It was quiet that night in the Land of the Lions. Bahaxur and Shujaa were talking about recent events. "We've lost a few lions to those snakes. And it seems the Dark Lions have attacked some lions as well. It seems this war is going to be ugly." said Shujaa. "Do you hear something?" said Bahaxur. "Something outside?" said Shujaa. "Sounds like it." said Bahaxur. "Probably an antelope." said Shujaa. "Doesn't sound like one." said Bahaxur. They both headed outside. They saw dozens of snakes slithering through the grass. "Think they're after us?" whispered Bahaxur. "So they live here now?" asked Nagasta. "Yes." said a Dark Lion that Bahaxur recognized as Prédoné, one of Kikatili's closest friends. "Working with the snakes now, Prédoné?" said Bahaxur, drawing attention to himself and Shujaa. "Your time is up, King Bahaxur!" said Prédoné. "Nagasta is going to make me the new King!" "Fat chance!" said Shujaa. She and Bahaxur ran away as their enemies turned and gave chase. They managed to rouse other lions and fought back. Several snakes were killed and several lions were slain from the snake venom. Prédoné and Bahaxur fought. Prédoné lunged at Bahaxur but Shujaa swung her left forepaw at his throat and crushed his larynx and windpipe, killing him. "Never mess with my husband!" Shujaa said. Medalíana chased Nagasta, who nearly bit her several times. "You are most foolish to fight me!" hissed Nagasta. "I'm going to make you pay for killing my husband!" said Medalíana. She managed to force Nagasta into a corner. "Now I'm going to finish you." said Medalíana. "Indeed." hissed Nagasta. Bahaxur spotted it in time. "Look out Medalíana!" he called. Medalíana jumped and ran off quickly as Karistan sped out of the shadows, narrowly missing her with his fangs. "Wicked, wicked Bahaxur!" said Karistan. "We'll deal with you and your wife later! Right now we're going to put down a rebellion. Those mice and that wicked Darzee won't know what hit them. Then we'll go for those humans. It seems Rikki-tikki is no longer around to protect them!" said Karistan, biting a lion and slithering off into the dark with Nagasta.
"We've got to warn Darzee and those mice." said Bahaxur. "Quickly find me some messenger birds. We must get word to them and to Rikki-tikki and Avíá-tía immediately!" "Yes, Your Highness." said a lion named Krava.. A while later the lions came back with two ravens and two owls. "Two for day travel and two for night." said Krava. "You two" she said to a raven and an owl, go find Rikki-tikki and Avíá-tía. Tell them that Nagasta means to attack his friend Darzee and a bunch of mice. Also tell them Karistan and Nagasta plan to attack the humans that take care of him." said Shujaa. "And you other two, go and find Darzee and the mice. They must be prepared for the attack. We can't let Nagasta and Karistan win this war!" "Yes, Your Majesty." said the ravens and the owls before flying off. "I hope we can get there in time. Some of you should follow the Dark Lions. We don't want any more villages ending up like that one by the Dark Forest." said Shujaa. "We'll see to it." said Krava. "Now to get some rest." said Bahaxur, heading back to his cave. "Yes, I think we're safe from attack for the time being." said Shujaa.
The Border of the Land of the Giant SpidersRikki and Avíá headed southeast for many days. They came across villages of natives but never stayed long. A few snakes tried to attack them and the humans but Rikki and Avíá fought them off. "Praśaṃsanīya nevlā![1]" said a native after Rikki rescued him from a viper. "Sorry I can't stay," said Rikki-tikki, "but I've got to get to Kalindo." He and Avíá came to the last village before the Land of the Giant Spiders. "Don't go there!" said a mouse. "The Tarantula Emperor kills everyone who comes there without His permission." said a cat. "Well that'll make it harder for Nagasta to follow us." said Avíá. They headed out the next day a few hours before dawn. It was their hope to come upon the Giant Spiders while they were asleep so as to be able to observe them without being attacked. They traveled past the edge of town. "Turn back!" said a tailorbird. "Sorry. I've got to get to Kalindo. I must stop the Cobra Queen." said Rikki. "On your head be it. You'll never come out alive!" said the tailorbird. "The Tarantula Emperor ate my wife! There's no limit to His wickedness!" "I'm sorry for your loss." said Avíá. "Perhaps I can deal with this Tarantula Emperor as well." said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "I've managed to survive fighting Karistan and Nagasta." "May Kubera,[2] the Guardian of Mongooses, protect you." said the tailorbird.
