Climbing Chamundi Hill Read Online Free Page B

look around for a way to get out, but the place was a trap. The river ran down the canyon, churning through noisy rapids, walled on both sides with sheer rock cliffs. There was no getting out. I saw a few tinduka fruits, which are too sweet by the time they fall from the tree to the ground. Still, I fed on these and drank from the river. In a matter of days—it was obvious—I would be dead. There was no point in yelling, for no traveler would likely come by that remote place. Despondent, I sank to the ground and stayed there, crying and eating the dwindling supply of fruit.
    â€œOn the fourth day of my imprisonment there—I was already delirious with despair—I heard a voice from the top of the cliff. ‘Who are you down there? Are you man or animal?’ I couldn’t see the caller, but I cried back as loudly as I could, ‘I’m a man. I fell down a few days ago while looking for my cow.’
    â€œâ€˜Are you hurt?’ the strange raspy voice asked kindly. I managed to focus my eyes on a form above the cliff just under the fruit tree. It was a large black ape with shiny eyes. I hesitated before answering,‘I’m not hurt, but I am in great distress. I fear that I shall die soon.’
    â€œâ€˜Don’t lose hope,’ I heard him say, ‘I’ll get you out of there. But first let me bring you some nourishment.’ The ape disappeared and shortly thereafter a shower of ripe fruit descended on me: bananas, mangoes, and berries. They landed all around, but I ate reluctantly because I was sick of fruit. Meanwhile, the ape disappeared again. He later told me that he went looking for a sack, which he filled with rocks, in order to practice carrying me up the cliff. I thought he had abandoned me, but the next day I awoke to see him climbing down with great skill. It was only when he reached me that I realized how large he was—and how human were his eyes. He told me to get on his back, and I wasted no time. Hanging on to his thick neck as best I could and shutting my eyes tightly, I felt the huge muscles of his back and shoulders as he began to scale the sheer rock. It was a long, difficult climb. With little for him to grasp, the ape often had to suspend himself with only one hand, while his other reached upward to find a new holding spot. His breathing became increasingly strained as the heat of the sun sent rivers of perspiration down his body.
    â€œWhen we finally made it to the top—as I looked back down, it seemed like a miracle to me—the ape lay down panting on the grass and told me that he desperately needed some rest. ‘I must close my eyes for an hour or two. The climb wore me out. After I wake up, I shall lead you out of the forest.’ Thenhe added, ‘These woods are dangerous, my friend. There are predators here that will gladly pounce on me as I sleep. I ask you to keep watch for dangerous animals. If I’m attacked and killed, you will surely die as well, so don’t fall asleep!’
    â€œI was thrilled to be useful to him. It was the least I could do for the compassionate creature who risked his own life to save a stranger from certain death. I resolved to stay awake and keep a vigilant eye despite my own fatigue. The ape sank into a deep sleep as I sat next to him. The minutes crawled by and turned to hours, while the evening stretched long ahead. Having spent several days in the canyon surviving on a few bites of fruit each day, I was starving for something more substantial than fruit. The thought of eating meat wormed its way into my head and refused to depart. I looked down at the peaceful figure of the ape, lying trustingly on his back with outstretched arms—like a prince on his royal bed. He suddenly took on the appearance of food, a cooked dish. There was so much of him, and I was so hungry…
    â€œI knew these thoughts were sinful even as I watched them play inside my head. But the hunger was so raw I