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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
On Route to Survival
'No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path'. - Gautama Buddha
The Demon Eye blinked.
Littleman watched with fear ; Rana sat tongue-tied ; Shama was open-mouthed ; Nobleman and Putran saw in amazement while Kacha gazed out at the darkness outside from the roll-down curtained window of the stagecoach, when Sena was demontrating his necklet. They were all on route to the harbor to aboard a ship to Kottaipattinam.
"A potion made out of numerous drops from several sources that invokes violent and uncontrollable temper", Sena was replying to the question of Rana about Dhavoma, the name mentioned by the Emperor. "My rage will arrive right on time", he said pocketing the Demon Eye inside his red suit lapel. "When the Emperor saw the Demon Eye hanging around my neck, he spoke about Dhavoma and to hide his shock he spoke about the Alwars. Now he knows what we pocess, thus he showed us what he owns, the twin-arrows".
"Twin-arrows", questioned Putran.
"Yes,", replied Sena. "and 'Clown' surfaced again, of which I am clueless". Nobleman listened thoughtfully.
"So, you knew very well who the despicable person was ?", asked Rana.
"Somewhat", Sena said by moving his palms sideways. "The night after her arrest, Mari-Maa confessed in private of being a part in an assassination attempt. She vaguely spoke to me about the others involvement. For an annonymous employer and as this piece of information did not concern the contract, I closed the case without mentioning it. Now, that detail has come in handy", he looked at Rana and then said to Nobleman and Putran, "we have acquired what we require".
Sena peeked through the window and then tapped the roof of the stagecoach three times with his knuckles. The cart halted.
"Gentlemen, be right back", saying so Sena climbed off the wagon and disappeared into the night. He returned wiping strains of blood on his hand.
He looked at Kacha and said, "They are Blacks, you cannot spot them eaisily". Kacha shrinked his eyes to elaborate his attention, then he asked Sena, "What are they ?".
Sena replied looking at Littleman, who was listening wide-eyed, "The Reds, the Whites and the Blacks are the three orders of Ninja. The Reds are soldiers, while the Whites are spies and the Blacks are assassins. Mostly they wear respective colored uniforms called 'Shinobi Shozoko', but they have the liberty not to be obvious on showing which order they belong to. A special dark blue suit called 'Curtain' is used by the Blacks at night. These clothes are specifically made to conseal their weapons. But their shoes are always the same kind, called 'Cat's Paw'. The Masters usually dress up in white and should not be confused with a regular Ninja, and ofcoarse it's quite hard to distinguish, unless they are wearing their rank belts."
"Just like our beguiling Emperor", Rana said. Littleman gulped.
Sena stopped talking and tapped the roof and said "Nature calls", Rana got down with him. A brief moment later the brothers came back and got inside the stagecoach.
"Next time, I count myself in", announced Shama. Kacha looked at Sena. Sena smiled and continued, "The Ninjas were peasants. They got trained as Ninjas for two reasons - one to protect their lands from the bandits who came to rob their stock ; two for doing the dirty work for their Masters who could be Kings or Emperors or even noblemen. The peasants sat on the wooden beam in his warehouse and when the robbers creeped inside, the Ninja farmer suprised them with his peculiar weapon attack - a sickle attached to a chain called 'Kusarigama'. The chain-Sickle was the first and the primary weapon of the Ninjas".
"When the Emperor needed men who can mingle like localers at the same time be his eyes and ears, he called upon the Whites. The Reds were for his safety and they surrounded him as personal bodygaurds. And of course, eliminations without trace were carried by the Blacks".
"Each order undergoes both basic and specifc training called 'Ninjutsu', where they learn tatics like distracting the enemies, certain high techniques to camouflage within the foliage, rope and tree climbing including breathing skills, efficiently use the natural elements like fire, wood, water and land".
After three knocks, the three men walked into the dark and returned to take their respective seats inside the stagecoach.
"Samurais are different. They are warriors, the real ones and they belong to a speific set of class who follow strict protocols. They are a lineage where the art is taught within the family and no one outside their class can become a Samurai. Ninjas are more like flexible Samurai without class distinction or rules. Anyone can become a Ninja, and they are governed by the code of respect - even an enemy is eligible for an honored death".
"The Ninja Code started to widen as and when special weapons were invented to go hand in hand with facility and secrecy. There is a misconception that Ninjas use Katana. Only the Samurais use Katana, Ninjas use Bastard Sword, mostly the Reds use them and it is shorter than those carried of Samurais. Every Ninja usually carries tiny but sharp and deadly weapons - punching dagger, nunchaku, siangbam, darts, kama - amoung smoke bombs and a whip. Their most efficient weapon are the Shurikens. The Ninja Stars, called the Shurikens can become fatal if painted with poison. They are actually used to paralyse the chasing enemy, more than to kill the target. A sharp Shuriken could tear the flesh, at the same time cut the nerves and viens. Its hardness could break bones. Different stars are used for various purpose, for instance, a cross-shaped shuriken is thrown to inflict a deep wound on the target. Similarly there are folding-type, three or four-pointed, double-edged, eight-pointed, stick type Shurikens".
He looked and Rana and startled him by saying "The four Blacks at the Emperor's solar, are the ones who were sent to hunt us down and they are hiding in the foilage".
"Really ?", Rana said, "There were four other men in that room apart from us ?"
"Actually there were nine others present", confirmed Sena. "The Emperor could have killed us between his blinks".
After a pause Sena said, "A group of Ninja is easy to defeat than a single Ninja. A cornered Ninja goes by his instincts. We have taken three Blacks and the fourth one would be very difficult to spot."
The stagecoach stopped, and Sena opened the door, "After you my friend", he spoke to Shama. When the three got down, they turned to look at Kacha standing between them and the wagon. Sena smiled. The four disappeared into the steamy night leaving the other three inside the coach to listen to the heavy horse breathing.
Nobleman stared at the thick mist across the parked stagecoach. He signaled to Putran. Littleman peeked through the window to witness a man fully dressed in black from head to toe running towards them cutting through the mist. Behind him, the four warriors emerged through the thick fog.
"Here", Sena said to Kacha. "These are the last three Shurikens I have, and that would be the fourth set you would be using against the same target. I repeat, there are three throw techniques - overhand, sidearm and reverse side-arm - you use sidearm delivery when you are not in a standing position, and reverse side-arm is when you are caught by suprise and you throw at the threat's direction with full force but aimlessly. Now, if you fail this time, all the men inside the coach will die, and maybe including the coachman".
The Black Ninja Assassin almost got to the side of coach. Kacha took the three three-pointed Shuriken from Sena and arranged it over each other between his fingers like playing cards. He raised his arm behind his head and vigorously pulled it forward. When his palm crossed his chin he released the stars.
The Shurikens raced with each other in the air. The first one caught the back neck of the Ninja, the next stuck to the fifth vertebra and the final got fixed to the sacrum. The target hit the flat side of the stagecoach spitting blood on the window through which Littleman was watching, before sliding down to the ground.
"You saved ourselves from a lot of sorrow", Rana commented.
Kacha smiled.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
The Planning Room - Language of War
"Let's just give this place a simple name", Putran talked before a large group of men consisting of sixty-three noblemen who favoured their cause and except Sena, everyone else including the allies and Queen Vadhana were present inside a large square tent outside the city limits of Kottaipattinam.
"The Planning Room", Putran named the closed space, "a grave of what's heard or seen in this place", he said with a serious tone. At the centre of the Planning Room sat a large rectangular sand table used for military plannings and actions. There were several small and medium flat wooden blocks arranged around the inside of the table. Each block was struck with several nails and the head of the nails were painted with uniform color patterns. Five small blocks had one long nail beaten inside it and other tiny group of colored rectangular wooden pieces with three wave lines ending with an arrow were scattered around along with few wooden cubes marked with a circle or a cross.
A model of an improved map of Central Kingdom was spread over the sand table depictings high and low landscapes including waterways. Important landmarks like harbours, mountains, cities and towns were highlighted with a stick tag. Around the indicated sectors, the pathways were drawn darker than the other travel areas. The middle of the map model was occupied by a piece of vacancy tagged Karmegha. Behind it's outer circumfrence a miniture fort and a palace were set to stand.