Snake and SpiderRikki and Avíá headed toward a forbidding-looking forest five miles southwest of town. They headed in, looking around warily. They walked in for about five miles and finally heard noise up ahead. "Think it's them?" said Rikki. They crept very low to the ground toward the source of the noise. Before they could get to it, however, they suddenly noticed a viper coming toward them. "This is a bad time." whispered Rikki. "We're trying not to alert the giant spider." whispered Avíá. "Nice try you two! Giant spider indeed!" hissed the viper. That did it. The tarantula came out into the open, frightening all three of them. It was the biggest spider that either the two mongooses or the viper had ever seen. "This is our land! Nobody comes here without the approval of the Emperor !" said the spider. "I'm here to capture these two wicked mongooses." said the viper. "I'll deal with them, and with you too!" said the tarantula. "Ha! Come near me and I'll bite you! I'm poisonous." hissed the viper angrily. "So am I!" said the tarantula. "I think the spider can whip you!" said Rikki. "What do you mean-" said Avíá, who was elbowed by Rikki. "Better to have them fight each other than us." whispered Rikki. "Got it." whispered Avíá. "No, Rikki, I think the snake shall win." said Avíá. "Yes, I'm the better!" said the viper. "Better at what? Losing a fight?" taunted the tarantula. "You'd best use your eight legs to start running before I get you!" hissed the viper angrily. "You can't outrun me! You don't even have any legs!" said the tarantula angrily. The two fought and bit each other. "Think we should run?" whispered Avíá. The two combatants were somewhat resistant to each other's venom but finally, after repeated bites, became very ill. "Tricked! Tricked! Tricked! Rikk-tck-tck!" chuckled Rikki-tikki-tavi. "You nasty little…!" said the viper before succumbing to the tarantula venom. "You won't get far!" said the tarantula before succumbing to the snake venom. "Well, that went well." said Avíá-tía-tárá. "Yep. Those spiders are poisonous all right." said Rikki. "I'm thankful at least that they don't seem to like snakes any more than we do." said Avíá.
"So what's the plan?" said Rikki to Avíá. "I thought you would have some kind of plan already." said Avíá. "Well, it appears to be worse than fighting snakes. They're about as poisonous and they move faster." said Rikki. "Well, let's continue and we shall find out a way to kill them." said Avíá. The two went and hid in a hollow and rested till nightfall, the sun having just come up. An hour after sunset, the two set out once more and at last came upon some sleeping tarantulas, resting in spider webs. "These are the biggest webs I've ever seen!" said Rikki. "Look at those animal bones. They look like they came from birds, mice, and lizards." said Avíá. They crept past several sleeping tarantulas, observing them as much as they could to try and find their weaknesses. Finally three awoke, disturbed despite the mongooses' best efforts.
Chalícává, Chínselháüst, and Cáöné"Hey, what are you doing here?" said one of them. "Oh dear!" said Rikki. "We were walking together. Is it wrong for us to do that?" said Avíá. "This is our land!" said the tarantula. "Is there any way we could get you to be silent?" asked Rikki. "Not unless your good at mouse catching. I'm starving. Now give yourselves up or we'll bite you. And we're very poisonous. I take it you're not from around here." said the tarantula. "You think with your stomach just like Rikki." Avíá said to him. "Now is not the time Avíá." Rikki whispered to her. "No, we're not. I'm a mongoose. I've heard about you being poisonous from Tacróc. You spiders are the last obstacle to us getting to Kalindo." said Rikki. "And it so happens I am a natural born mouse hunter as well. Avíá and I will get you your meal but you must promise not to tell if we do. We need to get to Kalindo and the less fighting we have to do, the better." said Rikki-tikki. "Well let's go away from the others." said the tarantula's wife. "We don't want to get caught helping outsiders." They moved away and Rikki and Avíá left to go mouse hunting. They came back with several dead mice. "Wow! That was quick!" said one of the tarantulas. The tarantulas ate the mice, by secreting digestive juices from their chelicerae[3]. Rikki and Avíá watched with great interest. "All right," said the tarantula. "we won't tell." "Thank you, er," said Rikki-tikki. "My name is Chalícává, this is my wife Chínselháüst, and our son Cáöné." said the tarantula. "I'm Rikki-tikki-tavi and this is my girlfriend Avíá-tía-tárá." said Rikki. "Those names sound familiar." said Chalícává. "You probably heard them from animals that hate Nagasta the Cobra Queen." said Rikki. "I've heard of Nagasta. Heard she's trying to get our loyalty, but so far the Emperor isn't agreeing to join her. Says he'll deal with any humans that come here, as well as any mongooses, which now I know what they are, sort of, but that He won't come after them otherwise, at least not far away. However, He did show some interest. Though I think He'll want a lot for Himself no doubt!" said Chínselháüst. "As long as he doesn't commit to helping Nagasta. It would make the war very ugly indeed. Having poisonous spiders and poisonous snakes being cobelligerents[4] in the war together." said Avíá. "Another reason we didn't kill you on the spot," said Chalícává, "is because you two fit the