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beforehand, and that such reprieve was conceded to him in acknowledgement for his refined
quality of sepoy.

–Just as the facts stands –continued the Shivaguru– I advise you to travel to Lan-Chen-
Fu, city situated at 200 km. to the East. Thence it is possible to go to Shanghai in different
modes: then they’ll tell you how. I remind you that in times of peace, it was feasible to
travel the 200 km. that mediate to Shaghai emplying the railroad. Now that can’t be done
because the stretch that guided us to Lan-Chen-Fu is interrupted by the blasting of the bridge
over the Yellow River; and from Lan-Chen-Fu, only works a branch line that not reached
beyond the Cheng Chou, in the province Honan. Finally, you will have to save by horse the 200
km., by a path infested with bushwhackers or «nationalists» and, possibly, you will have to kill
members of both sides; but don’t be worry: to kill is a common taks in these days!

–You are eleven: I’ll strengthen you with 25 men armed with fusils, part of the troop
that protects our neighbourhood. Let’s talk now about what you will do in Chen-Fu. Have you
heard the name the Green Band?

–It’s about the bandits’ guild? –Asked von Grossen, who evidently knew something
about the matter. The Shivaguru smiled with a compassive gesture.

–Don’t be harsh with us. The Green Band is a Secret Society. And the Secret Societies are
China what the fragances are for the flowers. The Green Band is a Society of Initiates who
shares our same Tântra and coincides in identical Tao: many of its members have been or are
kâulika monks. Only that they, for their particular idiosyncrasy, have chosen a path that
internates much more in the World of the asleep men. But they, it is clear, could not accept nor
comply the laws of this World without end also torpid. And they don’t do it! They work their
way, according to their own code of Honour, and for this reason they are called «bandits» by the
asleep men. But don’t underestimate them because it is required too much courage to be the
Lord of Oneself in middle of the pleasures and the temptations: only who has proven and
dominated the desire of the Five Forbidden Things, disposes of the sufficient will to act in the
Green Band.

That path is not for anyone, I repeat. I, for example, prefer the tranquillity of our
Monasteries, the serenety of the gyms of Martial Arts, before the permanently dangerous
path of the Green Band. However, all need each other if we have to march fighting towards
the same target. It is thus that the Green Band helps the Kâula Circle with what represents its
force: the dominion of the material values. And the Kâula Circle helps the Green Band with
what they know how to do best: sha. Naturally, for us, as for Krishna, the son of Indra, to kill
doesn’t mean anything, if the Spirit of the Assassin is beyond Mâya, the Illusion of

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