The Silver Anklet

by Mahtab Narsimhan

  “But if we can avoid being captured till dawn, he’ll let us go and the game ends,” said Raani. “He will keep his word, won’t he? He seems to like rules.”

  Despite her earlier hopes, Tara felt, deep down, that would never happen. From the expressions on everyone’s face she knew the others had doubts, too.

  “I’m really sorry,” Tara repeated. “I only wanted to help. But I have a better plan for tonight.”

  No one answered her. Surely they would give her another chance? They glanced at her and then looked away. Though no one came out and said it, she knew they all were unanimous in their decision. They didn’t want her to pick the next hiding spot.

  Ananth finally spoke. “You can’t help, Tara. And that’s final. The four of us will decide.”

  “But why?” said Tara. “I said I was sorry. Can’t you forgive one little mistake? Haven’t any of you made mistakes before? And none of us have died so it’s no big deal … right? Right?”

  Ananth glanced at the others. “You figure it out,” he said.

  He was just jealous … they all were. This was Zarku they were dealing with and she’d had the most experience of anyone in the group. Except now he was in her brother’s body and all she had to do was pretend that they were playing their favourite game back home and … NO! She couldn’t do that.

  Tara wrapped her arms around herself as the realization hit. Zarku knew everything about her — the way she thought, the places she’d look for — through Suraj! In this game of cat-and-mouse, he had chosen very well. She could not help them and they all knew it, had figured it out before she did.

  The moon played its own little game of hide-and-seek, its silvery light brightening and waning as dark clouds sailed past its gaunt face.

  “We should get some rest,” said Ananth. “Zarku is not coming back till tomorrow night.”

  Tara did not say another word. She had been so sure of herself, so confident, and had almost gotten everyone killed. What was she going to do now?

  They settled down under a tree. A storm was brewing. The heat intensified and so did the clouds of mosquitoes. Tara noticed nothing. Though she took deep breaths, something huge and heavy sat on her chest. She just couldn’t get enough air. Her friends were in danger because of her, from an evil monster who had possessed her brother. Her head reeled.

  Show me the right way, Lord Ganesh, she prayed. If we defeat and kill Zarku, we’ll kill Suraj, too. But if he regains his strength, he and Kali will destroy us all just like before. We have to stop him and I have to be strong enough for it.

  One thought brought a small measure of relief; she had her friends with her this time. This time she wasn’t alone. Together they would think of a better hiding place.

  The polite argument that had started a while ago, between thunder and lightning, was now a full-fledged fight. A sudden clap reverberated through the forest and the deluge started. Within seconds they were drenched in cool rain. Tara stood with her face turned toward the sky, letting the water wash away the sweat, the dirt, and the worry. But it couldn’t reach the fear that lay curled deep within her, its claws sheathed for now, but always watching, waiting.

  As suddenly as the rain had started, it stopped. A cool breeze filtered through the trees and Tara lay down with the others on the wet forest floor. The drip, drip, drip of the raindrops soothed the ache in her heart until she fell asleep.

  — eleven —

  An Unknown Voice

  The cooing of a koel woke Tara. Sunlight dripped from shiny green leaves and pooled on the forest floor, making the world around them sparkle. Sleep fled and panic returned. How long had they been resting? They should have been far, far away from here by now. She looked up at the tree they had hidden in the night before. It swayed gently, painting the sky a bright blue with its branches. It had seemed like such a perfect spot at the time. Where would they hide tonight?

  “Wake up, Ananth,” said Tara, shaking him roughly.

  “We’ve overslept!”

  Ananth jerked awake. “What happened? Is he back?”

  “Calm down,” said Tara. She sat cross-legged in front of him. “He’s not here yet, but in a few hours he will be. One of us should have kept watch and we should have moved out of here a long time ago. If he catches us tonight, we’re dead.”

  “I know, Tara,” said Ananth. “But we all needed the rest. I’m sure we’ll make good time once we get started.”

  “If and when we get started and that had better happen right now,” said Tara. “Everyone, wake up,” she called out. “It’s late, we have to get away from here now. Wake up.”

