After Pazhuvetarayar and Parthibendran had set off together, strolling along the seashore, Nandini remained alone for a while. She gazed at the rolling waves of the sea, lost deep in thought.

“Rani Amma!” came a voice, breaking her reverie. She turned to look.

Standing there was the daughter-in-law of Thyaga Vidangar, the lighthouse keeper of the promontory.

“Who are you?” Nandini asked.

“My name is Raakkammaal.”

“Where have you come from?”

Without replying, Raakkammaal stood there, gazing intently at Nandini’s face.

“What are you staring at, girl? What is there on my face?”

Startled, Raakkammaal said, “Forgive me, Amma. The moment I saw you, another face came to my mind. But… that could never be.”

“What nonsense are you babbling? What could never be?”

“There can be no connection between that mute madwoman and yourself.”

“Who is this mute woman?”

“There is a woman in Eezham! She is the elder daughter of my father-in-law’s uncle. Sometimes she comes here as well.”

“What is it between her and me?”

“That’s what I said, Amma—there can be no relation between you and her.”

“Then why did her memory come to you the moment you saw me?”

“It is only a fault of my eyes. Your face…”

“Did it look like hers?”

“At first, it seemed so.” “Rakkamma! Is that mute girl here now?”

“No, Amma! She comes only rarely, and that too unexpectedly.”

“When she comes again, will you bring her to me?”

“For what reason, Queen Amma?”

“I wish to see the girl whose face resembles mine.”

“I told you, it’s just an illusion of my eyes.”

“How can you say that with such certainty?”

“Queen! You are from the land of the Pandyas, aren’t you?”

“Yes; and you?”

“I too am from Pandya Nadu. The mute girl I just spoke of is from Chola Nadu. Therefore…”

“Even so, it does not matter; a few others, like you, have spoken to me about her. Will you bring her to me? If you do, I will give you whatever you desire.”

“Queen! Bringing her here is like trying to summon a whirlwind. She will never be where she was before. She will not listen to others either. I told you, she is mad.”

“Very well! Why have you come now? At least tell me that!”

“Queen! A few days ago, two men came here. They mentioned your name.”

“Why did they mention my name?”

“They said they had to go to Lanka urgently on your business. I sent my husband to ferry them across.”

“Has he returned?”

“No, he has not. That is why I am anxious. If something has happened to him…”

“Nothing will happen, do not worry! If anything had happened, I would take care of you. Do you know anything about the men who went in the boat?”

“They have returned. Just now, did you not hear the call of the owl?”

“I heard it. So what?”

“Did you not realize it was the voice of the sorcerer?”

“How