Further from the table, at the right-hand corner of the Planning room, another model of the battlefield designed on sand and bordered with large stick tags presenting the operating area of Karmegha was furnished. Several statuettes were randomly placed on the sand. Few long thin implements made of wood were placed leaning onto the cloth wall of the Planning Room.
Only one opening permitted entry and exit, through which Sena accompanying a man entered the Planning Room.
"My Queen, Lady, Noblemen and my friends", he said with a nod of respect at Putran, "meet Kali, the 'firearts' specialist".
Kali was medium sized with a horseshoe moustache, thick sideburns and neckbeard decorating his face. His eyes and lips were tiny in contrast to his protruding ears. Kalli stood watching the floor and he lifted his head when he was altered by Sena's friendly elbow push. His tiny lips stretched into a smile while he tried to look at everyone present inside the Planning Room.
Putran invited Kali with a courteous salutation. He looked at Vadhana and requested, "Her Majesty, permit me to explain our current suituation using these replicas". Vadhana gestured her accord with a nod.
"My Ladies, My Noblemen and My Friends, I seek your attention when we dive engaging ourselves in the activities involving war. I take no questions, so, let your concentration and consciousness guide you to recognise understanding", Putran finished his introductory speech.
"The floor of this table is sown with sand", Putran explained standing before the sand table. He took a mace, (a light-weight cue staff with a foot used to shove), which was leaning over one of the legs of the table. "The Blue sands are the oceans and other waterways are marked with the same color", he said by circling the stick in the air above the blue areas.
Pointing at the four brown corners he said, "The top corners are Karimedai and Katrupuzha ; and the bottom is where you will find our Kingdom along with Kalingapuri". He moved the baton that he held to the centre, "This is the small-scale map of the Central Kingdom". He placed the stick back on the ground and picked-up a tiny block of wood stuck with a single big nail with it's head painted in white. "These blocks represent the leaders and army", he placed the White Head near the palace and said, "Our Emperor". He spoke quickly by taking other blocks with single nails and placed them at the corners of the map, "The Pink Head is our queen", he set it on the bottom right corner of the map, "Blue, Yellow and Brown represents the other leaders King Gauthama, King Souruban and King Veera Mahindran respectively".
He picked the mace again and pulled a flat block with about twenty tiny nails stuck to it with the heads colored blue and a tiny white spot marked at the centre. "Blue Group represent the Archers, and the white dot indicates their faction belonging to the Emperor's army". The flat block rolled over the sand and was positioned near the palace behind the White Head. He pushed another block stamped with several green heads with a yellow dot. "The Green Group are the foot soldiers, and with the Yellow dot they belong to King Soruban's infantry".
Putran explained in detail the combat roles of the other colors on the nail head representing heavy and light infantry pointing at the respective color dot indicating the Kingdom which the soldiers belonged to. He quickly and elegantly arranged the flat blocks of wood over the battleflied of Karmegha to reflect formation such as the line infantry. The White and Brown dotted nails, the army belonging to the Emperor and Veera stood against the Blue, Yellow and Pink spotted ones. He precisely demonstrated the tactics deployed by specific types of combat units by masterly shuffling the positions of the flat wooden blocks over the sand table.
Picking up two different tiny cubes marked with a cross and a circle, Putran briefed, "The cross indicates the seige weapons and the circle are the cannons". He arranged a few radomly around the palace and placed a cubical with a circle on top of the miniture fort and said, "Cannon Vettai on Fort Ayan".
Putran gathered several colored rectangular wooden pieces with three wave lines ending with an arrow and placed them on the blue sands outside the map of the Central Kingdom. "The rectangular pieces are the warships and their varied colors represent their type. The color of the three waves indicate the kingdom to which the fleet belongs to". He placed few pieces painted with Yellow strips below the Kingdom of Karimedai, "The fleet of King Gauthama. The arrow points to the direction this fleet would take to reach the lands of the Central Kingdom". He then placed several rectangular pieces all over the blue space and crowded the south part of the Central Kingdom with few black pieces and said, "The pirates".
Taking a unique set of nail painted completely in red, Putran said, "These are the unknown enemy groups, the attackers who are
imperceptible over the strategy table". He placed the Reds around the mountains and inside the valleys. "The unit could be special forces or mercenaries acting to slow down our advancement, an invisible army which our soldiers have to face before entering into the war zone".
He turned to the right corner of the Planning Room and said, "This exhibit on the ground is purely for the Chief of the Army to analyse, devise a plan of action and implement complicated war alignments, both defense and attack. The color code used are similar, but the figurines are larger and a single statuette may represent a battalion".
Looking at Rana, Putran proudly announced, "Our Chief Rana is well versed with the Language of War".
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
The Planning Room - Logistics of War
"We have to detach ourselves to form work groups and operative teams", Putran informed. "Leather, metal, wood and textile are the primary needs to keep our military units under operational condition. Spares must always be at their disposition. Competence in nursing and household functions are an extreme need. Man power, other than soldiers, is essential for the maintance of tents and barracks at the war zone". While Putran was speaking, General Kalai interrupted him, "With all due respect Sir, I would like to intensify my concern over sustenance. I desire to hear you mention it as one of the vital needs".
Putran hid his anger under his smile when General Kalai of Katrupuzha barged in with his question, "General Kalai, we will look at it in an instance. Rest assured, our solution will suit you and your King", but Putran's tone failed to conceal the annoyance in his voice.
General Kalai stepped forward with this left-hand placed on the handle of his sword, "The evasion of the prime point of issue diminishes the chances for us to continue as allied nations. I am not interested in a war which is not Katrupuzha to fight".
Putran thought for a while, and then spoke with severity , "As General of Katrupuzha is in a hurry to leave, let us try to convince him to stay".
The difficulties of transporting edible materials to the war zone was expressed unanimously. Elivated risks of rotting, impossibility to cook for a large crowd of allied forces and unavailability of such massive resources and infrastructure were highlighted. Kalai was restless. He was gently tapping the handle of the sword estimating the time he would be staying inside the Planning Room, as his King was precise about the nourishment for the Katrupuzha army as the highest priority.
Putran searched for words by looking up at the roof of the Planning Room. He spoke calmly and with assurance, "The soldiers will carry their own food". There were murmurs in the room and several objected that it would add more weight to the items they were already carrying.
"Noblemen, this is not a Council Hall. In here we heed and act in accordance", Putran's grating voice and studied manners restored silence back inside the Planning Room. Kalai was preparing to leave.
Putran spoke unhurriedly and without any apparent emotion, "There was man, quite aged with broken tooth, having his meal before my house. He was having bread". Kalai stopped and listened to Putran.
"The man cannot chew food, so he dried his bread. Before the aged man with broken tooth, was a cup of warm water. He dipped the dry bread in the warm water ; made it softer ; threw the crumb inside his mouth ; mashed it between his tongue and the top of his mouth ; and swallowed his meal". Putran looked at the faces before him to see whether he had everyone's attention. "A dry bread is high in carbohydrates - the common source of energy".
Putran walked to a coat hanger at the corner of the Planning Room and picked the pocket of his vest and removed a message scroll. He walked back to the center and raised his hand, "What I am holding here, is the art of making cheese that is high in proteins - a fuel source for energy".
Putran stared at Kalai, "Through the energy and a fuel to set it aflame permanently, vigorousity prevails". He turned and addressed to small crowd before him, "The dry bread and cheese combo is : perfect for travel, as they are lighter to carry ; ideal, as they take longer to expire ; absolute to keep hunger away ; complete by providing an effect of a good meal".
"Small packet meals are facile to prepare and ready to be pocketed, shared, transported. The dry bread and cheese can be washed clean of dirt without hindering the savour. Moreover, leavened bread are quicker to bake and many natural nutrients like cereal grains and plant proteins apart from wheat and rice can be added in abondance to increase the effectiveness". Putran paused and looked at his listeners, "Milk, wheat, rice, wood and fire is all that is needed to prepare the packets of meal that can be easily carried by the soldiers in their sack pack, the bread and cheese made from resources not difficult to find".
There was complete silence in the room. The faces of the Noblemen were brightened with a smile. Kalai returned to take his place beside Shama. "I appologise, Her Majesty, for interrupting the discourse as well as stepping forward without permission", General Kalai spoke in a regretful tone.
"Apology accepted", Putran replied quickly without looking at the general. "Now that you are aware of our propostion, kindly leave immediately to obtain a certificate of conformity from your King".