  Kabir moaned and they hurried to his side. The grey pallor of his face worried Tara. She touched his forehead and jerked her hand away, shocked. It was scorching.

  “Kabir, wake up.” asked Tara. She shook him gently. Kabir’s eyes flew open.

  “Don’t, don’t do that,” he said. “I hurt all over.” His eyes were sunken into deep dark hollows. He licked his cracked lips and squinted up at them.

  “How do you feel?” asked Ananth.

  “Terrible,” said Kabir. “My back is on fire. Can someone pour some water and put it out?” He smiled weakly, but neither Tara nor Ananth smiled back.

  “Will you be able to keep up?”asked Tara. “We have to start right away.”

  Kabir sat up. The effort showed on his face. “I don’t know if I can.” His face was greyer than a moment ago.

  Tara paced in front of Kabir, stopping to look at him every few seconds. “This is very bad.”

  “It is,” said Raani. “If only we’d found a better hiding place last night, we’d be free by now.”

  Tara glared at her and Raani shut up.

  “There aren’t any good hiding places here,” said Tara. “We have to get away, search someplace else. And in case none of you have noticed, it’s almost midday … we’d better hurry.”

  “That means we still have half a day to plan,” said Ananth. “With Kabir in this state we won’t be able to get very far, so this time we have to choose wisely.

  Any ideas?”

  “Yes,” said Tara. “I was thinking that —”

  “No!” they said in unsion.

  Tara stared at them in dismay and remembered, she couldn’t help, not this time.

  “You can’t suggest a place,” said Ananth. “Please, Tara. Don’t look at me this way. You know why.”

  Tara nodded. She wanted to help so desperately and this other place she had in mind might even work!

  But it was no use. She alternated between hating them all to acknowledging that they were right. She should be grateful there were four more brains working on an escape plan.

  “Maybe I can help some other way,” said Tara. “Let me look at your back, Kabir.”

  His wounds had worsened. Some of the scratches were definitely infected, oozing yellow pus instead of blood. His back must be itching and burning by now.

  How was he able to stand the pain? She would have been out of her mind by now. She looked at Kabir with renewed respect.

  “I’m going to look for some herbs,” she said. “With the right salve it should not hurt as much and will even stop the infection from spreading.”

  Kabir nodded his thanks and lay down again.

  Tara walked away into the forest, leaving the others discussing the next hiding place. Brown hares with long, floppy ears peeped at her from the undergrowth, reminding her of the hyenas and their feeding frenzy the night before. She tried to shake the image out of her head, focusing instead on the serene beauty around her. Birds twittered overhead and clumps of bright yellow and orange flowers dotted the forest floor. If it hadn’t been for Zarku, this would have been just a pleasant walk in the forest. I hate you, Zarku, she thought. I hate you for what you have done to me and my family.

  A sudden rage filled her and she hurried through the undergrowth, cracking twigs underfoot, trampling the low-lying foliage. She searched for the greenish-white flowers of the ritha tree. A
ll she needed were a few of its fruits and leaves. The tulsi herb with its antibacterial properties would be a treasure, too. If only she could find them, she’d be able to keep Kabir’s infection under control and put her mother’s teaching to good use. Then they’d have a fair chance of escaping.

  I hate you, Zarku! she thought again, vehemently.

  Don’t hate him, Tara. Pity him, for he has suffered.

  “What?” said Tara aloud. She whirled around. The forest behind her was empty. Who had just spoken? She had been so intent on searching for the herbs that she had barely paid attention to anything else. She closed her eyes and thought of the voice. It had been so gentle, so soft, barely above a whisper. She wasn’t even sure if it had been a man or a woman speaking.

  “Raani, is that you?” asked Tara. She stood still in the waist-high bushes and looked around her.

  The only reply was the wind flitting through the treetops and the drone of bees. A woodpecker tattooed its call sign on a tree trunk high above her. Maybe she was imagining things or else it must be the heat. The scorching midday sun, filtering through the leaves, brought sweat oozing from every pore. The cool rain from last night was already a distant memory.

