["\u2018Murder,\u2019\tsaid\tDr\tVaidya. \u2018Mu-h-h-u-rder?\u2019\tMr\tSarkar\tgasped. \u2018Who\tkilled\thim?\u2019\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tknow.\tHe\twas\tstaring\tat\tDr\tVaidya\u2019s\thands.\tDr\tVaidya\tsighed. Then\t he\t beg an\t br eathing \t har d,\t as\t tho ug h\t the\t act\t o f\t br eathing \t was\t causing \t him\t a\t g r eat\t deal\t o f\t pain. \u2018Virendra!\u2019\t he\t finally\t whispered.\t Virendra?\t Who\t was\t he?\t Feluda\t started\t to\t speak,\t but\t Dr\t Vaidya opened\this\teyes\tunexpectedly\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018A\tglass\tof\twater,\tplease.\u2019 Helmut\t rose\t and\t poured\t him\t water\t from\t his\t flask.\t Feluda\t waited\t until\t Dr\t Vaidya\t had\t finished drinking\tit.\tThen\the\tasked,\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tsuppose\tthere\u2019s\tany\tchance\tof\tfinding\tout\twho\tthis\tVirendra\tis?\u2019 Helmut\tanswered\thim\tthis\ttime.\t\u2018Virendra\tis\tMr\tShelvankar \u2019s\tson.\tHe\ttold\tme\tabout\thim.\u2019 It\t was\t now\t time\t for\t us\t to\t leave.\t All\t of\t us\t stood\t up.\t Helmut\t opened\t the\t door\t and\t windows.\t The power\tcame\tback\ta\tsecond\tlater. \u2018You\t get\t nervous\t rather\t easily,\t don\u2019t\t you?\u2019\t said\t Dr\t Vaidya,\t placing\t a\t hand\t on\t Mr\t Sarkar \u2019s shoulder.\tMr\tSarkar\ttried\tto\tsmile.\t\u2018Anyway,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\tare\tin\tany\tdanger\tnow,\u2019\tDr\tVaidya\ttold him\treassuringly.\tThis\ttime,\tMr\tSarkar\tsmiled\tmore\tnaturally,\tlooking\tvisibly\trelieved. \u2018How\tlong\tare\tyou\there\tfor?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tDr\tVaidya. \u2018I\u2019d\t like\t to\t go\t to\t Pemiangchi\t tomorrow,\t if\t it\t doesn\u2019t\t rain.\t I\u2019ve\t heard\t they\u2019ve\t got\t some\t ancient valuable\tmanuscripts\tin\tthe\tmonastery\tthere.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tmaking\ta\tstudy\tof\tTibet\tand\tthe\tTibetan\tculture?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t you\t might\t call\t it\t that.\t It\u2019s\t the\t only\t ancient\t civilization\t that\u2019s\t left\t in\t the\t world.\t Egypt,\t Iraq, Mesopotamia\t.\t.\t.\teach\tone\tof\tthose\tgot\tdestroyed.\tBut\tfor\tthat\tmatter,\twhat\tis\tleft\tin\tIndia,\ttell\tme?\tIt\u2019s all\ta\tgreat\thotch-potch.\tIt\u2019s\tonly\tTibet\tthat\u2019s\tmanaged\tto\tretain\tmost\tof\twhat\tit\thad.\tLuckily,\tsome\tof the\told\tmonasteries\tin\tSikkim\thave\tgot\tpieces\tof\ttheir\tart\tand\tculture,\tso\tone\tdoesn\u2019t\thave\tto\tgo\tall the\tway\tto\tTibet\tto\tfind\tthem.\u2019 We\t came\t out,\t to\t find\t that\t the\t sky\t was\t covered\t by\t thick,\t dark\t clouds,\t being\t frequently\t ripped\t by lightning.\tIt\twas\tcertain\tthat\tit\twould\tstart\training\tagain. \u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tgo\tto\tPemiangchi\tas\twell?\u2019\tDr\tVaidya\tasked.\t\u2018Yes,\twe\tmight\tdo\tthat.\tI\u2019ve\theard\ta lot\tabout\tthe\tplace.\u2019 \u2018If\tyou\tdo,\tdon\u2019t\tforget\tto\ttake\ta\tbag\tof\tsalt\twith\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Salt?\tWhatever\tfor?\u2019 \u2018Leeches.\tThere\u2019s\tnothing\tlike\tsalt\tto\tget\trid\tof\tthem.\u2019","Eight Feluda,\t Mr \t Sar kar \t and\t I\t wer e\t back\t in\t o ur \t ho tel,\t sitting \t do wn\t to \t o ur \t dinner.\t Altho ug h\t the\t ho tel\t was pretty\taverage\tin\tmany\tways,\tit\thad\tan\texcellent\tcook. \u2018A\tmost\tdecent\tfellow,\tI\tmust\tsay,\u2019\tremarked\tMr\tSarkar,\ttrying\tto\tget\tthe\tmarrow\tout\tof\ta\tbone.\tA delicious\tlamb\tcurry\twas\ton\tthe\tmenu\ttonight. \u2018Who?\tYou\tmean\tDr\tVaidya?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tWhat\ta\tremarkably\tgifted\tman,\ttoo.\tHe\tseemed\tto\tknow\teverything.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t you\t should\t be\t pleased,\u2019\t Feluda\t said,\t laughing.\t \u2018Didn\u2019t\t he\t tell\t you\t you\t were\t no\t longer\t in danger?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tbelieve\twhat\the\tsaid?\u2019 \u2018If\t what\t he\t said\t tur ns\t o ut\t to \t be\t tr ue,\t then\t o f\t co ur se\t I\t shall\t believe\t him.\t But,\t r ig ht\t no w,\t I\t think\t we should\t be\t careful\t in\t what\t or\t whom\t we\t believe.\t There\t are\t so\t many\t cheats\t in\t this\t line.\u2019\t Feluda\t was frowning\tagain.\tSomething\twas\tobviously\tbothering\thim\ta\tgreat\tdeal.\tI\twish\tI\tknew\twhat\tit\twas. \u2018Do\tyou\tbelieve\twhat\the\tsaid\tabout\tthe\tmurder?\u2019\tMr\tSarkar\tpersisted. \u2018Yes,\tI\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Really?\tWhy?\u2019 \u2018There\tis\ta\treason.\u2019\tFeluda\trefused\tto\tsay\tanything\tmore. The\t two \t o f\t us\t went\t o ut\t after \t dinner \t ag ain\t to \t buy\t paan.\t It\t hadn\u2019t\t yet\t star ted\t to \t r ain,\t but\t ther e\t was virtually\t no\t breeze.\t Feluda\t put\t a\t paan\t in\t his\t mouth\t and\t began\t pacing.\t After\t only\t a\t few\t minutes, however,\the\tstopped\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\u2019m\tonly\twasting\tmy\ttime\tlike\tthis.\tTell\tyou\twhat,\tTopshe,\twhy\tdon\u2019t you\tgo\tfor\ta\twalk\tfor\thalf\tan\thour?\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\twork\talone\tin\tour\troom,\tundisturbed.\u2019 I\t agreed,\t and\t Feluda\t walked\t away.\t I\t ambled\t across\t to\t the\t opposite\t pavement\t and\t made\t my\t way slowly\tdown\tthe\troad\tthat\tled\tto\tthe\tmain\ttown.\tAll\tthe\tshops\twere\tclosed.\tA\tfew\tmen\twere\tsitting\tin\ta circle\tin\tfront\tof\ta\tshop\tand\tgambling.\tI\theard\tsomeone\trattle\tthe\tdice,\twhich\twas\tfollowed\tby\ta\tgreat shout\tand\tloud\tlaughter. The\tstreet\tlights\twere\tdim,\tbut\teven\tso\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tfail\tto\tnotice\tthe\tfigure\tof\ta\tman\tcoming\tfrom\tthe opposite\tdirection,\twalking\tvery\tfast.\tAs\the\tcame\tcloser,\tI\trealized\tit\twas\tHelmut.\tSomething\tstopped me\t from\t calling\t out\t to\t him.\t But\t he\t was\t so\t preoccupied\t that\t even\t when\t he\t passed\t me\t by,\t he\t didn\u2019t seem\t to \t no tice\t me\t at\t all.\t I\t star ed\t fo o lishly\t at\t his\t r eceding \t back,\t until\t it\t vanished\t fr o m\t sig ht.\t Then\t I looked\tat\tmy\twatch\tand\treturned\tto\tthe\thotel. Feluda\twas\tlying\tflat\ton\this\tback,\tresting\this\tnotebook\ton\this\tchest. \u2018I\tbrought\tthe\tlist\tof\tsuspects\tup\tto\tdate,\u2019\the\ttold\tme\tas\tI\tcame\tin.\t\u2018Well,\tVirendra\tShelvankar\twas already\ta\tsuspect,\twasn\u2019t\the?\tIt\u2019s\tjust\tthat\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\this\tname.\tHave\tyou\tadded\tDr\tVaidya\u2019s\tname to\tyour\tlist?\u2019","Feluda\t grinned.\t \u2018The\t man\t put\t up\t a\t jolly\t good\t show,\t I\t must\t admit.\t Yet,\t the\t whole\t thing\t could\t be genuine,\twho\tknows?\tBut\twe\tmustn\u2019t\tforget\tthat\the\tand\tShelvankar\thad\ttalked\tto\teach\tother.\tThere\u2019s no \t way\t o f\t making \t sur e\t whether \t Dr \t Vaidya\t is\t a\t fr aud\t o r \t no t\t unless\t we\t can\t find\t o ut\t what\t exactly\t the two\thad\tdiscussed.\u2019 \u2018But\the\twas\tright\tabout\tMr\tSarkar,\twasn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018That\t was\t easy\t eno ug h.\t Mr \t Sar kar \t was\t biting \t his\t nails\t co nstantly.\t Anyo ne\t co uld\t have\t g uessed\t he was\ttense.\u2019 \u2018And\twhat\tabout\tthe\tmurder?\u2019 \u2018He\tmay\thave\tsaid\tthat\tonly\tto\tcreate\tan\teffect.\tA\tnatural\tdeath,\tor\tdeath\tby\ta\treal\taccident,\tis\ttoo tame.\tCall\tit\ta\tmurder,\tand\tit\tsounds\tso\tmuch\tmore\tdramatic.\u2019 \u2018So\twho\u2019s\ton\tyour\tlist\tof\tsuspects?\u2019 \u2018Everyone,\tas\talways.\u2019 \u2018Everyone\tincluding\tDr\tVaidya?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tHe\tmay\thave\tknown\tabout\tthe\tstatue\tof\tYamantak.\u2019 \u2018And\tHelmut?\tHe\twalked\tpast\tme\tjust\tnow,\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tsee\tme.\u2019 This\tdid\tnot\tappear\tto\tsurprise\tFeluda.\t\u2018Helmut\tstruck\tme\tas\ta\tmysterious\tcharacter\tright\tfrom\tthe start.\tHe\u2019s\tsupposed\tto\tbe\ttaking\tphotographs\tfor\ta\tbook\ton\tSikkim,\tand\tyet\the\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tabout\tthe Lama\tdance\tin\tRumtek.\tThat\u2019s\treason\tenough\tto\tfeel\tsuspicious\tabout\thim.\u2019 \u2018Why?\tWhat\tcan\tit\tmean?\u2019 \u2018It\t can\t mean\t that\t he\t hasn\u2019t\t to ld\t us\t the\t r eal\t r easo n\t why\t he\t is\t her e\t in\t Sikkim.\u2019\t I\t beg an\t to \t feel\t quite confused,\tso\tI\tstopped\tasking\tquestions.\tFeluda\twent\tback\tto\tscribbling\tin\this\tnotebook. At\t a\t quar ter \t to \t eleven,\t Mr \t Sar kar \t kno cked\t o n\t o ur \t do o r \t to \t say\t g o o d-nig ht.\t I\t tr ied\t to \t r ead\t a\t bo o k after\tthat,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t\tconcentrate.\tFeluda\tspent\this\ttime\teither\tsitting\tsilently\tor\tstudying\tthe\tentries in\t his\t no tebo o k.\t I\t do \t no t\t kno w\t when\t I\t fell\t asleep.\t When\t I\t wo ke,\t the\t mo untains\t o utside\t wer e\t br ig ht with\tsunshine. Feluda\twas\tnot\tin\tthe\troom.\tPerhaps\the\twas\thaving\ta\tshower.\tI\tnoticed\ta\tpiece\tof\tpaper\ton\this\tbed, placed\t under\t an\t ashtray.\t Had\t he\t left\t a\t message\t for\t me?\t I\t picked\t it\t up\t and\t found\t a\t Tibetan\t word staring\tat\tme.\tI\tknew\twhat\tit\tmeant. Death.","Nine Feluda\twas\tnot\tin\tthe\tbathroom.\tI\tlearnt\tlater\tthat\the\thad\trisen\tearly\tthat\tmorning\tto\tmake\ta\ttrunk\tcall to\tBombay.\tWhen\tI\tcame\tdown\tfor\tbreakfast,\tI\tfound\thim\tspeaking\tto\tsomeone\ton\tthe\ttelephone. \u2018I\t co uldn\u2019t\t g et\t Mr \t Bo se,\u2019\t he\t to ld\t me,\t putting \t the\t r eceiver \t do wn.\t \u2018He\t left\t ver y\t ear ly\t this\t mo r ning . Perhaps\the\tgot\tmy\ttelegram.\u2019 We\t ordered\t breakfast.\t \u2018I\u2019ll\t have\t to\t conduct\t an\t experiment\t today,\u2019\t Feluda\t revealed\t a\t few\t minutes later.\t\u2018I\tthink\tI\tmade\ta\tmistake\tsomewhere.\tI\thave\tto\tmake\tsure.\u2019 \u2018Where\twill\tyou\tcarry\tout\tthis\texperiment?\u2019 \u2018I\tneed\ta\tquiet\tspot.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tan\tempty\troom?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tyou\tidiot.\tI\tcould\tuse\tour\thotel\troom\tif\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tI\tneeded.\tI\thave\tto\tbe\tout\ton\tthe\troad, but\tI\tmust\tnot\tbe\tseen.\tIf\tanyone\tsaw\tme,\tthey\u2019d\tdefinitely\tthink\tI\twas\tmad.\tLet\u2019s\tgo\ttowards\tNathula Ro ad\t after \t br eakfast.\u2019\t We\t hadn\u2019t\t yet\t seen\t any\t o f\t the\t o ther \t lar g e\t str eets\t o f\t Gang to k.\t T he\t pr o spect\t o f doing\ta\tlittle\tmore\texploration\ton\tfoot\twas\tquite\texciting. We\tran\tinto\tDr\tVaidya\tas\twe\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\thotel.\tHe\twas\twearing\tsunglasses\ttoday.\t\u2018Where\tare you\toff\tto?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Just\t fo r \t a\t walk.\t We\t haven\u2019t\t r eally\t seen\t much\t o f\t the\t city.\t We\t wer e\t thinking \t o f\t g o ing \t to war ds\t the palace.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tlook\tfor\ta\tjeep.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tgood\tday\tto\tmake\tthat\ttrip\tto\tPemiangchi.\tIf\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tgo there,\tyou\treally\twill\tmiss\ta\tlot.\u2019 \u2018We\tdo\tintend\tgoing\tthere\tone\tday.\u2019 \u2018Try\tto\tmake\tit\twhile\tI\u2019m\tthere.\tGangtok\tisn\u2019t\ta\tvery\tsafe\tplace,\tparticularly\tfor\tyou.\u2019 Dr\tVaidya\tleft\twith\ta\tsmile\tand\ta\tfriendly\twave. \u2018Why\tdid\the\tsay\tthat?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018He\u2019s\t a\t very\t clever\t man.\t He\t wanted\t to\t startle\t us,\t that\u2019s\t all.\t Clearly\t he\u2019s\t seen\t I\t am\t involved\t in\t a complex\tmatter,\tso\the\tdecided\tto\tsay\tsomething\todd\tfor\tmore\teffect.\u2019 \u2018But\tyou\treally\thave\tbeen\tthreatened,\thaven\u2019t\tyou?\tI\tsaw\tthat\tpiece\tof\tpaper.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tnothing\tnew,\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\u2014\u2019 \u2018But\t nothing.\t If\t you\t think\t I\u2019ll\t give\t up\t now\t simply\t because\t someone\t wrote\t a\t Tibetan\t word\t on\t a piece\tof\tpaper,\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tme\tat\tall.\u2019 I\t didn\u2019t\t say\t anything,\t but\t thought\t to\t myself\t how\t well\t I\t did\t know\t him.\t Hadn\u2019t\t I\t seen\t him\t work wonders\t in\t the\t case\t of\t the\t Emperor \u2019s\t ring\t in\t Lucknow,\t despite\t being\t showered\t with\t threats\t and warnings?","We\thad\tbeen\twalking\tuphill\tand\thad\tnow\treached\ta\tpoint\twhere\tthe\troad\tspread\tout,\talmost\tlike\tthe Mall\tin\tDarjeeling.\tThere\twas\ta\tsmall\troundabout\twith\tyellow\troadsigns.\tThe\tone\tpointing\tright\tsaid \u2018Palace\u2019.\t T her e\t was\t a\t lar g e,\t heavily\t deco r ated\t g ate\t at\t the\t end\t o f\t this\t r o ad,\t which\t was\t o bvio usly\t the g ate\t o f\t the\t palace.\t T he\t sig n\t o n\t the\t left\t said\t \u2018Nathula\t Ro ad\u2019.\t It\t seemed\t a\t quiet\t eno ug h\t r o ad.\t T he\t few people\t we\t could\t see\t all\t appeared\t to\t be\t tourists,\t heading\t for\t the\t palace.\t \u2018Let\u2019s\t take\t this\t left\t turn. Quick!\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. We\tturned\tleft\tand\ttook\tthe\troad\tthat\tled\tto\tthe\tChinese\tborder.\tThere\twas\tno\tone\tin\tsight.\tFeluda kept\t lo o king \t up\t at\t the\t hills\t thr o ug h\t which\t the\t r o ad\t had\t been\t built.\t We\t had\t no w\t co me\t to \t the\t easter n side\t o f\t Gang to k.\t Kanchenjung a\t was\t o n\t the\t west.\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t see\t any\t o f\t the\t sno w-capped\t peaks\t fr o m here,\tbut\twhat\tI\tcould\tsee\twas\ta\tropeway. It\tseemed\tso\tinteresting\tthat\tI\tstopped\tand\tstared\tat\tit,\tlosing\tall\ttrack\tof\ttime.\tI\thad\tto\tlook\tup\twith a\tstart\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\twhen\tI\theard\tFeluda\tcalling\tout\tto\tme.\tWhile\tI\thad\tbeen\tgazing\tat\tthe\tbusy ropeway,\tFeluda\thad\tclimbed\tup\tthe\tside\tof\ta\thill,\tand\twas\tshouting\tfrom\tseveral\tfeet\tabove\tthe\troad. \u2018Hey,\tTopshe,\tcome\there!\u2019 I\tleft\tthe\troad\tand\tjoined\thim.\tFeluda\twas\tstanding\tnear\ta\trock,\tnearly\tas\tlarge\tas\ta\tfootball.\t\u2018I\u2019m going\tdown,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tcome\twalking\tpast\tthe\thill.\tPush\tthis\tstone\tdown\twhen\tI\ttell\tyou\tto.\tJust\ta little\tpush\twill\tmake\tit\troll\toff\tthe\thill.\tIs\tthat\tclear?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tNo\tproblem!\u2019 Feluda\tclimbed\tdown\tand\tdisappeared\tin\tthe\tdirection\tfrom\twhich\tI\thad\tcome.\t\u00b7 Then\tI\theard\thim\tcall,\t\u2018Ready?\u2019 \u2018Ready!\u2019\tI\treplied. Feluda\tstarted\twalking.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\thim,\tbut\tI\theard\this\tfootsteps.\tA\tfew\tmoments\tlater,\the\tcame vaguely\t within\t my\t line\t of\t vision,\t but\t before\t I\t could\t see\t him\t properly,\t I\t heard\t him\t shout,\t \u2018Go!\u2019\t I pushed\tthe\trock,\tand\tit\tbegan\tto\troll\tdown.\tFeluda\tdid\tnot\tstop\twalking.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tthe\trock\tlanded on\tthe\troad,\the\thad\tcrossed\tthat\tarea\tand\tgone\tahead\tby\tat\tleast\tten\tsteps. \u2018Wait\tright\tthere!\u2019\the\tshouted\tagain. He\t then\t came\t back\t with\t the\t r o ck\t in\t his\t hand.\t It\t was\t still\t intact.\t \u2018No w\t yo u\t g o \t do wn,\t and\t walk\t past this\thill\texactly\tas\tyou\tsaw\tme\tdo.\tI\twill\tthrow\tthis\tstone\tat\tyou,\tbut\tyou\tmust\tcontinue\twalking.\tIf\tyou can\t see\t it\t r o lling \t do wn\t at\t eno r mo us\t speed\t and\t feel\t that\t it\t mig ht\t hit\t yo u,\t yo u\u2019ll\t have\t to \t jump\t aside: Can\tyou\tdo\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Sure.\u2019 I\tscrambled\tdown,\tand\tstarted\twalking,\tkeeping\tan\teye\ton\tFeluda.\tI\tsaw\thim\tstanding\tstill,\twaiting for\t the\t right\t moment.\t Then\t he\t kicked\t the\t stone.\t I\t kept\t on\t walking.\t The\t stone\t hit\t the\t ground\t a\t few seconds\tbefore\tI\tcould\treach\tthe\tspot.\tThen\tit\trolled\tdown\tthe\tslope\ton\tthe\tleft\tand\tdisappeared. Feluda\t sat\t do wn,\t slapping \t his\t fo r ehead.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to \t stand\t ar o und\t like\t a\t fo o l,\t so \t I\t climbed\t up again. \u2018What\tan\tass\tI\u2019ve\tbeen,\tTopshe!\tWhat\ta\tperfect\tidiot.\tThis\tsimple\u2014\u2019 \u2018Feluda!\u2019\t I\t screamed,\t quickly\t pulling\t him\t to\t one\t side.\t In\t the\t same\t instant,\t a\t huge\t boulder\t came crashing\tfrom\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\thill\tand\twent\tdown,\tmissing\tus\tby\tinches\tand\tcrushing\ta\tlarge\tflowering bush\ton\tthe\tway.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tit\tstruck\tthe\troad\tand\tvanished\tfrom\tsight,\tmy\tbreathing\twas\tstarting\tto","r etur n\t to \t no r mal.\t T hank\t Go d\t I\t had\t lo o ked\t up\t when\t Feluda\t was\t speaking .\t T hank\t Go d\t I\t had\t seen\t the boulder.\tIf\tI\thadn\u2019t\t.\t.\t.\tI\tshuddered\tto\tthink\tof\tthe\tconsequences. \u2018Thanks,\tTopshe,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018This\tplace\treally\tappears\tunsafe.