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5 Attachment(s)
Extracts from Chaturmukha Part Three : Episode Days Of Battle
You get one shot at this life and people waste it with hate, bitterness and murder. - Sena.
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...4&d=1475332900
Treat him with love and feed him with pain, until he breaks and asks for no more. - Vettaiyan.
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...2&d=1475342741
When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. - The Poet.
(From A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin)
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...6&d=1475332918
The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent. - Rana
(From The Art of War by Sun Tzu)
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...9&d=1475333128
Be prepared, wait and then, appear from where you are not expected. - Kochadaiiyaan.
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...0&d=1475333273
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Chaturmukha - A Rajini Rewritten Trilogy
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...1&d=1475334373
The story so far...
The peace among the three worlds - Creator's Paradise, Maiden World & Creator’s Dream World - disrupts when the unhappy Father of the Worlds (over a theft of Light from the Paradise) orders the second world to destroy his own dream world. When the Father is convinced that the habitants of the third world have refined and reformed, he orders the Maiden World, where innocent souls reside, to retreat. But the second world, enchanted by the habitants of the new found world, refuse the direct order from the Creator. In anger, the Creator destroys half of the Maiden World, killing millions of innocent souls. The few who have survived and managed to hide in the Dream World, sabotage the Courts of Justice, thus, the doors between the Worlds were permanently closed. In this darkness, the demons and evils live consuming the Creators own Creation. When all their plans were shattered by the Creator, they send their final warrior, The Hunter, into the thrid world to destory it once and for all.
When the doors were shut, the Legion of the Creator, find alternate ways to save the habitants of the third world from the clutches of evil. Kochadaiiyaan, their own flesh and blood walks over the earth capturing and sending back illegal souls to their proper world. Fate puts him on his knees, and The Hunter's strike separates his head from his body. Before leaving the world, Kochadaiiyaan planted two seeds - Faith & Hope. His twin sons, Rana & Sena, separated during childhood, reunite to avenge their Father's death, in return saving the destruction of their own world.
The army, led by the Brothers, have reached the door steps of Vettaiyan, The Hunter from Hell.
Next Episode : Days of Battle, will resume shortly.
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
Simple Ways and Hard Ways
(Rated-R)
"Don't you find it curious?" Rana asked Sena without looking at him, while watching the waves caressing the seashore of Narukkukanna.
The brothers, after a detailed discussion over the Vettaiyan Palace and Vimana Records expeditions, were standing over the sands at the Pirates Bay. Many pirates were working on a couple of ships, loading or preparing the vessels. Few of the allied force soldiers were supervising the captured pirate’s activities, and several others were guarding the strategic port from potential dangers. Narukkukanna, a strong hold operated by pirate captain Adhi for the Emperor was captured by the allied forces. Out of the three harbours, anchoring at the Pirates Bay permitted the shortest route to the battle field Karmegha.
The sun was bright and warm. The foams were constantly growing and bursting along the ripple marks, the temporary scar left by the waves on the sand bed. Few crabs sidled around - the mole crabs burying themselves into the sands; the ghost crabs moving quickly and stopping abruptly. The breeze swiftly circled around the seashore, chatting with a bunch of dark hair on the brother's head.
Without waiting for an answer from his brother, Rana spoke thoughtfully, "Everyone who had met the twelve disciples privately, are neither alive, nor cease to exist!" he wondered looking at the waves trying hard to hold on to the shore.
Rana slowly turned and looked at his brother, "I have seen them once too. I was alone that night before visitng the Wise Brothers. In a bar, when they were drinking from the same bowl. One disciple even uttered the prophecy rapidly at me, before they all dispersed."
Sena tried hard to conceal his shock, and faintly succeeded. He took his time recollecting their meeting with the twelve mysterious men who claimed to be the Disciples of Time. The bunch of lost sailors were enlightened by a Sitting Sage and they now roam deep inside the jungles. Several people who had assisted the brothers have spoken to the twelve sailors, and none were with them now.
Sena put his right hand on his brother's left shoulder and said, "Before any such thing happens to you", he held on to the Demon Eye that was clutching itself to a black string around his neck, "I will fail before you fall". The Demon Eye blinked, Sena acquired the portion that provokes rage from Dhavoma, the Goddess Witch.
"The records are the shine of a thousand gems", a voice from behind interrupted their conversation and Sena turned and spread his arms wide to take Kacha inside them. Kacha’s father Vrikoda, known as the Wrestler, had assisted Sena's father along with the five other Warriors in his journey around the five seas and five lands. Kacha had joined Rana to unearth the secrets of his father, which had led them to the Gulf of Bhairavi. Since then, Kacha had never left the side of Rana. "How have you been?" Rana enquired. "Better than good", Kacha replied showing his bandaged arm.
Kalai, the army chief of Katrupuzha, who was appointed by King Sorubhan as the representative of his Kingdom to the allied forces, saluted Rana. He immediately pulled the General's hand down and hugged him. "When people like you are a part of this army, I can take long leaves, convincing myself that any place above the ground will be secure." Rana watched Kalai’s bandaged shoulder, "Another scar of victory", he proudly said to Kalai. He accepted the generous comment from Rana with a genuine smile. "Heard about the fire. Cool!" Kalai extended his smile which Rana acknowledged with an amused laughter.
Hearing about the fire, Kacha immediately questioned Rana, "How is Vadhana?"
"Not completely recovered, but she is doing just fine". Vadhana, the queen of Kottaipatiam was wounded at the Pirates Bay during the capture mission. Immediately after the success, the Queen's palace was attacked and set ablaze. She was carrying the child of Rana inside her. "The wrist wounds have healed and she is in the hands of few good nobles guiding her to use her hands as before."
"That means the Prince is doing fine too", Kacha spoke with gladness. Rana gave a mild laugh at him, "Yes my friend, yes."
Listening to the word ‘friend’, shrunk Kacha’s face, "Sengodagan ...", he said softly, "... does Vadhana know yet".
Senagodagan was Vadhana's brother, the heir to the throne of Kottaipatinam and a childhood friend of the brothers. He had gladly accepted the affair between his sister and Rana and later got married to Yamuna, the sister of Rana & Sena, but his unsatisfied father showed him the door soon after the marriage. He was a part of Rana’s Treasure hunting team; the relics they had unearthed sat decorating the King's Gallery at the Vettaiyan Palace. When Rana slayed his father Rishikodagan, Sengodagan sought vengeance and allied with his arch rival Veera Mahendran to take back Kottaipattinam by force as his sister and Rana were choosen by the people as their leaders.
"No", replied Sena, "We have kept it concealed for the moment. The burnt body was referenced belonging to the assassin who set fire to the Palace."
Sengodagan was killed in the fire.
"How did Sengodagan manage to be present in the Palace that evening", questioned Kacha, "Was he responsible for the act?"