story of the two red-eyed deliverers who will defeat the Emperors who have long dominated our colonies." "We're only red-eyed when we're mad." said Avíá. "Also, this story makes me uneasy. I didn't come exactly to fight the Tarantula Emperor." said Rikki. "He has taken my daughters forcibly to be his wives. Our other two sons stood up to Him and were killed for their efforts." said Chínselháüst. "You've got to help us!" begged the teenaged Cáõne. "We'll see what we can do." said Rikki-tikki. "What are you talking about?" Avíá whispered to Rikki. "We were supposed to get to Kalindo as soon as possible. What if Nagasta tries something on the humans?" "If she gets the Giant Spiders to join the war, many humans will die! I can't let that happen. I've already let things get way too out of hand!" said Rikki. "Besides, I don't think she's back yet anyway. And I have a safeguard against her attacking the humans." "What?" said Avíá. "I've told Darzee and Biwi to tell Nagasta that I killed Karait, Nag, and Nagaina, and forced them to help me. It would free the humans from danger and also the others as well." said Rikki. "First off, then Nagasta will be coming this way with her big army." said Avíá. "And we'll hopefully have the Magical Herb of Kalindo by the time they get here." said Rikki. "We'll have to probably fight her main army, or go through it, to get back home. Her new headquarters is the garden. She thinks that since Nag and Nagaina were King and Queen of the garden, now she and Karistan can be Queen and King of the garden. And that's just what they've done." "Ok, so what if she kills the humans before Darzee and his wife can tell the truth to her?" said Avíá. "You know, I never thought of that." said Rikki-tikki. "And there is always your family too." said Avíá. "They were told to flee India if the need came to tell the truth. Also, they're mongooses and can fight back." said Rikki.
"So this Emperor" said Avíá, "who is he exactly? What's he like? He sounds very wicked." "He is." whispered Chínselháüst. "The wicked Emperor….er…er…." "What's his name?" asked Rikki. "We do not speak it. But if you must, Krädós. Don't make me say it again!" said Chalícává. "He is very bad. He is soon going to make little Cáöné join his army." "Army?" said Avíá. "Yes. He already planned to attack the humans around here. However, He won't do it for this Cobra Queen and King. Though He certainly is seriously considering it. I wouldn't know. He thinks very little of females[i]. He never told me." said Chínselháüst. "You mean to say he's a sexist[5] chauvinist[6]?" said Avíá[ii] in disgust. "He most certainly is!" said Chínselháüst. "And where does Emperor Krädós live?" said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "At the gateway to the Land of Kalindo. I think He might fear that Magical Herb could deal with spider venom." said Chalícává. "However, no human has yet died from our bite. At least not the bite of one. Once the wicked Emperor had his army kill two small children who came too near our lair. After being bitten by over a hundred of them, the kids died in about ten seconds." said Cáöné. "So I take it he won't let us into Kalindo?" asked Avíá. "Definitely not." said Chalícává. "So you're right Rikki, we will have to kill this odious[7] stuck up Emperor!" said Avíá. "Fat chance of you two getting anywhere near Him and living to tell the tale." said Chínselháüst. "He's bitten other tarantulae[8] for coming near Him without his permission, particularly females. He bites long and hard, and even we aren't totally immune to our own venom, so they never survive. And if they don't die fast, He tears them apart with His chelicerae." "Wait till I get a hold of him! I'll tear him into so many pieces…" said Avíá fiercely. "Look, I know you hate chauvinists and think females should be treated well, which, as I've told you countless times, I totally agree, but we need a plan if we're going to kill this Emperor." said Rikki. "Be careful." said Chalícává, "He once ate an entire bird family for not bowing down to him. Made the parents watch Him eat the kids first then, he stung the husband, who was stricken from grief, and made the wife watch him die and then waited another minute before finally eating her as well." "Well, then I shall not waste any time in trying to reason with him. I've killed things more dangerous than mice. Like a king cobra for instance." said Rikki-tikki. "Well, then we have a fighting chance." said Chínselháüst.
"And so, we attack the village nearest here tonight then?" The five turned, looking for the sound of the voice. "Yes, only the Emperor is to get all the spoils. Any mice, birds, or meat we capture is to be given to Him." "Fair enough. As long as we have your help, our King and Queen will be happy." "Those humans won't see it coming!" "Have you caught the two mongooses yet?" "I don't know what those are." "They look like weasels, move fast, and get red eyes when angry." "Haven't seen them anywhere." "Be on the lookout. They have a nasty habit of foiling our plans." "We'll deal with them if we see them." "Hopefully nobody here will help them. We don't want to repeat our mistake in the Land of the Lions." "Nobody here would dare cross the Emperor! His word is law!" A snake and a tarantula came into view. The two mongooses and the three tarantulas hid just in time. "We'll begin our attack at nightfall." They waited till the enemy was gone before coming out again.