\tLet\u2019s\tgo\tback.\u2019 We\tgot\tdown\tto\tthe\troad\tand\twalked\tas\tfast\tas\twe\tcould\tto\tthe\tnext\tcrossing.\tThere\twere\tbenches on\tone\tside,\tplaced\tunder\ta\tcanopy.\tWe\tthrew\tourselves\tdown\ton\tone\tof\tthese.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tanyone?\u2019 asked\tFeluda,\twiping\this\tface. \u2018No.\tThat\tboulder\tcame\tfrom\tquite\ta\theight.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tseen\twho\tthrew\tit\teven\tif\tI\thad\thad\tthe time\tto\tlook.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tmove\tfaster\tnow.\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tfind\ta\tfinal\tsolution!\u2019 \u2018But\tthere\tare\tso\tmany\tquestions\tthat\tneed\tto\tbe\tanswered.\u2019 \u2018And\twho\ttold\tyou\tI\thaven\u2019t\tfound\tsome\tof\tthe\tanswers\talready?\tDo\tyou\tknow\twhat\ttime\tI\twent\tto bed\t last\t night?\t At\t 2\t a.m.\t I\t did\t a\t lot\t of\t thinking.\t And\t now\t this\t experiment\t merely\t confirmed\t every suspicion\tI\thad.\tMr\tShelvankar \u2019s\tjeep\thad\tnot\tbeen\thit\tby\ta\tfalling\trock.\tOne\tcannot\tcommit\ta\tmurder banking\ton\ta\tchance\tthat\u2019s\tone\tin\ta\tmillion.\tWhat\treally\thappened,\tI\u2019m\tsure,\twas\tthis:\tMr\tShelvankar was\t knocked\t unconscious.\t Then\t he\t was\t dropped\t into\t that\t ravine,\t along\t with\t the\t jeep.\t Someone pushed\tthat\tboulder\tafterwards,\tjust\tto\tmake\tit\tlook\tan\taccident.\u2019 \u2018But\tthe\tdriver?\tWhat\tabout\thim?\u2019 \u2018He\thad\tbeen\tbribed.\tI\u2019m\tsure\tof\tit.\u2019 \u2018Or\tthe\tdriver\thimself\tmight\thave\tkilled\thim?\u2019 \u2018No,\tthat\u2019s\tunlikely.\tHe\twouldn\u2019t\thave\thad\ta\tsufficiently\tstrong\tmotive.\u2019 Feluda\trose.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tget\tback,\tTopshe.\tWe\tmust\tfind\tSKM\t463.\u2019\tBut\tSKM\t463\twas\tnot\tin\tGangtok,\tas it\t tur ned\t o ut.\t It\t had\t left\t fo r \t Silig ur i\t the\t day\t befo r e.\t \u2018I\t think\t peo ple\t want\t to \t hir e\t it\t because\t it\u2019s\t a\t new jeep,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked. \u2018What\tdo\twe\tdo\tnow?\u2019 \u2018Wait,\tlet\tme\tthink.\tI\u2019m\tgetting\tmuddled.\u2019 We\treturned\tto\tthe\thotel\tfrom\tthe\tjeep\tstand.\tFeluda\tordered\tcold\tdrinks\tin\tthe\tdining\thall.\tHis\thair was\tdishevelled\tand\the\tseemed\tgreatly\tperturbed. \u2018When\tdid\twe\tarrive\there?\u2019\the\tasked\tsuddenly. \u2018Fourteenth\tApril.\u2019 \u2018And\twhen\twas\tShelvankar\tkilled?\u2019 \u2018On\tthe\televenth.\u2019 \u2018Apart\tfrom\tShelvankar,\tMr\tSarkar\twas\there\tin\tGangtok,\tand\tHelmut\tand\tDr\tVaidya.\u2019 \u2018And\tVirendra.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tlet\tus\tmake\tthat\tassumption.\tWhen\tdid\tMr\tSarkar\tget\tthat\tTibetan\twarning?\u2019 \u2018On\tthe\tnight\tof\tthe\tfourteenth.\u2019 \u2018Right.\tWho\twas\tin\ttown\tthat\tday?\u2019 \u2018Helmut,\tMr\tBose,\tVirendra,\tand\t.\t.\t.\tand\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Mr\tSarkar.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\u2019 \u2018He\t may\t well\t have\t co mmitted\t a\t cr ime.\t Maybe\t he\t is\t tr ying \t to \t r emo ve\t suspicio n\t fr o m\t himself\t by showing\t us\t a\t piece\t of\t paper\t with\t a\t Tibetan\t word\t written\t on\t it.\t He\t may\t have\t written\t it\t himself.\t His","shrieks\tfor\thelp\tin\tRumtek\tcould\thave\tbeen\ta\tclever\tpiece\tof\tacting.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat\tcan\the\thave\tdone?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthat\tyet,\tthough\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\the\tkilled\tShelvankar.\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen,\twho\tis\tleft?\u2019 \u2018Dr\tVaidya.\tDon\u2019t\tforget\thim.\tWe\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tfor\tsure\twhether\the\tdid\tgo\tto\tKalimpong\tor\tnot.\u2019 Feluda\tfinished\ta\tglass\tof\tSikkim\torange\tin\tone\tgulp.\tThen\the\tcontinued,\t\u2018The\tonly\tperson\twhose movements\tcannot\tbe\tquestioned\tis\tMr\tBose,\tbecause\the\tcame\twith\tus\tand\twent\tto\tBombay\tthe\tnext day.\tSomeone\tin\this\thouse\tconfirmed\tthat\the\thad\tindeed\treturned\tto\tBombay.\tBut\the\u2019s\tnot\tthere\tnow. Maybe\t he\u2019s\t o n\t his\t way\t her e.\t Per haps\t o ur \t tr ip\t to \t Pemiang chi\u2014\u2019\t Feluda\t sto pped\t speaking .\t So meo ne had\t walked\t into\t the\t dining\t hall\t and\t was\t talking\t to\t the\t manager.\t It\t was\t our\t German\t friend,\t Helmut Ungar.\tThe\tmanager\tpointed\tat\tus.\tHelmut\twheeled\taround.\t\u2018Oh\tsorry,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\trealize\tyou\twere\there,\u2019 he\t said,\t adding\t rather\t hesitantly,\t \u2018There\u2019s\t something\t I\u2019d\t like\t to\t discuss\t with\t you.\t Do\t you\t think\t we could\tgo\tup\tto\tyour\troom?\u2019","Ten \u2018May\t I\t close\t the\t door?\u2019\t asked\t Helmut\t as\t we\t walked\t into\t our\t room.\t Then\t he\t shut\t the\t door\t without waiting\tfor\tan\tanswer.\tI\tlooked\tat\thim\tand\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tvaguely\tuneasy.\tHe\twas\ttall\tand\tstrong,\ttaller than\t Feluda\t by\t at\t least\t an\t inch.\t What\t did\t he\t want\t to \t do \t that\t r equir ed\t such\t secr ecy?\t I\t had\t hear d\t that some\thippies\ttook\tdrugs.\tWas\tHelmut\tone\tof\tthem?\tWould\the\u2014? By\tthis\ttime,\tHelmut\thad\tplaced\this\tcamera\ton\tmy\tbed,\tand\twas\topening\ta\tlarge\tred\tenvelope\twith Agfa\twritten\ton\tit. \u2018Would\tyou\tlike\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019\tFeluda\toffered. \u2018No,\tthanks.\tI\tcame\there\tonly\tto\tshow\tyou\tthese\tphotos.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tget\tthem\tprinted\there.\tSo\tI\thad sent\tthem\tto\tDarjeeling.\tI\tgot\tthe\tenlargements\tonly\tthis\tmorning.\u2019 Helmut\t to o k\t o ut\t the\t fir st\t pho to g r aph.\t \u2018T his\t was\t taken\t fr o m\t the\t No r th\t Sikkim\t Hig hway.\t T he\t r o ad where\tthe\taccident\ttook\tplace\tgoes\tright\tacross\tto\tthe\topposite\thill.\tYou\tcan\tget\ta\twonderful\tview\tof Gangtok\tfrom\tthere.\tThat\tis\twhere\tI\twas\tthat\tmorning,\ttaking\tphotos\tof\tthis\tview.\tMr\tShelvankar\thad o ffer ed\t to \t pick\t me\t up\t o n\t his\t way.\t But\t his\t jeep\t never \t g o t\t to \t the\t spo t\t wher e\t I\t was\t standing .\t I\t hear d\t a noise\tas\tI\twas\tclicking,\twhich\tmade\tme\tturn\taround.\tWhat\tI\tsaw\tfrom\twhere\tI\twas\tstanding\thas\tbeen captured\tin\tthese\tphotos\tthat\tI\ttook\twith\tmy\ttelephoto\tlens.\u2019 It\twas\ta\tstrange\tphoto.\tMost\tof\tthe\tdetails\twere\tclear,\talthough\tit\thad\tbeen\ttaken\tfrom\ta\tdistance.\tA jeep\t was\t sliding\t down\t a\t hill.\t A\t few\t feet\t above\t it,\t a\t man\t was\t standing\t on\t the\t road,\t looking\t at\t the falling\tjeep.\tThis\twas\tprobably\tthe\tdriver.\tHe\twas\twearing\ta\tblue\tjacket.\tHis\tface\tcouldn\u2019t\tbe\tseen Helmut\ttook\tout\tthe\tsecond\tphoto.\tThis\twas\teven\tstranger.\tTaken\ta\tfew\tseconds\tafter\tthe\tfirst\tone, it\tshowed\tthe\tjeep\tlying\twrecked\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\thill.\tNext\tto\tit,\tbehind\ta\tbush,\tthere\twas\ta\tpartially hidden\tfigure\tof\ta\tman\tin\ta\tdark\tsuit,\tlying\ton\tthe\tground.\tThe\tdriver\twas\tstill\tstanding\ton\tthe\troad, this\ttime\twith\this\tback\tto\tthe\tcamera,\tlooking\tup\tat\tthe\thill.\tRight\ton\ttop\tof\tthe\thill\twas\tanother\tman, bending\tover\ta\trock.\tHis\tface\twas\tjust\tas\tunclear,\tbut\the\twas\twearing\tred\tclothes. In\tthe\tthird\tphotograph,\tthis\tman\tin\tred\tcould\tnot\tbe\tseen\tat\tall.\tThe\tdriver\twas\trunning\u2014in\tfact,\the had\tnearly\tshot\tout\tof\tthe\tframe.\tThe\tjeep\tand\tthe\tman\tin\tthe\tdark\tsuit\twere\tstill\tlying\ton\tthe\tground. And\tthe\trock\tthat\twas\ton\ttop\tof\tthe\thill\twas\tnow\tlying\ton\tthe\troad,\tbroken\tto\tpieces. \u2018Remarkable!\u2019\tFeluda\texclaimed.\t\u2018I\thave\tnever\tseen\tphotographs\tlike\tthese!\u2019 \u2018Well,\tit\tisn\u2019t\toften\tthat\tone\tgets\tsuch\tan\topportunity,\u2019\tHelmut\treplied\tdryly. \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tdo\tafter\ttaking\tthese\tpictures?\u2019 \u2018I\t returned\t to\t Gangtok\t on\t foot.\t By\t the\t time\t I\t could\t walk\t across\t to\t the\t spot\t where\t the\t jeep\t had fallen,\tMr\tShelvankar\thad\tbeen\ttaken\taway.\tAll\tI\tcould\tsee\twas\tthe\tbroken\tjeep\tand\tthe\tshattered\trock. I\theard\tabout\tthe\taccident\tthe\tminute\tI\treached\tGangtok.\tI\tthen\twent\tstraight\tto\tthe\thospital\twhere\tMr Shelvankar\thad\tbeen\ttaken.\tHe\tremained\talive\tfor\ta\tcouple\tof\thours\tafter\tI\tgot\tthere.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\ttell\tanyone,\tabout\tthe\tphotographs?\u2019","\u2018No.\tThere\twas\tno\tpoint,\tat\tleast\tnot\tuntil\tI\tcould\thave\tthe\tfilm\tdeveloped,\tand\tuse\tit\tas\tevidence. Yet,\t I\t knew\t it\t was\t not\t an\t accident,\t but\t murder.\t Had\t I\t been\t a\t little\t closer,\t the\t face\t of\t the\t murderer might\thave\tbeen\tclearer\tin\tthe\tpicture.\u2019 Feluda\t to o k\t o ut\t a\t mag nifying \t g lass\t and\t beg an\t examining \t the\t lar g e\t pr ints\t ag ain.\t \u2018I\t wo nder \t if\t that man\tin\tred\tis\tVirendra?\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018That\u2019s\timpossible!\u2019\tHelmut\tdeclared.\tThere\twas\tsomething\tin\this\tvoice\tthat\tmade\tus\tboth\tlook\tat him\tin\tsurprise. \u2018Why?\tHow\tcan\tyou\tbe\tso\tsure?\u2019 \u2018Because\tI\tam\tVirendra\tShelvankar.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019\tFor\tthe\tfirst\ttime,\tI\tsaw\tFeluda\tgo\tround-eyed. \u2018What\t do\t you\t mean?\t How\t can\t you\t be\t Virendra?\t You\t are\t white,\t you\t have\t blue\t eyes,\t you\t speak English\twith\ta\tGerman\taccent,\tyour\tname\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Please\tlet\tme\texplain.\tYou\tsee,\tmy\tfather\tmarried\ttwice.\tMy\tmother\twas\this\tfirst\twife.\tShe\twas\ta Ger man.\t She\t met\t my\t father \t in\t Heidelbur g \t when\t he\t was\t a\t student.\t T hat\t was\t wher e\t they\t g o t\t mar r ied. Her\tmaiden\tname\twas\tUngar.\tWhen\tI\tleft\tIndia\tand\tsettled\tin\tGermany,\tI\tstarted\tusing\tthis\tname,\tand changed\tmy\tfirst\tname\tfrom\tVirendra\tto\tHelmut.\u2019 My\thead\tstarted\treeling.\tHelmut\twas\tShelvankar \u2019s\tson?\tOf\tcourse,\tif\the\thad\ta\tGerman\tmother,\tthat would\texplain\this\tlooks. \u2018Why\tdid\tyou\tleave\thome?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tafter\ta\tbrief\tpause.\t\u2018Five\tyears\tafter\tmy\tmother\tdied,\tmy father\tmarried\tagain.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tbring\tmyself\tto\taccept\tthis.\tI\tloved\tmy\tmother\tvery\tmuch.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\tthat I\t did\t not\t care\t for\t my\t father,\t but\t somehow\t when\t he\t remarried,\t I\t began\t to\t hate\t him.\t In\t the\t end,\t I thought\tleaving\thome\twas\tthe\tonly\tthing\tI\tcould\tdo\tto\tsolve\tmy\tproblems.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\teasy\tto\ttravel\tto Europe\ton\tmy\town,\tand\tmake\ta\tnew\tbeginning.\tFor\tabout\teight\tyears,\tI\tmoved\tfrom\tplace\tto\tplace, and\t job\t to\t job.\t Then\t I\t studied\t photography,\t and\t finally\t started\t to\t make\t money.\t A\t few\t years\t ago,\t I happened\t to\t be\t in\t Florence\t working\t on\t an\t assignment.\t A\t friend\t of\t my\t father \u2019s\t saw\t me\t there\t and recognized\t me.\t He\t came\t back\t and\t told\t my\t father\t about\t it,\t after\t which\t he\t approached\t a\t detective agency\tto\ttrack\tme\tdown.\tWhen\tI\tcame\tto\tknow\tabout\tthis,\tI\tgrew\ta\tbeard\tand\tchanged\tthe\tcolour\tof my\teyes.\u2019 \u2018Contact\tlenses?\u2019 Helmut\tsmiled\tand\ttook\tthe\tlenses\tout\tof\this\teyes.\tHis\treal\teyes\twere\tbrown,\tjust\tlike\tmy\town.\tHe then\tput\tthe\tlenses\tback\tand\tcontinued,\t\u2018A\tyear\tago,\tI\tcame\tto\tIndia\twith\ta\tgroup\tof\thippies.\tI\thadn\u2019t stopped\tloving\tthis\tcountry.\tBut\tthen\tI\trealized\tthat\tthe\tdetective\tagency\twas\tstill\ttrying\tto\ttrace\tme.\tI went\tto\ta\tmonastery\tin\tKathmandu.\tWhen\tsomeone\tfound\tme\teven\tthere,\tI\tcame\tover\tto\tSikkim.\u2019 \u2018Wasn\u2019t\tyour\tfather\tpleased\tto\tsee\tyou?\u2019 \u2018He\tdid\tnot\trecognize\tme\tat\tall.\tI\thave\tlost\ta\tlot\tof\tweight\tsince\the\tlast\tsaw\tme.\tBesides,\tmy\tlong hair,\t my\t bear d\t and\t blue\t eyes\t must\t have\t all\t wo r ked\t to g ether \t to \t sto p\t him\t fr o m\t r eco g nizing \t his\t o wn son.\tHe\ttold\tme\tabout\tVirendra,\tand\thow\tmuch\the\tmissed\thim.\tBy\tthis\ttime,\tI,\ttoo,\thad\tforgotten\tmy earlier\tdislike\tof\tmy\tfather.\tAfter\tall,\twhatever\thappened\tbetween\tus\twas\tnow\tin\tthe\tpast.\tBut\twhen\the failed\tto\trecognize\tme,\tI\tdid\tnot\ttell\thim\twho\tI\twas.\tI\tprobably\twould\thave\ttold\thim\teventually,\tbut.\t.\t. well,\tI\tnever\tgot\tthe\tchance.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tany\tidea\twho\tthe\tmurderer\tmight\tbe?\u2019","\u2018May\tI\tspeak\tfrankly?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tthink\twe\tshould\tlet\tDr\tVaidya\tescape.\u2019 \u2018I\tagree\twith\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\tlowering\this\tvoice. \u2018I\t beg an\t to \t suspect\t him\t the\t minute\t he\t mentio ned\t the\t name\t o f\t Vir endr a\t that\t evening \t in\t my\t r o o m. Obvio usly,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t kno w\t I\t was\t the\t same\t per so n.\t I\t think\t he\t is\t a\t fir st\t class\t cheat,\t and\t I\t bet\t it\t was\t he who\ttook\tthat\tstatue.\u2019 \u2018When\tMr\tShelvankar\tset\tout\tthat\tmorning,\twas\the\talone?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\tleft\tquite\tearly,\tyou\tsee.\tDr\tVaidya\tmay\twell\thave\tstopped\tthe\tjeep\ton\tthe\tway\tand asked\tfor\ta\tlift.\tNaturally,\tat\tthat\tstage,\tmy\tfather\thad\tno\treason\tto\tsuspect\thim.\tIn\tany\tcase,\the\twas\ta simple\tman.\tHe\ttrusted\teveryone.\u2019 Feluda\t stood\t up\t and\t began\t pacing.\t Then\t he\t stopped\t abruptly\t and\t said,\t \u2018Would\t you\t like\t to\t go\t to Pemiangchi\twith\tus? \u2018Yes.\tI\tam\tprepared\tto\tgo\tanywhere\tto\tcatch\tmy\tfather \u2019s\tkiller.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\thow\tfar\tit\tis?\u2019 \u2018About\ta\thundred\tmiles\tfrom\there.\tIf\tthe\troads\tare\tgood,\twe\tcan\tget\tthere\tin\tless\tthan\tsix\thours.\tI think\twe\tshould\tleave\ttoday,\tas\tsoon\tas\tpossible.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyou\u2019re\tright.\tI\u2019ll\ttry\tto\tfind\ta\tjeep.\u2019 \u2018OK,\tand\tI\u2019ll\tget\trooms\tbooked\tat\tthe\tdak\tbungalow\tin\tPemiangchi.\tBy\tthe\tway\u2014\u2019\tHelmut\tturned back\t from\t the\t doorway,\t \u2018a\t dangerous\t man\t like\t him\t may\t well\t be\t armed.\t I\t have\t nothing\t except\t a flashgun.\tDo\tyou\u2014?\u2019 Without\ta\tword,\tFeluda\tslipped\ta\thand\tinside\this\tsuitcase\tand\tbrought\tout\this\trevolver.\t\u2018And\there\u2019s my\t card,\u2019\t he\t said,\t handing\t one\t of\t his\t cards\t of\t Helmut.\t \u2018Pradosh\t C.\t Mitter,\t Private\t Investigator \u2019,\t it said. Unfortunately,\t we\t couldn\u2019t\t get\t a\t jeep\t that\t day.\t The\t few\t there\t were\t had\t all\t been\t hired\t by\t American tourists\t for\t a\t day\t trip\t to\t Rumtek.\t We\t booked\t one\t for\t the\t next\t morning\t and\t spent\t the\t day\t walking around\tin\tthe\tstreets\tof\tGangtok. We\tran\tinto\tMr\tSarkar\tnear\tthe\tmain\tmarket.\t\u2018We\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tPemiangchi\ttomorrow,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold him.\t\u2018Would\tyou\tlike\tto\tjoin\tus?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tsure.\tThanks!\u2019 In\tthe\tevening,\the\tcame\tto\tour\troom\tcarrying\ta\tstrange\tobject.\tA\tsmall\twhite\tbundle\twas\ttied\tat\tthe end\tof\ta\tstick.\t\u2018I\tbet\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tguess\twhat\tthis\tis,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tbeaming.\t\u2018This\tis\tactually\tused\tto\tget\trid\tof leeches.\tThis\tsmall\tbundle\tcontains\tsalt\tand\ttobacco.\tIf\ta\tleech\tattaches\titself\tto\tyour\tfoot,\tjust\trub\tit once\twith\tthis\tstick\tand\tit\u2019s\tbound\tto\tdrop\toff.\u2019 \u2018But\thow\tcan\ta\tleech\tattack\tanyone\tthrough\theavy\tleather\tboots\tand\tnylon\tsocks?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\tbut\tI\u2019ve\tseen\tleeches\tslip\tthrough\teven\tvery\tthick\tlayers\tof\tclothes.\tThe\tfunny\tthing about\tleeches\tis\tthat\tthey\tcan\u2019t\tsee.\tSuppose\ta\tnumber\tof\tpeople\twere\twalking\tin\tsingle\tfile,\tno\tleech wo uld\t attack\t the\t per so n\t at\t the\t head\t o f\t the\t file.\t It\t wo uld\t simply\t pick\t up\t the\t vibr atio ns\t cr eated\t by\t his movements.\t Then\t it\t would\t get\t ready\t to\t strike\t as\t the\t second\t person\t passed\t it\t by;\t and\t for\t the\t third, there\twould\tbe\tno\tescape\tat\tall.\tHe\twould\tdefinitely\tget\tbitten.\u2019 We\tdecided\tto\ttake\tfour\tsimilar\tsticks\twith\tus\tthe\tnext\tday.","\u2018It\u2019s\tBuddha\tPurnima\tthe\tday\tafter\ttomorrow,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked\tas\twe\twere\tgetting\tready\tfor\tbed. \u2018There\twill\tbe\ta\tbig\tcelebration\there.