"Conformity ?", Kalai look fixedly at Putran and turned to adress Vadhana, "Her Majesty, my King has faith in my autonomy. I will send my profound feeling of relief and gladness as an information to our King".
Seeing the tension mounting up even after reaching terms, Vadhana sent a pleasing nod with a smile at Kalai and spoke loudly to Putran, "Continue about the groups and teams Yeshodha Putran",
"Indeed Her Majesty, Indeed", Putran replied with a heavy exhale which invited a rushed heavy inhale.
"Before addressing about the groups and teams, I would like to insist on passing this information under severe secrecy to allied states, so that they can start producing and packeting at once", Putran made eye contacts with Kanakavalli and Shama, and obtained their assent. He turned and smiled at Kalai. The general expressed his approval with a nod.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
The Planning Room - First Attack
"No one is stronger, none are weak before the power of versatility", Putran continued. "The group must consits of volunteers from the noblemen who can access the requirements - cobblers, tailors, cooks, wood cutter, metal workers, horse breeders, dairy and cereal farmers, merchants and traders".
A silent shuffle amoung the noblemen took place and several tiny groups ranging from 3 to eight men took oath to manage the delivery of the suituational needs.
Putran thanked them wholeheartedly and said, "Weapon management, including clothing and armours, will be directly supervised by Chief Rana - comb, helm, gorget, visor, breastplate, pauldron, rerebrace, couter, plackart, vambrace, fauld, gauntlet, cuisse, tasset, poleyn, fan-plate, saboton and greave. Undergarments, gambesonleg, harness, chainmail and turnshoes. The Chief of Army of the Allied Forces will instruct about metal works to manufacture spearheads, polearms and blades by giving directions to perfect the design using steel prototypes".
Putran moved to the sand table and pointing at the top-left, top-right and bottom-center parts of the Central Kingdom map model he said, "These are the three major harbours in the enemy territory". Few eyes of the noblemen widened, the ones who made out that the Central Kingdom was skull shaped with two harbours resembling hollow eyes and the appearence of the huge port at the bottom was similar to the roof of a mouth.
Putran ignored their suprise by continuing to give instructions, "The allied fleet will not anchor here or there but at his position, Narukukana, the harbour at the bottom is where the allied fleet will arrive. Unfortunately, this port is a stronghold. An operative team will engage itself to remove the threat. From the harbor, the army will reach Karmegha by foot", Putran traced the route with his mace. "With enough rest, the destination will be reached in three days, just a day ahead of the fixed date giving ample time to prepare for the battle. This information should allow you to measure the hours we still have to turn the raw materials into finished goods".
After few verbal exchanges with Rana and Putran, the groups of noblemen walked out of the Planning Room. Nobleman Kusha stayed beside Putran on the left side of the rectagular table. Kalai, Kanakavalli and Shama occupied the right side of the sand table. Littleman was beside Vadhana who was seated on an elevated chair gaining a full view of the map model before her. The brothers stood beside each other opposite to their Queen across the table.
Kali walked to a corner of the Planning Room and squatted on the floor beside the display of Karmegha, leaning his back on the cloth wall. He took out a dried guava leaf from his hip bag and flattened it on his left plam. He searched the pouch with his right hand fingers and digged out a tiny and thin hairy stem. He placed the new found item over the guava leaf and pressed it hard with his thumb and index fingers, turning the fragile stem into an uneven and rough powder. He gently turned over and over the leaf taking much care not to spill the tiny lumps. Once the leaf was tightly rolled with the stem particles inside, he sealed one tip with the edges of the leaf, and flattened the other side with his fingers. He pulled a tiny thread sticking out of his tight tunic and tied it hard without cracking the dry leaf around the flatened end. He placed it in his lips and lit it while hanging his head backward. A cluster of smoke circled above him. Kali closed his eyes.
"I excuse on the behalf of Kali. He knows no hierarchy", Sena informed to Vadhana and the others inside the room.
Putran cut in immediately, "Now that the logistics are been taken care of, the operative team must seize the Pirate's Bay before the fleet set sail", suggested Putran. "I invite my brother Sena to elucidate this matter".
"Our first concern is to stop the leak of information", Sena announced. He looked at Kacha and Rana, and the three took out a small scrap of canvas from their pockets and presented it before the operative team. The clothes held hand drawn identic rows of circles, few rings were marked with a cross. "This is the seating arrangement of the noblemen during final polls. The marked ones are the suspects, the ones who blinked or put a guilty face when Nobleman used the word 'corruption'". He turned to adress Nobleman Kusha, "I need their identities". Nobleman nodded is head. "Kacha, General Kalai and Shama will check on them to-night. After interrogation, these culprits, along with their family, will be dropped beyond the frontier".
Sena paused and pointed at one particualar mark on the circle, "Myself and the Chief will pay this man a visit".
Nobleman said, "I would like to come with you, as I assume that this man could have more than just informations". Sena replied in affirmative.
"Chief Rana has sealed the border. Kottipatinam is now a secrued place protected by the members of the military", assured Sena.
Sena re-arranged the tiny rectangular blocks with colored waves over the blue sand. The wave arrows were pointing towards the Kingdom Karimedai. And then a series of fleet slided towards Kottipattinam. From Kottaipatinam, the ships navigate to Narukukana. "This is the safest route, sailing on friendly waters. The oceans on the southwest are controlled by Veera's fleet. The east side harbour could be a trap laid by the Emperror as it's quite welcoming. The covoys will pass through Kottaipattinam and the Allied forces arrive on the Central Kingdom at the sametime for it's own safety as well as to minimise sabottage attempts". Sena paused to take questions, as none was posed, he declared, "That gives us no other option, but take the Pirate's Bay".
"With the Queen's guidence and Chief's permission, I place Kacha at the forefront. Another team led by myself shall penetrate the Pirate Village", Sena looked at Rana.
"The pirates are peculiar creature", Rana took over. "The are robust and dominant but not brave. Without a leader they become like a lost child. Taking out the Captain, Adhi, is a must to bring them to their knees. And fear works wonder on them, the lost child shall panic for the mildest disturbances, permitting a total submission of the pirates and make them fight the war for us".
"This operation is dangerous as well as timebound. And for the records, there were only two warriors who have escaped alive from the Pirate's Village", Sena informed.
"Stealth can work, but how are we going to bring in the 'fear'", Kalai questioned.
"General Kalai, that's where yourself, Princess Kanakavalli and Kali shall play the Devil", replied Rana with a smile, "by working alongside with Sultan".
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
Trinity and the Twins
The General of the Emperor, dressed in full body armor suit and wearing a mask, was speaking in a heavy tone before few adjoints inside a closed room. His warriors stood behind him concealing their faces and before him was a huge table displaying a detailled route map of the Central Kingdom. Figurines with toothpick flags were placed ramdomly over the map. Another set of small figurines were positioned on the pathways, the flags indicating them as the enemies.
"These brigades here will take full control of this mountain, including the valley", he said pointing at spearman and archer figurines. There were five and three flags attached to the statuettes respectively, denoting the number of brigade groups. "Do not enter into an open battle, its too early to take damage", he instructed, "but attack the cargo, any huge caravan carrying ration. Our priority is to make sure that the enemy army reaches Karmegha without nutriments". The adjoints, who were legion chiefs, second commandants and majors in tactical military, nodded their heads in unison.
By placing several models of army soldiers over the area of the battleflied, The General explained to his audience the infantry tactics and demonstrated the legion formations and attack strategies. He then moved to point out the defense system at the Vettaiyan Palace. He walked through several aggressive military action against the enemies including retreat and charge plan to show their superior power at war. He moved his mace around the area south of Karmegha and told, "This is where the enemies will camp. Expect a huge army marching on our lands, we should weaken them before the day of war. In addition of gaurding the pathways, the trees around this area should be fallen down. Wood, the major necessity of war should not be available to our enemies. Pour gallons of water in the camping site to make it muddy and marshy making it arduous to encamp".
Taking a more serious tone he directed to speed up the operations at the Fort Ayan and was persistent to keep the cannon Vettai aeonian.
The General turned to his warriors and enquired about the security at Narukukana and learning that the Pirate Village was completely swept over and was fully surrounded by specialised soldiers, he appreciated their good work carried out under at short notice. He ordered the Big Man with the sledgehammer to take charge of Port Narukukana, by elaborating to him the immense defense measures to be deployed at the harbour. He specifically cautioned him on the prime objective, that Narukukana should not fall in the hands of the enemies.
