Chapter II The Magical Herb of Kalindo

Tacróc

Rikki-tikki-tavi headed south. After several hours, some evil crows spotted him. "We'll get you. You'll have to sleep sometime and we'll be waiting!" they cackled. "What exactly are you planning? Hoping to take on our King and Queen all by yourself?" "Unless I can think of something better. If only this Magical Herb of Kalindo, which can cure one cobra bite, is real, then I'd have a chance. I'd like to find it and use it. I could defeat the King and Queen!" said Rikki-tikki.

"Queen Nagasta has gotten you to crack at last! Looking for a herb that doesn't even exist! And what do you hope to do with it if it does?" laughed a crow. "Well, if it can heal a mongoose from a cobra bite, which I had always thought impossible…." said Rikki. "It is impossible! Nothing can save you from a cobra bite!" howled a crow. "Well, if it exists, then I'll eat it and get close to Nagasta and Karistan. Even if they bite me, Í won't die….but they will!" said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "Well those spiders are just about as poisonous as the cobras themselves. You'd be going from one danger to another." said an old crow.

"Well, I've got to try. Anyway, I'd be going far enough from here that they won't hurt Teddy or Darzee. "And, " he shuddered, "if they kill me, then Her Highness will be pleased and leave everyone alone again." said Rikki.

"Wrong!" said the old crow. "She'll drive every mongoose out of the forest, threatening to kill them like you if they stay. Then she'll kill the humans off, including your friend Teddy. After that, she'll have no predators to fear and your friend Darzee could find himself having to pay some of his children as tribute to her to keep her from eating his whole family. She's already doing that with the rodents to the southwest of here."

"Well, now I'll try extra hard to make sure I don't get killed then!" said Rikki, rolling his eyes at the old crow. "Well, the Magical Herb of Kalindo[1] is over a thousand miles to the southwest of here. I've flown there once when I was a young crow. I've found such a plant. I had eaten it because it looked rather tasty and on the way back, had been bitten by a cobra, who ambushed me in a tree, but I didn't die. Well, naturally I told my friends, but some of them thought it made them never have to worry about a cobra bite again and they were bitten more than once and died within minutes from the poison and were eaten. So it was I who started that story. You'd have to go past the Land of the Mice, which the cobras have under mouse tribute right now. One mouse a day is to be fed to each cobra, and I think there's about ten or so there, and more coming possibly. Then you'd have to go through the Wet Lands and avoid more snakes, called vipers, that Nagasta and Karistan don't know about yet."

"Wait, you haven't told the Queen of this, Tacróc?! She'll be furious." said another crow. "I didn't find it prudent to bother them with such unimportant information as that." said Tacróc. Rikki laughed. It seemed that this crow wasn't a big fan of Karistan and Nagasta. "As I was saying," continued Tacróc, "these snakes aren't in league with Nagasta and Karistan, though they're certainly not going to be your friends. You must get past them and come to the Dark Forest. There you must get past the Land of the Lions. These are giant catlike creatures with manes and that can, I've heard, eat mongooses. Once past there, you must get past the Mountains of Steam and Ash and then the Great River, one of the largest rivers in all of India." "Tacróc, stop!" shouted a crow. Tacróc ignored him. "Then you must face the Giant Spiders, which, if they bite you, you'll die just as quickly, if not quicker, than from a cobra bite. I don't think the herb can protect from them, never tried it to be honest as it's such a long way from here and I found a family and settled down and never came back for more herbs. That, and I never got bitten by the Giant Spiders. Anyway, once past them, you can get to the Magical Herb of Kalindo.," said Tacróc. "But I don't think you can do this alone." "Now go. The hopes of the jungle rest with you."

