["\u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tYou\tneedn\u2019t\thave\tcome\tpersonally\tto\tremind\tme.\tI\thadn\u2019t\tforgotten.\tI\tdid\tpromise,\tdidn\u2019t I?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t kno w.\t But\t that\u2019s\t no t\t the\t o nly\t r easo n\t why\t I\t am\t her e.\t I\t believe\t ther e\u2019s\t a\t wo nder ful\t view\t o f north\tCalcutta\tfrom\tyour\troof. I\u2019d\t like\t to \t see\t it,\t if\t yo u\t do n\u2019t\t mind.\t So meo ne\t I\t kno w\t in\t a\t film\t co mpany\t to ld\t me\t to \t lo o k\t ar o und. They\u2019re\tmaking\ta\tfilm\ton\tCalcutta.\u2019 \u2018OK,\tno\tproblem.\tThat\tstaircase\tover\tthere\tgoes\tright\tup\tto\tthe\troof.\tI\u2019ll\tsee\tabout\tgetting\tus\ta\tcup of\ttea.\u2019 T he\t ho use\t had\t fo ur \t sto r eys.\t We\t g o t\t to \t the\t to p\t and\t disco ver ed\t that\t ther e\t was\t a\t ver y\t g o o d\t view\t o f Mr\tChowdhury\u2019s\thouse\ton\tthe\tright.\tThe\twhole\thouse\u2014from\tthe\tgarden\tto\tthe\troof\u2014was\tvisible.\tA light\twas\ton\tin\tone\tof\tthe\trooms\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor,\tand\ta\tman\twas\tmoving\tabout\tin\tit.\tIt\twas\tKailash Chowdhury\u2019s\tfather.\tI\tcould\talso\tsee\tthe\tattic\ton\tthe\troof.\tAt\tleast,\tI\tcould\tsee\tits\twindow;\tits\tdoor\twas probably\ton\tthe\tother\tside,\thidden\tfrom\tview. Another\tlight\ton\tthe\tsecond\tfloor\twas\tswitched\ton.\tIt\twas\tthe\tlight\ton\tthe\tstaircase.\tFeluda\ttook\tout the\t binoculars\t again\t and\t placed\t them\t before\t his\t eyes.\t A\t man\t was\t climbing\t the\t stairs.\t Who\t was\t it? Kailash\t Chowdhury.\t I\t could\t recognize\t his\t red\t silk\t dressing\t gown\t even\t from\t this\t distance.\t He disappear ed\t fr o m\t view\t fo r \t a\t few\t seco nds,\t then\t suddenly\t appear ed\t o n\t the\t r o o f\t o f\t his\t ho use.\t Feluda and\t I\t ducked\t pr o mptly,\t and\t hid\t behind\t the\t wall\t that\t sur r o unded\t Ganapati\t Chatter jee\u2019s\t r o o f,\t peer ing cautiously\tover\tits\tedge. Mr\t Chowdhury\t glanced\t around\t a\t couple\t of\t times,\t then\t went\t to\t the\t other\t side\t of\t the\t attic, presumably\tto\tgo\tinto\tit\tthrough\tthe\tdoor\twe\tcould\tnot\tsee.\tA\tsecond\tlater,\tthe\tlight\tin\tthe\tattic\tcame on.\t Mr\t Chowdhury\t was\t now\t standing\t near\t its\t window\t with\t his\t back\t to\t us.\t My\t heart\t began\t beating faster.\tMr\tChowdhury\tstood\tstill\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tthen\tbent\tdown,\tpossibly\tsitting\ton\tthe\tground.\tA little\tlater,\the\tstood\tup,\tswitched\tthe\tlight\toff\tand\twent\tdown\tthe\tstairs\tonce\tmore. Feluda\tput\tthe\tbinoculars\taway\tand\tsaid\tonly\tone\tthing:\t\u2018Fishy.\tVery\tfishy.\u2019 He\tdidn\u2019t\tspeak\tto\tme\ton\tour\tway\tback.\tWhen\the\tgets\tinto\tone\tof\tthese\tmoods,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tto\tdisturb him.\tNormally,\tif\the\tis\tagitated\tabout\tsomething,\the\tstarts\tpacing\tin\this\troom.\tToday,\thowever,\tI\tsaw him\tthrow\thimself\tdown\ton\this\tbed\tand\tstare\tat\tthe\tceiling.\tAt\thalf\tpast\tnine,\the\tgot\tup\tand\tstarted\tto scribble\tin\this\tblue\tnotebook.\tI\tknew\the\twas\twriting\tin\tEnglish,\tusing\tGreek\tletters.\tSo\tthere\twas\tno way\tI\tcould\tread\tand\tunderstand\twhat\the\u2019d\twritten.\tThe\tonly\tthing\tthat\twas\tobvious\twas\tthat\the\twas still\tworking\ton\tMr\tChowdhury\u2019s\tcase,\talthough\this\tclient\thad\tdispensed\twith\this\tservices. I\t lay\t awake\t for\t a\t long\t time,\t which\t was\t probably\t why\t I\t didn\u2019t\t wake\t the\t following\t morning\t until Feluda\tshook\tme.\t\u2018Topshe!\tGet\tup\tquickly,\twe\tmust\tto\tgo\tShyampukur\tat\tonce.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019\tI\tsat\tup. \u2018I\trang\tthe\thouse,\tbut\tno\tone\tanswered.\tSomething\tis\tobviously\twrong.\u2019 In\t ten\t minutes,\t we\t were\t in\t a\t taxi,\t speeding\t up\t to\t Shyampukur\t Street.\t Feluda\t refused\t to\t tell\t me anything\tmore,\texcept,\t\u2018What\ta\tcunning\tman\the\tis!\tIf\tonly\tI\u2019d\tguessed\tit\ta\tlittle\tsooner,\tthis\twould\tnot have\thappened!\u2019 When\t we\t reached\t Mr\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t house,\t Feluda\t saw\t that\t the\t front\t door\t was\t open\t and\t walked right\t in,\t without\t bothering\t to\t ring\t the\t bell.\t We\t crossed\t the\t landing\t and\t arrived\t at\t Abanish\t Babu\u2019s room.\t The\t sight\t that\t met\t my\t eyes\t made\t me\t gasp\t in\t horrified\t amazement.\t A\t chair\t lay\t overturned","before\t a\t table,\t and\t next\t to\t it\t lay\t Abanish\t Babu.\t His\t hands\t were\t tied\t behind\t his\t back,\t a\t large handkerchief\tcovered\this\tmouth.\tFeluda\tbent\tover\thim\tquickly\tand\tuntied\thim. \u2018Oh,\toh,\tthank\tGod!\tThank\tyou!\u2019\the\texclaimed,\tbreathing\theavily. \u2018Who\tdid\tthis\tto\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Who\tdo\tyou\tthink?\u2019\the\tsat\tup,\tstill\tpanting,\t\u2018My\tuncle\u2014Kailash\tMama\tdid\tthis.\tI\ttold\tyou\the\twas g o ing \t cr azy,\t didn\u2019t\t I?\t I\t g o t\t up\t quite\t ear ly\t this\t mo r ning ,\t and\t decided\t to \t g et\t so me\t wo r k\t do ne.\t It\t was still\tdark\toutside,\tso\tI\tswitched\tthe\tlight\ton.\tMy\tuncle\twalked\tin\tsoon\tafter\tthat.\tThe\tfirst\tthing\the\tdid was\t switch\t the\t light\t off.\t Then\t he\t struck\t my\t head,\t and\t I\t fell\t immediately.\t Everything\t went\t dark.\t I regained\t consciousness\t a\t few\t minutes\t before\t you\t arrived,\t but\t could\t neither\t move\t nor\t speak.\t Oh God!\u2019\the\twinced. \u2018And\tKailash\tBabu?\tWhere\tis\the?\u2019\tFeluda\tshouted. \u2018No\tidea.\u2019 Feluda\tturned\tand\tleapt\tout\tof\tthe\troom.\tI\tfollowed\ta\tsecond\tlater.\tThere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tthe\tdrawing room.\tWe\tlost\tno\ttime\tin\tgoing\tupstairs,\ttaking\tthree\tsteps\tat\ta\ttime.\tKailash\tChowdhury\u2019s\tbedroom was\tempty,\talthough\tthe\tbed\tlooked\tas\tthough\tit\thad\tbeen\tslept\tin.\tThe\twardrobe\thad\tbeen\tleft\topen. Feluda\tpulled\ta\tdrawer\tout\tand\tfound\tthe\tsmall\tblue\tvelvet\tbox.\tWhen\the\topened\tit,\tI\twas\tsomewhat surprised\tto\tsee\tthat\tthe\tblue\tberyl\twas\tstill\tin\tit,\tquite\tintact. By\tthis\ttime,\tAbanish\tBabu\thad\tarrived\tat\tthe\tdoor,\tstill\tlooking\tpathetic.\t\u2018Who\thas\tthe\tkey\tto\tthe attic?\u2019\tFeluda\tdemanded.\tHe\tseemed\ttaken\taback\tby\tthe\tquestion. \u2018Th-that\u2019s\twith\tmy\tuncle!\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018OK,\tlet\u2019s\tgo\tup\tthere,\u2019\tFeluda\tannounced,\tgrabbing\tAbanish\tBabu\tby\this\tshoulders\tand\tdragging him\tup\tthe\tdark\tstaircase. We\treached\tthe\troof,\tonly\tto\tfind\tthat\tthe\tattic\twas\tlocked.\tA\tpadlock\thung\tat\tthe\tdoor.\tAnyone\telse would\thave\tbeen\tdaunted\tby\tthe\tsight.\tBut\tFeluda\tstepped\tback,\tthen\tran\tforward\tand\tstruck\tthe\tdoor with\t his\t shoulder,\t using\t all\t his\t strength.\t On\t his\t third\t attempt,\t the\t door\t gave\t in\t noisily.\t A\t few\t old rusted\tnails\talso\tcame\toff\tthe\twall.\tEven\tI\twas\tsurprised\tby\tFeluda\u2019s\tphysical\tstrength. The\troom\tinside\twas\tdark.\tWe\tstepped\tin\tcautiously.\tA\tfew\tseconds\tlater,\twhen\tmy\teyes\tgot\tused\tto the\tdark,\tI\tnoticed\tanother\tfigure\tlying\tin\tone\tcorner,\tbound\tand\tgagged\texactly\tlike\tAbanish\tBabu. Who\twas\tthis?\tKailash\tChowdhury?\tOr\twas\tit\tKedar? Without\ta\tword,\tFeluda\treleased\thim\tfrom\this\tbondage\tand\tthen\tcarried\thim\tdown\tto\tthe\tbedroom. The\tman\tspoke\tonly\twhen\the\thad\tbeen\tplaced\tcomfortably\tin\this\tbed. \u2018Are\tyou\t.\t.\t.\tthe\t.\t.\t.?\u2019\the\tasked\tfeebly,\tstaring\tat\tFeluda. \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tI\tam\tPradosh\tMitter,\tthe\tdetective.\tI\tsuppose\tit\twas\tyou\twho\thad\twritten\tme\tthat\tletter,\tbut of\t course\t I\t never\t got\t the\t chance\t to\t meet\t you.\t Abanish\t Babu,\t could\t you\t get\t him\t some\t warm\t milk, please?\u2019 I\tstared\tat\tthe\tman\tin\tamazement.\tSo\tthis\twas\tthe\treal\tKailash\tChowdhury!\tHe\tpropped\thimself\tup o n\t a\t pillo w\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t was\t physically\t str o ng ,\t so \t I\t manag ed\t to \t sur vive\t so meho w.\t Other wise\t .\t .\t .\t in these\tfour\tdays\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Feluda\tinterrupted\thim,\t\u2018Sh-sh.\tYou\tmustn\u2019t\tstrain\tyourself.\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\tI\thave\tto\ttell\tyou\ta\tfew\tthings.\tOr\tyou\u2019ll\tnever\tget\tthe\twhole\tpicture.\tThere\twas\tno\tway\tI could\tmeet\tyou\tpersonally,\tyou\tsee,\tfor\the\tcaptured\tme\tthe\tday\tI\twrote\tto\tyou.\tHe\tdropped\tsomething","in\tmy\ttea,\twhich\tmade\tme\tvirtually\tunconscious.\tHe\tcould\tnever\thave\toverpowered\tme\tin\tany\tother way.\u2019 \u2018And\the\tbegan\tto\tpass\thimself\toff\tas\tKailash\tChowdhury\tfrom\tthat\tday?\u2019 Kailash\tBabu\tnodded\this\thead\tsadly,\t\u2018It\tis\tmy\town\tfault,\tMr\tMitter.\tI\tcannot\tblame\tanyone\telse.\tOur entire\t family\t suffers\t from\t one\t big\t weakness.\t We\t are\t all\t given\t to\t exaggerating\t the\t simplest\t things, and\ttelling\ttall\tstories\tfor\tno\treason\tat\tall.\tI\thad\tbought\tthat\tstone\tin\tJabalpore\tfor\tfifty\trupees.\tI\thave no\tidea\twhat\tpossessed\tme\tto\ttell\tKedar\ta\tstrange\tstory\tabout\ta\ttemple\tin\ta\tjungle,\tand\ta\tstatue\twith that\tstone\tfixed\ton\tits\tforehead.\tHe\tswallowed\tthe\twhole\tthing,\tand\tbegan\tto\teye\tthat\tstone\tfrom\tthat day.\tHe\tenvied\tme\tfor\tmany\treasons.\tPerhaps\the\tcould\tnot\tsee\twhy\tI\tshould\tbe\tso\tlucky,\tso\tsuccessful in\tlife,\twhen\the\tappeared\tto\tfail\tin\teverything\the\tdid.\tAfter\tall,\twe\twere\tidentical\ttwins,\tour\tfortunes should\t not\t have\t been\t so\t very\t different.\t Kedar\t had\t always\t been\t the\t black\t sheep\u2014reckless\t and unscrupulous.\tOnce\the\tgot\tmixed\tup\twith\ta\tgang\tthat\tmade\tcounterfeit\tmoney.\tHe\twould\thave\tgone\tto jail,\tbut\tI\tmanaged\tto\tsave\thim. \u2018Then\the\twent\tabroad,\tafter\tborrowing\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tof\tmoney\tfrom\tme.\tI\twas\tglad.\tGood\triddance, I\tthought.\tBut\tonly\tabout\ta\tweek\tago,\tI\tcame\tback\thome\tone\tday\tand\tfound\tthe\tstone\tmissing.\tI\tnever imagined\tfor\ta\tmoment\tthat\tKedar\thad\tcome\tback\tand\tstolen\tit\tfrom\tmy\troom.\tI\trounded\tup\tall\tthe servants\tand\tshouted\tat\tthem,\tbut\tnothing\thappened.\tTwo\tdays\tlater,\tI\twrote\tto\tyou.\tKedar\tturned\tup the\tsame\tevening,\tand\treturned\tthe\tstone\tto\tme.\tHe\twas\tabsolutely\tlivid,\tfor\tby\tthis\ttime,\the\thad\tlearnt that\tit\thad\tno\tvalue\tat\tall.\tHe\thad\tbeen\tdreaming\tof\tgetting\tat\tleast\ta\thundred\tthousand\tfor\tit.\tHe\tsaid he\tneeded\tmoney\tdesperately,\twould\tI\tgive\thim\ttwenty\tthousand?\tI\trefused.\tSo\the\twaited\ttill\tI\tordered a\tcup\tof\ttea,\tthen\tmanaged\tto\tdrug\tme\tand\tcarry\tme\tup\tto\tthe\tattic.\tWhen\tI\twoke,\the\ttold\tme\the\u2019d\tkeep me\tthere\tuntil\tI\tagreed\tto\tdo\tas\ttold.\tIn\tthe\tmeantime,\the\u2019d\tpretend\tto\tbe\tme,\tand\the\u2019d\ttell\tmy\toffice\tI was\ton\tsick\tleave.\u2019 \u2018He\tobviously\tdid\tnot\tknow\tyou\thad\twritten\tto\tme,\u2019\tFeluda\tadded,\t\u2018So\twhen\twe\tturned\tup,\the\ttook ten\t minutes\t to\t write\t a\t fake\t anonymous\t note\t and\t then\t gave\t us\t a\t cock-and-bull\t story\t about\t an imaginary\tenemy.\tIf\the\tdidn\u2019t,\the\tknew\tI\u2019d\tget\tsuspicious.\tAt\tthe\tsame\ttime,\tmy\tpresence\tin\tthis\thouse or\tin\this\tlife\twas\thighly\tundesirable.\tSo\the\ttried\ta\tthreat\ton\tthe\ttelephone,\tthen\tgot\tin\ta\tcar\tand\ttried to\trun\tus\tover.\u2019 Kailash\t Cho wdhur y\t fr o wned.\t \u2018T hat\t makes\t per fect\t sense,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018What\t do esn\u2019t\t is\t why\t he\t left\t so suddenly.\t I\t did\t not\t agree\t to\t give\t him\t a\t single\t paisa.\t So\t why\t did\t he\t leave?\t Surely\t he\t didn\u2019t\t leave empty-handed?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tno!\u2019\tShouted\ta\tvoice\tat\tthe\tdoor.\tNone\tof\tus\thad\tseen\tAbanish\tBabu\treturn\twith\ta\tglass\tof milk.\t \u2018Why\t should\t he\t leave\t empty-handed?\u2019\t he\t screamed,\t \u2018He\t took\t my\t stamp!\t That\t precious,\t rare Victorian\tstamp\thas\tgone.\u2019 Feluda\tstared\tat\thim,\twide-eyed.\t\u2018What!\tHe\ttook\tyour\tstamp?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes.\tKedar\tMama\thas\truined\tme!\u2019 \u2018How\tmuch\tdid\tyou\tsay\tit\twas\tworth?\u2019 \u2018Twenty\tthousand.\u2019 \u2018But\u2014\u2019\tFeluda\tturned\tto\tAbanish\tBabu\tand\tlowered\this\tvoice,\t\u2018according\tto\tthe\tcatalogue,\tAbanish Babu,\tit\tcannot\tpossibly\tfetch\tmore\tthan\tfifty\trupees.\u2019 Abanish\tBabu\twent\tvisibly\tpale.","\u2018The\t Cho wdhur ys\t ar e\t pr o ne\t to \t exag g er ate\t ever ything \t to \t make\t an\t impr essio n,\u2019\t Feluda\t co ntinued, \u2018and\tyou\tare\ttheir\tnephew.\tSo\tpresumably,\tyou\tinherited\tthe\tsame\ttrait.\tAm\tI\tright?\u2019 Abanish\t Babu\t beg an\t to \t lo o k\t like\t a\t child\t who \t had\t lo st\t his\t favo ur ite\t to y.\t \u2018What\t was\t I\t suppo sed\t to do?\u2019\t he\t said\t with\t a\t tragic\t air.\t \u2018I\t spent\t three\t years\t going\t through\t four\t thousand\t stamped\t envelopes. Not\tone\tof\tthem\twas\tany\tgood,\texcept\tthat\tone.\tOh,\tall\tright,\tit\twasn\u2019t\tmuch,\tbut\tpeople\tbelieved\tmy story.\tI\tgot\tthem\tinterested!\u2019 Feluda\t started\t laughing.\t \u2018Never\t mind,\t Abanish\t Babu,\u2019\t he\t said,\t thumping\t his\t back,\t \u2018I\t think\t your uncle\t is\t going\t to\t be\t suitably\t punished,\t and\t that\t should\t give\t you\t some\t comfort.\t Let\t me\t ring\t the airport.\t You\t see,\t I\t had\t guessed\t he\t might\t try\t to\t escape\t this\t morning.\t So\t I\t rang\t Indian\t Airlines,\t and they\ttold\tme\the\thad\ta\tbooking\ton\ttheir\tmorning\tflight\tto\tBombay.\tI\tbegan\tto\tsuspect\tyour\tuncle\tonly when\the\tsaid\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember\thaving\tbought\ta\tnew\tbottle\tof\tDettol\tjust\ta\tfew\tdays\tago.\u2019 The\t police\t had\t no\t problem\t in\t arresting\t Kedar\t Chowdhury;\t and\t Abanish\t Babu\u2019s\t stamp\t was\t duly returned\t to\t him.\t Feluda\t was\t paid\t so\t handsomely\t by\t Kailash\t Babu\t that,\t even\t after\t eating\t out\t three times,\tand\tseeing\ta\tcouple\tof\tfilms\twith\tme,\the\tstill\thad\ta\tsubstantial\tamount\tleft\tin\this\twallet. Today,\tas\twe\tsat\thaving\ttea\tat\thome,\tI\tsaid\tto\thim,\t\u2018Feluda,\tI\thave\tbeen\tthinking\tthis\tthrough,\tand have\treached\ta\tconclusion.\tWill\tyou\tplease\ttell\tme\tif\tI\tam\tright?\u2019 \u2018OK.\tWhat\thave\tyou\tbeen\tthinking?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\t about\t Kailash\t Chowdhury\u2019s\t father.\t I\t think\t he\t knew\t what\t Kedar\t had\t done.\t I\t mean,\t maybe\t a father \t can\t tell\t the\t differ ence\t between\t identical\t twins.\t Per haps\t that\u2019s\t the\t r easo n\t why\t he\t was\t thr o wing such\tmurderous\tglances\tat\this\tson.\u2019 \u2018That\t may\t o r \t may\t no t\t be\t the\t case.\t But\t since\t yo ur \t tho ug hts\t appear \t to \t be\t the\t same\t as\t mine\t o n\t this subject,\tI\tam\thereby\trewarding\tyou\tfor\tyour\tintelligence.\u2019 So\tsaying,\tFeluda\tcoolly\thelped\thimself\tto\ta\tjalebi\tfrom\tmy\tplate.","","T HE\t A N UBI S \t MY S T ERY","\u2018W ho\trang\tyou,\tFeluda?\u2019\tI\tasked,\trealizing\tinstantly\tthat\tI\tshouldn\u2019t\thave,\tfor\tFeluda\twas\tdoing yoga.\tHe\tnever\tspoke\tuntil\the\thad\tfinished\tevery\texercise,\tincluding\tsheershasan.\tHe\thad\tstarted\tthis about\t six\t months\t ago.\t The\t result\t was\t already\t noticeable.\t Feluda\t seemed\t a\t lot\t fitter,\t and\t openly admitted\tthat\tyoga\thad\tdone\thim\ta\tworld\tof\tgood. I\tglanced\tat\tthe\tclock.\tFeluda\u2019s\treply\tcame\tseven\tand\ta\thalf\tminutes\tlater.\t\u2018You\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thim,\u2019\the said,\trising\tfrom\tthe\tfloor.\tReally,\tFeluda\tcould\tbe\tmost\tannoying\tat\ttimes.\tSo\twhat\tif\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow the\tman?\tHe\tcould\ttell\tme\this\tname,\tsurely? \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\thim?\u2019\tI\tasked\timpatiently.\tFeluda\tbegan\tchewing\tchick-peas\twhich\thad\tbeen\tsoaked overnight.\tThis\twas\ta\tpart\tof\this\tkeep-fit\tprogramme. \u2018I\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\thim\tbefore,\u2019\the\treplied,\t\u2018but\tI\tdo\tnow.\u2019 Our\t Puja\t holidays\t had\t started\t a\t few\t days\t ago.\t Baba\t had\t gone\t to\t Jamshedpur\t on\t tour.\t Only\t Ma, Feluda\tand\tI\twere\tat\thome.\tWe\tdidn\u2019t\tplan\tto\tgo\tout\tof\ttown\tthis\ttime.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tmind\tstaying\tat\thome\tas long\t as\t I\t could\t be\t with\t Feluda.\t He\t had\t become\t quite\t well\t known\t as\t an\t amateur\t detective.\t So\t it shouldn\u2019t\tbe\tsurprising\tat\tall,\tI\tthought,\tif\the\tgot\tinvolved\tin\tanother\tcase.\tMy\tonly\tfear\twas\tthat\the might\t one\t day\t refuse\t to\t take\t me\t with\t him.\t But\t that\t hadn\u2019t\t happened\t so\t far.\t Perhaps\t there\t was\t an advantage\tin\tbeing\tseen\twith\ta\tyoung\tboy.\tNo\tone\tcould\tguess\teasily\tthat\the\twas\tan\tinvestigator,\tif\twe travelled\ttogether. \u2018I\tbet\tyou\u2019re\tdying\tto\tknow\twho\tmade\tthat\tphone\tcall,\u2019\tFeluda\tadded.\tThis\twas\tan\told\ttechnique.\tIf he\tknew\tI\twas\tanxious\tfor\tinformation,\the\tnever\tcame\tto\tthe\tpoint\twithout\tbeating\tabout\tthe\tbush\tand creating\t a\t lot\t of\t suspense.\t I\t tried\t to\t be\t casual.\t \u2018Well,\t if\t that\t phone\t call\t had\t anything\t to\t do\t with\t a mystery,\tnaturally\tI\u2019d\tbe\tinterested,\u2019\tI\tsaid\tlightly. Feluda\tslipped\ton\ta\tstriped\tshirt.\t\u2018The\tman\u2019s\tcalled\tNilmoni\tSanyal,\u2019\the\tfinally\trevealed,\t\u2018He\tlives on\tRoland\tRoad,\tand\twants\tto\tsee\tme\turgently.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tme\twhy,\tbut\the\tsounded\tsort\tof\tnervous.\u2019 \u2018When\tdo\tyou\thave\tto\tgo?\u2019 \u2018I\ttold\thim\tI\u2019d\tbe\tthere\tby\tnine.\tIt\u2019s\tgoing\tto\ttake\tus\tat\tleast\tten\tminutes\tby\ttaxi,\tso\tlet\u2019s\tgo!\u2019 On\tour\tway\tto\tRoland\tRoad,\tI\tsaid\tto\tFeluda,\t\u2018But\tsuppose\tthis\tMr\tSanyal\tis\ta\tcrook?\tSuppose\the\u2019s called\tyou\tover\tto\this\thouse\tonly\tto\tcause\tyou\tsome\tharm?\tYou\u2019ve\tnever\tmet\thim\tbefore,\thave\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No ,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t lo o king \t o ut\t o f\t the\t windo w.\t \u2018Ther e\t is\t always\t a\t r isk\t in\t g o ing \t o ut\t o n\t a\t case\t like this.\t But\t mind\t you,\t if\t his\t sole\t intention\t was\t to\t cause\t me\t bodily\t harm,\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t invite\t me\t to\t his ho use.\t It\t wo uld\t be\t far \t mo r e\t r isky\t fo r \t him\t if\t the\t po lice\t came\t to \t kno w.\t A\t hir ed\t g o o nda\t co uld\t do \t the job\tmuch\tmore\tsimply.\u2019 Last\t year,\t Feluda\t had\t won\t the\t first\t prize\t in\t the\t All\t India\t Rifle\t Competition.\t It\t was\t amazing\t how accurate\t his\t aim\t had\t become\t after\t only\t three\t months\t of\t practice.\t Now\t he\t possessed\t a\t revolver, although\the\tdidn\u2019t\tcarry\tit\tin\this\tpocket\tall\tthe\ttime,\tunlike\tdetectives\tin\tbooks. \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhat\tMr\tSanyal\tdoes\tfor\ta\tliving?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018No.\tAll\tI\tknow\tabout\tthe\tman\tis\tthat\the\ttakes\tpaan,\tis\tprobably\tslightly\tdeaf\tand\ttends\tto\tsay\t\u201cEr\t.\t. .\u201d\tbefore\tstarting\ta\tsentence.\u2019\tI\tasked\tno\tmore\tquestions\tafter\tthis.","We\tsoon\treached\tNilmoni\tSanyal\u2019s\thouse.\tThe\tmeter\tshowed\tone\trupee\tand\tseventy\tpaise.\tFeluda gave\t a\t two-rupee\t note\t to\t the\t driver\t and\t made\t a\t gesture\t indicating\t he\t could\t keep\t the\t change.\t We climbed\t o ut\t o f\t the\t taxi\t and\t walked\t up\t to \t the\t fr o nt\t do o r.\t Feluda\t pr essed\t the\t bell.\t The\t ho use\t had\t two storeys.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t appear\t to\t be\t very\t old.\t There\t was\t a\t front\t garden,\t but\t it\t looked\t a\t bit\t unkempt\t and neglected.\tA\tman\twho\twas\tprobably\tthe\tchowkidar\topened\tthe\tdoor\tand\ttook\tFeluda\u2019s\tcard\tfrom\thim. We\t wer e\t then\t usher ed\t into \t the\t living \t r o o m.\t I\t was\t sur pr ised\t to \t see\t ho w\t well-fur nished\t it\t was.\t It\t was obvious\tthat\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney\thad\tbeen\tspent\ton\tacquiring\tthe\tfurniture\tand\tpaintings,\tflower\tvases,\tand old\tartefacts\tdisplayed\tin\ta\tglass\tcase.\tSomeone\thad\tarranged\tthese\twith\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tof\tcare. Mr\tSanyal\tentered\tthe\troom\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater.\tHe\twas\twearing\ta\tloose\tkurta\tover\twhat\tmust\thave been\this\tsleeping-suit\tpyjamas.\tHis\tfingers\twere\tloaded\twith\trings.\tHe\twas\tof\tmedium\theight,\tclean- shaven\tand\tlooked\tas\tif\the\thad\tbeen\tsleeping.\tI\ttried\tto\tguess\this\tage.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tbe\tmore\tthan fifty.\t \u2018You\t are\t Mr\t Pradosh\t Mitter?\u2019\t he\t asked.\t \u2018I\t had\t no\t idea\t you\t were\t so\t young.\u2019\t Feluda\t smiled politely.\tThen\the\tpointed\tat\tme\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018This\tis\tmy\tcousin.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tvery\tintelligent\tboy,\tbut\tif\tyou\u2019d rather\tspeak\tto\tme\talone,\tI\tcan\tsend\thim\tout.\u2019 I\tcast\tan\tanxious\tglance\tat\tMr\tSanyal,\tbut\the\tsaid,\t\u2018No,\tno,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tat\tall.\tEr\t.\t.\t.\twould\tyou\tlike some\ttea\tor\tcoffee?\u2019 \u2018No,\tthanks.\u2019 \u2018Ver y\t well\t then,\t allo w\t me\t to \t tell\t yo u\t why\t I\t asked\t yo u\t to \t co me\t her e.