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Slowly the forest grew totally silent. The birds stopped singing. Monkeys no longer played in the trees. What was once a noisy forest, had become a somber swamp. Only snakes and crocodiles seemed comfortable here. When the prince pushed a giant dangling vine aside, he was almost relieved to see a cave below.

The cave opened like a mouth of jagged teeth. A large tree grew above it. Its roots dangled down like spider legs. The prince quickly noticed that from within the darkness there were two pinholes of yellow light, watching him back.

“Sticky Hair!” the prince called. “Come forth and speak with me.”

At first there was only silence. Then a moment later, a deep voice growled, “Who dares to wake me from my sleep?”

“It is I, Vajra, Prince of Banaras. Are you the one known as Sticky Hair?”
“Don’t say that name!” boomed the voice. “Be gone or become my supper!”

“I cannot leave,” replied the prince, “for I cannot watch others suffer at the hands of a tyrant.”

“So be it….” The voice barked. “Tonight’s feast begins with you!”

 

 

 

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