Somewhere in the Central Kingdom, the anonymous artist had almost completed his art work on the canvas. It was a potrait of a man watching himself before a mirror, the face and other interior decors were unfinished. He put down his brush and turned to face the young spy who had come in to breif the artist with the latest proceedings. The spy reported to his master the informations he had gathered and recounted the converstaion that he had eavesdropped. The artist listened attentively and once the spy had finished, he picked up the bursh and started painting in silence.
Nobleman and the brothers were sitting inside a dimly lit room, only a glimmer of the streetlight passing through the open window illuminated the space.
"We are fighting a war within a war", Sena was speaking, "an armed conflict between countries and a battle of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness", when he heard the sound of the opening door. Rana immediately rushed inside the adjacent room. A silhouette creeped it's way from to corridor into the living room taking much care not to make noise. It reached the fire place and tried to ignite it, but was suprised to see the logs wet. It took a candle placed over the chimney and turned to find its way back to room were Rana was hiding. The corrupt councillor faced the visages of Nobleman and Sena. He panicked. Nobleman took his arms and gently pulled him to a cushion chair. He took the candle from his hand and placed it on the small table before him.
"No. No", the dishonest man talked quickly, "I don't know know anything".
"And I have not asked anything, either", Sena spoke calmly, "I always speak about Time to everyone. A gone tide will return, but a lost Time vanishes forever".
Rana stepped out of the bedroom holding a straight razor that was dripping blood. He left the curtains open. The untrustworthy nobleman stared at his wife lying on the bed with her wrist slit and blood oozing out of the crack. The nobleman left out a tiny cry and got up to run towards the room. Rana held him firmly by pushing him back on the seat.
"An immediate medical attention can save her. For the moment she is sleeping, the Time you take shall deceide if she will wake up or not", Sena said. Rana walked past the open space and tried to enter the room on the opposite side.
"No. Please. Don't hurt my son", weeped the nobleman. Rana stopped by the door facing him.
"I am listening", Sena said with a smile.
The shameful nobleman talked about bars and taverns were spies operated with whom he had shared several informations, including the governing decisions of Kottaipattinam made under secrecy at the Council Hall. He clearly pinned the merchants, traders and dockworkers involved in the huge web of corruption, the employees of the Emperor. He also named a few who were in the military units. He precised that getting them to talk will reveal the entire mole chain. He pleaded for mercy in a tone of deep repentance.
"The Clown and the Twin Arrows ?", asked Nobleman. The insincere council member looked at him and then at Sena. He saw Rana pushing the curtains. "No, wait, wait, please", he cried. He inhaled deeply and said, "Never heard anything or anyone called Clown. But learnt from Minister Verman of the Central Kingdom about the Twin Arrows. That day we all were drunk. That was after passing the declartion of war in the council hall. I was scared at the way Sena was staring at me. So, I got the information personally to the Minister. He asked me not to worry about you brothers, as you will be taken care of. He spoke about the Twin Arrows briefly, it was more like a myth, and I didn't believe a single word spoke by him".
"After slaying Kundalini, your Father burnt down the nesting ground of the gaint snakes in and around the volcanos and caves of Karimedai. The Minister spoke about souls, the details I was not in a position to understand. Apparently, a snake egg snatched and twin baby serpents came out. The mother snake tried to save the snakelets from the fire aroused by your Father, but the inferno killed her. The hatchling snakes took a vow of revenge and jumped into the flames of their burning mother. The Minister said that these baby snakes were reborn as the Twin Arrows and their only duty is to seek vengeance for the cruel, unnatural or unjust death of their mother. They are aimed to kill the Sons of the Murderer".
The trinity walked silently out of the corrupt man's house and Sena spoke when they were on the pavement, "I need to find The Monk".
Few soldiers saluted them and after a brief conversation with Rana, they marched inside the culprit's house. The nobleman's wife was safe, the attempted murder was an imitation, she was put unconscious surrounded with red dye. A soldier pulled the weeping owner to the window and told, "The coachman is readying a transport vehicle for your departure. Grab whatever you can, but you have time until he is all set to travel. Once he is prepared and you are not inside that coach, you can never reach the destination".
The nobleman hurriedly lifted his child and dropped him inside the coach. He then carried his unconsicous wife to the wagon. He got back inside and opened several cupboards, they all were stuffed with gold and diamonds that they looked like a cave of treasures. He ran back and forth several time loading his valuables inside the coach. When he came back to empty his last few possessions, he heard the horses neighing. He peeped out of the window and saw the coachman ready for departure. He droped the treasure box and gazed at the soldier.
The soldier introduced a sharp hand knife inside his heart while saying, "Your Time is up".
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
At the Pirate Bay (part 1/3)
Second Dusk
"A Time based operation", Sena was saying to the operative team gathered inside the Planning Room. He walked and placed three tiny hourglass adjesant to each other over the grandtable. "As we have eliminated the insider threats of information leakage and the war is to commence in one moon from now, our priority is to win the Pirate's bay", he said. "The convoys from Katrupuzha have sailed, and the fleets of Karimedai are ready to depart. They will arrive at Kottaipattinam, and without delay will start to float towards Narukukana". He pointed at the hourglasses and said, "We split into three teams - pouncers, perforators and pursuers. Pouncers are attacker to weaken the defense, perforators will penetrate inside the Pirate's village and pursuers wait on the outer perimeter for the signal from either pouncers or perforators". Sena paused and watched the faces of his listeners making sure everyone has comprehended.
"Pursuers led by General Kali, supported by Princess will visit Sultan along with Kali and prepare for the showdown".
"Pouncers, a platton of master swordsman commanded by Kacha shall inflict damage to the defense of Pirate Bay".
"Perforators, myself and Chief Rana, will slip into the heart of Pirate's village".
"General Kalai, and my Lady, as you would have known by now, Kali is at a loss of hearing, an after effect of a tragic mission. He is perfectly alright otherwise, just speak loud while being nearer to him". Kali stood beside Kannakavalli admiring her shinny skin. "I have briefed Kali and Chief Rana had paid a visit to Sultan. By the time you reach the island, all should be ready for your team to work with. Co-ordination is important, wait for our signal". General Kalai nodded in agreement. Kanakavalli stood admiring Sena.
"Kacha, kill count is important. Arrangements have been made to create a diversion and that's when you attack. Capture the defense positions of the enemy and get disguised inside their uniforms. The Emperor's men will be supervising the camp, no alerts should be raised and the impersonation should buy the perforators some time".
"Pass an order to your platoon to paint their bottom right eye with black ink, so that the perforators can distinguish between allies from enemies once inside the Pirates Village. And always be prepared to face an extremely large strike from the Emperor's men".
Sena got near and spoke firmly to attract immense attention of Kacha, "The objective of the perforators is to crawl inside the Pirate's Village and find the pirate's leader Adhi. If we are not able to find him on time, we will invite him to us by getting captured by the pirates. The arrest will be done by the pirate's army and not by our platoon dressed in enemy's uniforms. Be alert on the proceeding, as the perforators need backup. Also, if the perforators fail, pouncers are the only guidence to pursuers". Sena paused and then announced, "Retreat is not an option", Sena handed a hourglass to the leaders of pouncers and pursuers and tossing the final one with his right hand, Sena said, "and if the sands have settled at the bottom before the end of the operations, many will die". He placed the hourglass strongly on the table and the sands started dripping continuously from the hole at the intersection of the two glass bulbs, passing from the upper to the lower bulb.
There was silence in the room. Vadhana's eyes glittered with sorrow.
"But there is a falacy in your strategy", Putran said thoughtfully. "Incognito and the devil plan shall work, but your escape will be impossible if captured. The village is a swarm of pirates. They will strip you and bind you making it impossile to move".
"We have to take that risk", Rana said strongly looking at Vadhana.
"By that risk, you will jeopardise the entire suituation and push the war to an enemy's victory even before it is fought.", Putran explained. "The Emperor will attack the other kingdoms and the seas will be floating with enemy ships like a blue lake invaded by green algae. He will justify his action by claiming that the allied forces initiated the first ambush and his army is retaliating".
"What do you propose ?", Sena questioned Putran.
