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| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
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Madol Doova - English Literature made easy - by Martin Wickramasinghe Chapter 6 The Raid Though Upali hates to study, he goes to school regularly. When school is closed for the New Year Jinna and Upali play with the other boys all day. One day Jinna and Upali decide to break into Upasaka Appu's Cadju Orchard. They plan not to leave a single fruit. When Upasaka Appu leaves the house dressed in white cloth and coat, carrying an umbrella, the boys know that he would take sometime to come back. So they begin to raid the tree. But before they could finish their surprise attack, Upasaka Appu returns at the most unexpected time. He collars Jinna. Ultimately Upali and his gang are tied up. Upasaka Appu. Jinna jumps over the fence and runs away. When Upali's father gets the news of his son's mischievous behaviour he flares up. But the stepmother tells him the boy is nearly fifteen. You can't reform him, by thrashing him. Upali is afraid for two reasons. One is that the police would come and arrest them and the second is that his father would send him to the hill country to work for a shopkeeper. The second turning point in Upali's life takes place with the 'cadju raid'. Upali and Jinna run away from home the same night deciding to go where their feet would lead them. First they work in a copra shed. Having collected some money they go to work for a farmer. They grow sweet potatoes and manioc. They learn to operate a muzzle loader and a breach loader. As they are engaged in cultivating a large chena, they spot the island of Madol Doova, in the middle of the Koggala river. Madol Doova has an evil reputation. It's a dense forest, infested with snakes. People also believe that the island is haunted. Even the fishermen, avoid this island. One day, Upali takes his boat out and paddles across the river and moors it near the shore of Madol Doova. There are cadju trees and mango trees and birds whose shrieks are ear splitting. Suddenly, he hears a man clearing his throat. Jinna and Upali explore one side of the island and find a cave and a pond. The foundation for Upali's self-oriented enterprise is laid as Upali and Jinna begin a new life in Madol Doova. Their friend and saviour Podi Gamarala helps them and encourages them to fulfil their desires. Chapter 7 Madol Doova One Sunday morning, they float their canoe with minimum requirements, a pup and a breach loader. They head for the southern tip of the island, disembark and carry their things ashore. They cook their own food and enjoy their first meal in a lonely island away from all disturbances. One evening, they notice a light dipping and rising on the other side of the island and this rouses their curiosity. But, when they see a strange canoe moving across the river on the other side, they suspect that there is something strange, happening in the island. The plantation flourishes and Podi Gamarala helps them in their endeavour. They find out, that the strange canoe and its rower was a woman with a little boy. Being eager to unravel the secret they go back. Chapter 8 A strange guest Chapter 8 opens with the routine work of the two boys. The opening paragraph reveals the fact that Upali as usual stands above Jinna, who has prepared the morning meal and serves Upali before he serves himself. Their anxiety to go looking for the mysterious devil, is shattered as Jinna is bitten by a cobra. In spite of the severe pain caused by the snake bite, Jinna's faith in myth stops Upali from killing the cobra. He believes that a cobra could bring a curse upon the sinner and his family. But when Jinna refers to Upali's mother being born as a cobra, through sheer love for him, Upali is extremely sorry and unable to control his anger he scolds Jinna. Upali knows that his mother loved him a lot...mother who had loved me more than her own eyes...Upali attends to all the household work. In no time, Madol Doova becomes famous and visitors from Colombo start visiting them in Madol Doova. A lawyer and his family, from Galle visit them one day and they become friends. An official and the Headman give them a surprise visit which turns out to be a happy occasion into a gloomy one. The official informs them that an inquiry has to be held for farming government owned land, without permission. Although, the official understands the plight of the two boys he has to abide by the law and take them to courts. Upali goes to Galle with Podi Gamarala and with the help of their lawyer friend he gets a lease for the island paying for the past years that they had used the island and for the coming year. Finally the dispute is settled and Upali comes back to Madol Doova. Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher, English Lit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala |
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