Chapter 8: Chapter 08- Searching
A person walked the lanes of Anuradhapura capital. There could not see any specialty of this person who clothed in ordinary clothes, but he walked on lanes of city cautiously. After walking he stopped at very shabby looking house. After watching surrounding, he entered into the house. In the house these were several same like ordinary clothed men and women gathered in center. In the middle there was a skinny, cunning looking man. He was no other than the chief of royal spy organization. No one never guessed the headquarters of royal spy organization was placed in this shabby looking house.
"How is the situation?" chief asked from man who entered just a moment ago. "Chief, we have checked from city guards. There were nearly hundred of young couples had entered to the city yesterday and today. So, it is really hard to find the suspect" the man told to chief.
"Yes. This is a hard work. So what? We have to find them anyhow. They are surely now in city. Have the portrait of couple received?'
"No. Chief, it takes at least two hours to receive here"
"It is getting hard now. Without portrait of them finding them is really tough work. When a moment of late receiving portrait, distance to suspect become longer. Anyway, you five, check in every rest hall, every house, every post house if there residing young couple in there or resided yesterday. If one resided find where they went and ask their features as far as they can remembered "Chief ordered five people in room. After hearing this five people obeyed the order and went out from the house.
"You three, go and ask city guards how many merchants groups, how many pilgrims' groups had come yesterday to this day and find their residing places. Also asked those group if they added young couple to their group on the way and helped them" chief asked from another three and they also followed the order of their chief.
"What about the movements of Lambhakanna noble houses?" he asked from a man in group. "Chief, there could not see any suspicious movement so far. We have checked every house in their clan with help of royal guards. But we never found any traces of them" that man told to chief." What about distant relatives of that clan?" chief asked. "It is still checking now "man replied.
"It is getting really hard now. There are only several hours to dawn. If it late that man surely find way to escape from here" Chief told to others.
"Chief, may be that man named Vasambha is escaped from city by now "one man told to chief." That can't be. From the looking at distance to the north general mansion to here, they surely take several hours to take travel. If they really came to the city yesterday, they should come here at yesterday evening whether they have a fast horse. So, they surely stay night in capital. After rest they surely try to find some help to hide in here or escape from here. If they came here today, they first try to find some help escape from here. From the look, there can only say they not found some help. Without any help they surely hiding in somewhere" chief answered. "But there was a day time to them. City gates security is very low. So, they could escape easily from here "one spy told to chief. "Your idea is right. But where they should head? Without any help or guide they could not find safe place in country. Also, they also should get fulfilled their necessities before they escape. Without any help they could not find them easily. So, they should hide in here" chief explained to others.
"Have you instructed city guards to enhance their guard?" chief asked from another spy. "Yes, chief. We instructed them" that man replied. "Now we have to do is only wait" chief told to others and watched the sky through the window of house.
....
It was only hour or two to dawn. Birds sound was run through everywhere. Whether it became cold there was a group wearied white cloth in front of Bronze palace* area. Among the group there were not only males' females also there. One of male among group randomly walked and got near to a female among group and greeted ordinally like met at first time. Female also greeted him to like that and got near to him. So, others never doubted about these two.
"Brother Vasambha, your idea is really great. If we act as a couple we surely get catch by guards" Poththa said secretly to Vasambha. "Yes, I think capital may have got news of our escape. They think we are here now. So, they try to find us "Vasambha told to Poththa with very secretive manner. "Brother Vasambha, if it is gone like this, can we escape from capital?" Poththa asked. "Don't worry they think without help we never leave capital. So, whether security is tight now, we still can escape from here. Don't forget we are now members of pilgrimage group. So, they never check us strictly" said Vasambha and went another place.
After some time, a monk came out of Bronze palace and told "Today we are starting make pilgrimage to Sithulpawwa stupa. So, I hope everyone got ready they necessities. We have arranged several carts to travel there. So, place your goods in one carriage and take other carts to travel yourselves while keeping one for theros who travel with you." After hearing that everyone placed their goods in one cart and got on other carts. Males were got one cart and female sit on another cart. After sitting monk was get on remaining cart and said "Let's start the journey "and cart started to travel one after another.
...
"Chief we found a news. A pilgrimage group has given clothes to a young couple yesterday who heading capitals' direction." One man came and reported to chief of spy organization.
"We have received portraits of couple. Check whether they are the people we find?' chief showed two portraits to the man. "By looking at there is lot of similarities with description told by people from pilgrimage group" man told to chief." Then, they are the people we find. Let's send these portraits to every city gate and check each person "chief give portraits to one man and instructed him. "Yes, I do it quickly" said by that man and left the base quickly. "Vasambha, I surely catch you today" chief of royal spy organization exclaimed.
....
A row of carts came near to the south gate and after seeing this city gauds stopped the carts. "Hey, stop there. Where are you going early morning?" one guard asked. Then the monk in leading cart told that city guard "We are going on pilgrimage to Sithulpawwa stupa". After hearing that guard told to others "Oh! What are you waiting? Open the city gates now. ". Then city gates were opened and all carts followed one after another.
At that time the man who took portraits of Vasambha came to city gates and told "These are the portraits of person we want. Check each person who pass here"." Yes, we obey that "city guards told to that man. "Hey, what are those carts? "The man showed city guards the carts which travelling through south road. "They are pilgrimage group organized by Great Thero of Maha Vihara*. They are travelling to worship Sithulpawwa stupa ". Answered to the man who came from spy organization. "OH! That is" replied man and went another direction.
They never though the target they finding was in that cart row.
Bronze Palace – A large resident building for Buddhist monks built in Anuradhapura. It was said that this building was nine store building.
Maha Vihara - A group of monks who strictly followed Theravada Buddhist style in Sri Lanka.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone