Rajiv Menon -- ThunderGod (36 page)

A lot of meat was required for the recuperating men, so Indra and Soma took on the responsibility of hunting. They went ahead alone so they were free to use their powers to travel across the treetops. The rest of the hunting expedition followed on the ground. There was plenty of game available, although it had scattered all across the forest since their arrival. The two men took this opportunity to explore the terrain. Indra decided to use the forest as his base for a while, till he could broker a deal with the Sumerian rebels for horses. Timon had already been dispatched for the task.

One day, in pursuit of a particularly swift stag, Indra was separated from his friend. He found himself alone in a previously unexplored part of the forest. As he retrieved his arrow from the body of the dead animal he realised that the chase had led him well away from the camp and he had no idea where he was. He slung the carcass of the deer over his shoulder and tried to retrace his steps back to camp.

He walked for a long while; the soma that coursed through his veins gave him plenty of endurance to bear the weight of the animal across the long distance. Soon he started to recognise signs that indicated he was close to the camp. He heard the sound of a waterfall and decided to quench his thirst. As he approached, he heard a beautiful female voice singing. Though he could not understand the words, the melody of it touched him. He dropped his burden and climbed a tree to take a closer look.

As he peered out of the canopy, he saw a waterfall that emptied itself into a deep, still rock pool. On one of the rocks, Valli basked in the sun. Her body, still wet from her dip in the pool, shone in the evening light. She spotted him then and beckoned him down. A sheepish Indra came down and stood before her, thoroughly embarrassed.

'I did not mean to intrude. But your song, I have never heard anything so beautiful.'

Valli turned on her side to face him. She made no move to cover her nudity.

'It is a song that my mother used to sing to me as a child. It is the only memory I have of her.'

Her eyes ran all over him. She had never felt this kind of desire towards anybody. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Even as she stared at him, he averted his gaze. Indra could not understand his exact feelings for her. There was curiosity--she was unlike any woman he had ever known-- but it was more than that. He found it hard to keep his eyes off her. His throat had turned dry; he tried to make his voice sound normal as he spoke.

'How is it that you speak our tongue?'

'It was taught to me as part of my training in Harappa. Among other things.'

'Other things? What other things?'

She smiled as she stood up.

'You cannot expect a girl to reveal all her secrets at once. Come, let me show you.'

He went to her as if in a spell. She leapt off the rock into his arms and wrapped her long, shapely legs around him. He lost his balance and, laughing, they tumbled into the rock pool. The cold water did nothing to dim their passion as their bodies entwined and their mouths found each other. Night fell, but the two of them did not realise it as they made love under the light of a bright moon. When they finally tired, they lay naked on the rock and talked. They had so much to say to each other.

Valli told him about the land of her birth under the shelter of the mighty Vindhya Mountains. She had been the daughter of the queen of the Vahini, a tribe of women warriors. The women of her tribe were greatly prized as priestesses in the great city of Harappa. It was believed that they carried the spirit of Raksha in them. Raksha was the mother goddess, the presiding deity of the Harappa.

Slave traders had captured her in a raid on her village just a year before her first moon. She was taken into the temple where she was trained to serve the goddess. She told Indra of Harappa's unparalleled wealth and power. How people from all over the world travelled there for trade and to marvel at the city's riches and beauty. Indra listened and found that it distracted him momentarily from his troubles. When she finished her tale, they continued to make love until the first light of the morning sun began to filter in through the canopy.

Indra arrived at the camp the next morning with an enormous appetite. He had to endure a few jibes from Soma. While he had been occupied, scavengers had taken his deer in the night and it was the first time he had returned from a hunt empty-handed. But he did not care; at least his secret was safe.

Over the next few weeks, the two lovers met in secret whenever Indra could slip away from his duties. The denizens of the forest were mute witnesses to their amorous escapades. They talked for long hours and shared each other's dreams and aspirations. Indra was amazed at Valli's erudition and skill. She was a healer with an astounding knowledge of herbs and potions, a linguist, an expert in political affairs and a fabulous lover. His curiosity was piqued: how had a woman so young acquired so much knowledge?

Valli told him about how she along with the most promising girls from among the initiates was handpicked by Anga, high priestess of Harappa, to join her personal order. These girls were trained in various disciplines with particular attention given to the art of pleasing men. Some of these women then found a place in the hearts and homes of the rich and powerful nobility of Harappa, sometimes as wives or more often as concubines. The most beautiful and talented, like Valli, were sent to grace the courts of other powerful rulers of the known world.

These women, whose loyalties lay only with Anga and the goddess, passed on vital information and state secrets to their mistress and enabled the high priestess to become one of the most powerful people in the world. Indra was amazed to hear her story.

'If this Anga is as powerful as you say she is, why did you betray her secret?'

'I already betrayed her when I saw you for the first time.'

She saw his confused look and smiled. Tears welled up in her beautiful dark eyes.

'While we can readily give our bodies to our male masters, it is forbidden for us to love anyone save the Divine Mother. I betrayed my mistress the moment I gave my heart to you.'

Indra felt his heart swell with love for her as he gathered her in a tight embrace.

***

Indra's idyllic existence was shattered when, one day, fifteen men from a Deva hunting party did not return. They had last been seen near the wetlands, about a couple of days' march north of the camp. Ordering the rest of the hunting party to keep the situation a secret so the rest of the men would not be alarmed, Indra and Soma left to investigate the mystery.