"Perforators should find and eliminate Adhi under a brief delay, before the news gets out. Pouncers should not allow any exit moment until an end of mission is signaled by the perforators. And if they are captured, there is an alternate way to escape but that method was tired only once. The mission was a failure, and ended fatal for the volunteer", Putran said.
There was another round of silence after hearing to Putran's proposition. Vadhana's eyes glittered with a strange light called bravery.
"I volunteer", Vadhana announced after listening to Putran.
Rana tried to counter her and when he failed to convince her, he assured her that they will figure out an another way, but she shut him with her authority.
"Are you sure, Vadhana ?", asked Sena with compassion. Hearing to Sena addressing her by her name brought tears in her eyes. Vadhana nodded affirmatively.
"I know a medicine man", Nobleman said breaking the silence, "but he cannot undo what has been done".
"General Kalai, take the medicine man with you and wait for us and don't forget the Red Lantern", Sena informed to the leader of Pursuers.
"I should get a role to play too, don't I ?", Shama spoke with a crooked smile, Littleman watched him with a similar feeling. "Or is it my leg, a gift from my friend here, is bothering the Chief of the allied forces to include me". Sena looked at Shama apologetically. "I offer to serve under the Perforators, Shama said rigidly, "No man shall wait for me, and I assure not to limp the mission. If not for the lower limb, couple of extra hands may come in handy". Rana walked up to Shama and patted on his shoulders.
"As mentioned before, this is a time based operation. Pursuers will reach Sultan by tomorrow. The other two teams should be ready at sunset", Sena informed.
"I desire to participate in the Nibbana Ceremony tomorrow. My presence along with the Chief of the allied forces can become inspirational", interrupted Vadhana.
"So shall it be. Operation Pirate Bay will commence on the second dusk", Sena declared.
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
At the Pirate Bay (part 2/3)
Nibbana after Bloodbath
(Rated R)
Rana put his hand over the shoulder of Kali. He walked him through the crooked path far away from the Planning Room and entered into the dense plantation. He halted and made Kali stand before him. On their way, Kali handmade his herbal smoking mixture with guava leaves stuffed with thin cruly Kinnikinnickthin flakes.
Rana spoke in amateur sign-language to Kali. He curved his right hand fingers and dropped it downwards his chest asking Kali whether he was hungry. Kali nodded negative. With a series of sign codes Rana informed Kali that he will be asking him three questions, and Kali shall reply only after Rana had moved back to a tree a furlong away. Kali shouted a OK, and Rana's dark eye balls pulled towards each other in the magnatic effect of Kali's scream. He regained his balance back by shaking his head vigorously and immediately struck his right palm with his left hand's karate chop point, signaling Kali to wait. He moved back hurriedly rubbing his ear with his small finger.
"Baasha calls it a tragic mission, I call it a Bloodbath", Kali replied to the first question by Rana about how he lost his audibility.
"Like others, I was picked from the streets and trained by Pachonthi, which is no more operational, Baasha took them down to their grave. Baasha trusts me and we shared the same bunker at the university. For certain missions Baasha would take me with him, and I shall be a backup or bomb rigger. I like playing with fire, so my speaciality was in setting different varieties of traps and mines".
Kali sucked deep from the guava cone and standing under a cloud of dense smoke, he continued steadily to recollect his past, "The mission was to capture a group of barbarians. His plan was to use a net around the camp's enterance and lure the criminals towards the trap. I was to close down the other exit with mines denying their escape. I settled at the back enterance of the barbarian bivouac and planted huge flash bombs on the pathway. I made them heavy than usual, to have fun with the savages who would come running for their life. But, when I saw Baasha running out through the back entrance followed by couple dozens of beasts, I understood that the mission did not go as planned. Baasha was directly running towards the mines that I had placed for the brutes. I shouted, but my warning failed to reach my friend due to the heavy battle cries of the barbarians. I waved at him, but he was too busy to notice. So I decided to deactive the mines myself by running over the twenty mines, making them explode on my contact around and over me", Kali paused and drew from his guava pipe.
"The sound was devastating and the flashes completely blinded me. I felt a chillness in my ears and sensed several tiny hot worms crawling out of my ears", Kali thought for a while, taking time to assemble his memory blocks. "I was on the ground hearing a loud non-stop siren. My vision was blurred, but could make out someone stopping beside me and felt shaken by the shoulder. My sight was like I was not aligned with time, as though the earth had cut down it's spin time by half. Then, I saw the Back of Baasha and beyond him, the wild men were running towards us, slowly but steadily. I closed my eyes and when I reopened them Baasha was putting on his claw glow. I blacked out. Warm liquid sprinkled on my face. I woke up and tried to clean them. They looked red. I was showered with tiny soft pieces and found that it was raining fingers. I looked straight and Bassha was slicing and cutting the neck, face, chest, stomach and a limb of an obese barbarian with his claw glove".
"Few we running away from us and then I was riding on the back of Baasha. My ears were burning, I cried. I felt a cold liquid flowing into my ears and I felt better. I was before a camp fire inside a forest, before me Baasha was seated, the claw glove replacing his palm. He gaurded me through out the night. The next morning, I was again riding on his back and around the camp we had halted that night I saw several bodies lying motionless, some face down, others completely ripped off. We reached the Guild. The Mentor was not happy about the failed mission. The barbarians were to be captured alive. Baasha stood before the Mentor listening to all the defaming pharses with his head hung down, without uttering a single word".
"Baasha beleives that I had saved him, and a kind of guilt makes him call it a tragic mission. I know who had saved me and so I call it a Bloodbath".
"That evening Baasha came to kill me", Kali explained to Rana why Sena had left him alive. "I pray what happened to Baasha should never happen even to my enemy". Kali blew smoke between his lips. "The assassins university was burnt down with lamp oil and not exploded with bombs. That assured Baasha that I was not involved and I confessed my guilt of my unawareness about such a backstabbing by the Guild. I offered myself to him. He left without uttering a word. I thought he punished me with his silence, but now I am very glad to be talking with his brother". Kali smiled with trembling lips and said "My Brother".
Rana approached Kali and patted on his shoulder. Kali's eyes glittered with joy. Rana moved back again and putting his right index finger in front of his lips, he moved it in a circular motion to ask his next question - WHO ? Then he quickly made several gestures with his fingers making a letter - M O N K.
"The Monk is the only one who had defeated Baasha", Kali told to Rana. "We all were young and without any remorse. But, the five trainers in the Guild twisted our lives with our own courage. Some were put into dungeons, others were made to take beatings through the night. Baasha emerged valliant and quickly we all started to see him as our champion. The Monk is a brave man. Intelligent but egotistical. He did not welcome the rise of Baasha within Guild. He stopped communicating with us and often kept himself away from us even when Baasha tried to bring him into our brotherhood".
"Every year, a Ring Fight was organised. We battle each other violently with training tools. Eventhough made of wood, the weapons can turn deadly. Few have even died. The Rule of the Ring is submission. The fight goes on until one accepts the defeat. That year, the Monk took on Baasha. His attacks were ferocious as though sending a message to us all. The teachers were quite glad about his aggressivity, that it looked as though they would benefit from the brawl. Baasha stood his ground. He charged, defended and attacked elegantly with various training tools".
"The Monk was giving him a tough time, but was getting tired. A blow from Baasha landed on the Monk's jaw making him vomit blood. He crawled over the ground but did not give up. He attacked Baasha. Each stike of Baasha landed on the Monk tearing his skin and flesh. At a point in time during the ring fight, the Monk looked completely painted with his own blood. Baasha asked him to give up, the Monk refused. Baasha knew his friend would die, so he retreated. The Monk got up and launched his first blow on Baasha. Baasha did not react. The Monk went on a slamming spree and soon Baasha was on the ground leaking blood from him mouth and nose. The monk sat over him with a wooden trident in his hand aiming at Baasha's throat. Baasha accepted his defeat. The teachers were excited to see the Monk still sitting on top of Baasha. They were sure that The Monk would puncture Baasha's windpipe. The Monk raised his weapon and slammed it on the floor beside Baasha".
"That was the only year when Baasha did not win the ring fight. The Monk sat in a corner with his Champion Title all alone. After couple of years, we were not able to find the Monk, he had left the guild. The Mentor was furious. No one was able to track him down. One day, he was declared dead by the Universtity, a lie to scare us about our fate if we left the Guild".
