rewriting this chapter with my editor,

come back in a month or so, for much better read.

"How long will this wretched journey last?" grumbled Vikar, life and limbs scratched and battered by bone-white branches - as they made their path in the forest. The day dragged long, shrouded by gloom ... yet a fire burned bright in their eyes. Just as Mother Ganges goes forcefully to the sea - so fixed they were - in firm resolve.

Rajan didn't know anything for sure, he went on the word of his master. By the will of Guru, even lame men can scale the hightest peaks, he knew, and so he braved the foul elements with indifference, as if they were phantoms conjured by crank magicians.

The air quelled with putrid stagnation and shrieks of birds hurled sinister forebodings. The dark woods whispered a tale of foul madness all about the gnarled trees.

It was a strange sight for all those hidden eyes - peering out behind wooden tangles. A boyish young man and a man-like monkey trudged on alone. Minds did wonder, “How is it? How has fate called on such an odd pair ... to send them trekking in this dismal forest?” All eyes kept staring and wondering ... as a sharp counsel pierced the thick air...

"Go not so deep - may you get naught but death," cawed an ominous intonation - beneath a huge gnarled tree.

Rajan and Vikar turned to see a crow with black wings, and Rajan whispered, "Could it be? Does the bird see into the shadowy realm of things yet to come?" 

"Verily," whispered back Vikar. "An omen it may surely be - as a crow on one's left portends ill, especially one who speaks in tongue."

"Stuck in this hellhole all too long ... beware you ... do take heed of the caw crowed thrice..." This the bird cackled over his shoulder.

"Thanks be to you, for sooth advice," said Rajan. 

Just then - a mental flash shot through his mind - of black wings and an eerie cawing, then fading away. Then he remembered ... his dream, just the night before. One of those nocturnal visions, telling him forthwith what's true, the night before it happens, just as it's done so many times before.

"If love life you will ... then pray heed."

"Love life we do, as love we the life of the world" said Vikar.

The crow seemed to grin ominously, as he bowed slightly, and the travelers went their way.

Rajan's vision cast upward at a mass of clouds covering the sky, blotting out the sun. Electrical flashes pulsated here and there, causing the dense clouds to emit a low grumble and a hiss and a crackle.

They both packed various weapons, each toting bow and quiver and short sword. Rajan had practiced archery from youth, and was a great marksman. He was fain to harm any soul, still he practiced the arts of war for defending the weak.

The world had no war for 9,000 years and peace reigned throughout. Yet the Kings still maintained small armies to keep a balance of power, because the wise Brahmins knew that some ruthless tyrant might emerge some unforeseen day, to ravage peaceful neighbors. And there were tribes known as dacoits, who were always troublesome.

The monkey moved his tail in playful motions as he scampered along the ground, and then suddenly he jumped high to catch the bough of a great Asoka tree, swinging from branch to branch with arms long and agile, as his tail curled and flipped about in playful rhythm. His dwarf sized body moved in gangly fashion, cloaked with hair, ornaments, weapons and a flowing bluish cape.

Vikar's nature was that of a fun loving monkey, at most times, and yet other times he seemed to be the best of the wise, being gifted with eloquent speech and gentility. His birth chart showed Mercury in Gemini, in the ninth house of Dharma and in the lunar mansion of the deva star Mrigasira. 

The sages said that he would be endowed with long fingers and a rare mind for the subtle art of the siddhis. He would be a great orator and delight in all art, music and literature. He would possess a clever wit, know Dharma and the Vedas, be very quick and nimble and fond of fun and humor.

Vikar proved to have all these attributes just as surely as his monkey nature made him a little mischievous at times. He offered to Rajan, "Let's sit here and rest for awhile." They both rested their weary posteriors upon a smooth rock and Rajan let out a sigh of fatigue.

"Yes, it seems that this black forest is possessed of foul portents," said Vikar.

"Possessed it is," said Rajan. "Omens that cause the imagination to conjure visions of hobgoblins and other horrible creatures of the night."

They sat on a stone and shared some provisions. All of a sudden, Vikar got up from the rock and brandished his sword and parried with a protruding tree branch. His sword shimmered with Garnet gems bedecking its hilt and a large Moonstone adorning the end of the handle. Vikar had christened his sword with the name Kramanon, which means `great strength.' It was awarded to him by the battle master Guru, after Vikar had won the yearly battlethon contest.