Sena took a serious tone while replying Kacha, "A certain blindness disrupts the vision, but not the sight. A friend turned foe, armours his loved ones. Sengodagan loved his sister. The burning realisation he confessed in my arms, the hot streams of truth that escaped his mouth and his feverish anxiety over not to have listened to the Wise Brothers, still boils inside my ears.”
Sena looked away towards the shinning sun while talking to group, "The few last spies informed us that Sengodagan had doubts over the union of Veera Mahendran and the Emperor. During several occasions he had suspected them to be meeting privately and did not hide his annoyance when Veera Mahendran kept him distanced from the affairs involving Kottaipatinam. That night, Sengodagan had come to the palace to meet his sister and convince her to come with him as he doubted that the Kingdom was soon to be attacked by Veera Mahendran’s secret force and he feared the dark clouds of danger gradually gathering above his sister.”
Sena turned back and addressed directly at Kacha, "The fire was started by two women disguised as nurses. They both were consumed by the flame when they tried to stop Sengodagan from saving Vadhana."
Kacha was about to say something, but prefered to stay quite. The anger over Hanchabadra's death made him judge Sengodagan as a cruel man. Hanchabadra was an aide of Rana and Sengodagan. The three were inseparable. During their first meeting after the rapture, Hanchabadra became a victim of Sengodagan's bitterness, that had punctured his friend's Golden Heart. Kacha's thoughts were disturbed by the soft footfalls on the sand.
“Greetings and Welcome Brothers", roared Sultan. He was accompanied by Kanakavalli and Shama. Sultan was the son of Fakir, an island dweller whom Rana's father had helped during difficult times. When Rana met Sultan, he readily accepted to assist them to capture Narukkukana. And when things went ugly through a surprise attack by bandits who were the disguised soldiers of the Emperor, Sultan’s camel cavalry chased them all away from the sands of hell. If not for his timely intervention, none shall be standing and talking on the sands at the Pirate's Bay.
"Thank you Sultan", Sena replied.
"How was the trip with the beauty?" he asked while looking at Kanakavalli; she put an awkward smile. "You both have brought back that which could be found?"
"Not really, Sultan, not more than what you have accomplished. I am grateful to you for saving my men, and please accept my gratitudes towards your brave men who have stood against the violent wind errupted by the cut and thrust of the swords; without whom this war would have seen much loss than any gain", Sena spoke with sincerity.
Shama shaked hands with Rana, and gave a friendly nod at Sena while he was talking. Shama was the Prince of Shambala, an independent village valley in the heart of Karimedai. He was to be married to Kanakavalli, the Princess of Karimedai, but Sena had stopped their marriage. Since then, Kanakavalli had been waiting for the arrival of Sena, and when he showed up after a decade, she gladly followed him and joined the allied forces by convincing her grandfather King Gauthama, who was murdered in his library; the killer had left behind his cuff button with his initial stamped on it. King Shambala had sent his son Shama to see to that Sena is arrested after the war and brought back as a prisoner to Karimedai to be judged for treason. But the course of events had put all the three on the same boat, where they realised their mutual objective.
"Not just through words, as Sultan is a business man”, Sultan spoke with a broad smile on his face. “If this war is won, all I ask for is free trade. A recognition for my clan as Traders and Merchants. A den and a place to sleep at every port, if possible".
"Rest assured. All you ask and more shall be provided to your clan", Rana replied, "Not for the assistance, but for our friendship."
"Ha! That leads us to more serious negociations. How about no port taxes for your friends, my friend!" Sultan winked at Rana. Everyone around laughed. Rana coupled Sultan’s shoulders and gripped it firmly. Both the men nodded acknowledging each other.
"Sultan", Sena called out, "Do you need any assistance with the Vimana Record, to make the underwater navigation vessel? I shall ask Nobleman to speak with your engineers". Sultan nodded affirmatively, at the same time one of his men came running towards them. The Sultan's warrior stopped and spoke quickly as though he had no time to catch his breath, "The ... there has arrived ... “ Sultan calmed him and asked him what was so urgent that he was forgetting to breath.
"... a box", he alerted.
"What type of box?" wondered Sultan. "For ye! A decorated one ... delivered by the ... Emperor's messenger", he spoke urgently looking at the brothers.
The group rushed from the shore to the main building. Everyone stood around the human size box with a two panel door, placed in the center of the room. It was painted with colourful flowers sticking out from the green stems crawling all over. The art work grew to resemble two naked women standing in an erotic side pose, each taking a suitable position on respective panels and were facing either side. There was a hole at the middle corner of the right door panel. Sultan slowly approached and stood before the box. He inserted his index finger into the hole and gripped by bending its tip on the other side.
Sena knew what was inside the box, but was surprised to find what actually was inside when Sultan opened the door and pushed the two panels to their sides.
Kanakavalli left out a tiny cry; Shama's eyes floated in fear; General Kalai crushed his teeth in anger; Kacha blocked his face with his free arm and looked away; Sultan breathed heavily and Rana fell to his knees. Sena stood unmoved.
Kali forced his entry with a huge grin on his face to make it look as dramatic as possible, but stood numb when he saw everyone grouped in the middle of the silent room. He slowly moved forward trying to peep behind the human wall, the shoulders that were blocking his sight and when he saw beyond Sultan, he yelled "V A R A D H A", and ran towards the box.
The skin of a human body was hanging loosely inside the box. The long hair was still intact, tightly sticking to the bald scalp and was attached to a hook on the top to support the boneless and fleshless hallow body of The Monk.
Kali wept aloud.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
Tears of Ashes
The entire facade facing the Brother's Cemetery was completely burnt down. The wonderfully decorated wooden architecture completely transformed into a disjointed peices belonging to a single withered wood bark. The fire had spread up to the cemetery, converting the polished white marble tomb stones into a simple nine stoned structure. Lumps of white substance were scattered around the burnt frameworks, boiling furiously over the mud of ashes.
Vettaiyan was leaving his Solar when he heard the first explosion. He turned quickly and took the outer ring corridor around The Maze and at the end of the pathway he saw smoke crawling out from The Maze. The fire started to spread rapidly and Vettaiyan walked through the fiery corridor with a horrifying calmness. His devilish walk generated from his anger was identic to the flames occupying the either side. At the end of the corridor, Vaithiyar waited for him with whom Vettaiyan disappeared behind the screen of thick smoke.
The barrels stocked in the underground picked up the heat and started to explode. Fortunately, they served as the major reason to subdue the fire. The huge containers placed under the King's Gallery, contained another solvent, a sort of powder, prepared by Vaithiyar after consulting the instructions from the Titleless Book. The colourless powder was used to subdue the heat generated by one of the parts of Vishiris that held the property to ignite fire. To serve as a precaution and to handle fire accidents, the chemical was placed right below the Vishiris. In the direct contact with heat, the powder turned into a thick jelly and fell over the flames extinguishing it with its weight. Its special property allowed it to grow as big as the fire itself, totally consuming it in the process.