\u2019 \u2018Shall\twe\tget\tto\tsee\tit?\u2019 \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know.\t But\t if\t we\t can\t catch\t the\t man\t who\t killed\t Mr\t Shelvankar,\t that\t will\t make\t up\t for everything\twe\tmiss\tseeing.\u2019 The\t sky\t remained\t clear\t that\t night.\t I\t spent\t a\t long\t time\t looking\t at\t a\t moon\t that\t was\t nearly\t full. Kanchenjunga\tgleamed\tin\tits\tlight. T he\t next\t day,\t the\t fo ur \t o f\t us\t left\t fo r \t Pemiang chi\t at\t five\t in\t the\t mo r ning ,\t with\t just\t a\t few\t essentials. Mr\tSarkar\tdid\tnot\tforget\tthe\t\u2018leech-proof\u2019\tsticks.","Eleven There\t were\t two\t routes\t to\t Pemiangchi.\t Unfortunately,\t we\t couldn\u2019t\t take\t the\t shorter\t one\t as\t the\t main road\thad\tbeen\tdamaged.\tTaking\tthe\tlonger\troute\tmeant\tspending\tat\tleast\teight\thours\ton\tthe\tjourney. Pemiangchi\t was\t a\t hundred\t and\t twenty-seven\t miles\t away.\t But\t it\t couldn\u2019t\t be\t helped.\t Our\t hotel\t had g iven\t us\t packed\t lunches,\t and\t we\t had\t two \t flasks.\t One\t was\t full\t o f\t ho t\t co ffee,\t the\t o ther \t had\t water.\t So there\twas\tno\tneed\tfor\tus\tto\tstop\tanywhere\tfor\tlunch,\twhich\twould\thave\ttaken\tup\ta\tlot\tof\ttime. Helmut\twas\tcarrying\tonly\tone\tcamera\ttoday.\tMr\tSarkar,\tI\tnoticed,\thad\tpacked\ta\tpair\tof\tgaloshes. \u2018No\tpoint\tin\ttaking\trisks,\u2019\the\ttold\tme.\t\u2018This\tis\tcent\tper\tcent\tsafe.\u2019 \u2018Cent\tper\tcent?\tWhat\tif\ta\tleech\tfell\ton\tyour\thead\tfrom\ta\ttree?\u2019 \u2018No,\t that\u2019s\t not\t likely.\t That\t happens\t in\t July\t and\t August.\t Leeches\t are\t normally\t to\t be\t found\t on\t the ground\tat\tthis\ttime\tof\tthe\tyear.\u2019 Mr \t Sar kar \t didn\u2019t\t kno w\t we\t wer e\t g o ing \t in\t sear ch\t o f\t a\t cr iminal.\t He\t was\t ther efo r e\t per fectly\t happy and\trelaxed. We\t reached\t Singtham\t at\t a\t quarter\t past\t six.\t We\t had\t passed\t through\t this\t town\t on\t our\t way\t to Gangtok.\tA\tleft\tturn\tbrought\tus\tto\tthe\triver\tTista\tagain.\tWe\tcrossed\tit\tand\tfound\tourselves\ton\ta\troad none\t of\t us\t knew.\t This\t led\t straight\t to\t Pemiangchi.\t The\t jeep\t we\t were\t in\t wasn\u2019t\t new,\t but\t was\t in reasonably\t good\t condition.\t Its\t driver\t looked\t like\t a\t bandit\t from\t a\t Western\t film.\t He\t was\t dressed purely\tin\tblack\u2014the\ttrousers,\tshirt\tand\tthe\tleather\tjerkin\the\twore\twere\tall\tblack.\tEven\tthe\tcap\ton\this head\t was\t dark\t enough\t to\t qualify\t as\t black.\t He\t was\t too\t tall\t to\t be\t a\t Nepali,\t but\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t figure\t out where\the\twas\tfrom.\tFeluda\tasked\thim\this\tname.\t\u2018Thondup,\u2019\the\treplied. \u2018That\u2019s\t a\t Tibetan\t name,\u2019\t said\t Mr\t Sarkar,\t looking\t knowledgeable.\t We\t drove\t in\t silence\t for\t about twenty\tkilometres.\tThe\tnext\ttown\ton\tthe\tway\tto\tPemiangchi\twas\tNamchi.\tJust\tas\twe\tgot\tclose\tto\tit,\ta jeep\tbehind\tus\tstarted\tblowing\tits\thorn\tloudly.\tThondup\tmade\tno\tattempt\tto\tlet\tit\tpass. \u2018Why\tis\the\tin\tsuch\ta\thurry?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No\tidea,\tsir.\tBut\tif\twe\tlet\tit\tgo\tahead,\tit\u2019ll\tonly\tblow\tup\tclouds\tof\tdust.\u2019 Thondup\tincreased\this\tspeed.\tBut\tthe\tsound\tof\tthe\thorn\tfrom\tthe\tother\tjeep\tgot\tmore\tinsistent.\tMr Sarkar\t turned\t around\t irritably\t to\t see\t who\t it\t was.\t Then\t he\t exclaimed,\t \u2018Why,\t look,\t it\u2019s\t that\t same gentleman!\u2019 \u2018Who?\u2019\t Feluda\t and\t I\t turned\t and\t saw,\t to\t our\t amazement,\t that\t Mr\t Bose\t was\t in\t the\t other\t jeep,\t still honking\tand\twaving\tmadly. \u2018You\u2019ll\thave\tto\tstop\tfor\ta\tminute,\tThondupji,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018That\u2019s\ta\tfriend\tof\tours.\u2019 Thondup\tpulled\tup\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\troad.\tMr\tBose\tcame\tbounding\tout\tof\tthe\tother\tjeep.\t\u2018Are\tyou deaf\tor\twhat?\u2019\the\tdemanded.\t\u2018I\tyelled\tmyself\thoarse\tin\tSingtham,\tbut\tnone\tof\tyou\theard\tme!\u2019 \u2018Sorry,\tvery\tsorry,\tMr\tBose.\tIf\twe\tknew\tyou\twere\tback,\twe\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tleft\twithout\tyou,\u2019\tFeluda apologized.","\u2018I\tcould\thardly\tstay\ton\tin\tBombay\tafter\treceiving\tyour\ttelegram.\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tfollowing\tyour\tjeep\tfor miles.\u2019 Thondup\twas\tabsolutely\tright\tabout\tthe\tdust.\tMr\tBose\twas\tcovered\twith\tit\tfrom\thead\tto\tfoot,\tlike an\tash-smeared\tsadhubaba,\tthanks\u2014no\tdoubt\u2014to\tthe\twheels\tof\tour\town\tjeep. \u2018In\t yo ur \t teleg r am\t yo u\t said\t yo u\t wer e\t suspicio us\t abo ut\t so mething .\t So \t wher e\t ar e\t yo u\t o ff\t to \t no w? Why\tdid\tyou\tleave\tGangtok?\u2019 Instead\tof\tgiving\thim\ta\tstraight\tanswer,\tFeluda\tasked,\t\u2018Do\tyou\thave\ta\tlot\tof\tluggage?\u2019 \u2018No,\tjust\ta\tsuitcase.\u2019 \u2018In\t that\t case,\t why\t do n\u2019t\t we\t mo ve\t o ur \t o wn\t lug g ag e\t into \t yo ur \t jeep,\t and\t yo u\t can\t climb\t in\t with\t us? I\u2019ll\tfill\tyou\tin.\u2019 It\ttook\tonly\ta\tcouple\tof\tminutes\tto\ttransfer\tall\tthe\tluggage.\tMr\tBose\tclimbed\tin\tat\tthe\tback\twith\tMr Sarkar\tand\tHelmut,\tand\twe\tset\toff\tagain.\tFeluda\ttold\tMr\tBose\tbriefly\twhat\thad\thappened\tover\tthe\tlast two\t days.\t He\t even\t revealed\t that\t Helmut\t was\t Mr\t Shelvankar \u2019s\t son.\t Mr\t Bose\t frowned\t when\t Feluda finished.\t\u2018But\twho\tis\tthis\tDr\tVaidya?\tHe\u2019s\tbound\tto\tbe\ta\tfraud.\tYou\tshould\tnot\thave\tallowed\thim\tto get\taway,\tMr\tMitter.\tYou\tcould\thave\u2014\u2019 Feluda\tinterrupted\thim.\t\u2018My\tsuspicions\tfell\ton\thim\twhen\tI\tlearnt\tabout\tHelmut\u2019s\ttrue\tidentity.\tYou are\tpartly\tto\tblame,\tMr\tBose.\tYou\tshould\thave\ttold\tus\tyour\tpartner \u2019s\tfirst\twife\twas\ta\tGerman.\u2019 \u2018Ho w\t was\t I\t to \t kno w\t that\t wo uld\t matter ?\t Besides,\t all\t I\t knew\t was\t that\t she\t was\t a\t fo r eig ner.\t I\t had\t no idea\t abo ut\t her \t natio nality.\t Shelvankar \t mar r ied\t her \t abo ut\t twenty-five\t year s\t ag o .\t Anyway,\t I\t just\t ho pe that\tVaidya\thasn\u2019t\tleft\tPemiangchi.\tOr\tour\tentire\tjourney\twill\tcome\tto\tnothing!\u2019 We\treached\tNamchi\ta\tlittle\tafter\tten.\tHere\twe\tstopped\tfor\ta\tfew\tminutes,\tto\tpour\tcold\twater\tinto\tthe engine,\t and\t hot\t coffee\t into\t ourselves.\t I\t could\t see\t clouds\t gathering\t in\t the\t sky,\t but\t wasn\u2019t\t unduly worried\tsince\tI\u2019d\theard\tNamchi\twas\tconsidered\tby\tmany\tto\tbe\tthe\tdriest\tand\tcleanest\tplace\tin\tSikkim. Helmut\twas\ttaking\tphotographs,\tmore\tout\tof\thabit\tthan\tany\treal\tinterest.\tHe\thad\thardly\tspoken\tsince we\tleft. Now\tthat\tMr\tSarkar\thad\tlearnt\tthe\treal\treason\tfor\tgoing\tto\tPemiangchi,\the\tseemed\tfaintly\tuneasy; but\t the\t pr o spect\t o f\t having \t an\t adventur e\t was\t o bvio usly\t just\t as\t appealing .\t \u2018With\t yo ur \t co usin\t o n\t o ne side,\tand\tthe\tGerman\tVirendra\ton\tthe\tother,\tI\tsee\tno\treason\tto\tworry,\u2019\the\tdeclared\tto\tme. We\t left\t Namchi\t after\t ten\t minutes.\t The\t road\t went\t down\t from\t here,\t towards\t another\t river\t called Rangeet.\tThis\triver\twas\tvery\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\tTista.\tIts\twater\twas\tclear,\twith\ta\tgreenish\ttinge,\tand\tit flowed\twith\tconsiderable\tforce.\tPools\tof\tfoam\tformed\twhere\tit\tstruck\tagainst\tstones\tand\trocks.\tI\thad never\t seen\t such\t a\t beautiful\t river\t in\t the\t hills.\t We\t had\t to\t cross\t another\t bridge\t and\t climb\t up\t the\t hill again\tto\tget\tto\tPemiangchi,\twhich\twas\tat\ta\theight\tof\t9,000\tfeet. As\t we\t wo und\t o ur \t way\t up,\t I\t co uld\t see\t evidence\t o f\t landslides\t almo st\t ever ywher e.\t The\t thick\t g r een foliage\t on\t the\t hills\t had\t large\t gaps\t here\t and\t there.\t Great\t chunks\t of\t the\t hill\t had\t clearly\t slid\t down to war ds\t the\t r iver.\t Heaven\t knew\t ho w\t lo ng \t it\t wo uld\t take\t natur e\t to \t r epair \t the\t damag e\t caused\t by\t these \u2018young\tmountains\u2019! We\tpassed\ta\tgumpha\ton\tthe\tway.\tOutside\tits\tentrance\twere\ta\tlot\tof\tflags\tstrung\tfrom\ta\tthin\trope,\tto ward\t off\t evil\t spirits.\t Each\t of\t them\t looked\t clean\t and\t fresh.\t \u2018Preparations\t for\t Buddha\t Purnima,\u2019 explained\tMr\tBose. \u2018When\tis\tit?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda\tabsent-mindedly.","\u2018Buddha\tPurnima?\tTomorrow,\tI\tthink.\tOn\tseventeenth\tApril.\u2019 \u2018Seventeenth\t April\t .\t .\t .\t on\t the\t Indian\t calendar\t that\t would\t be\t the\t fourth\t of\t Baisakh\t .\t .\t .\t hmm\t .\t .\t . Baisakh\t.\t.\t.\t\u2019 I\t lo o ked\t at\t Feluda\t in\t sur pr ise.\t Why\t was\t he\t suddenly\t so \t co ncer ned\t abo ut\t dates?\t And\t why\t was\t he looking\tso\tgrim?\tWhy\twas\the\tcracking\this\tknuckles? There\twas\tno\topportunity\tto\task\thim.\tOur\tjeep\thad\tentered\ta\tforest.\tThe\troad\there\thad\tbeen\tbadly damag ed\t by\t the\t r ecent\t r ains.\t Tho ndup\t cr awled\t alo ng \t with\t extr eme\t car e,\t despite\t which\t ther e\t wer e\t a few\t nasty\t bumps.\t One\t o f\t these\t r esulted\t in\t Mr \t Sar kar \t bang ing \t his\t head\t ag ainst\t the\t r o o f\t o f\t the\t jeep. \u2018Bloody\thell!\u2019\tI\theard\thim\tmutter. The\tforest\tgrew\tthicker\tand\tdarker.\tHelmut\tpointed\tat\ta\ttall\ttree\twith\tdark\tgreen\tleaves\tand\ta\tlight bark,\t and\t said,\t \u2018That\u2019s\t a\t birch.\t If\t you\t ever\t went\t to\t England,\t you\u2019d\t get\t to\t see\t a\t lot\t of\t them.\u2019\t There wer e\t tr ees\t o n\t bo th\t sides.\t The\t r o ad\t co iled\t upwar ds\t like\t a\t snake.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t dar k\t inside\t the\t fo r est, but\talso\tmuch\tmore\tdamp.\tFrom\tsomewhere\tcame\tthe\tsharp\tcry\tof\ta\tstrange\tbird. \u2018Th-thrilling,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tSarkar.\tSuddenly,\twithout\tany\twarning,\tthe\ttrees\tcleared.\tWe\tfound ourselves\t in\t front\t of\t a\t hillock,\t under\t an\t overcast\t sky.\t A\t few\t moments\t later,\t the\t tiled\t roof\t of\t a bungalow\tcame\tinto\tview,\tfollowed\tby\tthe\twhole\tbuilding. This\twas\tthe\tfamous\tdak\tbungalow\tof\tPemiangchi.\tBuilt\tduring\tBritish\ttimes,\tit\tstood\tat\ta\tspot\tthat was\ttruly\tout\tof\tthis\tworld.\tRows\tand\trows\tof\tpeaks\trose\tbehind\tthe\tbungalow,\ttheir\tcolours\tranging from\tlush\tgreen\tto\ta\thazy\tblue. Our\tjeep\tstopped\toutside\tthe\tfront\tdoor.\tThe\tchowkidar\tcame\tout.\tOn\tbeing\ttold\twho\twe\twere,\the nodded\tand\tconfirmed\tthat\trooms\thad\tbeen\tbooked\tfor\tus. \u2018Is\tthere\tanyone\telse\tstaying\there?\u2019\tasked\tMr\tBose. \u2018No,\tsir.\tThe\tbungalow\u2019s\tempty.\u2019 \u2018Empty?\tWhy,\tdid\tno\tone\tcome\there\tbefore\tus?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tanxiously. \u2018Yes,\tbut\the\tleft\tlast\tnight.\tA\tman\twith\ta\tbeard,\tand\the\twore\tdark\tglasses.\u2019","Twelve The\t chowkidar \u2019s\t words\t appeared\t to\t disappoint\t Helmut\t the\t most.\t He\t sat\t down\t on\t the\t grass\t outside, placing\this\tcamera\tbeside\thim. Mr\t Bose\t said,\t \u2018Well,\t there\u2019s\t nothing\t we\t can\t do\t immediately,\t can\t we?\t Let\u2019s\t have\t lunch.\t I\u2019m starving.\u2019 We\twent\tinto\tthe\tbungalow\tcarrying\tour\tluggage.\tIt\twas\tobvious\tthat\tthe\tbungalow\thad\tbeen\tbuilt several\tdecades\tago.\tThe\twooden\tfloor\tand\tceiling,\tthe\twide\tverandas\twith\twooden\trailings\tand\told- fashioned\tfurniture\tall\tbore\tevidence\tof\tan\tera\tgone\tby.\tThe\tview\tfrom\tthe\tveranda\twas\tbreathtaking. If\tthe\tsky\twasn\u2019t\tcloudy,\twe\twould\thave\tbeen\table\tto\tsee\tKanchenjunga,\twhich\twas\ttwenty-two\tmiles away.\tThere\twas\tno\tnoise\tanywhere\texcept\tthe\tchirping\tof\tbirds. We\tcrossed\tthe\tveranda\tand\twent\tinto\tthe\tdining\thall.\tMr\tBose\tfound\tan\teasy\tchair\tand\ttook\tit.\tHe said\t to\t Feluda,\t \u2018I\t wasn\u2019t\t too\t sure\t about\t Vaidya\t before,\t although\t you\t did\t tell\t me\t you\t had\t your suspicio ns.\t But\t no w\t I\u2019m\t co nvinced\t he\u2019s\t o ur \t man.\t SS\t sho uld\t never \t have\t sho wn\t him\t such\t a\t valuable object\tas\tthat\tstatue.\u2019 Helmut\thad\trisen\tto\this\tfeet,\tbut\thadn\u2019t\tjoined\tus.\tI\tcould\tsee\thim\tpacing\tin\tthe\tveranda\toutside.\tMr Sar kar \t went\t inside,\t po ssibly\t to \t lo o k\t fo r \t a\t bathr o o m.\t Feluda\t beg an\t to \t inspect\t the\t o ther \t r o o ms\t in\t the bungalow.\t I\t sat\t quietly\t in\t the\t dining\t hall,\t feeling\t most\t depressed.\t Was\t our\t journey\t really\t going\t to turn\tout\tto\tbe\ta\tcomplete\twaste\tof\ttime? There\twere\ttwo\tdoors\ton\tone\tside,\tleading\tto\ttwo\tbedrooms.\tFeluda\tcame\tout\tof\tone\tof\tthese\twith a\twalking-stick\tin\this\thand.\t\u2018Dr\tVaidya\tmost\tcertainly\tvisited\tthis\tplace,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018and\the\tleft\tthis stick\t to \t pr o ve\t it.\t Ho w\t ver y\t str ang e!\u2019\t Feluda\u2019s\t vo ice\t so unded\t differ ent.\t I\t lo o ked\t up\t quickly,\t but\t said nothing.\tMr\tSarkar\treturned,\twiping\this\tface\twith\ta\thandkerchief.\t\u2018What\ta\tweird\tplace!\u2019\the\texclaimed, taking\tthe\tchair\tnext\tto\tmine,\tyawning\tnoisily.\tFeluda\tdid\tnot\tsit\tdown.\tHe\tstood\tbefore\tthe\tfireplace, tapping\tthe\tstick\tsoftly\ton\tthe\tground.\tHis\tmouth\twas\tset\tin\ta\tgrim\tline. \u2018Mr\tSarkar!\u2019\tcalled\tMr\tBose.\t\u2018Where\tare\tthose\tpacked\tlunches\tyour\thotel\tgave\tyou?\tLet\u2019s\teat.\u2019 \u2018No!\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\this\tvoice\tsounding\tcold\tand\tremote.\t\u2018This\tis\tnot\tthe\ttime\tto\teat.\u2019 Mr\tSarkar\thad\tstarted\tto\trise.\tHe\tflopped\tback\tin\this\tchair\tat\tFeluda\u2019s\twords.\tMr\tBose\tand\tI\tboth looked\tat\thim\tin\tsurprise.\tBut\tFeluda\u2019s\tface\tremained\twithout\texpression. Then\t he\t sat\t down,\t lit\t a\t Charminar\t and\t inhaled\t deeply.\t \u2018Mr\t Bose,\u2019\t he\t said\t conversationally,\t \u2018you know\t someone\t in\t Ghatshila,\t you\t said.\t Isn\u2019t\t that\t where\t you\t were\t before\t you\t caught\t a\t flight\t from Calcutta?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tA\tnephew\tof\tmine\tgot\tmarried.\u2019 \u2018You\tare\ta\tHindu,\taren\u2019t\tyou,\tMr\tBose?\u2019 \u2018Why?\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018You\theard\tme.\tWhat\tare\tyou?\tA\tHindu,\tor\ta\tMuslim,\tor\ta\tChristian,\tor\twhat?\u2019","\u2018How\tdoes\tthat\u2014?\u2019 \u2018Just\ttell\tme.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019m\ta\tHindu,\tof\tcourse.\u2019 \u2018Hm.\u2019\tFeluda\tblew\tout\ttwo\tsmoke\trings.\tOne\tof\tthem\twafted\ttowards\tMr\tBose,\tgetting\tlarger\tand larger,\tuntil\tit\tdisappeared\tin\tfront\tof\this\tface. \u2018But,\u2019\tFeluda\tfrowned,\t\u2018you\tand\tI\ttravelled\ttogether\tin\tthe\tsame\tplane.\tYou\thad\tjust\tgot\tback\tfrom Ghatshila,\thadn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\twhy\tis\tthat\tcausing\tyou\tsuch\tconcern?\tI\tcan\u2019t\tunderstand\tthis\tat\tall,\tMr\tMitter.\tWhat\thas my\tnephew\u2019s\twedding\tin\tGhatshila\tgot\tto\tdo\twith\tanything?\u2019 \u2018It\thas\tplenty\tto\tdo\twith\tthings,\tMr\tBose.\tTraditionally,\tno\tHindu\twould\tget\tmarried\tin\tthe\tmonth of\t Chaitra.\t We\t left\t Calcutta\t on\t fourteenth\t April,\t which\t was\t the\t first\t of\t Baisakh.\t Your\t nephew\u2019s wedding\ttook\tplace\tbefore\tthat,\tso\tit\tmust\thave\tbeen\tin\tthe\tpreceding\tmonth,\twhich\twas\tChaitra.\tHow did\tyou\tallow\tthis\tto\thappen?\u2019 Mr\tBose\twas\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tlighting\ta\tcigarette.\tHe\tstopped,\this\thands\tshaking\ta\tlittle.\t\u2018What\tare you\timplying,\tMr\tMitter?\tJust\twhat\tare\tyou\ttrying\tto\tsay?\u2019 Feluda\tlooked\tsteadily\tat\tMr\tBose,\twithout\tgiving\thim\tan\timmediate\tanswer.\tThen\the\tsaid,\tslowly and\tdeliberately,\t\u2018I\tam\timplying\ta\tlot\tof\tthings,\tMr\tBose.\tTo\tstart\twith,\tyou\tare\ta\tliar.\tYou\tnever\twent to\tGhatshila.\tSecondly,\tyou\tbetrayed\tsomeone\u2019s\ttrust\u2014\u2019 \u2018What\tthe\thell\tis\tthat\tsupposed\tto\tmean?\u2019\tMr\tBose\tshouted. \u2018We\thave\tall\theard\thow\tdepressed\tMr\tShelvankar\thad\tbeen\tbefore\the\tdied.\tHe\thad\teven\tmentioned it\t to \t Helmut,\t tho ug h\t he\t did\t no t\t specify\t the\t r easo n.\t It\t is\t easy\t eno ug h\t to \t g et\t to tally\t br o ken\t in\t spir it\t if o ne\t is\t betr ayed\t by\t a\t per so n\t o ne\t has\t tr usted\t implicitly.\t I\t believe\t yo u\t wer e\t that\t per so n.\t Yo u\t wer e\t his partner,\tweren\u2019t\tyou?\tMr\tShelvankar\twas\ta\tsimple,\tstraightforward\tman.\tYou\ttook\tfull\tadvantage\tof this\t and\t cheated\t him\t endlessly.\t But\t one\t day,\t he\t came\t to\t know\t of\t what\t you\t had\t done.\t When\t you realized\tthis,\tyou\tdecided\tto\tget\thim\tout\tof\tthe\tway\tforever.\tThat\twasn\u2019t\tpossible\tin\tBombay,\tso\tyou had\tto\twait\tuntil\the\tcame\tto\tSikkim.\tYou\twere\tnot\tsupposed\tto\tbe\there.\tBut\tyou\tcame\u2014possibly\tthe next\tday\u2014disguised\tas\tDr\tVaidya.\tYes,\tyou\twere\tDr\tVaidya!