The Lady Or The Tiger: The Ending

The Lady or the Tiger

Ð'...Without the slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right, and opened it. Before the gate had even reached a foot off the ground the young lover, heartbroken, watched four frantic feet pacing back and forth and heard a deep, rhythmic panting. His mind frenziedly raced with dozens of thoughts: How could you do this to me? My dear lover, do you care but only for yourself? Someone must have forced her to tell me to choose the right door! What sort of fool am I to fall in love with the fairest lady in the kingdom?! What am I to do now? RunÐ'... The tiger steadily stepped out of his dark cage, allowing the afternoon sun to warm his striped fur. He gazed first at the masses seated breathlessly around the stadium and then at the young man standing in front of him. The beast gave a quick, sharp growl and then slowly paced towards the youth who stood gawking at the tiger. All the while long, the princess stared in disbelief from atop and ached from the feeling of remorse that seemed to incessantly fill up a void in her heart. With his heart pounding faster and harder than a chariot race, the brave chap caught sight of the cat's eyes blink, decided the time ripe for the picking, and without a pause raced across the stadium. Oh, what's the use? he desperately thought. But some deep, fervid light brightened in his soul and pushed him onward. With attention back on the youth, the tiger immediately and instinctually flexed his leg muscles and sped after the fresh prey. Full of curiosity now, the king leaned closer to the action and with intent gaze studied the chase scene. But amidst the crowds, another young man appeared over the parapet and yelled, "Altair!" The racing youth looked up and saw his panicking companion throw a broad sword into the dry, sandy earth. With a loud roar, the tiger hurled himself at the young man, but the lad, experienced in combat, skillfully evaded the attack, decisively grabbed the engrafted sword, and with a few masterful strokes of the blade, slew the giant cat. Triumphantly, yet exhausted from battle, the young man looked up at his lover and smiled. The crowd cried with an uproar heard leagues away in all directions and the princess, half relieved of her sorrow, gently smiled back at her lover while her father stared in awe. But ever so faintly, the young man heard a deep and vicious growl coming from behind the second gate. He quickly yelled for the crowd to quiet their rampant exuberance, so that the unknown sound could be heard more distinctively. With eyes