Rajiv Menon -- ThunderGod (9 page)

***

Vasu watched as the men finished their training for the day; it got dark very quickly in these mountains. He took a deep drag of the hemp pipe he was smoking and leaned back against a rock, allowing the smoke to slowly drift through his lungs. He had spent some time thinking about what Mitra had said. Could Indra be the child of the prophecy? He had heard it discussed once around the campfires when he was a child. It was a prophecy lost in the annals of time.

To unite the northern clans was an impossible task. Yet if it were accomplished, the man who did it would have under his command the most powerful fighting force in the world. But to lead them and earn their respect, he would have to be the greatest warrior the world had ever seen.

His mind then went to his daughter's birthday celebrations. The political ramifications of the betrothal had not escaped Vasu. Now, away from Daeyus' shadow, he felt that he was coming into his own as a leader. He enjoyed the responsibility of leading the Devas, and it had started to bother him that the arrangement was only a temporary one. But when Susena had come to him with his stories about ill omens and demons, Vasu had gone along only because he thought there was a possibility that the high priest was right.

Vasu was a simple man; he had no wish to oppose the will of the gods. Mitra's position in the matter and the reminder of the prophecy had now made Vasu change his stance completely. As long as Mitra and Indra had the support of the clan, they would have his support.

***

True to his word, Chief Thora arrived in a few weeks with his men to inform the Devas that the road ahead was clear. The Pakhtu then escorted the caravan to their southern border. When the time came to part ways, the chief presented them with ten bundles of strong rope made from hemp, a plant that grew wild in the valleys.

'You will find it useful on the ride ahead. Have a safe journey, my friends. May the gods protect you.'

The Devas left the Pakhtu with another hundred head of cattle and went their way. The few weeks of good weather had vastly improved conditions and the mood of the caravan was remarkably upbeat as they continued their journey southwards. The trail wound downwards until they were soon well below the tree line. The Devas now marched through beautiful forests of rhododendrons and pines. The melting snow had transformed one of the larger streams into a gushing mountain river, and as they camped along its banks, the men ventured into the water filled with giant salmon. They speared the fish in vast numbers and grilled them at the campfires; it made a welcome change from the usual fare of meat and dairy products.

They made good progress in the summer months. On occasion they came into contact with other mountain tribes and traded with them. Since fresh meat was the most precious commodity in these parts, they were always able to negotiate with them for the best campsites on their land.

Mitra chose to withdraw from his administrative duties and spent a lot of time alone on the trail. Sometimes he would be gone for days, riding well ahead of all the scouting parties. He was a little anxious: the months of good weather were going by fast; it was time for them to find a more permanent settlement, where they would be able to comfortably ride out the brutal winter. All the valleys they had encountered thus far had not been large enough to accommodate them and their vast herds for that length of time. Finally, he decided to make camp in one such valley for a few days while they awaited the arrival of their scouts, who had gone ahead to reconnoitre the trail.

Basit woke early one morning and made her way through the forest, she was extremely happy--her hard work had paid off and she was now part of Mahisi's personal staff. This meant that she did not have to live in the slave encampment any more. Finally, her life was starting to look up.

She made her way through the trees as she looked for a secluded spot on the banks of the stream where she could bathe. At a safe distance, Susena followed her. He watched her as she moved gracefully through the trees, his mouth dry with excitement. He was going to enjoy the task at hand.

Basit shivered as the cold water enveloped her naked body. She proceeded to wash herself as she hummed a song from her childhood. The sound of a pebble clattering against a rock startled her and she turned sharply. Only a few feet away, resplendent in his robes of blue, stood the high priest Susena. Basit covered her breasts with her arms and slowly made her way towards the rock where she had laid her tunic, but the high priest beat her to it. He placed one foot on her tunic and beckoned her to come towards him.

Terror stricken, Basit complied. She had seen the victims of the high priest's amorous advances return torn and bleeding to the slave camp and heard their horror stories of Susena's perversions. She shut her eyes and prayed to the divine mother for protection.

The high priest's eyes ran appreciatively up and down her body. 'Surya be praised! The little bud has transformed into such a beautiful flower and I did not even notice it.'

He brushed her arms aside, held one of her erect nipples between his fingers and squeezed hard. She let out a gasp of pain. He laughed and continued to fondle her nipple, but this time he was gentler.

Basit felt them harden, and she tried hard to control her arousal, ashamed of it. Susena watched her squirm, revelling in her discomfort. Basit now felt his fingers move slowly up her thighs. Fortunately for her, it was not Susena's boorish ego that controlled his hand; it was controlled by another, peerless in the art of love.

She felt his fingers between her legs, strumming her like a harp, sending shivers of pleasure through her body. Her breathing began to get ragged as she hungered for more. Susena expertly guided his index finger into her moist interior. He was very gentle.

By now Basit had lost all sense of modesty. She began to push herself against his hand. Susena watched her closely, her eyes were shut and her head was thrown back. She ground her hips against his hand as she moaned in pleasure. Then she stiffened, her beautiful face contorted in rapturous joy, she felt herself about to explode into a mind-numbing orgasm, when Susena suddenly stopped.

Her eyes snapped open. She had been soaring towards the gates of heaven only to be brought crashing down to the earth. Susena stared deeply into her eyes. She watched fascinated as the high priest raised his still moist finger to his mouth and slowly sucked on it. Basit shuddered in pleasure looking at him. He moved his face close to her ear and whispered huskily. 'This is a mere drop compared to the ocean of pleasure you will experience if you do my bidding.'