"When Baasha was roaming in the forests, he did meet The Monk", Kali put off the tiny spark at the tip of the guava pipe. "But Baasha did not tell me what they talked with each other".
An immense crowd gathered around the palace of Kottaipattinam for the Nibbana Ceremony. There was compelte silence when Vadhana was addressing the crowd, "The promised lands will always be yours. Such difficulty should not have risen for our great Nation and during such hard times, we have to stand united creating a force of endurance. I am not standing as a Queen before you, but as a daughter in your family whose brothers shall enter into an unreliable zone where their return is uncertain. I am standing before you, as the small girl who will watch the doorstrep every single day waiting to rejoice her father's arrival. I am standing before you, as the mother who washes the Idols of Faith with her tears, praying for the safe return of her son. I stand before you, as the beloved whose hearts are stronger than the iron built with courage to send of their mates into the fields of no return. I stand before you, as the head of the family, feeling proud of my children. I stand before not as a Queen, but as a Monk seeking alms".
Vadhana paused and looked at Rana standing before her. She held his hand and raised it high above their head, "Our men will lead us to victory. Our men will show the enemies what bravery shall be. Our men will fight for our valour and together we will teach this world humanity and peace. The proud citizens of Kottaipattinam, my men, my women and my children, I pleed to you to offer one fist of grain for our soldiers to survive in the cold and heat and with our Grain of Love they will regain the lost spirit and confront our deadiliest foes, liberating us from the clutches of servitude".
As there was shortage of food ingredients at the Kingdom's granary, The Nibbana Ceremony was organised to collect grains from the people to feed the army of the alied forces.
Rana looked around him searching for Sena, his brother was nowhere in sight. He walked beside Vadhana who had her long scraf of the Queen's robe spread between her arms. People were dropping a fist of grain inside the well of the cloth. Few Palace employees walked behind them with a sack into which she emptied the collected grains. Several workers were walking around meeting the gathered crowd and pocketing the grains into wooden barrels and buckets.
Vadhana saw a lad clenching his fist. She bent down and spread her scarf widely before the kid. The small boy emptied one of his fist and said "This is for my father", immediately he moved his second hand to pour another tiny fist of grains, and informed with a smile, "this is for his brothers".
Vadhana was moved by the words of the infant. She kissed the child. He kissed her back and wondered why the Queen's cheek was wet and salty.
The night was dark and blue. Rana found Sena in their Father's Garden, sitting on the rock on which he used to sit during his childhood. Sena did not remove his eyes that were fixed over the sky when his brother approached him. Rana sat beside his brother. After a peaceful silence Rana spoke, "Your life is a devastening time. How do you deal with such sufferance". Rana pitted for his brother and was ready to lend his shoulder to share his burdens.
Without lowereing his head, Sena said, "Its not about what life teaches you, its always about what you learn from it". Sena paused and spoke with a smile looking at his other Self, "There is neither happiness nor misery, but only the comparison of one state with another".
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
At the Pirate Bay (part 3/3)
Foes United (part 1/3)
"Welcome close friends of my best friend", said the slim tall middle-aged man with a chin curtain dressed in black kaftan jubba who had walked out from a small building structure on the Thangamaan Island.
"I am Sultan, the son of Fakir Senapati and a brother, not by blood but by bond, of Ranadheeran", Sultan smiled graciously at General Kalai and Kali.
"Look at you !," Sultan walked close to Kanakavalli and admired her beauty while making a full circle around her. He stood before her and said with immense sincerity, "Truely beautiful". Kanakavalli's eyes brightened, a tiny upward curve timidly formed around her lips but the rest of her face remained still.
With a gentle hand gesture, Sultan ushered them towards the sea. "King Sorubhan and King Gauthama have always been nice to us and on behalf of my merchant class and the island dwellers, I express my sincere gratitude. Ranadheeran's Father lent a helping hand to my ancestors and he was a great friend of my father. He had saved us from the Chudails of Majantha Caves at Inthamaan Islands. From then, our class started to grow and with the generosity of your Kings, buisness flourished. I met Ranadheeran when he came to my island with his two assosiates looking for a gloden dragon turtle. Trust me, it was fun hunting for the turtle".
Team Pursuers along with Sultan stood over the sand in front of several long poles and they were surrounded by Sultan's men, few many resembled crewmen and the rest seemed to be dockers. A large number of luggers were floating on the waves, all attached to each other with a thick rope.
"As Ranadheeran had asked for", Sultan said proudly showing the wood building materials. "My longshoremen will assit you, and my helmsmen shall steer those small boats once we are ready". Sultan took a serious tone, "This company are not just sailors. They are warriors specialised in both underwater operations as well as cutlass wielding. But this war is not ours to fight, as we are mere businessmen, we trade with all five countries. Our service must end here, as Ranadheeran convinced me that there will be no battle. No offense meant".
"None taken", replied General Kalai, "Its our turn to thank you and your men for your timely assistance".
"We owe it to Ranadheeran", Sultan said with a smile.
The handiworks began that afternoon and went as planned. When Kali finished working on the last section, it was already dusk. They distributed themselves and mounted on the luggers along with the merchant sailors. The Medicine Man got along with General Kalai holding to his kit bag tightly. After giving their farewell to Sultan, the boats set sailed towards Narukukanna. General Kalai hung a lantern on the high mast pole. He took out a small hourglass from his pocket and placed it on the starboard and watched the horizon. Sand particles descended from the upper glass into the lower bulb as the setting sun sank into the sea.
The loose granulars substance inside the hourglass held by Kacha started to drip steadily. After placing it tightly locked in his belt pouch, he asked his platoon of short swordsmen, "Any tree climbers ?". Several raised their hands. "Enemy's foot is not only on the ground but over the branches too", he said by pointing above at the trees. "Silent kills only", he said firmly. He directed few men to invade the trees. He led the rest towards the perimeter of the Pirate Village.
He looked through his telescope and carefully watched the movement around the compound of the village. He instructed his team to split and round-up the entire village from outside. "And then, wait for the diversion", he said calmly.
Few moments later, a large crowd dressed in white robes carrying lighted candles started to walk into the lane. The infants in the front were holding a cloth hoarding on which it was written, "Bringing Peace During Times of War". The House had obtained permission for a peace rally. Sena using his contacts, the Mothers and Sisters, whom he knew through Suganthi, planned the marching ceremony after sunset to create a distraction in the Pirate's Village.
Kacha commanded his men to move forward and the short swordsmen mingled with the bushes, the light crowd and the darkness to approach the enemy front.
A tired gaurd was yawning and before he could close his mouth, it was blocked by a sharp blade coming through the back of his skull. The yawning soldier died instantly. The short swordsman, who had crawled behind him, pulled the body and undressed it before hiding it behind a bush. Dressed like the enemy, he took a tiny circular metal box of black dye. He stained his tiny finger with the dye and ran it under his right eye. He took position facing towards the Pirate village.
A white ninja saw movements in the bushes. He watched attentively in the dark and noticed a group of swordsmen dressed only in undergarments racing towards the Pirates village passing through the group of protesters. He prepared to get down the tree and a sharp knife entered into his left eye as soon as he turned. His killer pulled off his top and took off his shoes before throwing him down into the dense vegetation.
Kacha slit the throat of the man before him. Another swordsman tugged the body and took position. Kacha moved silently and grabbed the mouth of a clueless gaurd. He moved forward and inserted his sword into the back of another gaurd and dragged him down. When he reached the enterance, he teamed with another three swordsman of his platoon and together they quietly fell the four security gaurds at the gate.
Team Pouncers took position around the Pirates village disguised as the Emperor's men with a dark dye mark under their right eye.
Sena watched the setting sun. He turned and looked at Rana. Without a word, Rana inverted the hourglass and Team Perforators entered into the water. Sena had Shama tied around him and Rana swam behind Vadhana pushing her whenever she struggled to advance. The four heads leaped out of the water. Vadhana could hardly keep her eyes open.
Rana worried, "Are you doing well, Vadhana ?". She nodded affirmatively. "It should be over shortly", Sena assured. Shama gave an encouraging nod at Vadhana.
Settling Vadhana with Shama under the bay pier, the brothers went in opposite directions to find the pirate leader Adhi. Sena crawled his way in the shadows of the building structures evading the circling spot light of the lighthouse at the pier and he climbed the green facade of a house to peep inside the window of a lighted room. Rana ran from bushes to shrubs and checked the heavily gaurded warehouses.
