66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

there for the night. The citizens who had followed also
spread themselves out on the sand, not in the least minding
the discomfort. Past midnight, fatigued by the trekking, the
whole gathering had gone off to sleep. Rama said softly to
Sumanthra, “This is the time to leave. You may go back to
the palace and tell my father that I am safe.” While the
followers slept, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana rode out to a
farther point on the river, crossed it, and went up the
embankment. Sumanthra watched them go and then turned
back, following Rama’s suggestion that he should reach the
capital by another route without waking the crowd.
Dasaratha lay inert, motionless, with his eyes closed—
except when a footstep sounded outside, at which time his
lips moved as he whispered, “Has Rama come?” When
Vasishtha or Kausalya gave some soothing answer, he
lapsed into his drowsy state again. “Who is gone to fetch
him?”
“Sumanthra,” Vasishtha replied. Finally a footstep did
sound, loudly enough to rouse the drowsy King. The door
opened, and the King also opened his eyes and exclaimed,
“Ah, Sumanthra? Where is Rama?” Before Vasishtha or
Kausalya could prevent his reply, Sumanthra explained,
“Rama, Sita and Lakshmana crossed the river, went up the
bank, and then along a foot track that wound its way through
a cluster of bamboos… .”