The sun had just risen over the Ganga, tinting it a stunning orange. Sati was standing at her chamber window, looking down at the river. Kartik was playing in the back with Krittika. Sati turned to look at her friend and son. She smiled.

Krittika is almost like a second mother to Kartik. My son is so lucky.

Sati turned back towards the river. She noticed a movement. Peering harder, she saw what was going on and frowned. Emperor Athithigva was off again to his mystery palace. Apparently, for yet another puja for the future of Kashi. She found this odd.

The entire city of Kashi was celebrating Rakshabandhan that day. A day when each sister tied a thread on her brother’s wrist, seeking his protection in times of distress. This festival was celebrated in Meluha as well. The only difference in Swadweep was that the sisters also demanded gifts from their brothers. And the brothers had no choice but to oblige.

Shouldn’t he be spending his time in Kashi? In Meluha, women would come to tie a rakhi to the local governor. And, it was his duty to offer protection. This had been clearly established by Lord Ram. Why is King Athithigva not following this tradition and is instead going to his other palace? And why in Lord Ram’s name is he carrying so many things? Are they part of some ritual to rid the eastern banks of bad fate? Or are they gifts?

‘What are you thinking, Your Highness?’

Sati turned around to find Krittika staring at her. ‘I must find an answer to the mystery of this Eastern palace.’

‘But nobody is allowed in there. You know that. The king even made some strange excuses to not take the Neelkanth there.’

‘I know. But something is not right. And why is the King taking so many gifts there today?’

‘I don’t know, Your Highness.’

Sati turned towards Krittika. ‘I’m going there.’

Krittika stared at Sati in alarm. ‘My Lady, you cannot. There are lookouts at the palace heights. It is surrounded by walls. They will see any boat approaching.’

‘That’s why I intend to swim across.’

Krittika was now in panic. The Ganga was too broad to swim across. ‘My Lady...’

‘I’ve been planning this for weeks, Krittika. I’ve practised many times. There’s a sand bank in the middle of the river where I can rest, unseen.’

‘But how will you enter the palace?’

‘I can hazard a guess about the structural layout from the terrace of our chamber. The Eastern palace is guarded heavily only at the entrance. I have also noticed that guards are not allowed into the main palace. There is a water drain at the far end of the palace. I can swim in through it, without leaving anyone the wiser.’

‘But...’

‘I’m going. Take care of Kartik. If all goes well, I will be back by nightfall.’

The ships turned the last meander of the Ganga to emerge a short distance from the legendary gates of Branga.

‘By the Holy Lake!’ whispered Shiva in awe.

Even the Meluhans, used to their own renowned engineering skills and celebrated monuments, were dumbstruck.

The gates gleamed in the midday sun, having been built almost entirely of the newly discovered metal, iron. The barrier was spread across the river, and it extended additionally into fort walls along the banks which ran a further hundred kilometres inland. This was to prevent anyone from dismantling a smaller ship, carrying it across land and then reassembling it on the other side. There were no roads at the Branga border. The Ganga was the only way in. And anyone stupid enough to go deep into the jungle would probably be killed by wild animals and disease before meeting any Branga man.

The barrier’s base was a cage built of iron, which allowed the waters of the mighty Ganga to flow through, but prevented any person or large fish from swimming through underwater. The barrier had, oddly enough, five open spaces in between, to allow five ships to sail through simultaneously. It seemed odd at first sight because it appeared that a fast cutter could just race through the gap before any Branga could attack it.

‘That seems bizarre,’ said Bhagirath. ‘Why build a barrier and then leave openings through it?’

‘Those aren’t openings, Bhagirath,’ said Shiva. ‘They are traps.’

Shiva pointed at a Branga ship that had just entered the gates. At the beginning of the opening was a deep pool of water with a base made of water-proofed teak, into which the ship had sailed in. There was a cleverly designed pump system that allowed the waters of the Ganga to come into the pool. This raised the ship to the correct height. And then, they saw the fearsome magic of the gates of Branga. Two thick iron platforms rapidly extended from both sides of the pool onto the ship, fitting onto the groove on the extended iron base at the bottom of the hull. The platform had rollers on its edge which fit snugly within the channel of the iron base of the ship.

Shiva looked at Parvateshwar. ‘So that’s why Divodas built the base at the bottom of our hulls.’

Parvateshwar nodded in awe. ‘The platforms extended with such rapid force. If we didn’t have the iron base at the bottom, it would just crush the hull of our ship.’

Iron chains were being fitted onto the hooks on the hull of the ship. The chains were then attached to a strange looking machine which appeared to be like a medley of pulleys.

‘But what animal did they use to make the platform move so fast?’ asked Bhagirath. ‘This force is beyond any animal’s capability. Even a herd of elephants!’

Shiva pointed to the Branga ship. The pulleys had started moving with rapid force, extending the chains, pulling the vessel forward. The rollers on the platform permitted the ship to move with minimum friction, allowing it to maintain its amazing speed.

‘My God!’ whispered Bhagirath again. ‘Look at that! What animal can make the pulleys move so quickly?’

‘It’s a machine,’ said Shiva. ‘Divodas had told me about some accumulator machines, which store the energy of various animals over hours and then release them in seconds.’

Bhagirath frowned.

‘Look,’ said Shiva.

A massive cylinder of rock was coming down rapidly. Next to it was another similar cylinder, being slowly pushed up by pulleys, as twenty bulls, yoked to the machine, gradually went around it in circles.

‘The bulls are charging the machine with hours of labour,’ said Shiva. ‘The massive rock is locked at a height. When the platform is to be extended or a ship pulled, they remove the lock on the rock. It comes crashing down, the momentum releasing a tremendous force that propels the platforms.’

‘By the great Lord Indra,’ said Bhagirath. ‘A simple design. But so brilliant!’

Shiva nodded. He turned towards the Branga office at the entry gates.

Their ships had anchored close to the gates. Divodas had already stepped off to negotiate with the Branga Officer in-charge.

‘Why are you back so soon? You have enough medicines for a year.’

Divodas was shocked at the manner in which Major Uma was speaking. She was always strict, but never rude. He had been delighted that she had been posted at the gates. Though he hadn’t met her in years, they had been friends a long time back. He had thought he could use his friendship with her to gain easy passage into Branga.

‘What is the matter, Uma?’ asked Divodas.

‘It is Major Uma. I am on duty.’