\t But\t befo r e\t I\t do \t so ,\t I\t think\t I ought\t to\t tell\t you\t something\t about\t myself.\t I\u2019m\t sure\t you\u2019ve\t already\t noticed\t that\t I\t am\t reasonably wealthy,\tand\tam\tfond\tof\tantiques\tand\tother\tbeautiful\tthings.\tWhat\tyou\tmay\tfind\tdifficult\tto\tbelieve\tis that\tI\twasn\u2019t\tborn\trich.\tI\tdid\tnot\tinherit\tany\tmoney;\tnor\thave\tI\tgot\ta\tjob,\tor\ta\tbusiness.\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\tstopped,\tand\tlooked\tat\tus\texpectantly.\t\u2018Lottery?\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018Pardon?\u2019 \u2018I\tsaid,\tdid\tyou\twin\ta\tlottery?\u2019 \u2018Exactly,\t exactly!\u2019\t Nilmoni\t Babu\t shouted\t like\t an\t excited\t child.\t \u2018I\t won\t two\t hundred\t and\t fifty thousand\trupees\tin\tthe\tRangers\tLottery\televen\tyears\tago.\tI\thave\tmanaged\u2014pretty\twell,\tI\tmust\tadmit \u2014all\tthese\tyears\ton\tthe\tstrength\tof\tthat.\tI\tbuilt\tthis\thouse\teight\tyears\tago.\tNow\tyou\tmay\twonder\thow\tI fill\t my\t time,\t do\t I\t not\t have\t an\t occupation\t at\t all?\t The\t thing\t is,\t you\t see,\t I\t have\t only\t one\t main occupation.\tI\tspend\tmost\tof\tmy\ttime\tgoing\tto\tauction\thouses\tand\tbuying\tthe\tkind\tof\tthings\tthis\troom is\tfilled\twith.\u2019\tHe\twaved\this\tarms\tabout\tto\tindicate\twhat\the\tmeant.\tThen\the\tcontinued,\t\u2018What\thappened r ecently\t may\t no t\t have\t a\t dir ect\t co nnectio n\t with\t these\t o bjects\t o f\t ar t\t in\t my\t co llectio n,\t but\t I\t canno t\t be sure\tabout\tthat.\tLook\u2014\u2019\the\ttook\tout\ta\tfew\tpieces\tof\tpaper\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand\tspread\tthem\tout.\tThere were\tthree\tpieces\tin\tall,\twith\tsomething\tscribbled\ton\tthem.\tA\tcloser\tlook\tshowed\tme\tthat\tinstead\tof words,\t there\t were\t rows\t of\t little\t pictures.\t Some\t of\t them\t I\t could\t recognize\u2014there\t were\t pictures\t of owls,\tsnakes,\tthe\tsun\tand\tthe\thuman\teye.\tOthers\twere\tmore\tdifficult\tto\tfigure\tout.\tBut\tthe\twhole\tthing seemed\tfamiliar\tsomehow.\tWhere\thad\tI\tseen\tsomething\tlike\tthis\tbefore?\tIn\ta\tbook? \u2018These\tlook\tlike\thieroglyphics,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018What?\u2019\tNilmoni\tBabu\tsounded\tamazed. \u2018The\tform\tof\twriting\tused\tin\tancient\tEgypt.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\tit\tlooks\tlike.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tbut\tit\tis\textremely\tdoubtful\tthat\twe\tcan\tfind\tsomeone\tin\tCalcutta\twho\tmight\tbe\table\tto\ttell\tus what\tit\tmeans.\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\u2019s\tface\tfell.\t\u2018In\tthat\tcase,\twhat\tshall\tI\tdo?\tSomeone\thas\tbeen\tmailing\ta\tnote\tlike\tthat to\tme\tfairly\tregularly\tover\tthe\tlast\tfew\tdays.\tIf\tI\tcannot\thave\tthese\tread\tor\tdecoded,\tit\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe really\tworrying\t.\t.\t.\twhat\tif\tthese\tare\twarnings?\tWhat\tif\tit\u2019s\tsomeone\tthreatening\tto\tkill\tme?\u2019 Feluda\tthought\tfor\ta\twhile.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Is\tthere\tanything\tfrom\tEgypt\tin\tyour\tcollection?\u2019 Nilmoni\t Babu\t smiled\t slightly.\t \u2018I\t wouldn\u2019t\t know,\t and\t that\u2019s\t the\t truth.\t I\t bought\t these\t things\t only because\tthey\twere\tbeautiful,\trare\tand\texpensive.\tI\thave\tvery\tlittle\tidea\tof\twhere\tthey\toriginally\tcame from\tbefore\tthey\treached\tthe\tauction\thouse.\u2019 \u2018But\t all\t these\t things\t appear\t to\t be\t perfectly\t genuine.\t Nobody\u2019ll\t believe\t you\u2019re\t not\t a\t true connoisseur!\u2019 \u2018Er\t .\t .\t .\t that\t is\t simple\t enough.\t Most\t auction\t houses\t do\t their\t homework\t properly\t and\t have\t every item\tvalued\tby\tan\texpert.\tSo\tif\tsomething\tis\texpensive,\tyou\tcan\tsafely\tassume\tthat\tit\tis\tgenuine.\tMy greatest\t pleasure\t lies\t in\t outbidding\t my\t rivals,\t and\t why\t not,\t since\t I\t do\t have\t the\t means?\t If,\t in\t the process,\tI\thappen\tto\tcollect\tsomething\treally\tvaluable,\tso\tmuch\tthe\tbetter.\u2019 \u2018But\tyou\twouldn\u2019t\tknow\tif\tany\tof\tthis\tstuff\tis\tEgyptian?\u2019\tNilmoni\tBabu\trose\tand\twalked\tover\tto\tthe glass\tcase.\tHe\tbrought\tout\ta\tstatuette\tfrom\tthe\ttop\tshelf\tand\tgave\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tIt\twas\tabout\tsix\tinches long.\tMade\tof\tsome\tstrange\tgreen\tstone,\tit\twas\tstudded\twith\tseveral\tother\tcolourful\tstones.\tWhat\twas most\tstriking\twas\tthat\talthough\tits\tbody\thad\ta\thuman\tshape,\tits\thead\twas\tthat\tof\ta\tjackal. \u2018I\tbought\tthis\tonly\tten\tdays\tago\tat\tan\tauction.\tCould\tthis\tbe\tEgyptian?\u2019 Feluda\tglanced\tbriefly\tat\tthe\tstatuette,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Anubis.\u2019 \u2018Pardon?\u2019 \u2018Anubis.\tThe\tancient\tEgyptian\tgod\tof\tthe\tdead.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tbeautiful\tpiece.\u2019 \u2018But,\u2019\tNilmoni.\tBabu\tsounded\tapprehensive,\t\u2018do\tyou\tthink\tthere\u2019s\ta\tconnection\tbetween\tthis.\t.\t.\tthis Anubis\t and\t those\t notes\t I\u2019ve\t been\t receiving?\t Did\t I\t make\t a\t mistake\t by\t buying\t it?\t Is\t someone threatening\tto\tsnatch\tit\taway\tfrom\tme?\u2019 Feluda\t sho o k\t his\t head,\t r etur ning \t the\t statuette\t to \t Nilmo ni\t Babu.\t \u2018T hat\t is\t difficult\t to \t say.\t When\t did the\tfirst\tletter\tarrive?\u2019 Last\tMonday.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tjust\tafter\tyou\tbought\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tkeep\tthe\tenvelopes?\u2019 \u2018No,\t I\u2019m\t afraid\t not.\t Perhaps\t I\t should\t have\t kept\t them,\t but\t they\t were\t ordinary\t envelopes\t and\t the address\twas\ttypewritten.\tThe\tpost\tmark\tsaid\tElgin\tRoad.\tThat\tI\tdid\tnotice.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\u2019\tFeluda\trose.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\twe\tneed\tdo\tanything\tright\tnow.\tBut\tjust\tto\tbe\ton\tthe\tsafe\tside, I\t sug g est\t yo u\t keep\t that\t statue\t so mewher e\t else.\t So meo ne\t I\t kno w\t g o t\t bur g led\t r ecently.\t Let\u2019s\t no t\t take any\tchances.\u2019 We\t came\t out\t of\t the\t living\t room\t and\t stood\t on\t the\t landing.\t \u2018Can\t you\t think\t of\t anyone\t who\t might wish\tto\tplay\ta\tpractical\tjoke\ton\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tknow. Nilmoni\tBabu\tshook\this\thead.\t\u2018No.\tI\u2019ve\tlost\ttouch\twith\tall\tmy\tfriends.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tenemies?\u2019","\u2018Well\t.\t.\t.\tmost\twealthy\tpeople\thave\tenemies,\tbut\tof\tcourse\tit\u2019s\tdifficult\tto\tidentify\tthem.\tEverybody behaves\tso\twell\tin\tmy\tpresence.\tWhat\tthey\tmight\tdo\tbehind\tmy\tback,\tI\tcannot\ttell.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\tsay\tyou\tbought\tthat\tpiece\tat\tan\tauction?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tAt\tAratoon\tBrothers.\u2019 \u2018Was\tanyone\telse\tinterested\tin\tit?\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\tsuddenly\tgrew\tagitated\tat\tthis\tquestion.\t\u2018Mr\tMitter,\u2019\the\tsaid\texcitedly,\t\u2018you\thave\tjust opened\ta\twhole\tnew\taspect\tto\tthis\tcase.\tYou\tsee,\tI\thave\ta\tparticular\trival\twith\twhom\tI\tclash\tat\tmost auctions.\tHe\twas\tbidding\tfor\tthis\tAnubis,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018Who\tis\the?\u2019 \u2018A\tman\tcalled\tPratul\tDatta.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\the\tdo?\u2019 \u2018I\tthink\the\twas\ta\tlawyer.\tNow\the\u2019s\tretired.\tHe\tand\tI\twere\tthe\tonly\tones\tbidding\tfor\tthat\tstatue.\tHe stopped\twhen\tI\tsaid\ttwelve\tthousand.\tWhen\tI\twas\tgetting\tinto\tmy\tcar\tafterwards,\tI\thappened\tto\tcatch his\teye.\tI\tdid\tnot\tlike\tthe\tlook\tin\tit,\tI\tcan\ttell\tyou!\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 By\tthis\ttime,\twe\thad\tcome\tout\tof\tthe\thouse\tand\twere\twalking\ttowards\tthe\tgate. \u2018Do\ta\tlot\tof\tpeople\tlive\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Oh\t no.\t I\t am\t quite\t alone\t in\t this\t world.\t I\t live\t here\t with\t my\t driver,\t mali\t and\t two\t old\t and\t trusted servants,\tthat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 \u2018Isn\u2019t\tthere\ta\tsmall\tchild\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\ttotally\tunexpectedly. Nilmoni\tBabu\tstared\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds,\tthen\tburst\tout\tlaughing.\t\u2018Just\tlook\tat\tme!\tI\tforgot\tall\tabout my\tnephew.\tActually,\tI\twas\tthinking\tonly\tof\tadults\tin\tthis\thouse.\tYes,\tmy\tnephew\tJhuntu\thappens\tto\tbe visiting\t me.\t His\t parents\t are\t away\t in\t Japan.\t His\t father\t runs\t a\t business.\t Jhuntu\t has\t been\t left\t in\t my charge.\t But\t the\t poor\t child\t has\t been\t suffering\t from\t influenza\t ever\t since\t he\t arrived.\t But\t what\t made you\tthink\tthere\tmight\tbe\ta\tchild\tin\tmy\thouse?\u2019 \u2018I\tnoticed\ta\tkite\tpeeping\tout\tfrom\tbehind\ta\tcupboard\tin\tyour\tliving\troom.\u2019 A\ttaxi\tarrived\tfor\tus\tat\tthis\tmoment,\tcrunching\tgravel\tunder\tits\ttyres.\tIt\twas\tthoughtful\tof\tNilmoni Babu\t to\t have\t sent\t his\t servant\t out\t to\t fetch\t it.\t \u2018Thank\t you,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t as\t we\t got\t in.\t \u2018Please\t let\t me know\tif\tanything\tsuspicious\toccurs.\tBut\tat\tthis\tmoment\tthere\u2019s\tnothing\tto\tbe\tdone.\u2019 On\tour\tway\tback,\tI\tsaid,\t\u2018There\u2019s\tsomething\trather\tsinister\tabout\tthat\tstatue\tof\tAnubis,\tisn\u2019t\tthere?\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\treplace\ta\thuman\thead\twith\tthe\thead\tof\tan\tanimal,\tany\tstatue\twould\tlook\tsinister.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tdangerous\tto\tkeep\tstatues\tof\told\tEgyptian\tgods\tand\tgoddesses.\u2019 \u2018Who\ttold\tyou\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tyou\tdid!\tA\tlong\ttime\tago.\u2019 \u2018No,\tnever.\tAll\tI\ttold\tyou\twas\tthat\tsome\tof\tthe\tarchaeologists\twho\tdug\tup\told\tEgyptian\tstatues\tran into\ta\tlot\tof\ttrouble\tafterwards.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes,\tI\tremember\tnow\t.\t.\t.\tthere\twas\ta\tBritish\tgentleman,\twasn\u2019t\tthere\t.\t.\t.\twhat\twas\this\tname?\u2019 \u2018Lord\tCarnarvon.\u2019 \u2018And\this\tdog?\u2019 \u2018The\t do g \t wasn\u2019t\t with\t him.\t Lo r d\t Car nar vo n\t was\t in\t Eg ypt.\t His\t do g \t was\t in\t Eng land.\t So o n\t after \t he helped\tdig\tthe\ttomb\tof\tTutankhamen,\the\tfell\till\tand\tdied.\tIt\twas\tdiscovered\tlater\tthat\this\tdog,\twho\twas","thousands\t of\t miles\t away,\t died\t mysteriously\t at\t the\t same\t time\t as\t his\t master.\t He\t had\t been\t in\t perfect health,\tand\tno\tone\tcould\tever\tfigure\tout\tthe\tcause\tof\this\tdeath.\u2019 Any\t mention\t of\t Egypt\t always\t reminded\t me\t of\t this\t strange\t story\t I\t had\t heard\t from\t Feluda.\t That figure\t of\t Anubis\t might\t well\t have\t come\t from\t the\t tomb\t of\t some\t Egyptian\t pharaoh.\t Didn\u2019t\t Nilmoni Babu\trealize\tthis?\tWhy\tdid\the\thave\tto\ttake\tsuch\ta\tbig\trisk? At\t a\t quarter\t to\t six\t the\t next\t morning,\t the\t phone\t rang\t just\t as\t I\t heard\t our\t newspaper\t land\t on\t our balcony\twith\ta\tthud.\tI\tpicked\tup\tthe\treceiver\tquickly\tand\tsaid\t\u2018hello\u2019,\tbut\tbefore\tI\tcould\thear\tanything from\tthe\tother\tside,\tFeluda\trushed\tin\tand\tsnatched\tit\tfrom\tme.\tI\theard\thim\tsay\t\u2018I\tsee\u2019\tthree\ttimes,\tthen he\tsaid,\t\u2018Yes,\tall\tright,\u2019\tand\tput\tthe\tphone\tdown. \u2018Anubis\t disappear ed\t last\t nig ht,\u2019\t he\t to ld\t me,\t his\t vo ice\t so unding \t ho ar se.\t \u2018We\u2019ve\t g o t\t to \t g o \t ther e,\t at once!\u2019 Since\t there\t was\t a\t lot\t less\t traffic\t so\t early\t in\t the\t morning,\t it\t took\t us\t only\t seven\t minutes\t to\t reach Nilmoni\tBabu\u2019s\thouse.\tHe\twas\twaiting\tfor\tus\toutside\this\tgate,\tlooking\tthoroughly\tbemused.\t\u2018What\ta nightmare\t I\u2019ve\t been\t through!\u2019\t he\t exclaimed\t as\t we\t jumped\t out\t of\t our\t taxi.\t \u2018I\u2019ve\t never\t had\t such\t a horrible\texperience.\u2019 We\t went\t into \t the\t living \t r o o m.\t Nilmo ni\t Babu\t sank\t into \t a\t so fa\t befo r e\t either \t o f\t us\t co uld\t sit\t do wn, and\tshowed\tus\this\twrists.\tIt\twas\tobvious\tthat\this\thands\thad\tbeen\ttied.\tThe\trope\thad\tleft\tred\tmarks\ton his\tskin. \u2018Tell\tme\twhat\thappened,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. Nilmoni\tBabu\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath\tand\tbegan,\t\u2018I\ttook\tyour\tadvice\tand\tkept\tthat\tEgyptian\tstatue\twith me\tlast\tnight,\tright\tunder\tmy\tpillow.\tNow\tI\tfeel\tit\tmight\thave\tbeen\tsimpler\tif\tI\u2019d\tleft\tit\twhere\tit\twas. At\tleast\tI\tmight\thave\tbeen\tspared\tthis\tphysical\tpain.\tAnyway,\tI\twas\tsleeping\tpeacefully\tenough,\twhen suddenly\t I\t wo ke\u2014no ,\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t tell\t yo u\t the\t time\u2014feeling \t quite\t br eathless.\t I\t r ealized\t instantly\t that\t I had\tbeen\tgagged.\tI\ttried\tto\tresist\tmy\tassailant\twith\tmy\tarms,\tbut\the\twas\tfar\ttoo\tstrong\tfor\tme.\tHe\ttied my\thands\tbehind\tmy\tback,\ttook\tthe\tstatue\tof\tAnubis\tfrom\tunder\tmy\tpillow\tand\tdisappeared\u2014in\tjust\ta few\tminutes!\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tto\tsee\this\tface\tat\tall.\u2019\tNilmoni\tBabu\tstopped\tfor\tbreath.\tAfter\ta\tbrief\tpause, he\tresumed,\t\u2018When\tmy\tbearer\tcame\tin\twith\tmy\tmorning\ttea,\the\tfound\tme\tin\tmy\troom,\tmy\thands\tstill tied\t behind\t my\t back,\t my\t mouth\t gagged.\t By\t that\t time\t I\t had\t pins\t and\t needles\t all\t over\t my\t body. Anyway,\the\tuntied\tme,\tand\tI\trang\tyou\timmediately.\u2019 Feluda\theard\thim\tin\tsilence,\tlooking\trather\tgrim.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tinspect\tyour\tbedroom, and\t then\t take\t so me\t pho to g r aphs\t o f\t yo ur \t ho use,\t if\t I\t may.\u2019\t Pho to g r aphy\t was\t ano ther \t passio n\t he\t had developed\trecently. Nilmoni\tBabu\ttook\tus\tupstairs\tto\tsee\this\tbedroom.\t\u2018What!\u2019\texclaimed\tFeluda\tthe\tminute\the\tstepped into\tthe\troom.\t\u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\tput\tgrills\ton\tyour\twindow?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tnot,\u2019\tNilmoni\tBabu\tshook\this\thead\tregretfully.\t\u2018This\thouse\twas\tbuilt\ton\tthe\tsame patter n\t as\t fo r eig n\t bung alo ws.\t So \t the\t windo ws\t wer e\t left\t witho ut\t g r ills.\t And\t sadly,\t I\t have\t never \t been able\tto\tsleep\twith\tthe\twindows\tclosed.\u2019\tFeluda\ttook\ta\tquick\tlook\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018It\tmust have\tbeen\tvery\tsimple.\tThere\u2019s\ta\tparapet,\tand\ta\tpipe.\tAny\table-bodied\tman\tcould\tclimb\tinto\tthe\troom with\tperfect\tease.\u2019 Feluda\t to o k\t o ut\t his\t camer a\t and\t beg an\t taking \t pictur es.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018Many\t I\t see\t the\t r est\t o f\t yo ur house?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\u2019\tNilmoni\tBabu\ttook\tus\tto\tthe\tnext\troom.\tHere\twe\tfound\ta\tbundle\tlying\ton\tthe\tbed, completely\twrapped\tin\ta\tblanket.\tA\tsmall\tboy\u2019s\tface\temerged\tas\the\tremoved\tpart\tof\tthe\tblanket\tand peered\tat\tus\tthrough\teyes\tthat\tseemed\tunnaturally\tlarge.\tThe\tboy\twas\tobviously\tunwell. \u2018This\t is\t my\t nephew,\t Jhuntu,\u2019\t said\t Nilmo ni\t Babu.\t \u2018I\t had\t to \t call\t Dr \t Bo se\t last\t nig ht.\t He\t g ave\t him\t a sleeping\tpill.\tSo\tJhuntu\tslept\tright\tthrough,\twithout\tseeing\tor\thearing\tanything\tat\tall.\u2019 We\tglanced\tbriefly\tinto\tthe\tother\trooms\ton\tthe\tfirst\tand\tthe\tground\tfloor,\tand\tthen\twe\tcame\tdown to\tlook\tat\tthe\tgarden\tand\tits\tsurrounding\tareas.\tThere\twere\tthree\tflower-pots\tjust\tbelow\tthe\twindow of\t Nilmoni\t Babu\u2019s\t bedroom.\t Feluda\t began\t peering\t into\t these.\t The\t first\t two\t yielded\t nothing.\t In\t the third,\the\tfound\tan\tempty\ttin.\t\u2018Does\tanyone\tin\tthis\thouse\ttake\tsnuff?\u2019\the\tasked,\tlifting\tits\tlid.\tNilmoni Babu\tshook\this\thead.\tFeluda\tput\tthe\ttin\taway\tin\this\tpocket. \u2018Look,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\tsaid\tNilmoni\tBabu,\tsounding\topenly\tdesperate,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tlosing\tthat\tstatue so \t much.\t Maybe\t o ne\t day\t I\u2019ll\t be\t able\t to \t buy\t ano ther.\t But\t what\t I\t can\u2019t\t stand\t is\t that\t an\t intr uder \t sho uld get\tinto\tmy\thouse\tso\teasily\tand\tsubject\tme\tto\tsuch\t.\t.\t.\tsuch\t.\t.\t.\ttrauma!\tYou\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tdo\tsomething about\tthis.\tIf\tyou\tcan\tcatch\tthe\tthief\tI\u2019ll\t.\t.\t.\tI\u2019ll\t.\t.\t.\tgive\tyou\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018A\treward?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes!\u2019 \u2018Thank\t yo u,\t Mr \t Sanyal,\t that\t is\t ver y\t kind\t o f\t yo u.\t But\t I\t was\t g o ing \t to \t make\t fur ther \t investig atio ns, anyway,\t not\t because\t I\t expected\t to\t be\t rewarded,\t but\t because\t I\t find\t this\t case\t both\t interesting\t and challenging.\u2019\t Now\t he\t was\t talking\t like\t famous\t detectives\t in\t well-known\t crime\t stories.\t I\t felt\t very pleased. After\tthis,\tFeluda\tspent\tthe\tnext\tten\tminutes\ttalking\tto\tNilmoni\tBabu\u2019s\tdriver,\tGovind,\this\tservants (Nandalal\t and\t Panchu)\t and\t his\t mali,\t Natabar.\t Sadly,\t no ne\t o f\t them\t co uld\t tell\t us\t anything \t useful.\t T he only\toutsider\twho\thad\tcome\tto\tthe\thouse,\tthey\tsaid,\twas\tDr\tBose.\tHe\thad\tcome\tat\taround\t9\tp.m.\tto\tsee Jhuntu.\tAfter\the\thad\tgone,\tNilmoni\tBabu\thad\tgone\tout\tto\tbuy\tsome\tmedicines\tfrom\tthe\tlocal\tchemist. That\twas\tall. We\t left\t soon\t after\t this.\t On\t our\t way\t back,\t I\t suddenly\t noticed\t that\t our\t taxi\t was\t not\t going\t in\t the direction\tof\thome.\tWhere\twas\tFeluda\ttaking\tme?\tBut\the\twas\tlooking\tso\tgrave\tthat\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\task him. Our\t taxi\t stopped\t outside\t a\t shop\t in\t Free\t School\t Street.\t \u2018Aratoon\t Brothers\u2014Auctioneers\u2019,\t said\t its signboard,\teach\tletter\tpainted\tin\tgleaming\tsilver.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tan\tauction\thouse\tbefore.\tThe\tsight of\t this\t one\t astounded\t me.\t Who\t knew\t so\t many\t different\t things\t could\t be\t collected\t under\t one\t roof? So mewher e\t amo ng \t these\t var io us\t o bjects,\t Nilmo ni\t Sanyal\t had\t fo und\t his\t Anubis.\t Feluda\t finished\t his wo r k\t in\t just\t two \t minutes.\t The\t auctio n\t ho use\t g ave\t him\t Pr atul\t Datta\u2019s\t addr ess\u20147\/1\t Lo velo ck\t Str eet. Were\twe\tgoing\tto\tgo\tthere\tnow?\tNo,\tFeluda\ttold\tthe\tdriver\tto\ttake\tus\thome. When\t we\t sat\t do wn\t to \t have\t lunch\t later \t in\t the\t after no o n,\t I\t was\t still\t tr ying \t to \t wo r k\t thing s\t o ut,\t and getting\t nowhere.\t Please\t God,\t I\t prayed\t silently,\t let\t Feluda\t find\t a\t clue\t or\t something,\t so\t that\t he\t had so mething \t co ncr ete\t to \t wo r k\t o n.\t Other wise,\t he\t mig ht\t well\t have\t to \t accept\t defeat,\t which\t I\t wo uld\t find totally\tunbearable. \u2018What\tnext,\tFeluda?\u2019\tI\tasked\thim. \u2018Fish\t curry,\u2019\t he\t replied,\t mixing\t his\t rice\t with\t dal,\t \u2018and\t then\t I\t shall\t have\t vegetables,\t followed\t by chutney\tand\tdahi.\u2019","\u2018And\tthen?\u2019 \u2018Then\tI\tshall\twash\tmy\thands,\trinse\tmy\tmouth\tand\thave\ta\tpaan.\u2019 \u2018After\tthat?\u2019 \u2018I\tshall\tmake\ta\tphone\tcall\tand\tthen\tI\tintend\thaving\ta\tsiesta.\u2019 I\t saw\t no\t point\t in\t asking\t anything\t further.\t All\t I\t could\t do\t was\t wait\t patiently\t for\t him\t to\t make\t the phone\tcall.\tI\tknew\the\twould\tcall\tPratul\tDatta,\tso\tI\thad\talready\ttaken\this\tnumber\tfrom\tthe\tdirectory. When\t Feluda\t finally\t made\t the\t call,\t I\t co uld\t hear \t o nly\t his\t side\t o f\t the\t co nver satio n.\t This\t is\t ho w\t it went: Feluda\t(changing\this\tvoice\tand\tsounding\tlike\tan\told\tman):\t\u2018Hello,\tI\tam\tspeaking\tfrom\tNaktola.\u2019 \u2018My\tname\tis\tJoynarayan\tBagchi.\tI\tam\tinterested\tin\tantiques\tand\tancient\tarts.\tIn\tfact,\tI\tam\twriting\ta book\ton\tthis\tsubject.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tYes,\tI\u2019ve\theard\tof\tyour\tcollection,\tyou\tsee.\tSo\tI\twondered\tif\tI\tmight\tgo\tand\tsee\twhat\tyou\u2019ve got?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tof\tcourse\tnot!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthank\tyou.\tThank\tyou\tvery\tmuch\tindeed!\u2019 Feluda\tput\tthe\treceiver\tdown\tand\tturned\tto\tme.\t\u2018He\u2019s\thaving\this\thouse\twhitewashed,\tso\the\u2019s\thad\tto move\tthings\taround.\tBut\the\u2019s\tagreed\tto\tlet\tus\thave\ta\tlook\tthis\tevening.\u2019 \u2018But,\u2019\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\tasking,\t\u2018if\the\u2019s\treally\tstolen\tthe\tstatue\tof\tAnubis,\the\u2019s\tnot\tgoing\tto\tshow\tit\tto us,\tis\the?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tIf\the\u2019s\tan\tidiot\tlike\tyou,\the\tmay.\tHowever,\tI\tam\tnot\tgoing\tto\tvisit\thim\tjust\tto\tlook for\ta\tstolen\tobject.\tI\tsimply\twant\tto\tmeet\tthe\tman.\u2019 True\tto\this\tword,\tFeluda\twent\tto\this\troom\tafter\tthis\tto\thave\ta\tnap.\tHe\thad\tthis\twonderful\tknack\tof catching\ta\tfew\tminutes\u2019\tsleep\twhenever\tnecessary.\tApparently,\tNapoleon\thad\thad\tthis\tknack,\ttoo.\tHe could\t go\t to\t sleep\t even\t on\t horseback,\t and\t wake\t a\t few\t moments\t later,\t much\t refreshed.\t Or\t so\t I\t had heard.\tI\tdecided\tto\tpass\tthe\tafternoon\tby\tleafing\tthrough\tone\tof\tFeluda\u2019s\tbooks\ton\tEgyptian\tart.\tOnly a\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\thowever,\tthe\tphone\trang.\tI\tran\tto\tthe\tliving\troom\tto\tanswer\tit. \u2018Hello!