'I heard tales of the so-called Hanta Witch. A beauty, they say. Her great castle is at the crossroads of old caravan routes. Travellers pay rich tribute -- or pay with their lives at the hands of fire-breathing demons, I'm told.
'The beauteous Hanta Witch whose fire-breathing demons hurled men to their death -- I rode to her.
'I met and defeated the outer guards, not demons, not fire-breathing. Disappointing. The drawbridge was up. I swam the moat. Then as I climbed the walls of the castle, boiling lead flowed from the top. I avoided the boiling lead. Fortunately, they ran out of it quickly. Using my trusty flint-lock, I fought my way up to the top -- then made my entrance, breathing heavily from the exertion, into the castle of Hanta.
'I entered the castle through a heavily guarded corridor to the throne room itself. A soft voice -- and there -- the most beauteous female I'd ever seen! The Hanta Witch!
'"At last! I've waited for you!" spoke the Hanta Witch. Her beauty took my breath away! "You are the Hanta Witch?" I asked.
'"Ignorant fools call me that. What took you so long?"
'"What -- took me so long?"
'"To come here. I've waited and waited for you".
'The boldness of this blonde witch amazed me! "You've waited for me? Why, madam?"
'"Not 'madam'. I've no husband. I'm unwed. That's why I've waited for you. Do be seated."
'"No. I fail to see the point -- er -- miss."
'"I need a husband to manage my vast properties -- to guard my great treasure -- and share my throne. I've chosen you. Now will you be seated?"
'"You'd wed me -- whom you've never seen?"
'"I'd heard tales of your bravery and strength -- I watched you fight your way here -- the tales were true."
'The words of this beauteous witch had me dizzy! "I've not come to wed you, but to stop your murderous way with caravans!"
'"Bah, they lie. I'm a peace-loving woman. I, Queen of Hanta, need a king. Who is more suitable than you -- king of the jungle? Come, drink to our troth", she said as her servant brought two glasses filled with some kind of drink.
'"I drink because I am thirsty", I said as I put the glass to my lips. In truth, this Hanta Witch was ravishing! I drank quickly -- to cover my confusion.
'"Now, did the drink refresh you after your vigourous battle?" I heard her speak while the room began to swim before my eyes. My legs were like water.
'"Witch, you drugged me with that foul drink!"
'"Seize him!" she ordered her soldiers.
'They came at me from all sides. I settled a few of them before my senses left me completely. When I woke up, I was in a cell.
'The Hanta Witch's voice came from afar -- in a fog -- "Calm yourself, Jungle King". I was ashamed that I'd been so easily taken by the witch.
'The witch continued, "I've put you here only to keep you from running away -- I've loved you from afar".
'"You lie -- Hanta Witch!"
'"You believe the lies. I am no witch. I cannot enchant -- or kill. Caravans pay tribute in my realm. I am Queen of Hanta", she spoke while tears rolled down her cheek.
'"Witch's tears!" I scorned. But the truth was her tears touched me. Blast it! I continued, "You call yourself Queen of Hanta? You're a murderous witch, who enchants men -- to steal their gold!"
'She sobbed harder. Again her tears touched me -- but I was wary of her witch's tricks. "Fool, you won't see the truth!" she cried as she left.
'It was time I got out of this place. "Pssst..." I beckoned the guard toward me.
'"What is it?" he enquired. I splashed water from a glass nearby on his face. "This water -- bad!" The very next moment, with one hand I held his throat while with the other I held the prison keys.
'Free -- I wouldn't again be taken in by the enchantments of the blonde witch!
'I met one guard in the Hanta cellars -- and dispatched him. I found a room filled with gunpowder arsenal. One thing to do -- I did it -- and ran! I had set ablaze the room with a burning torch and soon a series of tremendous explosions followed.
'I reached the throne room of the witch as Hanta castle began to blow apart. There were tears in her great witch's eyes. "How could you be -such a great fool?!" she exclaimed.
'The floor shook beneath us -- I caught her as she fell -- and rushed out with her in my arms. What else could I do?
'I fled from the doomed Hanta castle with the blonde witch in my arms. There was no time to get down to the bridge, so I jumped down.
'We landed in the moat with a great splash...'
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