|
||
|
||
For some time the grief-stricken royal brothers wander through the forest, from Sadayu learning the identity of Seeda's abductor and from giants whom they defeat that they can hope to gain allies for their campaign against Longka from the monkey kingdoms of Keetkin and Chompoo. Eventually they come to the grove where Hanuman, the magic monkey, is meditating. The Wind God Phra Pai stirs up a breeze in which he has skillfully combined the scents of many flowers, and the two heroes, overtaken by an irresistible lassitude, lie down under a large and shady tree and sleep. Hanuman, having broken off his meditation to collect some fruit, comes on them and, curious to know who they can be, throws down pieces of twig onto the sleepers. Phra Lak awakes and, seeing the little white monkey on the branch above, reaches up a hand to catch it. Hanuman skips onto a higher branch, however, and dances this way and that as Lak tries to dislodge him with the end of his bow. Phra Ram awakes and immediately recognizes the monkey with its diamond pelt, brilliant earrings, and jeweled teeth as the talented Hanuman. The Son of the Wind for his part looks down at Phra Ram and sees that he has been recognized, thinking to himself, "This fine prince knows who I am, so it must be the god I've been instructed to serve, Phra Narai." Delighted to have met his future master, Hanuman swings down out of the tree and prostrates himself before Phra Ram, while the favorite of Isuan, no less pleased to have at last encountered the able monkey, strokes Hanuman's back. When the formalities have been observed, Hatiuman fetches and introduces his uncle Sukreep to Phra Ram, explaining that it has been ordained that as Phra Narai he shall end the life of the unrighteous king of Keetkin, Palee, and elevate Sukreep to the vacant throne. Phra Ram agrees to help Sukreep, and it is arranged that in the course of a fight between the two brothers, Phra Ram, as the divine Narai, shall shoot Palee from ambush with the arrow Promat. |
||
|