Night and day the two worked on the iron rope.  Now, after careful ablutions, Gesar was approaching the castle.  He threw the rope up, and its iron hook caught and held.  But halfway up the rope he noticed two ravens—one white, one black—tumbling through the air in mortal combat.  Suddenly the white raven fell to the ground and Gesar lost his grip on the rope.  Maneney, taking pity on him, showed herself again.  “One spot from the smithy remains,” she admonished.  “Wash again!”  And after a final cleansing, Gesar returned to scale the castle walls.

But within those walls, the quiet had been disturbed already.  No matter how she tried, Dukmo could not dismiss the feeling that Gesar had returned and was watching her.  What three years ago would have filled her with delight now filled her with anxiety.  Gurkar’s affections had swayed her loyalty, and now she could not sleep.  So when Gesar came through a window, he was not unseen as he believed.  Silently Dukmo roused Gurkar, who rushed at the hero.  Madly they wrestled around the chamber.  The surprise of the attack, it seemed, had left Gesar off balance.  King Gurkar was close to success.

Maneney’s bright form forestalled the near tragedy.  “Oh, Dukmo, consort of the God-king, are you without wisdom, are you without love?  Throw these peas under Gurkar’s firm boots.  Throw this paste under Gesar’s slick feet.”  But Dukmo threw the peas and paste about in an indiscriminate mixture.She wanted no part in the fight.  Maneney, now a dove, quickly picked out the peas and spread them under Gurkar’s boots.  Soon Gurkar was off balance, and Gesar’s feet stood firm.  Lifting the dagger three-fingers-long, Gesar thrust it into Gurkar’s body.  Blood and pus so flooded the room that Gesar almost drowned in it.  Only Gesar’s prayers and Maneney’s shovel cleared the mess.

So the hero returned to his own castle and began the work of rebuilding.  And although he loved her dearly, Gesar could not protect Dukmo from the results of her sin.  For three years she had to endure Ling’s punishment.  She tended to the goats, carried water, and served everybody.  Then Dukmo was made a lady again.  A grand wedding festival lasting three days and three nights united the couple once more and forever.

Merlinda Fournier is a free-lance author based in the Washington,D.C.,area.