THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

110 THE GOD-MANI always find it hard to remember very clearly Baba's instructions, my eye and my mind are sobusy following his fingers on the board. At the time they may seem clear, hut they usually lackdetail or provision for the miscarriage of plans. The picture is outlined in a few swift strokes, andit is taken for granted that there will be no obstacles.I felt quite ill and very depressed as the time drew near on Friday, when I had to meditate inthe cave for eight hours. I trudged up the dirty road in the heat of the sun, carrying in myrucksack the various articles required, water-bottles, a raincoat, blankets, matches, paper candles,flashlight, sticks of incense to drive away insects, a meta stove to make tea for Baba during hisfast, an umbrella in case of rain. I borrowed a thick rug from the monk. I pulled down somegreen saplings to block the path, to close the entrance, and to put in place of the roof.On Saturday, the fifth day of my stay in Assisi, Baba was due to arrive by car at 2 p.m. Thiswould enable him to finish his fast by 4 p.m. on Sunday. I felt ill and depressed. I stood at mywindow to watch the car come up the road from the station. Every sound seemed to herald hisarrival in the hot sleepy afternoon. Three p.m. and no car came. I felt disheartened, because he isnearly always punctual, and I had received none of the customary wires.They arrived at Assisi three hours late, at 5 p.m.I had explained both at the hotel and to the monk that on my last day I should like to meditatefor a longer period. After a wash and a meal at 6.30 p.m. our programme was arranged.We motored part of the way up the hill to save time. I then led the party down a hidden path tothe cave, which we reached at 7.30 p.m. Baba would rest in the cave during the entire fast, andnone was to go near him or to look. At all costs we were to keep intruders away. If he requiredanything to drink it was to be put just outside the entrance. Chanji and I were to sit outside andguard the cave all night till 10 a.m., and then Kaka and Quentin would relieve us. But at 4.30 wewere to return and at 5.30 p.m. eat together, when Baba's fast was concluded. The leafy saplingshid the entrance to the cave and blocked the path leading to it.At 8.40 p.m. Kaka and Quentin left us to walk back to the hotel. Chanji and I shivered and satat a little distance from the cave. He told me of the watching at a cave at Panchgani. Strangethoughts and questions - how little we really understood the nature of Baba's work. His body wasthere in the cave, but where was he? Sleep weighed so heavy on our eyelids. Could we not keepwatch for a little time? Surely