The big ape, sleeping soundly, emitted a snore so human, that Piang laughed.
“Why does the packda look so like a man, Ganassi?”
“Because he once was a man,” was the startling reply. “He was lazy and, instead of working, climbed trees and hunted minas (monkey-nuts). A companion, becoming vexed, uttered a curse on him and threw a stick at him. These things clung to the lazy man: the stick became a tail, and the curse deprived him of speech. Ashamed of himself, he and his family took to the trees, never to return.”
Many questions were put to the wise old hermit, and his ready answers astonished, but satisfied, Piang. Night came on, and the strange company lay down together under the shelter of the banian and slept.
Piang was very happy. He had reached Ganassi, was proclaimed the real charm boy, and was at last to receive the glorious charm. Some said it was a star tossed to Moroland by the Creator, that it was the emblem of power, and that he who wore it would be filled with a divine understanding. Others believed it to be the great diamond of Borneo, captured many years before from the pirates of that fierce land. Piang did not care which it proved to be, as long as it shone and sparkled with beauty. All agreed that its brilliance dazzled the eye, that its magnificence was unrivaled. Ganassi had waited a hundred years for the charm boy who was destined to wear it, and at last the star had proclaimed Piang to be the lucky boy. Through Piang’s dreams flitted the visions of shimmering jewels of gold, and the happy smile on the boy’s lips made old Ganassi’s heart glad.
“Up, up with you, sleepyhead!” called Ganassi. “The sun will catch you napping if you do not hurry.”
Piang sleepily rubbed his eyes and sat up. Horror and fright seized him as he beheld the body of the python curled up beside him and the packda contemplating him with indifference. From the doorway Ganassi smilingly watched him.
“Come, my subjects are assembling; they will all assist in the ceremony of the sacred charm.” The charm! Piang remembered and jumped to his feet. Creatures from all over the mountain were answering Ganassi’s weird call; the air was full of fluttering birds, and monkeys came swinging toward them. Ganassi gave to each a sweet or a fruit.
“Piang, no dato can boast of a grander court than Ganassi, eh?” chuckled the old man.