"Why are you helping him? Is this open treason Tacróc? Queen Nagasta and King Karistan will be most displeased!" snarled the other crows. "They're not my King and Queen! Nag and Nagaina might have taken over the jungle had not they been stopped! "said Tacróc. "I've seen Nag eat a hatchling of Darzee's. That Darzee would oppose their daughter is only natural." Tacróc flew up to Rikki-tikki and whispered in his ear "I was once a spy for Nag and Nagaina, as were some birds. I happened to spot you, as I rose earlier than them, being bred to it, and I decided to distract them by asking them to meet with me. I had some meetings every time you acted. They fled once Nag and Nagaina died. They think it was the big people. But I know that Nagaina wasn't killed by a gun. I have seen it all. I know you can stop Nagasta and Karistan. The only reason the human family has lasted so long is because they were prepared thanks to you and you were there. But they'd have died if you hadn't come when you did[2]. And now Nagasta has achieved what they couldn't, getting you to run. You must keep drawing attention to yourself, making her chase after you. You're her greatest threat, Rikki-tikki-tavi! Now get the Magical Herb of Kalindo and save the jungle! I'll hold these creeps off! Now go! And remember, you can't do it alone!" The other crows had had enough. "Get the traitor!" they croaked. "Farewell Rikki-tikki, may you bring freedom back to the jungle!" Tacróc called to Rikki. He fought the others while Rikki, reluctant to leave his new friend behind, fled. Tacróc held them off and killed two of them but was soon killed by the angry crow mob. "Pity Tacróc chose death. We can tell the King and Queen of his treachery and then we'll think of something else to do. At least we can guess he's heading south." said a crow.

Arknác and Sicréc

Avíá and Arda were eating wild berries near their home. Avíá had talked her parents into moving the hunt to the following day. She had said that she probably couldn't catch a mouse in the dark at night. They had agreed, saying they had wanted it more at night because she wouldn't have to see the mouse she'd killed. As sad as she was that she would have to kill something the following day, she had given her solemn word that she would go through with it and would go mouse hunting the next day. Avíá and her sister heard the sound of flapping above them and turned and saw two crows fly over them and land in the entrance of their home. "Hello, we're with the Cobra King and Queen." said one of them. "I'm Arknác and this is Sicréc." said one of them. "We've no business with cobras!" said Alánda firmly. "The King and Queen have much to offer if you join…" said Arknác. "We aren't interested!" said Amíra. "The King and Queen will not like your rudeness!" said Sicréc. "Go away, before you become supper!" said Alánda. "We are looking for the mongoose Rikki-tikki…." said Arknác, flapping out of the way of Alánda's claws. "Be gone!" said Amíra. "You will regret this!" croaked Arknác and Sicréc. They flapped away angrily. "Good riddance!" said Alánda.

Rikki Alone

Meanwhile, Rikki laid down to rest for the night in a tree. "Wow. This has been quite a day! Glad those pesky crows are gone, though I feel sorry for that Tacróc. Glad that there are some who still oppose the cobras. I am going to need my sleep. All the same….I think I'd better climb to the very top and big a small nest to hide in.," yawned Rikki-tikki-tavi. He built himself a nest and hid inside of it. "There. That should make it harder for the cobras and their allies to spot me." He felt a strange emotion. Loneliness. "All alone. Going to Kalindo. Tacróc said I couldn't do it alone." he said to himself. "O how I miss my family! I miss Darzee and Biwi! I miss Chuchundra and Chua! I miss Teddy and his family! I miss all of them! I've got nobody! Nobody except Nagasta!" he said miserably. For the first time in his life, he felt utterly miserable and hopeless. "What's the point?" he said to himself. "Nagasta will kill over and over until she gets her way. How many more must die for my slipup?" he said, starting to weep. "If only had somebody, anybody, to comfort me!' he said. He cried himself to sleep.

Orphaned!