  “Vayu?”

  There was no answer. Were they hiding behind a tree? She retraced her steps, peering behind trees and bushes, but there was no sign of anyone. In the distance she heard raised voices. It sounded like they were all there. She stood still for a moment, but the person did not speak again. She had definitely imagined it. It was the heat and exhaustion, that was all.

  “There,” she spoke aloud. She had spied the light yellow trunk of a young ritha tree. Tara quickly collected a bunch of leaves from its lower branches and searched the ground below it for its seeds. She found three she could use. Now if she could find tulsi, the salve would be more effective. She continued walking, keeping a sharp eye out for it.

  Her thoughts drifted again to the voice. It had to be her imagination. Who could believe that Zarku could have suffered? What a joke! He was the sort that made other people suffer. How she wished she could see him burn up again, victim of his own evil gaze. She walked deeper and deeper into the bushes, and there it was; a clump of reddish-purple tulsi flowers. Now she’d be able to keep Kabir going till they reached safety.

  Don’t be too sure.

  Tara dropped everything and whirled around for a second time. This time she was sure she had heard it; a woman’s voice.

  “Show yourself,” she said. “Who are you?” Her heart thumped. What if the speaker did show herself? Was she prepared for what she might see? The honest answer was no.

  Leaves rustled around her and the wind sighed loudly. The speaker did not appear. Tara hurried back.

  The moment she stepped out of the forest, Raani looked up at Tara with a bland expression. If she’d followed Tara and then outrun her to reach the clearing first, there seemed to be no sign of it on her face. The others were busy discussing plans and barely glanced at her. Should she mention the voice? It sounded odd even to her, now that she was back with her friends.

  “Raani, find a couple of flat stones for me,” said Tara. “I need to grind these herbs.” She noted the sour look on Raani’s face, but ignored it.

  “So, what have you all decided?” Tara asked.

  “We’re going to stay,” said Ananth. He had borrowed Kabir’s knife and had made himself a crude bow. A pile of twigs lay at his feet.

  Tara almost dropped the herbs. “Are you mad? We have but a few hours of daylight left and you want to stay in the same spot Zarku left us last night?”

  “Let me ask you something,” said Ananth. He stopped sharpening the tip of the arrow and stared at her, a strange look in his eyes. “What would you do?”

  Tara looked around at all of them. “What’s going on? Is this some kind of joke to test my nerves?”

  “Answer me,” said Ananth. “What would you have us do this very minute?”

  “I’d have you running hard toward the river,” said Tara. “None of you would be sitting here asking silly questions.”

  “I rest my case,” said Kabir. He threw a knowing look at Ananth, flopped down on his stomach and reached behind him.

  “Don’t touch your back, Kabir,” said Tara. “You’re going to make it worse. Wait for a moment and I’ll put something on it to cool it down.”

  Raani had found a couple of flat stones and brought them back. Tara took the ritha seed and smashed it to a pulp with a rock. Then she added the tulsi leaves and started grinding the mixture. The sound of stone on stone grated on her nerves. She blocked it out and continued working.

  “Would someone like to explain?” she asked, looking up from her task momentarily. “What was all that about; what would you do …”

  “We’re going to stay and fight,” said Ananth. He whittled the end of another twig to a sharp point and added it to the growing pile at his feet.

  “Fight?” said Tara. “You want five of us to fight Zarku, Kali, and his bloodthirsty hyenas. Has the heat fried your brains?”

  “It was Kabir’s idea,” said Vayu. “And I think he’s right.”

  “Kabir’s delirious,” said Tara. “I’m not. And I say we run. We’re no match for them.”

  “I’m not delirious,” said Kabir. “At least not yet.”

  Tara came over to Kabir, her hands full of the green paste. Raani helped remove his shirt, which now stank of blood, sweat, and the sickly sweet stench of something rotting. She threw it aside. Tara smeared the paste on Kabir’s back as gently as she could. When she was finished, she sat back surveying her work. Her hands were bright green and so was Kabir’s back.

