The stars in the sky were winking their eyes. The crescent moon was making its procession, like a silver boat floating upon the blue sea. The wind was fierce. The sea roared; the waves stretched out their arms, trying to pull those standing on the shore into its embrace.

“Why are you standing there? Quickly wash off the mud! We must go home at once. Otherwise, I won’t get any supper tonight. My sister-in-law will tip over the rice pot!” said Poonguzhali.

“Is the sea very deep here?” asked Vandiyathevan.

“I’ve never seen a coward like you. There’s no depth here for a long distance. Even if you walk far into the sea, the water will only reach your waist. That’s why the lighthouse must burn every night!”

Vandiyathevan hesitated, then stepped into the water. He washed off the mud, cleaned his hands and feet, and climbed back onto the shore. A little distance away, he saw the physician’s son riding his horse towards them. Vandiyathevan’s own horse was beside him.

“Oh no! My horse is about to step into the mud!” cried Vandiyathevan.

“It won’t. Horses are wiser than men!” said Poonguzhali.

“But there’s a man on one of the horses! He’s pulling my horse along with him!”

“That’s a bit dangerous! Run and warn him!”

“Stop! Stop!” shouted Vandiyathevan as he ran and managed to halt them.

Poonguzhali soon joined them. The three of them walked towards the lighthouse.

“You could ride your horse, you know,” said Poonguzhali.

“No; I’ll walk with you.” Poonguzhali went near the horse and gently stroked its face. The horse, as if delighted by her touch, shivered its body and neighed softly.

“It seems my horse has taken a liking to you! That is very good.”

“In what way is it good?”

“I must go to Lanka. I was thinking I could entrust this horse to you before I leave. Will you take care of it?”

“Oh! I will take care of it. All animals quickly become fond of me. Only humans dislike me at first sight.”

“Why do you say that? Sendhan Amudhan cares for you…”

“My affection too is only for animals; I do not like to see humans!”

“What have humans done to you?”

“Humans are wicked. Lies and deceit are their only business!”

“You mustn’t speak so of everyone. Sendhan Amudhan is a good man. Look, here comes the physician’s son—he is a very good man…”

“How about you?”

“I am a good man too. But I shouldn’t boast of my own virtues, should I?”

“Why have you both come here?”

“The Emperor is unwell, is he not? Some rare herbs are needed to cure his illness. It is said that such rare herbs are found in this forest. That is why the physician’s son and I have come…”

“Just now you said you must go to Lanka?”

“The herbs that cannot be found here must be brought from Lanka. Isn’t the Sanjeevani mountain, which Hanuman brought, still said to exist in Lanka?”

“Yes, it is there. That is why thousands of people are now dying of fever and poison in Lanka…”

“Is that so? I did not know that! Nor does the palace physician who sent us know that…”

“I have never seen anyone lie as much as young men do. Two days ago, two men came here. They too told some lie just like you. But at least their lie was a little more believable.”

“Who were they? What lie did they tell?”

“They claimed that some magician had sent them. They said they needed a tiger’s claw and an elephant’s tail hair to tie a protective charm for the Emperor, and that they were going to Lanka for that purpose. My brother took them in his boat and has gone to Lanka with them…”

“Oh! Oh! Is that so too?” exclaimed Vandiyathevan. The memory of Ravidasan, that fearsome sorcerer, flashed through his mind. He also remembered the terrifying experience he had endured that night in the ruined mandapam.

‘God! Why do I keep getting entangled in such affairs? I should be standing face to face with my enemy on the battlefield, fighting with valor and courage. Why have I become ensnared in these webs of trickery and sorcery?’

‘Who could those men who went to Lanka by boat before me be? How much can I trust this girl? Could she too be part of that treacherous group?… No, no! She is a woman without deceit or guile. It is best to win her friendship somehow.’

“Poonguzhali! I will tell you the truth. Earlier, I said I came to fetch herbs, but that was a lie! I am going to Lanka on a very important and secret mission. I wish to tell you about it.”

“No! Don’t you know that important secrets should never be told to women? Don’t tell me anything…”

“That’s what they say about ordinary women. If I share a secret with you, nothing bad will come of it.”

“How do you know I am not an ordinary woman? You haven’t even known me for an hour.”

“Poonguzhali! The moment I first saw you atop the wall of that temple, I was drawn to you. Let me ask you something. Will you answer me truthfully?”

“Ask and see!”

“Sendhan Amudhan is not your lover— is that true? Are you not going to marry him?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Sendhan Amudhan is my friend; I must not do anything against him. But if he is not your lover…”

“Speak! Why do you hesitate?”

“I was wondering if I might apply for that position myself. Poonguzhali! I do not like the way you speak so little of love. In this world, there is no force more divine than love. Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar—all sang of God as their beloved. Tholkappiyar, Valluvar, and the great Tamil poets have all sung of love. Kalidasa sang of love. In Brindavan, Kannan was ensnared by the love of the Gopis…”

“Sir!