\u2019\tI\tsaid. There\t was\t no\t immediate\t response\t from\t the\t other\t side,\t though\t I\t could\t make\t out\t that\t there\t was someone\tholding\ta\treceiver\tto\this\tear.\tI\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tuneasy.\t\u2018Can\tI\tspeak\tto\tPradosh\tMitter?\u2019\tasked\ta harsh\tvoice\tafter\ta\tfew\tmoments. \u2018He\tis\tresting,\u2019\tI\treplied,\tswallowing\tonce.\tMay\tI\tknow\twho\u2019s\tcalling?\u2019 T he\t man\t fell\t silent\t ag ain.\t T hen\t he\t said,\t \u2018All\t r ig ht.\t Just\t tell\t him\t that\t the\t Eg yptian\t g o d\t is\t wher e\t he should\t be.\t Mr\t Mitter\t needn\u2019t\t concern\t himself\t with\t the\t movements\t of\t Anubis.\t If\t he\t continues\t to meddle\tin\tthis\tmatter,\tthe\tconsequences\tmay\twell\tbe\tdisastrous.\u2019\tWith\ta\tclick,\tthe\tline\twent\tdead. I\t sat\t fo o lishly\u2014heaven\t kno ws\t fo r \t ho w\t lo ng \u2014still\t ho lding \t the\t r eceiver \t in\t my\t hand.\t I\t finally\t had the\tsense\tto\treplace\tit\tonly\twhen\tFeluda\twalked\tinto\tthe\troom.\t\u2018Who\twas\ton\tthe\tphone?\u2019\the\tasked.\tI repeated\t what\t I\t had\t been\t told\t by\t the\t strange\t voice.\t Feluda\t frowned\t and\t clicked\t his\t tongue\t in annoyance. \u2018You\tshould\thave\tcalled\tme.\u2019 \u2018How\tcould\tI?\tYou\talways\tget\tcross\tif\tI\tdisturb\tyour\tsiesta.\u2019 \u2018Hm.\tWhat\tdid\tthis\tman\u2019s\tvoice\tsound\tlike?\u2019","\u2018Harsh\tand\tgruff.\u2019 \u2018I\t see.\t Anyway,\t it\u2019s\t time\t now\t to\t get\t ready\t for\t Pratul\t Datta.\t I\t was\t beginning\t to\t see\t light,\t but\t now things\thave\tgot\tcomplicated\tagain.\u2019 We\tgot\tout\tof\ta\ttaxi\tin\tfront\tof\tPratul\tDatta\u2019s\thouse\tat\tfive\tminutes\tto\tsix\tthat\tevening.\tWe\twere\tboth dressed\t for\t our\t parts\u2014so\t cleverly\t disguised\t that\t I\t bet\t even\t Baba\t could\t not\t have\t recognized\t us. Feluda\t looked\t like\t an\t old\t man,\t about\t sixty\t years\t of\t age,\t sporting\t a\t wide\t moustache\t (liberally sprinkled\t with\t grey),\t with\t thick\t glasses\t perched\t on\t his\t nose.\t He\t was\t wearing\t a\t black\t jacket\t with\t a high\t neck,\t a\t white\t dhoti,\t long\t socks\t and\t brown\t tennis\t shoes.\t It\t took\t him\t about\t half-an-hour\t to\t get ready.\tThen\the\tcalled\tme\tto\this\troom\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\thave\ta\tfew\tthings\tfor\tyou.\tPut\tthese\ton\tquickly.\u2019 \u2018What!\tDo\tI\thave\tto\twear\tmake-up\tas\twell?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019\tIn\ttwo\tminutes,\tI\thad\ta\twig\ton\tto\tcover\tmy\treal\thair\tand,\tlike\tFeluda,\ta\tpair\tof\tglasses to \t hide\t my\t eyes.\t Then\t he\t to o k\t o ut\t an\t eyebr o w\t pencil\t and\t wo r ked\t o n\t my\t neatly\t tr immed\t side-bur ns until\t they\t beg an\t to \t lo o k\t untidy\t and\t o ver g r o wn.\t Finally,\t he\t said,\t \u2018Yo u\t ar e\t my\t nephew.\t Yo ur \t name\t is Subodh.\tYour\tonly\taim\tin\tlife\tis\tto\tkeep\tyour\tmouth\tshut.\tJust\tremember\tthat.\u2019 We\t fo und\t Pr atul\t Datta\t sitting \t in\t the\t ver anda\t as\t we\t went\t in\t thr o ug h\t the\t g ate.\t His\t ho use\t must\t have been\t built\t thir ty\t year s\t ag o ,\t but\t the\t walls\t and\t do o r s\t and\t windo ws\t wer e\t g leaming \t after \t a\t new\t co at\t o f paint. Feluda\tbowed,\this\thands\tfolded\tin\ta\t\u2018namaskar \u2019,\tand\tsaid\tin\this\tthin,\told-man\tvoice,\t\u2018Excuse\tme, are\tyou\tMr\tPratul\tDatta?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tMr\tDatta\treplied\twithout\tsmiling. \u2018I\tam\tJoynarayan\tBagchi,\tand\tthis\tis\tmy\tnephew\tSubodh.\u2019 \u2018Why\thave\tyou\tbrought\thim?\tYou\tsaid\tnothing\tabout\ta\tnephew\ton\tthe\tphone!\u2019 \u2018N-no,\tbut\tyou\tsee,\the\u2019s\trecently\tstarted\tto\tpaint\tand\tis\tvery\tinterested\tin\tart,\tso\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tMr\tDatta\tsaid nothing\tmore.\tHe\trose\tto\this\tfeet. \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t mind\t you\t looking\t at\t things.\t But\t I\t had\t had\t to\t put\t everything\t away\t because\t of\t the whitewashing;\tand\tnow\tevery\tlittle\tpiece\thas\thad\tto\tbe\tdragged\tout.\tThat\twasn\u2019t\teasy,\tI\tcan\ttell\tyou. As\tit\tis,\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tgoing\tberserk\twith\tthe\tworkmen\tpushing\tand\tshoving\tall\tmy\tfurniture\tall\tday.\tThe smell\tof\tpaint\tmakes\tme\tsick.\tI\u2019ll\tbe\tglad\twhen\tthe\twhole\tthing\u2019s\tover.\tAnyway,\tcome\tinside,\tplease.\u2019 I\tdidn\u2019t\tlike\tthe\tbrusque\tway\tin\twhich\the\tspoke,\tbut\tonce\tinside\this\tdrawing\troom\ton\tthe\tfirst\tfloor, my\tmouth\tfell\topen\tin\tamazement.\tHis\tcollection\tseemed\tlarger\tthan\tNilmoni\tBabu\u2019s. \u2018You\tseemed\tto\thave\tgathered\ta\tlot\tof\tthings\tfrom\tEgypt,\u2019\tremarked\tFeluda. \u2018Yes.\tI\tbought\tsome\tof\tthese\tin\tCairo.\tOthers\twere\tbought\tlocally.\u2019 \u2018Look,\tSubodh,\tmy\tboy,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\tlaying\ta\thand\ton\tmy\tback\tand\tgiving\tme\ta\tsharp\tpinch\tquite unobtrusively.\t \u2018See\t all\t these\t animals?\t The\t Egyptians\t used\t to\t worship\t these\t as\t gods.\t This\t owl\t here, and\tthat\thawk\tover\tthere\u2014even\tthese\tbirds\twere\tgods\tfor\tthem.\u2019 Mr\tDatta\tsat\tdown\ton\ta\tsofa\tand\tlit\ta\tcheroot.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tpossessed\tme,\tbut\tI\tsuddenly\tfound myself\tsaying,\t\u2018Uncle,\tdidn\u2019t\tthey\thave\ta\tgod\tthat\tlooked\tlike\ta\tjackal?\u2019 Mr\tDatta\tchoked.\t\u2018This\tcheroot,\u2019\the\tsaid\tafter\ta\twhile,\tstill\tcoughing.\t\u2018You\tcan\u2019t\tget\tgood\tquality stuff\tany\tmore.\tIt\tnever\tused\tto\tbe\tso\tstrong.\u2019 Feluda\tignored\tthis\tremark.\t\u2018Heh\theh,\u2019\the\tsaid\tin\this\tthin\tvoice,\t\u2018my\tnephew\tis\ttalking\tof\tAnubis.\tI told\thim\tabout\tAnubis\tonly\tlast\tnight.\u2019","Mr\t Datta\t flared\t up\t unexpectedly.\t \u2018Anubis?\t Ha!\t Stupid\t fool!\u2019\t Feluda\t stared\t at\t him\t through\t his g lasses.\t \u2018I\t do n\u2019t\t under stand,\u2019\t he\t co mplained.\t \u2018Why\t ar e\t yo u\t calling \t an\t ancient\t Eg yptian\t g o d\t a\t stupid fool?\u2019 \u2018No,\t no,\t not\t Anubis.\t It\u2019s\t that\t man.\t I\u2019ve\t seen\t him\t before\t at\t auctions.\t He\t is\t an\t idiot.\t His\t bidding makes\tno\tsense\tat\tall.\tThere\twas\ta\tlovely\tstatue,\tyou\tsee.\tBut\the\tquoted\ta\tfigure\tso\tabsurdly\thigh\tthat I\thad\tto\twithdraw.\tGod\tknows\twhere\the\tgets\tthat\tkind\tof\tmoney\tfrom.\u2019 Feluda\tsaid\tnothing\tin\treply.\tHe\tglanced\taround\tthe\troom\tonce\tmore,\tthen\tsaid\t\u2018namaskar \u2019\tagain. \u2018Thank\t you\t very\t much,\u2019\t he\t added,\t moving\t towards\t the\t door\t through\t which\t we\t had\t come.\t \u2018It\t was r eally\t ver y\t kind\t o f\t yo u.\t It\u2019s\t g iven\t me\t a\t g r eat\t deal\t o f\t pleasur e,\t and\t my\t nephew\t .\t .\t .\t heh\t heh\t .\t .\t .\t has learnt\t a\t lot.\u2019\t On\t our\t way\t downstairs,\t Feluda\t asked\t one\t more\t question,\t very\t casually.\t \u2018Do\t you\t live alone\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019\tcame\tthe\treply.\t\u2018I\tlive\there\twith\tmy\twife.\tI\thave\ta\tson,\tbut\the\tdoesn\u2019t\tlive\there.\u2019 We\t came\t out\t of\t Mr\t Datta\u2019s\t house\t and\t began\t walking,\t in\t the\t hope\t of\t finding\t a\t taxi.\t It\t was remarkably\tquiet\toutside,\talthough\tit\twas\tnot\teven\t7\tp.m.\tThere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tsight\texcept\ttwo\tsmall boys\t who\t were\t out\t begging.\t One\t of\t them\t was\t singing\t Shyamasangeet;\t the\t other\t was\t playing\t a khanjani.\tAs\tthey\tcame\tcloser,\tFeluda\tbegan\thumming\tthe\tsame\twords: Help\tme,\tMother for\tI\thave\tno\tone to\tturn\tto\t.\t.\t. A\t few\t minutes\t later,\t we\t reached\t Ballygunje\t Circular\t Road\t and\t spotted\t an\t empty\t taxi.\t Feluda sto pped\t sing ing \t and\t sho uted,\t \u2018Taxi!\u2019\t so \t lo udly\t that\t it\t scr eeched\t to \t a\t halt\t almo st\t immediately.\t As\t we got\tin,\tI\tcaught\tthe\tdriver\tgive\tFeluda\ta\tpuzzled\tlook.\tHe\twas\tprobably\twondering\thow\ta\tshrivelled old\tman\tlike\thim\tcould\tpossibly\thave\tsuch\tpowerful\tlungs! When\t the\t pho ne\t r ang \t the\t next\t mo r ning ,\t I\t was\t br ushing \t my\t teeth.\t So \t it\t was\t Feluda\t who \t answer ed\t it. When\t I\t came\t out\t of\t the\t bathroom,\t he\t told\t me\t that\t Nilmoni\t Babu\t had\t just\t called\t to\t say\t that\t Pratul Datta\u2019s\thouse\thad\tbeen\tburgled\tlast\tnight.\tAll\tthe\tcash\thad\tbeen\tleft\tuntouched.\tWhat\twas\tmissing\twas a\tnumber\tof\told\tand\tprecious\tstatues\tand\tother\tobjects\tof\tart,\tthe\ttotal\tvalue\tof\twhich\twould\tbe\tin\tthe r eg io n\t o f\t fifty\t tho usand\t r upees.\t The\t theft\t had\t been\t r epo r ted\t by\t the\t pr ess,\t and\t the\t po lice\t had\t star ted their\tinvestigations. By\t the\t time\t we\t reached\t Pratul\t Datta\u2019s\t house,\t it\t was\t past\t 7\t o\u2019clock.\t Needless\t to\t say,\t this\t time\t we went\t without\t wearing\t any\t make-up.\t Just\t as\t we\t stepped\t in,\t a\t man\t of\t rather\t generous\t proportions, wear ing \t a\t po liceman\u2019s\t unifo r m,\t emer g ed\t fr o m\t the\t ho use.\t It\t tur ned\t o ut\t that\t he\t knew\t Feluda.\t \u2018Go o d morning,\tFelu\tBabu,\u2019\the\tgreeted\tus,\tgrinning\tbroadly\tand\tthumping\tFeluda\ton\tthe\tback,\t\u2018I\tcan\tsee\tthat it\tdidn\u2019t\ttake\tyou\tlong\tto\tfind\tyour\tway\there!\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled\tpolitely,\t\u2018Well,\tI\thad\tto\tcome,\tyou\tsee,\tsince\tit\u2019s\tmy\tjob.\u2019 \u2018No,\tdon\u2019t\tsay\tit\u2019s\tyour\tjob.\tThe\tjob\tis\tours.\tFor\tyou,\tit\u2019s\tno\tmore\tthan\ta\tpastime,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 Feluda\tchose\tto\tignore\tthis.\tHe\tsaid\tinstead,\t\u2018Have\tyou\tbeen\table\tto\twork\tanything\tout?\tIs\tit\tsimply a\tcase\tof\tburglary?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes,\twhat\telse\tcould\tit\tbe?\tBut\tMr\tDatta\tis\tvery\tupset.\tHe\ttold\tus\tsomething\tabout\tan\told\tman and\this\tnephew\twho\tcame\tto\tvisit\thim\tyesterday.\tHe\tthinks\tthey\u2019re\tresponsible.\u2019","My\t thr o at\t suddenly\t felt\t dr y.\t Per haps\t Feluda\t had\t been\t a\t bit\t to o \t r eckless\t this\t time.\t What\t if\u2014?\t But Feluda\t remained\t quite\t unperturbed.\t \u2018Well\t then,\t all\t you\t need\t to\t do\t is\t catch\t this\t old\t man\t and\t his nephew.\tSimple!\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Well\t said!\u2019\t returned\t the\t plump\t police\t officer.\t \u2018That\u2019s\t exactly\t the\t kind\t of\t remark\t an\t amateur detective\tin\ta\tnovel\tmight\thave\tmade.\u2019 \u2018Can\t we\t g o \t into \t the\t ho use?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked,\t deter mined\t no t\t to \t take\t any\t no tice\t o f\t the\t jibes\t made\t by the\tofficer. \u2018Yes,\tyes,\tgo\tahead.\u2019 Pratul\t Datta\t was\t sitting\t on\t the\t same\t veranda.\t But\t he\t was\t clearly\t far\t too\t preoccupied\t to\t pay\t any attention\tto\tus.\t\u2018Do\tyou\twant\tto\tsee\tthe\troom\twhere\tall\tthe\taction\ttook\tplace?\u2019\tasked\tour\tfriend\tfrom the\tpolice. \u2018Yes,\tplease.\u2019 We\twere\ttaken\tto\tthe\tdrawing\troom\tupstairs.\tFeluda\twent\tstraight\tto\tthe\tbalcony\tand\tleant\tover\tits railing.\t\u2018Look,\tthere\u2019s\ta\tpipe.\tSo\tgaining\taccess\twas\tnot\ta\tproblem\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018True.\t In\t any\t case,\t the\t door\t couldn\u2019t\t be\t closed\t because\t the\t paint\t was\t still\t wet.\t So\t really\t it\t was something\tlike\tan\topen\tinvitation.\u2019 \u2018What\ttime\tdid\tthis\thappen?\u2019 \u2018At\t9.45\tp.m.\u2019 \u2018Who\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\trealize\u2014?\u2019 \u2018T her e\t is\t an\t o ld\t ser vant.\t He\t was\t making \t the\t bed\t in\t that\t o ther \t r o o m\t o ver \t ther e.\t He\t hear d\t a\t no ise, apparently,\tand\tcame\there\tto\thave\ta\tlook.\tThe\troom\twas\ttotally\tdark.\tBut\tsomeone\tknocked\thim\tout even\tbefore\the\tcould\tswitch\ton\tthe\tlight.\tBy\tthe\ttime\the\trecovered\tsufficiently\tto\traise\tan\talarm,\tthe thief\thad\tvanished.\u2019 Feluda\t frowned.\t I\t had\t come\t to\t recognize\t this\t frown\t pretty\t well.\t It\t usually\t meant\t a\t new\t idea\t had occurred\tto\thim.\t\u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tspeak\tto\tthis\tservant,\u2019\the\tsaid\tcrisply. \u2018Very\twell.\u2019 Mr \t Datta\u2019s\t ser vant\t was\t called\t Bang shalo chan.\t He\t still\t appear ed\t to \t be\t in\t a\t state\t o f\t sho ck.\t \u2018Wher e does\tit\thurt?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim,\tfor\the\twas\tobviously\tin\tpain. \u2018In\tthe\tstomach,\u2019\the\tcroaked. \u2018Stomach?\tThe\tthief\thit\tyou\tin\tthe\tstomach?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t sir.\t And\t what\t a\t powerful\t blow\t it\t was\u2014I\t felt\t as\t though\t a\t bomb\t had\t come\t and\t hit\t my\t body. Then\teverything\twent\tdark.\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\tyou\thear\tthe\tnoise?\tWhat\twere\tyou\tdoing?\u2019 \u2018I\t co uldn\u2019t\t tell\t yo u\t the\t exact\t time,\t Babu.\t I\t was\t making \t the\t bed\t in\t Ma\u2019s\t r o o m.\t She\t was\t in\t the\t next room,\t doing\t her\t puja.\t There\t were\t two\t beggar\t boys\t singing\t in\t the\t street.\t Ma\t told\t me\t to\t give\t them so me\t mo ney.\t I\t was\t abo ut\t to \t g o ,\t when\t ther e\t was\t a\t str ang e\t no ise\t in\t this\t r o o m.\t It\t so unded\t as\t tho ug h something\t heavy\t was\t knocked\t over.\t So\t I\t came\t to\t see\t what\t was\t going\t on,\t and\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t Bangshalochan couldn\u2019t\tsay\tanything\tmore.\tIt\tseemed\tthat\tthe\tthief\thad\tbroken\tinto\tthe\thouse\tonly\ta\tcouple\tof\thours after\twe\thad\tgone.\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018Thank\tyou\u2019\tboth\tto\tBangshalochan\tand\tthe\tofficer,\tand\twe\tleft. Feluda\t began\t walking\t without\t saying\t a\t word.\t His\t face\t was\t set,\t his\t eyes\t had\t taken\t on\t a\t glint\t that meant\the\twas\tdefinitely\ton\tto\tsomething.","But\t I\t knew\t he\t wasn\u2019t\t yet\t pr epar ed\t to \t talk\t abo ut\t it.\t So \t I\t walked\t by\t his\t side\t silently,\t tr ying \t to \t think things\tthrough\tmyself.\tSadly,\tthough,\tI\tgot\tnowhere.\tIt\twas\tobvious\tthat\tMr\tDatta\twas\tnot\tthe\tburglar who\thad\tattacked\tNilmoni\tBabu.\tHe\tseemed\tstrong\tenough\u2014and\the\thad\ta\tdeep\tvoice\u2014but\tsomehow I\tcouldn\u2019t\timagine\thim\tclimbing\ta\tpipe.\tA\tmuch\tyounger\tman\tmust\thave\tdone\tit.\tBut\twho\tcould\tit\tbe? And\twhat\twas\tFeluda\tthinking\tabout? We\tcontinued\tto\twalk,\tignoring\tevery\tempty\ttaxi\tthat\tsailed\tby.\tAfter\tsometime,\tI\tsuddenly\trealized we\t wer e\t standing \t quite\t clo se\t to \t the\t bo undar y\t wall\t o f\t Nilmo ni\t Dabu\u2019s\t ho use.\t Feluda\t beg an\t walking straight,\twith\tthe\twall\ton\this\tleft.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tseconds,\twe\trealized\tthe\twall\tcurved\tto\tthe\tleft.\tWe\tmade a\t left\t turn\t to\t follow\t it.\t About\t twenty\t steps\t later,\t Feluda\t stopped\t abruptly,\t and\t began\t inspecting\t a certain\tportion\tof\tthe\twall.\tThen\the\ttook\tout\this\tsmall\tJapanese\tcamera\tand\ttook\ta\tphotograph\tof\tthat particular\tsection.\tThis\ttime,\tI,\ttoo,\tpeered\tcloser\tand\tsaw\tthat\tthere\twas\ta\tbrown\timprint\tof\ta\thand. All\t that\t was\t visible\t was\t really\t two\t fingers\t and\t a\t portion\t of\t the\t palm,\t but\t it\t was\t clear\t that\t it\t was\t a child\u2019s\thand\tthat\thad\tleft\tthe\tmark. We\tretraced\tour\tsteps,\tmaking\tour\tway\tthis\ttime\tto\tthe\tmain\tgate.\tWe\tpushed\tit\topen\tand\twent\tin. Nilmoni\tBabu\trushed\tdown\tto\tmeet\tus.\t\u2018This\tmay\tsound\tawful,\u2019\the\ttold\tus\twhen\twe\twere\tall\tseated\tin his\t living\t room,\t \u2018but\t I\t must\t confess\t today\t my\t heart\t is\t feeling\t a\t lot\t lighter.\t Yes,\t I\t do\t feel\t better knowing\tthat\tmy\tbiggest\trival\thas\tmet\twith\tthe\tsame\tfate.\tBut\t.\t.\t.\twhere\tdid\tmy\tAnubis\tgo?\tWho\ttook him?\tYou\tare\ta\twell-known\tdetective,\tMr\tMitter.\tAre\tyou\tstill\ttotally\tin\tthe\tdark,\teven\tafter\ttwo\tcases of\tburglary?\u2019 Instead\tof\treplying,\tFeluda\tasked\ta\tseemingly\tirrelevant\tquestion.\t\u2018How\tis\tyour\tnephew?\u2019 \u2018Who,\tJhuntu?\tHe\u2019s\tmuch\tbetter\ttoday,\tthanks.\tHis\ttemperature\u2019s\tgone\tdown.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\tif\the\thas\tany\tfriends?\tI\tmean,\tis\tthere\ta\tchild\twho\tmight\tclimb\tover\tthat\tboundary wall\tto\tcome\tin\there\tand\tplay\twith\tJhuntu?\u2019 \u2018Climb\tover\tthe\twall?\tWhy\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\u2019 \u2018I\tfound\tthe\timpression\tof\ta\tchild\u2019s\thand\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\twall.\u2019 \u2018Was\tit\ta\tfresh\tmark?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tdifficult\tto\tsay,\tbut\tit\tcan\u2019t\tbe\tvery\told.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\thave\tnever\tseen\ta\tchild\tin\tthis\thouse.\tThe\tonly\tchild\twho\tvisits\tus\toccasionally\tis\ta\tsmall beggar\tboy.\tBut\the\tcomes\tin\tthrough\tthe\tgate,\tusually\tsinging\tShyamasangeet.\tHe\tdoes\thave\ta\tgood voice,\tI\tmust\tsay.\tHowever,\tthere\tis\ta\tguava\ttree\tin\tmy\tgarden.\tSo\tmaybe\tthat\tattracts\tlittle\tboys\tfrom time\tto\ttime\u2014I\treally\tcouldn\u2019t\tsay.\u2019 \u2018Hmm.\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\tchanged\tthe\tsubject.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tlearn\tanything\tnew\tabout\tthe\tthief?\u2019 \u2018The\tman\thas\textraordinary\tstrength.\tPratul\tDatta\u2019s\tservant\twas\tknocked\tunconscious\twith\tjust\tone blow.\u2019 \u2018Then\tit\tmust\thave\tbeen\tthe\tsame\tman\twho\tattacked\tme.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps.\t But\t I\t am\t concerned\t not\t so\t much\t with\t his\t physical\t strength\t but\t with\t the\t way\t his\t mind functions.\tHe\tseems\tto\thave\tremarkable\tcunning.\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\tbegan\tto\tlook\tsort\tof\thelpless.\t\u2018I\thope\tyour\town\tintelligence\tcan\tmatch\this\tcunning, Mr\tMitter.\tOr\telse\tI\tmust\tgive\tup\tall\thope\tof\tever\tfinding\tmy\tAnubis\tagain,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Give\tme\ttwo\tmore\tdays.\tFelu\tMitter\thas\tnever\tbeen\tdefeated.\tNo,\tsir,\tnot\tyet.\u2019","We\t left\t soon\t after\t this.\t As\t we\t were\t walking\t down\t the\t driveway\t towards\t the\t front\t gate,\t we\t both heard\t a\t strange\t noise,\t as\t though\t someone\t was\t tapping\t on\t a\t glass\t pane.\t I\t turned\t around\t and\t saw\t a small\t boy\t standing\t at\t a\t window\t on\t the\t first\t floor.\t It\t was\t he\t who\t was\t tapping\t on\t the\t window\t pane. \u2018Jhuntu!\u2019\tI\tsaid. \u2018Yes,\tI\u2019ve\tseen\thim,\ttoo,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. Feluda\tspent\tthe\tafternoon\tscribbling\tin\this\tfamous\tblue\tnotebook.\tI\thad\tlearnt\tby\tnow\tnot\tto\tworry about\t what\t he\t was\t writing,\t for\t I\t knew\t whatever\t he\t wrote\t in\t his\t notebook\t was\t written\t in\t English, using\tGreek\tletters.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tread\tit\teven\tif\tI\ttried;\tand\tcertainly\tFeluda\twouldn\u2019t\ttell\tme\tif\tI\tasked. In\tfact,\the\thad\tstopped\ttalking\tto\tme\tcompletely.\tI\tdid\tnot\tdisturb\thim.\tHe\tneeded\ttime\tto\tthink.\tBut\the was\thumming\ta\tsong\tunder\this\tbreath.\tIt\twas\tthe\tsame\tsong\tthat\twe\thad\theard\tthe\tbeggar\tboy\tsing. At\t about\t 5\t p.m.\t Feluda\t broke\t his\t silence.\t \u2018I\t am\t going\t out\t for\t a\t few\t minutes,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018I\t have\t to collect\tthe\tenlargements\tof\tmy\tphotograph\tfrom\tthe\tstudio.\u2019 I\twas\tleft\tall\talone.\tDays\twere\tgrowing\tshorter.\tIt\tgrew\tfairly\tdark\tin\tless\tthan\tan\thour\tafter\tFeluda left.\tThe\tstudio\twasn\u2019t\tfar\tfrom\twhere\twe\tlived.\tWhy\twas\tFeluda\ttaking\tso\tlong\tto\tcome\tback?\tI\tdid hope\the\thadn\u2019t\tgone\tsomewhere\telse\twithout\ttelling\tme.\tMaybe\this\tphotos\tweren\u2019t\tready,\tand\the\twas being\tmade\tto\twait\tat\tthe\tshop. The\tsound\tof\ta\tkhanjani\treached\tmy\tears,\twhich\twas\tfollowed\timmediately\tby\ta\tfamiliar\tsong: Help\tme,\tMother for\tI\thave\tno\tone to\tturn\tto\t.\t.\t. The\tsame\tboys\twere\tnow\tsinging\tin\tour\tstreet.\tI\twent\tand\tstood\tnear\tthe\twindow.\tNow\tI\tcould\tsee both\tboys.\tOne\tof\tthem\twas\tplaying\tthe\tkhanjani\tand\tthe\tother\twas\tsinging.\tHe\treally\tdid\tsing\twell. They\twere\tnow\tstanding\tin\tfront\tof\tour\thouse.\tThe\tone\twho\twas\tsinging\tstopped\tand\traised\this\tface. \u2018Ma,\tplease\tgive\tus\tsome\tmoney,\tMa!\u2019\the\tcried.\tI\ttook\tout\ta\tfifty-paisa\tcoin\tfrom\tmy\twallet\tand\tthrew it\tout\tof\tthe\twindow.\tThe\tboy\tpicked\tit\tup\tjust\tas\tit\tlanded\tat\this\tfeet\twith\ta\tfaint\tchink.\tThen\the\tput\tit in\this\tshoulder\tbag,\tand\twalked\ton,\tpicking\tup\tthe\tsong\twhere\the\thad\tleft\tit. I\tstared\tafter\thim,\tprofoundly\tpuzzled.\tOur\tstreet\twasn\u2019t\tparticularly\twell-lit.\tBut\twhen\tthe\tboy\thad raised\t his\t face\t to\t beg\t for\t money,\t I\t had\t seen\t it\t quite\t clearly.\t There\t was\t an\t uncanny\t resemblance between\t his\t face\t and\t Jhuntu\u2019s.\t No,\t I\t must\t have\t made\t a\t mistake,\t I\t told\t myself.\t Even\t so,\t this\t was something\tI\thad\tto\ttell\tFeluda\tthe\tminute\the\tgot\tback. He\treturned\tat\thalf\tpast\tsix,\tlooking\tcross.\tI\thad\tbeen\tright\tin\tthinking\the\u2019d\thad\tto\twait\tin\tthe\tshop. \u2018I\u2019ll\t make\t a\t dark\t room\t of\t my\t own\t and\t develop\t my\t own\t prints\t from\t now\t on,\u2019\t he\t declared.\t \u2018These studios\tsimply\tcannot\tbe\ttrusted\tto\tdeliver\ton\ttime.\u2019 He\tspread\tout\tall\this\tenlarged\tprints\ton\this\tbed\tand\tbegan\tstudying\tthem.