Chapter 26 The Idol’s Rescue
The atmosphere changed following Veer’s daring attempt. More musicians added their instruments to the orchestra. Despite the frequent lightning strikes into the crowds, the music continued to play, in defiance against the wizard’s vicious power.
As if thwarted, the wizard lowered his hands. But then he raised his staff into the air and stabbed it to the ground. Chandra felt the vibration of that impact all the way to where they were standing.
A crooked column of strong light forked from the sky. The heavens responded to his call, and a deluge of rain began. Wind rose to a shrieking intensity. The musicians were defeated in the strong gale and fell silent.
This time, when another bolt of lightning came, they all flinched; it was too bright to be seen by bare eyes and struck directly onto the surface of the water.
The water glowed an unnatural blue for a second. Then the surface rippled with electricity as the charge spread outward.
Silence fell abruptly. Everyone stood stock-still. If Veer rose to the surface now, he would be electrocuted. But to stay underwater any longer in that whirlpool would also mean death.
Each excruciating second passed at a snail’s pace.
“The time when the eclipse breaks is approaching. We have maybe under a minute. There is no sign of the idol or the young man yet,” said a worried Agrani. “And we now have this lightning to contend with.”
Chandra didn’t realize she had collapsed to her knees until Sameera slipped her hand into her cold one. “Come on, Chandra. You can’t go to pieces like this. Be strong for him.”
“This is all my fault, Sameera. If only I didn’t raise any objections to his earlier plan, he wouldn’t be risking his life.”
“Calm down, Chandra, we still have hope.”
But Chandra knew she would carry the guilt all her life if anything happened to him.
A break appeared through the dark cloud cover. A shaft of sunlight shone through the dusk. The eclipse had broken.
A tug came on the rope suddenly. Men started pulling the rope like Veer had instructed before.
The tall spire of Lord Brihadeeshwar’s crown broke the surface. It was immediately enveloped by the sparks of remaining charge. A shaft of sunlight fell on the idol, completing the ritual cleansing.
The idol steadily rose and fell as it was towed to the bank. As it neared the shore, they all saw that a giant turtle was carrying it. Tied securely to its back, by the same rope the helpers were tugging at. The turtle halted at the bank.
Shota and Aradatta, who were at the front of the line of men pulling on the rope, covered the idol with dry oil cloths, discharging the statue of charge before it touched bare hands. The tortoise returned to the depths of the water.
Veer was nowhere to be seen.
The plains lightened as sunlight broke through the clouds, chasing away the darkness. Storm clouds raced away as quickly as they had come. The electricity on the lake dissipated slowly. The turtle had since disappeared back into the waters.
The mysterious mage on the cliffs had vanished.
Still, Veer was nowhere to be seen.
Whispers began among the people as they slowly made their way toward the lake bank to get a closer look, now that the danger seemed past.
“Why isn’t he surfacing?”
Heart in throat, Chandra watched with desperate eyes, waiting for a sign that he survived.
“I’m going in,” said Shota, gearing up.
“We will help you too,” offered Aradatta, quickly organizing his men.
“I’m coming with you too,” said Chandra, wiping her tears with an impatient hand. The village elders glanced at her with surprise. Matangi looked goggle-eyed at her. Sameera frowned but said nothing.
“Er…perhaps you’re better here, daughter,” said Aradatta diplomatically. “It can get dangerous in the pool.”
“I’m going and that’s that,” said Chandra.
Chandra pretended not to see when Sameera signaled at her to soften her imperious tone, which was probably blowing her cover. Shota wisely didn’t even argue with her.
Just then, a dark shape broke through the surface. The turtle had returned, but now it was carrying a collapsed man on its back. Chandra gasped out a short breath like a sob and waded a few steps into the waters, right behind Shota and Billadev.
Hands scrambled for Veer when he reached the bank and laid him on the ground. They turned him and found a slim broken branch sticking out from underneath his ribs. He grimaced in pain but seemed conscious. Barely.
Shota crouched beside Veer and slipped the healing stone from his pocket. He glanced at Sameera and sent her a discreet signal.
Sameera nodded. She raised her voice, distracting the attention. “Who could that turtle be but an avatar of Vishnu? It has come to save and bless us.”
The rumor caught and circulated, devotees all too willing to accept the improbable explanation as a divine miracle, leaving Veer relatively alone with his companions.
Shota grabbed the stick and pulled it out. Veer began bleeding briskly, but it slowed under the influence of the healing stone.
“They are coming back. Quickly,” whispered Chandra. Shota slipped the stone back into his pocket.
Shota halted when Veer grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “The plan,” he gasped. “Cancel it. I know where the key piece is,” he said and lost consciousness.
Shota watched Veer’s bloodless face with a worried look.
“I can send a message to my brother about the change in plans,” said Matangi, who was hovering nearby. She seemed pleased about the change.
“Go,” said Chandra, interpreting Shota’s torn expression as he watched Matangi walk away. “I shall be with him.” She cradled Veer’s head in her lap and smoothed his brow.