They gathered the body of Kalapathi along with those of the other dead sailors, stacked them with dry wooden logs, and performed the cremation. As the fire was lit and began to blaze, Commander-in-Chief Boothi Vikrama Kesari noticed tears welling up on the prince’s face.

“My lord! Are you weeping for the death of these sinners? The gods themselves have meted out fitting punishment to these traitors who came to imprison you. Why should you grieve?” he asked.

“Commander, these men are not traitors; nor do I mourn for their deaths. I grieve that such an evil time has come upon the Chola land,” the prince replied.

“Evil times arrived along with the Pazhuvettaraiyars. Nothing new has happened now!”

“Something new has indeed happened. If the ship’s sailors have begun to disobey Kalapathi’s orders, what greater calamity could befall the kingdom than this? Commander, this is but a small sign! I fear that, just like this, divisions may arise everywhere in the Chola realm! If that happens, this great empire founded by Vijayalaya Chola will be torn asunder! Should such a disaster occur because of me? I have heard the tale of the Mahabharata. When Duryodhana was born, the epic says that jackals and wolves howled ominously. Surely, when I was born too, jackals and dogs must have howled in terror!” said the prince.

“My lord! When you were born into this world, every auspicious omen that could possibly arise did so. The astrologers who cast your horoscope—”

“That is enough, Commander! Enough! My ears have grown weary of hearing such talk. Let my horoscope be as it may. The time has come for us to part ways. Commander, I ask this of you: If any of the sailors who disobeyed Kalapathi’s orders from these ships come to you, you must not take them in. You must immediately imprison them and send them to Thanjai.”

“Prince! We have only heard what Kalapathi said. We have not heard the sailors’ side. How can we judge by listening to only one side? Is that just or righteous? Come with me. Those sailors—” “Decide after you have heard what they have to say…”

“Sir! That is not possible. Do as you see fit. I cannot delay here even for a moment longer. I must leave at once. Where is the boatman?” he asked.

“Where do you wish to go, Prince? Why do you need the boatman?”

“Is it necessary for you to ask about that? I must go to the ship that is to carry Vandiyathevan. Has not that peerless warrior, for my sake, boarded the Arab vessel and fallen into grave danger? Can I abandon him? As if the sins I have already committed are not enough, should I add betrayal of friendship to them as well…?”

“Sir! You have never knowingly committed any sin. Even if you say so, the world would not accept it. Vandiyathevan is but a reckless fellow, one who acts without a trace of forethought. How can you be responsible for the danger he has brought upon himself? Where is the betrayal of friendship in this? Prince! I do not like that you celebrate as your friend a youth who has come running from somewhere, out of nowhere. Are not friends supposed to be equals?”

“Commander! I do not wish to waste time in idle talk. Even if he is not my friend, is there not such a thing as gratitude? Have not the great ones, from the sage Valluvar onwards, all spoken of it? ‘The Cholas are famed for never forgetting a favor’—I will not let that praise be tarnished because of me. This very instant I will set out and seek that ship…”

“How will you set out? Where will you search, Prince?”

“I will board the boat you came in and set out…”

“Can you hunt a tiger with a rabbit? Can you pursue a ship sailing the deep sea with this little boat and catch it? And if you do catch it, what will you do then?”

“I will go in the boat; if the boat breaks, I will cling to a plank and swim after it. Even if the ship carrying Vandiyathevan sails beyond the seven seas, I will pursue it and catch it. And if, after catching it, I cannot save my friend, at least I will give up my life along with his… Where is the boatman?”

As he spoke thus, the prince turned and looked all around. He noticed that Poonguzhali was standing to one side, speaking with the boatman. The mute old woman stood nearby. The prince hurried toward where they were standing.

Recently, when she had gone, Poonguzhali’s eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke angrily with the boatman. It was clear that some heated exchange was taking place.

“Ah! What is this? Another conspiracy?” exclaimed the Prince.

Suddenly, the boatman fell at the Prince’s feet. “Prince! Without knowing, I have committed a grave mistake. I did it out of greed for money; please forgive me!” he cried.

“What is this?... Poonguzhali! It seems as if all of you together are trying to drive me mad. Can you at least tell me what is going on?”

“Prince! I was ashamed to say it all this time, but I can hide it no longer. He is my brother. It was he who brought those two wretches, who came to kill you, from Kodikkarai in his boat. He has been waiting here all this time according to their instructions. This morning, he took them back in his boat and put them aboard the ship we saw. Your friend, too, has boarded that ship…” she said.

“Lord! Kill me with your own hands! I did not know they were such evil men. Had I known, I would never have done it. Please, kill me with your own hands!” pleaded the boatman.

“My boy! At this moment, your life is of no value to me. Come, let us go! Take me