\tI\tcould\twait\tno\tlonger,\tso I\t told\t him\t about\t the\t beggar\t boy.\t Feluda\u2019s\t face\t did\t not\t register\t any\t surprise.\t \u2018There\u2019s\t nothing\t odd about\tthat,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Isn\u2019t\tthere?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\tthis\twhole\tbusiness\tis\tmore\tcomplicated\tthan\tI\tthought.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\ttrue.\u2019","\u2018But\tdo\tyou\tactually\tbelieve\tthat\tthat\tyoung\tboy\tis\tinvolved\tin\tthe\tburglaries?\u2019 \u2018He\tmay\twell\tbe.\u2019 \u2018But\thow\tcan\ta\tboy\tof\this\tage\tand\this\tsize\tbe\tstrong\tenough\tto\tknock\tpeople\tout?\u2019 \u2018Who\tsaid\tit\twas\ta\tyoung\tboy\twho\tattacked\tNilmoni\tBabu\tand\tBangshalochan?\u2019 \u2018Wasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 Feluda\tdid\tnot\tanswer\tme.\tHe\twent\tback\tto\texamining\this\tphotos.\tI\tfound\thim\tlooking\tcarefully\tat the\t enlar g ed\t ver sio n\t o f\t the\t pho to g r aph\t he\t had\t taken\t o nly\t this\t mo r ning \t o f\t the\t impr int\t o f\t a\t hand\t o n Nilmoni\tBabu\u2019s\tboundary\twall. \u2018You\ttold\tme\tonce\tyou\tcould\tread\tpalms,\u2019\tI\tsaid\tjokingly.\t\u2018Can\tyou\ttell\tme\thow\tlong\tthe\towner\tof that\thand\twill\tlive?\u2019 Feluda\tdidn\u2019t\tlaugh,\tor\tmake\ta\tretort.\tHe\twas\tfrowning\tagain,\tdeep\tin\tthought.\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmake of\tthis?\u2019\the\tasked\tsuddenly.\tHis\tquestion\tstartled\tme. \u2018What\tdo\tI\tmake\tof\twhat?\u2019 \u2018What\tyou\tsaw\tthis\tmorning,\tand\twhat\tyou\u2019re\tseeing\tnow.\u2019 \u2018In\tthe\tmorning?\tYou\tmean\twhen\tyou\ttook\tthat\tphoto?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018It\twas\tthe\timpression\tof\ta\tchild\u2019s\thand.\tWhat\telse\twas\tthere\tto\tsee?\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tits\tcolour\ttell\tyou\tanything?\u2019 \u2018Colour?\tIt\twas\tbrown,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\twhat\tdid\tthat\tmean?\u2019 \u2018That\tthe\tboy\thad\tsomething\tsmeared\ton\this\thand?\u2019 \u2018Something?\tTry\tto\tthink,\ttry\tto\tbe\tmore\tspecific\u2019 \u2018Well,\tit\tmight\thave\tbeen\tpaint,\tmightn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tbut\twhere\tcould\tit\thave\tcome\tfrom?\u2019 \u2018Brown\tpaint?\tHow\tshould\tI\tknow\u2014no.\twait,\twait.\tI\tremember\tnow.\tThe\tdoors\tand\twindows\tof\tMr Datta\u2019s\thouse\twere\tall\tpainted\tbrown!\u2019 \u2018Exactly.\tYou\tcaught\tsome\tof\tit\ton\tyour\tsleeve\tthat\tday.\tIf\tyou\tlook\tat\tyour\tshirt,\tyou\u2019ll\tprobably still\tfind\tit\tthere.\u2019 \u2018But\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tI\tbegan\tto\tfeel\ta\tbit\tdazed,\t\u2018does\tthat\tmean\tthe\tperson\twho\tgot\tpaint\ton\this\thand\twas\tthe burglar\twho\tstole\tinto\tPratul\tDatta\u2019s\thouse?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthere\u2019s\ta\tpossibility.\tBut\tlook\tat\tthe\tphoto\tagain.\tCan\tyou\tspot\tanything\telse?\u2019 I\ttried\tto\tthink\tvery\thard,\tbut\thad\tto\tshake\tmy\thead\tin\tthe\tend.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tall\tright,\u2019\tFeluda\tcomforted\tme, \u2018I\t knew\t you\t wouldn\u2019t\t be\t able\t to\t spot\t it.\t If\t you\t had,\t I\t would\u2019ve\t been\t very\t surprised\u2014no,\t in\t fact,\t I would\thave\tbeen\tshocked.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018Because\tthat\twould\thave\tproved\tthat\tyou\tare\tno\tless\tclever-than\tme.\u2019 \u2018Oh?\tAnd\twhat\thave\tyou\tspotted,\tMr\tClever?\u2019 \u2018That\tthis\tis\tmore\tthan\tjust\ta\tcomplicated\tcase.\tThere\tis\ta\tsinister\tangle\tto\tit,\twhich\tI\thave\trealized only\trecently.\tIt\tis\tas\thorrific\tas\tAnubis\thimself!\u2019 Feluda\trang\tNilmoni\tBabu\tthe\tnext\tday.","\u2018Hello?\tMr\tSanyal?\t.\t.\t.\tYour\tmystery\thas\tbeen\tsolved\t.\t.\t.\tNo,\tI\thaven\u2019t\tactually\tgot\tthat\tstatue,\tbut\tI think\tI\tknow\twhere\tit\tis\t.\t.\t.\tAre\tyou\tfree\tthis\tmorning?\t.\t.\t.\tWhat?\t.\t.\t.\tHe\u2019s\tworse,\tis\the?\t.\t.\t.\tWhich hospital?\t.\t.\t.\tAll\tright.\tWe\u2019ll\tmeet\tlater.\tThank\tyou.\u2019 Feluda\treplaced\tthe\treceiver\tand\tquickly\tdialled\tanother\tnumber.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thear\twhat\the\tsaid\tfor\the lowered\this\tvoice\tand\tpractically\twhispered\tinto\tthe\ttelephone.\tBut\tI\tcould\ttell\tthat\the\twas\tspeaking\tto someone\tin\tthe\tpolice.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tme\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Get\tready\tquickly.\tWe\u2019re\tgoing\tout.\tYes,\tnow.\u2019 Luckily\t there\t wasn\u2019t\t much\t traffic\t on\t the\t roads\t since\t it\t was\t still\t fairly\t early.\t Besides,\t Feluda\t had told\t the\t driver\t to\t drive\t as\t fast\t as\t he\t could.\t It\t took\t us\t only\t a\t few\t minutes\t to\t reach\t Nilmoni\t Babu\u2019s street.\t Just\t as\t we\t reached\t his\t gate,\t we\t saw\t him\t driving\t out\t in\t his\t black\t Ambassador.\t There\t didn\u2019t seem\tto\tbe\tanyone\telse\tin\tthe\tcar\tapart\tfrom\tNilmoni\tBabu\thimself\tand\this\tdriver.\t\u2018Follow\tthat\tcar!\u2019 shouted\tFeluda.\tExcited,\tour\tdriver\tplaced\this\tfoot\ton\tthe\taccelerator.\tI\tsaw\tNilmoni\tBabu\u2019s\tcar\ttake\ta right\t turn.\t At\t this\t moment,\t Feluda\t did\t something\t completely\t unexpected.\t He\t took\t out\t his\t revolver from\t the\t inside\t pocket\t of\t his\t jacket,\t leant\t out\t of\t the\t window\t and\t shot\t at\t the\t rear\t tyres\t of\t the Ambassador. The\t noise\t from\t the\t revolver\t and\t the\t bursting\t of\t tyres\t was\t absolutely\t deafening.\t Then\t I\t saw\t the Ambassador\tlurch\tawkwardly,\tbump\tagainst\ta\tlamp-post\tand\tcome\tto\ta\tstandstill.\tOur\ttaxi\tpulled\tup just\tbehind\tit.\tFrom\tthe\topposite\tend\tcame\ta\tpolice\tjeep\tand\tblocked\tthe\tother\tside. Nilmo ni\t Sanyal\t climbed\t o ut\t his\t car \t and\t sto o d\t g lancing \t ar o und,\t lo o king \t fur io us.\t Feluda\t and\t I\t g o t out\tof\tour\ttaxi\tand\tbegan\twalking\ttowards\thim.\tFrom\tthe\tpolice\tjeep,\tthe\tsame\tplump\tofficer\tjumped out. \u2018What\tthe\thell\tis\tgoing\ton?\u2019\tdemanded\tNilmoni\tBabu\twhen\the\tsaw\tus. \u2018Who\telse\tis\twith\tyou\tin\tthe\tcar\tapart\tfrom\tthe\tdriver,\tMr\tSanyal?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tcoldly. \u2018Who\t do\t you\t think?\u2019\t Nilmoni\t Babu\t shouted.\t \u2018Didn\u2019t\t I\t tell\t you\t I\t was\t taking\t my\t nephew\t to\t the hospital?\u2019 Without\t a\t word,\t Feluda\t stepped\t forward\t and\t pulled\t the\t handle\t of\t one\t of\t the\t rear\t doors\t of\t the Ambassador.\tThe\tdoor\topened,\tand\ta\tsmall\tchild\tshot\tout\tfrom\tthe\tcar,\tpromptly\tattaching\thimself\tto Feluda\u2019s\tthroat. Feluda\tmight\thave\tbeen\tthrottled\tto\tdeath.\tBut\the\twasn\u2019t\tjust\tan\texpert\tin\tyoga.\tHe\thad\tlearnt\tji-jitsu and\t karate,\t too.\t It\t took\t him\t only\t a\t few\t seconds\t to\t twist\t the\t child\u2019s\t wrists,\t and\t swing\t him\t over\t his head,\tfinally\tthrowing\thim\tdown\ton\tthe\troad.\tThe\tchild\tscreamed\tin\tpain,\twhich\tmade\tmy\theart\tjump into\tmy\tmouth.\tThe\tvoice\twasn\u2019t\ta\tchild\u2019s\tvoice\tat\tall.\tIt\tbelonged\tto\ta\tfully-grown\tadult.\tIt\tsounded harsh\tand\traucous.\tThis\twas\tthe\tvoice\tI\thad\theard\ton\tthe\ttelephone. By\tthis\ttime,\tthe\tpolice\tofficer\tand\this\tmen\thad\tsurrounded\tthe\tcar\tand\tarrested\tNilmoni\tBabu,\this driver\tand\tthe\t\u2018child\u2019. Feluda\tstraightened\this\tcollar\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018That\timprint\tof\this\thand\thad\tmade\tme\twonder.\tIt\tcouldn\u2019t be\t a\t child\u2019s\t hand,\t for\t it\t had\t far\t too\t many\t lines\t on\t it.\t A\t child\u2019s\t hand\t would\t have\t been\t much\t more smooth.\tHowever,\tsince\tthe\tsize\tof\tthe\tpalm\twas\tsmall,\tthere\tcould\tbe\tjust\tone\texplanation\tfor\tit.\tThe so-called\t\u201cchild\u2019\twas\treally\ta\tdwarf.\tHow\told\tis\tyour\tassistant,\tMr\tSanyal?\u2019 \u2018Forty,\u2019\tNilmoni\tBabu\twhispered.\tHis\town\tvoice\tsounded\tdifferent. \u2018You\t thought\t you\t were\t being\t very\t clever,\u2019\t Feluda\t went\t on.\t \u2018Your\t plan\t was\t flawless,\t and\t your acting\t good\t enough\t to\t win\t an\t award.\t You\t told\t me\t a\t weird\t tale\t of\t warnings\t in\t hieroglyphics,\t then","staged\ta\trobbery,\tjust\tto\tremove\tsuspicion\tfrom\tyourself.\tThen\tyou\thad\tPratul\tDatta\u2019s\thouse\tburgled, and\t some\t of\t his\t possessions\t became\t yours.\t Tell\t me,\t the\t boy\t we\t saw\t in\t your\t house\t was\t the\t other beggar\tboy,\twasn\u2019t\the?\tThe\tone\twho\tused\tto\tsing?\u2019 Nilmoni\t Babu\t nodded\t in\t silence.\t \u2018Yes,\t that\t boy\t used\t to\t sing,\u2019\t Feluda\t continued,\t \u2018and\t the\t dwarf played\tthe\tkhanjani.\t You\t never\t had\t a\t nephew\t at\t all.\t That\t was\t another\t story\t you\t cooked\t up.\t You\u2019ve kept\tthat\tboy\tin\tyour\thouse\tby\tforce,\thaven\u2019t\tyou,\tto\thelp\tyou\twith\tyour\tmisdeeds?\tI\tknow\tthat\tnow, but\t it\t took\t me\t a\t while\t to\t figure\t it\t out.\t The\t boy\t and\t the\t dwarf\t were\t sent\t out\t together.\t The\t dwarf disappear ed\t into \t Pr atul\t Datta\u2019s\t ho use,\t leaving \t the\t khanjani\t with\t the\t sing er,\t who \t co ntinued\t to \t play\t it. The\tdwarf\twas\tobviously\tpowerful\tenough\tto\ttackle\tBangshalochan.\tIt\twas\ta\twonderful\tplan,\treally. I\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tgive\tyou\tfull\tmarks\tfor\tplanning\tall\tthe\tdetails,\tMr\tSanyal.\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\tsighed.\t\u2018The\ttruth\tis,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018that\tI\thad\tbecome\tobsessed\twith\tancient\tEgypt.\tI\thave studied\t that\t period\t in\t some\t depth.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t bear\t the\t thought\t of\t Pratul\t Datta\t hanging\t on\t to\t those pieces\tof\tEgyptian\tart.\tI\thad\tto\thave\tthem,\tat\tany\tcost.\u2019 \u2018Well,\t Mr \t Sanyal,\t yo u\t have\t no w\t seen\t wher e\t g r eed\t and\t temptatio n\t can\t lead\t yo u.\t T her e\t is\t just\t o ne more\tthing\tI\tneed\tto\task\tyou\tfor.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018My\treward.\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\tstared\tat\tFeluda\tblankly. \u2018Reward?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThat\tstatue\tof\tAnubis\tis\twith\tyou,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 Nilmoni\tBabu\tslipped\this\thand\tinto\this\tpocket\trather\tfoolishly.\tThen\the\tbrought\tit\tout,\tclutching\ta four-thousand-year-old\tstatue\tof\tAnubis,\tthe\tEgyptian\tgod\tof\tthe\tdead.\tThe\tstones\tit\twas\tstudded\twith glittered\tin\tthe\tsun. Feluda\tstretched\tan\tarm\tand\ttook\tthe\tstatue\tfrom\tNilmoni\tBabu.\t\u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\the\tsaid. Nilmoni\t Babu\t swallowed,\t quite\t unable\t to\t speak.\t The\t police\t officer\t pushed\t him\t gently\t in\t the direction\tof\tthe\tjeep.","","T R O UBLE\t I N \t G AN GT O K","One Even\ta\tlittle\twhile\tago\tit\thad\tbeen\tpossible\tto\tstare\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\tlook\tat\tthe\tyellow\tearth, criss-crossed\twith\trivers\tthat\tlooked\tlike\tsilk\tribbons\tand\tsweet\tlittle\tvillages\twith\ttiny\tlittle\thouses\tin them.\t But\t now\t grey\t puffs\t of\t cloud\t had\t blocked\t out\t that\t scene\t totally.\t So\t I\t turned\t away\t from\t the window\tand\tbegan\tlooking\tat\tmy\tco-passengers\tin\tthe\tplane. Next\t to \t me\t sat\t Feluda,\t immer sed\t in\t a\t bo o k\t o n\t space\t tr avel.\t He\t always\t r ead\t a\t lo t,\t but\t I\t had\t never seen\t him\t r ead\t two \t bo o ks\u2014o ne\t str aig ht\t after \t the\t o ther \u2014that\t wer e\t wr itten\t o n\t the\t same\t subject.\t Only yesterday,\tback\tat\thome,\the\thad\tbeen\treading\tsomething\tabout\tthe\tTakla\tMakan\tdesert.\tBefore\tthat,\the had\t finished\t a\t book\t on\t international\t cuisine,\t and\t another\t of\t short\t stories.\t It\t was\t imperative,\t he\u2019d always\t maintained,\t fo r \t a\t detective\t to \t g ain\t as\t much\t g ener al\t kno wledg e\t as\t po ssible.\t Who \t knew\t what might\tcome\tin\thandy\tone\tday? There\twere\ttwo\tmen\tsitting\tdiagonally\topposite\tme.\tOne\tof\tthem\twas\tbarely\tvisible.\tAll\tI\tcould\tsee was\this\tright\thand\tand\ta\tportion\tof\this\tblue\ttrousers.\tHe\twas\tbeating\tone\tof\this\tfingers\ton\this\tknee. Perhaps\t he\t was\t singing\t quietly.\t The\t other\t gentleman\t sitting\t closer\t to\t us\t had\t a\t bright\t and\t polished look\t about\t him.\t His\t greying\t hair\t suggested\t he\t might\t be\t in\t his\t mid-forties,\t but\t apart\t from\t that\t he seemed\tpretty\twell-preserved.\tHe\twas\treading\tthe\tStatesman\twith\t great\t concentration.\t Feluda\t might have\tbeen\table\tto\tguess\ta\tlot\tof\tthings\tabout\tthe\tman,\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tthink\tof\tanything\tat\tall\talthough\tI tried\tvery\thard. \u2018What\t ar e\t yo u\t g aping \t at?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked\t under \t his\t br eath,\t ther eby\t star tling \t me\t co nsider ably.\t T hen he\tcast\ta\tsidelong\tglance\tat\tthe\tman\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018He\u2019s\tnot\tas\tflabby\tas\the\tmight\thave\tbeen.\tAfter\tall,\the does\teat\ta\tlot,\tdoesn\u2019t\the?\u2019 Yes,\tindeed.\tNow\tI\tremembered\thaving\tseen\thim\task\tthe\tair\thostess\tfor\ttwo\tcups\tof\ttea\tin\tthe\tpast hour,\twith\twhich\the\thad\teaten\thalf-a-dozen\tbiscuits. \u2018What\telse\tcan\tyou\ttell\tme\tabout\thim?\u2019\tI\tasked\tcuriously. \u2018He\u2019s\tused\tto\ttravelling\tby\tair.\u2019 \u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Our\tplane\thad\tslipped\tinto\tan\tair\tpocket\ta\tfew\tminutes\tago,\tremember?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tI\tfelt\tso\tstrange!\tMy\tstomach\tbegan\tto\tchurn.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t and\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t yo u.\t Many\t o ther \t peo ple\t ar o und\t us\t had\t g r o wn\t r estless,\t but\t that\t g entleman didn\u2019t\teven\tlift\this\teyes\tfrom\this\tpaper.\u2019 \u2018Anything\telse?\u2019 \u2018His\thair\tat\tthe\tback\tis\ttousled.\u2019 \u2018So?\u2019","\u2018He\thas\tnot\tonce\tleant\tback\tin\this\tseat\tin\tthe\tplane.\tHe\u2019s\tsat\tup\tstraight\tthroughout,\teither\treading or\thaving\ttea.\tSo\tobviously\tat\tDum\tDum\u2014\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tget\tit!\tHe\tmust\thave\thad\tsome\ttime\tto\tspare\tat\tDum\tDum\tairport,\tat\tleast\ttime\tenough\tto\tsit back\tagainst\ta\tsofa\tand\trelax\tfor\ta\twhile.\tThat\u2019s\thow\this\thair\tgot\ttousled.\u2019 \u2018Very\tgood.\tNow\tyou\ttell\tme\twhich\tpart\tof\tIndia\the\tcomes\tfrom.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tvery\tdifficult,\tFeluda.\tHe\u2019s\twearing\ta\tsuit\tand\the\u2019s\treading\tan\tEnglish\tnewspaper.\tHe\tcould be\ta\tBengali,\ta\tPunjabi,\ta\tGujarati\tor\ta\tMaharashtrian,\tanything!\u2019 Feluda\t clicked\t his\t tongue\t disapprovingly.\t \u2018You\u2019ll\t never\t learn\t to\t observe\t properly,\t will\t you? What\u2019s\the\tgot\ton\this\tright\thand?\u2019 \u2018A\tnews\u2014no,\tno,\tI\tsee\twhat\tyou\tmean.\tHe\u2019s\twearing\ta\tring.\u2019 \u2018And\twhat\tdoes\tthe\tring\tsay?\u2019 I\t had\t to\t screw\t up\t my\t eyes\t to\t peer\t closely.\t Then\t I\t saw\t that\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t golden\t ring\t was inscribed\ta\tsingle\tword:\t\u2018Ma\u2019.\tThe\tman\thad\tto\tbe\ta\tBengali. I\twanted\tto\task\tFeluda\tabout\tother\tpassengers,\tbut\tat\tthis\tmoment\tthere\twas\tan\tannouncement\tto\tsay that\t we\t were\t about\t to\t reach\t Bagdogra.\t \u2018Please\t fasten\t your\t seat-belts\t and\t observe\t the\t no-smoking sign.\u2019 We\t wer e\t o n\t o ur \t way\t to \t Gang to k,\t the\t capital\t o f\t Sikkim.\t We\t mig ht\t have\t g o ne\t to \t Dar jeeling \t ag ain, where\t we\t had\t been\t twice\t already\t to\t spend\t our\t summer\t holidays.\t But\t at\t the\t last\t minute\t Feluda suggested\ta\tvisit\tto\tGangtok,\twhich\tsounded\tquite\tinteresting.\tBaba\thad\tto\tgo\taway\tto\tBangalore\ton tour,\tso\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tcome\twith\tus.\t\u2018You\tand\tFelu\tcould\tgo\ton\tyour\town,\u2019\tBaba\ttold\tme.\t\u2018I\u2019m\tsure\tFelu could\ttake\ta\tcouple\tof\tweeks\toff.\tDon\u2019t\twaste\tyour\tholiday\tin\tthe\tsweltering\theat\tof\tCalcutta.\u2019 Feluda\thad\tsuggested\tGangtok\tpossibly\tbecause\the\thad\trecently\tread\ta\tlot\tabout\tTibet\t(I,\ttoo,\thad read\ta\ttravelogue\tby\tSven\tHedin).\tSikkim\thad\ta\tstrong\tTibetan\tinfluence.\tThe\tKing\tof\tSikkim\twas\ta Tibetan,\t Tibetan\t monks\t were\t often\t seen\t in\t the\t gumphas\t in\t Sikkim,\t many\t Tibetan\t refugees\t lived\t in Sikkimese\t villages.\t Besides,\t many\t aspects\t of\t Tibetan\t culture\u2014their\t music,\t dances,\t costumes\t and food\u2014were\tall\tin\tevidence\tin\tSikkim.\tI\tjumped\tat\tthe\tchance\tto\tgo\tto\tGangtok.\tBut\tthen,\tI\twould\thave gone\tanywhere\ton\tearth,\tquite\thappily,\tif\tI\tcould\tbe\twith\tFeluda. Our\t plane\t landed\t at\t Bagdogra\t at\t 7.30\t a.m.\t Baba\t had\t arranged\t a\t jeep\t to\t meet\t us\t here.\t But\t before climbing\tinto\tit,\twe\twent\tto\tthe\trestaurant\tat\tthe\tairport\tto\thave\tbreakfast.\tIt\twould\ttake\tus\tat\tleast\tsix hours\tto\treach\tGangtok.\tIf\tthe\troads\twere\tbad,\tit\tmight\ttake\teven\tlonger.\tHowever,\tsince\tit\twas\tonly mid-April,\thopefully\theavy\trains\thadn\u2019t\tyet\tstarted.\tSo\tthe\troads\tought\tto\tbe\tin\tgood\tshape. I\t had\t finished\t an\t o melette\t and\t just\t star ted\t o n\t a\t fish-fr y,\t when\t I\t saw\t the\t same\t g entleman\t fr o m\t the plane\trise\tfrom\tthe\tnext\ttable\tand\twalk\tover\tto\tours,\tgrinning\tbroadly.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tKang,\tor\tDang,\tor Gang?\u2019\the\tasked,\twiping\this\tmouth\twith\ta\thandkerchief. I\tstared,\tholding\ta\tpiece\tof\tfish-fry\ta\tfew\tinches\tfrom\tmy\tmouth.\tWhat\ton\tearth\tdid\tthis\tman\tmean? What\tlanguage\twas\the\tspeaking\tin?\tOr\twas\tit\tsome\tsort\tof\ta\tcode? But\tFeluda\tsmiled\tin\treturn\tand\treplied\timmediately,\t\u2018We\u2019re\tGang.\u2019 \u2018Oh\t good.\t Do\t you\t have\t a\t jeep?\t I\t mean,\t if\t you\t do,\t can\t I\t come\t with\t you?\t I\u2019ll\t pay\t my\t share, naturally.\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\twelcome,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\tand\tit\tfinally\tdawned\ton\tme\tthat\tKang\tmeant\tKalimpong,\tDang\twas Darjeeling,\tand\tGang\twas\tGangtok.\tI\tfound\tmyself\tlaughing,\ttoo.","\u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tthe\tman.\t\u2018My\tname\tis\tSasadhar\tBose.\u2019 \u2018Pleased\tto\tmeet\tyou,\tMr\tBose.\tI\tam\tPradosh\tMitter\tand\tthis\tis\tmy\tcousin,\tTapesh.\u2019 \u2018Hello,\tTapesh.\tAre\tyou\tboth\there\ton\tholiday?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018I\tlove\tGangtok.\tHave\tyou\tbeen\tthere\tbefore?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018Where\twill\tyou\tbe\tstaying?\u2019 \u2018We\u2019re\tbooked\tsomewhere,\tI\tthink\tthe\thotel\tis\tcalled\tSnow\tView,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied,\tsignalling\tat\tthe waiter\tfor\tour\tbill,\tand\toffering\ta\tCharminar\tto\tMr\tBose.\tThen\the\tlit\tone\thimself. \u2018I\t know\t Gangtok\t very\t well,\u2019\t Mr\t Bose\t told\t us.\t \u2018In\t fact,\t I\u2019ve\t travelled\t all\t over\t Sikkim\u2014Lachen, Lachung,\tNamche,\tNathula,\tjust\tname\tit!\tIt\u2019s\treally\tbeautiful.\tThe\tscenery\tis\tjust\tout\tof\tthis\tworld,\tand it\u2019s\tall\tso\tpeaceful.\tThere\tare\tmountains\tand\trivers\tand\tflowers\u2014you\tget\torchids\there,\tyou\tknow\u2014 and\tbright\tsunshine\tand\train\tand\tmist\t.\t.\t.\tnature\tin\tall\ther\tglory.\tThe\tonly\tthing\tthat\tstops\tthis\tplace from\tbeing\ta\tcomplete\tparadise\tis\tits\troads.\tYou\tsee,\tsome\tof\tthe\tmountains\there\tare\tstill\tgrowing.\tI mean,\tthey\tare\tstill\trelatively\tyoung,\tand\ttherefore\trestless.\tYou\tknow\twhat\tyoungsters\tare\tlike,\tdon\u2019t you\t.\t.\t.\tha\tha\tha!\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tthese\tmountains\tcause\tlandslides?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tand\tit\tcan\treally\tbe\ta\tnuisance.\tHalfway\tthrough\tyour\tjourney\tyou\tmay\tsuddenly\tfind\tthe\troad completely\tblocked.\tThat\tthen\tmeans\tblasting\tyour\tway\tthrough\trocks,\trebuilding\tthe\troad,\tclearing up\t the\t mess\t .\t .\t .\t endless\t problems.\t But\t the\t army\t here\t is\t always\t on\t the\t alert\t and\t it\u2019s\t very\t efficient. Besides,\t it\t hasn\u2019t\t yet\t star ted\t to \t r ain,\t so \t I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t we\u2019ll\t have\t any\t pr o blem\t to day.\t Anyway,\t I\u2019ll\t be very\tglad\tof\tyour\tcompany.\tI\thate\ttravelling\talone.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\there\ton\tholiday\tas\twell?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t no ,\u2019\t Mr \t Bo se\t laug hed,\t \u2018I\t am\t her e\t o n\t business.\t But\t my\t jo b\t is\t r ather \t a\t peculiar \t o ne.\t I\t have\t to look\tfor\taromatic\tplants.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\trun\ta\tperfumery?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t that\u2019s\t right.\t Mine\u2019s\t a\t chemical\t firm.\t Among\t other\t things,\t we\t extract\t essences\t from\t plants. Some\tof\tthe\tplants\twe\tneed\tgrow\tin\tSikkim.\tI\u2019ve\tcome\tto\tcollect\tthem.\tMy\tbusiness\tpartner\tis\talready here.\tHe\tarrived\ta\tweek\tago.\tHe\u2019s\tgot\ta\tdegree\tin\tBotany\tand\tknows\tabout\tplants.\tI\twas\tsupposed\tto travel\twith\thim,\tbut\ta\tnephew\u2019s\twedding\tcame\tup.\tSo\tI\thad\tto\tgo\tto\tGhatshila\tto\tattend\tit.\tI\treturned\tto Calcutta\tonly\tlast\tnight.\u2019 Feluda\tpaid\tthe\tbill.\tWe\tpicked\tup\tour\tluggage\tand\tbegan\twalking\ttowards\tour\tjeep\twith\tMr\tBose. \u2018Where\tare\tyou\tbased?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Bombay.\t This\t company\t is\t now\t twenty\t years\t old.