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Guturgu asks Salonki to return
We have more and more chicks hatched
each week. Many of my children and nephews and nieces have gone to neighbouring
villages, Guturgu said. They will take over the other villages like we do at
this one. Go back to the grassland. Talk to Teetiri and Kotwal, my good
friends. They are wise. Take the help of Dominga, Phoolchuki and Darzi, Guturgu
advised. Salonki wondered whether this advice was worth flying so rapidly all
this way. Go back to the grassland and face Billi together? Salonki asked
tiredly. I cannot go back and tell Teetiri and Kotwal that you told me to ask
them to fight Billi on their own. Guturgu, my old friend, I need more advice,
Salonki pleaded.
Guturgu laughed. All the pigeons
standing on the roof, seeming to pay
attention to the conversation, also laughed uncertainly. They had rarely
seen Guturgu in such a good mood. He was usually very angry, going around
finding fault with everyone, and blaming everyone. He would scold all the young
male pigeons, and threaten them that he would not allow them to become a leader
among the pigeons in other villages. They seemed to be happy, Salonki thought,
that Guturgu was actually laughing.
Yes, Yes, my friend, Guturgu said and
added, I knew you would say that. It is always the best advice that is never
found to be practical. Everybody wants practical solutions, not good solutions.
You have not searched properly within the grassland to come up with your best
weapon. Have you thought of all the birds in the grassland? Have you thought of
those birds that know the dry grass areas and the marshy grass areas really,
really, reallllllly well? Guturgu asked. Who? Salonki asked. Have you thought
of that tiny small expert of the grassland, Bater[bb1], the
jungle bush quail? Guturgu asked. Go and ask Bater to help you. Go.