Several soldiers, servants and slaves climbed over the blazing building and sprinkled the anti-flammable powder from the top. Few fell into the mouth of the fire. After several hours, the fire fighters managed to control the fire, but were too late to save The Maze. It was completely destroyed from both the interiors as well as the exterior.
Vettaiyan walked down the main stairs and reached the Archer's Statue. Kaaga and Utta, his pet dogs sat by his side watching the entrance of the Brother's Cemetery. Grey snow of ashes rained around everywhere and a few started to settle on Vettaiyan’s shoulders when he stood watching his scorching Palace. A tiny tear of ashes fell on his right eyelid, which forced him to close and reopen his eyes. In that brief moment, he noted a movement inside the vigorous smoke.
Out of the dense blanket of air, Antha emerged pulling Chintha by its neck. It walked weakly towards Vettaiyan. Utta immediately stood up and wagged its tail, while Kaaga sat down watching sharply the approaching dogs. When Rana escaped through The Maze door after stealing the three parts of Vishris, the devastating bomb, Vettaiyan had sent Antha and Chintha to after him. Rana had used one of the parts of the bomb to evade from the chasing blood hounds that has burnt down half of the Vettaiyan Palace.
Chintha (Despair), Antha (Ender), Kaaga (Chronicler) & Utta (Empty) were the four wild dogs that Vettaiyan had rescued from the jungle. Since then, the animals followed their Master and guarded him with their sense of sharpness. Special tonics were prepared by Vaithiyar to keep them healthy, strong and vigilant.
Antha dropped Chintha at the feet of its Master and sat on its stomach opposite to him. Vettaiyan looked at Chintha, the mother dog. Its heart beat faintly, light movements around its chest indicated that Chintha would live, but its croup was burnt completely. Antha's burns were even higher. Its furs had burnt deep into the skin and the flesh on the right side was still boiling. Antha took all the pain in the same apologetic eye that looked straight at Vettaiyan without a blink.
Looking at his faithful mates, Vettaiyan's lips stretched, but his eyes flamed with rage as a reflection of the burning building in front of him. He whispered between clenched teeth, "Did you get what I asked for?"
From behind him, he heard his General's voice, "Yes, my Lord". Vettiayan closed his eyes.
Sultan opened his eyes and exclaimed, "Hope he was not alive ..." but the agony did not allow him to finish his sentence. Kali turned and looked up at Sena. He very well knew that The Monk was alive during the torturous act. It was a punishment practised at the Pachothi Guild for treason. The one who went against the Guild will be skinned alive punishing the wrong doer to repent in the burning pain.
The Guild picked up orphans from the streets and trained them to become assassins. When Sena was separated from his family, he had passed his childhood until young age at Pachonthi along with Varadha and Kali. The students were not addressed by their given name, but by their self chosen name - Kali-The Smoker, was a bomb specialist; The Monk was the think tank; and Baasha, the detective. The emperor Dhashakantha went by the name Vettaiyan who was assisted by an anonymous called The Poet. All five were graduated from the same Assassin University.
Sena slowly nodded his head at Kali signalling him not to speak about it. Kali hung his head down.
"The mistake is mine. I shouldn't have left him in the Solar, I am at fault", Rana confessed.
"Guilt is a growth that takes more but yields nothing. The Monk, the Man from the Mountain will be remembered as a Messiah who saved the World", Sena replied.
Sutan quickly closed the box when he heard approaching footsteps. Nobleman walked inside. A key participant in the affairs of Kottaipatinam, Nobleman had seen the rise of the Emperor - timid Prince Dhashakantha roaring to power by killing his own brothers and imprisoning his own father for cruelly murdering his mother Dasa Radha - and the downfall of the four Kingdoms when King Dhashakantha appointed himself as the Emperor. Few men formed a resistance, but were weak as their rulers were not actual leaders, until the brothers, Rana and Sena, brought bravery and intelligence into the sinking world, motivating him to convince the panel of administrators of Kottaipatinam to wage a war against the Emperor, as well as grouping the other nations - Katrupuzha & Karimedai - as allied states. He was a close associate to the former king and father of the Emperor, King Sama Suyodhana, whom Rana had liberated from the clutches of cruelty.
Nobleman looked around. He noticed the decorated box at the centre, he saw the brothers, looked at the weeping man who was in front of the mysterious box and then at the rest five inside the room. His eyes roamed around aimlessly, and finally he exhaled, "Putran! I am looking for him for more than two dusks ..." before completing the sentence, Nobleman missed his balance and started falling holding his chest. Kanakavalli quickly caught him and guided him to the floor. She placed his head on her laps. Nobleman laid motionless while looking at Sena. Tears rolled down his eyes, representing a sudden dismay.
Shocked and surprised at a short notice - shocked to see the contents in the box and surprised to see Nobleman in Narukkukanna as he and Putran should be at Kottaipatinam supervising the reception of the allied fleet - Sena closed his eyes.
Somewhere inside the dungeons under the Palace, Vettaiyan opened his eyes. Before him, the war strategist Yesodha Putran was standing. He was not chained nor had any scars of torture. He stood calmly coupling his hands in front of him. Vettaiyan played with his bread, a bush of hair occupying his chin while watching his prisoner and then, Vettaiyan smiled at Putran.
"You know it is a crime to kidnap and interrogate an official member of party who had signed the declaration of war", Putran warned.
"What crime?" Vettaiyan laughed, "This war will begin at the dawn that shall break after three dusks from now and soon, the war will end badly. And then, there aren’t no one to punish me!" he let out a wicked laughter.
None have heard about The Ground Mice. It was like he never existed, as anyone he met did not stay alive to talk about him. Putran was heading to his chamber that evening. The sky was ink blue and the lane was unlit. The timid shining moon casted its white shadow on the ground. Putran had requested Nobleman to take rest, and assured him that he would visit him at dawn. All alone and thinking about the fleet arrangements to sail safe to the Pirate's Bay, Putran crossed the intersection to take the bend that led to his domicile. At the corner he pitied for the scavenger who worked alone when the rest of the city was sleeping. The person removing the dirt from the street looked unwell. His right leg was bandaged and his face was fully covered. He was hopping on one leg while sweeping the pavement. Putran approached him and tapped him gently on his back. The scavenger turned, his face was bandaged with a white cloth, leaving only his left eye open. Putran did not remember anything from that night but woke up in the dungeons of Vettaiyan Palace.
Vettaiyan slowly walked around Putran while talking, "Not for the first nor for the last, I shall ask only once."
"My voice shall not gift your ears with the words that you wish to hear. My tongue shall decay before it could bray", Putran said firmly, the decision that made Vettaiyan to stop behind him. Putran could hear and fell the heavy breath of the Emperor.
