Vandhiyathevan's first thought was to save Kanthamaran at any cost. But if we try to save him first, we will meet the same fate as him. Therefore, this cruel guard must first be corrected. So he leapt up and put one arm around the guards neck. With his other hand he tapped the torch. The torch fell to the ground. Its flame shrank and the smoke increased. Vandhiyathevan tightened his grip around the guard's neck and pushed him down with all his might. The guard's head hit the wall of the tunnel and he fell. Vandhiyathevan took the torch and went near him. He lay there as if dead. However, with precaution he took out the angvastram and tied it tightly with both hands. He did all this in a few seconds and ran to Kanthamaran. He found half his body lying in the tunnel and half outside with a knife stabbed in his back. His spear was also lying nearby. Vandhiyathevan went out and grabbed Kanthamaran and threw him out; He took the job. Instantly the door closed on its own, and the wall hid the great secret. Vandhiyathevan knew from the strong wind that he had come out of the fort.
The moonlight was very, very dim, for the dense trees and ramparts of the fortress walls obscured the moon. Vandhiyathevan picked up Kanthamaran and put him on his shoulder. He also took Kanthamaran's job in one hand. He took a step. There was a sensation of mud collapsing and falling vertically. Suddenly he sat down and stood with great effort. He looked down. The shade provided by the trees and the fort wall was a stream of water. It was evident that the torrent was going with whirlpools and whirlpools. Good luck! If Karanam escapes, death may have occurred. God saved! That wretched policeman – but what's the use of blaming him? He must have carried out his master's orders! He must have intended to stab him in the back on the doorstep and throw him into the funnel. If our feet had slipped a little more, both of us would have fallen into the sink. Even if we survive, Kanthamaran's fate will be the same!
Vandhiyathevan knew that Vadavaru was approaching the Thanjai fortress wall at one place. It has to be the north. Though there was not much flood in the Vadavaru at that time, there may be a deep sink on the edge of this fort. Who saw it? Vandhiyathevan put the work in the water and looked deeper. The whole of the Vel went into the water and the ground did not fall! Aha! What horrible scoundrels are they... This is not the time to think about it. We have to find a way to escape and save Kanthamaran. Vandhiyathevan walked along the side of the flood with his feet firmly pressed so that his feet did not slip. He walked with Kanthamaran on his shoulder and his spear in his hand. Kanthamaran's moaning two or three times gave courage and reassurance to his friend. After going on like this for some distance, the fortress wall moved away. There was a forest on the shore. There were so many thorns on the ground that it was difficult to step on.
Aha! What is this? A tree has fallen into the river! It must have been a tall tree. The flood must have uprooted it! Half of it is down to the river. He climbed into it and stumbled along. The tree was swaying with the force of the flood. The branches and leaves of the tree were rippling in the water. The wind was blowing impossibly hard. When he reached the edge of the tree, he left the work and looked deeper. Good luck! Murugan saved. There's not that much crater here! Vandhiyathevan went down the tree into the river and passed. Here and there he tackled the ditches. He withstood the force of the flood and the intensity of the wind with his willpower. His body trembled violently.
Kanthamaran, who was lying on his shoulder, sometimes tried to slip and fall. Vandhiyathevan escaped all these dangers and reached the other side. After staggering along with the heavy body of Kanthamaran in a wet cloth soaked up to his waist for some distance, he gently placed Kanthamaran down in a place where there was a gap in the shade of the tree. At first he wanted to make amends. He also wanted to make sure that there was still life in Kanthamaran's body. What is the use of carrying a lifeless body? Instead, he could leave it in the flood as the guard intended. No! No! There is life; There is a sigh. The pulse beats fast; His chest heaves. What can we do now? Can I take a knife out of my back? If you take it, it will bleed. It will cost you your life. The wound should be treated and dressed immediately. Isn't that something that can be done by one? Who else to look for help?....Senthan Amuthan was remembered. His garden and house are on the banks of the Vadavaru. It may be here very recently. If Kanthamaran somehow takes him to Senthan Amuthan's house, there will be a way for Kanthamaran to survive. Let's give it a try.
When he tried to lift Kanthamaran again, Vandhiyathevan was surprised and happy to see that Kanthamaran's eyes were open.
"Kanthamara! Do you know who I am?"
"I know, it looks good. You are the mighty! Don't you know a dear friend like you? Can you forget? Aren't you the friend who stands behind and stabs you in the back?" said Kanthamaran.
These last words were like whipping Vallavarayan.
"Alas! Did I stab you from behind...?" he began, remembering something and stopping abruptly.
"You didn't punch... Your knife patted my back..... Damn it! It was for you! I hurried down the tunnel. I rushed to catch you before Pazhuvertaraiyar's men caught you. I ran to prevent anyone from harming you. I vowed to find you and put you in the younger Pazhuvertaraiyar's fortress guard. Have you thus betrayed a friend who wanted to do you good? Is this the beauty of friendship? How many times have we swore to help one another! You have let it all fly in the air! I also wanted to warn you about a major change that is going to take place in this Chola Nadu kingdom! Damn! Who in this world can we trust now?" said Kanthamaran and closed his eyes again. He must have fainted again by talking so much and so angry.
"Don't you have people to believe? To trust the Pazhuvertaraiyars?" muttered Vandhiyathevan. Yet there were tears in his eyes. He thought it best not to say what he wanted to say. He carried Kanthamaran's body on his shoulders again and started walking.
