Chapter 12

The chapter starts with Anand and Nisha sheltering in a cave and Nisha saying that they wont starve to death they'll only freeze. Anand rummages through his bag hoping to find something that he can use to start a fire. He finds nothing but some food he put in earlier and Abhaydatta's bag. As he takes the bag out it feels a little heavier and lumpier. He thought the bag was empty but then he thinks that ever since he met Abhaydatta anything could happen. The conch reading his thoughts replies by saying that nothing happens by chance. Surprised at first but accepting the idea Anand begins a mental conversation with the conch. Eventually he pulls out what is in the bag and with delight he finds some matches! Nisha helps him pull down some dry moss and they light a fire. A small squirrel like creature comes inside the hollow and Nisha immediately takes to it calling it Rajah. They all go to bed but the next day morning in spite of warning from Rajah they are captured by some ape-like creatures whose fur is pure white. The creatures take them to another cave where they start talking in a human-like language. Anand finds that if he listens closely that he can make out some words from the local language. The lead ape named Grishan starts searching him for the conch but can't find it. They bind Anand and Nisha with thick vines but Anand can still hear a couple words from which he can make out: Master here soon... Master will kill. Anand realizes that Surabhanu is the creatures master and that he will be able to find the conch when he gets here. The next thing Anand knows Nisha is trying to wake him up and he is free. She explains that Rajah tracked them here and bit through their vines. Anand and Nisha manage to escape and follow Rajah back to the river. They hear a commotion behind them and they realize that the apes have noticed their absence. Anand sarcastically tells Nisha to ask Rajah how to cross and she does. Rajah then steps into the river in a certain spot and the current stops flowing and they make it across by following in Rajah's footsteps.

One big question i had while reading this chapter was what where the ape creatures and why did Surabhanu use them? Why didn't he just hunt down Anand and Nisha himself? It seems to me that hunting them down would be the better choice so there's no room for error. Because after all the trouble the apes went through the kids still got away. But overall i liked this chapter.