Haroun and the Sea of Stories

What is unique about shadows in chups?

chapter 7 or 8

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The Shadow Warrior repeats the phrase “Murder, Spock Obi New Year,” and Rashid realizes he is telling them that his name is Mudra and that he speaks in the ancient Gesture Language of Abhinaya, which Rashid understands. He begins to interpret the Warrior’s gestures.

They learn that the Warrior is second in command to Khattam-Shud but that he has become disgusted with the war and violence. Most Chupwalas do not follow Khattam-Shud or worship Bezaban, but instead live in fear. If Khattam-Shud is defeated, Chupwalas would be in favor of peace. Mudra explains that in Chup, a person’s Shadow is their equal. It can change shapes and forms and sometimes is even dominant over its “Substance or Self or Person.” Peace means that each Chupwala is at peace with their Shadows. Khttam-Shud’s black magic has caused his Shadow to separate from him, and it goes wherever it wishes. Defeating Khattam-Shud means also defeating his shadow.