\t I\t joined\t it\t seven\t years\t ago.\t S.\t S.\t Chemicals. Shivkumar\tShelvankar.\tThe\tcompany\tis\tin\this\tname.\u2019 We\t set\t o ff\t in\t a\t few\t minutes.\t Fr o m\t Bag do g r a\t we\t had\t to \t g o \t to \t Silig ur i,\t to \t find\t Sewak\t Ro ad.\t This r o ad\t wo und\t its\t way\t thr o ug h\t the\t hills,\t g o ing \t up\t and\t do wn.\t It\t wo uld\t finally\t take\t us\t to \t a\t place\t called Rongpo,\twhere\tWest\tBengal\tended,\tand\tthe\tborder\tof\tSikkim\tbegan. On\tour\tway\tto\tRongpo,\twe\thad\tto\tcross\ta\thuge\tbridge\tover\tthe\triver\tTista.\tOn\tthe\tother\tside\twas\ta market\tcalled\tTista\tBazaar.\tWe\tstopped\there\tfor\ta\trest.\tBy\tthis\ttime\tthe\tsun\thad\tcome\tup,\tand\twe\twere all\tfeeling\ta\tlittle\thot.","\u2018Would\tyou\tlike\ta\tCoca-Cola?\u2019\tasked\tMr\tBose.\tFeluda\tand\tI\tboth\tsaid\tyes,\tand\tgot\tout\tof\tthe\tjeep. Two\t years\t ago,\t said\t Mr\t Bose,\t this\t whole\t area\t had\t been\t wiped\t out\t in\t a\t devastating\t flood.\t All\t the buildings\tand\tother\tstructures,\tincluding\tthe\tbridge,\twere\tnew. By\t the\t time\t I\t finished\t my\t o wn\t bo ttle\t o f\t Co ca-Co la,\t Mr \t Bo se\t had\t emptied\t two .\t When\t we\t went\t to return\tthe\tbottles,\twe\tnoticed\ta\tjeep\tparked\tnear\tthe\tstall\tselling\tcold\tdrinks.\tA\tfew\tmen\twere\tstanding near\tit,\ttalking\texcitedly.\tThe\tjeep\thad\tcome\tfrom\tthe\tother\tside,\tand\twas\tprobably\tgoing\tto\tSiliguri. Suddenly,\tall\tof\tus\tcaught\tthe\tword\t\u2018accident\u2019,\tand\twent\tacross\tto\task\tthem\twhat\thad\thappened.\tWhat they\ttold\tus\twas\tthis:\tit\thad\trained\theavily\tin\tGangtok\ta\tweek\tago.\tAlthough\tthere\thad\tbeen\t\u2018no\tmajor landslide,\t so meho w\t a\t heavy-bo ulder \t had\t r o lled\t o ff\t a\t mo untain\t and\t fallen\t o n\t a\t passing \t jeep,\t killing its\tpassenger.\tThe\tjeep\thad\tfallen\tinto\ta\travine,\tfive\thundred\tfeet\tbelow.\tIt\twas\ttotally\tdestroyed.\tNone of\tthese\tmen\tknew\twho\tthe\tdead\tman\twas. \u2018Fate,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018What\telse\tcan\tyou\tcall\tthis?\tThe\tman\twas\tdestined\tto\tdie,\tor\telse\twhy\tshould just\ta\tsingle\tboulder\tslip\toff\ta\tmountain\tand\tland\ton\this\tjeep?\tSuch\taccidents\tare\textremely\trare.\u2019 \u2018One\tchance\tin\ta\tmillion,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tBose.\tAs\twe\tgot\tback\tinto\tthe\tjeep,\the\tadded,\t\u2018Keep\tan\teye\ton the\t mountains,\t sir.\t One\t can\u2019t\t be\t too\t careful.\u2019\t However,\t the\t scenery\t became\t so\t incredibly\t beautiful soon\tafter\twe\tcrossed\tTista\tthat\tI\tforgot\tall\tabout\tthe\taccident.\tThere\twas\ta\tbrief\tshower\tas\twe\twere passing \t thr o ug h\t Ro ng po .\t As\t we\t climbed\t up\t to \t thr ee\t tho usand\t feet,\t a\t mist\t r o se\t fr o m\t the\t valley\t just below,\tmaking\tus\tshiver\tin\tthe\tcold.\tWe\tstopped\tshortly\tto\tpull\tout\tour\twoollens\tfrom\tour\tsuitcase.\tI saw\tMr\tBose\tdig\tout\ta\tblue\tpullover\tfrom\tan\tAir\tIndia\tbag\tand\tslip\tit\ton. Slowly,\tthrough\tthe\tmist,\tI\tbegan\tto\tnotice\tvague\toutlines\tof\thouses\tamong\tthe\thills.\tMost\thouses appear ed\t to \t be\t Chinese\t in\t style.\t \u2018Her e\t we\t ar e,\u2019\t said\t Mr \t Bo se.\t \u2018It\t to o k\t us\t less\t than\t five\t ho ur s.\t We\u2019r e very\tlucky.\u2019 The\t city\t of\t Gangtok\t lay\t before\t us.\t Our\t jeep\t made\t its\t way\t carefully\t through\t its\t streets,\t past\t a military\tcamp,\tsweet\tlittle\thouses\twith\twooden\tbalconies\tand\tflower-pots,\tgroups\tof\tmen\tand\twomen in\tcolourful\tclothes,\tand\tfinally\tdrew\tup\tbefore\tSnow\tView\tHotel.\tThe\tpeople\tin\tthe\tstreets,\tI\tknew, were\tnot\tfrom\tSikkim\talone.\tMany\tof\tthem\twere\tfrom\tNepal,\tBhutan\tor\tTibet. Mr \t Bo se\t said\t he\t was\t staying \t at\t the\t dak\t bung alo w.\t \u2018I\u2019ll\t make\t my\t o wn\t way\t ther e,\t do n\u2019t\t wo r r y,\u2019\t he said.\t \u2018Thank\t you\t so\t much.\t No\t doubt\t we\t shall\t meet\t again.\t In\t a\t small\t place\t like\t this,\t it\t is\t virtually impossible\tto\tavoid\tbumping\tinto\tone\tanother\tevery\tday.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tsince\twe\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanyone\tin\tGangtok\texcept\tyou,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\twe\u2019d\tfind\tthat\ta\tproblem.\tIf you\tdon\u2019t\tmind,\tI\u2019ll\tvisit\tyour\tdak\tbungalow\tthis\tevening,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018Very\twell.\tI\u2019ll\tlook\tforward\tto\tit.\tGoodbye.\u2019 With\ta\twave\tof\this\thand,\tMr\tBose\tdisappeared\tinto\tthe\tmist.","Two Although\tour\thotel\twas\tcalled\tSnow\tView\tand\tthe\trooms\tat\tthe\trear\twere\tsupposed\tto\tafford\ta\tview o f\t Kanchenjung a,\t we\t didn\u2019t\t manag e\t to \t see\t any\t sno w\t the\t day\t we\t ar r ived,\t fo r \t the\t mist\t didn\u2019t\t clear \t at all.\tThere\tappeared\tto\tbe\tonly\tone\tother\tBengali\tgentleman\tamong\tthe\tother\tguests\tin\tthe\thotel.\tI\tsaw him\tin\tthe\tdining\thall\tat\tlunch\ttime,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tto\tmeet\thim\tuntil\tlater. We\t went\t o ut\t after \t lunch\t and\t fo und\t a\t paan\t sho p.\t Feluda\t always\t had\t a\t paan\t after \t lunch,\t tho ug h\t he admitted\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t expected\t to\t find\t a\t shop\t here\t in\t Gangtok.\t The\t main\t street\t outside\t our\t hotel\t was quite\t lar g e.\t A\t number \t o f\t buses,\t lo r r ies\t and\t statio n\t wag o ns\t sto o d\t in\t the\t middle\t o f\t the\t r o ad.\t On\t bo th sides\t wer e\t sho ps\t o f\t var io us\t kinds.\t It\t was\t o bvio us\t that\t business\t peo ple\t fr o m\t almo st\t ever y\t co r ner \t o f India\thad\tcome\tto\tSikkim.\tIn\tmany\tways\tit\twas\tlike\tDarjeeling,\texcept\tthat\tthe\tnumber\tof\tpeople\tout on\tthe\tstreets\twas\tless,\twhich\thelped\tkeep\tthe\tplace\tboth\tquiet\tand\tclean. Stepping\tout\tof\tthe\tpaan\tshop,\twe\twere\twondering\twhere\tto\tgo\tnext,\twhen\tthe\tfigure\tof\tMr\tBose suddenly\t emer g ed\t fr o m\t the\t mist.\t He\t appear ed\t to \t be\t walking \t hur r iedly\t in\t the\t dir ectio n\t o f\t o ur \t ho tel. Feluda\twaved\tat\thim\tas\the\tcame\tcloser.\tHe\tquickened\this\tpace\tand\tjoined\tus\tin\ta\tfew\tseconds. \u2018Disaster!\u2019\the\texclaimed,\tpanting. \u2018What\thappened?\u2019 \u2018That\taccident\t.\t.\t.\tdo\tyou\tknow\twho\tit\twas?\u2019 I\t felt\t myself\t g o \t r ig id\t with\t appr ehensio n.\t The\t next\t wo r ds\t Mr \t Bo se\t spo ke\t co nfir med\t my\t fear s.\t \u2018It was\tSS,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018my\tpartner.\u2019 \u2018What!\tWhere\twas\the\tgoing?\u2019 \u2018Who\tknows?\tWhat\ta\tterrible\tdisaster,\tMr\tMitter!\u2019 \u2018Did\the\tdie\tinstantly?\u2019 \u2018No.\t He\t was\t alive\t for\t a\t few\t hours\t after\t being\t taken\t to\t a\t hospital.\t There\t were\t multiple\t fractures. Apparently,\the\tasked\tfor\tme.\tHe\tsaid,\t\u201cBose,\tBose\u201d\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes.\tBut\tthat\twas\tall.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\tyou\tfind\tout?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked,\twalking\tback\tto\tthe\thotel.\tWe\twent\tinto\tthe\tdining\thall.\tMr Bose\t sat\t down\t quickly,\t wiping\t his\t face\t with\t a\t handkerchief.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t a\t long\t story,\t actually,\u2019\t he\t replied. \u2018Yo u\t see,\t the\t dr iver \t sur vived.\t What\t happened\t was\t that\t when\t the\t bo ulder \t hit\t the\t jeep,\t the\t dr iver \t lo st control.\tI\tbelieve\tthe\tboulder\titself\twasn\u2019t\tsuch\ta\tlarge\tone,\tbut\tbecause\tthe\tdriver\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhere he\t was\t going,\t the\t jeep\t tilted\t to\t one\t side,\t went\t over\t the\t edge\t and\t fell\t into\t a\t gorge.\t The\t driver, however,\tmanaged\tto\tjump\tout\tin\tthe\tnick\tof\ttime.\tAll\the\tgot\twas\ta\tminor\tcut\tover\tone\teye.\tBut\tby\tthe time\the\tcould\tscramble\tto\this\tfeet,\tthe\tjeep\thad\tdisappeared\twith\tShelvankar\tin\tit.\tThis\thappened\ton the\tNorth\tSikkim\tHighway.\tThe\tdriver\tbegan\twalking\tback\tto\tGangtok.\tOn\this\tway\the\tfound\ta\tgroup of\tNepali\tlabourers\twho\thelped\thim\tto\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\tspot\tand\trescue\tShelvankar.\tLuckily,\tan\tarmy truck\thappened\tto\tbe\tpassing\tby,\tso\tthey\tcould\ttake\thim\tto\ta\thospital\talmost\timmediately.\tBut\t.\t.\t.\twell .\t.\t.\u2019","There\t was\t no\t sign\t of\t the\t jovial\t and\t talkative\t man\t who\t had\t accompanied\t us\t from\t Bagdogra.\t Mr Bose\tseemed\tshaken\tand\tdeeply\tupset. \u2018What\thappened\tto\this\tbody?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tgently. \u2018It\twas\tsent\tto\tBombay.\tThe\tauthorities\there\tgot\tthrough\tto\this\tbrother\tthere.\tSS\thad\tmarried\ttwice, but\t bo th\t his\t wives\t ar e\t dead.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t so n\t fr o m\t his\t fir st\t mar r iag e,\t who \t fo ug ht\t with\t him\t and\t left home\tfourteen\tyears\tago.\tOh,\tthat\u2019s\tanother\tstory.\tSS\tloved\this\tson;\the\ttried\tvery\thard\tto\tcontact\thim, but\the\thad\tvanished\twithout\ta\ttrace.\tSo\this\tbrother\twas\this\tnext\tof\tkin.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tallow\ta\tpost\tmortem. The\tbody\twas\tsent\tto\tBombay\tthe\tnext\tday. \u2018When\tdid\tthis\thappen?\u2019 \u2018On\tthe\tmorning\tof\tthe\televenth.\tHe\thad\tarrived\tin\tGangtok\ton\tthe\tseventh.\tHonestly,\tMr\tMitter,\tI can\thardly\tbelieve\tany\tof\tthis.\tIf\tonly\tI\twas\twith\thim\t.\t.\t.\twe\tmight\thave\tavoided\tsuch\ta\ttragedy.\u2019 \u2018What\tare\tyour\tplans\tnow?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tpoint\tin\tstaying\there\tany\tlonger.\tI\u2019ve\tspoken\tto\ta\ttravel\tagent.\tI\tshould\tbe\table\tto fly\tback\tto\tBombay\ttomorrow.\u2019\tHe\trose.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tworry\tabout\tthis,\tplease,\u2019\the\tadded.\t\u2018You\tare\there\tto have\ta\tgood\ttime,\tso\tI\thope\tyou\tdo.\tI\u2019ll\tsee\tyou\tbefore\tI\tgo.\u2019 Mr\tBose\tleft.\tFeluda\tsat\tquietly,\tstaring\tinto\tspace\tand\tfrowning.\tThen\the\trepeated\tsoftly\tthe\twords Mr\t Bose\t had\t uttered\t this\t morning:\t \u2018One\t chance\t in\t a\t million\t .\t .\t .\t but\t then,\t a\t man\t can\t get\t struck\t by lightning.\tThat\u2019s\tno\tless\tamazing.\u2019 The\t Bengali\t gentleman\t I\t had\t noticed\t earlier\t had\t been\t sitting\t at\t an\t adjacent\t table,\t reading\t a newspaper.\tHe\tfolded\tit\tneatly\tthe\tminute\tMr\tBose\tleft,\tand\tcame\tover\tto\tjoin\tus.\t\u2018Namaskar,\u2019\the\tsaid to\t Feluda,\t taking\t the\t chair\t next\t to\t him.\t \u2018Anything\t can\t happen\t in\t the\t streets\t of\t Sikkim.\t You\t arrived only\tthis\tmorning,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Hm,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\tI\tlooked\tcarefully\tat\tthe\tman.\tHe\tseemed\tto\tbe\tin\this\tmid-thirties.\tHis\teyes\twere partially\thidden\tbehind\ttinted\tglasses.\tJust\tbelow\this\tnose\twas\ta\tsmall,\tsquare\tmoustache,\tthe\tkind\tthat was\tonce\tknown\tas\ta\tbutterfly\tmoustache.\tNot\tmany\tpeople\twore\tit\tnowadays. \u2018Mr\tShelvankar\twas\ta\tmost\tamiable\tman.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tknow\thim?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Not\tintimately,\tno.\tBut\tfrom\twhat\tlittle\tI\tsaw\tof\thim,\the\tseemed\tvery\tfriendly.\tHe\twas\tinterested\tin art.\tHe\tbought\ta\tTibetan\tstatue\tfrom\tme\tonly\ttwo\tdays\tbefore\the\tdied.\u2019 \u2018Was\the\ta\tcollector\tof\tsuch\tthings?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\tfound\thim\tin\tthe\tArt\tEmporium\tone\tday,\tlooking\tat\tvarious\tobjects.\tSo\tI\ttold\thim\tI had\tthis\tstatue.\tHe\tasked\tme\tto\tbring\tit\tto\tthe\tdak\tbungalow.\tWhen\tI\tshowed\tit\tto\thim\tthere,\the\tbought it\t on\t the\t spot.\t But\t then,\t it\t was\t a\t piece\t worth\t having.\t It\t had\t nine\t heads\t and\t thirty-four\t arms.\t My grandfather\thad\tbrought\tit\tfrom\tTibet.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019\tFeluda\tsounded\ta\tlittle\tstiff\tand\tformal.\tBut\tI\tfound\tthis\tman\tquite\tinteresting,\tespecially\tthe smile\t that\t always\t seemed\t to\t hover\t on\t his\t lips.\t Even\t the\t death\t of\t Mr\t Shelvankar\t appeared\t to\t have given\thim\tcause\tfor\tamusement. \u2018My\tname\tis\tNishikanto\tSarkar,\u2019\the\tsaid. Feluda\traised\this\thands\tin\ta\tnamaskar\tbut\tdid\tnot\tintroduce\thimself. \u2018I\tlive\tin\tDarjeeling,\u2019\tMr\tSarkar\tcontinued.\t\u2018We\u2019ve\tlived\tthere\tfor\tthree\tgenerations.\tBut\tyou\u2019d\tfind that\tdifficult\tto\tbelieve,\twouldn\u2019t\tyou?\tI\tmean,\tjust\tlook\tat\tme,\tI\tam\tso\tdark!\u2019","Feluda\t smiled\t politely\t without\t saying\t anything.\t Mr\t Sarkar\t refused\t to\t be\t daunted.\t \u2018I\t know Darjeeling\tand\tKalimpong\tpretty\tthoroughly.\tBut\tthis\tis\tmy\tfirst\tvisit\tto\tSikkim.\tThere\tare\tquite\ta\tfew interesting\tplaces\tnear\tGangtok,\tI\tbelieve.\tHave\tyou\talready\tseen\tthem?\u2019 \u2018No.\tWe\u2019re\ttotally\tnew\tto\tSikkim,\tlike\tyourself.\u2019 \u2018Good,\u2019\t Mr\t Sarkar\t grinned.\t \u2018You\u2019re\t going\t to\t be\t here\t for\t some\t time,\t aren\u2019t\t you?\t We\t could\t go around\ttogether.\tLet\u2019s\tvisit\tPemiangchi\tone\tday.\tI\u2019ve\theard\tit\u2019s\ta\tbeautiful\tarea.\u2019 \u2018Pemiangchi?\tYou\tmean\twhere\tthere\tare\truins\tof\tthe\told\tcapital\tof\tSikkim?\u2019 \u2018Not\t just\t ruins,\t dear\t sir.\t According\t to\t my\t guide\t book,\t there\u2019s\t a\t forest,\t old\t dak\t bungalows\t built during\tBritish\ttimes,\tgumphas,\ta\tfirst\tclass\tview\tof\tKanchenjunga\u2014what\tmore\tdo\tyou\twant?\u2019 \u2018We\u2019d\tcertainly\tlike\tto\tgo,\tif\twe\tget\tthe\tchance,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tand\tstood\tup. \u2018Are\tyou\tgoing\tout?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tjust\tfor\ta\twalk.\tIs\tit\tnecessary\tto\tlock\tup\teach\ttime\twe\tgo\tout?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tyes,\tthat\u2019s\talways\tadvisable\tin\ta\thotel.\tBut\tcases\tof\ttheft\tare\tvery\trare\tin\tthese\tparts.\tThere\tis o nly\t o ne\t pr iso n\t in\t Sikkim,\t and\t that\u2019s\t her e\t in\t Gang to k.\t The\t to tal\t number \t o f\t cr iminals\t held\t in\t ther e would\tbe\tless\tthan\thalf-a-dozen!\u2019 We\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\thotel\tonce\tmore,\tonly\tto\tfind\tthat\tthe\tmist\thadn\u2019t\tyet\tcleared.\tFeluda\tglanced\tidly at\t the\t sho ps\t and\t said,\t \u2018We\t sho uld\t have\t r emember ed\t to \t buy\t stur dy\t bo o ts\t fo r \t o ur selves.\t These\t sho es would\tbe\tno\tgood\tif\tit\trained\tand\tthe\troads\tbecame\tall\tslushy\tand\tslippery.\u2019 \u2018Couldn\u2019t\twe\tbuy\tus\tsome\tboots\there?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t we\t probably\t could.\t I\u2019m\t sure\t Bata\t has\t a\t branch\t in\t Gangtok.\t We\t could\t look\t for\t it\t in\t the evening.\tRight\tnow\tI\tthink\twe\tshould\texplore\tthis\tplace.\u2019 The\troad\tthat\tled\tfrom\tthe\tmarket\tto\tthe\tmain\ttown\twent\tuphill.\tThe\tnumber\tof\tpeople\tand\thouses grew\t considerably\t less\t as\t we\t walked\t up\t this\t road.\t Most\t of\t the\t passers-by\t were\t schoolchildren\t in unifo r m.\t Unlike\t Dar jeeling ,\t no \t o ne\t was\t o n\t ho r seback.\t Jeeps\t r an\t fr equently,\t po ssibly\t because\t o f\t the army\tcamp.\tSixteen\tmiles\tfrom\tGangtok,\tat\ta\theight\tof\t14,000\tfeet,\twas\tNathula.\tIt\twas\there\tthat\tthe Indian\tborder\tended.\tOn\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tNathula,\twithin\tfifty\tyards,\tstood\tthe\tChinese\tarmy. A\t few\t minutes\t later,\t we\t came\t to \t a\t cr o ssing ,\t and\t wer e\t taken\t aback\t by\t a\t sudden\t flash\t o f\t co lo ur.\t A closer\t look\t revealed\t a\t man\u2014possibly\t a\t European\u2014standing\t in\t the\t mist,\t clad\t from\t head\t to\t foot\t in very\t colourful\t clothes:\t yellow\t shoes,\t blue\t jeans,\t a\t bright\t red\t sweater,\t through\t which\t peeped\t green shirt\tcuffs.\tA\tblack\tand\twhite\tscarf\twas\twound\taround\this\tneck.\tHis\twhite\tskin\thad\tstarted\tto\tacquire\ta tan. He\thad\ta\tbeard\twhich\tcovered\tmost\tof\this\tface,\tbut\the\tappeared\tto\tbe\tabout\tthe\tsame\tage\tas\tFeluda \u2014just\tunder\tthirty.\tWho\twas\the?\tCould\the\tbe\ta\thippie? He\tgave\tus\ta\tfriendly\tglance\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Hello.\u2019 \u2018Hello,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. Now\tI\tnoticed\tthat\ta\tleather\tbag\twas\thanging\tfrom\this\tshoulder,\ttogether\twith\ttwo\tcameras,\tone\tof which\t was\t a\t Cano n.\t Feluda,\t to o ,\t had\t a\t Japanese\t camer a\t with\t him.\t Per haps\t the\t hippie\t saw\t it,\t fo r \t he said,\t\u2018Nice\tday\tfor\tcolour.\u2019 Feluda\tlaughed.\t\u2018When\tI\tsaw\tyou\tfrom\ta\tdistance,\tthat\u2019s\texactly\twhat\tI\tthought.\tBut\tyou\tsee,\tcolour film\tin\tIndia\tis\tso\texpensive\tthat\tone\thas\tto\tthink\ttwice\tbefore\tusing\tit\tfreely.\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tI\tknow.\tBut\tI\thave\tsome\tin\tmy\town\tstock.\tLet\tme\tknow\tif\tyou\tneed\tany.\u2019\tI\ttried\tto\twork\tout which\t country\t he\t might\t be\t from.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t sound\t American;\t nor\t did\t he\t have\t a\t British\t or\t French accent. \u2018Are\tyou\there\ton\tholiday?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim. \u2018No,\t not\t really.\t I\u2019m\t here\t to\t take\t photographs.\t I\u2019m\t working\t on\t a\t book\t on\t Sikkim.\t I\t am\t a professional\tphotographer.\u2019 \u2018How\tlong\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tbe\there\tfor?\u2019 \u2018I\tcame\tfive\tdays\tago,\ton\tthe\tninth.\tMy\toriginal\tvisa\twas\tonly\tfor\tthree\tdays.\tI\tmanaged\tto\thave\tit extended.\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tstay\tfor\tanother\tweek.\u2019 \u2018Where\tare\tyou\tstaying?\u2019 \u2018Dak\tbungalow.\tSee\tthis\troad\ton\tthe\tright?\tThe\tdak\tbungalow\tis\ton\tthis\troad,\tonly\ta\tfew\tminutes from\there.\u2019 I\tpricked\tup\tmy\tears.\tMr\tShelvankar\thad\talso\tstayed\tat\tthe\tsame\tplace. \u2018You\tmust\thave\tmet\tthe\tgentleman\twho\tdied\tin\tthat\taccident\trecently\u2014\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan. \u2018Yes,\tthat\twas\tmost\tunfortunate,\u2019\tthe\thippie\tshook\this\thead\tsadly.\t\u2018I\tgot\tto\tknow\thim\tquite\twell.\tHe was\ta\tfine\tman,\tand\u2014\u2019\the\tbroke\toff.\tThen\the\tsaid,\tmore\tor\tless\tto\thimself,\t\u2018Very\tstrange!\u2019\tHe\tlooked faintly\tworried. \u2018What\u2019s\twrong?\u2019\tFeluda\tenquired. \u2018Mr\t Shelvankar\t acquired\t a\t Tibetan\t statue\t from\t a\t Bengali\t gentleman\t here.\t He\t paid\t a\t thousand rupees\tfor\tit.\u2019 \u2018One\tthousand!\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tHe\ttook\tit\tto\tthe\tlocal\tTibetan\tInstitute\tthe\tnext\tday.\tThey\tsaid\tit\twas\ta\trare\tand\tprecious\tpiece of\tart.\tBut\u2014\u2019\tThe\tman\tstopped\tagain\tand\tremained\tsilent\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tFinally,\the\tsighed\tand said,\t\u2018What\tis\tpuzzling\tme\tis\tits\tdisappearance.\tWhere\tdid\tit\tgo?\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\tSurely\this\tbelongings\twere\tall\tsent\tback\tto\tBombay?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\teverything\telse\the\tpossessed\twas\tsent\tto\tBombay.\tBut\tnot\tthat\tstatue.\tHe\tused\tto\tkeep\tit\tin\tthe front\tpocket\tof\this\tjacket.\t\u201cThis\tis\tmy\tmascot,\u201d\the\tused\tto\tsay,\t\u201cit\twill\tbring\tme\tluck!\u201d\tHe\ttook\tit\twith him\tthat\tmorning.\tI\tknow\tthis\tfor\ta\tfact.\tWhen\tthey\tbrought\thim\tto\tthe\thospital,\tI\twas\tthere.\tThey\ttook out\teverything\tfrom\this\tpockets.\tThere\twas\ta\tnotebook,\ta\twallet\tand\this\tbroken\tglasses\tin\ta\tcase.\tBut there\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tthe\tstatue.\tOf\tcourse,\tit\tcould\tbe\tthat\tit\tslipped\tout\tof\this\tpocket\tas\the\tfell\tand\tis probably\tstill\tlying\twhere\the\twas\tfound.\tOr\tmaybe\tone\tof\tthose\tmen\twho\thelped\tlift\thim\tout\tsaw\tit and\tremoved\tit\tfrom\tthe\tspot.\u2019 \u2018But\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\ttold\tpeople\there\tare\tvery\thonest.\u2019 \u2018That\tis\ttrue.\tAnd\tthat\tis\twhy\tI\thave\tmy\tdoubts\u2014\u2019\tthe\tman\tseemed\tlost\tin\tthought. \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhere\tMr\tShelvankar\twas\tgoing\tthat\tday?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tOn\tthe\tway\tto\tSingik\tthere\u2019s\ta\tgumpha.\tThat\tis\twhere\the\twas\tgoing.\tIn\tfact,\tI\twas\tsupposed\tto go\twith\thim.\tBut\tI\tchanged\tmy\tmind\tand\tleft\ta\tlot\tearlier,\tbecause\tit\twas\ta\tbeautiful\tday\tand\tI\twanted to\ttake\tsome\tphotographs\there.\tHe\ttold\tme\the\u2019d\tpick\tme\tup\ton\tthe\tway\tif\the\tsaw\tme.\u2019 \u2018Why\twas\the\tso\tinterested\tin\tthis\tgumpha?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019m\tnot\tsure.\tPerhaps\tDr\tVaidya\twas\tpartly\tresponsible\tfor\tit.\u2019 \u2018Dr\tVaidya?\u2019","This\twas\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tanyone\thad\tmentioned\tDr\tVaidya.\tWho\twas\the? T he\t hippie\t laug hed.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t a\t bit\t awkwar d,\t isn\u2019t\t it,\t to \t chat\t in\t the\t middle\t o f\t the\t r o ad?\t Why\t do n\u2019t\t yo u come\tand\thave\tcoffee\twith\tme\tin\tthe\tdak\tbungalow?\u2019 Feluda\t agreed\t readily.\t He\t was\t obviously\t keen\t to\t get\t as\t much\t information\t as\t possible\t about Shelvankar. We\t beg an\t walking \t up\t the\t r o ad\t o n\t o ur \t r ig ht.\t \u2018Besides,\u2019\t added\t the\t hippie,\t \u2018I\t need\t to \t r est\t my\t fo o t.\t I slipped\tin\tthe\thills\tthe\tother\tday\tand\tsprained\tmy\tankle\tslightly.\tIt\tstarts\taching\tif\tI\tstand\tanywhere\tfor more\tthan\tfive\tminutes.\u2019 The\tmist\thad\tstarted\tto\tclear.\tNow\tit\twas\teasy\tto\tsee\thow\tgreen\tthe\tsurroundings\twere.