Avíá, who had felt the call of nature,[3] stood at the entrance of their home. "I love it here. I don't think I can ever leave." said Avíá. "Avíá, someday soon you'll be on your own. You'll find a wonderful guy and wonderful things will happen to you. I can see great things in your future." said Arda. "I don't see anything really special in my future." said Avíá-tía-tárá. On her way back to her home, she heard Arknác and Sicréc calling "They're in here!". She paused. "I already told you, we're not going to help….." said Alánda. He paused, and Avíá saw that the crows were not alone this time. At least fifty cobras were there. She snuck, unnoticed, and hid in a bush, near the entrance to her house, out of sight of the enemy.

"Perhaps now you'll be more reasonable. Rikki-tikki-tavi was heading southwest. Have you seen him?" said Sicréc. "I'll never join the cobras!" said Alánda. "Where's Rikki-tikki-tavi?" demanded Arknác. "I don't know, and I wouldn't tell you if I did!" said Alánda angrily. The snakes all laughed. "Are you sure?" hissed a cobra. "I'd rather die than help you! Kinsta deserved what he got! Nagasta and Karistan will not win!" said Alánda. Very well then." said Arknác. It happened fast. A cobra came at Alánda. Alánda hit the cobra, but another came and bit him in the side. He stumbled, blood pouring from his side. "Amíra, Arda, Avála, I love you!" he said. He stumbled. Amíra, shocked, came to him. "Alánda!" she cried. "It's no good! It's incurable! Where's Avíá?" he said. "No idea." said Amíra. "Where is the girl?" said a snake. Alánda didn't answer. He hugged Amíra and his two children. He soon fell to the ground, and his gaze fell upon Avíá. "Avíá," he whispered "I love you. Go. Get away from here. Avíá, go. Av-!" His eyes closed and he moved no more. No! It couldn't be! Father can't be dead! He can't be!

"Care to be more helpful?" said a cobra to Amíra. "Never!" yelled Amíra. A female cobra attacked her. She hugged her two children. "Mother!" said Avála. "It's mortal.[4] Run!" she said to her kids. The snakes blocked the way of Arda and Avála. A while later, she too fell over. "I love you Arda and Avála." she said to her younger children. She saw Avíá and whispered "I love you Avíá. Don't stay here! Save yourself. Go Avíá. Leave here. Leave-!" before dying as well. No! This can't be happening! thought Avíá.

"Going to be more cooperative than your parents?" hissed a snake. "I'll never join you!" Avála cried. "For Rikki-tikki-tavi!" he charged at a snake, biting him in the tail. The snakes bit him as he tore off the snake's tail and ate it. He fell to the ground, still trying to fight, until he too stopped moving.

Ragiva, the ringleader of the cobras, approached Arda. "Join us! We will let you live! You cannot fight us. Where is the fifth? I believe you had a sister." she asked. Arda turned and saw Avíá in the bushes. "I'll join you when hell freezes over! You'll never find my sister! And you'll never get Rikki-tikki-tavi! I hope he kills your King and Queen!" replied Arda. She struck at a cobra and killed him. Ragiva bit Arda across the throat. Arda lurched forward, bleeding. Ragiva laughed. Arda said "Snake Empire will lose! The mongooses will triumph!" "Your family is dead and you will soon join them. The mongooses have all backed off." laughed Ragiva. "Not….all…of…them." said Arda. "Rikki-tikki-tavi will not take long to bring down. The crows may have lost him today but he is all alone and we can get him easily." said Ragiva. "He will not be alone for long. There is another who will beat you." said Arda. Arda fell to the ground, her face facing Avíá. "Avíá." she whispered. "Keep…..fighting. Don't….give….up! Find Rikki-tikki-tavi! He will be able to end this. Help him. You are stronger than you think. I believe in you. Find….." she said before dying.

"Stupid mongooses!" said Ragiva. "They were of no help! Leave them there for the buzzards to eat!" "What about the fifth?" said another cobra. "She is only a child. She'll starve to death on her own most likely. And, what harm could she possibly do?" said Ragiva. Slowly, the snakes left. Once they were gone, Avíá came to her family. She prodded each of them, but they did not stir. "Father, move, please!" she said. "Mother, please." "Avála! Arda!" She knew it was no good. Not even a mongoose could survive a cobra bite.