Putran watched Vettaiyan walking majestically towards the exit door. He stopped at the huge wooden doors and without turning around, he ordered pleasantly, "Treat him with love and feed him with pain, until he breaks and asks for no more."
Vettaiyan stormed out of the dungeon.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
Assassin's Assistant (part 1/2)
"This will be your final test", The Poet closed the book and placed it on the table before him. He turned and looked at the young assassin standing by the window inside his tree house.
"Enter and exit the Emperor's Library", he said, "Anonymity will be your key. Place this book so that the Emperor shall not miss reading it".
The Poet had recruited few assassins to monitor the Brothers during their stay at the Central Kingdom. Every recruit was spotted except the one standing in front of him. The young man had slipped right under the nose of Sena couple of times without raising any suspicion.
When the need arrived, The Poet gathered several young men - few from recommendations, the others handpicked by his associates. During the initial meeting, he knew that the new group were good, but not smart for the brothers. The Poet was actually looking for a replacement for himself who could assist the Emperor during his absence.
A form had walked beside him faster than its own shadow. Curious, The Poet followed the young lad through the crowded street. A petty thief, who picked anything within his reach, roamed around the market place gradually advancing from a shop to another. In a wink of an eye, he changed his attire with fake moustache to beard and constantly inverted his clothes during the interval between the thefts. The Poet reached the bend where he had disappeared. Finding no one around the corner, The Poet with his face warped around from the cloth of his turban was surprised to see the young lad standing in front of him when he turned. The Poet's eye glittered, he knew he had found his replacement.
"What do you call yourself?" The Poet asked.
Munching an apple while leaning onto the wall, the young lad replied, "Who is asking?"
"Will you work for me?" The Poet questioned.
"That depends on the work!" the young lad replied.
The Poet taught the young thief several surveillance techniques, and soon the young lad became an outstanding assassin. He accepted The Poet as his mentor. Before the first mission, The Poet asked him again, "What do you call yourself?" to which the young lad had replied, "Karthikeyaa."
The Poet said in response, "Soon, you have to pick another name."
"Did you pick a name?" The Poet asked the young assassin inside his safe house. The head covered with a red scarf nodded affirmatively. The Poet re-opened the book that he had placed on the table and picked up the quill. He dipped it in the ink couple of times and brought it close to the first page of the book. He waited without raising his head.
"The Apprentice", replied the young assassin.
The Poet wrote something in the page and then, blew warm air from his breathe to dry the ink. He closed the book and handed it over to The Apprentice. He turned to place the quill back into the bottle of ink. When he turned back, The Apprentice was gone.
The smile of The Poet, under his white scarf, reflected in his eyes.
... to be continued ...
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Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
A Dance for the Salves
The first convoy arrived at the port of Narukkukanna. With the essentials from shipment, another Planning Room was set up at the Pirates Bay. Nobleman had neatly arranged the strategy of war conceived by Putran on the sand table.
Rana enquired about the preparations at Kottaipattinam to the convoy captain, and was glad to hear that all food materials and clothes were bundled and ready to be transported. Sena was satisfied with production of war equipment’s – armours, helmets, gauntlets, leather clothing, steel shoes and weapons - and that the soldiers were already prepared to board the ships. Sultan attentively listened to the precautions taken to transport military animals and gave a positive feedback to the brothers. After dismissing the captain, the three joined the others around the sand table.
"The Fleet Plan", Nobleman spoke pointing at the sand table, "with details Putran and I had discussed before his disappearance."
Silence occupied the room.
"Putran's ideas are excellent", Shamu broke the silence. He made eye contact with everyone while talking, "They are not just plans, but miracles. His disappearance worries me on both front. Personally, I regret as everyone else and I thoughtfully place my worry as a fear before the members of the allied forces." Shamu paused and looked directly at Rana before continuing, "Shouldn't we reconsider the war strategy. Land as well as Sea. If Putran was captured by the enemy, then we cannot be sure about the information been shared."
"None know that for sure", argued Nobleman, "Fear not, I have faith on Yesodha Putran. He will not reveal any the details to the enemies."
"The Emperor has methods", Rana interrupted, "but Putran is intelligent not to give those, which should not be given." Nobleman gave a shocked look at Sena. "No, I certainly do not mean that Putran is captured", Rana explained to Nobleman, "but we cannot dismiss that possibility."
Confusion settled inside the Planning Room, and the members started to murmur among themselves.
Sena stepped forward, and moved around the table while talking, "The kidnap is a part of an act played by the Emperor. Its main purpose is not to get information, but to create a panic among us. With less time and absence of a strategist, the Emperor knows very well that it shall destabilise us. More over the plan is to immerse us inside incertitude." He halted beside Sultan and announced, "We cannot allow ourselves to become a victim of the Emperor."
Rana watched Sena and whispered to himself, "Land as well as Sea".
After a moment of silence, Sena continued, "Point one - We do not know the state of the Twin Arrows and what effects it can produce."
"Point two - The Clown rests unknown."
He then spoke pointing at a model on the table, "Point three - Fort Ayan and Cannon Vettai. With its defence system still active, only half of our army, wounded and demoralised, could cross Karmegha."
The sea breeze entered the Planning room and whispered with the silence in air. Everyone turned and looked at the direction of the sudden speaker, "Point three will be taken", Sultan declared.
The Ayan fort guards stopped a caravan entering the castle ground. The huge wagon was quickly surrounded by sixteen mounted soldiers. A spearmen unit took an attack stance around the halted cart. The Fort's military captain, fully armoured with breast plates and a metal helmet, walked to the door and kicked it with force. A tall and well-built man with a glowing face descended from the caravan. He bowed to the captain and saluted him graciously.
"Get lost from here stranger, or I will bury you with this wagon of yours right here", threatened the captain.
"To be or not to be", Sultan replied by emptying his lungs, "I shall opt to be buried, as I have nowhere else to go, but also, I would plead not to be buried, as right here my hope rests caressing your feet."
He bowed again before continuing, "My lord, not a single piece in this land have their doors open for myself and my sisters."
"This is a war zone. With the Palace burnt down, the security have been strengthened beyond boiling point", the captain cut Sultan abruptly.
"My sisters", Sultan spoke with pain, "who cook and serve pleasure deliciously are starving inside". He noticed a frown on the captain's face. He continued, "We travel to lands and our performance is the brightest, which includes magic and dance." He paused and said with a wicked smile, "Of course, a special price for extended services."
"You have no business here. Leave", roared the captain while gripping his scabbard firmly.
"The scorching sun has torn the flesh with the marks of wound and pain that clothes can't cover. And we have nowhere else to go", the stranger spoke with sincerity.
