"Sir! Everything I said is true. Azhagapuri is a friendly country of yours. Why do you suspect me?" asked Manimaran.
"We don't care to which country you belong. We suspect that you came here to spy on our country. If you tell me the truth, you can save yourself from getting hurt" said the Chief.
"Sir! There can only be one truth. It won't change. I have already revealed the truth to you. I aver that I hail from Azhagapuri. I am interested in looking at the artworks and antique structures of various countries. I heard many people in our country speak highly of the artworks, sculptures and architectural wonders in your country. I was interested in looking at those treasures. That is why I have come to your country as a tourist. Is this how you will treat a guest?" said Manimaran.
"You are a guest, alright. That is why, we are going to treat you in a special way and offer you a sumptuous feast" said the Chief. with a smirk on his face.
The guards took Manimaran away and led him to the prison.
For the next few days, Manimaran was treated to a 'sumptuous feast' in the prison by the guards. The 'feast' included keeping him starved for a long time, denying even water and getting him whipped and caned several times.
After five days, Manimaran was released from the prison. The Chief of Guards apologized to him for the treatment he was given at the prison.
After Manimaran was released from the prison, he was given accommodation in a guest house attached to the palace and given the treatment due to a royal guest.
The palace doctor treated his wounds. The experience of tasting the delicious food offered to him and sleeping on the luxurious bed in the guest house made Manimaran feel that he was transferred from the hell to the heaven.
After Manimaran's wounds were healed to some extent and he became fit to move, he was mounted on a horse and taken to the country's border with Azhagapuri and left there.
"Wonderful, Manimaran! You have passed the test. You have become qualified to be a spy" said the Intelligence Chief.
"Did I become qualified only now? I was already sent to the Ponni country as a spy!" asked Manimaran, perplexed.
"No, Manimaran. Our sending you to Ponni country was by way of a test, we make people who are recruited as spies to undergo. Ponni country being our friendly country, we have an arrangement with that country. We send our spy recruits to that country for training. It will send its recruits to our country. The training the recruits undergo is a practical training. Even before sending you to Ponni country, I had sent a message to the Intelligence Chief of Ponni country, giving details about you. From the moment you laid your foot on the country's soil, its guards were watching you. Before you returned to our country, the report about you had been received by me, from the Intelligence Chief of Ponni country. You passed the test" said the Intelligence Chief, smiling.
"May I know what was said about me in the report?" asked Manimaran.
"The report said that you conducted yourself in a way no one would suspect you. The guards there observed you for one week, by discretely following you. After satisfying themselves that you had passed the first level of the test, they arrested you and interrogated you. This was the second level of the test. You were calm and unperturbed during the interrogation. The third level of the test was imprisoning you and subjecting you to torture. You may be angry with me for subjecting you to pain and suffering. But, if you were to be caught while spying, this is what you would have to undergo. You endured the torture and remained strong, by not breaking and not revealing the truth about you. Congratulations!"
"Chief! You may remember that when you announced your decision to send me to Ponni country for spying, I asked you why you wanted to spy on a friendly country" said Manimaran.
"Yes, I do. I replied that we should keep an eye even on a friendly country."
"What you had said was proved right, Chief. Ponni country has begun to court Sitala country, which is inimical to us. This was the truth I uncovered during my brief stay in Ponni country. I have prepared a detailed report outlining the basis for my finding. It is my humble opinion that we should no longer be complacent while dealing with Ponni country, considering it a friendly country but be more circumspect in dealing with that country."
Manimaran handed the the pack of palm leaves, on which he had written his report, to the Intelligence Chief.
The Intelligence Chief quickly browsed through the manuscript.
After reading the report, he felt excited and hugged Manimaran, saying, "Even during your training, you have done a wonderful job. The inputs you have gathered are valuable and eye-opening. I will tell the king about your great job and recommend to him to reward you suitably."
Section 2
ugAmai valladhE oRRu.
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