It was a sprawling estate. Flowering trees and plants were everywhere. Friendly insects hummed about them. Wayfarers, especially the innocent young, were much attracted. They came in, met the chief of the estate, and were allotted their lodgings. They had a creepy feeling when they faced the chief. There was nothing to explain it, in his behavior. His talk was like a gentleman, though a little on the shorter side. They left shaking their heads. Soon the largeness and the pleasantness of their surroundings helped them to overcome their unease. But if they lingered a little too long in their rooms trying to figure out their perplexity, they started to feel creepy. It was as if the walls of the room had ears.
Then they met the buffoon of the place. Their hearts gave a joyful yelp when they saw him. His presence was soothing. His jokes disarmed them. But suddenly the Chief came. The youngsters froze half-way on their smile which now formed a hideous pattern.
They could feel that the Chief didn't want them to mix with the likes of the Buffoon, though he didn't say it in plain words. Soon their room walls closed on them. They felt the bugs that eavesdropped on their thoughts.
They tried to slip away. Some were successful. But will it be of any avail?
The Basilisk Chief smiled happily. Even those who slipped away would carry the venom.
But the buffoon's antidote may work in some of them. He frowned when thinking of that. No, he would let the buffoon be for some time. After all, he had amused him somewhat, not long back.
Swami Sampurnananda
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