When Rana ran softly through the green clumps, he accidently stepped on a dry twig. The noise alerted the gaurd above him. Rana found himself in the open and the armed gaurd was looking directly at him. Rana was soaked in sweat. The light from the phare rested briefly on the face of the soldier and Rana's heart calmed down when he noticed the dark mark under the gaurd's right eye. Without any warning, the gaurd turned to face the sea.
Rana continued to check the remaining warehouse. Sena was cautiously running over the roofs of the third house and he bent down to send a tiny whistle signal at Rana who was hiding below the house. Rana looked up and Sena confirmed the presence of Adhi inside the building.
Suddenly an alarm was sounded. It was the Meneely foundry bell resonating from it's sound bow. Sena tugged down and searched the ground around him. From the roof top, he watched at the pirate at the far end rotating the wheel of the foundry bell and sending the alert. Rana quickly hid himself further inside the bush and turned towards source of the sound. It was coming from near the pier.
From above and from below, the brothers helplessly watched Vadhana and Shama being pulled away by a bunch of heavily armed pirates.
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
At the Pirate Bay (part 3/3)
Foes United (part 2/3)
Rated-R
"What was that noise from the fool's suburb", enquired The General. Without waiting for a reply, he growled, "Go check whether Bigman is still asleep".
Aye, one of the warriors of The General, got up from her seat and walked out of the tiny tent mounted deep inside the forest. The faint sound of the bell aroused the anger of The General camped further away from the Pirate's Village as instructed by the Emperor.
Aye had her face covered with a red bandana as a mask. She carried a horseman's axe and alngegh. Several throwing axes were hanging around her axe belt. Each time she killed someone with her axe, she whispered "Yes", thus her team members called her Aye. She had an affection towards Bigman, the huge warrior with a sledgehammer, who was the only one accepted by Adhi to be inside the Pirate's Village when The General had proposed additional security.
"You fool ! not to be disturbed means exactly not to be disturbed. And does 'tok tok' ring a bell to you, you filthy animal ?", the pirate leader Adhi shouted at the small freebooter who had walked inside the room without knocking the door. With much hesitation, the messy pirate informed his boss about the two prisoners.
"Take care of them Mister Pirate", Adhi spoke softly with a smile, and immediately yelled, 'Kill them, feed them to the sharks, what do I care ? Now get your ugle face out of here". The pathetic pirate turned to leave when Adhi stopped him.
"A lady you say !", Adhi thought for a while and said, "Don't waste her, I will join you shortly, Mr. Shorty". The dirty pirate left the room after nodding several times.
"We can't fight them all", Sena was speaking to Rana. "We have to wait and watch for the right time". Rana stood up. Sena looked at him wide eyed tucking himself inside the bush outside the building where Vadhana and Shama were taken prisoners. "I better go and check on Vadhana", Rana announced. "And how are you planning to do that", asked Sena.
Without giving a reply, Rana walked towards the gaurded door with both his hands pinned behind his head. Sena crunched his jaw. He nodded negatively, stood up and followed Rana.
Aye reached the front gate of the Pirates Village. On her way she noticed the tail end of a marching crowd. Further from the lane, she noticed few pirates making fun of a gaurd. The soldier stood his ground tolerating the abuses.
"What was the noise ?", Aye asked a fit soldier standing in front of the closed wooden gate. "Nothing Sir, just a brawl between the drunk pirates", he replied.
"Did you check on it", she questioned. The answering soldier pointed to another gaurd standing on an elevated platform looking inside the village and assured, "Yes Sir, he confirmed it too".
Aye looked around and satisfied with the calmness, she asked, "Any news from Bigman ?"
"No Sir, maybe he is asleep", the soldier replied and the three around him giggled.
Aye stared at them for a while and then, turned to leave. Kacha's heart was knocking at his ribs when she suddenly halted and asked him, "What's that black thing under your eye, soldier ?".
Kacha gave her a gracious smile and said, "Nothing Sir, I lost a bet with another comarade, and the punishment is to darken the eyes as though been punched. It's a game we play to kill boredom".
Aye left without putting any further questions. Kacha heart took time to beat normal. He informed the other three men that eventhough it was hors protocol, he was entering the village to check on Team Perforators.
"Invaluable booty", Adhi said looking at Vadhana who was between the brothers. Shama's wooden leg was removed and placed on top of a barrel. The prisoners were stripped and made to kneel down in their undergarments. "Now I will renegociate the terms with the Emperor", Adhi spoke with a smile that widened upto his ears. There were three other pirates along with him in the room. "You morons, increase the security in this room", he barked. Pointing at Rana and Sena, he said, "Those two there can get inside and come out of a bottleneck. And they can vanish from a sealed bottle". The pirate leader ordered one to immediately leave the room and fetch more men to gaurd the prisoners. He left the room making hurried steps following the pirate on the double.
"How ?", asked Rana who was close to Shama. "Vadhana is not well, I don't know any other way to inform you".
"Stop chatting ladies", warned a pirate, and the other one laughed loudly showing all his broken tooth.
Rana looked at vadhana, she could hardly keep her eyes open. Her neck found it hard to support her head. She turned towards him and gave a faint smile. Rana whispered "No".
The next moments happened between the wink of the eyes. A gaurding pirate noticed blood covering the floor below Vadhana. Next he found herself liberated and throwing a tiny object at him. The sharp blade stuck to his throat leaking air and blood at the same time. The other pirate in the room with the prisoners was starled by the sudden hit. He clumpsily looked for a weapon around his hip. His hands met with the handle of a long sword and he struggled to release it from the case. When he suceeded in taking out his sword, a thin line appeared around his throat which started to spray his blood around the room. From the back of his head, Sena hopped towards Vadhana. He cut the rope attached to his feet and immediately skid it on the floor towards Rana. He then carried and placed Vadhana's head on his laps. The floor was flooded with her blood. Rana stopped the tiny razor in the midaway and freed himself by cutting the ropes.
Rana looked at Vadhana who was breathing heavily lying on Sena's laps. His mouth widened when he noticed one of the visions he had at the Lake of Woes was presenting itself before him - Rana heard heavy breathing, before him someone was bleeding, lying on the lap of someone else. Rana concentrated on the wounded person and exclaimed, "Vadhana !".
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Three - War of Karmegha
At the Pirate Bay (part 3/3)
Foes United (part 3/3)
(Rated-R)
Kacha silently crawled inside the village under the nose of the snoring pirates. He moved further into the settlement and through the leaves of a shrub he saw the pirate leader Adhi walking confidently out of a building opposite to him. He turned and looked above at the soldier facing towards the pier. He whistled to gain his attention. The swordsman of his platoon dressed as Emperor's soldier was standing on top of a temporarily mounted platform. He took time to spot Kacha. When he finally saw him, Kacha pulled his first two fingers together and waved at him, enquiring whether he was ready to send a signal to the Pursuers. The swordsman pulled his right hand to show him the unlit lantern that he was holding, and nodded affirmatively. Kacha turned to look at the building and noticed six men walking towards the door. Kacha wondered what had happened inside.
Yesodha Putran's propostion was to operate and place two small heavy blades near the wrists of the volunteer. Once carefully placed, the volunteer shall apply force by stiffening their arms, pushing the hidden blade which would move out cutting their flesh. The obvious risk was that this person will bleed to death in the process, as it is unpredicatble which nerve the sharp objects would cut while exiting. Another risk was that the metal, an alien in the body, can provoke spasms. Once the minor surgery was over, the scar would be painted to skin color concealing the hidden weapon while being frisked. The carrier of the secret blades will be engulfed with enormous pain and may quickly loose stability. The resistance factor depends on the condition of the body and will power of the mind. Once the blades are released, the victim should be attended to in very short notice. Depending on the wound, the volunteer can be treated, but the final risk is over the normality in the funtions of the arms.
Vadhana stiffened her arms while been tied with ropes when the pirates were distracted by their loud laughs. She faintly heard Rana whisper a "No". The smile in her face faded and the pain painted her eyes red, as the hidden blade near her left wrist protruded tearing her flesh. She bit her lips to control the scream. The sharp object slowly sliced the ropes liberating her. The other blade came out smoothly and fell on the ground to the right where Sena was observing the blades tearing Vadhana's skin. She raised her head and looked at the clueless pirate who had just took notice of the puddle of blood around her. Vadhana took a deep breathe and putting all the power that was left within her, she raised her left hand and threw the blade hard at the gaurd.