Basit hesitated, unsure what the man had in mind. Susena sensed her misgivings. 'Of course you could refuse, but I will still have my way with you and I promise you I will not be so gentle. Then I will leave you to the soldiers. After they are finished with you, I don't know if you would be fit to serve a fine lady like Mahisi.'

Ishtar had sensed her deepest fear and used it to force her hand. His words had the desired effect. Basit fell at his feet and kissed them. 'I am the dust at your feet, my lord, I live only to serve you.'

Susena smiled smugly, as he leaned forward and told her exactly what she would have to do.

***

It was late afternoon on a particularly beautiful day in the valley. Under a pine tree, Mahisi sang Indra a lullaby and put him to sleep. She laid him down gently on a little bearskin mattress and asked the guards to keep watch. She then quietly made her way into the forest. Basit watched her mistress leave; she knew exactly where she was headed.

As Mahisi hurried through the woods, humming a pleasant tune, somewhere ahead a young soldier was waiting for her. To the other members of the clan she was still the grieving widow, so she had to be discreet; but she had needs, and this young man fulfilled them more than adequately.

The guards were also caught up in the laziness of that lovely afternoon. One of them noticed Basit making her way towards them. In her hand the beautiful girl was carrying a clay pot full of mead appropriated from Susena's fine stocks. She greeted the guards in her usual shy way.

'Good day my brave warriors, I have brought you a gift, a little something to enjoy this beautiful day.'

She held the vessel out to them. The guards looked at each other hesitantly, and finally the older one reached for it and took a swig; the liquor was vastly superior to any he had tasted before. He handed the pot to the young man who looked apprehensive but gingerly took a small sip. He enjoyed the sweet liquor so much that he put it to his lips again and drank a big mouthful. The heady liquor induced a coughing fit; the older man snatched the pot away and gave his companion a contemptuous look. He then took an equally big draught. Basit watched this exchange impatiently.

'My brave warriors, perhaps you should find a place a little more discreet. If the regent found you drinking on duty, he would skin you alive.'

The two men were quick to spot the wisdom in her words and they sauntered off into the nearby trees bearing the pot of liquor with them.

Basit watched them leave. She had added a powerful sleep-inducing narcotic to the liquor. It wouldn't be long now before the two men would start to feel its effects. She had all the time she would need to accomplish her task. She looked at the ring on her finger, a gift from the high priest. She carefully tugged at the shiny black stone set in the middle of it. It came away in her fingers, revealing a tiny, sharp needle. She carefully turned the ring to face her palm. All she had to do now was inflict a tiny scratch on the baby as she picked him up. The poison would instantly find its way through his blood stream into his tiny beating heart and stop it forever.

Susena watched his beautiful assassin ready herself for the task at hand. In spite of the risk involved, a morbid sense of curiosity had dragged him towards the scene of crime. He wanted to savour his moment of triumph at close quarters.

Just then, a shadow passed over him and caused him to look up. A magnificent eagle flew overhead, bearing a sinuous black reptile in its talons. A little ahead, Basit looked at the baby fast asleep on the ground. His golden ringlets moved gently in the breeze. Her heart broke as she prayed. 'Forgive me, sweet Isis, for what I am about to do.'

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she bent towards Indra.

The eagle was now flying directly over her. It suddenly dropped its prey and the snake landed on Basit's shoulder, coiling itself around her neck. Basit stood up in shock. The snake raised its hood and its tongue flicked out, gently caressing her cheek. Basit recognised the reptile, it was one of the most feared creatures in her homeland. How it had found itself so far away in these frozen mountains was beyond her understanding. The Egyptian cobra struck her on the cheek and she fell to the ground, writhing in agony.

Basit tried to scream but only bubbles of froth came out of her mouth. The last thing she saw was the pair of lidless black eyes that stared blankly at her.

Susena stood transfixed as he watched the horrific scene unfold in front of his eyes. Two mortal enemies had colluded to thwart his plans. The eagle had alighted on a branch of a pine tree; it now stared impassively at him. The message was clear to Susena, the earth and the sky stood watch over this child. Now no one could do it harm.

The cobra turned towards the high priest who stood there, terror petrifying him. As the snake opened its mouth and hissed at him, two tiny jets of venom flew out of its fangs, striking Susena squarely in the eyes. The high priest fell to the ground, his hands clutched to his face as he screamed in agony.

From her vantage point high above her magnificent city, Ishtar sighed wistfully; she had played her last hand. Now she resigned herself to the inevitable.

The screams brought men and women running out of their tents; even the two guards were woken from their induced sleep. They arrived to see no sign of the snake; only the bodies of the high priest and the slave girl lay on the ground, their faces twisted in acute agony. Indra, who had woken up with the noise, was waving his tiny hands and kicking his legs in the air happily. Above them, the eagle sat on the high branches of the pine tree and proceeded to finish his interrupted meal.

Oblivious to the dramatic developments around them, Mitra and Vasu were locked in conference in the regent's tent. The scouting party's return was long overdue. The Deva scouts prided themselves on their discipline and sense of duty, and Mitra knew that if they had not shown up yet, there was probably good reason. He feared the worst.

A young squire rushed into the tent, head bowed, all breathless with anxiety.

'My lords! Please come quick.'

Mitra and Vasu rushed to the spot to see a red-faced Mahisi clutching Indra to her bosom and showering him with kisses. Irritated with the excessive attention, the child started to cry. As Mitra surveyed the ground where the horrific event had occurred, it became clear to him what had happened. The two victims had died of snake-bite but as far as he knew, there were no venomous snakes in this region, at least none capable of delivering this kind of a death. He smiled as he realised that he was not alone in looking out for the welfare of the child. Unseen forces were at hand to aid him in his efforts. He turned to the regent.