Chapter 9 - The Embers of Wrath

“Move quickly women, wash the body and drape it in new clothes, the cremation proceedings will begin soon,” commanded the old head mourner. In Madera, the wailers were a group of tribal women whose traditional occupation involved bathing and dressing the mortal remains of the departed soul. They would also wail loudly and beat their chests as the body burned on the pyre. The wailers covered their body in black soot before washing the body as they believed it warded off evil spirits hovering about. Presently, one of the wailers wept silently as she bathed the body and saw the stab wounds that had killed her mother. Sambhu Asan had asked Makaran’s wife to take Kanchi to the wailers and explain her situation and they had wholeheartedly complied with her wishes. It was impossible to recognize her behind all the black soot that covered her entire face and body.

“Go bring the new clothes to adorn the body,” said the head mourner to the disguised Kanchi.

Kanchi retreated to her mother’s room where the new clothes had been laid out. It had to come to this, for her mother to finally to be able to wear something new other than the tattered old ones, sewn up to hide the holes and rips life had gifted her. As she picked them up, she caught onto her father’s whispers from the other room. He was speaking to Kesu, “Don’t worry son, I believe you when you say you saw your mother with another man. You did the right thing, God knows I would have driven that dagger into her body myself. We don’t need anyone to know the truth. I am so proud of you for standing up for the honour of our family. Just wait till we hunt down that good for nothing girl and I assure you I will sell her off for ten tolas, not mere five and the money will be all yours. Now go and have your bath. You must light the pyre as per customs.”

Kanchi began to tremble in fury, he had killed her mother in cold blood using the dagger she had won. She was not leaving without punishing him. She waited for Kesu by the bathhouse and followed him stealthily into the bath area. Kesu placed the lamp he was carrying by the steps and removed his tunic. Kanchi noticed the dagger was safe in his waistband, which he now removed and placed on the steps. After he had completely disrobed he descended into the water to take a dip.

Kanchi silently descended and slowly began to take out the dagger from the waistband. And out of nowhere, a hand grabbed onto hers pinned it down, it was Kesu, as he screamed, “You thief?”

Kanchi quickly responded with a kick to his crotch and as he reeled in pain she kneed him in his chest and held him down. She stuffed his mouth with his loincloth and tied his hands behind him. She then took the dagger and sat next to him, “It's me, look carefully, it's me Kanchi” she hissed.

Kesu widened his eyes in shock as he looked at her face blackened with soot.

“You killed our mother, No!, my mother. She was nothing to you or father ever. She was my world. I would kill you now but then that would mean being kind to you. Therefore I am going to cut all of your fingers so that you never be able to hold so much as a twig again” she leaned and whispered into his ears coldly.

Kesu whimpered and wriggled with all his might but Kanchi drew out the dagger and got down to the job immediately. She had promised to return before midnight to SambuAsan.

By the time the last finger was cut off, Kesu had passed out from the pain. Kanchi took the burning wick from the lamp and cauterized his bleeding finger stumps so that he would not die from loss of blood for that would defeat the purpose of the punishment. She then threw the wick into the water and walked out leaving Kesu in the darkness.

She had to go away before they found Kesu or he regained consciousness. She had but one last thing to do. She went into the cowshed behind her house and let the cows loose. She then took the oil she had hidden in the bushes and poured it all over the cowshed and set it on fire. As the fire caught on she ran into the room where the wailers had finished dressing her mother. She signalled to them that the plan was in action. Together they doused the room with the barrel of oil they had sneaked in and set the room on fire. Kanchi took one last look at her mother, and as she bent down to kiss her farewell, a teardrop rolled down her cheek onto her mother’s forehead that glistened in the raging fire. The wailers pulled Kanchi away before she too burnt down with her mother.

“Come, dear, it’s time to go” they reminded a heartbroken Kanchi.

People had begun to run hither thither trying to put out the fire as the wailers made their way outside the house and in the distance she could hear her father call out for her brother. She had come in determined to be the one to cremate her mother, and not allow the undeserving Kesu anywhere near her body and she had fulfilled her wish. Her mother’s soul would now rest in peace.

By the time Kanchi reached Sambu Asan’s home, he had almost lost his wit.

“Kanchi, it’s far too a risk that was taken today and I think you need to get away as soon as possible. Go clean yourself up and dress up in the clothes laid out for you.”

As Kanchi bathed, she wiped clean the dagger and staring into the mirror, she promised herself to be strong and to do justice to all the dead souls one day. She dressed in the tunic and dimije laid out for her, she tied the waistband and placed her dagger carefully into it.

Sambhu Asan handed her the travel bundle and the pouch as he told her, “Be careful with it. It has a few tolas. You also have blue and green potions with you. The blue is a poison that can kill even an elephant and the green is the anti-venom against any poison in the world. There is enough food and water for a few days but you should learn to use your foraging and hunting skills as your aide is still a few days away. When you reach the other end of the tunnel you will have to push the handle two times to the left and one time to the right to open and exit. Remember, the forest is beautiful but treacherous, so be alert or you will be hunted.”

Kanchi wasn’t afraid, she felt strangely reassured and liberated. She couldn’t wait to get away from Madera. As Makaran’s guard pulled open the tunnel door, far in the distance they could hear the sounds of a mob, probably looking for her. Sambhu Asan handed her the spear and the lamp. He then blessed her with a kiss on the forehead, “Go, my child, its time. I will pray for your long life. May you leave a girl but return a deserving queen.”

Kanchi bowed in respect and sought the blessings of Makaran and thanked his wife for all the help. As she raised the lamp she could see a long tunnel ahead of her. She walked ahead without looking back and as the tunnel door closed behind her, she knew she was on her own. The hissing sound of the snakes, the squeaking of rats, strange crawling scratching sounds filled the tunnel but she marched on without any fear. She felt no hunger, she felt no pain, she felt no weariness, just the iron-will to get into the new world.

After three days, she finally saw the end of the tunnel in the distance, she picked up her pace and ran towards it and opened the lock as instructed by Sambhu Asan. As the doors of the tunnel opened, and the sunlight hit her face after days of darkness in the tunnel, she was blinded briefly.

She was welcomed by the sweet sounds of birds whistling, the luscious branches moving in the wind, it all felt so beautiful, the dominating tall trees, the wonderful wildflowers, the hypnotising scent of a free world. She couldn't help but let out a big smile. Feeling thirsty, she had pulled out her waterskin and was taking a sip, when she heard someone call out to her, “Hey! Hey you!” the voice said.

She quickly drew her spear and pointed it in the direction of the sound.

As she stepped cautiously forward, she suddenly felt a sharp prick on her neck. She pulled out what seemed to be a small arrow and gently placed it in the flaps of her waistband. She moved behind the thickets stealthily to fight her invisible foe but her steps seemed to grow heavier, her knees began to go weak and then everything went black.