She broke down and sobbed. "Arda," she said, though she knew her sister was gone, gone where she couldn't bring her back, "how can wonderful things happen to me now? I'm an orphan. You're gone. I'm alone!" she said. A tear dropped onto Arda's body. Why did I have to be outside relieving myself? Why couldn't I have stayed with them? It would have been better to go out with them. Now they're gone, I'm still here, I'm an orphan, I can only gather vegetables for food. she thought.

Avíá Vows Revenge

She had never wanted to kill. But the enemy was willing. Her family was dead. Gone where she could never get them back. Now, she wanted to kill. She wanted to harm, to kill, to punish, to avenge. She hated snakes. She would kill them if she got the chance. She would help Rikki-tikki-tavi. If the snakes got her, she would die bravely like he family. If she had to kill snakes to help Rikki-tikki, so be it.

After sitting there for a long while in total shock, she angrily tore the dead cobra that Arda had killed to bits, then, slowly and painfully, she moved the bodies of her family back into their home. She would not suffer their bodies to be desecrated[5] by crows. Crows! I hate them too! They brought the snakes! They are willingly helping them take over! she thought to herself. Once she had them all inside, she pushed several boulders onto the room of their hollow, causing it to cave in. She stood next to their resting place. This had been her home. She had grown up here. She hadn't counted on leaving until she was grown. But now she had no home, no family. She did, however, have a strong resolve.

She bit into her leg, drawing blood. The blood dripped onto the rocks outside the hollow. "I swear with my own blood that I won't rest until all responsible have been brought to justice. I won't rest until Snake Empire is utterly defeated or I die in the attempt. I will do everything within my power to help Rikki-tikki-tavi and other enemies of the snakes. I will not help any friend of Snake Empire nor will I have anything to do with those who support it. I will never join Snake Empire, even if I have to die like my family!" she vowed.

Betrayal

She left, searching for the killers. A few hours into the night, she came upon her boyfriend Undelli and her best friend Alísa-vída-canta. "Undelli!" she cried, "It was awful! They killed my family. My family refused to help them find Rikki-tikki-tavi." "I see you're still around.' said Alísa. "Alísa, thank goodness I found you." said Avíá, hugging her best friend. "Yes, I had gone out to relieve myself. They missed me." she said. "A pity, isn't it?" said Undelli. "Yes, it's simply awful that…." said Avíá. "A pity that they wouldn't join. The Cobra King and Queen will triumph over the people. It seems foolish to oppose them. They are too strong to oppose. Join us Avíá." said Undelli. "What?" said Avíá, stunned. "Join us. We can in time come to control or overpower the cobras. Then the mongooses will rule the jungle." Alísa said. "I can't!" said Avíá. Anger mounted inside of her. She had trusted them. She had dated Undelli and Alísa had been her best friend. How could they join them? How could they betray her like this? She wanted to throw up. "We are looking for Rikki-tikki-tavi. The crows lost him earlier today. We believe him to be heading south." said Undelli. "Undelli, we're done. You and I. The relationship is over." she said. She moved away from them, not wanting to be around them. "Avíá, your family was foolish. They died so needlessly. Snake Empire is the new power. We left home to go join them. Come with us." said Alísa. Avíá spat at Alísa. "Avíá!" said Alísa angrily. "I love my family! How can you say such a thing?" said Avíá. "They were fools Avíá. It is obvious they were bigoted against snakes. That they were too friendly with humans. Rikki-tikki loves humans, even though humans are the enemy of the jungle. Many mongooses have joined Snake Empire. Think it over for a while." said Alísa. Avíá-tía had sworn not to have anything to do with those who supported the Cobra King and Queen. Undelli and Alísa would not be exceptions. Her family had been right about them. Undelli was indeed a bad choice for a mate. Alísa was a poor choice of a friend. "Avíá, think it over. Once the loss of your family is past you, you'll see reason!" he said. "Farewell." she said, and she ran away from them.

