Abide With Me

Into the Shadows

Murali and Aachi hurried after the horses heading towards the Negombo monastery. Behind the horses carrying soldiers came bullock and donkey carts, carrying farm produce. The Owl in charge of a passing cart
hooted and the convoy slowed. Encouraged, Murali pulled Aachi forward and said, "Sir be good enough to let my grandmother ride with you, it is a long way to the city." The Owl parted two bales of straw and willing hands pulled up both Aachi and Murali into the cart. The bales were carefully replaced.

A nondescript grey Shrike sat singing innocuously on a bare branch. That Murali's ascent into the cart was observed, was apparent by a break in birdsong. The Shrike lifted off and headed east to Ratnapura. The Owl driving the cart hooted three long and one short. Two specks circling far overhead grew larger and larger until two huge hawks became discernible. The Owl spoke up: "15 second lead, Shrike flew due east to Ratnapura!" A short while later, a murder of ravens clamouring near the river bank saw a mighty hawk plunge from the sky on a hapless grey Shrike. In the blink of an eye, all that was left were a few bloody feathers spiralling down to the soil below.

A few feet apart from the noise, a Raven cawed, "Raptor* down!" Repeat, Raptor down!" The call passed from raven to shrike to buzzard to vulture, till the mountains of Ratnapura echoed with cawing.

At Kalutara, Captain Natasha with the Advance Team paced agitatedly. "I have a feeling that the enemy has counter- intelligence! There was no need to kill that shrike!" The Math Teacher Owl looked thoughtful and finally said, "Sorry, Captain, if it had been allowed to live, it would have got word to Ratnapura."

"I am not sure that that hasn't happened anyway. Sh*t, this is a disaster! On no account must the enemy be alerted."

They were interrupted by a Kite that swooped down so suddenly that Captain Natasha was startled into reaching for her blow-dart.

"Shrike killed! 'Raptor down' alert carried by ravens to Ratnapura. Reaching Ratnapura hills in 15 minutes max!" The Kite panted out before falling flat on its back with fatigue. Thinking fast, Captain Natasha coded a pearl and gave it to a handy clam. The Kite righted itself, drank water and seizing the clam, flew off after sketching the Captain a salute.

Princess Zise sat waist deep in her waterfall, alert for any news. The water boiled with bubbles and a clam floated up and opened. The Princess touched the pearl inside with her fin and Captain Natasha's voice rang out, "Prevent crows and ravens from landing at Ratnapura today. Their message should not reach the mines at any cost!"

Princess Zise replaced the pearl and redirected the Kite to the Chieftain on the mountainside. Now galvanised, the Princess left her waterfall and with speed and grace belying her size, she swam down to one of the largest streams near the mines. With the help of Matron Beaver and her assistants a POA* was agreed upon and young otters, beavers and children were seen hurrying to the banks of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds that so bountifully dotted the Ratnapura mountainside.

Clams and oysters were summoned. The POA was shared. The Avian Representatives reassured them of a 'No hunting' ban imposed for an entire week.

"For the greater good!" said the Grandmaster of Clams as he eased out of his shell and plunged down. The cry was taken up and the other oysters and clams too, gladly gave up their shells and sank into the muddy bottom. Soon, ducks and geese were scooping up abandoned shells and neatly casting them on shores.

"Princess, what next?" puffed Matron Beaver. "Here's what we must do," said the Princess, wrapping her fin around her shoulder. After listening closely, the Matron giggled. "Listen to the DaNi Princess" called the Matron and the children splashed into the stream, surrounded the Princess and grinned guilelessly. "Ok kids, here's what you need to do", the Princess outlined their tasks and with gap-toothed smiles the boys and girls gathered their quotas of clam and oyster shells and set to work.