The 'clothes' part motivated the captain to step inside the caravan. His eyes were glistening while seeing a dozen of young women seated wearing only thin clothes. A girl with a shiny skin laid her head on the chest of the next girl who was breathing heavily. Her head rose up and down rhythmically while her eyes glanced the captain without blinking. The interior of the caravan was decorated red and there was a faint odour of jasmine lingering in the air. Just beside the captain, another girl looking weak dropped her naked leg to the floor before him. The captain sat on his knee and lifted the leg and placed it back on the bench. When he got back to his feet, the girl to his right raised her shoulders and guided the sweat between her bare chest with her index finger while rolling her eyes back and gradually dropping her head behind.
The captain hurriedly got off the wagon.
"There is a river behind the fort. Halt there. My men will supervise you during your brief stay. Leave before sunset", he ordered.
After a detailed check, the nomads were allowed to camp behind the castle. Several eyes of the soldiers were set on the ladies washing themselves in the river. The guards at the door permitted a Sultan's girl to enter. She was accompanied by two men, who were stopped at the entrance. The two Salves of Sultan waited for the girl outside and when she returned they walked her back to the caravan.
A short while later, Sultan approached the Fort's door and asked for the captain. The captain was surprised to see the girls dressed in attractive garments at the fort's doorstep. About a dozen men carrying crates in their hands were standing behind the ladies. Their left half of their face was painted blue and the other red.
"Before we leave, I wish to offer a show, a gift for your generosity, My Lord", he turned and spread his hands covering all the standing dancers. The captain looked at the crates, "No alcohol".
"Certainly not. Apple juice, pressed with passion by soft fingers", Sultan informed the captain who was watching a pretty girl adjusting her top. She smiled back at the captain.
"Enter", ordered the captain, "Drink from each bottle, before you serve".
The dancers were welcomed with roars of cheer. Been away from their families for several moons, the soldiers guarding the fort enjoyed every moment with the company of Sultan's gang. Under the supervision of the fort's guard, Sultan ordered his slaves to open each bottle and take a sip from it. Apple juice was then served.
The last salve, who was limping, dropped a crate at the entrance. The apple syrup spread on the floor quickly making the area sticky. Sultan raised his voice and scolded the salve. He ordered the first two salves who were at his sight to join the one in the front and tidy up the floor.
The captain looked at the two guards at the entrance and motioned with his eyes to stay and keep their eyes on the cleaning salves. He walked into the main hall with a huge smile, surrounded by Sultan's Dancers.
The three salves started to clean the floor with rags. The one who dropped the crate lifted his head and smiled at the guard who did not respond. He was much interest in the performance happening before him. The other two workers lifted their head and noticed that the guards nearby were swaying as though enchanted by the dancers. The three slowly crawled on their knees between the wall and the cheering soldier, amidst loud music and light.
At the first bend, Shamu, Rana and Sena climbed down the stairs leading to the salve's den under the fort Ayan without being noticed.
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
Dharma, The Lost Master
And those that here in vilest slavery,
Crouched beneath a master's frown, I set them free.
- Solon, an Athenian poet (638 BC - 558 BC).
[Aristotle adapted and quoted Solon's Poetry in the Constitution of the Athenians (350 BC). The Aristotelian Constitution of the Athenians written on papyrus is in display at the British Library.]
"The young man speaks as though he knows much", the group of people turned to look at an aged slave speaking in a shivering voice. Pushing his way through the crowd, the aged man reached the centre where Rana and Sena were talking to a heavy built slave. They were trying their best to convince the dark skinned captive. Shamu sat on an elevated platform near a huge iron shaft that ran beyond the ceiling. He was adjusting his wooden leg which had moved from his position when he crawled his way down into the slave's den.
All the slaves standing in circle around the brothers bowed to their leader.
"The men above are not soldiers", said the fragile man, "None other than Dharma can rescue us from our misery. Not you, nor you", he pointed at the brothers respectively with his index finger, while holding on to the twisted cane in his palm. "I have been in this dungeon, many days eating stones to live. I have seen this monster been built", he pointed at the iron shaft in the middle. "I am a survivor whose wish is just to live. Escape is an option, but staying alive is not."
Sena approached the aged worker and said with sincerity, "Most of them above were captured by myself." The leader of the group of slaves working in the dungeons of Fort Ayan looked at Sena with wide eyes. "They are barbarians. I was tasked to capture them alive, so that the Emperor can use them in his army. They know no rules, they respect no law."
Sena paused and looked directly at the fragile eyes of the slave leader, "I wish to set things right. For that I need your help. We have to fight back."
"With what? Fight back with what?" asked the aged slave. "With these metal scarps? Lamp oils and rags?"
Rana looked around. There were heaps of metal scraps and barrels of lamp oil.
"Scarps versus swords", the aged man laughed, "It's a mess down here. The man with one leg can only guide us out", the aged man turned and said softly, "Leave and don't come back."
The slaves around moved back to make way for the brothers to the exit. Sena looked at the man he was initially talking to. He hung his head down. The Brothers slowly started to walk towards the exit when they heard the soft cry of joy, "Dharma!"
When the leader turned to walk away from the crowd, he faced the elevated platform directly above him, on which the third stranger was standing on one leg. The aged man immediately fell to his knees. The slaves around followed their leader and bowed before their one legged saviour. Everyone, except Rana and Sena, were praying at Shamu who was trying hard to fix his wooden leg.
The silence made Shamu lift his head. He saw all the slaves on the ground before him. An aged man raised his head and yelled at him, "Dharma, The Lost Master."
"We are slaves, but we are not captured by nets, nor kidnapped", the leader spoke to the trio. "Battle for our rights is source of enslavement. We defended ourselves, all we gained in return was cruel masters. But they treat us well, they rely on our skilful craftsmanship. And we constitute to the quarter of the army soldiers. The rulers, Kings and Emperors, want only sheep or slaves, those who never raise their hand and those whose hands were chopped. Slavery is not new, it’s the richness of a rich householder. A sheep is a weak creature, while the slave has no future. There is none who is free. The sheep bleats freedom, while the slave bleeds for the same. We are all mere mercenaries to our masters."
"Our ancestors had a very brutal master", the slave leader who had seen it all narrated the prophecy, “a perfect glutton of beans and most bad-tempered. An intolerable man and half deaf. He brought a slave, the incarnation of calumny. This man of leather knows his master thoroughly, he dupes him at will. He keeps us at a distance and suffers none but himself to wait upon his master. They saw him as their saviour. The master's obols - bathe, drink & swallow; devours he prayed became the prey for him. He offered him a cake, which was the invention of slaves. When his master was dining, he keeps close to his side with the cake in his hand. He keeps singing so that the master thinks of nothing. Then, when he sees him thoroughly obfuscated, he uses all his cunningness and piles up lies and calumnies against the households. He served him the cake each day, every day until the sweetness made his master bitterly sick. From nowhere came his son, who took the throne. He just said, ‘Either content me or die’. That night, they asked him, ‘There must be an end to it. What can be done? Who will get us out of this mess?’"
