Prison Break: The Emu Chronicles

Prison Break: The Emu Chronicles

Chapter 1: The sighting

The day was early, with hens still roosting. Palunni,the milk boy was pedalling down hill, to reach the village of Kudilthode. The windy downhills were notorious for its dacoits and ghost sightings. As Palunni negotiated a curve, Bam in front of him, at a distance, he noticed something eerie. Palunni has had his share of tete-a-tete with dacoits and ghosts to know that it was none of those. As he strained to see through the fog, he could make out that it was a strange creature, with the body of an overgrown chicken and the head like a snake, slender, with a prominent beak. It was standing still, unblinking.

                                
“ Oh gods, curse me if that is not something unearthly”, muttered Palunni

Palunni descended from his cycle and stealthily moved forward. The strange creature was still standing still, unblinking.

                                   

“ Must be my head..No creature can stay that long without moving”, thought Palunni

As he reached within touching distance,  he was awed by the size of this creature, which looked birdlike, except for its ridiculous size and lack of wings. Suddenly, the ghastly creature opened its mouth and said “Cluck”  

 

A small sound, but nevertheless it froze Palunni’s heart. The last thing he had expected was a “Cluck” from this gigantic monster.

He turned back, with a silent scream, for he dared not disturb the creature and ran for his life, leaving his bicycle behind.

Chapter 2: The news

Kudilthode is normally a very laidback village. Its residents are usually happy basking in the sun, with a spot of tea and plenty of politics to gossip about.

 But today there was total chaos. Pandemonium reigned. The story, which had slowly seeped into the village, early morning, was spreading like a wildfire, mid-afternoon.

The entire supply route into the village was blocked following the sighting of a dastardly being by the milk boy.

 As the story passed from one slandering tongue into another, so did the creature grow. The current version of the story (a local legend, already) being passed on by Karthu to Dakhshayani had an addition that the creature could stare you and drive you mad.

“My, my..That is scary”, said Dakshayani, when Karthu finished her enactment of the cold stare.

“Its not just scary. Look at poor Palunni. He is now down with fever and is delirious. All he is muttering is a weird sound”

“Roja told me that the voice of this being is so hideous and loud, that she woke from her sleep, thinking she heard the devil”, added Kunjulakshmi

A council was called at the house of Devendra Prabhu, a man with immense riches, who usually had the final say in such matters.

“ So what you are saying, Ali Moidu, is that this is a gin, a shaitan, and that we should all drive it away. A very poignant point, but alas, we know nothing about its current whereabouts. Chacko, my trusted deputee was sent to locate it and he has returned emptyhanded”, said Devendra Prabhu

“ There were trackmarks, but it kept going everywhere. I began to feel giddy following it”, remarked Chacko

                                          

                         Trackmarks as seen by Chacko(any resemblance to any other trackmarks is purely regeretted)

 There was a unanimous hush upon hearing this. The creature was as tricky as a fox, if only, more.

 Suddenly Jayan rushed into the scene

 “Its there..the creature..in my backyard..i just caught it”

The entire crowd followed him.

Chapter 3: The Unveiling

The entire council was in Jayan’s backyard. The scene of the Creature head stuck inside a chicken coop with rest of its body outside did not soothe anybody. Nor did anyone laugh. For, this creature was as tricky as the fox, or even more(as duly noted before). What to do next, was a question that even the revered Devendra Prabhu had no clue, whatsoever. 

“Well, Its best if Jayan himself releases it”, suggested Chacko

“And what if it turns back and attacks us? Oh Jayan, what a mess you have made. You shouldn’t have captured it” said Ravi

“Well, by the look of things, it seems as if the creature itself got entangled in the coop while trying to feed..Afterall, there is some chicken feed in the coop”, said Communist Raghavan

“Damn you Raghavan. Don’t you see the evil the creature posseses. It was trying to eat the chicken alive. I had to risk my life, trapping it”, said Jayan in an annoyed tone

“Well..the only logical solution is to open the door of the coop and make it free. If this is an avatar of Kalki, then we are doomed. Destiny awaits us” remarked Devendra Prabhu

While the entire council was busy arguing on who had to open the door, Jimmy, Jayan’s dog, could no longer hold his curiosity and decided to put his head into the coop to have a better look at the creature.

                                                                  Jimmy the curious dog

The door of the coop opened and the creature withdrew its serpentine head.

The council, who were huddled in their discussion did not know what was upon them, till they heard the terrible “Cluck” sound behind them.

