4. Panjilaras and An Egg
The years went by and the boy grew up, strong and healthy. True to their promise to the fairies, the wild animals were friendly toward mother and son. Panjilaras learnt their language; he played with them and talked to them. He jumped around from branch to branch with the chattering monkeys, while gathering sweet fruit for his mother. He rode on the tiger’s back, and enjoyed himself on hot days swimming in the cool river with his mother and their animal friends. And Dewi Murti thought that he was too young to understand her sad story.
One day when Panjilaras was fifteen years old, he sat with his mother outside their little hut. Suddenly a big bird flew down from the sky and sat on a branch if a tree nearby. In his beak it held an egg.
“Please, Mother, ask the bird to give me its egg,” asked Panjilaras.
Dewi Murti stretched out her hand and said in her sweet voice, “Friend Bird, if you care for my child, please gives me the egg.”
The bird turned its head towards mother and son. It dropped the egg gently into Dewi Murti’s hand. Then it gave a loud cry and flew up into the sky again.
“It’s a hen’s egg,” said Dewi Murti, “what are you going to do with it?”
“I shall ask Auntie Snake to hatch it for me,” said Panjilaras excitedly. He went at once to the riverside where the big snake lived. The huge animal had just finished its meal and was now lying fast asleep.
“Auntie Snake, Auntie Snake!” called Panjilaras, waking the animal. The snake lifted its head, its little eyes shining with anger. It did not like to be disturbed. But when it saw the boys its good mood returned.
The snake liked Panjilaras.
“Well, my boys. It’s nice to see you again. What do you have there?”
“It’s an egg, Auntie Snake,” answered Panjilaras. “Will you hatch it for me?”
“Hmm, fortunately I’ve a good meal, otherwise …” said the snake, who loved eggs. “Never mind, I’ll do it for you. Give it to me and come back in two weeks’ time. Now go home, my boy. I’m sleepy.”