"The man from nowhere replied, ‘But none can escape from the Devil's Son, his eye is everywhere. And what a stride! He has one leg, whose shadow falls on the three worlds - one leg over the base of desire, a hand on the forms of destination and the other guide into the realms of liberation’.”
"’Dharma shall be his name. Following Dharma, we set ourselves free’."
The leader looked at Shamu and spoke with tears in his eyes, "Since then, for generations we have enclosed ourselves in here awaiting your arrival."
Shamu bent and whispered across Rana's shoulder, "Has this fellow gone nuts?"
Rana whispered back, "Chop the fingers of a man, he will still eat. Puncture his ears, he will still see. Cut out his tongue, he will still breath. Break his heart, he will still live. But mock his belief, he will die." Rana took and serious tone and said, "You are his Dharma, and you shall behave so."
Shamu turned and smiled back at the leader of the slave.
"Maveera", the aged man informed Shamu while pointing at the heavy built warrior, "He will assist Dharma to lay our path to liberty."
Everyone looked at Maveera who was down on his knees with his head hung towards the ground. Sena approached him and aided him to stand up by gently pulling his shoulders with his two hands.
"As you are no more a slave, I am no more a master either", Sena spoke to Maveera. "From now on, we are brothers in arms who will fight and win the war of liberation."
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
Standing Block of Dust
"Can't we just topple it from the top", Shamu asked to the three men beside him.
Maveera pointed at the iron shaft while replying, "Cannon Vettai is connected to this massive iron structure that grows deep under the ground too. The heavy artillery cannot be uprooted. It is a part of the Fort Ayan’s structure. To take it down, the fort has to be destroyed completely, which is not a possibility."
He then gave the visitors a ‘Dungeon Tour”, briefing about the mechanism of Cannon Vettai, the eye of Fort Ayan overseeing the battlefield from the top:
Cannon Vettai is partly automatic and partly manual. The charging of the weapon is done manually from the dungeon by the slaves, and the single barrelled cannon’s calibre is automatically tuned with a sustained rate of fire. Even though it’s a single shot cannon, it is designed to fire two consecutive shots under a fixed interval.
The long metal shaft, called the 'Tongue', runs from the dungeon through the mouths of two floors and connects directly to the chassis of the rotary cannon, which is an assembly of traverse fork, rail plates and hurters found under the belly of the barrel bottle cylinder. The ammunition is blown into shaft space via a winged door, and once completely charged, the rigid rod at the bottom of the Tongue is used to pivot and push up the contents into the huge barrel of the cannon. Minimum a dozen pair of operating hands on either side of the rigid rod are needed to press the Tongue and juice up the barrel. Several non-stop workers are used to load the Tongue with ammunitions.
The heavy artiletty is placed on a pintle block with its bottom fixed to a flat rotating wheel. The mechanism to shift the cannon to any direction is triggered from the dungeons using wheels just above the rigid rod. When the wheels are moved, it churns the Tongue into a circular momtion, which spins the cannon above to a desired new position.
The braces, one on each side of the barrel, aids the up and downward movement of the cannon. This movement should be done manually by manipulating the elevating screw found at the rear of the barrel which is fixed to the rotating wheel on the ground. The orientation of the cannon deceides its range. The initial position covers the mid of the battle field up to the Garden of Vettaiyan Palace. The axis of the barrel stabilises the kickback, balancing the forward and backward momentum of the cannon when it is discharged.
The cannon carriage, consisting of manoeuvring bolts and screws, are charged directly by the Tongue. The ammunition - metal scraps, the waste from workshops manufacturing military products, are rugged with pieces of cloth quoted with lamp oil - are loaded from the bottom and blown up through the Tongue into the barrel. Once the metal scrap loading is done, a huge metal ball called the Shot is used to seal the first portion of the cannon. Once the Shot is in place, barrels of oil are poured and pumped through the Tongue to fill the remaining portion of the cannon. It is then sealed with a Shell, a payload-carrying projectile which, as opposed to the Shot, contains an explosive within. Once the cannon is fully charged, it is manually fired by a specialized crew – two gunners who stand on either side to check the load, six soldiers to sponge the cannon with cold water and clean the touch hole and four officers, two to give the order or instruct new positions and the other two to supervise and pass the order of the captain to discharge the cannon.
The Cannon Vettai, when fired, covers the sky with pieces of dressed and sharp metal pieces quoted with lamp oil. The tiny object pierces the flesh and sticks to the victims making them immobile. Once the heavy Shot falls down, the oil rains over the battle field, coating the fallen victims. Immediately, the Shell follows and explodes in mid-air, spitting fire over the affected area, thus, burning all the victims lying in a pool of oil, mercilessly. None inside the range of the Cannon Vettai can survive a single operation of the giant weapon.
There are three drawback. One is the downtime – time taken to reload the cannon. During the load process, the cannon is turned to face the direction of the advancing enemy, closer to the Vettaiyan Palace. It is positioned to a very high range to cover the other half of the battlefield. Initially, the impact will be set at a closer range to prevent the advancing enemy from taking over the fort.
The second drawback, once partially charged, the weight of the Tongue does not permit to orient the heavy artillery, thus, the manipulations cannot be done after the Shot is loaded.
And finally, there is no way to empty the Tongue once it is completely or partially charged, it can be unfilled only by discharging it from the barrel.
"The Tongue is loaded with the Shot now", Maveera said with a sad tone, "it will win its victims".
Sena thought for a while and then spoke, "We have to turn Cannon Vettai to our benefit." He looked at Shamu and said, "Seperate yourselves into three groups. As soon as the battle begins, the first group shall stealth their way above and take over the three towers monitoring the river."
"The second group, taking direct orders from you, shall use the lamp oil and the shells to create an explosive to break the wall standing between the underground tunnel and the Fort. Use the passage to reach the Palace and destabilise its defence system."
"The third group, led by Maveera, shall operate the cannon. Once the first shot it fired, and assuming that the first group have eliminated the sentry around the cannon on top of the fort, the artillery will be positioned facing the enemies directly. And the second Shell shall be fired towards the Palace grounds."
He waited a beat to take questions, and as there were none he said, "We will take precautions while entering into the cannon's range before it’s been fired for the first time. Maveera, just follow my instruction to load the next portion of the cannon." Maverra listened to Sena attentively.
The trio gathered near the entrance of exit. Rana checked Shamu's outfit, 'a Prince in worker wear' and then spoke with a clear tone, "Hide among the group, and never roam alone. A group of short swordsmen, with sharpness in their eyes and quickness in their arms, will be despatched immediately, who will hide inside the dense vegetation across the bank of the river. Once the sentry guards are taken out by the first group of freemen, the swordsmen will advance by swimming through the river and neutralise the castle’s ground guards. They will then climb the fort’s wall to capture the sentry points as well as secure the Cannon Vettai. None from inside the fort will be aware of this take down. They will be surprised once the cannon fires at their own men on the battle field. And that’s when Maveera will form his own team and slay the barbarians when they are in a state of shock."