\tYou\tmet\tShelvankar\tand\timpressed\thim\ta great\tdeal\tby\ttelling\thim\ta\tfew\tthings\tabout\this\tlife\tthat\tyou\tknew\talready.\tThen\tyou\ttold\thim\tabout the\tpossibility\tof\tfinding\tVirendra\tin\ta\tgumpha,\tand\tleft\twith\thim\tthat\tmorning\tin\tthe\tsame\tjeep.\tOn the\t way,\t yo u\t hit\t his\t head\t with\t this\t heavy\t stick.\t This\t made\t him\t unco nscio us,\t but\t he\t did\t no t\t die.\t Yo u went\t ahead\t with\t your\t plan,\t and\t had\t the\t jeep\t pushed\t into\t the\t gorge.\t The\t driver\t had,\t no\t doubt,\t been bribed;\t that\t must\t have\t been\t easy\t enough\t to\t do.\t Then\t you\t threw\t that\t stone\t from\t the\t hill,\t using\t the same\theavy\tstick\tto\tdislodge\tit\tfrom\tthe\tground.\tIn\tspite\tof\tall\tthis,\tMr\tShelvankar\tremained\talive\tfor a\tfew\thours,\tlong\tenough\tto\tmention\tyour\tname.\tPerhaps\the\thad\trecognized\tyou\tat\tthe\tlast\tminute.\u2019 \u2018Nonsense!\tWhat\tutter\trubbish\tare\tyou\ttalking,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019\tshouted\tMr\tBose.\t\u2018Where\tis\tthe\tproof that\tI\tam\tDr\tVaidya?\u2019 In\treply,\tFeluda\tasked\thim\ta\tstrange\tquestion.\t\u2018Where\tis\tyour\tring,\tMr\tBose?\u2019 \u2018My\tring?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t the\t one\t with\t \u201cMa\u201d\t engraved\t on\t it.\t There\u2019s\t a\t white\t mark\t on\t your\t finger,\t but\t you\u2019re\t not wearing\tyour\tring.\tWhere\tdid\tit\tgo?\u2019","\u2018Oh,\t that\t .\t .\t .\u2019\t Mr \t Bo se\t swallo wed.\t \u2018I\t to o k\t it\t o ff\t because\t .\t .\t .\t because\t it\t felt\t to o \t tig ht.\u2019\t He\t to o k\t the ring\tout\tof\this\tpocket\tto\tshow\tus\the\tstill\thad\tit\twith\thim. \u2018When\t yo u\t chang ed\t yo ur \t make-up\t and\t yo ur \t co stume,\t yo u\t fo r g o t\t to \t put\t it\t back\t o n.\t I\t had\t no ticed that\t mark\t that\t evening\t when\t you\t were\t supposed\t to\t be\t talking\t to\t the\t departed\t soul\t of\t Shelvankar.\t I found\tit\todd\tthen,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tpay\tenough\tattention\tat\tthe\ttime.\u2019 Mr\t Bose\t began\t to\t rise,\t but\t Feluda\u2019s\t voice\t rang\t out\t again,\t cold\t as\t steel,\t \u2018Don\u2019t\t try\t to\t move,\t Mr Bose.\t I\t haven\u2019t\t finished.\u2019\t Mr\t Bose\t quickly\t sat\t down\t again,\t and\t began\t wiping\t his\t face.\t Feluda continued,\t\u2018The\tday\tafter\tMr\tShelvankar\tdied,\tDr\tVaidya\tsaid\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tKalimpong.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t. He\tshed\this\tdisguise,\tbecame\tSasadhar\tBose\tand\treturned\tto\tCalcutta.\tHe\thad\talready\tsent\ta\ttelegram to\t Shelvankar\t saying\t \u201cArriving\t Fourteenth\u201d.\t This\t upset\t him\t very\t much\t since\t Mr\t Bose\t wasn\u2019t supposed\t to\t be\t in\t Sikkim\t at\t all.\t Anyway,\t he\t came\t here\t on\t the\t fourteenth\t just\t to\t create\t an\t alibi\t for himself.\tThen\the\tpretended\tto\tbe\tgreatly\tdistressed\tby\this\tpartner \u2019s\tdeath\tand\tsaid\the\twould\tgo\tback to\t Bombay\t the\t next\t day.\t Again,\t he\t didn\u2019t.\t He\t remained\t in\t hiding\t somewhere\t near\t Gangtok.\t He returned\tas\tDr\tVaidya\tjust\tto\tadd\tto\tthe\tconfusion,\tand\tpretend\the\tcould\tspeak\tto\tthe\tdead.\tBut\tby\tthen he\thad\tcome\tto\tknow\tthat\tI\twas\ta\tdetective.\tSo\the\ttried\tto\tremove\tme\tfrom\tthe\tscene,\ttoo,\tby\tthrowing another\t boulder\t at\t me.\t He\t must\t have\t seen\t me\t walking\t towards\t Nathula\t Road,\t and\t had\t probably guessed\t what\t I\t was\t going\t to\t do.\t And\t it\t was\t he\t who\t had\t followed\t us\t to\t Rumtek\u2014\u2019\t Feluda\t was interrupted\t suddenly\t by\t a\t high-pitched\t wail.\t To\t my\t surprise,\t I\t discovered\t it\t was\t coming\t from\t Mr Sarkar. \u2018All\t r ig ht,\t Mr \t Sar kar,\u2019\t said\t Feluda.\t \u2018Out\t with\t it!\t And\t I\t want\t the\t tr uth.\t Why\t did\t yo u\t g o \t to \t the\t spo t where\tthe\tmurder\thad\ttaken\tplace?\u2019 Mr\t Sarkar\t raised\t his\t hands\t as\t though\t someone\t had\t shouted,\t \u2018Hands\t up!\u2019\t Then\t he\t croaked,\t \u2018I\t d- didn\u2019t\tknow,\tyou\tsee,\thow\tval-valuable\tthat\tstatue\twas.\tWhen\tthey\tt-told\tme\u2014\u2019 \u2018Was\tit\tyou\twho\twent\tto\tthe\tTibetan\tInstitute?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThey\ts-said\tit\twas\ttotally\tunique.\tSo\tI\tth-thought\u2014\u2019 \u2018So \t yo u\t tho ug ht\t ther e\t was\t no \t har m\t in\t stealing \t fr o m\t a\t dead\t man\t if\t the\t statue\t was\t still\t lying \t at\t the accident\tsite?\tEspecially\twhen\tit\thad\tonce\tbelonged\tto\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Y-yes,\tsomething\tlike\tth-that.\u2019 \u2018But\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tsee\tanyone\tat\tthat\tparticular\tspot?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tBut\tit\tappears\tthat\tsomeone\tdid\tsee\tyou\tand\twas\tafraid\tthat\tyou\thad\tseen\thim.\tHence\tthe threats\tyou\treceived.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\texplains\tit.\u2019 \u2018Where\u2019s\tthe\tstatue?\u2019 \u2018Statue?\tBut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tfind\tit!\u2019 \u2018What?\t You\u2014?\u2019\t Feluda\t was\t interrupted\t again,\t this\t time\t by\t Mr\t Bose.\t He\t jumped\t to\t his\t feet, overturning\t his\t chair,\t and\t rushed\t out\t of\t the\t room.\t Helmut,\t who\t was\t standing\t at\t the\t door,\t was knocked\tdown\tby\thim.\tSince\tthere\twas\tonly\tone\tdoor\tthat\tled\tto\tthe\tveranda\toutside,\tand\tthis\texit\twas blocked\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments\tby\tHelmut,\twho\thad\tfallen\tto\tthe\tground,\twe\twere\tdelayed\tby\tabout\tten seconds.","By\t the\t time\t all\t of\t us\t could\t get\t out,\t Mr\t Bose\t had\t climbed\t back\t into\t his\t jeep,\t and\t its\t engine\t had alr eady\t r o ar ed\t into \t life.\t No \t do ubt\t his\t dr iver \t had\t been\t war ned\t and\t pr epar ed\t fo r \t such\t an\t eventuality. His\t jeep\t made\t a\t quick\t about\t turn\t and\t began\t moving\t towards\t the\t forest.\t Without\t a\t word,\t Thondup, who\t was\t standing\t by\t our\t own\t jeep,\t threw\t himself\t back\t in\t it\t and\t started\t the\t engine,\t assuming\t we wo uld\t want\t to \t fo llo w\t Mr \t Bo se.\t As\t it\t tur ned\t o ut,\t ho wever,\t ther e\t was\t no \t need\t to \t do \t that.\t Feluda\t to o k out\t his\t revolver\t from\t his\t pocket\t and\t fired\t at\t the\t rear\t wheels\t of\t Mr\t Bose\u2019s\t jeep.\t The\t tyres\t burst instantly,\tmaking\tthe\tjeep\ttilt\tto\tone\tside,\trun\tinto\ta\ttree,\tand\tfinally\tcome\tto\ta\thalt.\tMr\tBose\tjumped out,\tand\tvanished\tamong\tthe\ttrees.\tHis\tdriver\tcame\tout,\ttoo,\tclutching\tthe\tstarting\thandle\tof\this\tjeep. Feluda\tignored\thim\tcompletely.\tHe\tran\tafter\tMr\tBose,\twith\tHelmut,\tMr\tSarkar\tand\tme\tright\tbehind him.\tOut\tof\tthe\tcorner\tof\tmy\teye,\tI\tsaw\tThondup\tpick\tup\this\town\tstarting\thandle\tand\tmove\tforward steadily,\tto\tdeal\twith\tthe\tother\tdriver. The\t fo ur \t o f\t us\t sho t\t o ff\t in\t differ ent\t dir ectio ns\t to \t lo o k\t fo r \t Mr \t Bo se.\t I\t hear d\t Helmut\t call\t o ut\t to \t us abo ut\t ten\t minutes\t later.\t By\t the\t time\t I\t fo und\t him,\t Feluda\t and\t Mr \t Sar kar \t had\t jo ined\t him\t alr eady.\t Mr Bose\t was\t standing\t under\t a\t large\t tree\t a\t few\t feet\t away.\t No,\t he\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t standing.\t He\t was\t actually hopping\taround,\tstamping\this\tfeet\tand\twriggling\tin\twhat\tappeared\tto\tbe\tabsolute\tagony. The\t reason\t became\t clear\t as\t we\t got\t closer\t to\t him.\t He\t had\t been\t attacked\t by\t leeches.\t At\t least\t two hundred\t of\t them\t were\t clinging\t to\t his\t body,\t some\t on\t his\t legs,\t others\t on\t his\t neck,\t shoulders\t and elbo ws.\t Helmut\t po inted\t at\t a\t thick\t r o o t\t that\t r an\t acr o ss\t the\t g r o und\t near \t the\t tr ee.\t Obvio usly,\t Mr \t Bo se had\tstumbled\tagainst\tit\tand\tfallen\tflat\ton\tthe\tground. Feluda\tcaught\thim\tby\this\tcollar\tand\tpulled\thim\tout\tin\tthe\topen.\t\u2018Get\tthose\tsticks\twith\tthe\tbundles\tof salt\tand\ttobacoo,\u2019\the\tsaid\tto\tme.\t\u2018Quick!\u2019 We\t had\t finished\t eating,\t and\t were\t sitting\t on\t the\t veranda\t of\t the\t dak\t bungalow.\t Helmut\t was\t taking photographs\tof\torchids.\tThondup\thad\tgone\tand\tinformed\tthe\tpolice\tin\tthe\tnearest\ttown.\tMr\tBose\thad been\t handed\t o ver \t to \t them.\t The\t statue\t o f\t Yamantak\t had\t been\t fo und\t amo ng st\t his\t belo ng ing s.\t He\t had fo r g o tten\t to \t take\t it\t fr o m\t Mr \t Shelvankar \t o n\t the\t day\t o f\t the\t mur der.\t He\t went\t back\t later \t to \t lo o k\t fo r \t it where\t the\t jeep\t had\t fallen,\t and\t found\t it\t behind\t a\t bush.\t As\t he\t was\t climbing\t up\t the\t hill,\t he\t saw\t Mr Sarkar\tgoing\tdown,\twith\tthe\tsame\tpurpose\tin\tmind.\tFearing\tthat\the\tmight\thave\tbeen\tseen,\the\tstarted threatening\tand\tfrightening\tMr\tSarkar. It\talso\tturned\tout\tthat\tMr\tBose\thad\tan\taccomplice\tin\tBombay,\twith\twhom\the\thad\tstayed\tin\ttouch.\tIt was\t this\t man\t who\t had\t answered\t Feluda\u2019s\t call,\t received\t his\t telegram\t and\t informed\t Mr\t Bose\t in Gangtok. Having\texplained\tthese\tdetails,\tFeluda\tturned\tto\tMr\tSarkar.\t\u2018You\tare\ta\tsmall-time\tcrook\tyourself, aren\u2019t\tyou?\tYou\u2019re\tlucky\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\tretrieve\tthat\tstatue.\tIf\tyou\thad,\twe\u2019d\thave\thad\tto\tfind\ta\tsuitable punishment\tfor\tyou.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ve\tbeen\tpunished\tadequately,\tbelieve\tme!\u2019\tMr\tSarkar\tsaid,\tlooking\tprofusely\tapologetic.\t\u2018I\tfound as\tmany\tas\tthree\tleeches\tin\tone\tof\tmy\tsocks.\tThey\tmust\thave\tdrunk\tgallons\tof\tmy\tblood.\tI\tfeel\tquite weak,\tas\ta\tmatter\tof\tfact.\u2019 \u2018I\t see.\t Anyway,\t I\t hope\t you\u2019ll\t have\t the\t sense\t not\t sell\t anything\t else\t that\t belonged\t to\t your grandfather.\tAnd\tlook,\there\u2019s\tyour\tbutton.\u2019 I\tnoticed\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tthat\tthe\tlast\tbutton\ton\tMr\tSarkar \u2019s\tshirt\twas\tmissing.\tMr\tSarkar\ttook\tthe button\tfrom\tFeluda\tand,\tafter\ta\tlong\ttime,\tsmiled\this\told\tsmile.","\u2018Th-thanks,\u2019\the\tsaid.","","T HE\t G O LD EN \t F O RT R ES S","One Feluda\t sto pped\t r eading \t and\t shut\t his\t bo o k\t with\t a\t bang .\t Then\t he\t snapped\t his\t fing er s\t twice,\t yawned heavily\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Geometry.\u2019 I\t asked,\t \u2018Were\t you\t reading\t a\t book\t on\t geometry\t all\t this\t while?\u2019\t The\t book\t was\t covered\t with newspaper,\tso\tI\tcould\tnot\tsee\tits\ttitle.\tAll\tI\tknew\twas\tthat\tFeluda\thad\tborrowed\tit\tfrom\tUncle\tSidhu, who \t was\t passio nate\t abo ut\t bo o ks.\t He\t bo ug ht\t quite\t a\t few,\t and\t to o k\t g r eat\t car e\t o f\t them.\t In\t fact,\t he\t did not\tlike\tlending\this\tbooks\tto\tanyone,\tbut\tFeluda\twas\tan\texception.\tFeluda\tknew\tit,\tso\the\talways\tput\ta protective\tcover\ton\tany\tbook\tthat\the\tbrought\tfrom\tUncle\tSidhu\u2019s\thouse. Feluda\tlit\ta\tCharminar\tand\tblew\tout\ttwo\tsmoke\trings,\tone\tafter\tthe\tother.\t\u2018There\tis\tno\tsuch\tthing\tas a\t book\t on\t geometry,\u2019\t he\t told\t me.\t \u2018Any\t book\t may\t be\t seen\t as\t one\t because\t everything\t around\t us\t is related\t to\t geometry.\t Did\t you\t see\t those\t smoke\t rings?\t When\t they\t left\t my\t mouth,\t they\t were\t perfect circles.\tNow\tjust\tthink.\tThere\tare\tcircles\teverywhere.\tLook\tat\tyour\town\tbody.\tThe\tiris\tin\tyour\teye\tis a\t cir cle.\t With\t the\t help\t o f\t the\t ir is,\t yo u\t can\t lo o k\t at\t the\t sun\t and\t the\t mo o n.\t If\t yo u\t think\t o f\t them\t as\t flat objects,\t they\t are\t circles,\t but\t of\t course\t they\t are\t actually\t spheres\u2014each\t a\t solid\t bubble.\t That\u2019s geometry.\t The\t planets\t in\t the\t solar\t system\t are\t orbiting\t the\t sun\t in\t elliptic\t curves.\t There\u2019s\t geometry ag ain.\t When\t yo u\t spat\t o ut\t o f\t the\t windo w\t a\t little\t while\t ag o \u2014yo u\t sho uldn\u2019t\t have\t do ne\t that,\t it\u2019s\t mo st unhygienic\tand\tif\tyou\tdo\tit\tagain,\tyou\u2019ll\tget\ta\tsharp\trap\ton\tthe\thead,\tbut\tanyway\u2014that\tspit\twent\tout\tin a\tparabolic\tcurve.\tGeometry,\tsee?\tHave\tyou\tever\tlooked\tat\ta\tspider \u2019s\tweb\tin\tany\tdetail?\tIt\tstarts\twith a\tsimple\tsquare.\tThen\ttwo\tdiagonal\tlines\trun\tthrough\tit\tand\tthe\tsquare\tis\tdivided\tinto\tfour\ttriangles. After \t that,\t the\t spider \t star ts\t weaving \t a\t spir al\t web\t fr o m\t the\t inter secting \t po int\t o f\t tho se\t diag o nal\t lines. That\tkeeps\tgrowing\tin\tsize,\tuntil\tit\tcovers\tthe\tentire\tsquare.\tIf\tyou\tthink\tabout\tit,\tyour\thead\twill\tstart reeling\t.\t.\t.\tit\u2019s\tsomething\tso\tamazing!\u2019 It\twas\ta\tSunday\tmorning.\tThe\ttwo\tof\tus\twere\tsitting\tin\tour\tliving\troom\ton\tthe\tground\tfloor.\tBaba had\tgone\tto\tvisit\this\tchildhood\tfriend,\tSubimal,\tas\the\tdid\tevery\tSunday.\tFeluda\twas\tseated\ton\ta\tsofa, his\tfeet\tresting\ton\ta\tlow\ttable. I\t was\t on\t a\t divan,\t leaning\t on\t a\t cushion\t placed\t against\t the\t wall.\t In\t my\t hand\t was\t a\t game.\t It\t was\t a maze,\tmade\tof\tplastic.\tInside\tthe\tmaze\twere\ttiny\tmetal\tballs.\tOver\tthe\tlast\thalf\thour,\tI\thad\tbeen\ttrying to\tmake\tthose\tmetal\tballs\tslip\tthrough\tthe\tvarious\tlanes\tin\tthe\tmaze\tand\tgo\tstraight\tto\tits\tcentre.\tNow I\trealized\tthat\tthe\tgame\twas\ta\tmatter\tof\tcomplex\tgeometry,\ttoo. A\t Durga\t Puja\t was\t being\t held\t in\t Nihar\t and\t Pintu\u2019s\t house,\t which\t was\t near\t ours.\t Someone\t was playing\t a\t song\t over\t a\t loudspeaker\u2014\t Yeh\t jo\t muhabbat\t hai\t from\t the\t film\t Kati\t Patang.\t Fine\t spiral grooves\ton\ta\tcircular\trecord.\tMore\tgeometry! \u2018Geometry\t applies\t not\t just\t to\t objects\t you\t can\t see,\u2019\t Feluda\t continued.\t \u2018The\t human\t mind\t often follows\tgeometric\tpatterns.\tA\tsimple\tman\u2019s\tmind\twill\trun\talong\ta\tstraight\tline.\tOthers\twho\tare\tnot\tso","simple\tmay\thave\tminds\tthat\ttwist\tand\twriggle\tlike\ta\tsnake.\tAnd\tthe\tmind\tof\ta\tlunatic?\tNo\tone\tcan\ttell how\tthat\u2019s\tgoing\tto\trun.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tmatter\tof\tthe\tmost\tconvoluted\tgeometry!\u2019 Thanks\tto\tFeluda,\tI\thad\tcome\tacross\tplenty\tof\tpeople\tfrom\tevery\tcategory.\tWhat\tkind\tof\tgeometric pattern\tdid\the\tfall\tinto?\tWhen\tI\tasked\thim,\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018You\tmight\tcall\tme\ta\tmany-pointed\tstar.\u2019 \u2018And\tI?\tAm\tI\ta\tsatellite\tof\tthat\tstar?\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tmerely\ta\tpoint,\tsomething\tthat\tindicates\ta\tposition,\tbut\thas\tno\tsignificance\tof\tits\town.\u2019 I\tlike\tto\tthink\tof\tmyself\tas\ta\tsatellite.\tThe\tonly\tproblem\tis\tthat\tI\tcannot\tplay\tthat\trole\tall\tthe\ttime.\tI managed\tto\tbe\twith\tFeluda\twhen\twe\thad\ttrouble\tin\tGangtok\tbecause\tthat\twas\tduring\tschool\tholidays. Two\t cases\t had\t followed\u2014one\t was\t a\t murder\t in\t Dhalbhoomgarh,\t and\t the\t other\t was\t to\t do\t with\t a fo r g ed\t will\t in\t Patna\u2014which\t I\t missed\t alto g ether.\t No w\t my\t scho o l\t was\t clo sed\t o nce\t ag ain\t fo r \t Puja.\t I was\twondering\tif\ta\tnew\tcase\twould\tcome\talong.\tWho\tknew\twhether\tit\treally\twould?\tBut\tthen,\tFeluda did\t tell\t me\t that\t if\t one\t badly\t wants\t something\t to\t happen,\t and\t if\t one\u2019s\t will\t is\t strong\t enough,\t then\t a par ticular \t wish\t may\t well\t co me\t tr ue,\t mo r e\t o r \t less\t auto matically.\t I\t quite\t like\t to \t think\t what\t happened that\tSunday\tmorning\twas\tsimply\ta\tresult\tof\tmy\twilling\tit. A\tsong\tfrom\tthe\tfilm\tJohnny\tMera\tNaam\thad\tjust\tstarted\ton\tthe\tloudspeaker;\tFeluda\thad\tflicked\ta quantity\t of\t ash\t into\t an\t ashtray\t and\t picked\t up\t the\t Hindustan\t Standard;\t I\t was\t toying\t with\t the\t idea\t of g o ing \t o ut,\t when\t so meo ne\t r attled\t the\t kno cker \t o n\t o ur \t do o r \t ver y\t lo udly.\t Baba,\t I\t knew,\t wo uld\t no t\t be back\tbefore\ttwelve\to\u2019clock.\tThis\thad\tto\tbe\tsomeone\telse.\tI\topened\tthe\tdoor\tand\tfound\ta\tsimple,\tmild looking\tman,\twearing\ta\tdhoti\tand\ta\tblue\tshirt. \u2018Does\ta\tPradosh\tMitter\tlive\tin\tthis\thouse?\u2019\the\tasked,\traising\this\tvoice\tto\tmake\thimself\theard.\tThe loudspeaker\twas\tmaking\tquite\ta\tracket. Feluda\t rose\t from\t the\t sofa\t and\t came\t to\t the\t door\t on\t hearing\t his\t name.\t \u2018Where\t have\t you\t come from?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018All\tthe\tway\tfrom\tShyambazar,\u2019\tthe\tman\treplied. \u2018Please\tcome\tin.\u2019 The\tman\tstepped\tinto\tthe\tliving\troom. \u2018Please\tsit\tdown.\tI\tam\tPradosh\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018Oh.\tOh,\tI\tsee.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\trealize\tyou\twere\tso\tyoung!\u2019\tThe\tman\tsat\tdown\ton\ta chair\tnext\tto\tthe\tsofa,\tlooking\tvisibly\timpressed.