  “Ahhhh,” said Kabir. “That does feel better, Tara, so cool … you’re helping more than you realize.”

  “Thanks and you’re welcome,” said Tara. “But you still haven’t answered my question.”

  “We’ve decided to give that madman something to worry about,” said Ananth. “It’s what Zarku would not expect us to do.”

  “Look,” said Tara. “None of you have faced him.

  I have. You haven’t felt your skin burn when he looks upon you with his third eye.” She closed her eyes as the memory sent a shiver through her. She stared at them again, wishing they would believe just how dangerous he could be. “If we’re caught, not just our lives are at stake, but the lives of our friends and families are, too.

  We need Prabala for this and the sooner we reach the river, the sooner we get to Morni and come back with help. Don’t you see?”

  “Tara, you have a point,” replied Ananth. “But running is what Zarku would expect us to do. He would expect us to be tired and panicked, to not be able to think straight or make any kind of decent plan. Sure, it might not work, but with Kabir in this state, how far do you think we’ll get if we decide to run?

  Tara had to admit, he made sense. Afternoon was slipping away and soon it would be dark.

  “So, what’s the plan?” she asked with a deep sigh.

  They were in this together and she’d have to help them whether she agreed with it or not.

  “We dig a pit, fill it with stakes, and cover it up. Zarku is bound to come back this way for us and hopefully he’ll fall in with Kali and the hyenas —”

  “And we’ll all escape, go back home and live happily ever after,” finished Tara. “How wonderful! That’s your plan?”

  “For now, yes,” said Ananth. He gathered the bow and arrows and put them all on a rock behind him, along with the knife he was using. “Here is where we’re going to dig the pit, right, Kabir?”

  “I don’t like it,” said Tara. “What if he avoids the pit all together? How large is it going to be?”

  “As large as we can get it by nightfall,” said Ananth. “We’ll all have to pitch in and help.”

  “I still hate the idea, but we better get started,” said Tara.

  But before anyone could move, Raani screamed.

  A hyena had stepped out of the bushes and was eye
ing them hungrily.

  — twelve —

  The Pit and the Plan

  Zarku’s here early, thought Tara as fear dug its razor-sharp claws into her stomach. He had lied to them!

  Horrified, they stared at the hyena, and then at each other. Any moment now Tara expected Zarku to appear.

  But if he was around, he stayed hidden.

  The hyena advanced, baring its teeth. It sniffed the air, and honed in on Kabir. Tara slowly wiped her hands on her kurta, adding green streaks to the filth and grime that already covered it. “Stay still, Kabir,” she said. “It seems to be coming straight at us.”

  “Where are the other hyenas?” whispered Vayu. He scanned the trees around him, making no sudden moves.

  The hyena moved closer, its hungry eyes riveted to Kabir. They were but a few feet apart, staring at each other.

  “What do we do?” whispered Raani. “Run?”

  “No one move,” said Ananth. “I don’t think this one belongs to Zarku.”

  The moment he said it Tara noticed the markings on the hyena. This one was spotted, not striped like Zarku’s companions. She breathed a sigh of relief that immediately changed to a dry rattle in her throat. The hyena giggled as it inched closer to Kabir, baring its teeth in a grotesque smile. Saliva dripped from its mouth.

  Kabir sat up and the hyena growled deep within its throat. He froze.

  “We can’t sit here all day, staring at it,” said Tara. “We have to do something.”

  “I need my bows, but I can’t reach them,” said Ananth. “Someone distract this brute.”

  And brute he was; larger than any hyena Tara had ever seen, with a mean look in his eye and obviously very hungry.

  “Kabir’s wounds have attracted it,” said Tara. The discarded kurta, stinking of blood and pus, was still lying beside them. “We should have burned or buried it.”

  The animal trotted closer, splattering the ground with more drool. The late-afternoon sun glinted off a mouthful of sharp, white teeth. He gnashed them, his hungry eyes missing nothing.

  Raani whimpered. The hyena snapped its head in her direction. That was all it took. She jumped to her feet and backed away.