Shamu listened carefully and agreed to the plan. Then he chuckled, "But seriously! All this prophecies are making me laugh."
Sena knew who Shamu really was - Yasha, the Shadow of Time, had informed him. But certain truth is beyond explanation. So, he simply asked Shamu, "What is the probability of a one legged man to sneak past a heavily guarded fort during the times of war; and descend two floors being unoticed while crawling; and stand one legged on a prime and isolated platform so that all the people below can admire him?", and without waiting for a reply he continued, "The prophecy had become true for them, irrespective to what reality may state. You are a Prince, now a Leader. With your wisdom coupled with their strength, this fort is just a standing block of dust."
"Whatever the truth maybe, I will lead them to victory, and then, as a Prince, I will arrest you and take you as a prisoner to Shambala", Shamu replied in a serious tone, "And that, my friend, is the Prophecy of a Prince.”
Rana, with incontrollable anger in his face, took a step forward towards Shamu, but Sena stopped him. Sena and Shamu stared at each other for a moment. "We meet at Vettaiyan Palace", Sena said with a smile while tapping Shamu on his shoulder and the brothers walked out through the exit to sneak back into the level above which had been transformed momentarily into a dance floor.
The Fort Ayan guards waved at the wagon carrying the group of dancers even after it had disappeared. The fort's captain ordered for a thorough security check in and around the castle. He personally inspected the slave's den. His men verified the outer and inner circumference of the stronghold. The guards at the four sentry towers on the top of the fort waved white flags at the guards below sending a clearance signal; red flag would have meant danger. The captain checked the Tongue and examined the heart of the cannon mechanism. The guards around the cannon at the top of the fort verified the heavy artillery and pronounced it to be functioning correctly. The captain looked around him. The slaves were preparing the ammunitions and moving crates of Shots and Shells. Few were lubricating the wheels and some were rolling the barrel of oil towards the winged door of the Tongue. Everything seemed to be normal, concluded the captain. When the captain reached his office, two soldiers reported on the checks carried out around the river and confidently presented their security audit which clearly showed no threats to the fort. The captain dismissed them gladly.
Rana peeped over the shoulder of his brother who was standing by the window inside the Planning Room at Pirate's Bay. Outside, over the sands, Sultan, Kacha, Kali and Kalai were seated around a camp fire. Kanakavalli was standing further from them watching the sea. Sena was looking into the compass Chakora, and to Rana's surprise the needle had spun, showing a new location. It stood erect pointing to a direction close to Narukkukanna.
"Yamuna!" asked Rana with immense joy. Sena nodded his head negative.
"Mentor Manickkam?" questioned Rana. Sena slowly moved his head left to right.
A moment later, Sena turned to talk to his brother. But Rana was already gone.
... to be continued ...
-
1 Attachment(s)
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
Assassin's Assistant (part 2/2)
The Golden Spiral
Vettaiyan watched Vaithiyar treating Chintha inside his laboratory. The other three dogs, who were always together, laid at three random corners. Vettaiyan looked for Antha, and found it laying on its side - a posture that it had never taken before. Antha sensed its master watching, and it quickly got up and jogged towards Vettiayan and sat before him with its ear withered down. Vettaiyan smiled and tapped its head with his index finger once. He spoke softly, "I know how bad I am, and I think you are one of my best."
Vettaiyan walked out of Vaithiyar's laboratory and marched towards his Solar. When he opened the main doors that led to the library, he noticed splashes of golden ink spread over the carpet. He followed the trail and reached the table at the far corner of his library. Over the top of the reading table, a book wrapped in a golden cover was sitting in the middle.
The Apprentice had bought a golden ink from the market and marked a trail on the floor, from the entrance of the library to the reading table, with drops from the tiny bottle of ink. To make the book, which was handed over to him by his mentor The Poet, even more attractive, he had brushed the black cover of the book to gold, taking care not to tamper its original contents.
The Emperor looked around the library, nothing seemed to be out of place and the golden book before him was the only new item. He picked up the book and turned it quickly in his hands, examining its cover. A nautilus shell was painted on the cover that occupied the entire space. He opened the book to its first page. The title was mentioned only inside and not on the cover and it read "The Golden Spiral". At the bottom of the page, the author of book was credited to someone called 'The Apprentice'.
http://www.mayyam.com/talk/attachmen...3&d=1476885543
(The nautilus shell presented in the cover of the book "The Golden Spiral)
Curious, Vettaiyan, turned the page to go through its contents. Surprisingly, the 'nameless' chapter in the book started immediately in the following page, without any preface or publication informations and the material was hand written using black ink. He read the first line:
The spark has explicitly avowed by heart to not to pardon but bury your shadow.
The sentences that followed were structured similarly in a random manner, which did not narrate a tale or document any concept. Vettaiyan flipped through random pages and found that the informations put together with commas and dots, did not produce any sort of sense. He noted that a sort of relationship with the reader and the shadow were prominent in certain explanations, but failed to communicate any basis of any relationship. At the middle of the book, Vettaiyan found few strange occurrences of repentance.
He closed the book and threw it back onto the table. "A joke! But who is the player?" while thinking, he started to walk to his Solar, when the nautilus shell on the cover of the book knocked his intuition. He quickly turned and pulled the book towards him. He went through the words of the first sentence attentively with his eyes.
A broad smile cracked his face and he hurriedly prepared himself to take notes from the contents of the book.
The nautilus shell's spiral is nature’s logarithm called the 'Golden Ratio'. The spiral gets wider from its point of origin by a factor of ‘phi’ for every quarter of turn it makes, thus making two quantities of relational segments - one same as the relationship and the other sum of the relationship. The spiral creates its own sequence, a multidimensional array, such that each further point of the sequence is the function of the preceding points. Nature is developed with the same phenomena and it can be found in flower petals, seed patterns, tree branches; for that over any body as well as in reproductive dynamics.
Vettaiyan knew that the sentences the book held were stuck with words as the key to open a message. The words were arranged in a similar pattern of the spirals found on the nautilus shell. He wrote down the words that matched the sequence by counting them and jotting down the ones that were the sum of the two preceding ones, such as: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 13th, 26th.... Nth words.
A while later, the message was sitting right before his eyes:
The spark has avowed to bury me down,
The only reason that I am not around.
The regret not to keep that I have sworn,
The Apprentice of mine shall now be your boon.
The last message that you may crackdown,
The faithful shadow shall be resown.
Goodbye my friend, The Poet.
... to be continued ...