\tBut\tthe\tsmile\ton\this\tface\tdisappeared\talmost\tat\tonce. \u2018What\tcan\tI\tdo\tfor\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. The\t man\t clear ed\t his\t thr o at.\t \u2018I\t have\t hear d\t a\t lo t\t abo ut\t yo u\t fr o m\t Kailash\t Cho wdhur y.\t He\t seems\t to think\tvery\thighly\tof\tyou.\tHe\t.\t.\t.\the\tis\tone\tof\tmy\tcustomers,\tyou\tsee.\tMy\tname\tis\tSudhir\tDhar.\tI\thave\ta book\tshop\tin\tCollege\tStreet\u2014Dhar\t&\tCo.\tYou\tmay\thave\tseen\tit.\u2019 Feluda\tnodded\tbriefly,\tbefore\tsaying\tto\tme,\t\u2018Topshe,\tplease\tshut\tthat\twindow.\u2019 I\tshut\tthe\twindow\tthat\toverlooked\tthe\tstreet.\tThat\treduced\tthe\tnoise,\tand\tMr\tDhar\tcould\tthen\tspeak normally. \u2018About\ta\tweek\tago,\tthere\twas\ta\tpress\treport\tabout\tmy\tson.\tDid\tyou\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 \u2018Press\treport?\tWhat\tdid\tit\tsay?\u2019 \u2018About\this\tbeing\ta\tjatismar\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018About\ta\tboy\tcalled\tMukul?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019","\u2018So\tthe\treport\u2019s\ttrue?\u2019 \u2018You\tsee,\tfrom\tthe\tway\the\tspeaks,\tthe\tkind\tof\tthings\the\tsays,\tit\tdoes\tseem\tas\tif\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tMr\tDhar\tbroke off. I\tknew\twhat\tthe\tword\tjatismar\tmeant.\tA\tperson\twho\tcan\trecall\tevents\tfrom\ta\tprevious\tlife\tis\tcalled a\tjatismar.\tApparently,\tthere\tare\tpeople\twho\tget\tperiodic\tflashes\tof\tmemory\trelated\tto\ta\tlife\tthat\tthey had\t lived\t long\t before\t they\t were\t born\t in\t their\t present\t incarnation.\t Mind\t you,\t even\t Feluda\t does\t not know\twhether\tor\tnot\tthere\tis\tany\ttruth\tbehind\tthis\twhole\tbusiness. Feluda\t picked\t up\t the\t packet\t of\t Charminar\t and\t offered\t it\t to\t Mr\t Dhar,\t who\t smiled\t and\t shook\t his head.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018Per haps\t yo u\t r emember \t what\t my\t so n\t to ld\t the\t r epo r ter ?\t He\u2019s\t o nly\t eig ht,\t but\t he described\ta\tplace\twhich\the\tis\tsupposed\tto\thave\tseen.\tYet\tI\tam\tsure\tnobody\tfrom\tray\tfamily\u2014not\teven my\tforefathers\u2014has\tbeen\tthere,\tlet\talone\tmy\tson.\tWe\tare\tvery\tordinary\tpeople,\tyou\tsee.\tI\tonly\thave that\tshop,\tand\tthe\tbook\ttrade\tthese\tdays\tis\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Doesn\u2019t\tyour\tson\ttalk\tof\ta\tfortress?\u2019\tFeluda\tinterrupted\thim.\t\u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\tA\tgolden\tfortress. There\twas\ta\tcannon\ton\tits\troof,\ta\tlot\tof\tfighting,\tand\tseveral\tpeople\twere\tkilled\t.\t.\t.\tmy\tson\tsays\the has\t seen\t it\t all.\t He\t used\t to\t wear\t a\t turban\t and\t ride\t a\t camel\t on\t the\t sand.\t He\t mentions\t sand\t quite fr equently.\t And\t animals\u2014camels,\t elephants\t and\t ho r ses.\t Oh,\t and\t peaco cks.\t Ther e\t is\t a\t mar k\t near \t his elbow.\tWe\talways\tthought\tit\twas\ta\tbirthmark,\tbut\the\tsays\the\twas\tonce\tattacked\tby\ta\tpeacock,\tand\tthe mark\tshows\twhere\tthe\tbird\tpecked\thim.\u2019 \u2018Has\the\tever\tmentioned\texactly\twhere\the\tused\tto\tlive?\u2019 \u2018No,\t but\t he\t does\t say\t that\t he\t could\t see\t this\t golden\t fortress\t from\t his\t house.\t Sometimes\t he\t draws funny\t squig g les\t with\t a\t pencil\t and\t says,\t \u201cLo o k,\t that\u2019s\t my\t ho use!\u201d\t If\t yo u\t lo o k\t at\t it,\t well\t yes,\t it\t do es appear\tto\tbe\ta\thouse.\u2019 \u2018Could\the\tnot\thave\tseen\tall\tthat\tin\ta\tbook?\tI\tmean,\tyou\thave\ta\tbook\tshop,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\tSo\tmaybe\the saw\tpictures\tof\tthis\tplace\tin\ta\tbook?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t that\u2019s\t a\t possibility.\t But\t other\t children\t also\t look\t at\t pictures\t in\t books;\t they\t don\u2019t\t talk incessantly\tabout\twhat\tthey\u2019ve\tseen,\tdo\tthey?\tIf\tyou\u2019d\tseen\tmy\tson,\tyou\u2019d\tknow\twhat\tI\tmean.\tTo\ttell you\t the\t truth,\t his\t mind\t seems\t to\t be\t elsewhere.\t His\t own\t family\u2014his\t parents,\t brothers\t and\t sisters, other\trelatives\u2014no\tone\tseems\tto\tmatter\tto\thim.\tIn\tfact,\the\tdoesn\u2019t\teven\tlook\tat\tus\twhen\the\ttalks.\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\tthis\twhole\tthing\tstart?\u2019 \u2018About\ttwo\tmonths\tago.\tIt\tstarted\twith\tthose\tpictures,\tyou\tsee.\tOne\tday,\twhen\tI\tgot\tback\thome\tfrom the\tshop\u2014it\thad\trained\ta\tlot\tthat\tday\u2014my\tson\tbegan\tshowing\tme\tthe\tpictures\the\thad\tdrawn.\tAt\tfirst,\tI paid\thim\tno\tattention.\tEvery\tchild\tlikes\ttalking\tabout\timaginary\tlands,\tand\the\twas\tchattering\taway.\tSo I\tignored\thim.\tIt\twas\tmy\twife\twho\tfirst\tnoticed\tthat\tthere\twas\tsomething\todd.\tThen\twe\tlistened\tmore carefully\tto\this\twords,\tand\twatched\this\tbehaviour\tover\tthe\tnext\tfew\tweeks\t.\t.\t.\tthen,\tone\tof\tmy\tother customers,\tDr\tHemanga\tHajra\t.\t.\t.\thave\tyou\theard\tof\thim?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tparapsychologist,\tisn\u2019t\the?\tI\u2019ve\tcertainly\theard\tof\thim.\tBut\tdidn\u2019t\tthat\tpress\treport say\the\twas\tgoing\tto\ttravel\tsomewhere\twith\tyour\tson?\u2019 \u2018Not\tgoing\tto.\tHas\tgone.\tThey\u2019ve\talready\tleft.\tDr\tHajra\tcame\tto\tmy\thouse\tthree\ttimes.\tHe\tthought Mukul\twas\ttalking\tof\tRajasthan.\tSo\tI\tsaid,\tyes,\tthat\tcould\tbe\ttrue.\tThen,\tin\tthe\tend,\tDr\tHajra\ttold\tme he\twas\tdoing\tresearch\ton\tthis\twhole\tbusiness\tof\trecalling\ta\tprevious\tlife.\tHe\twanted\tto\ttake\tMukul\tto Rajputana.\t He\t thought\t that\t if\t Mukul\t could\t actually\t go\t back\t to\t the\t same\t place,\t he\t might\t remember","sever al\t o ther \t thing s,\t and\t that\t wo uld\t help\t his\t r esear ch.\t So \t he\t said\t he\u2019d\t pay\t fo r \t ever ything ,\t and\t take great\tcare\tof\tmy\tson,\tI\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tto\tworry.\u2019 \u2018And\t then?\u2019\t Feluda\t leant\t forward.\t His\t voice\t had\t changed.\t Clearly,\t he\t was\t finding\t all\t this\t quite interesting. \u2018Then\tthey\tleft,\tthat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 \u2018Didn\u2019t\tMukul\tmind\tleaving\thome?\u2019 Mr\t Dhar\t smiled\t a\t little\t wanly.\t \u2018Mind?\t Oh\t no.\t He\t was\t ready\t to\t go\t with\t Dr\t Hajra\t the\t minute\t he offered\t to\t show\t him\t the\t golden\t fortress.\t My\t son,\t you\t see,\t is\t not\t like\t other\t children.\t He\u2019s\t very differ ent.\t We\t find\t him\t awake\t at\t thr ee\t in\t the\t mo r ning \t so metimes.\t He\u2019d\t be\t humming \t a\t so ng .\t No t\t any film\t song,\t mind\t you.\t Something\t like\t a\t folk\t song,\t like\t the\t kind\t of\t music\t you\t hear\t in\t villages\u2014but cer tainly\t it\t do esn\u2019t\t co me\t fr o m\t any\t villag e\t in\t Beng al.\t T hat\t much\t I\t can\t tell\t yo u.\t I\t kno w\t a\t little\t abo ut music\t.\t.\t.\tI\tplay\tthe\tharmonium,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 Mr\t Dhar\t had\t told\t us\t a\t lot\t about\t his\t son.\t But\t he\t had\t said\t nothing\t about\t why\t he\t had\t come\t to\t see Feluda,\tor\twhy\the\tneeded\tto\tconsult\ta\tdetective.\tFeluda\u2019s\tnext\tquestion\tmade\tthe\twhole\tconversation take\ta\tdifferent\tturn. \u2018Didn\u2019t\tyour\tson\tsay\tsomething\tabout\thidden\ttreasure?\u2019 Mr\tDhar\tbegan\tto\tlook\teven\tmore\tdepressed.\t\u2018That\tis\tthe\tbiggest\tproblem!\u2019\the\tsighed.\t\u2018He\ttold\tme about\tit\tsome\ttime\tago,\tbut\twhen\the\tmentioned\tit\tto\tthe\treporter\t.\t.\t.\twell,\tthat\tproved\tdisastrous!\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\tsay\tthat?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked.\tThen\the\tcalled\tout\tto\tour\tcook\tSrinath,\tand\ttold\thim\tto\tbring tea. \u2018Let\t me\t explain,\u2019\t Mr \t Dhar \t co ntinued.\t \u2018Dr \t Hajr a\t left\t fo r \t Rajasthan\t with\t Mukul\t yester day\t mo r ning by\tthe\tToofan\tExpress.\tAnd\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhere\tin\tRajasthan\the\u2019ll\tgo?\u2019\tFeluda\tinterrupted.\t\u2018Jodhpur,\tso\the\tsaid.\tSince\tMukul had\tmentioned\tsand,\the\tsaid\the\u2019d\tstart\twith\tthe\tnorthwest.\tAnyway,\twhat\thappened\twas\tthat\tyesterday evening,\tsomeone\tkidnapped\ta\tboy\tfrom\tour\tarea.\tHe\twas\tabout\tMukul\u2019s\tage.\u2019 \u2018And\tyou\tthink\tthat\tboy\twas\tkidnapped\tby\tmistake?\tBecause\tthey\tthought\the\twas\tMukul?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t ther e\t is\t no \t questio n\t abo ut\t that.\t My\t so n\t and\t this\t o ther \t bo y\t happen\t to \t lo o k\t similar.\t T he\t o ther boy\tis\tShivratan\tMukherjee\u2019s\tgrandson.\tMr\tMukherjee\tis\tone\tof\tour\tneighbours,\the\u2019s\ta\tsolicitor.\tThe boy\tis\tcalled\tNeelu.\tThey\twere\tnaturally\tmost\tupset,\thad\tto\tcall\tthe\tpolice,\tand\tthere\twas\tan\tenormous fuss,\tas\tyou\tcan\timagine.\tBut\tnow\tthat\tthey\u2019ve\tgot\thim\tback,\tthings\thave\tcalmed\tdown.\u2019 \u2018Got\thim\tback?\tAlready?\u2019 \u2018Early\tthis\tmorning.\tBut\thow\tdoes\tthat\tmake\tany\tdifference,\ttell\tme?\tI\tam\tgoing\tmad\twith\tanxiety, I\ttell\tyou.\tThose\tkidnappers\tobviously\trealized\tthey\tgot\tthe\twrong\tboy.\tAnd\tNeelu\thas\ttold\tthem\tthat Mukul\thas\tgone\tto\tJodhpur.\tSuppose\tthey\tchase\tMukul\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tJodhpur\tjust\tto\tlay\ttheir\thands on\tthat\ttreasure?\u2019 Feluda\t did\t not\t reply.\t He\t was\t lost\t in\t thought;\t four\t deep\t lines\t had\t appeared\t on\t his\t forehead.\t My heart\twas\tbeating\tfaster.\tCould\tit\tmean\tthat\twe\u2019d\tgo\tto\tRajasthan\tduring\tthese\tPuja\tholidays?\tJodhpur, Chittor,\tUdaipur\t.\t.\t.\tI\thad\tonly\theard\tthese\tnames\tand\tread\tabout\tthese\tplaces\tin\thistory\tbooks\u2014and, of\t course,\t in\t Raj\t Kahini\t by\t Abanindranath\t Tagore.\t Uncle\t Naresh\t had\t given\t me\t a\t copy\t on\t my birthday. Srinath\tcame\tin\twith\tthe\ttea.\tHe\tplaced\tthe\ttray\ton\ta\ttable.\tFeluda\toffered\ta\tcup\tto\tMr\tDhar.","\u2018From\twhat\tI\theard\tabout\tyou\tfrom\tKailash\tChowdhury,\u2019\tMr\tDhar\tbegan\thesitantly,\t\u2018it\tappears\tthat you\t were\t most\t .\t .\t .\t er\t .\t .\t .\t I\t mean\t .\t .\t .\t anyway,\t I\t was\t just\t wondering\t if\t you\t might\t be\t able\t to\t go\t to Rajasthan.\t If\t you\t found\t that\t Dr\t Hajra\t and\t Mukul\t were\t safe,\t that\u2019s\t well\t and\t good.\t But\t suppose\t they were\tin\tdanger?\tSuppose\tyou\tsaw\tsomething\todd?\tI\tmean,\tI\u2019ve\theard\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tbrave,\tyou\u2019d\ttackle criminals.\tI\tam\tonly\tan\tordinary\tman,\tMr\tMitter.\tPerhaps\tit\tis\timpertinent\tof\tme\tto\thave\tcome\tto\tyou. But\t.\t.\t.\tif\tyou\tdid\tdecide\tto\tgo,\tI\twould\tcertainly\tpay\tfor\tyour\ttravel.\u2019 Feluda\tcontinued\tto\tfrown.\tAfter\ta\tminute\u2019s\tsilence,\the\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tshall\tlet\tyou\tknow\ttomorrow\twhat\tI decide.\tI\tassume\tyou\thave\tgot\ta\tphoto\tof\tyour\tson\tin\tyour\thouse?\tThe\tone\tprinted\tin\tthe\tnewspaper was\tnot\tvery\tclear.\u2019 Mr \t Dhar \t to o k\t a\t lo ng \t sip\t o f\t his\t tea.\t \u2018My\t co usin\t is\t fo nd\t o f\t pho to g r aphy.\t He\t to o k\t so me\t pho to s\t o f Mukul.\tMy\twife\twill\thave\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\u2019 Mr\t Dhar\t finished\t his\t tea,\t put\t the\t cup\t down\t on\t a\t table\t and\t rose.\t \u2018I\t have\t a\t telephone\t in\t my\t shop, 345116.\tI\tam\tusually\tin\tthe\tshop\tfrom\tten\to\u2019clock.\u2019 \u2018Where\tdo\tyou\tlive?\u2019 \u2018Mechhobazar.\t7\tMechhobazar\tStreet.\tMy\thouse\tis\ton\tthe\tmain\troad.\u2019 I\twent\twith\tMr\tDhar\tto\tsee\thim\tout.\tWhen\the\u2019d\tgone,\tI\tshut\tthe\tfront\tdoor\tand\treturned\tto\tthe\tliving room.\t\u2018There\u2019s\tone\tword\tthat\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tquite\tunderstand,\u2019\tI\tsaid\tto\tFeluda. \u2018You\tmean\tparapsychologist?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Those\t who\t study\t certain\t hazy\t aspects\t of\t the\t human\t mind\t are\t called\t parapsychologists.\t Take telepathy,\tfor\tinstance.\tYou\tcan\tactually\tget\tinto\tthe\tmind\tof\tanother\tperson\tand\tread\ttheir\tthoughts. Or,\tif\tyour\town\tmind\tis\tstrong\tenough,\tyou\tcan\tinfluence\tother\tpeople\u2019s\tthoughts,\teven\tchange\tthem totally.\t Strange\t things\t happen\t sometimes.\t Suppose\t you\t were\t sitting\t here,\t thinking\t of\t an\t old\t friend. Suddenly,\tout\tof\tthe\tblue,\tthe\tsame\tfriend\trang\tyou.\tA\tparapsychologist\twould\ttell\tyou\tthat\tthere\twas nothing\tsudden\tor\tunexpected\tabout\tit.\tIf\tyour\tfriend\trang\tyou,\tit\twas\tbecause\tof\tstrong\ttelepathy.\tBut ther e\t is\t mo r e\u2014like\t extr a-senso r y\t per ceptio n,\t o r \t ESP\t fo r \t sho r t.\t It\t can\t war n\t yo u\t abo ut\t futur e\t events. Or,\t for\t that\t matter,\t take\t this\t business\t of\t recalling\t a\t previous\t life.\t All\t these\t could\t be\t subjects\t a parapsychologist\tmight\twish\tto\tstudy.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthis\tHemanga\tHajra\ta\tfamous\tparapsychologist?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tone\tof\tthe\tbest\tknown.\tHe\u2019s\tbeen\tabroad,\tgiven\tlectures,\tand\tI\tthink\teven\tformed\ta\tsociety.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tbelieve\tin\tsuch\tthings?\u2019 \u2018What\tI\tbelieve\tis\tsimply\tthat\tit\tis\tfoolish\tto\taccept\tor\treject\tanything\twithout\tsufficient\tevidence.\tIf you\tdon\u2019t\tkeep\tan\topen\tmind,\tyou\u2019re\ta\tfool.\tOne\tlook\tat\thistory\twould\tshow\tyou\tplenty\tof\texamples o f\t such\t stupidity.\t T her e\t was\t a\t time\t when\t so me\t peo ple\t tho ug ht\t that\t the\t ear th\t was\t flat.\t Did\t yo u\t kno w that?\tThey\talso\tthought\tthat\tthe\tearth\tcame\tto\tan\tend\tat\tone\tparticular\tpoint,\tand\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\ttravel beyond\tthat.\tBut\twhen\tthe\tnavigator\tMagellan\tbegan\this\tjourney\tround\tthe\tworld\tfrom\tone\tplace\tand returned\tto\tthe\tsame\tspot,\tall\tthose\twho\tthought\tthe\tearth\twas\tflat\tbegan\tscratching\ttheir\theads.\tThen there\t have\t been\t people\t who\t thought\t the\t earth\t was\t fixed,\t and\t other\t planets,\t even\t the\t sun,\t moved around\tit.\tSome\tthought\tthe\tsky\twas\tlike\ta\thuge\tbowl\tturned\tupside\tdown.\tAll\tthe\tstars\twere\tfixed\ton it\t like\t jewels,\t they\t thought.\t It\t was\t Copernicus\t who\t proved\t that\t the\t sun\t remained\t stationary,\t and\t the","earth\t and\t other\t planets\t in\t the\t solar\t system\t orbited\t the\t sun.\t But\t Copernicus\t thought\t this\t movement followed\t a\t circular\t motion.\t Then\t Kepler\t came\t along\t and\t proved\t that\t everything\t moved\t in\t elliptic curves.\tAfter\tthat,\tGalileo\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tanyway,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tpoint\tin\ttalking\tabout\tall\tthat.\tYour\tmind\tis\ttoo young,\tand\ttoo\timmature\tto\tgrasp\tsuch\tthings!\u2019 Clever\tdetective\tthough\the\twas,\tFeluda\tdid\tnot\tseem\tto\trealize\tone\tsimple\tthing.\tNone\tof\this\tjibes and\tjeers\twas\tgoing\tto\tspoil\tmy\texcitement\tbecause\tmy\theart\twas\talready\ttelling\tme\tthat\tthe\tholidays were\t going\t to\t be\t spent\t in\t Rajasthan.\t We\t would\t see\t a\t new\t place,\t and\t unravel\t a\t new\t mystery.\t What remained\tto\tbe\ttested\twas\tthe\tstrength\tof\tmy\town\ttelepathy.","Two Feluda\t had\t told\t Mr\t Dhar\t that\t he\t would\t take\t a\t day\t to\t make\t up\t his\t mind.\t But\t within\t an\t hour\t of\t Mr Dhar \u2019s\tdeparture,\the\tdecided\tthat\the\twould\tgo\tto\tRajasthan.\tWhen\the\ttold\tme\tabout\tit,\tI\tasked,\t\u2018I\tam going\twith\tyou,\taren\u2019t\tI?\u2019 \u2018If\t you\t can\t name\t five\t places\t in\t Rajasthan\t that\t have\t forts\u2014all\t within\t a\t minute\u2014then\t you\t might stand\ta\tchance.\u2019 \u2018Jodhpur,\tJaipur,\tChittor,\tBikaner\tand\t.\t.\t.\tand\t.\t.\t.\tBundi!\u2019\tFeluda\tglanced\tat\this\twatch\tand\tsprang\tto his\t feet.\t It\t to o k\t him\t exactly\t thr ee\t and\t a\t half\t minutes\t to \t chang e\t fr o m\t a\t kur ta\t pyjama\t into \t a\t shir t\t and trousers.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tSunday,\tso\tFairlie\tPlace\twill\tstay\topen\ttill\ttwelve\to\u2019clock.\tLet\tme\tgo\tquickly\tand\tmake our\treservations,\u2019\the\tsaid. It\twas\tone\to\u2019clock\tby\tthe\ttime\tFeluda\treturned.\tThe\tfirst\tthing\the\tdid\tupon\this\treturn\twas\tto\tlook\tup Hemanga\tHajra\u2019s\tphone\tnumber\tin\tthe\tdirectory\tand\tring\thim.\tWhen\tI\tasked\thim\twhy\the\twas\tcalling someone\twho\twas\tout\tof\ttown,\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tneeded\tproof\tthat\twhat\tMr\tDhar\ttold\tus\twas\ttrue.\u2019 \u2018And\tdid\tyou\tget\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 After\tlunch,\tFeluda\tspent\tthe\twhole\tafternoon\tstretched\ton\this\tbed,\ta\tpillow\ttucked\tunder\this\tchest, going\tthrough\tfive\tdifferent\tbooks.\tTwo\tof\tthem\twere\tPelican\tbooks\ton\tparapsychology.\tFeluda\tsaid he\t had\t bo r r o wed\t them\t fr o m\t a\t fr iend.