Story of Two Kings

Sham S. Misri

Once there were two kings of the desert, called ‘Haya and Gaja ' : and they were deadly enemies. Once, Gaja set upon Haya, and killed his son and captured his wives and his capital and drove him away. So being reduced to extremity, Haya entered the service of Gaja, who did not know him by sight, as a personal retainer. And while he waited for an opportunity to revenge himself, Gaja was attacked and his army destroyed by a third king, and he fled into the desert, badly wounded, with only Haya for his companion, hoping to cross over the desert and get back to his own capital and be safe. So the two went together over the desert. And having but one skin of water, they could give "Horse" and "elephant."

One of their horses died. So they went on foot. Then Gaja said to Haya : There is hardly water in this skin to carry one man across the desert; much less for two: and now our fate is sure. And they went on, and day by day the water shrank. And Haya carried the skin. And one night, as Gaja slept upon the sand, Haya remained awake.

And he looked at the skin of water, and said:

One man could cross the desert on this water, but not two. And now my enemy lies there before me. So he sat in silence, with his naked sword in his hand, alone in the desert with the twinkling stars, watching Gaja as he slept, all night long. And in the morning they went on. And as the sun grew hotter, Gaja grew fainter, for he was weakened by his wound. And he said to Haya: Let us drink, even if we die. So they drank. But Haya put shut lips to the water, and took none into his mouth. And so they went on day by day, and Gaja drank the water. But Haya only put it to his mouth, and looked at it with glittering eyes, and lips closed like the door of death.

And at last there came a day, when Gaja said:

My wound has robbed me of my strength, and now I can go no further. Moreover, the water is done. Then Haya said : Be strong: it is but one day more. But Gaja said : you go on and save yourself, and leave me here to die. And he fell upon the sand, and lay in a half-swoon.

And then Haya stooped, and took him in his arms, and staggered on. And as he went, he grew giddy, and his senses wandered, and the desert danced before his eyes. And he heard in his ears the splash of water, and the drums of the desert rang in his head, and behind him the spirits of the region of death called to one another across the sand, and laughed and mocked him as he went like one going in a dream. So he struggled on in the loneliness, while his life receded away, withering like a flower in the burning fire of that angry sun.

And suddenly he heard in his dream the voice of Gaja, crying above his head: Lo! yonder is the city away before us, and now we are saved. Then Haya set him down. And he said : O King, I am Haya, and now I have brought you over the dusty death. And he fell with his face upon the sand, and went to the other world. But Yama saw that action and remembered it: and Haya rose in the next birth out of humanity and mortality and became a spirit of the air.

Then the said: The brave prince deserved his reward.