Abide With Me

Inside Utkarsavat Patal 2

There was a quick scuffling and a crab fairly jumped out of the trough adjoining Chief War Guna Dena's desk. He saluted, claws clicking smartly and deposited a coded pearl in the water. Slipping his fingers in, the Chieftain glanced sharply at his secretary. The Parakeet also saluted, took a piece of bark and stayed ready to take notes. "15 degrees North 25 minutes West and 09 degrees North 20 minutes West" called out the Chief and the Parakeet pecked that out instantly. "Wait, there's more! Sara tree, Emerald mines, LZ captured!"

Almost as soon as he'd read that last bit out, the Chief hit a button and the on-duty Barn Owl started hooting out an emergency siren loudly and clearly at 15 second intervals!

Two Gull Seargents reported running in and the Chieftain barked "All Section Heads emergency meeting Hangar 1!"

Aviators from the Cormorants and Albatross squadrons, the Gull wing and the Pelicans and Moorhens from Ground Support assembled in an unhurried and seamless formation. The Chieftain's words were transmitted by the Master Warrant Officer Bullfrog in stentorian tones.

"Battalion Ampara! It's time for Action! By the order of Her Majesty the Princess Zise de Yanjing we are ordered to report to the adit # 113 of the Utkarsavat Patal in Ratnapura. Once we arrive, a recce unit* will infiltrate the mine. You are advised that the Management of the mines are designated Undesirables! Civilians are present and unaccounted for. Among them, Diplomatic personnel Ambassadors of the Orient Master Hanguang Jun and Master Wei Ying and lastly, our own Scientist and Honorary Flying Officer SaMi War Guna Dena are believed captured!!"

At that, there was a groundswell of murmuring and exclamations. "Flight Lieutenant Parakeet will give you your unit-wise orders." As quiet descended, a tall matronly Otter with leadership etched in every line on her face walked briskly in, deposited a camouflage rucksack and declared, "Chief, I am travelling with the War Kitchen, somebody has to feed y'all!" She was acknowledged with a rousing cheer from the troops. His eyes glinting with pride, Chief War merely inclined his head in permission, waved her on. She was followed by several other military ladies all bearing rations, equipment and utensils. The Chief was secretly relieved that SaMi's mother was accompanying them on the campaign! He had been dreading the part where he'd have to go home and tell her that their only daughter had gone missing while on a 'school project'! How she had managed to hear the news was an investigation that would wait for another day!

The Avian Bird Force, like a well-oiled machine, swung into action and soon two squadrons were airborne to Ratnapura. The jetties saw military influx and boats carrying gulls and moorhens set out with minimum fuss. Pelicans were loaded with care by SaMi's mum and her cohorts and were soon sailing down the canals to Utkarsavat Patal. The Chief however did not depart with the Battalion. Taking a Sea Hawk he landed at Fort Sigiriya at dusk. Avoiding the 1200 steps, he dived into a fast-moving canal and emerged at Princess Zise de Yanjing's personal quarters. Informing the DaNi on duty, the Chieftain studied the Royal portraits carefully. There was a new one where the Prince stood under a Sara tree in full bloom. The Princess hurried in via a trough and signalling towards the very same portrait, said "These coordinates you received, they lead where?"

 Pointing, the Chieftain said, not without irony, "But her Highness seems to be familiar with the destination already!" 

"What?!" the Princess' face lit up and she clasped her fins, "I knew it, Master Wei will definitely find my Prince!" With a few battle-hardened Da Ni surrounding her, the Princess set off with all speed through underground canals to Ratnapura.

Somewhere in the tunnels running from the central cavern in Utkarsavat Patal, Pranith got up and struggled to get the mud off his robes. Glaring at SaMi, he said, "I already apologized!"