It has been a long time since we last parted ways with our protagonist, Vandiyathevan. We have lingered in Thanjai for many days. Though it was only a few days, it felt like an eternity. In those few days, Vandiyathevan had journeyed along the Eelam coastline and reached the great city of Maathottam, which stood on the banks of the Paalavi river.

That city, situated on the Eelam coast beyond the Rameswaram sea, was, just as it had been in the times of Thirugnana Sambandar and Sundaramurthi, still surrounded by lush groves of verdant trees, presenting a delightful sight to the eye. Mango, jackfruit, coconut, areca, plantain, and sugarcane flourished in abundance along that shore. Monkeys swung from the branches of those trees. Bees hummed their melodies; green parrots chattered in childish tones.

Upon the ramparts of the city’s fort, the waves of the sea crashed and roared with a ceaseless sound. From the great wooden ships to the smallest boats, vessels crowded the harbor of Maathottam. Goods unloaded from them lay heaped in mountainous piles. Though all these were as they had been in the days of Sambandar and Sundarar, there were some changes to be seen. The streets of Maathottam no longer thronged with devotees making their way to the Kedheeswarar temple. In places where once devotees sang the praises of the Lord in ecstasy, now only warriors could be seen. Men armed with swords and shields, spears and lances, wandered everywhere.

For more than a hundred years, that city had served as a center of war. Armies from Tamil Nadu, coming for the Eelam wars, most often landed there. Returning armies too boarded their ships from that place. The city had changed hands many times. At times it belonged to the kings of Lanka, at others to the Pandya rulers. Since the reign of Paranthaka Chakravarthi, it had remained under Chola dominion.

At the gate of such a war-torn city’s fortress, one day, Vandiyathevan stood. He wished to enter the city. He said he wanted to see the Chola commander. The guards refused to let him in. At this, he employed the same ruse he had used earlier at Kadambur. He tried to force his way in by pushing past the guards. The guards seized him and brought him before the commander of the fort. Vandiyathevan told the commander that he bore an important letter for Prince Arulmozhi... He said that he had just arrived, and that only the Chola Commander-in-Chief could give details about it. They examined him. They found with him a letter for ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ and the palm insignia of Pazhuvoor.

At that time, Kodumbalur Periya Velar, Boothi Vikrama Kesari, was the Commander-in-Chief of the Lankan campaign. They went and informed him. Boothi Vikrama Kesari was then speaking with the Prime Minister, Aniruddha Brahmarayar. He was preparing to travel with him as far as Rameswaram. Therefore, he said he would return and inquire into the matter, and until then, ordered that the warrior be kept under guard.

Afterwards, Vandiyathevan was taken away and locked in a room of a ruined palace. Guards were posted at the door. Vandiyathevan, exhausted from his long journey, was actually pleased at being imprisoned. At least now he could rest for a day or two without any wandering! On the first day, he enjoyed such rest. But on the second day, a disturbance arose.

From the next room, strange and peculiar sounds began to be heard. Someone was scolding and threatening another. His words of bravado were astonishing. “Here! Take this!” “Tch, tch!” “Go, go!” “Don’t come near!” “If you come close, I’ll kill you!” “I’ll smash you to pieces!” “Beware!” “Your life is not your own!” “I’ll send you to the land of Yama!” “With one kick, your life will be gone!”—thus, someone in the next room was raging on. It was unclear at whom he was hurling these threats. Only one voice could be heard; there was no reply. Perhaps he was a mad warrior, thought Vandiyathevan. If so, wouldn’t he keep him awake all night? Even the hope of sleeping peacefully was now disturbed!

“Won’t you listen if I tell you? Won’t you just go away? All right, all right! Watch what I do to you!” After these words, something suddenly came flying into Vandiyathevan’s room. Lying down, Vandiyathevan leapt up in alarm. He looked closely to see what had fallen. Instantly, laughter bubbled up within him. He laughed out loud, for it became clear that what had come flying so swiftly from the next room was a cat!

“Oh ho! So you know how to laugh, do you? Laugh! Laugh! But don’t you dare come here again!” said the voice from the next room.

There was no doubt that he was some kind of madman. Otherwise, would he argue so much with a cat? Or would he truly believe that a cat could laugh like a human? Yet, what was even more astonishing was that the voice which had spoken so much seemed somehow familiar to him. It felt like a voice he had heard somewhere, sometime before. But whose voice was it? Where had he heard it?—No matter how much he racked his brain, he could not remember!

Let it be as it may, let whoever it is be, thought Vandiyathevan, and lay down. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but sleep would not come. After a while, he felt something soft and slippery brush against the soles of his feet. When he opened his eyes, he saw the cat lying there. Oh, Lord! How could he sleep with this creature at his feet? He kicked it away. The cat moved off. He closed his eyes again; once more, something soft brushed against his hand. Opening his eyes, he saw the cat had come back to lie beside him, purring affectionately!

Again, he pushed it away with his hand. The cat went farther off. He closed his eyes once more. This time,