily."

I noticed that despite its excitement, it was still faintly wary of me.

I said, "All right, we're even. Of course, that's assuming you don't come back. If you do return, I hope you won't violate our contract."

"How could we? We don't want to suffer heavenly punishment."

I had no idea what heavenly punishment would look like, but I believed it certainly would not be pleasant for them.

The shadow seemed to bow to me. Then the Dark Matter rushed toward the door, scrambling to squeeze through it. Of course, they did not truly have physical bodies, so no matter how