Vandiya
Devan’s first impulse was to save Kandan Maran’s life but he had to take care
of this murderous guard first. He sprang forward and held the guard by his
throat from behind and wrestled his arm, making him drop the fire log. The fire
log fell down burning low, while the guard struggled to release himself from
Vandiya Devan’s steely hold. Vandiya Devan held the guard tightly and then
banged his head on the wall whereupon he fell on the ground with a thud. Vandiya
Devan immediately took the fire log and went near the unconscious guard (who
looked as if he was dead). Not sure whether he was dead or not, Vandiya
Devan secured his arms with his upper cloth quickly.
Next he
ran to his friend who was lying half way across the
doorway with the guard’s knife stuck on his back and his spear lay near him.
Vandiya Devan stepped outside and dragged him outside the door and took his
spear in hand. The doorway to the underground passage closed automatically.
Hoisting his friend on his shoulders, he turned around to see where they had
emerged. A rushing stream was passing was very near him and the ground was wet
and muddy. A few steps more, they would have fallen into the gushing kauveri
river that ran along the fort.