“The devil is upon us”, they cried in unison as they made a quick getaway.
 

The creature stood there staring at them, unblinking.

                                            
 

Chapter 4: The Decision

The council had reassembled in Devendra Prabhu’s courtyard. Many reported sickness, as if some cold had seeped into their very bones. Two of them, in the melee, had deep gashes on their head, following a fall, in the act of escaping.

“These are dark times" mused Devendra Prabhu

“Well im glad that im still in one piece. I can still feel its breath on my back”, exclaimed Ali, shivering with fear
                                                          

                        An artist’s interpretation: Ali shivering with fear

“I’ll better call my wife and ask her to stay indoors with little Nandu. Poor Jimmy, I fear for him” said Jayan

As Jayan was busy talking to his wife over phone, Communist Raghavan said “Im still surprised that all of you are shivering. It is no gin or shaitan. Its just some lost creature”

Suddenly Jayan rushed back into the scene
 

“Nothing to worry guys. Its nothing extraterrestrial or out of the ordinary. Its an Emu. Nandu just recognized it. From Discovery channel.”

“Emu?? Whats that? Are we gonna rest our fate based on the judgement of a 10 year old?”, asked Ravi

“Emu is a bird. From Australia. And for your information, it just laid an egg too”

“Even snakes lay egg. In fact, there are many heidious creatures  tha  t I know that lays eggs”, challenged Ali

“The question is, even if this is Emu, how did it reach here all the way from Ausrtralia? It dint have any wing like things, if I recollect” asked Devendra Prabhu

“That’s why I said it is no Enimoose or whatever you call it. It’s a gin, Shaitan, continued Ali

“Well, only one thing to do. I’ll go and lure it to the compound of my party office. Only we lot seem to be rational here. I’ll keep it in a cage and let me and my comrades keep it under guard till we come with any other plan” suggested Communist Raghavan, who had a twinkle in his eye, the same twinkle as the one he  has when he senses a politically suave move.

“Ok, then it is decided. But how you lure it, I have no idea. Until its behind the bars, let all family keep caution” declared Devendra Prabhu

The council began to disperse, deep in their own thoughts.

Chapter 5: The Bail

The Emu had been captive for 3 days. It had got its regular supply of chicken feed which the Comrades soon realised it had a weakness for. Paalunni had recovered from his delirious fever, which the doctor diagnosed as a case of Meningitis, having nothing to do with his sighting of the Emu. Even those who got terrible gashes on their head, admitted sheepishly that they may have been a bit harsh in attributing them to the Emu, when it was a case of tripping down and hurting oneself. 

The beneficiary from all this fiasco was Communist Raghavan, who, as you might remember had a twinkle in his eyes erstwhile volunteering to be responsible for the Emu. His party, which was an often ignored one, now began to be known as the one that saved the village. Their party house began to be known as the “Emu House” and their party became a trending topic among the villagers, who, as you might remember, liked to gossip.

                                                                  

                                                                             Proposed Party Logo

Communist Raghavan began to become a powerful figure. He floated a new party with Emu as his mascot. People all agreed that the Emu had indeed been a decent prisoner making no troubles whatsoever, except for the occasional “clucking”, which was in itself, very sweet to hear.

The issue was raised in the council and Devendra Prabhu decided to grant the Emu 3 days of bail. Communist Raghavan was not very happy with this decision and termed it as a politically biased one, as he felt he would lose his monopoly over the Emu. Nevertheless, he assigned Ravi to always follow the Emu, as it was still his responsibility.

With Ravi following the Emu, the Emu enjoyed its first day of freedom. It stepped out of the cage and if it was not for Ravi who had to go to places, the Emu would have stood beside the cage, unblinking. So, the Emu was spotted near the paddy field, near the bank of the river where women bathed, near the Toddy shop and even made a surprise appearance outside Dakshayani’s house in the midnight, who(much to his surprise!!) came with Jayan outside, following a knock on the door.

Three days passed and the Council met again to determine the Emu’s future. The village wide stroll that the Emu made in the three days convinced the people that the Emu had a higher purpose, it was their guardian, looking over their proceedings. It was declared that the Emu would now on have unprecedented freedom in the village (though Communist Raghavan reiterated that he was the one who had saved the village initially and that he still headed the party whose mascot was the Emu and that the people owed him their votes)

And so, the legend of the Emu was born, which every mother would recite to their children, generation after generation.

