Page 37 of Aru Shah and the End of Time

“Well, he started out as one,” said Mini.

“Even if you murder only once, you’restilla murderer….”

“He changed,” said Boo. “For many years, Valmiki sat and chanted the wordmara, which meanskill. But his chant changed over time and becameRama, another name of the god—”

“And then a bunch of ants swarmed around him, and that’s how he got his name!” chimed in Mini. “In Sanskrit, it meansborn of an anthill.”

Aru wasn’t sure that people could really change. On many occasions her mother had promised that things would be different. Sometimes she kept her word for as long as six days. For those days Aru would be walked to school, fed a non-bland dinner, and even spoken to about something other than her mother’s newest museum acquisition.

But things always went back to normal in the end.

Still, having that mom was better than having a frozen mom. Aru swallowed her urge to cry. What were they doing here? They needed to get those celestial weapons, and soon!

“Peoplecanchange,” added Boo. His eyes looked very knowing in that moment, as if he’d read her mind. It didn’t escape Aru that Boo sounded a little defensive.

“Okay, if you say so. But why do we have to meet this guy?” asked Aru.

“Valmiki’s very wise,” said Boo. “He’s gathered all kinds ofmantras, sacred words that will help you. But, be warned, he’s still awful….”

“Why?” asked Aru, shocked. “Because he was a murderer?”

“Worse,” said Boo. “He’s a…” His voice dropped. “Awriter.” He shook his head in disgust.

Boo and Mini started marching forward (well, Mini marched while Boo rode on her shoulder), following the trail of ants. The ground was dark, and finding the insects was like trying to pick pepper off a black cloth.

“I can’t see the ants anymore,” Mini said.

“Use your phone light,” said Aru.

“Can’t,” said Mini. “It died before you guys even came to get me. Don’t you have one?”

Aru grumbled. “No. Mom won’t let me have one until next year.”

“Ican see perfectly well,” said Boo, picking his way carefully through the grass. This was probably the one time a pigeon sidekick was useful.

Ahead were several skinny trees. Between them stood a tannish boulder that Aru was quite certain hadn’t been there when they were farther away. Boo walked up to the thing and pecked it twice.

“Valmiki! We are in need of your assistance!”

Was it Aru’s imagination, or did the boulder shift a bit?

“Oh, come out of there….”

Aru looked a little closer. What had seemed like a boulder was actually a giant anthill. She shook each of her feet, shivering a little. What if the ants were crawling on her right now?

The insects on the hill began to move quickly back and forth, forming lines that eventually spelled out words:

UNLESS YOUR LIFE YOU WANT TO CURSE

THE TIME IS NIGH TO SPEAK IN VERSE

The Hipster in the Anthill

“Oh no,” said Boo.

“What is it?” asked Aru.

“I hate poems that rhyme.”