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The two monkeys clash with a noise like thunder. Hanuman is quick to see that Nilapat means business and lashes out with both feet to send the enraged animal crashing against Mount Jakrawan. Nilapat, winded but undeterred, springs back at Hanuman and, with eyes glowing like coals, deals the Son of the Wind a blow that sends him hurtling to the ground. The concussion of his fall topples trees for miles around. "If that's the way things are," says Hanuman between his teeth, "see how you like the taste of cold steel," and the two monkeys snatch up their swords and square away, circling and feinting, looking for an opening to get in a deadly thrust. They are hard at it, cutting and thrusting, their blades clashing and striking sparks from each other, when Sukreep comes between them, shouting in his authoritative voice for them to put up their weapons and commanding the lesser monkeys to hold them apart. Even so, it is quite five minutes before the furious antagonists have stopped cursing and glaring at each other, and longer before they can be safely released and led separately back to the camp. But the matter does not stop there. |
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