\t Of\t the\t o ther s,\t o ne\t was\t To dd\u2019s\t bo o k\t o n\t Rajasthan,\t the\t seco nd was\tcalled\tA\tGuide\tto\tIndia,\tPakistan,\tBurma\tand\tCeylon,\tand\tthe\tthird\twas\ta\tbook\ton\tIndian\thistory, but\tI\tcan\u2019t\tremember\twho\twrote\tit. In\t the\t evening ,\t when\t we\u2019d\t had\t o ur \t tea,\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018Get\t r eady,\t we\u2019r e\t g o ing \t o ut.\t We\t need\t to \t visit Mr\tDhar.\u2019 By\t this\t time,\t I\t had\t to ld\t Baba\t abo ut\t o ur \t plans.\t He\t was\t ver y\t pleased\t to \t hear \t that\t we\t wer e\t g o ing \t to Rajasthan.\tHe\thad\tbeen\tthere\ttwice\tin\this\tchildhood\twith\tmy\tgrandfather.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tmiss\tChittor,\u2019\the\ttold me.\t\u2018The\tfort\tin\tChittor\tis\tquite\tawe-inspiring.\tIt\u2019s\teasy\tenough\tto\tguess\twhat\tmade\tthe\tRajputs\tsuch brave\twarriors.\u2019 We\tarrived\tat\tMr\tDhar \u2019s\thouse\tat\taround\thalf\tpast\tsix.\tWhen\the\theard\tthat\tFeluda\twas\tprepared\tto go\t to\t Rajasthan,\t Mr\t Dhar\t looked\t both\t relieved\t and\t grateful.\t \u2018I\t do\t not\t know\t how\t to\t thank\t you!\u2019\t he exclaimed. \u2018It\t isn\u2019t\t yet\t time\t to\t start\t thanking\t me,\t Mr\t Dhar.\t You\t must\t assume\t that\t we\t are\t going\t purely\t as tourists,\tnot\tbecause\tyou\tasked\tus\tto.\tAnyway,\twe\thave\tvery\tlittle\ttime.\tThere\tare\ttwo\tthings\twe\tneed. One\tis\ta\tphoto\tof\tyour\tson.\tThe\tother\tis\ta\tchat\twith\tNeelu,\tthat\tboy\twho\twas\tkidnapped.\u2019 \u2018Let\tme\tsee\twhat\tI\tcan\tdo.\tUsually,\tNeelu\tis\tnever\tat\thome\tin\tthe\tevenings,\tespecially\tnow\tthat\tPuja is\t r o und\t the\t co r ner.\t But\t I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t that\t to day\t he\u2019ll\t be\t allo wed\t to \t g o \t o ut\t o n\t his\t o wn.\t Wait,\t I\u2019ll\t g et that\tphoto.\u2019","Shivratan\tMukherjee,\tthe\tsolicitor,\tlived\tonly\tthree\thouses\taway,\ton\tthe\tsame\tside\tof\tthe\troad.\tWe found\thim\tat\thome,\thaving\ta\tcup\tof\ttea\tin\this\tliving\troom\twith\tanother\tgentleman.\tMr\tMukherjee\u2019s visitor\tseemed\tto\thave\ta\tskin\tdisease\u2014there\twere\twhite\tpatches\ton\this\tface.\tWhen\tMr\tDhar\texplained why\t we\t were\t there,\t Mr\t Mukherjee\t remarked,\t \u2018My\t grandson\t seems\t to\t have\t become\t quite\t famous, thanks\tto\tyour\tson!\tPlease\tsit\tdown.\tManohar!\u2019 Manohar\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\this\tservant.\t\u2018Bring\tmore\ttea,\u2019\tMr\tMukherjee\ttold\thim,\t\u2018and\tsee\tif\tyou\tcan find\tNeelu.\tTell\thim\tI\u2019ve\tsent\tfor\thim.\u2019 We\t fo und\t o ur selves\t thr ee\t chair s\t placed\t by\t the\t side\t o f\t a\t lar g e\t table.\t T he\t walls\t o n\t bo th\t sides\t wer e covered\t by\t very\t tall\t bookcases,\t almost\t reaching\t the\t ceiling.\t They\t were\t crammed\t with\t fat\t tomes. Feluda\thad\tonce\ttold\tme\tthat\tno\tone\tneeded\tto\tconsult\tbooks\tas\tmuch\tas\ta\tlawyer. While\t we\t wer e\t waiting \t fo r \t Neelu,\t I\t had\t a\t lo o k\t at\t Mukul\u2019s\t pho to .\t It\t had\t been\t taken\t o n\t their \t r o o f. The\t little\t boy\t was\t standing\t in\t the\t sun,\t frowning\t straight\t at\t the\t camera.\t There\t was\t no\t smile\t on\t his face. Mr\tMukherjee\tsaid,\t\u2018We\tasked\tNeelu\ta\tlot\tof\tquestions,\ttoo.\tAt\tfirst,\the\twas\tin\tsuch\ta\tstate\tof\tshock that\the\twasn\u2019t\ttalking\tat\tall.\tNow\the\tappears\tmore\tnormal.\u2019 \u2018Have\tthe\tpolice\tbeen\ttold?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\t we\t told\t the\t police\t when\t he\t went\t missing.\t But\t he\t came\t back\t before\t the\t police\t could\t do anything.\u2019 The\t servant\t returned\t with\t Neelu.\t Mr\t Dhar\t was\t right.\t Neelu\t did\t bear\t a\t strong\t resemblance\t to\t the boy\tin\tthe\tphoto.\tHe\tlooked\tat\tus\tsuspiciously.\tClearly,\the\thad\tnot\tyet\tgot\tover\this\tordeal. Suddenly,\tFeluda\tasked\thim,\t\u2018Did\tyou\thurt\tyour\thand,\tNeelu?\u2019\tMr\tMukherjee\topened\this\tmouth\tto say\t something,\t but\t Feluda\t made\t a\t gesture\t and\t stopped\t him.\t Neelu\t answered\t the\t question\t himself. \u2018When\tthey\tpulled\tmy\thand,\tit\tburned\ta\tlot.\u2019 There\twas\ta\tcut\tover\this\twrist,\tclearly\tvisible. \u2018They?\tYou\tmean\tthere\twas\tmore\tthan\tone\tperson?\u2019 \u2018One\tman\tcovered\tmy\teyes\tand\tmy\tmouth.\tThen\the\tpicked\tme\tup\tand\tput\tme\tin\ta\tcar.\tAnother\tman drove\tthe\tcar.\tI\tfelt\tvery\tscared.\u2019 \u2018So\twould\tI,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim.\t\u2018In\tfact,\tI\twould\thave\tfelt\tmuch\tmore\tscared\tthan\tyou.\tYou\tare\tvery brave.\tWhen\tthey\tcaught\tyou,\twhat\twere\tyou\tdoing?\u2019 \u2018I\twas\tgoing\tto\tMoti\u2019s\thouse.\tThey\thave\ta\tDurga\tPuja\tin\ttheir\thouse.\tI\twanted\tto\tsee\tthe\tidol.\tMoti is\tin\tmy\tclass.\u2019 \u2018Was\tit\tvery\tquiet\tin\tthe\tstreets?\tNot\tmany\tpeople\tabout?\u2019 \u2018The\tday\tbefore\tyesterday,\u2019\tMr\tMukherjee\tinformed\tus,\t\u2018we\thad\tsome\ttrouble\there.\tA\tbomb\twent off.\tSo,\tsince\tlast\tevening,\tthere\thave\tbeen\tfewer\tpeople\tout\tin\tthe\tstreets.\u2019 Feluda\tnodded\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Hmm.\u2019\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tNeelu\tonce\tmore.\t\u2018Where\tdid\tthey\ttake\tyou?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tThey\ttied\ta\tcloth\tover\tmy\teyes.\tThe\tcar\tdrove\ton\tand\ton.\u2019 \u2018And\tthen?\u2019 \u2018Then\t they\t made\t me\t sit\t in\t a\t chair.\t One\t of\t them\t said,\t \u201cWhich\t school\t do\t you\t go\t to?\u201d\t I\t told\t him. Then\t he\t said,\t \u201cWe\u2019re\t going\t to\t ask\t you\t a\t few\t questions.\t Tell\t us\t exactly\t what\t you\t know.\t If\t you\t do, we\u2019ll\tdrop\tyou\tin\tfront\tof\tyour\tschool.\tCan\tyou\tgo\thome\tfrom\tthere?\u201d\tSo\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cYes.\u201d\tThen\tI\tsaid, \u201cYou\t must\t hurry,\t my\t mother\t will\t scold\t me\t if\t I\t get\t late!\u201d\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u201cWhere\t is\t the\t golden","fo r tr ess?\u201d\t I\t said,\t \u201cI\t do n\u2019t\t kno w,\t and\t no r \t do es\t Mukul.\t He\t o nly\t kno ws\t ther e\u2019s\t a\t fo r t,\t that\u2019s\t all.\u201d\t Then the\ttwo\tmen\tbegan\ttalking\twith\teach\tother\tin\tEnglish.\tI\theard\tthem\tsay,\t\u201cMistake!\u201d\tOne\tman\tsaid\tto me,\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tyour\tname?\u201d\tI\tsaid,\t\u201cMukul\u2019s\tmy\tfriend,\tbut\the\u2019s\tgone\tto\tRajasthan.\u201d\tHe\tsaid,\t\u201cDo\tyou know\twhere\tin\tRajasthan\the\u2019s\tgone?\u201d\tI\ttold\thim,\t\u201cJaipur!\u201d\u2019 \u2018You\tsaid\tJaipur?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\thim. \u2018N-no,\tno.\tJodhpur.\tYes,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tI\tsaid.\tJodhpur.\u2019 Neelu\t sto pped.\t All\t o f\t us\t r emained\t silent.\t The\t ser vant\t had\t placed\t tea\t and\t sweets\t befo r e\t us,\t but\t no one\tseemed\tinterested\tin\tthem. \u2018Can\t you\t think\t of\t anything\t else?\u2019\t Feluda\t prompted\t Neelu.\t Neelu\t thought\t for\t a\t minute.\t Then\t he said,\t\u2018One\tof\tthem\twas\tsmoking\ta\tcigarette.\tNo,\tno,\tit\twas\ta\tcigar.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\thow\ta\tcigar\tsmells?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tmy\tuncle\tsmokes\tthem.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tWhere\tdid\tyou\tsleep\tat\tnight?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018You\tdon\u2019t\tknow?\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t they\t said,\t \u201cHere\u2019s\t some\t milk.\t Drink\t it.\u201d\t Then\t someone\t handed\t me\t a\t very\t heavy\t glass.\t I drank\tthe\tmilk,\tthen\tfell\tasleep.\tI\twas\tstill\tsitting\tin\tthe\tchair!\u2019 \u2018And\tthen?\tWhen\tyou\twoke\tup?\u2019 Neelu\tlooked\tuncertainly\tat\this\tgrandfather.\tMr\tMukherjee\tsmiled.\t\u2018He\twoke\tup\tonly\tafter\the\twas brought\thome,\u2019\the\texplained.\t\u2018They\tleft\thim\toutside\this\tschool,\tpossibly\tvery\tearly\tthis\tmorning.\tHe was\t still\t asleep.\t The\t man\t who\t delivers\t our\t newspaper\t every\t day\t happened\t to\t be\t passing\t by\t a\t little later,\tand\tsaw\thim.\tIt\twas\the\twho\tcame\tand\ttold\tus.\tThen\tI\twent\twith\tmy\tson\tand\tbrought\thim\tback. Our\tdoctor\thas\tseen\thim.\tHe\tsaid\tNeelu\twas\tgiven\ta\tsleeping\tdraught\u2014probably\ta\theavier\tdose\tthan what\tmight\tnormally\tbe\tgiven\tto\ta\tchild.\u2019 Feluda\t looked\t grave.\t He\t picked\t up\t his\t cup\t of\t tea\t and\t muttered\t under\t his\t breath,\t \u2018Scoundrels!\u2019 Then,\the\tpatted\tNeelu\u2019s\tback\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Thank\tyou,\tNeelu\tBabu.\tYou\tmay\tgo\tnow.\u2019 When\twe\thad\tsaid\tgoodbye\tto\tMr\tMukherjee\tand\twere\tout\tin\tthe\tstreet\tonce\tmore,\tMr\tDhar\tasked, \u2018Do\tyou\tthink\tthere\u2019s\treason\tfor\tconcern?\u2019 \u2018What\t I\t can\t see\t is\t that\t so me\t g r eedy\t and\t r eckless\t peo ple\t have\t beco me\t unduly\t cur io us\t abo ut\t yo ur so n.\t What\u2019s\t difficult\t to \t say\t is\t whether \t they\u2019ll\t r eally\t g o \t all\t the\t way\t to \t Rajasthan.\t By\t the\t way,\t I\t think yo u\t sho uld\t wr ite\t to \t Dr \t Hajr a,\t just\t to \t intr o duce\t me.\t After \t all,\t he\t do esn\u2019t\t kno w\t me.\t So \t if\t I\t can\t sho w him\tyour\tletter,\tit\twill\thelp.\u2019 Mr\tDhar\twrote\tthe\tletter,\thanded\tit\tto\tFeluda\tand\toffered\tto\tpay\tfor\tour\ttravel\tonce\tmore.\tFeluda paid\tno\tattention.\tAs\twe\tapproached\tour\tbus\tstop,\tMr\tDhar\tsaid,\t\u2018Please\tlet\tme\tknow,\tsir,\twhen\tyou get\tthere\tand\tfind\tthem.\tI\u2019ll\tbe\tever\tso\tworried.\tDr\tHajra\thas\tpromised\tto\twrite\tas\twell.\tBut\teven\tif\the doesn\u2019t,\tyou\tmust\t.\t.\t.\tat\tleast\tone\tletter\t.\t.\t.!\u2019 On\t reaching\t home,\t Feluda\t took\t out\t his\t famous\t blue\t notebook\t (volume\t six)\t before\t either\t of\t us began\tpacking.\tThen\the\tsat\tdown\ton\this\tbed\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tget\tsome\tdates\tsorted\tout.\tWhen\tdid\tDr Hajra\tleave\twith\tMukul\tto\tgo\tto\tRajasthan?\u2019 \u2018Yesterday,\t9\tOctober.\u2019 \u2018When\twas\tNeelu\tkidnapped?\u2019","\u2018Yesterday,\tin\tthe\tevening.\u2019 \u2018And\t he\t returned\t this\t morning,\t that\u2019s\t 10\t October.\t We\t are\t leaving\t tomorrow\t morning,\t the\t 11th. We\u2019ll\treach\tAgra\ton\tthe\t12th.\tThen\twe\u2019ll\thave\tto\tchange\ttrains\tthere,\tand\tcatch\tone\tin\tthe\tevening\tthat goes\tto\tBandikui.\tLeave\tBandikui\tat\tmidnight,\tand\treach\tMarwar\tthe\tsame\tday\t.\t.\t.\tthat\u2019ll\tbe\tthe\t13th evening\t.\t.\t.\t13th\t.\t.\t.\t13th\t.\t.\t.\u2019. Feluda\t co ntinued\t to \t mutter \t and\t did\t so me\t funny\t calculatio ns.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018Geo metr y.\t Even\t her e you\u2019ll\t find\t geometry.\t A\t single\t point\t .\t .\t .\t and\t there\t are\t various\t lines\t converging\t to\t meet\t that\t point. Geometry!\u2019","Three Half\tan\thour\tago,\twe\tboarded\ta\ttrain\tat\tthe\tAgra\tFort\tstation\tto\tgo\tto\tBandikui.\tWe\thad\tabout\tthree hours\tto\tkill\tin\tAgra.\tSo\twe\twent\tto\tsee\tthe\tTaj\tMahal\tagain\u2014after\tten\tyears\u2014and\tFeluda\tgave\tme\ta short\tlecture\ton\tthe\tgeometry\tof\tthe\tbuilding. Yester day,\t befo r e\t leaving \t Calcutta,\t we\t had\t to \t attend\t to \t so me\t impo r tant\t business.\t Per haps\t I\t sho uld mention\tit\there.\tSince\tthe\tToofan\tExpress\tleft\tat\t9.30\tin\tthe\tmorning,\twe\twere\tboth\tup\tquite\tearly.\tAt around\tsix\to\u2019clock,\tafter\twe\u2019d\thad\ttea,\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018We\tought\tto\tvisit\tUncle\tSidhu\tbefore\twe\tgo.\tIf\the can\tgive\tus\tsome\tinformation,\tit\twill\treally\thelp.\u2019 Uncle\tSidhu\tlives\tin\tSardar\tShankar\tRoad,\twhich\tis\tonly\tfive\tminutes\tfrom\tour\tTara\tRoad.\tUncle Sidhu\tis\ta\tstrange\tcharacter.\tHe\tspent\tmost\tof\this\tlife\tdoing\tvarious\tkinds\tof\tbusinesses,\tearning\ta\tlot of\tmoney,\tand\tthen\tlosing\tmuch\tof\tit.\tNow\the\thas\tretired.\tHis\tmain\tpassion\tis\tbooks.\tHe\tbuys\tthem\tin large\tnumbers,\tand\tspends\tsome\tof\this\ttime\ton\treading,\tand\tthe\trest\ton\tplaying\tchess\tall\tby\thimself. Sometimes,\the\tconsults\ta\tbook\ton\tchess\tin\tbetween\tmaking\tmoves. His\t other\t passion\t is\t food\u2014or\t rather,\t experimenting\t with\t food.\t He\t likes\t mixing\t one\t item\t with another.\tAccording\tto\thim,\tyoghurt\tmixed\twith\tan\tomelette\ttastes\tlike\tambrosia.\tTo\ttell\tthe\ttruth,\the\tis not\t related\t to\t us.\t He\t used\t to\t live\t next\t door\t to\t us\t back\t in\t our\t ancestral\t village\t (which\t I\t have\t never seen).\tSo\the\u2019s\tlike\tan\telder\tbrother\tto\tmy\tfather,\tand\twe\tcall\thim\t\u2018uncle\u2019. When\twe\treached\this\thouse,\the\twas\tseated\ton\ta\tlow\tstool,\tblocking\tthe\tentrance\tthrough\this\tfront door,\tand\thaving\this\thair\tcut\tby\this\tbarber,\talthough\the\thas\tno\thair\texcept\tfor\tsome\taround\tthe\tback of\t his\t head.\t Upon\t seeing\t us,\t he\t moved\t his\t stool\t a\t little\t and\t allowed\t us\t to\t go\t through.\t \u2018Make yourselves\tcomfortable,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018Yell\tfor\tNarayan,\the\u2019ll\tgive\tyou\tsome\ttea.\u2019 Uncle\tSidhu\u2019s\troom\twas\tvery\tsimply\tfurnished.\tThere\twas\tonly\ta\tdivan,\ttwo\tchairs\tand\tthree\tvery lar g e\t bo o kcases.\t Bo o ks\t co ver ed\t half\t the\t divan.\t We\t knew\t that\t the\t little\t empty\t space\t o n\t it\t was\t wher e Uncle\t Sidhu\t liked\t to \t sit,\t so \t we\t to o k\t the\t two \t chair s.\t Feluda\t had\t r emember ed\t to \t br ing \t the\t bo o k\t he\u2019d borrowed,\twhich\twas\tstill\tcovered\twith\tnewspaper.\tHe\tslipped\tit\tback\tinto\tan\tempty\tslot\ton\ta\tshelf. The\tbarber\tcontinued\tto\twork\ton\tUncle\tSidhu\u2019s\thair.\t\u2018Felu,\u2019\tsaid\tUncle\tSidhu,\t\u2018you\tare\ta\tdetective. I\thope\tyou\u2019ve\tread\tup\ton\tthe\thistory\tof\tcriminal\tinvestigation?\tIt\tdoesn\u2019t\tmatter\twhat\tyou\tspecialize in.\tIf\tyou\tknow\tsomething\tabout\tthe\thistory\tof\tyour\tprofession,\tyou\u2019ll\tgain\tmore\tconfidence\tand\tfind your\twork\tmuch\tmore\tinteresting.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied\tpolitely. \u2018Who\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tdiscover\tthe\ttechnique\tof\tidentifying\ta\tcriminal\tthrough\this\tfingerprints?\tCan you\ttell\tme?\u2019 Feluda\twinked\tat\tme\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tremember.\tI\tdid\tread\tabout\tit\tsomewhere,\tbut\tnow\t.\t.\t.\u2019. I\t co uld\t tell\t that\t Feluda\t knew\t the\t answer \t all\t r ig ht,\t but\t was\t pr etending \t that\t he\t didn\u2019t,\t just\t to \t please Uncle\tSidhu.","\u2018Hmm.\t Mo st\t peo ple\t wo uld\t immediately\t tell\t yo u\t that\t it\t was\t Alpho nse\t Ber tillo n.\t But\t that\u2019s\t wr o ng . The\t correct\t name\t is\t Juan\t Vucatich.\t Remember\t that.\t He\t was\t from\t Argentina.\t He\t was\t the\t first\t to emphasize\t the\t importance\t of\t thumbprints.\t Then\t he\t divided\t those\t prints\t into\t four\t categories.\t A\t few years\tlater,\tHenry\tfrom\tEngland\tstrengthened\tthe\tsystem.\u2019 Feluda\tglanced\tat\this\twatch\tand\tdecided\tto\tcome\tstraight\tto\tthe\tpoint.\t\u2018You\tmay\thave\theard\tof\tDr Hemanga\tHajra,\tthe\tparapsychologist\u2014?\u2019 \u2018Certainly,\u2019\t said\t Uncle\t Sidhu,\t \u2018Why,\t I\t saw\t his\t name\t in\t the\t papers\t only\t the\t other\t day!\t What\u2019s\t he done?\t Something\t fishy?\t But\t he\u2019s\t not\t the\t kind\t of\t man\t to\t get\t mixed\t up\t in\t funny\t business.\t On\t the contrary,\the\thas\texposed\tothers\t.\t.\t.\tcheats\tand\tfrauds.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019\tFeluda\tlooked\tup.\tWe\twere\tabout\tto\thear\tan\tinteresting\tstory. \u2018Yes,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tknow\tabout\tit?\tIt\thappened\tabout\tfour\tyears\tago,\tand\twas\treported\tin\tthe\tpress.\tA Bengali\t gentleman\u2014no,\t I\t should\t not\t call\t him\t a\t gentleman,\t he\t was\t actually\t a\t scoundrel\u2014started\t a centre\t for\t spiritual\t healing\t in\t Chicago.\t Bang\t in\t the\t city\t centre.\t Clients\t poured\t in\t every\t day.\t The Americans\thave\tplenty\tof\tmoney,\tand\tare\teasily\timpressed\tby\tnew\tideas.\tThis\tBengali\tclaimed\tthat\the could\t use\t hypnotism\t and\t cure\t even\t the\t most\t complex\t diseases.\t The\t same\t sort\t of\t thing\t that\t Anton Mesmer\t did\t in\t Europe\t in\t the\t eighteenth\t century.\t Perhaps\t the\t Bengali\t managed\t to\t cure\t a\t couple\t of patients\u2014\tthat\u2019s\tnot\tunusual;\ta\tfew\tstray\tcases\twould\tbe\tsuccessful.\tBut,\taround\tthe\tsame\ttime,\tHajra ar r ived\t in\t Chicag o \t o n\t a\t lectur e\t to ur.\t He\t went\t to \t see\t thing s\t fo r \t himself,\t and\t caug ht\t the\t man\t o ut.\t Oh God,\tit\twas\ta\tscandal!\tIn\tthe\tend,\tthe\tAmerican\tgovernment\tforced\thim\tto\tleave\tthe\tcountry.\tYes,\tyes\t. .\t.\tI\tcan\tremember\this\tname\tnow\t.\t.\t.\the\tcalled\thimself\tBhavananda.\tThat\tman,\tHajra,\tthough,\tis\ta\tsolid char acter.\t At\t least,\t that\u2019s\t the\t impr essio n\t o ne\t g ets\t fr o m\t his\t ar ticles.\t I\u2019ve\t g o t\t two \t o f\t them.\t See\t in\t the r ig ht\t hand\t co r ner \t o f\t that\t bo o kcase\t o n\t yo ur \t left.\t Yo u\u2019ll\t find\t thr ee\t jo ur nals\t o f\t the\t Par apsycho lo g ical Society.