Sena, without wasting a moment, had taken the fallen blade and its sharpness had cut his ropes without much delay. He quickly moved behind the startled pirate and slit his throat before he could use his sword. Taking Vadhana's head on his laps, he shouted at Rana who was wide mouthed and starring at them. Rana regained his composure and immediately turned to pick up the clothes and the wooden foot of Shama. He ran towards Shama while dressing himself and liberated him. Giving him his wodden foot and clothes, he said hurriedly, "By the door. Quickly". Shama with three clicks got himself fixed and got back to his feet. He moved across the room and settled behind the door. Rana turned and covered Vadhana with her loose robe and fitted Sena by pushing the woolen kilt through his brother's arms, when he heard footfalls outside the door. With a single gaint roll he crossed the room, on the way he picked up the pirate's sword and stood behind the door on the left side, the right taken by Shama.
Six men entered the room and were shocked to see a lady covered in blood resting on another man. They looked at each other when Rana kicked the back knee of a pirate and when he fell down, Rana cut his throat with the pirate's sword he had picked up from the floor beside Sena. He completed his killer movement knocking the cheek of the other pirate next to the one whom he had assaulted. Rana kicked between the legs of the third one and broke the nose of another with his elbow. Shama used his belt to tie the neck of the nearby pirate. While strangling him, he lifted his wooden foot and landed it heavily on the last pirate. When the pirate was on the ground, he draged the one he was strangling and stamped the fallen soldier on his chest with his wooden foot breaking the ribs. He then released the one whom he was holding who fell over his pirate brother on the ground. Rana and Shama looked at the six men on the floor. Sena carried Vadhana in his arms and walked to the door which was held open by Shama and Rana.
Kacha followed Adhi with his eyes, who had reached his private quaters. Seeing heavy movements near the door, Kacha turned towards the direction of building through which Adhi had come out. Looking at Team Perforators hurriedly escaping, Sena carrying Vadhana, he whistled and circled his two fingers, the ring finger over the index, above his head. The swordsman with the lantern got the message and digged inside his uniform for a fire steel.
Without wasting time, Kacha ran towards Adhi. Few pirates saw the escaping prisoners and attacked them. Rana and Shama defended Sena and Vadhana. Adhi noticed the escape and yelled furiously biting his teeth. He saw a soldier in Emperor's uniform runing towards him. He took flight. Team Perforators fought their way towards the pier tackling few pirates. Several swordsmen from Team Pouncers watched them struggle, but none moved as instructed. From outside, the village looked calm and peaceful heavily gaurded by the Emperor's soldiers.
One of the Kacha's swordsman with a crossbow that he had picked from the archer he had replaced, saw a pirate running towards the alram bell. He shot an arrow that stopped inbetween the eyes of the running pirate who fell face down on the sand.
Kacha chased Adhi, climbing and jumping over several building structures. They both were now running over a long roof top.
A sledgehammer landed in front of Rana which disturbed his stability and threw him to the ground. A huge man, with a metal mask and body armor was lifting the hammar, preparing for a second strike. Rana rolled and the heavy metal landed beside him. He was quickly surrounded by three pirates, couple of them stamped his arms to the floor with thier legs. Bigman raised the hammer above his head, below Rana was struggling to release himself from the lock of the pirates.
Sena was moving quickly towards the pier not minding what was happening behind him. Vadhana started to weigh heavy in his arms and the sand floor was not helping him carry her to the pier. Shama, who was following Sena, looked back and saw Rana struggling. Without thinking, he turned and ran dragging his wooden foot over the sand towards the Bigman.
The swordsman with the lantern took out the fire strike and started to make fire to light the signal lantern. He held a tiny and thick rolled cloth damped in lamp oil near the fire steel when he struck the fire producing instrument.
When Bigman was about to strike, he lost his balance by a kick to his back. He turned to see his attacker. Shama stood before Bigman. One blow from his hammer, Shama would be buried inside the sand. The Bigman charged dragging his hammer. Rana screamed at Shama to save himself but Shama moved backwards dragging his artifical foot over the sand without removing his eyes from the Bigman. He fell to his back voluntarily, a gest that suprised his attacker. He held his wooden leg with both hands and twisted it once to either side before removing it. Placing his left palm on the ground, he spinned on the sand floor and in a elegant manner he stood up before Bigman. He bent down and tore his trouser at knee level exposing a sharp metal stake connecting his knee to the ground. "Meet the Sword Foot, Bigman", he challenged his nemesis.
Sena reached the edge of the Pier. He was breathing heavily. In few more strides he will cross the platform and meet with the sea. His arms pained, and with one mild cry, he lifted Vadhana and repositioned her on his arm and jogged forward.
The swordsman with the lantern made tiny sparks by striking the fire steel next to a wick wettened with lamp oil. The tiny thread caught a spark and started to burn.
Kacha was too close to Ahdi. In few more steps, Adhi will jump from the roof crossing over the the wooden fence in midair and land on the shore. If he leaves the village, it will be impossible to capture him again, and will jeopardising the mission. Kacha increased his speed.
Several other pirates gathered about Rana. Instead of going behind the escaped prisoners or killing Rana, they cheered the fight between Bigman versus Sword Foot. Shama dodged the attacks of Bigman with a several gymnastic moves. When he was doing a ground flip, a heavy kick from Bigman landed him on the ground. The sledgehammer was raised and Bigman bent to strike, when Shama positioned the metal stake, fixed as his leg, infront of Bigman's throat. The sharp pole pierced the gullet. Half way through, Shama twisted his metal leg cutting whatever the stake was jammed to. He quickly pulled it back by bending his knees and rolled to his side. Bigman suffocated, voimiting blood while holding his throat before falling to the floor sending sands at every direction. The pirates were stunned. Rana used the oppurtunity to shove his captors away and prepared to take down a dozen of filthy pirates around him. More joined, while Rana and Shama faced them keeping their back to each other. The fight was going to cost them their lives.
Kacha leaped and caught the fleeing pirate leader Adhi. He held him to the floor of the roof and picked him up by holding to a bunch of his hair. He dragged him on the roof top towards to the other end. Standing on the top of the building, facing the group of freebooters who were fighting fiercely with Rana and Shama, Kacha put Adhi on his knees and gave out a war cry. The pirates turned to look at him. Rana and Shama stopped their hand and leg sword wielding and stared at their saviour. Kacha put a knife at Adhai and rapidly moved it to cut off the head. Blood splashed around him and the agony of Adhi echoed in her ear. He plucked the head from Adhi's body and held it high above his own head.
The swordsman with the lantern, lighted the signaling device and waved it facing the sea. A while later, he saw a flicker of red light in the vast darkness.
"Put down your weapons. We have invaded you not just in numbers but as an army surrounding your entire village. With your leader's head in my hand, you have none to guide", Kacha spoke angrily.
At the same time, in the sea around the Pirate Village several war ships lighted their high mast lights. The pirates were shocked to witness being surrounded by huge fleet of war ships. They threw their weapons, some knelt down, few hung their head.
Hodling Adhi's head in his hand, Kacha declared, "From now, I am your Head".
General Kalai saw the signal from the shore. He immediately lit the latern he had hung on the pole mast. The other crewmen on different luggers got his command through the red light emitted by the lantern. The merchant sailors lighted a wick at the end of the long pole errected by Kali on their small boats. On Thangamaan island, he fixed a very tall pole masts on each lugger. Behind the post, he had rigged a wick connected to an huge oil lamp on top of the pole. From the distance, the height made the lookers believe that it was a search signal from a war ship.
Sena reached the end of the Pier and at the very moment he was glad to see the flash of red light in the darkness.
A row boat came to a stop before Sena. Kanakavalli helped him to load Vadhana on it. Vadhana was unconsious and her pulse were very weak. Shama came hurriedly dragging his wooden leg on the wooden platform of the pier. Rana and Kacha were demonstrating their power and authority to the surrendered pirates.
While Shama and Sena were rowing the boat, Kanakavalli had Vandhana's head laid on her shoulder. The foes, united to save their Brave Queen who had spilt her blood with a smile, travelled in the darkness following a red light to reach the lugger where a Medicine Man was waiting.
... to be continued ...