"This is simply dreadful!" said Chalícává. "We have to stop it!" said Rikki-tikki. "Openly defying the Emperor already?! Are you sure about this?" said Chínselháüst. "You don't need to fight too much directly then." said Avíá. "We'll deal with these pests. Though we could sure use some help on figuring out how to kill a tarantula." "Also, I think we could do with some webs. It might make the snakes easier to kill. I trust the tarantulas won't get stuck in them." said Rikki. "No, we're much too clever for that, though maybe we could trap them with some falling webs. At least long enough for you to squash them. Can't guarantee you won't get bitten, but it's the best we can do." said Chínselháüst. "That's good enough for us." said Rikki. "Yes, we spend our lives trying not to get bitten." laughed Avíá. "Yeah, we're quite good at it. I mean, we're still here." laughed Rikki.
That night several snakes and tarantulas, and five Dark Mongooses approached the village of Oddanchatram.[9] Before they could cross into the village, several snakes walked into spider webs. "What is this?!" said a snake angrily. "Treachery!" yelled another snake, attacking a tarantula. After two tarantulas, a viper, and a dusty brown snakeling had killed each other, they stopped fighting. "It wasn't us!" said a tarantula. "What do you mean? Who else could it be?" hissed an angry cobra. "A little slow aren't you?" said Avíá. They turned and started to come after her Before they could get to her, however, webs fell down from the trees, where Chínselháüst and Chalícává had climbed, and landed on several tarantulas. "Mongooses can't spin webs!" said a viper in shock. "It doesn't take a genius to figure that out!" laughed Chalícává. "You traitors!" yelled a tarantula called Çalica[10]. Rikki suddenly jumped from behind a tree and crushed Çalica and killed a king cobra as well before retreating. "Kill that blasted mongoose!" said a viper. Avíá meanwhile crushed two trapped tarantulas and two trapped vipers. "The Emperor will pay for kidnapping my daughters and killing my sons!" said Chínselháüst. "You should have considered in an honor!" said a tarantula named Sphíra[11]. "Well, consider this an honor too!" said Chalícává, dropping a giant web on top of Sphíra. "Tell your Emperor to kiss my behind! Treating females like that!" said Avíá, jumping into the air and squashing several trapped tarantulas. "These two are the ones wanted by our Queen!" hissed a viper called Vípradé. "I can see why." said Sphíra, breaking free of the webs holding him and chasing after Chínselháüst. "Sorry, but you should know that I always turn up to ruin your plans." said Rikki-tikki, attacking a cobra and biting it in half after fighting it for several minutes. After several minutes of fighting, in which several snakes and the five Dark Mongooses were poisoned to death by Chínselháüst and Chalícává, and several tarantulas were squashed or torn apart by Rikki and Avíá, all of their enemies were dead.
"Well, this fight is over." said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "I think we should get some rest. The Tarantula Emperor will soon be after us." said Avíá-tía-tárá. They returned for Cáöné, who had been hiding in a tree, and went to a deserted part of the forest. The spiders climbed a tree and made a large web. Rikki and Avíá climbed up and slept up there along with the spiders. Avíá, who was a bit uneasy about heights, though of course, being a mongoose, not that afraid of them, clung to Rikki, though perhaps as much out of the growing bond she was feeling with his as from her uneasiness about being high up. They awoke early the next morning. Cáöné was prodding them with his small legs. "Hello, Cáöné." said Avíá. "Are they going to kill us?" he asked them. "Not unless they kill Rikki and I first." said Avíá. "Are you good at fighting tarantulas?" he asked. "Never met any till yesterday." said Rikki. "That's good to know." said Cáöné sarcastically. "All dead. Any idea how?" said a voice below. "I don't know. Probably those pests. Those mongoose things that the snakes are after. I see they made nice work of the snakes." said another voice. Two tarantulas came into view. "Yes, but I doubt mongooses spin webs." said the first tarantula. "Several of the snakes and spiders were found caught in spider webs." "You mean to say some of ours are helping the enemy?!" said the second tarantula in shock. "Precisely." said the first tarantula. They walked out of sight. "We should follow them. See what they're up to. Wake your parents. Tell them we're going to try and see what the other tarantulas know." said Rikki.