\tI\tcould\tsee rows\t of\t tall\t pine\t trees\t through\t the\t thinning\t mist.\t The\t dak\t bungalow\t wasn\u2019t\t far.\t It\t was\t rather\t an attr active\t building ,\t no t\t ver y\t o ld.\t Our \t new\t fr iend\t to o k\t us\t to \t his\t r o o m,\t and\t quickly\t r emo ved\t piles\t o f papers\t and\t journals\t from\t two\t chairs\t for\t us\t to\t sit.\t \u2018Sorry,\t I\t haven\u2019t\t yet\t introduced\t myself,\u2019\t he\t said. \u2018My\tname\tis\tHelmut\tUngar.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthat\ta\tGerman\tname?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright,\u2019\tHelmut\treplied\tand\tsat\tdown\ton\this\tbed.\tClearly,\the\tdidn\u2019t\tbelieve\tin\tkeeping\ta tidy\t r o o m.\t His\t clo thes\t (all\t o f\t them\t as\t co lo ur ful\t as\t the\t o nes\t he\t was\t wear ing )\t wer e\t str ewn\t abo ut,\t his suitcases\twere\topen,\tdisplaying\tmore\tbooks\tand\tmagazines\tthan\tclothes,\tand\tspread\ton\ta\ttable\twere loads\t of\t photographs,\t most\t of\t which\t seemed\t to\t have\t been\t taken\t abroad.\t Although\t my\t own knowledge\tof\tphotography\twas\textremely\tlimited,\tI\tcould\ttell\tthese\tphotos\twere\treally\tgood. \u2018I\t am\t Pradosh\t Mitter\t and\t this\t is\t my\t cousin,\t Tapesh,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t not\t revealing\t that\t he\t was\t an amateur\tdetective. \u2018Pleased\t to\t meet\t you\t both.\t Excuse\t me,\u2019\t Helmut\t went\t out\t of\t the\t room,\t possibly\t to\t order\t three coffees.\tThen\the\tcame\tback\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Dr\tVaidya\tis\ta\tvery\tinteresting\tperson,\tthough\the\ttalks\trather\ta lo t.\t He\t stayed\t her e\t in\t this\t dak\t bung alo w\t fo r \t a\t few\t days.\t He\t can\t r ead\t palms,\t make\t pr edictio ns\t abo ut the\tfuture,\tand\teven\tcontact\tthe\tdead.\u2019 \u2018What!\tYou\tmean\the\tcan\tact\tas\ta\tmedium?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsomething\tlike\tthat.\tMr\tShelvankar\twas\tstartled\tby\tsome\tof\tthe\tthings\the\tsaid.\u2019 \u2018Where\tis\the\tnow?\u2019 \u2018He\t left\t for\t Kalimpong.\t He\t was\t supposed\t to\t meet\t some\t Tibetan\t monks\t there.\t But\t he\t said\t he\u2019d return\tto\tGangtok.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\ttell\tMr\tShelvankar?\tDo\tyou\thappen\tto\tknow\tanything\tabout\tit?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t yes.\t They\t spoke\t to\t each\t other\t in\t my\t presence.\t Dr\t Vaidya\t told\t Mr\t Shelvankar\t about\t his business,\tthe\tdeath\tof\this\twives,\tand\tabout\this\tson.\tHe\teven\tsaid\tMr\tShelvankar\thad\tbeen\tunder\ta\tlot of\tstress\tlately.\u2019 \u2018What\tcould\thave\tcaused\tit?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tShelvankar\tsay\tanything\tto\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No.\tBut\tI\tcould\tsense\tsomething\twas\twrong.\tHe\tused\tto\tgrow\tpreoccupied,\tand\tsometimes\tI\theard him\tsigh.\tOne\tday\the\treceived\ta\ttelegram\twhile\twe\twere\thaving\ttea\ton\tthe\tfront\tveranda.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow what\tit\tsaid,\tbut\tit\tupset\thim\ta\tgood\tdeal.\u2019 \u2018Did\tDr\tVaidya\tsay\tthat\tMr\tShelvankar\twould\tdie\tin\tan\taccident?\u2019","\u2018No,\tnot\tin\tso\tmany\twords;\tbut\the\tdid\tsay\tMr\tShelvankar\tmust\tbe\tcareful\tover\tthe\tnext\tfew\tdays. Apparently,\tthere\twas\tsome\tindication\tof\ttrouble\tand\tbad\ttimes.\u2019 The\tcoffee\tarrived.\tWe\tdrank\tit\tin\tsilence.\tEven\tif\tMr\tShelvankar \u2019s\tdeath\thad\tbeen\tcaused\ttruly\tby a\t freak\t accident,\t I\t thought,\t there\t was\t something\t wrong\t somewhere.\t It\t was\t evident\t that\t Feluda\t was thinking\tthe\tsame\tthing,\tfor\the\tkept\tcracking\this\tknuckles.\tHe\tnever\tdid\tthis\tunless\tthere\twas\ta\tnasty suspicion\tin\this\tmind. We\tfinished\tour\tcoffee\tand\trose\tto\ttake\tour\tleave.\tHelmut\twalked\twith\tus\tup\tto\tthe\tmain\tgate. \u2018Thank\tyou\tfor\tthe\tcoffee,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim.\t\u2018If\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tbe\there\tfor\tanother\tweek,\tI\u2019m\tsure we\tshall\tmeet\tagain.\tWe\u2019re\tstaying\tat\tthe\tSnow\tView.\tPlease\tlet\tme\tknow\tif\tDr\tVaidya\treturns.\u2019 In\treply,\tHelmut\tsaid\tjust\tone\tthing:\t\u2018If\tonly\tI\tcould\tfind\tout\twhat\thappened\tto\tthat\tstatue,\tI\u2019d\tfeel\ta lot\thappier.\u2019","Three Although\tthe\tmist\thad\tlifted,\tthe\tsky\twas\tstill\tovercast,\tand\tit\twas\training.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tmind\tthe\train.\tIt\twas only\t a\t faint\t drizzle,\t the\t tiny\t raindrops\t breaking\t up\t into\t a\t thin,\t powdery\t haze.\t One\t didn\u2019t\t need\t an umbrella\tin\train\tlike\tthis;\tit\twas\tvery\trefreshing. We\tfound\ta\tbranch\tof\tBata\tnear\tour\thotel.\tLuckily,\tthey\tdid\thave\tthe\tkind\tof\tboots\twe\twere\tlooking fo r.\t When\t we\t came\t o ut\t clutching \t o ur \t par cels,\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018Since\t we\t do n\u2019t\t yet\t kno w\t o ur \t way\t abo ut this\ttown,\twe\u2019d\tbetter\ttake\ta\ttaxi.\u2019 \u2018Where\tto?\u2019 \u2018The\t Tibetan\t Institute.\t I\u2019ve\t heard\t they\t have\t a\t most\t impressive\t collection\t of\t tankhas,\t ancient manuscripts\tand\tpieces\tof\tTantrik\tart.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tbeginning\tto\tget\tsuspicious?\u2019\tI\tasked,\tthough\tI\twasn\u2019t\tat\tall\tsure\tthat\tFeluda\twould\tgive me\ta\tstraight\tanswer. \u2018Why?\tWhat\tshould\tI\tbe\tgetting\tsuspicious\tabout?\u2019 \u2018That\tMr\tShelvankar \u2019s\tdeath\twasn\u2019t\treally\tcaused\tby\tan\taccident?\u2019 \u2018I\thaven\u2019t\tfound\ta\treason\tyet\tto\tjump\tto\tthat\tconclusion.\u2019 \u2018But\tthat\tstatue\tis\tmissing,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018So\twhat?\tIt\tslipped\tout\tof\this\tpocket,\tand\twas\tstolen\tby\tsomeone.\tThat\u2019s\tall\tthere\tis\tto\tit.\tKilling\tis not\tso\tsimple.\tBesides,\tI\tcannot\tbelieve\tthat\tanyone\twould\tcommit\tmurder\tsimply\tfor\ta\tstatue\tthat\thad been\tbought\tfor\ta\tthousand\trupees.\u2019 I\tsaid\tnothing\tmore,\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\tthinking\tthat\tif\ta\tmystery\tdid\tgrow\tout\tof\tall\tthis,\tit\twould be\trather\tfun. A\trow\tof\tjeeps\tstood\tby\tthe\troadside.\tFeluda\tapproached\tone\tof\tthe\tNepali\tdrivers\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018The Tibetan\tInstitute.\tDo\tyou\tknow\tthe\tway?\u2019 \u2018Yes\tsir,\tI\tdo.\u2019 We\tgot\tinto\tthe\tjeep,\tboth\tchoosing\tto\tsit\tin\tthe\tfront\twith\tthe\tdriver.\tHe\ttook\tout\ta\twoollen\tscarf from\this\tpocket,\twrapped\tit\tround\this\tneck\tand\tturned\tthe\tjeep\taround.\tThen\twe\tset\toff\ton\tthe\tsame road\twhich\thad\tbrought\tus\tinto\ttown.\tOnly\tthis\ttime,\twe\twere\tgoing\tin\tthe\topposite\tdirection. Feluda\tbegan\ttalking\tto\tthe\tdriver. \u2018Have\tyou\theard\tabout\tthe\taccident\tthat\thappened\trecently?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\teveryone\tin\tGangtok\thas.\u2019 \u2018The\tdriver\tof\tthat\tjeep\tsurvived,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t he\u2019s\t very\t lucky.\t Last\t year\t there\t had\t been\t a\t similar\t accident:\t The\t driver\t got\t killed,\t not\t the passenger.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thappen\tto\tknow\tthis\tdriver?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tEveryone\tknows\teveryone\tin\tGangtok.\u2019","\u2018What\tis\the\tdoing\tnow?\u2019 \u2018Driving\tanother\ttaxi.\tSKM\t463.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tnew\ttaxi.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tseen\tthe\taccident\tspot?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tit\u2019s\ton\tthe\tNorth\tSikkim\tHighway.\tThree\tkilometres\tfrom\there.\u2019 \u2018Could\tyou\ttake\tus\tthere\ttomorrow.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsure.\tWhy\tnot?\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen,\tcome\tto\tthe\tSnow\tView\tHotel\tat\t8\ta.m.\tWe\u2019ll\tbe\twaiting\tfor\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell,\tsir.\u2019 A\t road\t rose\t straight\t through\t a\t forest\t to\t stop\t before\t the\t Tibetan\t Institute.\t The\t driver\t told\t us\t that o r chids\t g r ew\t in\t this\t fo r est,\t but\t we\t didn\u2019t\t have\t the\t time\t to \t sto p\t and\t lo o k\t fo r \t them.\t Our \t jeep\t sto pped outside\tthe\tfront\tdoor\tof\tthe\tInstitute.\tIt\twas\ta\tlarge\ttwo-storey\tbuilding\twith\tstrange\tTibetan\tpatterns on\tits\twalls.\tIt\twas\tso\tquiet\tthat\tI\tthought\tperhaps\tthe\tplace\twas\tclosed,\tbut\tthen\twe\tdiscovered\tthat\tthe front\tdoor\twas\topen.\tWe\tstepped\tinto\ta\tbig\thall.\tTankhas\thung\ton\tthe\twalls.\tThe\tfloor\twas\tlined\twith huge\tglass\tcases\tfilled\twith\tobjects\tof\tart. As\twe\tstood\tdebating\twhere\tto\tgo\tnext,\ta\tTibetan\tgentleman,\tclad\tin\ta\tloose\tSikkimese\tdress,\tcame forward\tto\tmeet\tus. \u2018Could\twe\tsee\tthe\tcurator,\tplease?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tpolitely. \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\the\tis\taway\ton\tsick\tleave\ttoday.\tI\tam\this\tassistant.\tHow\tmay\tI\thelp\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Well,\tactually,\tI\tneed\tsome\tinformation\ton\ta\tcertain\tTibetan\tstatue.\tI\tdo\tnot\tknow\twhat\tit\u2019s\tcalled, but\tit\thas\tnine\theads\tand\tthirty-four\tarms.\tCould\tit\tbe\ta\tTibetan\tgod?\u2019 The\t gentleman\t smiled.\t \u2018Yes,\t yes,\t you\t mean\t Yamantak.\t Tibet\t is\t full\t of\t strange\t gods.\t We\t have\t a statue\tof\tYamantak\there.\tCome\twith\tme,\tI\u2019ll\tshow\tit\tto\tyou.\tSomeone\tbrought\ta\tbeautiful\tspecimen\ta few\tdays\tago\u2014it\u2019s\tthe\tbest\tI\u2019ve\tever\tseen\u2014but\tunfortunately,\tthat\tgentleman\tdied.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tdid\the?\u2019\tFeluda\tfeigned\ttotal\tsurprise. We\tfollowed\tthe\tassistant\tcurator\tand\tstopped\tbefore\ta\ttall\tshowcase.\tHe\tbrought\tout\ta\tsmall\tstatue from\tit.\tI\tgasped\tin\thorror.\tGood\theavens,\twas\tthis\ta\tgod\tor\ta\tmonster?\tEach\tof\tits\tnine\tfaces\twore\ta most\tvicious\texpression.\tThe\tassistant\tcurator\tthen\tturned\tit\tin\this\thand\tand\tshowed\tus\ta\tsmall\thole\tat the\tbase\tof\tthe\tstatue.\tIt\twas\tcustomary,\the\tsaid,\tto\troll\ta\tpiece\tof\tpaper\twith\ta\tprayer\twritten\ton\tit\tand insert\tit\tthrough\tthat\tlittle\thole.\tIt\twas\tcalled\tthe\t\u2018sacred\tintestine\u2019! He\tput\tthe\tstatue\tback\tin\tthe\tcase\tand\tturned\tto\tus\tonce\tmore.\t\u2018That\tother\tstatue\tof\tYamantak\tI\twas talking\tabout\twas\tonly\tthree\tinches\tlong.\tBut\tits\tworkmanship\twas\tabsolutely\texquisite.\tIt\twas\tmade of\tgold,\tand\tthe\teyes\twere\ttwo\ttiny\trubies.\tNone\tof\tus\thad\tever\tseen\tanything\tlike\tit\tbefore,\tnot\teven our\t curator.\t And\t he\u2019s\t been\t all\t over\t Tibet,\t met\t the\t Dalai\t Lama\u2014why,\t he\u2019s\t even\t drunk\t tea\t with\t the Dalai\tLama,\tout\tof\ta\thuman\tskull!\u2019 \u2018Would\ta\tstatue\tlike\tthat\tbe\tvaluable?\tI\tmean,\tif\tit\twas\tmade\tof\tgold\u2014?\u2019 The\t assistant\t curator\t smiled\t again.\t \u2018I\t know\t what\t you\t mean.\t This\t man\t bought\t it\t for\t a\t thousand rupees.\tIts\treal\tvalue\tmay\twell\tbe\tin\texcess\tof\tten\tthousand.\u2019 We\t were\t then\t taken\t on\t a\t little\t tour\t down\t the\t hall,\t and\t the\t assistant\t curator\t told\t us\t in\t great\t detail about\tsome\tof\tthe\tother\texhibits.\tFeluda\tlistened\tpolitely,\tbut\tall\tI\tcould\tthink\tof\twas\tMr\tShelvankar \u2019s death.\tSurely\tten\tthousand\trupees\twas\tenough\tto\ttempt\tsomeone\tto\tkill?\tBut\tthen,\tI\ttold\tmyself\tfirmly,","Mr\tShelvankar\thad\tnot\tbeen\tstabbed\tor\tstrangled\tor\tpoisoned.\tHe\thad\tdied\tsimply\tbecause\ta\tfalling rock\thad\thit\this\tjeep.\tIt\thad\tto\tbe\tan\taccident. As\t we\t were\t leaving,\t our\t guide\t suddenly\t laughed\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t wonder\t why\t Yamantak\t has\t created such\ta\tstir.\tSomeone\telse\twas\tasking\tme\tabout\tthis\tstatue.\u2019 \u2018Who?\tThe\tman\twho\tdied?\u2019 \u2018No,\t no,\t someone\t else.\t I\u2019m\t afraid\t I\t cannot\t recall\t his\t name,\t or\t his\t face.\t All\t I\t remember\t are\t the questions\the\tasked.\tYou\tsee,\tI\twas\tvery\tbusy\tthat\tday\twith\ta\tgroup\tof\tAmerican\tvisitors.\tThey\twere our\tChogyal\u2019s\tguests,\tso\t.\t.\t.\u2019 When\twe\tgot\tback\tinto\tthe\tjeep,\tit\twas\tonly\tfive\tto\tfive\tby\tmy\twatch;\tbut\tit\twas\talready\tdark.\tThis surprised\tme\tsince\tI\tknew\tdaylight\tcould\tnot\tfade\tso\tquickly.\tThe\treason\tbecame\tclear\tas\twe\tpassed the\t fo r est\t and\t came\t o ut\t into \t the\t o pen\t ag ain.\t Thick\t black\t clo uds\t had\t g ather ed\t in\t the\t wester n\t sky.\t \u2018It generally\trains\tat\tnight,\u2019\tinformed\tour\tdriver.\t\u2018The\tdays\there\tare\tusually\tdry.\u2019\tWe\tdecided\tto\tgo\tback to\tthe\thotel\tas\tthere\twas\tno\tpoint\tnow\tin\ttrying\tto\tsee\tother\tplaces. Feluda\t did\t not\t utter\t a\t single\t word\t on\t our\t way\t back.\t He\t simply\t stared\t out\t of\t the\t jeep,\t taking\t in everything\t he\t saw.\t If\t we\t went\t up\t this\t road\t again\t on\t a\t different\t day,\t I\t was\t sure\t he\u2019d\t be\t able\t to remember\t the\t names\t of\t all\t the\t shops\t we\t saw.\t Would\t I\t ever\t be\t able\t to\t acquire\t such\t tremendous powers\tof\tobservation,\tand\tan\tequally\tremarkable\tmemory?\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tso. We\tsaw\tMr\tBose\tagain\tas\twe\tgot\tout\tof\tour\tjeep\tin\tfront\tof\tour\thotel.\tHe\tappeared\tto\tbe\treturning from\tthe\tmarket,\tstill\tlooking\tthoughtful.\tHe\tgave\ta\tlittle\tstart\twhen\the\theard\tFeluda\tcall\tout\tto\thim. T hen\t he\t lo o ked\t up,\t saw\t us\t and\t came\t fo r war d\t with\t a\t smile.\t \u2018Ever ything \u2019s\t ar r ang ed.\t I\t am\t leaving \t by the\tmorning\tflight\ttomorrow.\u2019 \u2018Could\tyou\tplease\tmake\ta\tfew\tenquiries\tfor\tme\twhen\tyou\tget\tto\tBombay?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda.\t\u2018You\tsee, Mr\tShelvankar\thad\tbought\ta\tvaluable\tTibetan\tstatue.\tWe\tmust\tfind\tout\tif\tit\twas\tsent\tto\tBombay\twith his\tother\tpersonal\teffects.\u2019 \u2018All\t r ig ht,\t I\t can\t do \t that\t fo r \t yo u.\t But\t wher e\t did\t yo u\t lear n\t this?\u2019\t Feluda\t to ld\t him\t br iefly\t abo ut\t his conversation\twith\tMr\tSarkar\tand\tthe\tGerman\tphotographer.\t\u2018Yes,\tit\twould\thave\tbeen\tperfectly\tnatural for\t him\t to\t have\t kept\t the\t statue\t with\t him.\t He\t had\t a\t passion\t for\t art\t objects,\u2019\t Mr\t Bose\t said.\t Then\t he suddenly\t seemed\t to\t remember\t something,\t and\t the\t expression\t on\t his\t face\t changed.\t He\t looked\t at Feluda\tagain\twith\ta\tmixture\tof\twonder\tand\tamusement. \u2018By\tthe\tway,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018you\tdidn\u2019t\ttell\tme\tyou\twere\ta\tdetective.\u2019 Feluda\tand\tI\tboth\tgave\ta\tstart.\tHow\thad\the\tguessed?\tMr\tBose\tbegan\tlaughing.\tThen\the\tpulled\tout his\t wallet\t and,\t from\t it,\t took\t out\t a\t small\t visiting\t card.\t To\t my\t surprise,\t I\t saw\t that\t it\t was\t one\t of Feluda\u2019s.\tIt\tsaid:\tPradosh\tC.\tMitter,\tPrivate\tInvestigator. \u2018It\t fell\t o ut\t o f\t yo ur \t po cket\t this\t mo r ning \t when\t yo u\t wer e\t paying \t the\t dr iver \t o f\t yo ur \t jeep,\u2019\t Mr \t Bo se told\tus.\t\u2018He\tpicked\tit\tup\tand\tgave\tit\tto\tme,\tthinking\tit\twas\tmine.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tglance\tat\tit\tthen,\tbut\tsaw it\t much\t later.\t Anyway,\t I\u2019m\t going\t to\t keep\t it,\t if\t I\t may.\t And\t here\u2019s\t my\t own\t card.\t If\t there\t is\t any development\there\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean,\tif\tyou\tthink\tI\tought\tto\tbe\there,\tplease\tsend\tme\ta\ttelegram\tin\tBombay. I\u2019ll\t take\t the\t first\t available\t flight\t .\t .\t .\t Well,\t I\t don\u2019t\t suppose\t I\u2019ll\t meet\t you\t tomorrow.\t Goodbye,\t Mr Mitter.\t Have\t a\t good\t time.\u2019\t Mr\t Bose\t raised\t his\t hand\t in\t farewell\t and\t began\t walking\t briskly\t in\t the direction\tof\tthe\tdak\tbungalow.\tIt\thad\tstarted\tto\train.","Feluda\ttook\this\tshoes\toff\tthe\tminute\twe\tgot\tback\tinto\tour\troom\tand\tthrew\thimself\tdown\ton\this\tbed. \u2018Aaaah!\u2019\t he\t said.\t I\t was\t feeling \t tir ed,\t to o .\t Who \t knew\t we\u2019d\t see\t and\t hear \t so \t many\t differ ent\t thing s\t o n our\tvery\tfirst\tday? \u2018Just\t imagine,\u2019\t Feluda\t said,\t staring\t at\t the\t ceiling,\t \u2018what\t do\t you\t suppose\t we\u2019d\t have\t done\t if\t a criminal\thad\tnine\theads?\tNo\tone\tcould\tpossibly\tsneak\tup\tto\thim\tand\tcatch\thim\tfrom\tbehind!\u2019 \u2018And\tthirty-four\tarms?\tWhat\tabout\tthose?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\twe\u2019d\thave\thad\tto\tuse\tseventeen\tpairs\tof\thandcuffs\tto\tarrest\thim!\u2019 It\t was\t r aining \t quite\t har d\t o utside.\t I\t g o t\t up\t and\t switched\t o n\t the\t lig hts.\t Feluda\t str etched\t o ut\t an\t ar m and\tslipped\this\thand\tinto\this\thandbag.\tA\tsecond\tlater,\the\thad\this\tfamous\tblue\tnotebook\topen\tin\tfront o f\t him\t and\t a\t pen\t in\t his\t hand.\t Feluda\t had\t clear ly\t made\t up\t his\t mind\t that\t ther e\t was\t indeed\t a\t myster y somewhere,\tand\thad\tstarted\this\tinvestigation. \u2018Can\tyou\ttell\tme\tquickly\tthe\tname\tof\teach\tnew\tperson\twe\thave\tmet\ttoday?\u2019 I\twasn\u2019t\tprepared\tfor\tsuch\ta\tquestion\tat\tall,\tso\tall\tI\tcould\tdo\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds\twas\tstare\tdumbly\tat Feluda.\tThen\tI\tswallowed\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Today?\tEvery\tnew\tperson?\tDo\tI\thave\tto\tstart\tfrom\tBagdogra?\u2019 \u2018No,\tyou\tidiot.\tJust\tgive\tme\ta\tlist\tof\tpeople\twe\tmet\there\tin\tGangtok.\u2019 \u2018Well\t.\t.\t.\tSasadhar\tDatta.\u2019 \u2018Wrong.\tTry\tagain.\u2019 \u2018Sorry,\tsorry.\tI\tmean\tSasadhar\tBose.\tWe\tmet\thim\tat\tthe\tairport\tin\tBagdogra.\u2019 \u2018Right.\tWhy\tis\the\tin\tGangtok?\u2019 \u2018Something\tto\tdo\twith\taromatic\tplants,\tdidn\u2019t\the\tsay?\u2019 \u2018No,\ta\tvague\tanswer\tlike\tthat\twon\u2019t\tdo.\tTry\tto\tbe\tmore\tspecific.\u2019 \u2018Wait.\t He\t came\t here\t to\t meet\t his\t partner,\t Shivkumar\t Shelvankar.\t They\t have\t a\t chemical\t firm. Among\tother\tthings,\tthey\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018OK,\tOK,\tthat\u2019ll\tdo.\tNext?\u2019 \u2018The\thippie.\u2019 \u2018His\tname?\u2019 \u2018Helmet\u2014\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tHelmet.\tIt\u2019s\tHelmut.\tAnd\this\tsurname?\u2019 \u2018Ungar.\u2019 \u2018What\tbrought\thim\there?\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\ta\tprofessional\tphotographer,\tworking\ton\ta\tbook\ton\tSikkim.\tHe\thad\this\tvisa\textended.\u2019 \u2018Next?\u2019 \u2018Nishikanto\tSarkar.\tLives\tin\tDarjeeling.\tNo\tidea\twhat\the\tdoes\tfor\ta\tliving.\tHe\thad\ta\tTibetan\tstatue which\the\u2014\u2019 I\twas\tinterrupted\tby\ta\tknock\ton\tthe\tdoor.\t\u2018Come\tin!\u2019\tFeluda\tshouted. The\t man\t I\t was\t just\t talking\t about\t walked\t into\t the\t room.\t \u2018I\t hope\t I\u2019m\t not\t disturbing\t you?\u2019\t asked Nishikanto\tSarkar.\t\u2018I\tjust\tthought\tI\u2019d\ttell\tyou\tabout\tthe\tLama\tdance.\u2019 \u2018Lama\tdance?\tWhere?\u2019\tFeluda\toffered\thim\ta\tchair.\tMr\tSarkar\ttook\tit,\tthat\tsame\tstrange\tsmile\tstill hovering\ton\this\tlips. \u2018In\tRumtek,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018just\tten\tmiles\tfrom\there.\tIt\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\ta\tgrand\taffair.\tPeople\tare\tcoming from\tBhutan\tand\tKalimpong.\tThe\tchief\tLama\tof\tRumtek\u2014he\tis\tnumber\tthree\tafter\tthe\tDalai\tLama\u2014","was\tin\tTibet\tall\tthis\twhile.\tHe\thas\tjust\treturned\tto\tRumtek.\tAnd\tthe\tmonastery\tis\tsupposed\tto\tbe\tnew and\tworth\tseeing.\tWould\tyou\tlike\tto\tgo\ttomorrow?\u2019 \u2018Not\tin\tthe\tmorning.\tMaybe\tafter\tlunch?\u2019 \u2018OK.\tOr\tif\tyou\twish\tto\thave\ta\tdarshan\tof\tHis\tHoliness,\twe\tcould\tgo\tthe\tday\tafter\ttomorrow.\tI\tcould get\thold\tof\tthree\twhite\tscarves.\u2019 \u2018Why\tscarves?\u2019\tI\tasked. Mr\tSarkar \u2019s\tsmile\tbroadened.\t\u2018That\tis\ta\tlocal\tcustom.\tIf\tyou\twish\tto\tmeet\ta\thigh\tclass\tTibetan,\tyou have\tto\tpresent\thim\twith\ta\tscarf.\tHe\u2019ll\ttake\tit\tfrom\tyou,\tand\treturn\tit\timmediately.\tThat\u2019s\tall,\tthat\ttakes care\tof\tall\tthe\tformalities.\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\twe\tneed\tbother\tabout\ta\tdarshan,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tjust\tgo\tand\tsee\tthe\tdance.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t wo uld\t actually\t pr efer \t that\t myself.\t The\t so o ner \t we\t can\t g o \t the\t better.\t Yo u\t never \t kno w\t what might\thappen\tto\tthe\troads.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tby\tthe\tway,\tdid\tyou\ttell\tanyone\telse\tapart\tfrom\tShelvankar\tabout\tthat\tstatue?\u2019 Mr\tSarkar \u2019s\treply\tcame\tinstantly,\t\u2018No.\tNot\ta\tsoul.\tWhy\tdo\tyou\task?\u2019 \u2018I\twas\tcurious,\tthat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 \u2018I\t did\t think\t of\t taking\t it\t somewhere\t to\t have\t it\t properly\t valued,\t but\t I\t met\t Mr\t Shelvankar\t before\t I could\tdo\tthat,\tand\the\tbought\tit.\tMind\tyou,\the\tdidn\u2019t\tpay\tme\tat\tonce.\tI\thad\tto\twait\tuntil\tthe\tnext\tday.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\tpay\tyou\tin\tcash?\u2019 \u2018No,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t have\t that\t much\t cash\t on\t him.\t He\t gave\t me\t a\t cheque.\t Look!\u2019\t Mr\t Sarkar\t took\t out\t a folded\tcheque\tfrom\this\twallet\tand\tshowed\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tI\tleant\tover\tand\tsaw\tit,\ttoo.\tIt\twas\ta\tNational and\tGrindlays\tBank\tcheque.\tFeluda\treturned\tit\tto\tMr\tSarkar. \u2018Did\tyou\tnotice\tanything\tsus-suspicious?\u2019\tMr\tSarkar\tasked,\tstill\tsmiling.