Page 37 of Tiger's Destiny
“We know that the amulet piece I wear has the properties of fire, and Mr. Kadam said his piece shot him into space. What if each amulet represents one of the elements—fire, air, water, earth, and space—and each of her ‘birth’ stories reflect a different element?” I proposed and handed over my notes on the amulet.
Possible Powers
The roar of Durga’s tiger shook the world.
(Earthquake? Earth Amulet)
Oceans boiled and surf flooded the land.
(Water Amulet or Pearl Necklace)
Mountains crumbled in a thousand landslides.
(Earth Amulet)
Used her divine breath to replenish her armies.
(Food/water/clothing? Using gifts)
Great flames issued forth in all directions.
(Fire Amulet/Rope of Fire)
Dodged mountains. (Earth Amulet)
Encompassed Mahishasur’s army in a sandstorm.
(Air Amulet)
“Okay, then which birth story is the accurate one?” Kishan asked.
“Maybe they all are,” I suggested.
“Um . . . here’s something,” Ren added. “This book talks about a volcanic island that sounds an awful lot like the one Kadam told us to go to. It’s called the Pit of Hell.”
“Really?” I coughed on a bite of muffin. “That’s marvelous.”
“That’s not the worst of it.”
“Good,” I mumbled sarcastically. “I wouldn’t want it to betooeasy. So a volcanic island and a battle between Durga and Mahishasur? I think it’s possible that Durga may have had the whole amulet when she beat him, taking into account, of course, that we accept the story literally.”
“It’s a good theory,” Kishan said. “There’s no mention of anything strange happening in space or time though.”
“No, there isn’t. There’s also no mention of anyone appearing or disappearing.”
“Tell me the story of the battle, so I can picture it in my mind,” Kishan asked.
“Alright. I’ll start when Durga meets Mahishasur.” I thumbed through pages until I found what I was looking for. “‘When the goddess entered the battlefield astride her tiger, all eyes turned to her. The tiger paced slowly forward, and the awestruck men knelt while the demons panted softly at seeing the beautiful goddess. She was calm, fearless. Though she passed squadrons of demon archers, thousands of charioteers, and hundreds of battle elephants, none moved to harm her—each creature was totally awestruck at her power.
‘When at last she reached the demon king, she was surrounded by men with glistening iron axes and black halberds’—wait, what are halberds?”
“It’s like a long spear with an axe on the end,” Ren answered.
“Got it. ‘The battlefield was a river of blood but even the red river could not distract from the red of her lips or the lushness of her hair, so immensely beautiful was she. The demon king fell in love upon seeing her and announced he would take her for his bride. He instructed his men to capture the goddess, but none of them were aware that behind her great beauty was a creature of great strength.
‘Like a whirlwind, she and her tiger rose up and slew each of the demon king’s cohorts. She threw her noose around Mahishasur’s neck, and while her tiger clamped onto his body with his jaws, she raised her sword and cut the demon in half.’”
Kishan whistled. “She sure sounds like my kind of woman.”