They left and headed southeast for a few miles. They heard something coming up behind them, a soft pitter-patter on the leaves. "Stay quiet." said Rikki to Avíá. They were about to pounce upon it when they realized that it was Cáöné. "What are you doing here?" scolded Avíá. "Do your parents know you're here?" said Rikki. "Not exactly." said Cáöné. "Well, you're with us, though we're not exactly adults." said Rikki. "Well, actually Rikki, we're very close to coming of age.[12] Another month or so at most." said Avíá. "Wow, time flies, doesn't it?" said Rikki. He thought for a bit. If Avíá and I are of age, then I can go out on my own and marry her. I truly cannot think of any other mongoose that I care for more. I really believe that I shall marry her, someday. I'd hate to see her in the arms of another mongoose. I don't think my heart could bear it. For once it seems I'd like to have something that I wouldn't want to share with another.[13] But, of course, Avíá will always get to decide her mate for herself. But it wouldn't hurt to ask. When the times comes.
"So, you think Chalícává and Chínselháüst have turned against us?" The three moved closer to the sound of the voices. A tarantula and his wife were talking. "It would appear so. Nobody knows their whereabouts at the time of the counterattack." said the male. Rikki and Avíá hid while Cáöné crept out of the woods to go talk to them. "What about my parents?" said Cáöné. "We think they're plotting against the Emperor." said the female. "No, that's silly." lied Cáöné. "Well, we want them to come and report to an emergency meeting ordered by the Emperor Himself. Then we'll find the traitors and publicly execute them. I trust your parents will show up then." said the male. "Yes. Of course." lied Cáöné. "Very well then." said the female. The two left. "Now what are you planning to do?" said Avíá to Cáöné. "Ï want to see you kill a snake!" said Cáöné. "Why do you ask….?" said Avíá. Cáöné positioned his chelicerae next to Avíá's chest. "What are you doing?" said Rikki angrily. "What trick is this?" "I've waited too long for this moment to be let down by imposters!" said Cáöné. "What are you talking about? Don't you dare harm Avíá or I will most certainly kill you!" said Rikki, his eyes turning red. "My brothers were very kind to me. Then He killed them. My sisters were sweet and He's taken them! I want Him dead[iii]!" said Cáöné, not backing down from Avíá. "There is a prophecy that two snake-killers, some of the best in the land, can kill Him. I've waited over a year, knowing my sisters were suffering under His tyranny! Now my parents are in danger! They will die and I'm not going to help you if you're not the promised ones." he said. "Your parents have seen us kill snakes." said Avíá in protest. "I've killed the parents of the Cobra Queen!" said Rikki. "I've also killed one of her sons!" said Rikki. "Very impressive, if you are telling the truth." said Cáöné. "I came to know for sure. Mother and Father sent me. They told me I could kill you if you were imposters!" said Cáöné. "What treachery is this?!" said Avíá angrily, her eyes turning red. Rikki suddenly hit Cáöné, startling the young tarantula. Avíá moved out of harm's way. "Come on!" yelled Rikki. The two ran but didn't get far. Before they could go more then ten steps, spider webs fell from above, entrapping them. "So, are you in or out?" said Chalícává. "I've seen you kill a few snakes." said Chínselháüst. "But can you get our daughters back!? We'll not lose our son Cáöné too!" said Chalícává. "Some fine friends you are, attacking us like this!" snarled Rikki. "You must help us! Refuse, and you die!" said Cáöné. "We're done for!" said Rikki-tikki, trying in vain to break free of the webs. "I was going to fight Emperor Krädós anyway." said Rikki. "He won't let us into Kalindo. However, I'll help you fight the Emperor. He's a friend of Nagasta's anyway. Just get us out of these webs." "I know what you're feeling." said Avíá. "I lost my whole family to the Cobra Queen. We promise we'll help you free your children and kill this Emperor. But please, we can't do it alone!" "Several dissenters[14] were taken prisoner and are set to be executed at noon today. The snakes have agreed to help with the execution. We've just come back from the Emperor's meeting. He wants to make an example of all who oppose Him to frighten off any future attacks like the one last night." said Chalícává. "Where are they being held?" said Avíá.
