In a land not so far away, in a time long, long ago … When distances were measured in days walked not miles covered … When things half understood, were revered as magic, and left at that …
This is, alas, neither the start nor the end. One story had just ended, where the victor was *Right*, and nothing of the vanquished was *Left*. Before another story started, there was a journey to be made, which too has begun. As we noted, neither the start nor the end …
Some feel less than ten, though ’twas fourteen years some say |
– But some maintain the full duration was a whole lot more ||
An ill-advised exile for a few or a mighty military foray |
– Certain though ’twas led by two brothers from the set of four ||
Took them long to journey south, as they tread on foot – per the songs bards sang |
– In addition, you can’t hurry when you fight your way against the rival gang! |
When they made their way back north, the return passage was oh-so-quick ||
– Wonders the populace, how did they achieve this formidable magic? ||
FADE IN
It is just before sunset. Looks like a way-station. Where tired travelers stop for food and water. It is not much to look at. A clump of shady trees. A well nearby for drinking water. A small stream a little way away (you can hear it) for cleaning needs.
There is a small village of sorts, with artisans and cooks, who – for a few pieces of silver – cater to the needs of the travelers who can afford them. Rest of the time it is just a small agricultural village.
When wealthy travelers come, the men help sell fruits, grain, roasted birds and unleavened bread. The women help mend clothes, draw water, offer their services as cooks and maids and sometimes services of a more private kind. The children, urchins you would call them, help with small errands and generally get in the way.
There stands in the clearing a piece of machinery which is as strange as it is beautiful.
Made of light-weight wood not found in these parts, it is embellished with gold and silver foils and strengthened by rings of metal in a few places. A team of three ill-matched men bumbled about. They are oiling the wood, brushing the metal. They have commandeered a few urchins to sweep the inside with makeshift brooms.
Out of these, the senior most and the darkest of the lot – let’s call him Moe – is giving instructions to the other two. The one with noticeable hair loss – dubbed Curly – seems to be unperturbed, may be due to past experience of this kind. The youngest, with a lighter complexion – henceforth known as Larry – is trying to follow Moe’s instructions to the Tee, thus ending up doing the most of the oiling, scrubbing, brushing and tightening.
MOE:
Come on, we don’t have that many hours of light. Make sure you wipe off the excess oil from the seats. We won’t want the garments of the Exalted One’s stained, would we?
LARRY:
Yes Moe. May I ask a question sire.
CURLY:
(sniggers) You didn’t tell you had traveled north to give our young friend’s mother a visit? Sire, phwah!
MOE:
Shut up you bald twerp. These Northerners have a more respectful way of talking. [TO LARRY]
Speak up, Larry and you can call me by name.
L:
Thanks. I just wanted to know, why do we oil this vimana, this beautiful craft that flies over land, every night.
M:
That’s a beautiful name you have crafted kid. Vimana! It is to ensure that the next day it still flies smoothly and doesn’t tumble down on the ground. Given not many artisans who can repair this vimana have come on this journey. Curly and I can only do small repairs. This oiling ensures that the wood is supple and to check for cracks. Also a good quantity of oil and heavy grease in places where the dark metal touches wood, especially where there is the constant movement during our northward flight, prevents overheating and breaking.
L:
Then why don’t we oil and grease the beasts? They too have dark metal nailed into them.
C:
(mockingly bows to Moe) Answer that, oh master artisan of the flying vimana!
M:
(frowns at Curly) Machaa, if you weren’t my wife’s brother, I would have liked to give you mighty clump on that shiny noggin of yours.
(to Larry) They are oiled and watered, my apprentice. But by the beast-keepers. You don’t know as they take them away to the streams nearby.
C:
More to let them water themselves while those smelly beast-keepers oil themselves, if you understand what I mean. I tell you, machinaan, they think not the beasts but they themselves came from across the seas. The way they dress in robes, instead of a more appropriate and respectful dhoti.
L:
I was talking to the apprentice beast-keeper. He said the robes are to keep the dust and grime off their bodies and faces. It seems it gets quite windy, as they sit at the front outside the enclosure that keeps the dust away from the Exalted One’s.
M:
Whatever, if it was not for our expertise in keeping these vimanas light yet strong, their robes and their beasts could not go as far as a crow flies in an hour, without tiring out.
L:
I had never seen these beasts with their silky hair and necks like swan before. In fact I heard the Exalted-One-Who-Never-Sleeps instruct the beast keepers that they will halt a day’s trek away from the Capital City. He says this will give time to make the beasts look more majestic when they make the ceremonial entry.
C:
But you do have beasts you ride in your kingdom, don’t you?
L:
Yes, but they are much more stolid and slower. These majestic one’s, which came from across the seas, are head and shoulders above them, literally.
M:
That’s enough. Go get a pot of drink for us from the villagers.
LARRY EXITS
C:
This kid is so round-eyed. Even after three months and many a breakdowns he still considers the vimana as magical. What’s there to it? Get wood that is light and strong. Make wheels strengthened with iron. Connect enough number of the long legged beasts to each craft, and you can travel faster than any army on foot or even beast.
M:
That’s how it is. Anything you do not understand is magic. And these northerners have put so much effort on warfare that they never consider the importance of speed of travel and trade. Under the Ten Kings, our people controlled the sea-routes and the trade. That’s the reason the Northern Princes, brought their army and conquered the Ten Kingdoms. Now it will change. But for now, let’s stop being charioteers and become flyers of magical vimanas.
C:
That I can drink to. Let’s have something to eat as well. It is again an early start, as the Princes want to be back within this month. Sometimes I wonder if they actually think that these vimanas fly by magic and not by the blood and sweat of beasts and men. We started with twenty chariots and now only five remain. Our other mates come behind using make-shift carts pulled by fewer horses. While we have to ensure that not just this showy craft with golden trim but the larger one’s with the best soldiers is in good repair. I do believe the Princes put a lot of store in impressing their kin. Or is it scaring, their brothers back home?
M:
You may be close to the truth, machaa. I heard the High Chinned One, the ambassador designate from the Tribe of the Two Kings say something similar. That’s their worry! Ours is to ensure they reach there fast. Thank god, this was the last one we had to inspect. Now where is that light-skinned fool!
FADE OUT
Random Mythoscopy 