\tI\trealized\tlater\tthat\the\thad a\ttendency\tto\tstammer\tif\the\twas\tupset\tor\texcited.\t\u2018No,\tno.\u2019\tFeluda\tyawned.\tMr\tSarkar\trose\tto\tgo.\tAt this\t pr ecise\t mo ment,\t ther e\t was\t a\t br ig ht\t flash\t o f\t lig htning ,\t fo llo wed\t almo st\t immediately\t by\t the\t ear - splitting\tnoise\tof\tthunder.\tMr\tSarkar\twent\twhite.\t\u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tstand\tthunder\tand\tlightning,\theh\theh.\tGood night!\u2019\tHe\twent\tout\tquickly. It\tcontinued\tto\train\tthroughout\tthe\tevening.\tEven\twhen\tI\twent\tto\tbed\tafter\tdinner,\tI\tcould\thear\tthe steady\trhythm\tof\tthe\train,\tbroken\toccasionally\tby\tdistant\tthunder.\tDespite\tthat,\tit\tdidn\u2019t\ttake\tme\tlong to\tfall\tasleep. I\twoke\tbriefly\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight\tand\tsaw\ta\tfigure\twalk\tpast\tour\twindow.\tBut\twho\twould\tbe mad\tenough\tto\tgo\tout\ton\ta\tnight\tlike\tthis?\tPerhaps\tI\twasn\u2019t\treally\tawake.\tPerhaps\tthe\tfigure\twearing a\tred\tgarment\tthat\tI\tsaw\tonly\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds\tin\tthe\tflash\tof\tlightning\twas\tno\tmore\tthan\ta\tdream\t.\t.\t. a\tfigment\tof\tmy\timagination.","Four I\twoke\tat\t6.30\ta.m.\tthe\tnext\tmorning,\tto\tfind\tthat\tthe\train\thad\tstopped\tand\tthere\twas\tnot\ta\tsingle\tcloud in\tthe\tsky.\tThe\tsun\tshone\tbrightly\ton\tthe\tworld,\tand\tbehind\tthe\trange\tof\tmountains,\tnow\teasily\tvisible from\tour\troom,\tstood\tKanchenjunga.\tThe\tview\tfrom\there\twas\tdifferent\tfrom\tthat\tin\tDarjeeling,\tbut\tit was\t still\t unmistakably\t the\t same\t Kanchenjung a,\t standing \t apar t\t fr o m\t all\t the\t o ther \t mo untains\u2014pr o ud, majestic\tand\tbeautiful. Feluda\thad\trisen\tbefore\tme\tand\talready\thad\ta\tbath.\t\u2018Be\tquick,\tTopshe.\tWe\thave\tlots\tto\tdo,\u2019\the\tsaid. It\ttook\tme\tless\tthan\thalf\tan\thour\tto\tget\tready.\tBy\tthe\ttime\twe\twent\tdown\tfor\tbreakfast,\tit\twas\tonly\ta little\tafter\t7\ta.m.\tTo\tour\tsurprise,\twe\tfound\tMr\tSarkar\talready\tseated\tin\tthe\tdining\thall. \u2018Good\tmorning.\tSo\tyou\u2019re\tan\tearly\triser,\ttoo,\u2019\tFeluda\tgreeted\thim.\tMr\tSarkar\tsmiled,\tbut\tseemed oddly\tpreoccupied,\teven\tsomewhat\tnervous.\t\u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\tdid\tyou\tsleep\twell?\u2019\twe\tasked. \u2018Not\ttoo\tbadly.\tWhy,\twhat\u2019s\tthe\tmatter?\u2019 Mr\t Sarkar\t glanced\t around\t briefly\t before\t taking\t out\t a\t crumpled\t yellow\t piece\t of\t paper\t from\t his pocket.\tThen\the\thanded\tit\tover\tto\tFeluda\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmake\tof\tthis?\u2019 Feluda\tspread\tit\tout.\tThere\twere\tsome\tstrange\tletters\twritten\twith\tblack\tink.\t\u2018It\tlooks\tlike\ta\tTibetan word.\tWhere\tdid\tyou\tget\tit?\u2019 \u2018Last\tnight\t.\t.\t.\tin\tthe\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean,\td-dead\tof\tnight\t.\t.\t.\tsomeone\tthrew\tit\tinto\tmy\troom.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019\tMy\theart\tgave\ta\tsudden\tlurch.\tMr\tSarkar \u2019s\troom\twas\tnext\tto\tours.\tThe\tsame\tstretch\tof\tthe veranda\t that\t ran\t in\t front\t of\t our\t room\t went\t past\t his.\t If\t the\t man\t I\t saw\t last\t night\t was\t real,\t and\t not something\tout\tof\ta\tdream,\twhy,\the\tmight\thave\u2014!\tBut\tI\tchose\tnot\tto\tsay\tanything. \u2018I\twish\tI\tknew\twhat\tit\tsaid,\u2019\tadded\tMr\tSarkar. \u2018That\tshouldn\u2019t\tbe\ta\tproblem,\tsurely?\tDozens\tof\tpeople\there\tcan\tread\tTibetan.\tYou\tcould\tgo\tto\tthe Tibetan\tInstitute,\tif\tno\tone\telse\twill\thelp\tyou.\tBut\twhy\tare\tyou\tassuming\tthis\tis\tsome\tsort\tof\ta\tthreat? It\t co uld\t simply\t mean\t \u201cMay\t yo u\t live\t lo ng \u201d,\t o r \t \u201cGo d\t be\t with\t yo u\u201d,\t o r \t so mething \t like\t that.\t Is\t ther e\t a specific\treason\tto\tthink\tthis\tis\ta\twarning\tor\ta\tthreat?\u2019 Mr\tSarkar\tgave\ta\tlittle\tstart,\tthen\tsmiled\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018No,\tno,\tcertainly\tnot.\tI\tdo\tnothing\tbut\tmind\tmy own\t business.\t Why\t should\t anyone\t threaten\t me?\t But\t then\t again,\t why\t should\t anyone\t send\t me\t their good\twishes?\tI\tmean,\tpurely\tout\tof\tthe\tblue\tlike\tthis?\u2019 Feluda\t called\t a\t waiter \t and\t o r der ed\t br eakfast.\t \u2018Sto p\t wo r r ying .\t We\u2019r e\t r ig ht\t next\t to \t yo u,\t ar en\u2019t\t we? We\u2019ll\t both\t look\t after\t you.\t Now,\t have\t a\t good\t breakfast,\t relax\t and\t think\t of\t the\t Lama\t dance\t this afternoon.\u2019 Our\tjeep\tarrived\ton\ttime.\tJust\tas\twe\twere\tabout\tto\tget\tinto\tit,\tI\tsaw\tanother\tjeep\tcoming\tfrom\tthe direction\tof\tthe\tdak\tbungalow.\tAs\tit\tcame\tcloser,\tI\tcould\tread\tits\tnumber\tplate.\tSKM\t463,\tit\tsaid.\tWhy did\t it\t seem\t familiar?\t Oh,\t of\t course,\t this\t was\t the\t new\t jeep\t that\t Mr\t Shelvankar \u2019s\t driver\t was\t now driving.\tI\tcaught\ta\tglimpse\tof\tthe\tblue\tjacket\tthe\tdriver\twas\twearing,\tand\tthen,\tto\tmy\tutter\tsurprise,\tI","saw\tMr\tBose\tsitting\tin\tthe\tpassenger \u2019s\tseat.\tHe\tstopped\this\tjeep\tat\tthe\tsight\tof\tours.\t\u2018I\twas\twaiting\tfor info r matio n\t fr o m\t the\t ar my,\u2019\t he\t to ld\t us,\t leaning \t o ut.\t \u2018All\t that\t r ain\t last\t nig ht\t made\t me\t wo nder \t if\t the roads\twere\tall\tright.\u2019 \u2018And\tare\tthey?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthank\tGod.\tIf\tthey\tweren\u2019t,\tI\u2019d\thave\thad\tto\tgo\tvia\tKalimpong.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tMr\tShelvankar\tuse\tthe\tsame\tdriver?\u2019 Mr\tBose\tlaughed.\t\u2018I\tcan\tsee\tyou\u2019ve\tstarted\tmaking\tenquiries\talready.\tBut\tyes,\tyou\u2019re\tright.\tI\tchose him\t deliberately,\t partly\t because\t his\t jeep\t is\t new,\t and\t partly\t because\t .\t .\t .\t lightning\t doesn\u2019t\t strike\t the same\tplace\ttwice,\tdoes\tit?\tAnyway,\tgoodbye\tagain!\u2019 He\tdrove\toff\tand\tsoon\tdisappeared.\tWe\tclimbed\tinto\tour\town\tjeep.\tThe\tdriver\tknew\twhere\the\twas suppo sed\t to \t take\t us,\t so \t we\t wer e\t o ff\t witho ut\t wasting \t ano ther \t minute.\t I\t g lanced\t up\t as\t we\t appr o ached the\tdak\tbungalow\tto\tsee\tif\tI\tcould\tsee\tHelmut,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tsight.\tThere\twas\ta\tslope\tto\tour left,\t leading \t to \t ano ther \t str eet\t lined\t by\t building s.\t One\t o f\t them\t lo o ked\t like\t a\t scho o l\t fo r \t ther e\t was\t an open\tsquare\tground\tin\tfront\tof\tit\twith\ttwo\ttiny\tgoal\tposts.\tA\tlittle\tlater,\twe\treached\ta\tcrossing\twhere four\troads\tmet.\tWe\tdrove\tstraight\tahead\tand\tsoon\tcame\tacross\ta\tlarge\tsign\tthat\tsaid,\t\u2018North\tSikkim Highway\u2019. Feluda\thad\tbeen\thumming\tunder\this\tbreath.\tNow\the\tbroke\toff\tand\tasked\tthe\tdriver,\t\u2018How\tfar\thas this\troad\tgone?\u2019 \u2018Up\tto\tChungtham,\tsir.\tThen\tit\tsplits\tinto\ttwo\u2014one\tgoes\tto\tLachen,\tand\tthe\tother\tto\tLachung.\u2019 I\thad\theard\tof\tboth\tthese\tplaces.\tThey\twere\tboth\tat\ta\theight\tof\tnearly\t9,000\tfeet\tand\treported\tto\tbe very\tbeautiful. \u2018Is\tit\ta\tgood\troad?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tBut\tit\tgets\tdamaged\tsometimes\tafter\theavy\train.\u2019 The\t few\t building s\t that\t co uld\t be\t seen\t by\t the\t r o ad\t so o n\t disappear ed\t alto g ether.\t We\t wer e\t no w\t well o ut\t o f\t the\t to wn,\t making \t o ur \t way\t thr o ug h\t hills.\t Lo o king \t do wn\t at\t the\t valley\t belo w,\t I\t co uld\t o nly\t see maize\t fields.\t It\t seemed\t as\t tho ug h\t so meo ne\t had\t cut\t steps\t in\t the\t hillside\t to \t plant\t the\t maize.\t It\t lo o ked most\tattractive. After\t driving\t in\t silence\t for\t another\t ten\t kilometres,\t our\t driver\t slowed\t down\t suddenly\t and\t said, \u2018Here\u2019s\tthe\tspot.\tThis\tis\twhere\tthe\taccident\ttook\tplace.\u2019\tHe\tparked\tthe\tjeep\ton\tone\tside\tand\twe\tgot\tout. The\tplace\twas\tremarkably\tquiet.\tI\tcould\thear\tnothing\tbut\tthe\tfaint\tchirping\tof\ta\tbird,\tand\tthe\tgurgling of\ta\tsmall\triver\tin\tthe\tfar\tdistance. On\tour\tleft\twas\ta\tslope.\tThe\thill\trose\talmost\tin\ta\tstraight\tline\ton\tour\tright.\tIt\twas\tfrom\tthe\ttop\tof this\t hill\t that\t the\t bo ulder \t had\t fallen.\t Pieces\t o f\t it\t wer e\t still\t str ewn\t abo ut.\t The\t tho ug ht\t o f\t the\t accident suddenly\tmade\tme\tfeel\ta\tlittle\tsick. Feluda,\tin\tthe\tmeantime,\thad\tfinished\ttaking\ta\tfew\tquick\tphotos.\tThen\the\tpassed\this\tcamera\tto\tme and\twalked\tover\tto\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\troad\ton\tthe\tleft.\t\u2018It\tmay\tbe\tpossible\tto\tclimb\tdown\tthis\tslope,\tif\tI go\tvery\tcarefully.\tWait\tfor\tme.\tI\tshouldn\u2019t\ttake\tmore\tthan\tfifteen\tminutes,\u2019\the\tsaid.\tBefore\tI\tcould\tsay or\tdo\tanything\tto\tstop\thim,\the\thad\tstepped\toff\tthe\troad\tand\twas\tclimbing\tdown\tthe\tslope,\tclutching\tat plants,\tbushes\tand\trocks,\twhistling\tnonchalantly.\tBut\tthe\tsound\tof\this\twhistling\tfaded\tgradually,\tand in\t just\t a\t few\t minutes\t there\t was\t silence\t once\t more.\t Unable\t to\t contain\t myself,\t I\t moved\t towards\t the","edg e\t o f\t the\t r o ad\t and\t to o k\t a\t quick\t lo o k.\t What\t I\t saw\t made\t me\t g ive\t an\t invo luntar y\t g asp.\t I\t co uld\t see Feluda,\tbut\the\thad\tclimbed\tsuch\ta\tdistance\talready\tthat\this\tfigure\tlooked\tlike\tthat\tof\ta\ttiny\tdoll. \u2018Yes,\the\u2019s\tfound\tthe\tright\tspot,\u2019\tsaid\tthe\tdriver,\tjoining\tme.\t\u2018That\u2019s\twhere\tthe\tjeep\thad\tfallen.\u2019 Exactly\t fifteen\t minutes\t later,\t I\t heard\t Feluda\t climbing\t up,\t once\t again\t clutching\t and\t grasping whatever \t he\t co uld\t lay\t his\t hands\t o n.\t When\t he\t came\t clo ser,\t I\t str etched\t an\t ar m\t and\t helped\t him\t heave himself\tup\ton\tthe\troad. \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tfind,\tFeluda?\u2019 \u2018Just\tsome\tnuts\tand\tbolts\tand\tbroken\tparts\tof\ta\tvehicle.\tNo\tYamantak.\u2019 This\t did\t not\t surprise\t me.\t \u2018Did\t you\t find\t nothing\t else?\u2019\t I\t asked.\t In\t reply,\t Feluda\t took\t out\t a\t small o bject\t fr o m\t his\t po cket.\t It\t was\t a\t white\t shir t\t butto n,\t po ssibly\t made\t o f\t plastic.\t Feluda\t put\t it\t away,\t and made\t his\t way\t to \t the\t hill\t that\t r o se\t hig h\t o n\t the\t o ther \t side\t o f\t the\t r o ad.\t I\t hear d\t him\t mutter \t \u2018r o cks\t and boulders,\trocks\tand\tboulders\u2019\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes.\tThen\the\traised\this\tvoice\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Felu\tMitter\tmust now\tturn\tinto\tTenzing.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\tWhy\tTenzing?\tHey\tFeluda,\twait\tfor\tme!\u2019\tThis\ttime,\tI\twas\tdetermined\tnot\tto be\t left\t behind.\t The\t hill\t that\t had\t looked\t pretty\t daunting\t at\t first\t turned\t out\t to\t have\t little\t clefts\t and hollows\tone\tcould\tuse\tas\tfootholds.\t\u2018All\tright,\tyou\tgo\tbefore\tme,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\tI\tknew\the\twanted\tto be\tright\tbehind\tme\tso\tthat\the\tcould\treach\tout\tand\tcatch\tme\tif\tI\tslipped\tand\tfell.\tLuckily,\tthat\tdid\tnot happen.\tA\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\tI\theard\tFeluda\tsay,\t\u2018Stop!\u2019\tWe\thad\treached\ta\tplace\tthat\twas\talmost\tflat.\tI decided\t to\t sit\t on\t a\t small\t rock\t and\t rest\t for\t a\t while.\t Feluda\t began\t pacing,\t examining\t the\t ground carefully.\t I\t paid\t no\t attention\t until\t he\t stopped\t and\t said,\t \u2018Hm.\t This\t is\t where\t that\t boulder\t must\t have slipped\tfrom.\tLook\tat\tthose\tbushes\tover\tthere\u2014and\tthat\tsmall\tfern\u2014see\thow\tthey\u2019ve\tbeen\tcrushed?\u2019 \u2018How\tbig\tdo\tyou\tthink\tit\twas?\u2019 \u2018You\tsaw\tthe\tpieces,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\tIt\tneed\tnot\thave\tbeen\tvery\tbig.\tA\trock\tthe\tsize\tof\ta\tdhobi\u2019s\tbundle would\tbe\tenough\tto\tkill,\tif\tit\tfell\tfrom\tsuch\ta\theight.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t It\u2019s\t a\t matter \t o f\t mo mentum,\t yo u\t see.\t Mass\t into \t velo city.\t If\t yo u\t sto o d\t at\t the\t bo tto m\t o f\t Qutab Minar\t and\t someone\t threw\t a\t pebble\t aimed\t at\t your\t head\t from\t its\t top,\t you\t might\t end\t up\t with\t a fractured\tskull.\tHaven\u2019t\tyou\tnoticed\twhen\tyou\tplay\tcricket\tthat\tthe\thigher\tthe\tcricket\tball\tis\tthrown\tin the\tair,\tthe\tmore\tdifficult\tand\tpainful\tit\tis\tfor\ta\tfielder\tto\tcatch\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tsee\twhat\tyou\tmean.\u2019 Feluda\t tur ned\t and\t star ted\t to \t star e\t at\t a\t cer tain\t spo t\t that\t lo o ked\t mo r e\t bar r en\t than\t its\t sur r o unding s. There\twere\tgrassy\tpatches\teverywhere\telse. \u2018Topshe,\t do\t you\t want\t to\t find\t out\t how\t that\t stone\t slipped\t out?\t Come\t and\t have\t a\t look.\u2019\t Feluda po inted\t at\t so mething \t in\t that\t bar r en\t po r tio n\t o f\t the\t hill.\t I\t g o t\t up\t and\t peer ed.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t small\t ho le. What\tcould\tit\tmean? \u2018As\t far\t as\t I\t can\t see,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t slowly,\t \u2018yes,\t I\t am\t almost\t a\t hundred\t per\t cent\t sure\t about\t this\u2014 someone\t forced\t the\t rock\t out\t of\t the\t ground,\t using\t either\t a\t strong\t iron\t rod,\t or\t something\t like\t that. Otherwise\tthere\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tan\tempty\tspace\there.\tWhich\tmeans\u2014\u2019 I\tknew\twhat\this\tnext\twords\twere\tgoing\tto\tbe.\tBut\tI\theld\tmy\tbreath\tand\tlet\thim\tfinish. \u2018\u2014Which\t means\t the\t accident\t that\t took\t Mr\t Shelvankar \u2019s\t life\t was\t caused\t by\t man,\t not\t nature. Someone\tkilled\thim\t.\t.\t.\tsomeone\tincredibly\tcruel,\tand\tclever.\u2019","Five When\twe\treturned\tto\tthe\thotel\tfrom\tthe\tplace\tof\tthe\tmurder\t(I\tam\tnot\tgoing\tto\tcall\tit\tan\taccident\tany more),\tFeluda\ttold\tme\tto\twait\tin\tthe\thotel.\tHe\thad\tto\tgo\tout\ton\tsome\twork.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\task\thim\tfor\tdetails for\tI\tknew\the\twouldn\u2019t\ttell\tme. On\t our\t way\t back,\t we\t had\t met\t Helmut\t near\t the\t big\t crossing.\t When\t he\t heard\t we\t were\t going\t to Rumtek\tlater\tin\tthe\tafternoon,\the\tsaid\the\u2019d\tlike\tto\tjoin\tus.\tNobody\thad\ttold\thim\tabout\tthe\tLama\tdance. I\twondered\twhere\tMr\tSarkar\twas.\tHad\the\tmanaged\tto\tfind\tout\twhat\tthat\tTibetan\tword\tmeant? I\t found\t him\t in\t the\t dining\t hall,\t looking\t morose\t and\t depressed.\t However,\t my\t arrival\t seemed\t to cheer\thim\tup.\t\u2018Where\u2019s\tyour\tcousin?\u2019\the\tasked\twith\this\tusual\tsmile. \u2018He\u2019s\tgone\tout\tfor\ta\twhile.\tHe\tshould\tbe\tback\tsoon.\u2019 \u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\the\u2019s\tvery\tstrong,\tisn\u2019t\the?\u2019 I\t looked\t up\t in\t surprise\t at\t this\t question,\t but\t Mr\t Sarkar\t continued,\t \u2018You\t see,\t I\t am\t staying\t on\t in Gangtok\t only\t because\t he\t said\t he\u2019d\t help\t me,\t if\t need\t be.\t Or\t else\t I\u2019d\t have\t gone\t back\t to\t Darjeeling today.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 Mr\tSarkar\tbegan\tlooking\tnervous\tagain.\tThen\the\tslowly\ttook\tout\tthe\tsame\tyellow\tpaper\tfrom\this pocket.\t\u2018I\u2019ve\tne-never\tdone\tanyone\tany\tharm.\tWhy\tshould\tanyone\ttry\tto\tthreaten\tme?\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tfind\tout\twhat\tthat\tword\tmeans?\u2019 \u2018Ye-es.\tI\ttook\tit\tto\tthe\tTibetan\tInstitute.\tAnd\tthey\tsaid\t.\t.\t.\tthey\tsaid\tit\tmeans\t\u201cdeath\u201d.\tGiangphung,\tor something\t like\t that.\t The\t Tibetan\t word\t for\t death.\t It\u2019s\t got\t me\t really\t worried.\t I\t am\t thirty-seven\t now, you\t see,\t and\t once\t an\t astrologer\t had\t told\t me\t my\t stars\t were\t all\t going\t to\t fall\t into\t unfavourable positions\tafter\tI\tturned\tthirty-seven\t.\t.\t.\u2019 T his\t ir r itated\t me\t so mewhat.\t \u2018I\t think\t yo u\t ar e\t jumping \t to \t co nclusio ns,\u2019\t I\t said\t a\t little\t ster nly.\t \u2018All\t it says\tis\t\u201cdeath\u201d.\tDoes\tit\tsay\tyou\thave\tto\tdie?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t yes,\t you\u2019re\t right.\t It\t could\t be\t anybody\u2019s\t death,\t couldn\u2019t\t it?\t Even\t so\t .\t .\t .\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t I thought\tof\tthe\tfigure\tin\tred\tI\thad\tseen\tlast\tnight.\tBut\tobviously\tit\twas\tbetter\tnot\tto\tmention\tit\tto\tMr Sarkar.\t He\t was\t upset\t enough\t as\t it\t was.\t After\t a\t few\t moments\t of\t silence,\t he\t seemed\t to\t pull\t himself together\twith\tan\teffort.\t\u2018I\tmustn\u2019t\tbrood,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Your\tcousin\u2019s\tthere\tto\thelp\tme.\tThe\tvery\tsight\tof him\tinspires\tconfidence.\tIs\the\ta\tsportsman?\u2019 \u2018He\tused\tto\tplay\tcricket.\tNow\the\tdoes\tyoga.\u2019 \u2018I\tknew\tit!\tOne\tdoesn\u2019t\toften\tget\tto\tsee\ta\tman\tlooking\tso\tfit.\tAnyway,\twould\tyou\tlike\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019 I\twas\tfeeling\tquite\ttired\tafter\tall\tthat\tclimbing.\tSo\tI\tsaid\tyes,\tand\tMr\tSarkar\tordered\ttea\tfor\tboth\tof us.\t Feluda\t ar r ived\t just\t as\t the\t waiter \t placed\t two \t steaming \t cups\t befo r e\t us.\t Mr \t Sar kar \t to ld\t him\t o f\t his problem\tat\tonce.\tFeluda\tlooked\tat\tthe\tTibetan\tword\tagain\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Can\tyou\tfigure\tout\twhy\tanyone should\twant\tto\tdo\tthis\tto\tyou?\u2019","\u2018No,\tsir.\tI\u2019ve\tthought\ta\tgreat\tdeal,\tbut\tI\tcan\u2019t\tthink\tof\ta\treason\tat\tall.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tIf\tyou\u2019re\tsure\tthere\u2019s\tno\tone\tto\tbear\tyou\ta\tgrudge,\tthen\tthere\u2019s\tnothing\tto\tbe\tworried about.\t I\t am\t sure\t that\t was\t dropped\t into\t your\t room\t by\t mistake.\t What\t is\t the\t point\t in\t threatening someone\tin\ta\tlanguage\the\tdoesn\u2019t\tknow?\tThat\twarning\tmust\thave\tbeen\tmeant\tfor\tsomeone\twho\tcan read\tTibetan.\tYou\twere\tnot\tthe\treal\ttarget.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\tmakes\ta\tlot\tof\tsense.\tBesides,\tI\tcan\trely\ton\tyou,\tcan\u2019t\tI,\tif\tthere\u2019s\tany\ttrouble?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t but\t perhaps\t there\u2019s\t something\t I\t should\t tell\t you\t here\t and\t now.\t Trouble\t follows\t me\t around wherever\tI\tgo.\u2019 \u2018R-really?\u2019 Feluda\twent\tup\tto\tour\troom\twithout\tanother\tword.\tI\tknew\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tstand\tpeople\twho\twere\tgiven to\tfrequent\tattacks\tof\tnerves.\tIf\tMr\tSarkar\twanted\this\tsupport,\the\u2019d\thave\tto\tstop\twhining\tall\tthe\ttime. When\t I\t returned\t to\t our\t room\t after\t finishing\t my\t tea,\t Feluda\t was\t writing\t something\t in\t his\t blue notebook.\t\u2018I\tknew\tmost\tpeople\tin\ttelegraph\toffices\twere\tilliterate,\tbut\tthis\tis\ttoo\tmuch!\u2019\the\texclaimed upon\tseeing\tme. \u2018Why,\twhat\thappened?\u2019 \u2018I\tsent\ta\ttelegram\tto\tMr\tBose.\tHe\twill\tget\tit\tas\tsoon\tas\the\treaches\tBombay. \u2018What\tdid\tyou\ttell\thim?\u2019 \u2018Have\treason\tto\tsuspect\tShelvankar \u2019s\tdeath\tnot\taccidental.\tAm\tinvestigating.\u2019 \u2018But\twhy\tare\tyou\tso\tcross\twith\tthe\ttelegraph\toffice?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tanother\tmatter.\tYou\tsee,\tI\twent\tto\tfind\tout\tif\tShelvankar\thad\treceived\tany\ttelegrams\twhile he\t was\t her e.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t easy\t to \t g et\t this\t info r matio n,\t o f\t co ur se,\t but\t in\t the\t end\t they\t to ld\t me\t ther e\t had been\ttwo.\tOne\twas\tfrom\tMr\tBose,\tsaying,\t\u201cAm\tarriving\tfourteenth.\u201d\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tother?\u2019 \u2018Here,\tread\tthis,\u2019\tFeluda\toffered\tme\this\tnotebook.\tI\tsaw\twhat\twas\twritten\tin\tit:\tYOUR\tSON\tMAY\tBE\tIS A\tSICK\tM ON STER.\tP RITEX. I\tstared.\tWhat\ton\tearth\tdid\tit\tmean?\tWere\twe\tnow\tgoing\tto\tdeal\twith\tdemons\tand\tmonsters? \u2018Some\twords\thave\tclearly\tbeen\tmisspelt.\tBut\twhat\tcould\tthey\tbe?\u2019\tFeluda\tmuttered. \u2018What\tis\tPritex?\u2019 \u2018That\tprobably\trefers\tto\ta\tprivate\tdetective\tagency.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tShelvankar\thad\tappointed\ta\tdetective\tto\ttrace\this\tson?\u2019 \u2018Quite\tpossibly.\tBut\t\u201csick\tmonster\u201d?\tDear\tGod!\u2019 \u2018This\tis\tgetting\tincreasingly\tcomplicated,\tFeluda.\tHow\tmany\tmysteries\twill\tyou\tsolve\tall\tat\tonce?\u2019 \u2018I\twas\tthinking\tthe\tsame\tthing.\tThere\tis\tno\tend\tto\tthe\tquestions.\tIn\tfact,\tit\tmight\tnot\tbe\ta\tbad\tidea\tto write\tthem\tdown.\u2019\tHe\tbent\tover\this\tnotebook,\tpen\tin\thand. \u2018Go\tahead,\u2019\the\tinvited. \u2018Number\tone\u2014sick\tmonster.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tNext?\u2019 \u2018Who\tthrew\tthat\tboulder?\u2019 \u2018Good.\u2019 \u2018Number\tthree\u2014where\tdid\tthat\tstatue\tdisappear?\u2019 \u2018Carry\ton.\tYou\u2019re\tdoing\tquite\twell.\u2019","\u2018Number\tfour\u2014who\tthrew\tthat\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tinto\tMr\tSarkar \u2019s\troom?\u2019 \u2018And\twhy?\tAll\tright,\tnext?\u2019 \u2018Number\tfive\u2014whose\tshirt\tbutton\tdid\tyou\tfind\tat\tthe\tsite\tof\tthe\tmurder?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\talthough\tthat\tmight\twell\thave\tdropped\tfrom\tthe\tshirt\tof\tthe\tmurder\tvictim.\u2019 \u2018Number\tsix\u2014who,\tapart\tfrom\tourselves,\twent\tto\tthe\tTibetan\tInstitute\tto\task\tabout\tYamantak?\u2019 \u2018Splendid.\t If\t you\t keep\t going\t like\t this,\t in\t about\t ten\t years\t you\u2019ll\t become\t a\t full-fledged\t detective yourself!\u2019 I\tknew\tFeluda\twas\tjoking,\tbut\tI\tfelt\tquite\tpleased\tto\tthink\tI\thad\tpassed\tthe\ttest. \u2018There\tis\tonly\tone\tperson\twe\thaven\u2019t\tyet\tmet\tand\tI\tfeel\twe\tought\tto.