"The Emperor will pay one of these days!" said an imprisoned tarantula. "Unfortunately, you are going to die today!" said a krait. "Not on my watch!" The spiders and snakes turned around. "It's Him!" said a viper. "The mongoose?" said a tarantula. "We're busting you out of here!" said Rikki-tikki. "Kill him!" said a tarantula. Several tarantulae and several red-necked keelbacks[15] charged at them. "Over here web-spinners!" taunted Avíá. "After her!" shouted a red-necked keelback. Rikki dodged a spider's fangs and squashed him. He was trapped by some webs that fell from above. Chalícává came toward him. "Kill him Chalícává!" shouted a tarantula. Chalícává cut him loose. "You traitor!" shouted a tarantula, one of the Emperor's deputies, a tarantula named Dradón. "No, Dradón, I've watched my sons die at the hands of the Emperor! It's time I free my daughters!" said Chalícává. "No, you will die, just like you sons!" said Dradón. "No, the red-eyed ones have come!" said Chínselháüst, stinging him in the side. "You don't know your place woman!" said Dradón. "No, it's you who don't your place!" said Avíá, squashing him by smashing him with her forepaws. "The red-eyed ones have come!" said a prisoner, attacking her guards. "Fight for freedom! Fight for everything He took away from us!" shouted Cáöné. "Kill Rikki-tikki and Avíá-tía!" shouted a king cobra. "Back to Spider Mountain!" shouted some tarantulas, realizing that they were outnumbered. Many who secretly hated the Emperor helped the prisoners escape. Rikki and Avíá were killing snakes left and right with a skill far greater than mongooses three times their age. However, they would have been killed by a Dark Lion, had not Cáöné, Chínselháüst, and Chalícává stung him in the legs, causing him to instantly become woozy and later fall dead from the spider venom. "You've freed us!" said a tarantula. "This Emperor sounds like another Nagasta." said Rikki. "So we've decided to put an end to him." said Avíá. The tarantulas cheered. "Where's Spider Mountain?" asked Rikki-tikki. The tarantulas shuddered. "It's the dark stronghold of the Emperor and his dreaded Imperial Army!" said Chalícává. "Heavily guarded I suspect?" said Avíá. "Totally. And it freezes up near the top." said Chínselháüst. "Pardon?" said Rikki. "White stuff falls from the sky at times and this white solid thing that turns into water sometimes clings to parts of the mountain." said Chínselháüst. "Really?" said Avíá, interested. "Yes, we can plan our attack there over the next few days. In the meantime, we'd like to get to know more about you, our deliverers." said a tarantula named Eóla.
"Well, I lived with my Mother and Father, until one day I got washed out of my home by a rainstorm." said Rikki. "That must have been most unpleasant." said Cáöné. "Well, I nearly drowned and was picked up by some people.' said Rikki-tikki. He told them all about Karait, Nag, and Nagaina. "At that young of an age?" said Cáöné[16] in amusement after hearing of how Rikki defeated Karait. "Yes." said Rikki. "You are a natural!" said a tarantula named Kaldö that Rikki had saved earlier that day.
Later, Avíá talked to Cáöné. "So, you saw your brothers die. I saw the death of my family too." "I hate the Emperor! I'd like to kill Him myself!" said Cáöné. "You may get to, but don't spend all of your effort seeking vengeance." said Avíá. "Why not?" said Cáöné. "Because you'll end up like Nagasta." said Avíá. "I suppose, but the pain hurts!" said Cáöné. "I know it does, but bitterness will only hurt you!" said Avíá. "Ok, then, I'll stop making it my life's mission to kill Him. But I won't back down if He fights me!" said Cáöné. "There's nothing wrong with that." said Avíá.
Meanwhile, Kíja the mouse, the one Rikki had saved from being eaten alive, was talking to Darzee. "Where did you get those nasty burn marks? I've always wanted to ask but kept thinking it rude." said Darzee. "Well, a snake decided I'd make a nice sacrifice. I was the last of the mouse tribute. Anyway, I gave them a piece of my mind and they didn't like that, so the snake swallowed me whole." she said. "Their cruelty knows no bounds!" said Darzee. "Yes. I'd have been digested alive if….if…He hadn't come." said Kíja. "Who hadn't come?" said Darzee. "My hero! The brave young mongoose. I thought he was a Dark Mongoose and called him some very rude names. He was upset and threatened to eat me if I didn't be quiet. I feel so bad about what I called him that I kind of wish he had, I would have deserved it, ungrateful thing that I am." said Kíja. "Oh. I don't know about that. It would probably be just as painful to be eaten by a mongoose as by a snake. I've seen Rikki-tikki eat some mice, and it wasn't a pretty sight. No, he's not cruel. You know. I heard he kills them before they even know he's there, or that's what he tries to do." said Darzee. "Well, yes, it was Rikki-tikki who saved me." said Kíja. "Was it?" said Darzee. "Yes, he's so very selfless.[17] That snake could have killed him. Also, I've seen his companion Avíá too." squeaked Kíja. "Have you now?" said Darzee. "Yes, she came and ate some of us mice. I'm sure she didn't have a mean heart, she just was hungry. She said she'd lost her family the previous night and was looking for Rikki-tikki-tavi. We pointed her in the right direction, under, er, threat of being eaten if we didn't." said Kíja. "Anything else about her? I heard Rikki really likes her." he said. "Does he now?" said Kíja. "Well, yes, the Coppersmith, though he was horribly embarrassed, once came upon them kissing." said Darzee. "I'm glad he's found someone he likes. Everyone always said he'd always work alone." said Kíja. "No, it's for certain that he's working with Avíá-tía-tárá now." said Biwi. "Well, I hope he finds someone special for him. I found Karl about five weeks ago. We were just married. I have Rikki-tikki to thank for being alive to marry Karl." said Kíja. "She's the joy of my life and I'll most certainly have to thank this brave young mongoose for helping save my darling Kíja!" said Karl. "The Dark Mongooses took my whole family, but it's clear Rikki's not like those beasts. He's a true friend, even, if, to keep himself alive, he eats mice from time to time." said Kíja. "It's thanks to Rikki that I can have a new family someday." she said. "Well, I've helped him out some." said Darzee. "I've gotten several birds, mice, rabbits, and squirrels to fight against her. We lost several but it's annoying the snakes. They're furious. Nagasta has lost some of her control while she's gone." said Darzee. "I hope we can handle it when she does get back." said Kíja. "I hope so too." said Darzee nervously.