\u2019 Feluda\t bo r r o wed\t all\t thr ee\t jo ur nals.\t No w,\t sitting \t o n\t the\t tr ain,\t he\t was\t leafing \t thr o ug h\t them.\t I\t was looking\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\twatching\tthe\tscenery.\tA\tlittle\twhile\tago,\twe\thad\tleft\tUttar\tPradesh\tand entered\tRajasthan. \u2018The\tsun\there\thas\ta\tdifferent\tbrilliance.\tNo\twonder\tthe\tmen\tare\tso\tpowerful!\u2019 These\t words\t in\t Bengali\t came\t from\t the\t bench\t opposite\t us.\t It\t was\t a\t four-berth\t compartment,\t and ther e\t wer e\t fo ur \t passeng er s.\t T he\t man\t who \t had\t spo ken\t tho se\t wo r ds\t lo o ked\t per fectly\t meek\t and\t mild, was\t ver y\t thin\t and\t pr o bably\t sho r ter \t than\t me\t by\t at\t least\t two \t inches.\t And\t I\t was\t o nly\t fifteen,\t so \t it\t was likely\t that\t I\u2019d\t grow\t taller\t with\t time.\t This\t man\t was\t at\t least\t thirty-five;\t there\t was\t no\t chance\t that\t his height\twould\tever\tchange.\tAs\the\twas\tdressed\tin\ta\tbush\tshirt\tand\ttrousers,\tI\thad\tbeen\tunable\tto\tguess from\this\tclothes\tthat\the\twas\tanother\tBengali. He\t g lanced\t at\t Feluda,\t smiled\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\u2019ve\t been\t listening \t to \t yo ur \t co nver satio n\t fo r \t a\t lo ng \t time. I\u2019m\tlucky\tto\thave\tfound\tfellow\tBengalis\tso\tfar\taway\tfrom\thome.\tIn\tfact,\tI\u2019d\tassumed\tthat\tfor\ta\twhole month\tI\u2019d\tbe\tforced\tto\tboycott\tmy\tmother\ttongue!\u2019 Feluda\tasked,\tpossibly\tpurely\tout\tof\tpoliteness,\t\u2018Are\tyou\tgoing\tfar? \u2018Up\tto\tJodhpur.\tThen\tI\u2019ll\tdecide\twhere\telse\tI\tmight\tgo.\tWhat\tabout\tyourselves?\u2019 \u2018We\tare\tgoing\tto\tJodhpur,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\twonderful.\tAre\tyou\talso\ta\twriter?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tno,\u2019\tFeluda\tsmiled,\t\u2018I\tam\tonly\ta\treader.\tDo\tyou\twrite?\u2019","\u2018Are\tyou\tfamiliar\twith\tthe\tname\tof\tJatayu?\u2019 \u2018Jatayu?\u2019\tI\tasked.\t\u2018The\twriter\tof\tall\tthose\tthrillers?\u2019\tI\thad\tread\tone\tor\ttwo\tof\this\tbooks\u2014Shivers\tin the\tSahara\tand\tThe\tFerocious\tFoe.\tI\thad\tborrowed\tthem\tfrom\tour\tschool\tlibrary. \u2018You\tare\tJatayu?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\t sir,\u2019\t the\t man\t flashed\t his\t teeth,\t his\t head\t bent\t in\t a\t bo w.\t \u2018I\t am\t Jatayu.\t At\t yo ur \t ser vice.\t I\t wr ite under\tthat\tpseudonym.\tNamaskar.\u2019 \u2018Namaskar.\tMy\tname\tis\tPradosh\tMitter.\tAnd\tthis\tis\tSreeman\tTapeshranjan.\u2019 How\tcould\tFeluda\tkeep\ta\tstraight\tface?\tI\tcould\tfeel\tlaughter\tbubbling\tup\tinside\tme,\tthreatening\tto burst\tforth.\tThis\twas\tJatayu?\tAnd\tI\tused\tto\tthink\ta\twriter\twho\tcould\twrite\tsuch\ttales\twould\thave\tlooks to\tmatch\u2014perhaps\teven\tJames\tBond\twould\tbe\tput\tin\tthe\tshade! \u2018My\treal\tname\tis\tLalmohan\tGanguli.\tBut\tplease\tdon\u2019t\ttell\tanyone.\tA\tpseudonym\u2014like\ta\tdisguise\u2014 must\tnever\tbe\trevealed.\tI\tmean,\tif\tit\tis,\tthen\tit\tloses\tits\timpact,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink?\u2019 We\thad\tbought\ta\tpacket\tof\tsweet\tgulabi\trewri\tin\tAgra.\tFeluda\toffered\tthe\tpacket\tto\tJatayu\tand\tsaid, \u2018You\tseem\tto\thave\tbeen\ton\tthe\tmove\tfor\tsome\ttime!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tJatayu\tpicked\tup\ta\trewri\tand\tsuddenly\tbroke\toff,\tlooking\ta\tbit\tconfused.\tThen\the threw\ta\tstartled\tglance\tat\tFeluda\tand\tasked,\t\u2018How\tcan\tyou\ttell?\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018The\tstrap\ton\tyour\twristwatch\tslips\tat\ttimes.\tWhen\tit\tdoes,\tit\texposes\tthe\tonly\tpart of\tyour\tarm\tthat\tisn\u2019t\tsunburnt.\u2019 Jatayu\u2019s\t eyes\t grew\t round.\t \u2018Oh\t my\t God,\t what\t terrific\t powers\t of\t observation\t you\t have\t got!\t Yes, you\u2019re\tright.\tI\tleft\thome\tabout\tten\tdays\tago,\tand\ttravelled\tto\tDelhi,\tAgra\tand\tFatehpur\tSikri.\tSo\tfar, I\u2019ve\tonly\twritten\tabout\tadventures\tin\tforeign\tlands. \u2018I\t live\t in\t Bhadr eshwar.\t So \t I\t tho ug ht\t I\t sho uld\t tr avel\t a\t bit,\t see\t new\t places,\t it\t wo uld\t help\t me\t in\t my writing.\t Besides,\t these\t areas\t are\t much\t better\t suited\t to\t adventure\t stories,\t aren\u2019t\t they?\t Look\t at\t those barren\thills,\trising\thigh\tlike\tbiceps\tand\ttriceps.\tOur\tBengal\thas\tno\tmuscles\u2014\texcept,\tof\tcourse,\tfor the\tHimalayas.\tYou\tcan\u2019t\thave\ta\tsuccessful\tadventure\ton\tthe\tplains!\u2019 The\tthree\tof\tus\tcontinued\tto\teat\tthe\trewri.\tThen\tI\tcaught\tJatayu\tcasting\tsidelong\tglances\tat\tFeluda. Finally,\the\tasked,\t\u2018What\tis\tyour\theight?\tPlease\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tmy\tasking.\u2019 \u2018Nearly\tsix\tfeet,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. \u2018Oh,\t that\u2019s\t a\t very\t good\t height,\t the\t same\t as\t my\t hero\u2019s.\t Prakhar\t Rudra\u2014you\t do\t know\t his\t name, don\u2019t\tyou?\tPrakhar\tis\ta\tRussian\tname,\tbut\tit\tsuits\ta\tBengali,\ttoo,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tthink?\tThe\tthing\tis,\tyou see,\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tmy\thero\tto\tbe\teverything\tI\tcould\tnever\tbe\tmyself.\tGod\tknows\tI\ttried\thard\tenough.\tWhen I\twas\tin\tcollege,\tI\tsaw\tadvertisements\tof\tCharles\tAtlas\tin\tBritish\tmagazines.\tThere\the\twas,\tstanding proudly,\this\tchest\tand\tall\this\tmuscles\texpanded,\this\thands\ton\this\twaist.\tHe\tlooked\tlike\ta\tlion!\tThere was\tnot\teven\tan\tounce\tof\tfat\ton\this\tbody.\tHis\tmuscles\trippled\tlike\twaves,\tfrom\thead\tto\ttoe.\tAnd\tthe advertisement\tsaid,\t\u201cIf\tyou\tfollow\tmy\tsystem,\tyou\twill\tlook\tlike\tme\twithin\ta\tmonth!\u201d\tWell,\tthat\tmay be\ttrue\tof\tEuropeans.\tIn\tBengal,\tthat\tkind\tof\tthing\tis\timpossible.\tMy\tfather\twas\twell\toff,\tso\tI\twasted some\tof\this\tmoney,\tsent\tfor\ttheir\tlessons\tand\tfollowed\tthem\treligiously. \u2018Nothing\thappened.\tI\tremained\tjust\tthe\tsame.\tThen\tan\tuncle\tsaid,\t\u201cTry\tswinging\tfrom\ta\tcurtain\trod. Yo u\u2019ll\t g r o w\t taller \t in\t a\t mo nth.\u201d\t A\t mo nth?\t Fo r \t sever al\t mo nths,\t I\t swung \t fr o m\t a\t r o d\t until,\t o ne\t day,\t it came\t off\t and\t I\t fell\t down.\t That\t dislocated\t my\t knee,\t but\t my\t height\t remained\t stuck\t at\t five\t feet\t and three-and-half\t inches.\t That\t told\t me\t plainly\t that\t even\t if\t I\t were\t pulled\t in\t different\t directions\t by\t two","teams\u2014\tas\tthey\tdo\tin\ta\ttug-of-war\u2014I\twould\tnever\tgrow\tany\ttaller.\tSo,\teventually,\tI\tthought\tenough was\t enough.\t There\t was\t no\t point\t in\t thinking\t about\t the\t muscles\t in\t my\t body.\t I\t decided\t to\t pay\t more attentio n\t to \t the\t muscles\t in\t my\t br ain.\t And\t incr ease\t my\t mental\t heig ht.\t I\t beg an\t wr iting \t thr iller s.\t But\t I knew\tLalmohan\tGanguli\twas\tnot\ta\tname\tthat\twould\thelp\tsell\tbooks.\tSo\tI\ttook\ta\tpseudonym.\tJatayu.\tA fighter.\tJust\tthink\tof\tthe\tfight\the\tput\tup\twith\tRavan!\u2019 Although\tour\ttrain\twas\tcalled\ta\t\u2018fast\tpassenger \u2019,\tit\twas\tstopping\tat\tso\tmany\tstations\tthat\tit\twas\tnot able\tto\trun\tfor\tmore\tthan\ttwenty\tminutes\tat\ta\tstretch.\tFeluda\tleft\tthe\tjournals\ton\tparapsychology\tand beg an\t r eading \t a\t bo o k\t o n\t Rajasthan.\t It\t had\t pictur es\t o f\t all\t the\t fo r ts.\t Feluda\t was\t lo o king \t at\t tho se\t ver y carefully\tand\treading\tthe\tdescriptions. On\tthe\tupper\tberth\topposite\tus\twas\ta\tman\twhose\tmoustache\tand\tclothes\tproclaimed\tclearly\tthat\the was\t not\t a\t Bengali.\t He\t was\t eating\t oranges\u2014one\t after\t another\u2014and\t collecting\t the\t peel\t and\t other debris\ton\ta\tsheet\tof\ta\tUrdu\tnewspaper\tspread\tin\tfront\tof\thim. Feluda\twas\tmarking\ta\tfew\tplaces\tin\this\tbook\twith\ta\tblue\tpencil,\twhen\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018May\tI ask\tyou\tsomething?\tAre\tyou\ta\tdetective?\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\task?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\tmean\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tcould\ttell\tso\teasily\tabout\tmy\ttravelling!\u2019 \u2018Well,\tI\tam\tinterested\tin\tthat\tkind\tof\tthing.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tYou\u2019re\talso\tgoing\tto\tJodhpur,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tsay?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018In\tconnection\twith\ta\tmystery?\tIf\tso,\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tjoin\tyou\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean,\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind,\tthat\tis. I\u2019ll\tnever\tget\tsuch\ta\tchance\tagain.\u2019 \u2018I\thope\tyou\twouldn\u2019t\tobject\tto\triding\ta\tcamel?\u2019 \u2018A\tcamel?\tOh\tmy\tGod!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\teyes\tbegan\tto\tglint.\t\u2018Ship\tof\tthe\tdesert!\tIt\u2019s\talways\tbeen my\t dream.\t I\t have\t written\t about\t Bedouins\t in\t one\t of\t my\t novels\u2014Bloodbath\t in\t Arabia.\t And\t I\u2019ve mentioned\tcamels\tin\tShivers\tin\tthe\tSahara.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tfascinating\tcreature.\tJust\tpicture\tthe\tscene.\tAn\tentire row\tof\tcamels,\ttravelling\tthrough\tan\tocean\tof\tsand,\tmile\tafter\tmile,\tcarrying\ttheir\town\twater\tsupply in\ttheir\tintestines.\tHow\tromantic\u2014oh!\u2019 \u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\twhen\tyou\twrote\tyour\tnovel,\tdid\tyou\tmention\tthat\tbit\tabout\tthe\tintestines?\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t began\t looking\t uncertain.\t \u2018Why,\t is\t that\t incorrect?\u2019\t Feluda\t nodded.\t \u2018Yes.\t You\t see, the\t so ur ce\t o f\t the\t water \t is\t actually\t in\t a\t camel\u2019s\t hump.\t The\t hump\t is\t r eally\t an\t accumulatio n\t o f\t fat.\t A camel\tcan\toxidize\tthat\tfat\tand\tturn\tit\tinto\twater.\tSo\tit\tcan\tsurvive\twithout\tdrinking\tany\twater\tfor\tten\tto fifteen\t days.\t But,\t o nce\t they\t do \t find\t water,\t camels\t have\t been\t kno wn\t to \t dr ink\t as\t much\t as\t twenty-five gallons\tat\tone\tgo.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tgoodness\tyou\ttold\tme\tall\tthis,\u2019\tsaid\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018I\tmust\tcorrect\tthat\tmistake\tin\tthe\tnext edition.\u2019","Four T he\t tr ain\t was\t slo w,\t but\t at\t least\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t r unning \t sig nificantly\t late.\t When\t o ne\t has\t to \t take\t co nnecting trains,\tit\tcan\tcause\tgreat\tproblems\tif\tthe\tfirst\ttrain\tis\tdelayed. We\tsaw\tthe\tfirst\tpeacocks\ton\treaching\tBharatpur.\tOpposite\tour\tplatform,\tthere\twere\tthree\tof\tthem roaming\t freely\t on\t the\t tracks.\t Feluda\t said\t to\t me,\t \u2018You\t will\t find\t that\t peacocks\t and\t parrots\t are\t as common\there\tas\tcrows\tand\tsparrows\tin\tCalcutta.\u2019 All\t the\t men\t we\t saw\t had\t tur bans\t o n\t their \t heads\t and\t sidebur ns\t o n\t their \t cheeks\u2014the\t size\t o f\t which seemed\t to\t be\t getting\t larger\t as\t we\t travelled.\t They\t were\t all\t Rajasthanis,\t wearing\t short\t dhotis\t which reached\ttheir\tknees,\tand\tshirts\twith\tbuttons\ton\tone\tside.\tOn\ttheir\tfeet\twere\theavy\tnaagras.\tMost\tmen were\tcarrying\tstout\tsticks\tin\ttheir\thands. We\twent\tto\tthe\trefreshment\troom\tin\tthe\tstation\tin\tBandikui\tto\thave\tdinner.\tTucking\tinto\this\troti\tand meat\t curry,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t remarked,\t \u2018See\t all\t these\t men?\t There\u2019s\t a\t high\t probability\t that\t some\t of them\tare\tbandits.\tThe\tAravalli\tHills\tact\tas\ta\tden\tfor\tbandits\u2014you\tknow\tthat,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\tAnd\tI\u2019m\tsure I\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto\ttell\tyou\thow\tpowerful\tthey\tare.\tWhen\tthey\tare\tthrown\tinto\tprison,\tthey\tcan\tpush\tapart the\tiron\tbars\ton\ttheir\twindows\twith\ttheir\tbare\thands,\tand\tescape\tthrough\tthe\tgap!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tknow,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\t\u2018And\tdo\tyou\tknow\thow\tthey\tpunish\tthose\twho\tcross\tthem?\u2019 \u2018They\u2019re\tkilled,\tsurely?\u2019 \u2018No.\tThat\u2019s\tthe\tbeauty\tof\tit.\tIf\ta\tbandit\tis\tannoyed\twith\tsomeone,\the\twill\thunt\thim\tdown\u2014no\tmatter where\tthat\tperson\tis\thiding\u2014\tand\tthen\tchop\this\tnose\toff\twith\ta\tsword.\tThat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\thad\tjust\tpicked\tup\ta\tpiece\tof\tmeat.\tHe\tforgot\tto\tput\tit\tin\this\tmouth.\t\u2018Chop\toff\this nose?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tso\tI\u2019ve\theard.\u2019 \u2018It\tsounds\tmost\tbarbaric!\tLike\tsomething\tstraight\tout\tof\tthe\tdark\tages.\tHow\tterrible!\u2019 We\tcaught\ta\ttrain\tto\tMarwar\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight.\tIt\tdid\tinvolve\tscrambling\tin\tthe\tdark,\tbut\twe found\tenough\troom\tfor\tourselves\tand\tslept\twell. In\tthe\tmorning,\twhen\tI\twoke\tup,\tI\tglanced\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\tsaw\tan\told\tfort\tin\tthe\tdistance,\ton top\tof\ta\thill.\tOnly\ta\tminute\tlater,\tthe\ttrain\tpulled\tinto\ta\tstation\tcalled\tKisangarh. \u2018If\tyou\tsee\tthe\tword\t\u201cgarh\u201d\tattached\tto\tthe\tname\tof\ta\tplace,\tyou\tmay\tassume\tthat\tsomewhere\tin\tthat area\tthere\tis\ta\tfort\ton\ta\thilltop,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid. We\tgot\tdown\ton\tthe\tplatform\tand\thad\ttea.\tThe\tearthen\tpots\tin\twhich\tthe\ttea\twas\tserved\twere\tmuch larger\tand\tstronger\tthan\tthe\tpots\tused\tin\tBengal.\tEven\tthe\ttea\ttasted\tdifferent.\tFeluda\tthought\tcamel\u2019s milk\thad\tbeen\tused.\tPerhaps\tthat\twas\twhy\tLalmohan\tBabu\tordered\ta\tsecond\tpot\twhen\the\tfinished\tthe first. When\t I\u2019d\t finished\t mine,\t I\t found\t a\t tap\t on\t the\t platform\t and\t quickly\t brushed\t my\t teeth.\t Then\t I splashed\tcold\twater\ton\tmy\tface\tand\treturned\tto\tour\tcompartment.","There\twas\ta\tRajasthani\tman\tsitting\tat\tone\tend\tof\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tbench.\tOn\this\thead\twas\ta\thuge tur ban.\t One\t leg \t was\t fo lded\t up\t o n\t the\t bench,\t and\t he\t was\t r esting \t his\t chin\t o n\t his\t r aised\t knee.\t He\t had wrapped\t a\t shawl\t around\t himself,\t hiding\t most\t of\t his\t face.\t But\t I\t could\t see\t the\t colour\t of\t his\t shirt through\tthe\tshawl.\tIt\twas\tbright\tred. Lalmohan\t Babu\t saw\t the\t man\t and\t promptly\t abandoned\t his\t bench\t and\t moved\t to\t ours.\t He\t tried\t to huddle\t in\t o ne\t co r ner.\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018Why\t do n\u2019t\t yo u\t two \t sit\t mo r e\t co mfo r tably?\u2019\t He\t mo ved\t acr o ss\t to the\tother\tbench\tand\tsat\tdown\tbeside\tthe\tRajasthani. I\tbegan\tto\tpeer\tmore\tclosely\tat\tthe\tman\u2019s\tturban.\tHeaven\tknew\thow\tmany\ttwists\tand\tturns\tthe\tfabric had\tmade\tbefore\tit\twas\tfinally\twound\tso\ttightly\tround\this\thead.\tLalmohan\tBabu\taddressed\tFeluda\tand said\t softly,\t \u2018Powerfully\t suspicious.\t He\t is\t dressed\t as\t an\t ordinary\t villager,\t but\t how\t come\t he\t is\t in\t a first-class\t compartment?\t Look\t at\t that\t bundle.\t God\t knows\t if\t it\u2019s\t packed\t with\t diamonds\t and\t other precious\tstones.\u2019 The\tbundle\twas\tplaced\tnext\tto\tthe\tman.\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tcomment\tmade\tFeluda\tsmile,\tbut\the\tsaid nothing. The\t train\t started.\t Feluda\t took\t out\t the\t book\t on\t Rajasthan\t from\t his\t shoulder\t bag.\t I\t took\t out Newman\u2019s\tBradshaw\ttimetable\tand\tbegan\tlooking\tup\tthe\tstations\twe\twould\tstop\tat.\tEach\tplace\thad\ta strange\tname:\tGalota,\tTilonia,\tMakrera,\tVesana,\tSendra.\tWhere\thad\tthese\tnames\tcome\tfrom?\tFeluda had\ttold\tme\tonce\tthat\ta\tlot\tof\tlocal\thistory\twas\talways\thidden\tin\tthe\tname\tgiven\tto\ta\tplace.\tBut\twho was\tgoing\tto\tlook\tfor\tthe\thistory\tbehind\tthese\tnames? The\ttrain\tcontinued\tto\tchug\ton\tits\tway.\tSuddenly,\tI\tcould\tfeel\tsomeone\ttugging\tat\tmy\tshirt.\tI\tturned to\t find\t that\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t gone\t visibly\t pale.\t When\t he\t caught\t my\t eye,\t he\t swallowed\t and whispered,\t\u2018Blood!\u2019 Blood?\tWhat\twas\tthe\tman\ttalking\tabout? Lalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\teyes\tturned\tto\tthe\tRajasthani.\tThe\tlatter\twas\tfast\tasleep.\tHis\thead\twas\tflung\tback, his\tmouth\tslightly\topen.\tMy\teyes\tfell\ton\tthe\tfoot\ton\tthe\tbench.\tThe\tskin\taround\tthe\tbig\ttoe\twas\tbadly grazed.\tIt\thad\tobviously\tbeen\tbleeding,\tbut\tnow\tthe\tblood\thad\tdried.\tThen\tI\trealized\tsomething\telse. The\tdark\tstains\ton\this\tclothes,\twhich\tappeared\tto\tbe\tmud\tstains,\twere,\tin\tfact,\tpatches\tof\tdried\tblood. I\tlooked\tquickly\tat\tFeluda.\tHe\twas\treading\this\tbook,\tquite\tunconcerned.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tfound\this nonchalance\t too\t much\t to\t bear.\t He\t spoke\t again,\t in\t the\t same\t choked\t voice,\t \u2018Mr\t Mitter,\t suspicious blood\tmarks\ton\tour\tnew\tco-passenger!