\u2019 \u2018Who\tis\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Dr \t Vaidya.\t If\t he\t can\t make\t pr edictio ns\t fo r \t the\t futur e,\t speak\t to \t depar ted\t so uls,\t and\t per fo r m\t o ther tricks,\the\u2019s\tgot\tto\tbe\tan\tinteresting\tman.\u2019","Six We\tleft\tfor\tRumtek\tas\tplanned,\ttaking\tthe\troad\tto\tSiliguri.\tThe\tsame\troad\tturned\tright\tto\tjoin\ta\tnew r o ad\t that\t went\t str aig ht\t up\t to \t Rumtek.\t Bo th\t r o ads\t passed\t thr o ug h\t pictur esque\t villag es\t and\t g r een\t and gold\tmaize\tfields.\tI\tfound\tthe\tride\tthoroughly\tenjoyable,\tdespite\tthe\tfact\tthat\tthe\tsun\thad\tdisappeared and\tthe\tsky\thad\tstarted\tto\tturn\tgrey. Our\t driver\t was\t driving\t very\t cautiously.\t Feluda\t and\t I\t sat\t with\t him\t in\t the\t front.\t Helmut\t and\t Mr Sar kar \t sat\t at\t the\t back,\t facing \t each\t o ther.\t Helmut\u2019s\t fo o t,\t he\t said,\t was\t no w\t a\t lo t\t better.\t The\t pain\t had gone,\t thanks\t to\t a\t German\t pain\t balm\t he\t had\t used.\t Mr\t Sarkar\t seemed\t much\t more\t cheerful.\t I\t Could hear\thim\thumming\ta\tHindi\tsong.\tOnly\tFeluda\twas\ttotally\tsilent\tand\twithdrawn.\tI\tknew\the\twas\ttrying very\thard\tto\tfind\tanswers\tto\tthose\tsix\tquestions.\tIf\twe\thadn\u2019t\talready\tplanned\tthis\ttrip,\the\twould\thave spent\tthe\tafternoon\tscribbling\tin\this\tnotebook. Our\tjeep\tturned\tright,\tbringing\tinto\tview\tnew\thouses\tand\tbuildings,\tand\trows\tof\twhat\tlooked\tlike bunting.\tI\tlearnt\tlater\tthat\tTibetans\thung\tsquare\tpieces\tof\tcloth\tfrom\tropes\toutside\ttheir\thouses\tin\tthe belief\tthat\tthey\tward\toff\tevil\tspirits. A\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\ta\tfaint\tnoise\tthat\thad\talready\treached\tmy\tears\tgrew\tlouder.\tIt\twas\ta\tmixture\tof the\tdeep\tand\tsombre\tsound\tof\ta\thorn,\tclanking\tof\tcymbals\tand\ta\tshrill\tnote\tfrom\ta\tflute.\tThis\tmust\tbe the\tmusic\tfor\tthe\tLama\tdance,\tI\tthought,\tas\tour\tjeep\tpulled\tup\toutside\tthe\thuge\tgate\tof\tthe\tmonastery. \u2018The\tLamas\tare\tdan-dancing,\u2019\tinformed\tMr\tSarkar,\tpossibly\tfor\tHelmut\u2019s\tbenefit.\tAll\tof\tus\tclimbed out. Passing\tthrough\tthe\tgate,\twe\tfound\tourselves\tin\ta\tlarge\topen\tcourtyard.\tA\tbeautiful\tblue\tand\twhite embr o ider ed\t shamiana\t sto o d\t o ver \t it.\t The\t audience\t sat\t under \t the\t shamiana.\t Abo ut\t ten\t men,\t wear ing bright\t costumes\t and\t rather\t grotesque\t masks,\t were\t dancing\t before\t this\t audience,\t jumping\t and swaying\tto\tthe\tmusic.\tThe\tmusicians\twere\tall\tdressed\tin\tred.\tSmall\tboys\u2014barely\tten\tyears\told\u2014were blowing\tthe\thorns,\teach\tone\tof\twhich\twas\tseveral\tfeet\tlong.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tanything\tlike\tit. Helmut\tstarted\ttaking\tphotos.\tHe\twas\tcarrying\tthree\tcameras\ttoday. \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tto\tsit\tdown?\u2019\tasked\tMr\tSarkar. \u2018What\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tdo?\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. \u2018I\thave\tseen\tthis\tkind\tof\tthing\tbefore,\tin\tKalimpong.\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\thave\ta\tlook\tat\tthe\ttemple\tbehind this\tcourtyard.\tIts\tinside\twalls\tare\tsupposed\tto\tbe\tbeautifully\tcarved.\u2019 Mr\tSarkar\tleft.\tFeluda\tand\tI\tsat\tdown\ton\tthe\tfloor.\t\u2018Tradition\tis\ta\tstrange\tthing,\u2019\tremarked\tFeluda. \u2018A\ttraditional\tdance\tlike\tthis\tcan\tmake\tyou\tforget\tyou\u2019re\tliving\tin\tthe\ttwentieth\tcentury.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink this\tform\tof\tdance\thas\tchanged\tat\tall\tin\tthe\tlast\tthousand\tyears.\u2019 \u2018Why\tis\tthis\tplace\tcalled\ta\tgumpha?\u2019 \u2018No,\t this\t isn\u2019t\t a\t gumpha.\t A\t gumpha\t is\t a\t cave.\t This\t is\t a\t monastery.\t See\t those\t little\t rooms\t on\t the other\tside?\tThat\u2019s\twhere\tthe\tmonks\tstay.\tAll\tthese\tlittle\tboys\twith\tshaved\theads,\twearing\tlong\tTibetan","robes\tare\tbeing\ttrained\tto\tbecome\tmonks.\tIn\ta\tmonas\u2014\u2019\tFeluda\tbroke\toff.\tI\tlooked\tat\thim\tquickly\tto find\thim\tfrowning,\this\tmouth\thanging\topen.\tNow\twhat\twas\tthe\tmatter?\tWhat\thad\the\tsuddenly\tthought of?\t \u2018It\u2019s\t this\t mountain\t air,\u2019\t he\t said\t finally,\t shaking\t his\t head.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t affecting\t my\t brain.\t I\u2019ve\t stopped thinking.\tWhy\tdid\tit\ttake\tme\tso\tlong\tto\twork\tout\twhat\tthat\ttelegram\tmeant?\tIt\u2019s\tso\tsimple!\u2019 \u2018How\tis\tit\tsimple?\tI\tstill\tcan\u2019t\u2014\u2019 \u2018Look,\tit\tsaid\t\u201csick\u201d.\tThat\tmeans\tSikkim.\tAnd\t\u201cmonster\u201d\tis\tmonastery.\u2019 \u2018Hey,\tthat\tmakes\tsense!\tWhat\tdoes\tthe\twhole\tthing\tsay?\u2019 \u2018YOU R\tSON \tMAY\tBE\tIS\tA\tSICK\tMON STER.\tIf\tyo u\tr ead\t\u201cIN \u201d\tfo r \t\u201cIS\u201d,\tit\tsays\tYOU R\tSON \tMAY\tBE\tIN \tA\t SIKKIM M ON ASTERY.\u2019 \u2018Does\tthat\tmean\tMr\tShelvankar \u2019s\tson,\twho\tleft\thome\tfifteen\tyears\tago,\tis\there\tright\tnow?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\twhat\tPritex\tsaid.\tIf\tShelvankar\thad\tmanaged\tto\tfigure\tout\tthe\tmeaning\tof\tthis\ttelegram,\the might\twell\thave\tstarted\tto\tfeel\thopeful.\tFrom\twhat\tI\u2019ve\theard,\the\tloved\this\tson\tand\twanted\thim\tback.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tthat\tgumpha\tthe\tday\the\tdied\tonly\tto\tlook\tfor\this\tson.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tentirely\tpossible.\tAnd\tif\this\tson\twas\treally\tsomewhere\tin\tSikkim,\tthe\tchances\tof\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tFeluda broke\toff\tagain.\tThen\tI\theard\thim\tmutter\tunder\this\tbreath,\t\u2018Will\t.\t.\t.\twill\t.\t.\t.\tif\tShelvankar\tmade\ta\twill leaving\teverything\tto\this\tson,\the\tstood\tto\tgain\ta\tlot.\u2019\tFeluda\trose\tand\tmade\this\tway\tout\tof\tthe\tcrowd.\tI followed\t quickly.\t He\t was\t obviously\t feeling\t restless,\t having\t just\t discovered\t what\t the\t telegram\t had really\tmeant.\tI\tsaw\thim\tlook\taround.\tWas\the\tlooking\tfor\tan\tIndian\tamong\tthe\tTibetans? We\tbegan\twalking\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tthe\ttemple,\twhere\tMr\tSarkar\thad\tdisappeared\ta\tfew\tminutes ago.\tThere\twere\tfewer\tpeople\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tcourtyard.\tAs\twe\tpassed\tthe\trooms\tin\twhich\tthe monks\t lived,\t we\t saw\t a\t couple\t of\t very\t old\t monks\t sitting\t outside\t in\t the\t corridor,\t turning\t a\t prayer wheel\t silently,\t their\t eyes\t closed.\t If\t their\t heavily\t wrinkled\t faces\t were\t anything\t to\t go\t by,\t they\t must have\tbeen\ta\thundred\tyears\told. Behind\tthe\trooms\twas\ta\tlong\tveranda.\tIts\twalls\twere\tcovered\twith\tpictures\tdepicting\tscenes\tfrom the\tBuddha\u2019s\tlife.\tThe\tveranda\tled\tto\ta\tdark\thall.\tInside\tit,\tflickering\toil\tlamps\tstood\tin\trows.\tA\thuge wooden\t door,\t painted\t red,\t had\t been\t thrown\t open,\t but\t there\t was\t no\t one\t at\t the\t door.\t Feluda\t and\t I stepped\tin\tquietly. The\t dark,\t damp\t hall\t was\t filled\t with\t a\t strange\t scent\t of\t incense.\t Incredibly\t long\t lengths\t of\t bright silk,\theavily\tembroidered,\thung\tfrom\tthe\thigh\tceiling.\tBenches,\tdraped\tin\tcolourful\tfabrics,\tstood\tin corners,\t as\t did\t what\t looked\t like\t very\t large\t drums.\t These\t were\t supported\t by\t bamboo\t rods.\t Behind these,\tin\tthe\tdarkest\tcorner\tof\tthe\thall,\twere\ta\tnumber\tof\ttall\tstatues,\tchiefly\tof\tthe\tBuddha.\tFlowers had\tbeen\tarranged\tin\ta\tnumber\tof\tvases,\tand\tthe\toil\tlamps\tI\thad\tseen\tfrom\toutside\twere\tplaced\tunder the\tstatues. I\t was\t totally\t engrossed\t in\t looking\t at\t these\t things\t when\t suddenly\t Feluda\t placed\t a\t hand\t on\t my shoulder.\tI\tlooked\tup\tswiftly\tand\tfound\thim\tstaring\tat\ta\tside\tentrance\tto\tthe\thall.\tA\tmuch\tsmaller\tdoor on\tone\tside\twas\topen. \u2018Let\u2019s\t g et\t o ut\t o f\t her e,\u2019\t he\t said,\t speaking \t thr o ug h\t clenched\t teeth,\t and\t star ted\t to \t mo ve\t to war ds\t the door. We\temerged\tfrom\tthe\thall\tto\tfind\ta\tflight\tof\tstairs\tgoing\tup.\t\u2018I\tcan\u2019t\ttell\twhere\the\twent,\tbut\tlet\u2019s\tgo upstairs,\tanyway,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. \u2018Where\twho\twent?\u2019\tI\twhispered,\trunning\tup\tthe\tstairs.","\u2018A\tman\tin\tred.\tHe\twas\tpeeping\tinto\tthe\thall.\tRan\taway\tthe\tmoment\the\trealized\tI\thad\tseen\thim.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\this\tface?\u2019 \u2018No,\tit\twas\ttoo\tdark.\u2019 We\t found\t a\t room\t on\t the\t first\t floor,\t but\t its\t door\t was\t closed.\t Perhaps\t this\t was\t the\t senior\t Lama\u2019s r o o m,\t who \t had\t r ecently\t r etur ned\t fr o m\t Tibet.\t On\t the\t left\t was\t an\t o pen\t ter r ace.\t Her e\t ag ain,\t pieces\t o f cloth\thung\tfrom\tropes.\tStrains\tof\tthe\tmusic\tfrom\tthe\tcourtyard\tdown\tbelow\treached\tmy\tears.\tA\tdance like\tthis\tcould\tgo\ton\tfor\tseven\tor\teight\thours. We\twalked\tacross\tthe\tterrace\tand\tstood\tby\ta\trailing,\toverlooking\ta\tgreen\tvalley.\tA\tmist\thad\tstarted to\trise,\tslowly\tengulfing\teverything\tthat\twas\tvisible.\t\u2018If\tShelvankar \u2019s\tson\twas\there\u2014\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan, but\twas\tinterrupted\tby\ta\tloud\tscream. \u2018Help\tme!\tOh\tGod\t.\t.\t.\tsave!\t.\t.\t.\thelp\t.\t.\t.\thelp!\u2019 It\twas\tMr\tSarkar \u2019s\tvoice. We\tran\tback\tto\tthe\tstairs.\tIt\ttook\tus\tless\tthan\ta\tminute\tto\tget\tdown\tand\tfind\tthe\trear\texit\tfrom\tthe monastery.\tWe\trushed\tout\tto\tfind\tthat\tthe\tshrieks\tfor\thelp\twere\tcoming\tfrom\tthe\tbottom\tof\ta\thill.\tThe area\twas\tuneven,\tdotted\twith\tbushes\tand\tshrubs,\tone\tend\tleading\tto\ta\tsteep\tdrop\tof\tabout\ta\thundred feet.\tIt\twas\there\tthat\tMr\tSarkar\twas\thanging\tfrom\ta\tbush,\tright\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\thill.\tOur\tappearance made\thim\tshout\teven\tlouder.\t\u2018I\tam\td-d-dying\t.\t.\t.\tsave\tme,\tplease\tsave\tme!\u2019 It\t wasn\u2019t\t too\t difficult\t to\t pull\t him\t up\t to\t safety.\t But\t the\t instant\t his\t feet\t touched\t solid\t ground,\t he r o lled\t his\t eyes\t and\t fainted.\t Then\t we\t had\t to \t car r y\t him\t back\t to \t the\t jeep\t and\t splash\t co ld\t water \t o n\t his face.\tHe\tcame\tround\tin\ta\tfew\tmoments\tand\tsat\tup\tslowly. \u2018What\thappened?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda. \u2018D-don\u2019t\tremind\tme!\u2019\tMr\tSarkar\twhimpered.\t\u2018After\tthat\tlong\tjourney,\tI\tn-n-needed\tto\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t. relieve\tmyself,\tyou\tsee\t.\t.\t.\tso\tI\tthought\tI\u2019d\tbetter\tgo\tout\tof\tthe\tmonastery,\tand\tI\tfound\tthis\tplace\tthat seemed\tquite\tsuitable,\tbut\t.\t.\t.\tbut\twho\tknew\tI\thad\tbeen\tfollowed?\u2019 \u2018Did\tsomeone\tgive\tyou\ta\tpush\tfrom\tthe\tback?\u2019 \u2018Absolutely.\tIt\twas\th-horrible!\tIf\tI\thadn\u2019t\tfound\tthat\tbush\tto\thang\ton\tto,\tthat\tTibetan\twarning\twould have\tcome\tt-true,\tin\tno\tt-time!\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tthe\tman?\u2019 \u2018No,\tof\tcourse\tnot!\tHe\tstole\tup\tbehind\tme,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\u2019 There\t was\t no\t point\t in\t staying\t on\t in\t Rumtek\t after\t an\t incident\t like\t this.\t We\t decided\t to\t go\t back\t to Gangtok\t immediately.\t Helmut,\t who\t had\t seen\t us\t coming\t back\t to\t the\t jeep,\t agreed\t to\t return\t with\t us, although\tI\tsuspect\the\twas\tdisappointed\tat\tnot\tbeing\table\tto\ttake\tmore\tphotos. Feluda\thad\tsunk\tinto\tsilence\tonce\tmore.\tBut\the\tspoke\tsuddenly\tas\tour\tdriver\tstarted\tthe\tjeep.\t\u2018Mr Sarkar,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018surely\tyou\trealize\tyou\thave\ta\tcertain\tresponsibility\tin\tthis\twhole\tbusiness?\u2019 \u2018Res-responsibility?\u2019\tcroaked\tMr\tSarkar. \u2018There\u2019s\tno\tway\twe\tcan\tfigure\tout\twho\u2019s\ttrying\tto\tfrighten\tyou\tunless\tyou\ttell\tus\twhat\u2014or\twho\u2014 you\tare\tafter.\u2019 Mr\t Sarkar\t sat\t up,\t looking\t profoundly\t distressed.\t \u2018I\t swear,\t sir\u2014I\t promise\u2014I\u2019ve\t never\t caused anyone\tany\tharm.\tNot\tknowingly,\tanyway.\u2019 \u2018You\tdon\u2019t\thappen\tto\thave\tan\tidentical\ttwin,\tdo\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tI\tam\tthe\tonly\tchild\tof\tmy\tparents.\u2019","\u2018Hm.\tI\tassume\tyou\u2019re\ttelling\tthe\ttruth.\tMind\tyou,\tit\tyou\ttell\tme\ta\tlie,\tit\tis\tyou\twho\tis\tgoing\tto\tbe\tin trouble.\u2019 The\trest\tof\tthe\tjourney\twas\tmade\tin\ttotal\tsilence.\tFeluda\tspoke\tagain\tonly\twhen\tour\tjeep\tstopped\tat the\tdak\tbungalow\tand\tHelmut\ttried\tto\tpay\this\tshare. \u2018No,\t no,\u2019\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018we\t invited\t you,\t didn\u2019t\t we?\t Besides,\t you\t are\t a\t guest\t in\t our\t country.\t We cannot\tallow\tyou\tto\tpay\ta\tsingle\tpaisa.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\u2019\tHelmut\tsmiled.\t\u2018Will\tyou\tat\tleast\tallow\tme\tto\toffer\tyou\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019 This\t seemed\t like\t a\t very\t good\t idea,\t so\t all\t of\t us\t got\t out.\t Feluda\t and\t Mr\t Sarkar\t paid\t the\t driver. Helmut\tthen\ttook\tus\tto\this\troom. We\thad\tjust\tfound\tthree\tchairs\tfor\tourselves,\tand\tHelmut\thad\tplaced\this\tcameras\ton\tthe\ttable,\twhen a\t strange\t man\t walked\t into\t the\t room\t and\t greeted\t Helmut\t with\t a\t smile.\t A\t thick\t beard\u2014flecked\t with grey\u2014covered\tmost\tof\this\tface.\tLong\thair\tcame\tdown\tto\this\tshoulders.\tHe\twas\tclad\tin\tloose\tflannel trousers\tand\ta\tshapeless\torange\tjacket\twith\ta\thigh\tneck.\tIn\this\thand\twas\ta\tstout\twalking-stick. Helmut\tsmiled\tback,\tand\tturned\tto\tus.\t\u2018Allow\tme\tto\tintroduce\tyou,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018This\tis\tDr\tVaidya.\u2019","Seven \u2018Are\tyou\tfrom\tBengal?\u2019\tDr\tVaidya\tasked.\tHe\tspoke\twith\ta\tfunny\taccent. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\t\u2018Helmut\thas\ttold\tus\tabout\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Helmut\tis\ta\tnice\tboy,\u2019\tDr\tVaidya\tnodded,\t\u2018but\tI\u2019ve\thad\tto\twarn\thim\tabout\tone\tthing.\tPeople\there don\u2019t\t normally\t like\t being\t photographed.\t You\t see,\t it\t is\t their\t belief\t that\t if\t a\t part\t of\t a\t person\t is represented\tsomewhere\telse\tin\ta\tdifferent\tform,\tit\treduces\tthe\tvital\tforce\u2014the\tability\tto\tlive\u2014of\tthat person.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tbelieve\tthis\tyourself?\u2019 \u2018What\tI\tbelieve\tis\tof\tno\tconsequence,\tat\tleast\tnot\tto\tHelmut.\tHe\thasn\u2019t\tstopped\ttaking\tpictures,\thas he?\tWhy,\tI\thave\tbeen\tcaptured\tin\this\tcamera,\ttoo!\tWhat\tI\tsay\tis\tthis:\tone\tcannot\tdisregard\tanything\tin life\twithout\tstudying\tit,\tor\texamining\tit\tthoroughly.\tI\tstill\thave\ta\tlot\tto\tlearn.\u2019 \u2018But\t ther e\u2019s\t such\t a\t lo t\t yo u\t kno w\t alr eady!\t I\u2019ve\t hear d\t yo u\t can\t see\t the\t futur e\t and\t even\t speak\t to \t the dead.\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\talways.\u2019\tDr\tVaidya\tgave\ta\tslight\tsmile.\t\u2018A\tlot\tdepends\ton\tthe\timmediate\tsurroundings.\tBut ther e\t ar e\t cer tain\t thing s\t that\t ar e\t fair ly\t easy\t to \t tell.\t Fo r \t instance,\t I\t can\t tell\t that\t this\t g entleman\t her e\t is under\ta\tlot\tof\tstress,\u2019\the\tpointed\tat\tMr\tSarkar,\twho\tlicked\this\tlips\tnervously. \u2018Yes,\tyou\u2019re\tright,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018Somebody\tis\ttrying\tto\tthreaten\thim.\tHe\tthinks\this\tlife\tis\tin\tdanger. Can\tyou\ttell\tus\twho\tis\tdoing\tthis?\u2019 Dr\t Vaidya\t closed\t his\t eyes.\t He\t opened\t them\t a\t few\t seconds\t later\t and\t stared\t out\t of\t the\t window absently.\t\u2018Agent,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Agent?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t A\t man\t must\t be\t punished\t for\t his\t sins.\t Sometimes\t he\t is\t punished\t by\t the\t Almighty.\t At\t other times,\tGod\tsends\tHis\tagents\tout\tto\tdo\tthis\tjob.\u2019 \u2018Enough!\u2019\tshouted\tMr\tSarkar.\tHis\tvoice\tshook.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\thear\tany\tmore.\u2019 Dr\tVaidya\tsmiled\tagain.\t\u2018I\tam\tsaying\tall\tthis\tonly\tbecause\tyour\tfriend\tasked\tme.\tIf\tyou\tcan\tlearn something\tyourself,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tneed\tto\tgo\tlooking\tfor\ta\tteacher.\tBut\tone\tthing\tI\tmust\ttell\tyou.\tIf\tyou wish\tto\tlive,\tyou\twill\thave\tto\ttread\tmost\tcarefully.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tthat\tmean?\u2019\tasked\tMr\tSarkar. \u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tsay\tanything\tmore\tthan\tthat.\u2019 The\ttea\tarrived.\tHelmut\tpoured\tit\tout\tand\tpassed\tthe\tcups\taround. \u2018I\t believe\t yo u\t met\t Mr \t Shelvankar,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t sipping \t his\t tea.\t \u2018Yes.\t It\u2019s\t all\t ver y\t sad.\t I\t did\t war n him\t about\t a\t rough\t patch\t he\t might\t have\t to\t go\t through.\t But\t death?\t No,\t that\u2019s\t a\t different\t matter altogether,\tand\tno\tone\thas\tany\tcontrol\tover\tit.\u2019 No \t o ne\t spo ke\t after \t this.\t We\t dr ank\t o ur \t tea\t in\t silence.\t Helmut\t so r ted\t a\t few\t paper s\t o ut\t o n\t his\t table. Mr \t Sar kar \t star ed\t absently\t into \t space,\t appar ently\t unawar e\t that\t his\t tea\t was\t g etting \t co ld.\t Only\t Feluda","seemed\t totally\t at\t ease,\t happily\t finishing\t the\t biscuits\t that\t had\t arrived\t with\t the\t tea.\t After\t a\t while, Helmut\t r o se\t to \t switch\t o n\t a\t lig ht.\t Daylig ht\t had\t almo st\t g o ne\t by\t this\t time.\t But\t it\t tur ned\t o ut\t that\t ther e was\ta\tpower\tcut.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tget\tsome\tcandles,\u2019\tsaid\tHelmut\tand\twent\tout\tto\tlook\tfor\tthe\tbearer. Feluda\tturned\tto\tDr\tVaidya\tagain.\t\u2018Do\tyou\treally\tbelieve\tMr\tShelvankar \u2019s\tdeath\twas\taccidental?\u2019 Dr\t Vaidya\t took\t a\t moment\t to\t reply.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018Only\t one\t person\t knows\t the\t answer\t to\t that question.\u2019 \u2018Who?\u2019 \u2018T he\t per so n\t who \t died.\t Only\t he\t kno ws\t the\t tr uth.\t We\t who \t ar e\t living \t lo o k\t upo n\t this\t wo r ld\t and\t this life\tthrough\teyes\tthat\ttake\tin\tevery\tirrelevant\tand\tunnecessary\tdetail.\tJust\tlook\tout\tof\tthat\twindow.\tAll those\tmountains\tand\ttrees\tand\trivers\tare\tirrelevant.\tThey\tstand\tas\ta\tscreen\tbetween\tourselves\tand\tthe truth.\tBut\tdeath\topens\tan\tinner\teye\tthat\tsees\tnothing\tbut\twhat\tis\treal\tand\tof\ttrue\tsignificance.\u2019 Most\t of\t this\t speech\t went\t over\t my\t head,\t but\t I\t was\t sure\t Feluda\t had\t understood\t every\t word.\t \u2018You mean\tit\tis\tonly\tMr\tShelvankar\twho\tcould\ttell\thow\the\tdied?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tknown\tthe\ttruth\twhen\the\tdied.\tBut\tnow\t.\t.\t.\tyes,\tnow\the\tknows\texactly\twhat happened.\u2019 I\tshivered\tsuddenly.\tThere\twas\tsomething\teerie\tin\tthe\tatmosphere,\tin\tso\tmuch\ttalk\tabout\tdeath,\tand the\tway\tDr\tVaidya\tsmiled\tin\tthe\tdark.\tIt\tgave\tme\tgoose-pimples. The\tbearer\tcame\tin\tat\tthis\tmoment.\tHe\tcleared\tthe\ttable\tand\tplaced\ta\tcandle\ton\tit.\tFeluda\ttook\tout\ta packet\tof\tCharminar,\toffered\tit\tto\teveryone\telse\tin\tthe\troom,\tthen\tlit\tone\thimself.\t\u2018It\tmay\tbe\ta\tgood idea\tto\tconsult\tMr\tShelvankar\tand\tsee\twhat\the\tthinks,\u2019\the\tremarked,\tblowing\tout\ta\tsmoke\tring.\tI\tknew he\t had\t read\t a\t lot\t on\t seances\t and\t most\t things\t supernatural.\t He\t kept\t an\t open\t mind\t on\t every\t subject, never\t hesitating\t to\t read\t or\t hear\t about\t other\t people\u2019s\t views,\t even\t if\t he\t didn\u2019t\t believe\t in\t something himself. Dr\t Vaidya\t closed\t his\t eyes.\t A\t few\t moments\t later,\t he\t opened\t them\t and\t said,\t \u2018Shut\t the\t door\t and windows.\u2019\tThere\twas\tsomething\tauthoritative\tin\this\ttone.\tMr\tSarkar\tgot\tup\tlike\ta\tman\thypnotized\tand obeyed\tsilently.\tWe\twere\tleft\tsitting\taround\tthe\ttable\tin\tthe\tfaint\tflickering\tlight\tof\tthe\tcandle.\tOn\tmy right\twas\tDr\tVaidya.\tOn\tmy\tleft\tsat\tFeluda.\tMr\tSarkar\tsat\tnext\tto\thim.\tHelmut\tfinished\tthe\tcircle. \u2018Place\t your\t hands,\t palms\t down,\t on\t this\t table.\t Your\t fingers\t must\t touch\t your\t neighbour \u2019s,\u2019 co mmanded\t Dr \t Vaidya.\t We\t did\t as\t we\t wer e\t to ld.\t Dr \t Vaidya\t placed\t his\t o wn\t hands\t between\t mine\t and Helmut\u2019s,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Look\tstraight\tat\tthat\tcandle\tand\tthink\tof\tthe\tdeath\tof\tShelvankar.\u2019 The\tcandle\twas\tburning\tsteadily.\tA\tfew\tdrops\tof\twax\thad\tfallen\ton\tthe\ttable.\tA\tsmall\tinsect,\ttrapped in\tthe\troom,\tbegan\tbuzzing\taround\tthe\tflame.\tGod\tknows\thow\tlong\twe\tsat\tin\tsilence.\tI\tdid\tcast\ta\tfew sidelong\tglances\tat\tDr\tVaidya,\tbut\the\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tseen\tme\tfor\this\town\teyes\twere\tclosed. After\ta\tlong\ttime,\the\tspoke.\tHis\tvoice\tsounded\tvery\tfaint\tas\tthough\the\twas\tspeaking\tfrom\ta\tgreat distance.\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tknow?\u2019\the\tasked.\tFeluda\tanswered\thim.\t\u2018Did\tMr\tShelvankar\tdie\tin\tan accident?\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019\tsaid\tthat\tfaint,\tstrange\tvoice. \u2018How\tdid\the\tdie?\u2019 Silence.\tAll\tof\tus\twere\tnow\tgazing\tat\tDr\tVaidya.\tHe\twas\tleaning\tback\tin\this\tchair.\tHis\teyes\twere shut\t tight.\t Lightning\t flashed\t outside,\t lighting\t up\t our\t room\t for\t a\t second.\t Feluda\u2019s\t question\t was answered\tthe\tsame\tinstant."]
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