"Well, I've heard from my cousin Tucker." said Kíja to Darzee that night. "He lives way southwest of here near the Great River. He sent a message to me, by way of some owls, night birds I guess that's what they are, and anyway, he said Rikki-tikki and Avíá-tía, saved him and his daughter from kraits. He's very grateful to them. Also, they're in love he says, the two mongooses." said Kíja. "Glad Rikki found somebody he liked. Now he won't spend the rest of his life alone it seems." said Darzee.
Rikki-tikki followed the spiders and the three snakes that accompanied them as they followed a squirrel, who apparently didn't notice them. They came to the squirrel's home. "Honey, I brought the nuts!" he called do his wife. "About time." said his wife. "Your father is home." she called to her children, unaware that she was in mortal peril. "Well. Well. What do we have here?" hissed a red-necked keelback by the name of Rabitíter.[18] "Run dear! Save the kids! I'll hold him off[iv]!" said the father squirrel. The mother and children got no further than the door to their little hollow then a spider web fell on them, entrapping them. "Oh joy! Ickle little ones! Nice and juicy!" said a tarantula. Rikki quickly signaled Avíá, who had been walking with him. They had been walking, talking about their plans to attack the Tarantula Emperor and climb Spider Mountain when they came across the spiders, snakes, and squirrels.
"Please! Please. Eat me! You can go ahead and eat me! But let my little ones leave!" cried the mother squirrel. "Sorry, no can do." laughed the tarantula. He raised his chelicerae and was about to stab the young son of the squirrel when he was bitten and his claw came off. "What in the name of….." said the spider in shock. "Despicable!" said Avíá, her eyes turning red in rage at the callousness of the spider, who had thought no more of killing children than of spinning a web or breathing. "You guys would make good snakes." "You're time is up!" said Rikki, pouncing on the spider and flattening him. "Fighting spiders now, huh?" said a cobra. "If we have to." said Avíá-tía. Rikki and Avíá fought off the spiders and the snakes and freed the mother and her children. A snake was about to bite the father when Cáöné came and bit him with his fangs, causing him to pause. "What are you trying little spider?" he said, amazed as though an ant had just challenged an elephant to a fight. "You never mess with a family! Never! You have as much a right to eat as any of us. But you never have a right to harm little children or attack families." said Cáöné. "Well, I'll just have to teach you…" said the snake, suddenly falling over dead as Chalícává and Chínselháüst bit him in the throat. "You'll do nothing of the sort." said Chalícává. At last, all of their enemies were dead. The squirrels looked at their deliverers, lost for words. "Thank you!" said the squirrels. "They shouldn't mess with families!" said Avíá. "May I ask what you are?" said the young squirrel son. "Sciurus,[19] it's rude to ask someone, especially somebody who just saved your life, what they are." said the father squirrel. "It's quite all right." said Avíá. "We're both mongooses." "What is that supposed to be?" said the daughter. Rikki and Avíá tried to explain as best they could. "So you eat snakes and mice?" said the mother. "I have several friends that are mice." "Not to worry, I only eat to live. And I kill mercifully." said Rikki-tikki. "He lives to eat." said Avíá. "I do not!" said Rikki.
Teddy and his family sat eating poppadoms.[v] "These are delicious!" said Teddy. "So, you still haven't gotten a gun, Robert?" Alice asked her husband. "No." said Robert. "They're in short supply. The snake crisis is getting worse. However, they're finding lots of dead snakes. Thing is, they weren't killed by a human. It appears to the work of a mongoose." "I wonder if our mongoose is killing them." said Teddy. "He might be killing some of them, but there's no way he could possibly do that alone." said the big man. "I hope he gets back soon." said Alice. "I really miss him running around the house. I feel bad that once I yelled at him for relieving himself inside the house. He couldn't have known better. He felt so bad afterward that I couldn't get him to come in that night. Poor thing." "I miss petting him." said Teddy. "I miss him chasing off mice and also prowling around at night, exploring." said the big man. "We all miss him. I just hope he returns soon."