-
Chaturmukha Part 3 - mRdayopaliptaM
Chapter Four - Days of Battle
Words can Kill (part 1/3)
A Lizard in the Graveyard
(Rated R)
The Poet, with his face covered with a white scarf, carried a human body on his right shoulder. He reached the entrance of the secret cave, which he had discovered recently under Kathi Parai - the Burning Mountain.
The mountain got both its name from the tribal who dwell inside the jungles. 'Sharp Rock', because it was a huge heap of black sharp rocks. Fear made them not to frequent around Kathi Parai, as the black hill could ignite itself at any time, thus, it got its other name The Burning Mountain, and it’s believed that the black rocks were chiselled by the flames making their edges sharp and their structure hard like the blade of a warrior's sword. The black rocks were rare like the gold, they can only be found around Kathi Parai Mountain. The jungle dwellers called these unknown deposits of rocks as the Black Gold and considered them as the Curse of the Mountain.
Situated in the middle of a jungle near the Pirate's Bay, The Poet meticulously planned and choose Kathi Parai as his new safe house. The Poet needed to survive the huge wave of threat - Sena. He did not wish to discuss about it with the Emperor, as he very well knew that the Emperor would ask him to fight by his side, a request or an order, which The Poet cannot refuse. He wished to swim against the tide alone.
While carrying the dead body through the dense forest, images from 'Malai Kadu Thiruvizha' flashed before him. The dense greenery and the swaying leaves in the breeze, replaced into a valley of joyful people singing and dancing. The path on which The Poet travelled to his new safe house had become a sort of his own memory lane. He felt as though he was carrying the decoy with the same strength he had pulled the semi-unconscious Sena into the pits of black magic just before the Festival Massacre. Sena had repeatedly murmured the name 'Lalli'. He did not stop calling out for his daughter even when his feet scratched and bleed over the valley's floor. The Poet suddenly caught the same pungent smell of cruelty that circled the air during the Festival of Lights.
He had saved Sena. He had watched him grow. He had helped him to develop his skills. Yet, he had done all that, just to wound him on some other day. The Poet weighed his life with waste rather than value. At this hour of repentance, he accepted his guilt to himself - Not of choice and not by command, but for the voice that he cannot decline from listening to, he had dragged and threw Sena beyond the Gates of Hell.
Dhashakantha was by his side in the time of need, assuring him by painting his life with confidence. The Emperor had lighted his path, the flames of faith which kept him warm. And Vettaiyan was the only relation he ever had in this world, a friend to whom he vowed his life. He simply cannot deny someone like him, even if it’s wrong to burn the all three worlds down. His remembrance got mixed with the beautiful face of Moon Flower, another Victim of Vettaiyan.
And he knew that such repetitive thoughts made him weak. 'The one who sleeps in the past, does not peep into the future', The Poet reminded himself. Thus, he choose the path of isolation to save himself from Sena. Linking The Apprentice with the Emperor, he carried no more burdens now, but just left with only one task - his own life to be saved by himself.
The cave was the former home for a family of wolves, only three pups had survived though. The Poet talked to them, and they understood him. He shared the den with the three baby wolves. ‘Who does not fear the big bad wolves!’ he thought. His pursuers may avoid the cave seeing the pups; ‘The Mother shall always be around! ‘
At the entrance, The Poet placed the cadaver on the ground and sat on his knees. A small furry pup with erect ears and big black eyes came running towards him. Unlike his brothers who were dark furred from head to tail, this little one before him had a ring of white hair around its neck. The Poet gently caressed its head. He had named it Child. He called the other two, King and Killer, who were playing with each other trying to bite out each other’s ears. He took out a leather pouch and fed his new mate with a tiny piece of bird meat from it. He sang to the pup softly:
All worry for the lamb but none care for the pup.
They both must eat and the pup's grass is the lamb.
The mother wolf has her babies to feed,
So she steals a lamb but is chased to bleed.
The mother sheep cries through her shivering bleat,
But the lone wolf suffers whose wounds are discreet.
With pain she runs towards the south,
Grabbing the lamb in her mouth.
She reaches and watches them all dine,
While her eyes slowly lose their shine.
And when the snows fall and the white winds blow,
The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.
A Lesson of Life, my Child.
Removing the civilian clothes from the dead body, The Poet redressed the dead man with white clothes. He, then, covered the face with a white pouch. He placed the body inside a white sack and sealed it by attaching its mouth with a rope around the neck. Just like the Emperor, The Poet strives for cleanliness. He carried the pile further inside the cave. He arrived into a large space where several white sacks were hanging from the ceiling. They looked like white cocoons hanging from the black roof of the cave.
Right from the moment Sena, whom he addresses as the Spark, became a threat to Pachonthi, the Assassin's Guild, The Poet had started to collect decoys to use them and fake his own death when the need might arise. He tracked civilians who matched his physique, dressed them like himself and stocked them in his safe house, until the body could no more be of any use. He would dispose the decayed ones by throwing them from the mountain behind his Tree House safe house. But this time, he had a bigger plan, the main reason he choose to be around the Pirate's Bay. His intent was to throw these bodies at random spots around the city to create a panic among the civilians. The allied forces will be blamed for the murders and the citizens will not only fear the invaders, but also give their full support to their Emperor. Moreover, The Poet wanted to confuse Sena over his own existence.
Tying the sack to a long rope, The Poet hanged the new decoy using a simple pulley system and attached it to a hook planted on the ceiling. He took a step back and examined the dead bodies around him - all were looking similar with their faces covered with a white pouch and their bodies placed inside a white sack. 'Shiny and Tidy, Are my Body', he whispered to himself.
He turned to exit the 'Decoy Cold Storage Room', when his eyes replayed a tiny movement that they had caught a moment before, which his brain did not heed to immediately. With his back still facing the hanging decoys, the sight his eyes had captured flashed before him. The Poet concluded that the cloth covering the face of one the decoy at the far end had shown a minute shift - as though been sucked and then released, particularly the area under the nose; the nostrils had inhaled and exhaled through the thin cloth of the white pouch.
One of his decoys was, still, breathing.
He turned towards the white cocoons suspended from ceiling. He slowly moved to his left following the black rock wall of the cave. When he reached the other end, he quickly turned and retraced his path, all the while his eyes above his white mask scrutinized the hanging decoys closely. Midway during his second tiny trip across, he started to recite:
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
I am Lizard and this is my graveyard,
Wonder who breached the hatch so well barred.
Mine is just another dead-bearing vineyard,
Each dead fruit cleanly polished with the nard.
A life is hanging with a mind so scarred,
Belongs to an aegis who failed to safeguard;
His family and friends fell apart,
I know it's hard, it's hard and how it's hard.
The tiny spark got a big brave heart,
It has flown all the way into my yard.
Far shall reach the tongue of Lizard,
Stick or fall, shall be the mystery in my graveyard.
... to be continued ...