The Vampire's Twenty-Fifth Tale

The Vampire's twenty-fifth story was about a father who married a princess and his son who married the queen, the princess's mother. In time, the father and the princess had a baby boy, while the son and the queen welcomed a baby girl. The Vampire's question was: What is the relationship between these two children.

Vikram was stumped by this question and remained silent. Since he didn't know the answer, the Vampire did not split his head open, and since he did not speak, the Vampire did not return to the tree either. Instead, the Vampire allowed himself to be taken to Shanta-Shil.

On the way, the Vampire said, "Shanta-Shil plans to sacrifice you and your son to Goddess Durga. Remember the giant's parting words: it is okay to kill someone who wishes to kill you. I am the oilman's son; Shanta-Shil slew me lest I intefere with his plans to take over the world. He hung me head downward on the mimosa tree as a trap for you. He will take you to a temple of Durga and tell you to prostrate yourself before her."

The Vampire whispered something in Vikram's ear. He then left the body of the oilman's son, and Vikram's bundle became much lighter.