Vikar hacked at the air as if striking some imaginary enemy. His footwork was cagey, and his tail twitched right and left to maintain his balance.

"Who is this mysterious foe that haunts our days and nights?" he queried. "Is it an alien band of barbarians from the north, or is it a giant ogre from the forbidden mountains, or is it some mystic demoness? Who is this strange peril that hurls the heavenly signs into disarray? Never mind how big or numerous they may be, they will not withstand the mighty blows of my veracious Kramanon!"

Swish! Swish! went the blade.

At this, Rajan broke out in a big smile, his teeth were slightly visible and his cheeks were pronounced. Rajan then laughed and said, "Save your shakti and that demon blade Kramanon for the real thing...my hero...hah hah."

Just then, a loud and sudden caw! caw! caw! resounded in the air, which alarmed Vikar, and as he remembered the warning of three caws, he wheeled about in spirited animation, as he posed his blade Kramanon in battle stance.

It was the caw warning of a crow. Crows possess a sixth sense of danger and they are quick to warn other crows if their suspicion is aroused.

Vikar commanded, "Who goes there! Show yourself!"

There was then heard a mocking laugh from a nearby oak tree, almost a human laugh.

Vikar looked hither and saw a Drongo perched upon a limb. The bird shined deep glossy black with a black tuft on his forehead and he twitched a long forked tail. The bird sneered at Vikar in a mocking manner which touched him to the quick.

Drongos are fond of noise and tricks and they often like to imitate other birds.

Vikar exclaimed, "Ah, some feisty bird, is it? Why, it's a lowdown Drongo trick!"

Vikar threw down his gear and took himself to the trees with a reckless abandon. He swung from limb to limb, hurling himself toward the Drongo with a seething vengeance. The bird sat on his perch and continued to laugh and sneer, but flew briskly away when Vikar was nearly upon him.

The bird would glide from branch to branch, just far enough to goad Vikar on for more chase, and then he would flit away with a cackle when Vikar almost had him.

Of course, Vikar didn't know what he'd do if he caught the bird. He wasn't the violent type. He knew that it was only a game they were playing.

Many other monkeys descended from all directions to join in on the fun. The Drongo circled about and swooped down upon Vikar for a parting shot, and then flew off with a cackling laughter.

Vikar stared at the bird's flight for a second and then he totally reverted back to his animal monkey instincts and he and the forest monkeys engaged in a wild and noisy game of tag for about twenty minutes. The chattering and piercing cries seemed to fill the heavens.

Rajan stood patiently below as a reluctant spectator, his arms crossed together with his fingertips tapping in rhythm upon his shoulders. His mouth curled in annoyance and slight amusement.

Rajan's eyes playfully zigzagged back and forth, trying to keep up with the monkeys scampering wildly from tree to tree, doing acrobats and swinging on vines and taking long leaping jumps from branch to branch, and screaming fiercely with every tag.

It was a three ring circus and a festival to Rajan's eyes. He couldn't stop his tight-lipped smile from spreading, nor could he stop the chuckling eruptions in his throat. With effort, he checked the inward waves of mirth and maintained an air of seriousness.

Rajan thought sarcastically to himself, now all our feeble attempts of a clandestine quest has just been advertised to the entire forest, thanks to his grace, Sir Vikar.

Vikar finally came to his senses and descended to the ground and approached his comrade sheepishly.

The other monkeys scattered in all directions, but the chattering continued to blend in and then fade away throughout the thick trees of the forest.

"Have you had quite enough?" said Rajan, half frowning, half smiling, his eyes boring right through Vikar's head...

"Yeah ... uh ... I suppose so. Guess I got carried away," said Vikar. His head turned downward, and his eyes peered upward at Rajan with shy entreaty.

He knew that Rajan was amused but wasn't going to admit it. One thing was sure, Vikar had a way of worming right into Rajan's heart, no matter how much folly he had done.

"Come on, let's sit and talk for awhile," said Rajan as he reached over and patted Vikar on the back. Vikar smiled like a kid, and they both sat on the rock again, and laughed quietly together.

Rare to find ... friends like these two ... in this world.