When Ponniyin Selvan, Princess Kundavai, and the others descended into the underground prison, they found that Vandiyathevan was nowhere to be seen. In his place, they saw Pinagapani, the physician’s son. Pinagapani had been bound to the iron rings fixed to the wall.

“Alas! The murderer has escaped! The madman has run away!” he was shouting in distress. Kundavai and Vanathi remembered him well. Was it not they who, at first, had sent him along with Vandiyathevan as an assistant to Kodikkarai? When they freed Pinagapani and questioned him, he briefly recounted the events that had just taken place. He insisted that those who had escaped should be pursued and captured at once.

However, those who listened to his tale did not share his urgency. Inwardly, they admired Vandiyathevan’s cleverness, and at that moment, they even thought that his escape was, in a way, for the best. When Manimekalai began to express her thoughts openly, Kundavai stopped her, saying, “Sister! Be silent! This is a matter of great state importance. What do we women know of such things? Tell me what is in your heart later, in private!”

When they all reached the entrance of the underground prison, Commander-in-Chief Periya Velar arrived there as well. News that something amiss had occurred in the prison had already reached his ears. When he learned what had happened, the Commander-in-Chief too did not show much agitation about capturing the escapees. In truth, he had never really believed the accusations leveled against Vandiyathevan. He was also well aware of the affection that Arulmozhi Varman, Kundavai Devi, and the others bore for Vandiyathevan. Therefore, instead of becoming angry, he merely laughed at Vandiyathevan’s mischievousness.

“That young man of the Vanar clan is exceedingly clever! In Lanka, too, he once escaped in just such a cunning manner from the prison at Mathottam!” he said.

The physician’s son interjected, “Sir! Shouldn’t we make arrangements to search for and capture those who have escaped?” “Ah! Where could they possibly escape to? They must still be somewhere within this fortress. Let us see for ourselves!” declared the Commander-in-Chief, Periya Velar.

Pinagapani, in a fit of agitation, cried out, “No, no! That murderer knows the secret tunnels. He will use them to slip away!”

The Commander’s face darkened with anger. “Fool! Have you come here to teach me my own business? Are you not the very reason they managed to escape? Did you, perhaps, conspire with them on purpose? Is this all your doing? Seize him and throw him back into the underground prison!” he ordered the soldiers standing nearby.

Pinagapani trembled in terror. “No, sir! I swear, I am not part of their conspiracy. The Prime Minister sent me here!” he pleaded.

Ponniyin Selvan stepped forward and said, “Yes, he is indeed the Prime Minister’s man. Let us send him back to the Prime Minister under proper guard. Let the Prime Minister himself decide what punishment he deserves!”

Accordingly, the Commander-in-Chief ordered four of his soldiers to escort the physician’s son and hand him over to Prime Minister Aniruddhar.

When Aniruddhar questioned Pinagapani about all that had happened in the prison, he did not display much agitation. Aniruddhar never entrusted any important matter to just one man. Whenever he sent a spy somewhere, it was his custom to send another to keep an eye on the first. In this case, too, he had already sent Azhwarkkadiyan, and so he was not worried. He trusted that Azhwarkkadiyan would either capture the fugitives or at least bring back news of them. In fact, the thought crossed his mind that if both fugitives managed to escape without being caught, it might resolve many troubles.

Therefore, when Pinagapani finished recounting all that had happened in the underground prison and said, “Sir, if you send four men with me, I will capture them and bring them back myself,” Aniruddhar, too, lost his temper with him.

“Fool! You have ruined everything! Did I not send you so that no one outside would ever learn of that madman? If not, would I not have gone myself and brought him back? Now, so many in the palace have come to know about him. Is that not enough for you? And now you wish to spread the news even further? Enough of your service! You are no longer fit for the work of a spy! “Utterly unworthy wretch! Do not show your face to me again! Do not breathe a word of today’s events to anyone! If I even suspect that you have spoken, I shall order you to be thrown into the moat!” thundered Aniruddhar.

Pinagapani, hanging his head in shame, left the Prime Minister’s house. In his heart, the fire of anger born from shattered hopes blazed fiercely. All that fury turned upon Vandiyathevan. Because of him, his plans had failed, and disgrace had fallen upon him. Both the Commander-in-Chief and the Prime Minister had rebuked him. Let them all be indifferent if they wish—but Vandiyathevan must be found and punished. Even if that madman escaped, so be it. But Vandiyathevan must not be spared. From the day of the journey to Kodikkarai, he had been his adversary. And now, he had inflicted this great harm upon him. He must find Vandiyathevan and have his revenge—at any cost!

With this determination burning within him, Pinagapani left the fortress of Thanjavur. He was convinced that Vandiyathevan would not be inside the fort, and that he must have escaped through the secret underground passage. Yet, he did not know where that passage was, nor where its outer entrance might be found. Still, somewhere along the fortress wall, there must be an exit to that secret tunnel. If he searched carefully along the wall, perhaps he could find it. Why not? Perhaps he might even catch Vandiyathevan and the madman as they emerged—catch them red-handed!

With such thoughts, Pinagapani made his way along the outer side of Thanjavur’s ramparts, following the northern bank of the Vadavaru river. He walked