Avíá Alone

She burned with hatred and ached with grief. "I am all alone now. I have nobody. My friends have become traitors. They've joined that horrible Cobra Queen and King. They've started rounding up supporters among the mongooses. And now my family is dead because they refused to join the cobras. O woe is me!" she cried. She searched around and finally found a small hollow and settled down, crying. "I'm better off dead!" she said. "Oh that somebody would comfort me! Anybody!" If I don't die, let me find Rikki-tikki-tavi. He can fix this mess in the jungle. I had heard that he lived around here somewhere. At least the crows have lost him. The crows betrayed my family. I hope the King and Queen eat the crows who lost him. I wonder what Rikki-tikki-tavi looks like. Would a full grown mongoose be willing to help a kid like me? Oh, how am I to find him? Tomorrow I shall go southwest and look for him. It's what Arda wanted. I'm sure he'll help me. she thought. How can good win over evil now? My family is dead and the Cobra King and Queen gain more and more followers every day. I hope Rikki-tikki is safe.. It would simply be awful if they killed him. She too cried herself to sleep. Little did she or Rikki know that within 24 hours they would be together on one of the greatest adventures in their lives.

The Dark Mongooses

Meanwhile, Karistan was addressing a large group of cobras and crows. Nagasta was at his side. "So, Tacróc chose a painful death rather than help kill the mongoose. Well, so shall it be to all who aid him!" he hissed. "Let the humans who killed Nag and Nagaina hide in their home! We control the jungle now!" he hissed happily, to the cheering of many cobras and crows. "And it's time to make our army invincible! We leave the humans without help in their fight against us! Then we overpower them!" hissed Nagasta.

"How do we do that? "asked a curious cobra. Overhead, a storm was brewing. "Our mortal enemy has becomes our new ally!" hissed Karistan. Undelli, Alísa, and several evil mongooses came forward. "All hail the King and Queen!" they said. "With the mongooses on our side, or at the very least, against Rikki-tikki-tavi, nothing will stop us! With the mongoose out of the way, the human vermin will fast die!" hissed Nagasta. "Now go and kill every mongoose you can find that doesn't join us. Tell them it will stop if they turn in Rikki-tikki-tavi! And for those who are more reasonable, tell them that we don't seek to hurt them, only to work together to drive out the humans and make the jungle truly ours. Promise them all the rodents they could ever hope to eat!" hissed Karistan. The cobras and crows all laughed as lightning flashed in the sky.

Rain came down. Rikki awoke. He grabbed branches from the tree, and put it over himself. It would keep him dry. He was soon back asleep. Evil crows flew right past him, unaware that he was there. A few miles to the north, crows flew over Avíá. Avíá awoke. "There is a reward for the capture of the mongoose Rikki-tikki-tavi. Any creature who helps bring him in will be given a position of power in the new regime. Additionally, any mongoose that helps will be given twenty mice to eat as a reward." they cried. Her last thought before she went back to sleep was that all the mice in the world and being made Queen of the jungle wouldn't be enough of a bribe to convince her to turn in Rikki-tikki-tavi.

Rikki-tikki-tavi awoke just before dawn the next morning, very stiff. He stretched and his muscles all popped. "Well, I'd better get moving, before those pests find me." he yawned. Rikki climbed down the tree a bit, then leapt to the ground and ran along the ground for a while. He stopped, hearing voices ahead of him: some of mice and other rodents and one of a snake.

[1] It was later found by mongoose and human scholars that the Magical Herb of Kalindo was in fact Zedoary.

[2] Tacróc happened to see enough of Nag and Nagaina's deaths, from a distance, to figure out how the really died. Another thing he hasn't told Nagasta.

[3] need to use toilet: a need to urinate or defecate (humorous)

[4] fatal: causing death

[5] damage something revered: to damage something that is held dear or revered