Chapter 6: The Missing

The village of Kudilthode (as you might remember was a laid back village) went back to its old ways. Peace reigned in an era which historians later defined as the “Era of the Emu”.

 It was in such a peace that out of the blue, one day, the Emu went missing. Men jumped out of their jolly tea-drinking. Women stopped gossiping. All were concerned as a palpable tension gripped the village. 

The Council which met could not make heads or tails of what happened. It was in such a dark time that Ali coughed bad causing Devendra Prabhu to remark, “Im sorry Ali. Alas, Chacko has left my service since yesterday, else I could have offered you some hot tea for your cough”.

 Suddenly Communist Raghavan shouted out, “I can bet my holy Emu, if he hasn’t taken the Emu with him!!”

“He always had a suspicious look”, recollected Ali

             

                                                                           A Pic of Chako during his hay days

“Where do you think he has gone?” asked Devendra Prabhu

“Well, he did say to me he had a job for me and it would involve transporting something to the town. But he never came to me”,said Ravi

“Damn me..He’s going to float a new party”, shouted Communist Raghavan

“He’s stolen our grace, our pride”, lamented Ali

“Poor Emu. He must be missing me”,cried Ravi

“I only see one solution. Go to the town and free the poor thing”, said Devendra Prabhu

“Off we go, then. Come on lads, we got an Emu to save”, declared Communist Raghavan, who again had a twinkle in his eyes, which by now, you all know, what it means.

Chapter 7 : The Charge

It took another 3 days for the village “Strike team” (as they called themselves) to locate Chako. It was not an easy mission and it had its toll. Many of the strike team members were on their first ever visit to the Town and got lost in its vices. Ravi made frequent escapades from the council meeting held, and often came back with offensive odours. Nonethelesss, the core of the strike team ,led by the revered Devendra Prabhu, held true to their purpose. They had conclusive proof that Chacko had a butcher shop in the town and soon narrowed down its premises. They send Ali in the disguise of a beggar(a low cost investment, if you know what I mean), who came back with the report that Chacko had indeed the Emu in captive, and that he refused to part with it for charity.
                                                           

                                                                          Ali in disguise
 

“Well, this makes it tough. We have to be on the offensive. This calls for struggle and bloodshed”, remarked Communist Raghavan, fist raised.

And thus, it was decided. On that fateful day, a band of few villagers, who called themselves the “Strike team”, decided to risk their lives, by charging over to Chacko’s butcher shop, together as one, and melt him down with guilt for stealing, all for their beloved Emu.

And charge they did.

The communists, true to their nature formed a barricade and demanded the shop to be shut down. Devendra Prabhu was involved in a verbal duel with Chako, with matters ranging from non settled domestic bills to the stealing of the Emu. Ravi made occasional appearences, going and coming. But when present, he would be decreasingly less sober and cry out love songs for the Emu,in front of its cage. Ali, meanwhile, sticking true to his disguise, which he still hadn’t removed, began nicking things from the shop. In this spree, mistaking the Emu’s cage for a hidden vault, he opened. And there he stood face to face with the legendary Emu.

“Cluck”, it said

Ali, feeling that the Emu had seen his lifting-spree, dropped all his pilfering’s and ran out.

The door remained open.

Historians, to this date, have not understood what prompted the Emu to act so, in the next 5 seconds

The Emu, the hitherto sedate one, the hitherto staring unblinking one, in the blink of an eye, made a terrible bellowing and ran out of the cage.

It was moment, etched in history forever, which later came to be known as the “Prison Break: Flight of the Emu”, which was erroneous in itself, cause the Emu, as noted before, dint have wings.

                                                           

                                                        The erroneusly titled “Prison Break:Flight of the Emu”

But such was the way things spanned out that day that, the Emu which made a dash outside, had to end up, smashed beneath a stray (Paandi) lorry.

                                                                               

 History always shows how great Empires have fallen, how World leaders have fallen.

And so, the Emu made its exit, inglorious as it may be.

It was indeed a sad day.

Epilogue:

Life resumed in the peaceful village of Kudilthode. People went back to their jolly tea-drinking and gossiping. Communist Raghavan went back to his old party. Ali never ever pilfered anything. Devendra Prabhu got a new deputee/help, sent by Chacko, who regretted his decision to leave his service.

Things as you can see went on as before. But before the moon faded, in the darkest of nights, every mother recited the tale of the Divine Emu, which had visited their village and turned their lives head over heels.

“Cluck”

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