The fragrance of the flowers blooming at night was overwhelming. It was not in vain that he thought that Senthan Amuthan's house should be nearby. Soon the garden came, but the garden! How different is it from the first day of seeing it and what it looks like today? The garden resembled Ashoka destroyed by Hanuman and Madhuvana destroyed by the monkeys. Aha! Pazhuvertaraiyar's men seem to have come here looking for him. Those who have come have committed such atrocities and gone away! Damn! How hard must Senthan Amuthan and his beloved mother have worked to develop this garden? All that is ruined!
Sympathy for the destruction of the garden was instantly gone. He remembered his dangerous situation. What if the spies and the garrison are waiting somewhere near here?... You have to deal with them with one hand. Luckily, our horse is still in the tree... Perhaps he had left it to catch him? What can be done anyway? He must be handed over to the good men of this hut and mounted his horse. The horse that leaves here has to go to Pazhaiyarai.
Slowly, step by step, he reached the entrance of the hut. Senthan who was lying on the porch woke up Amuthan. He got up and covered Amuthan's mouth. Then he said in a low voice; "Brother! You have to help me. I am in a big dilemma. He is my dear friend. Kanthamaran is the son of Kadampoor Sambuvaraiyar. Someone had stabbed him in the back on my way. I brought it."
"Wretched wretch! They have been stabbed in the back! What pure warriors!" said Amuthan.
Then he said, "I'll take care of him as best I can. Since this evening a crowd of soldiers have come looking for you. The garden itself has been destroyed by them. Let it go, if you survive. Luckily they left your horse behind. Get on your horse and leave at once!"
"That's my idea. But something must be done to save his life!"
"You don't have to worry about that. My mother was an expert in such matters. She knows how to treat wounds!" said Senthan Amuthan and knocked lightly on the door of the hut. Immediately the door opened. Senthan Amuthan's mother stood at the door.
Both of them carried Kanthamaran and threw him inside the hall. In the light of the lamp, Senthan Amuthan spoke to his mother by gesture. She seemed to understand it well. She stared at Kanthamaran. She looked at the knife in her back, and then went in and fetched some green leaves and an old cloth. She looked up at both of them.
Senthan Amuthan held Kanthamaran tightly. Vallavaraiyan pulled out the knife that had been sticking out of his back for so long.
Blood gushed out. Kanthamaran shouted impassively.
Vandhiyathevan covered his mouth.
Senthan Amuthan pressed the wound.
Amuthan's mother tied the green leaves on the wound.
Kanthamaran groaned again.
Suddenly, in the distance, there was the sound of men running.
"Go! Go! Hurry up!" said Amuthan.
Vandhiyathevan picked up the blood-stained knife and the work. The departed man hesitated.
"Brother! Do you trust me?"
"I believe in God. I am fond of you. Why did you ask?"
"I need a favor. I don't know much of the way on this page. We have to go to Pazhaiyarai urgently. An important message has to be conveyed to Kundavai. Will you come to guide me a little way?"
Immediately Senthan Amuthan said something more to his mother. She did not seem overly surprised. She signalled him to go. She also hinted that she would take care of the wounded.
Senthan and Devan left. First Devan and then Senthan mounted the horse.
Vandhiyathevan drove slowly so that he could not hear the horse. When he had gone some distance he knocked. The horse tore apart at a gallop.
Five or six soldiers arrived at the hut at the same time as the horse started. There was a loud knock at the door.
Amuthan's mother opened the door. She stood in the doorway.
"Did you hear a commotion here? What's that?" roared one of the soldiers.
Amuthan's mother blurted out something.
"What's the use of talking to this deaf and dumb man? Let's go inside and see!" said one.
"Is she standing in the way?"
"Where did that flower pot boy go?"
"Push the dumb one and get in!"
Senthan Amuthan's mother shouted something in more dumb language.
She pushed the soldier who tried to push her away and tried to lock the door. Four or five men pushed the door shut so that it could not be slammed.
Amuthan's mother suddenly opened the door with even louder wails.
Two or three people rolled over and fell.
Others trampled them in.
"The man is here!" someone shouted.
"Trapped?" asked another.
"He's going to run! Catch him and tie him up!" said another.
Dumb moaned more.
"There is blood!" one of them exclaimed.
She held up the dumb lantern and pointed to the man lying on the ground and said, "Bey, be, be!"
"Oh! He looks like someone else!"
"Be! Bay!"
"Was he the one who came here yesterday?"
"Be! Bay!"
"Where's your son?"
"Be! Bay!"
"You dumb corpse! Just be quiet! Whoops! Take a good look at him! Does anyone know the sign?"
"He's not!"
"It's him!"
"Not at all!"
"Be! Bay!"
"Anyway, he's a stranger! Lift him up! Let's go!"
"Be! Bey! Bey! Bay!"
"Oh my God! Be quiet!"
Four people together lifted Kanthamaran.
"Be! Bey! Bey! Be!" screamed Amuthan's mother incessantly.
"Oh! I can hear the horse!"
"Half of you, pick him up! Half of them run and see!"
"Everybody run! He's not going anywhere."
Everyone threw down Kanthamaran and ran.
"Baby! Babe! Babe!" Amuthan Mother's cry followed them.