"So, how heavily guarded is this Spider Mountain? Does the Emperor live there?" asked Avíá. "No, He doesn't. He lives near Kalindo." said the father squirrel. "Very heavily guarded." said the mother squirrel. "Any idea of how we can get past them all?" asked Rikki. "Not going up the mountain." said Sciurus. "They'll be able to attack with rocks and webs from above." "You can go underground." said the daughter squirrel, Alana. "Don't be silly, they can't…" said the father squirrel. "Wait, we do have tunnels that go part of the way under Spider Mountain, though we've abandoned them a while back. The spiders found some of them and were eating some of us squirrels." said the mother squirrel, Andara. "Might be a tight fit for Avíá and I." said Rikki-tikki. "We can build them up. The spiders don't know about all of the tunnels. If you're serious about fighting the Emperor, then we can try." said the father squirrel, Adrian. "You're risking quite a bit." said Avíá-tía-tárá. "What if they kill you guys?" "It's worth the risk. Anyway, it's the least we can do to repay you for saving our lives. If we don't come back, please take care of our children." said the parent squirrels before leaving.
"I hope they didn't meet a bad end." said Rikki to Avíá the next day. The parents came back. "Great. I was fearing we'd have to raise your kids." said Rikki. "You'd do that? I'd hoped you'd only find someone to take care of them if we died." said the father squirrel. "If we couldn't find any other squirrels willing to do it, what choice would we have? We're can't leave them to die. We're not Nagasta, Kikatilí, or Krädós." said Rikki. "You aren't afraid of saying their names. All three have invoked fear in us squirrels. Particularly Krädós." said Andara.
"We'll be dealing with him in the morning!" said Avíá, heading off to go rest. "Such a brave mate you have!' said Andara to Rikki. "She's not my mate. Not yet." he said. "Courting?" she asked. "Not that it's my business." "Yes. More and more I feel that she is The One. Funny, I never liked girls before. I wasn't a chauvinist or a narcissist[20] or anything like that. Just, not a dating type. Then I met Her. Then everything changed, though I don't think I'd prefer any other girl anyway." he said. "Hope everything works out for you." she said. "Thank you." he said.
That night, Rikki and Cáöné sat in a spider web in a tree, talking. They had come to the base of Spider Mountain. It looked imposing in the setting sun. It had snow on the tops and was a dullish gray color and was covered in green vegetation. It also went up into the clouds. "So, what are you and Avíá doing here? How'd you hear about the Magical Herb of Kalindo?" Cáöné asked Rikki-tikki. Rikki explained about how he'd heard it from Rikíla and Tacróc. "Very interesting." said the teenage tarantula.
"So, where did you pick up Avíá-tía-tárá?" asked Cáöné. Rikki explained about how she had lost her entire family, how she had sought him out and rescued him from the Dark Mongooses. "That treacherous Undelli! Reminds me of Eradá." "Who?' said Rikki. "Eradá. Once my best friend. Then he helped the Emperor kidnap Swívíla." said Cáöné. "Swívíla?" said Rikki-tikki. "Oh, I love her dearly. But she's now in His harem.[21] He hasn't taken her[22]yet, but still she's miserable now! Wait till I get my hands on Eradá. Little brat joined the Emperor simply because he wanted to enslave women as he's now one of the Emperor's warriors." said Cáöné. "We'll make him realize he's chosen the wrong side. Don't you worry." said Rikki-tikki. "Mr. Rikki, I'm sorry to disturb you, but there's an owl here who says he has a message from some King Bahaxur for you!" called young Sciurus. "Also, he wants to talk to Ms. Avíá too." he added. "Send them both up." Rikki called down to him. "Yes sir." said Sciurus. The owl came up. After Rikki promised to protect her with his life, Avíá came too. "What?" asked Rikki-tikki. "The Cobra Queen and King have headed back north. They're going to put down some rebellion by some tailorbird named Darzee and attack some mice. Also, she's thinking of hurting some humans." hooted the owl. Rikki and Avíá paled. "This is just what I was afraid of. We'll have to accelerate our plans." Rikki said. "Make ready. We're going up Spider Mountain tonight. We've got no time to lose!' he said. "Rikki, are you sure about this? Can't we go at dawn?" asked Avíá. "No, we need to go now. The longer we wait, the more chance Nagasta has to harm the humans." he said. "Go find that other bird that Bahaxur sent out to find us and you two go and warn Darzee and the mice." she said to the owl. "Yes mam." he hooted, flying off. "The rest of you, I need you to be ready in an hour or two." she said.