On Mount Prasravana, frogs croak and the clouds boom like drums. No one travels on the rain-beaten roads. When the rains began, Rama told Sugriva, “The rains last four months. When they end, do your best against Ravana. That is our agreement.”

At night the moon rises, and Rama cannot sleep for missing Sita. “Wait for autumn,” says Lakshmana. Rama says, “I will wait for autumn, and for Sugriva’s kindness. A friend who was helped must help in return.” “He will,” says Lakshmana, “and soon.”

The four months of rain have passed. Now it is autumn, and the sky is clear. But Sugriva stays in his palace with music, garlands and ease. He leaves the work to his ministers, his helpers, and does not see the days slip by.

Hanuman, Sugriva’s wise helper, goes to him. “You have your kingdom back. Now help your friend. Rama helped you first. He has not said a word to you, because he trusts your promise. It is time to search for Sita.”

“Send us!” says Hanuman. “We can go anywhere: under the earth, into the water, up in the sky.” Sugriva tells Nila, a leader of his army, to call all the vanaras together. Then he goes back inside his palace.

Up on the mountain, Rama sees the clear autumn sky. The cranes are calling. “Sita loved their calls,” he says. “Her voice was like theirs. Four months of rain have passed, and to me they were like a hundred years.”

Lakshmana comes back from looking for fruit and finds Rama sad and alone. Rama says, “Now kings set out on their journeys, but I see no sign of Sugriva. He has forgotten his word. Go to Kishkindha, and tell him: keep your promise.”

Lakshmana is angry, and he takes up his bow. But Rama says, “The bravest man is the one who calms his own anger. Remember our friendship. Speak to him gently. His only fault is that he lost track of the time.”

Lakshmana strides to Kishkindha, holding his anger in. The vanaras at the gate see his face and hurry away. Angada carries his message inside: “Lakshmana is at the gate.” But Sugriva is so sleepy that he does not understand.

The vanaras shout like thunder, and Sugriva wakes up with his garlands all crooked. “I have done them no wrong. Why is Lakshmana angry?” he asks. Hanuman says, “Autumn is here, and you lost track of time. Join your palms and ask his pardon.”

Lakshmana walks into Kishkindha, a city in a great cave, bright with jewels. He passes seven courtyards and hears music. At Sugriva’s door he hears the palace ladies’ anklets jingle, and he is too polite to go in. Twang! He plucks his bowstring.

Sugriva jumps up. “Tara,” he says, “Lakshmana is gentle by nature. Go to him. He will be kind to you.” Tara, Angada’s mother, goes to the door. Lakshmana looks down politely. “Prince,” she asks, “why are you angry?”

Lakshmana says, “Sugriva agreed to begin when the rains were over. They are over, and he has not even noticed.” Tara says, “This is not the time for anger. He has already sent for the vanaras. They are coming in millions! Please come in.”

Sugriva sits on a golden seat. He gets up so fast that he wobbles like a festival flagpole, and comes with joined palms. Lakshmana says, “A good king keeps his word to friends who helped him. Is the search for Sita not your duty?”

Tara says, “Do not speak to him like this. Sugriva has not forgotten what Rama did for him. Today millions of bears and vanaras will come, bright as torches.” Lakshmana is gentle by nature, and he agrees with her.

Sugriva tears off his garland, and now his mind is clear. “All I have, Rama gave me. His one arrow went through seven trees, a mountain and the earth! If I have done wrong, forgive me. No one is without fault.”

Lakshmana is pleased. “You keep your word, my friend. Come with me, and cheer up Rama. And forgive me too. Rama was sad, so I spoke hard words.”

Sugriva tells Hanuman, “I sent fast vanaras before. Send more to hurry them. Call the vanaras of every mountain, the slow ones too!” Messengers leap into the sky. They bring back fruits from the snowy Himalaya mountains. One bite keeps you full for a month!

Sugriva and Lakshmana ride to Rama in a golden palanquin, under a white umbrella, while conches blow and drums beat. Sugriva bows his head to Rama’s feet. Rama lifts him up and hugs him tight.

Sugriva sits on the ground, and Rama says, “A king who only plays is like someone asleep in a treetop. He wakes only when he falls!” Sugriva says, “Your kindness gave me back all I lost.” Rama’s eyes open wide with joy, like blue lotuses.

Dust hides the sun, and the earth shakes. Vanaras crowd round Sugriva like clouds round the sun: Jambavan with his bears, Angada, Hanuman and many more. Rama says to Sugriva, “First find out if Sita lives, and where Ravana lives. You lead, my friend.”

Sugriva sends one group east, towards golden Mount Sunrise. Angada leads the south group, with Hanuman and Jambavan, all the way to the southern ocean. One group goes west to the sea, and one north to the snowy Himalayas. “Come back within a month!”

Sugriva turns to Hanuman. “Nothing can stop you, on land, in the sky or in the sea. You are as quick as your father, the Wind. You will find a way to Sita.” Rama sees how sure Sugriva is, and his heart is glad.

Rama gives Hanuman his ring, with Rama’s own name on it. “When Sita sees this, she will know that you come from me,” he says. Now Hanuman is Rama’s messenger.

Hanuman puts the ring on his head and bows at Rama’s feet. Then he leaps into the sky with the vanaras, like the moon among the stars. “Hanuman, I trust you!” Rama calls after him. Now the search for Sita begins.