They were able to pick up the trail of the missing hunters quite easily as the soft ground near the wetlands left tracks even a blind man could follow. Then suddenly, in a grove of tall trees, the tracks abruptly vanished. The two warriors searched the ground ahead for any sign of their comrades, but there were none. They were puzzled; it was as if the men had vanished into thin air.

Indra scanned the canopy above: the dark green foliage was thick and impenetrable. Somehow, he could not shake off the feeling that they were being observed. He communicated telepathically with Soma and asked him to be alert. No sooner had Soma nodded his understanding than two nooses fell from the canopy above and tightened around their arms and chests. The ropes were made of plant fibre and were strong, but they would have presented no problem to the divine strength of the two warriors. Indra cautioned Soma to not resist capture though; if it was possible, he wished to get to the bottom of the mystery without the use of violence.

As they were dragged up into the trees, they saw that the treetops were filled with archers ready to discharge their arrows into the two prisoners. The men were dressed in green and brown, perfectly camouflaged in their environment. They looked fierce with their hawk-like eyes, long dark hair and beards.

One of them, a handsome young man, stepped forward. An arrow was still notched to his bow ready to pierce their hearts if they showed any sign of resistance. Indra felt that there was something vaguely familiar about him. Like the rest of his men, he wore leather armour, not unlike the ones favoured by the Devas.

'Who are you? How dare you trespass on our lands?'

Indra and his men had long traded their armour for robes worn by the Sumerian peasants. Indra decided it would be unwise to reveal his true identity.

'I am Asgar of Ur. We were defeated and chased out of our homes by Sargon's forces and compelled to take refuge in the forests of Aranya. Fifteen of my men are lost somewhere in these lands--we came to find them.'

Their young captor studied them for a while. When he spoke, his tone was distinctly softer.

'If what you say is true, then you have nothing to fear from us.'

He turned to his men.

'Take them to their comrades. We will let my father decide their fate.'

Black hoods were pulled over the heads of the two Deva warriors and to their amazement they were led along a path built into the forest canopy by inter-woven branches high above the forest floor. When their hoods were removed, Indra and Soma found themselves in a wooden cage, which was then lowered down below the canopy. Around them they saw their lost comrades suspended in similar cages. Below them the forest floor was a wet bog filled with crocodiles, giant monitor lizards and venomous snakes.

Soma had run out of patience by now. He reached into his pouch and pulled out two vials of soma.

'These fools think they can hold us in these oversized birdcages. Come, let's get out of here and teach them a lesson.'

Indra declined the drink.

'No, let's stay. I would like to meet their king. Something tells me these men are not too friendly with the Asuras, and we could most certainly use an ally.'

***

The next morning, Indra and Soma were taken to the royal court. As they walked through the trees, they marvelled at the beauty of the arboreal city. Roads and houses had been built using creepers and the living branches of trees. Indra was amazed at the skill exhibited by the architects. The city was invisible from the forest floor and extended deep into the wetlands. He noticed that the people were in a constant state of preparedness. There were armed men everywhere, and he heard the clash of metal and other sounds associated with soldiers in training. Indra noticed that the women were beautiful; they looked and dressed very much like the Deva women.

He thought of Sachi and felt a stab of regret. Perhaps he should have worked a little harder at winning back her love. He hurriedly dismissed her from his mind. As they neared the royal abode, the path was filled with creepers laden with fragrant, beautiful flowers.

In the court, the young warrior stood before his father; he looked exasperated. The king was engrossed in his meal. His ample girth showed that he took his food very seriously. He meticulously picked off the remains of a boar as he spoke.

'You wish for me to ally with a bunch of peasants from Sumer. Have we come so far to stoop so low? These men who once grovelled at our feet, begged for their lives when we ransacked their cities, you wish for me to align with them? Treat them as our equals? Our ancestors will deny us our place in the heavens.'

The young man was aghast at his father's attitude. He looked towards the other man present in the room. He wore the white robes of priesthood, his head was shaven and his young face was grave. He gave the young warrior a sympathetic smile.

'But Father, will it not shame our ancestors that we have left our home on the vast plains where their cattle once grew fat to live in this swamp like rodents. I say we find what allies we can and take the fight to these oppressors. We can push Sargon once and for all out of these lands.'

The king threw down the piece of meat in his hand. The young warrior looked worried--perhaps he had gone too far.

'That's enough, Aryaman! Don't get ahead of yourself or I will forget that you are my son. I, Savitra, am still king here.'

The court announcer announced the arrival of Asgar of Ur at that moment and Indra and Soma entered the court. The guards asked them to kneel, and while Soma complied, Indra refused. All eyes turned to the king. One word from him and the guards were ready to end the life of the insolent Sumerian. Savitra shook with anger and the rolls of fat on him jiggled as he stood up in rage. Before he could give the order, the young priest spoke out in a clear, strong voice.

'Wait! This man is not who he claims to be. Maybe it is time for you to reveal yourself, stranger.'

The priest's tone was respectful. Savitra did not speak but sat down with a huff. Indra looked at the young priest. His aura was bright for someone his age. Indra saw in his eyes that he was already aware of their true identity.

'I am Indra, this is Soma, we are of the Deva tribe. Where are we?'