\u2019 Feluda\tlooked\tup,\tglanced\tonce\tat\tthe\tRajasthani\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Probably\tcaused\tby\tbugs.\u2019 The\tthought\tthat\tthe\tblood\twas\tsimply\tthe\tresult\tof\tbites\tfrom\tbed\tbugs\tmade\tLalmohan\tBabu\tlook like\ta\tpricked\tballoon.\tEven\tso,\the\tcould\tnot\trelax.\tHe\tcontinued\tto\tsit\tstiffly\tand\tfrown\tand\tcast\tthe Rajasthani\tsidelong\tglances\tfrom\ttime\tto\ttime. The\t train\t reached\t Marwar\t Junction\t at\t half\t past\t two.\t We\t had\t lunch\t in\t the\t refreshment\t room,\t and spent\talmost\tan\thour\twalking\tabout\ton\tthe\tplatform.\tWhen\twe\tclimbed\tinto\tanother\ttrain\tat\thalf\tpast three\tto\tgo\tto\tJodhpur,\tthere\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tthat\tRajasthani\twearing\ta\tred\tshirt. Our\t journey\t to\t Jodhpur\t lasted\t for\t two-and-a-half\t hours.\t On\t the\t way,\t we\t saw\t several\t groups\t of camels.\tEach\ttime\tthat\thappened,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgrew\tmost\texcited.\tBy\tthe\ttime\twe\treached\tJodhpur, it\twas\tten\tpast\tsix.\tOur\ttrain\twas\tdelayed\tby\ttwenty\tminutes.\tIf\twe\twere\tstill\tin\tCalcutta,\tthe\tsun\twould have\tset\tby\tnow,\tbut\tas\twe\twere\tin\tthe\twestern\tpart\tof\tthe\tcountry,\tit\twas\tstill\tshining\tbrightly.","We\thad\tbooked\trooms\tat\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\the\twould\tstay\tat\tthe\tNew\tBombay Lodge.\t \u2018I\u2019ll\t join\t you\t early\t tomorrow\t morning,\t we\t can\t all\t go\t together\t to\t see\t the\t fort,\u2019\t he\t said\t and went\toff\ttowards\tthe\ttongas\tthat\twere\tstanding\tin\ta\trow. We\t fo und\t o ur selves\t a\t taxi\t and\t left\t the\t statio n.\t The\t Cir cuit\t Ho use\t wasn\u2019t\t far,\t we\t wer e\t to ld.\t As\t we drove\t through\t the\t streets,\t I\t noticed\t a\t huge\t wall\u2014visible\t through\t the\t gaps\t between\t houses\u2014that seemed\t as\t high\t as\t a\t two-storeyed\t house.\t There\t was\t a\t time,\t Feluda\t told\t me,\t when\t the\t whole\t of Jodhpur\t was\t surrounded\t by\t that\t wall.\t There\t were\t gates\t in\t seven\t different\t places.\t If\t they\t heard\t of anyone\tcoming\tto\tattack\tJodhpur,\tall\tseven\tgates\twere\tclosed. Our\tcar\twent\tround\ta\tbend.\tFeluda\tsaid\tat\tonce,\t\u2018Look,\ton\tyour\tleft!\u2019 In\tthe\tfar\tdistance,\thigh\tabove\tall\tthe\tbuildings\tin\tthe\tcity,\tstood\ta\tsprawling,\tsombre-looking\tfort \u2014the\tfamous\tfort\tof\tJodhpur.\tIts\trulers\thad\tonce\tfought\tfor\tthe\tMughals. I\twas\tstill\twondering\thow\tsoon\tI\u2019d\tget\tto\tsee\tthe\tfort\tat\tclose\tquarters,\twhen\twe\treached\tthe\tCircuit Ho use.\t Our \t taxi\t passed\t thr o ug h\t the\t g ate,\t dr o ve\t up\t the\t dr iveway,\t past\t a\t g ar den,\t and\t sto pped\t under \t a portico.\tWe\tgot\tout,\tcollected\tour\tluggage\tand\tpaid\tthe\tdriver. A\tgentleman\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tbuilding\tand\tasked\tus\tif\twe\twere\tfrom\tCalcutta,\tand\twhether\tFeluda was\tcalled\tPradosh\tMitter. \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright,\u2019\tFeluda\tacknowledged. \u2018There\tis\ta\tdouble\troom\tbooked\tin\tyour\tname\ton\tthe\tground\tfloor,\u2019\tthe\tman\treplied. We\t wer e\t handed\t the\t Visito r s\u2019\t Bo o k\t to \t sig n.\t Only\t a\t few\t lines\t abo ve\t o ur \t o wn\t names,\t we\t saw\t two entries:\tDr\tH.B.\tHajra\tand\tMaster\tM.\tDhar. The\tCircuit\tHouse\twas\tbuilt\ton\ta\tsimple\tplan.\tThere\twas\ta\tlarge\topen\tspace\tas\tone\tentered.\tTo\tits left\t were\t the\t reception\t and\t the\t manager \u2019s\t room.\t In\t front\t of\t it\t was\t a\t staircase\t going\t up\t to\t the\t first flo o r,\t and\t o n\t bo th\t sides,\t ther e\t wer e\t wide\t co r r ido r s\t alo ng \t which\t sto o d\t r o ws\t o f\t r o o ms.\t Ther e\t wer e wicker\tchairs\tin\tthe\tcorridors. A\t bear er \t came\t and\t picked\t up\t o ur \t lug g ag e,\t and\t we\t fo llo wed\t him\t do wn\t the\t r ig ht-hand\t co r r ido r \t to find\troom\tnumber\t3.\tA\tmiddle-aged\tman,\tsporting\tan\timpressive\tmoustache,\twas\tseated\ton\tone\tof\tthe wicker\t chairs,\t chatting\t with\t a\t man\t in\t a\t Rajasthani\t cap.\t As\t we\t walked\t past\t them,\t the\t first\t man\t said, \u2018Are\tyou\tBengalis?\u2019\tFeluda\tsmiled\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Yes.\u2019\tWe\twere\tthen\tshown\tinto\tour\troom. It\twas\tquite\tspacious.\tThere\twere\ttwin\tbeds,\teach\twith\ta\tmosquito\tnet.\tSet\tapart,\tat\tone\tend,\twas\ta two-seater\t sofa,\t a\t pair\t of\t easy\t chairs,\t and\t a\t round\t table\t with\t an\t ashtray\t on\t it.\t There\t was\t also\t a dressing\ttable,\twardrobes\tand\tbedside\ttables.\tLamps,\tglasses\tand\tflasks\tof\twater\twere\tplaced\tupon\tthe tables.\tThe\tdoor\tto\tthe\tattached\tbathroom\twas\tto\tthe\tleft. Feluda\t asked\t the\t bearer\t to\t bring\t us\t some\t tea\t and\t switched\t the\t fan\t on.\t \u2018Did\t you\t see\t those\t two names?\u2019\the\tasked,\tsitting\tdown\ton\tthe\tsofa. \u2018Yes,\tbut\tI\thope\tthat\tman\twith\tthe\tthick\tmoustache\tisn\u2019t\tDr\tHajra!\u2019\tI\treplied. \u2018Why?\tWhat\tif\the\tis?\tWhy\tshould\tit\tmatter?\u2019 I\tcouldn\u2019t\timmediately\tthink\tof\ta\tgood\treason.\tFeluda\tsaw\tme\thesitate\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\tlike\tthe man,\tdid\tyou?\tYou\twant\tDr\tHajra\tto\tbe\ta\tpleasant,\tcheerful\tand\tfriendly\tman.\tRight?\u2019 Yes,\t Feluda\t was\t absolutely\t right.\t The\t man\t we\t just\t met\t appeared\t kind\t of\t crafty.\t Besides,\t he\t was probably\tquite\ttall\tand\thefty.\tThat\twas\tnot\thow\tI\twould\tpicture\ta\tdoctor.","The\ttea\tarrived\tjust\tas\tFeluda\tfinished\ta\tcigarette.\tThe\tbearer\tplaced\tthe\ttray\ton\tthe\ttable\tand\tleft. Someone\tknocked\ton\tour\tdoor\talmost\tat\tonce.\t\u2018Come\tin!\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tin\ta\tgrand\tmanner,\tsounding like\tan\tEnglishman.\tThe\tman\twith\tthe\tmoustache\tmoved\taside\tthe\tcurtain\tand\tcame\tin. \u2018I\tam\tnot\tdisturbing\tyou,\tam\tI?\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018No,\tnot\tat\tall.\tPlease\tsit\tdown.\tWould\tyou\tlike\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019 \u2018No ,\t thanks.\t I\u2019ve\t just\t had\t so me.\t Fr ankly\t speaking ,\t the\t tea\t her e\t isn\u2019t\t all\t that\t g o o d.\t But\t then,\t that\u2019s true\tof\tmost\tplaces.\tIndia\tis\tthe\tland\tof\ttea,\tyet\thow\tmany\thotels,\tor\tdak\tbungalows,\tor\tcircuit\thouses serve\t good\t quality\t tea,\t tell\t me?\t But\t if\t you\t go\t abroad,\t it\u2019s\t a\t different\t story.\t Even\t in\t a\t place\t like Albania,\tI\thave\thad\tvery\tgood\ttea\u2014would\tyou\tbelieve\tit?\tFirst-class\tDarjeeling\ttea,\tit\twas.\tAnd\tif\tyou went\tto\tEurope?\tEvery\tmajor\tcity\twould\tgive\tyou\tgood\ttea.\tThe\tonly\tthing\tI\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tis\tthe\tbusiness of\ttea\tbags.\tYour\tcup\tis\tfilled\twith\thot\twater,\tand\tyou\u2019re\thanded\ta\tlittle\tbag\tpacked\twith\ttea\tleaves.\tA piece\tof\tstring\tis\ttied\tto\tthis\tbag.\tYou\thave\tto\thold\tit\tby\tthis\tstring\tand\tdip\tit\tin\tthe\twater\tto\tmake\tyour own\ttea.\tThen\tyou\tmight\tadd\tmilk\tto\tit,\tor\tsqueeze\ta\tlemon,\tas\tyou\twish.\tPersonally,\tI\tprefer\tlemon tea.\tBut\tyou\tneed\treally\tgood\ttea\tfor\tthat.\tThe\tkind\tof\ttea\tthey\thave\there\tis\tvery\tordinary.\u2019 \u2018You\thave\ttravelled\ta\tlot,\thave\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tall\tI\u2019ve\tdone\tin\tlife,\u2019\tour\tvisitor\treplied\t\u2018I\tam\twhat\tyou\tmight\tcall\ta\tglobetrotter.\tAnd I\u2019m\tfond\tof\thunting.\tI\tgot\tinterested\twhen\tI\twas\tin\tAfrica.\tMy\tname\tis\tMandar\tBose.\u2019 I\thad\theard\tof\tthe\tglobetrotter\tUmesh\tBhattacharya,\tbut\tnot\tof\tMandar\tBose. He\tprobably\tguessed\twhat\tI\twas\tthinking.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tsuppose\tmy\tname\twill\tmean\tanything\tto\tyou,\u2019\the said.\t \u2018When\t I\t fir st\t left\t ho me,\t my\t name\t appear ed\t in\t the\t pr ess.\t But\t that\t was\t thir ty-six\t year s\t ag o .\t I\u2019ve been\tback\tin\tIndia\tfor\tonly\tthree\tmonths.\u2019 \u2018Really?\t I\t must\t say\t your\t Bengali\t has\t remained\t pretty\t good,\t considering\t you\u2019ve\t been\t out\t of\t the country\tfor\tso\tlong.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tthat\u2019s\tsomething\tentirely\tup\tto\tthe\tperson\twho\u2019s\ttravelling\tabroad.\tIf\tyou\twant\tto\tforget\tyour own\tlanguage,\tyou\tcan\tdo\tso\tin\tjust\tthree\tmonths.\tAnd\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t,\tyou\u2019ll\tnot\tforget\tit\teven\tin\tthirty year s.\t But\t I\t was\t lucky\t in\t that\t I\t came\t acr o ss\t o ther \t Beng alis\t fr equently.\t When\t I\t was\t in\t Kenya,\t I\t r an\t a business\t trading\t in\t ivory.\t My\t partner\t there\t was\t a\t Bengali.\t We\t worked\t together\t for\t almost\t seven years.\u2019 \u2018Is\t ther e\t any\t o ther \t Beng ali\t her e\t in\t the\t Cir cuit\t Ho use?\u2019\t asked\t Feluda.\t I\t had\t no ticed\t ear lier \t that\t he seldom\twasted\ttime\ton\tidle\tchit-chat. \u2018Yes!\t T hat\u2019s\t what\t I\t find\t so \t sur pr ising .\t But\t o ne\t thing \u2019s\t beco me\t clear \t to \t me.\t Peo ple\t in\t Calcutta\t ar e fed\t up.\t So \t they\t g et\t o ut\t whenever \t they\t can.\t This\t man\t her e,\t tho ug h,\t has\t co me\t with\t a\t pur po se.\t He\u2019s\t a psychologist.\t It\u2019s\t all\t a\t bit\t complicated.\t There\u2019s\t a\t little\t boy\t with\t him,\t about\t eight\t years\t old.\t He\u2019s supposed\tto\tbe\table\tto\trecall\this\tprevious\tlife.\tSays\the\twas\tborn\tin\tsome\tfort\tin\tRajasthan,\tonce\tupon a\ttime.\tThis\tman\tis\troaming\taround\teverywhere\twith\tthe\tboy,\tlooking\tfor\tthat\tfort.\tWhat\tI\tcan\u2019t\ttell\tis whether\t this\t psychologist\t is\t a\t fraud,\t or\t the\t boy\t is\t simply\t telling\t a\t pack\t of\t lies.\t His\t behaviour\t is certainly\todd.\tHe\tdoesn\u2019t\ttalk\tproperly\twith\tanyone,\tdoesn\u2019t\tanswer\tquestions.\tVery\tfishy.\tI\u2019ve\tseen\ta lot\tof\tcheats\tand\tfrauds\tall\tover\tthe\tworld\u2014\tnever\tthought\tI\u2019d\tcome\tacross\tsomething\tlike\tthis\tback in\tmy\town\tcountry!\u2019 \u2018Was\tit\tyour\tglobetrotting\tthat\tbrought\tyou\there?\u2019","Mr\tBose\tsmiled\tand\tstood\tup.\t\u2018To\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth,\tI\thaven\u2019t\tyet\tseen\tmuch\tof\tthis\tcountry\t.\t.\t.\t.\tBy the\tway,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tcatch\tyour\tnames!\u2019 Feluda\tmade\tthe\tintroductions.\t\u2018And\tI\thave\tnever\tstepped\tout\tof\tthis\tcountry,\u2019\the\tadded. \u2018I\tsee.\tWell,\tif\tyou\tcome\tto\tthe\tdining\thall\tat\taround\thalf\tpast\teight,\twe\u2019ll\tmeet\tagain.\tI\tbelieve\tin early-to-bed\tand\tearly-to-rise,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 We\t left\t our\t room\t with\t Mr\t Bose\t and\t emerged\t into\t the\t corridor\t outside.\t A\t taxi\t was\t coming\t in through\tthe\tgate.\tIt\tstopped\tunder\tthe\tportico,\tand\ta\tman\tof\tabout\tforty\tgot\tout\tof\tit,\taccompanied\tby a\tthin\tlittle\tboy.\tI\tdid\tnot\thave\tto\tbe\ttold\tthat\tthey\twere\tDr\tHemanga\tHajra\tand\tMukul\tDhar.","Five Mr\tBose\tsaid\t\u2018good\tevening\u2019\tto\tDr\tHajra\tas\the\tpassed\thim,\tand\twent\ttowards\this\town\troom.\tDr\tHajra began\twalking\tdown\tthe\tcorridor,\tholding\tthe\tboy\tby\tthe\thand.\tThen\the\tsaw\tus\tand\tstopped,\tlooking\ta little\t confused.\t Perhaps\t the\t sight\t of\t two\t strangers\t had\t startled\t him.\t Feluda\t smiled\t and\t greeted\t him. \u2018Namaskar.\tDr\tHajra,\tI\tpresume?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes.\tBut\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI.\t.\t.?\u2019 Feluda\ttook\tout\tone\tof\this\tcards\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand\thanded\tit\tto\tDr\tHajra.\t\u2018I\tneed\tto\ttalk\tto\tyou. To\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth,\twe\tare\there\tat\tMr\tDhar \u2019s\trequest.\tHe\thas\twritten\tyou\ta\tletter.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tMukul,\twhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tgo\tto\tyour\troom?\tI\u2019ll\thave\ta\tchat\twith\tthese\tpeople,\tthen\tI\u2019ll\tjoin you.\tAll\tright?\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll\tgo\tto\tthe\tgarden,\u2019\tsaid\tMukul. His\tvoice\tsounded\tas\tsweet\tas\ta\tflute,\tbut\this\ttone\twas\tflat\tand\tlifeless,\talmost\tas\tif\tthe\twords\thad been\tspoken\tby\ta\trobot.\tDr\tHajra\tsaid,\t\u2018Very\twell,\tyou\tmay\tgo\tto\tthe\tgarden,\tbut\tbe\ta\tgood\tboy\tand don\u2019t\tgo\tout\tof\tthe\tgate,\tokay?\u2019 Mukul\tjumped\tfrom\tthe\tcorridor\tstraight\ton\tto\tthe\tgravel\tpath,\twithout\tsaying\tanother\tword.\tThen he\t stepped\t o ver \t a\t r o w\t o f\t flo wer s\t and\t sto o d\t quietly\t o n\t the\t lawn.\t Dr \t Hajr a\t tur ned\t back\t to \t us,\t g ave\t a somewhat\tembarrassed\tsmile\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Where\tshould\twe\tsit?\u2019 \u2018Let\u2019s\tgo\tto\tour\troom.\u2019 The\t hair\t around\t Dr\t Hajra\u2019s\t ears\t had\t started\t to\t grey,\t I\t noticed.\t His\t eyes\t held\t a\t sharp,\t intelligent look.\tNow\tthat\tI\tcould\tsee\thim\tmore\tclosely,\the\tappeared\tolder\u2014probably\tin\this\tlate\tforties. When\twe\twere\tseated,\tFeluda\thanded\thim\tMr\tDhar \u2019s\tletter\tand\toffered\thim\ta\tCharminar.\tDr\tHajra smiled,\t said,\t \u2018No,\t thanks\u2019,\t and\t began\t reading\t the\t letter.\t When\t he\u2019d\t finished,\t he\t folded\t it\t and\t put\t it back\tin\tits\tenvelope. Feluda\t explained\t quickly\t abo ut\t Neelu\t being \t kidnapped.\t \u2018Mr \t Dhar \t was\t afr aid,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018that\t tho se men\tmight\thave\tfollowed\tMukul\tand\tarrived\there.\tThat\tis\twhy\the\tcame\tto\tsee\tme.\tIn\tfact,\tI\tam\there really\t because\t he\t wanted\t me\t to\t join\t you.\t But,\t even\t if\t nothing\t untoward\t happens\t and\t you\t do\t not require\t my\t protection,\t I\t can\t see\t that\t my\t visit\t will\t not\t go\t to\t waste\t as\t I\u2019ve\t always\t wanted\t to\t see Rajasthan.\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tremained\tthoughtful\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Fortunately,\tnothing\thas\thappened as\tyet\tthat\tmight\tbe\tseen\tas\tuntoward.\tBut\thonestly,\tthere\twas\tno\tneed\tto\ttalk\tto\ta\tpress\treporter\tand say\tso\tmuch.\tI\ttold\tMr\tDhar\tto\twait\tuntil\tI\tfinished\tmy\tinvestigation,\tand\tthen\the\tcould\tget\tMukul\tto speak\tto\tas\tmany\treporters\tas\the\tliked,\tespecially\tabout\tthe\thidden\ttreasure.\tI\tmight\tthink\tthe\tstory\tis possibly\tquite\tbaseless,\tbut\tthere\tmight\twell\tbe\tpeople\twho\u2019d\tbe\teasily\ttempted\tto\tgo\tand\tlook\tfor\tit!\u2019 \u2018What\t do\t you\t think\t of\t this\t whole\t business\t of\t recalling\t previous\t lives?\t Do\t you\t really\t believe\t in jatismars?\u2019","\u2018What\t I\t think\t amounts\t to\t shooting\t arrows\t in\t the\t dark\t or\t simply\t making\t guesses.\t Yet\t I\t cannot dismiss\t the\t idea\t as\t pure\t nonsense.\t After\t all,\t there\t have\t been\t similar\t cases\t in\t the\t past.\t What\t those people\tcould\trecall\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\taccurate,\tto\tthe\tlast\tdetail.\tThat\tis\twhy,\twhen\tI\theard\tabout\tMukul, I\tdecided\tto\tdo\ta\tthorough\tinvestigation.\tIf\tit\tturned\tout\tthat\teverything\tMukul\tcould\trecall\twas\ttrue, then\tI\twould\ttreat\this\tcase\tas\ta\tstarting\tpoint\tand\tbase\tmy\tfuture\tresearch\ton\tit.\u2019 \u2018Have\tyou\tmade\tany\tprogress?\u2019 \u2018One\t thing\t has\t become\t clear.\t I\t was\t right\t to\t think\t about\t Rajasthan\t and\t bring\t him\t here.\t Mukul\u2019s entire\tdemeanour\thas\tchanged\tfrom\tthe\tmoment\twe\tset\tfoot\tin\tRajasthan.\tJust\tthink.\tFor\tthe\tfirst\ttime in\this\tlife,\the\tis\taway\tfrom\this\tparents\tand\tothers\tin\this\tfamily\tand\ttravelling\twith\ta\tvirtual\tstranger. Yet\the\thasn\u2019t\tmentioned\this\town\tpeople\teven\tonce\tin\tthe\tlast\tfew\tdays.\u2019 \u2018How\tis\this\trelationship\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018We\u2019ve\t had\t no \t pr o blems.\t He\t sees\t me\t as\t so meo ne\t who \u2019s\t taking \t him\t to \t his\t dr eamland.\t All\t he\t can think\tof\tis\this\tgolden\tfortress.\tSo\the\tjumps\twith\tjoy\teach\ttime\the\tsees\ta\tfort.\u2019 \u2018Any\tsign\tof\tthe\tgolden\tfortress?\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tshook\this\thead.\t\u2018No,\tI\tam\tafraid\tnot.\tOn\tour\tway\there,\tI\ttook\thim\tto\tthe\tfort\tin\tKisangarh. Yesterday\tevening,\the\tsaw\tthe\tJodhpur\tfort\tfrom\toutside.\tToday,\twe\twent\tto\tBarmer.\tEvery\ttime,\the says,\t\u201cNo,\tnot\tthis\tone.\tLet\u2019s\tfind\tanother.\u201d\tOne\treally\tneeds\tpatience\tin\ta\tcase\tlike\tthis.\tI\tknow\tthere\u2019s no\tpoint\tin\ttaking\thim\tto\tChittor\tor\tUdaipur\tbecause\tthere\u2019s\tno\tsand\tnear\tthose\tplaces.\tMukul\tkeeps talking\t of\t sand,\t and\t that\u2019s\t to\t be\t found\t only\t in\t these\t parts.\t So\t I\u2019m\t thinking\t of\t going\t to\t Bikaner tomorrow.\u2019 \u2018Would\tyou\tmind\tif\twe\tcame\talong?\u2019 \u2018No,\t of\t course\t not.\t In\t fact,\t I\u2019d\t feel\t quite\t reassured\t if\t you\t were\t with\t us\t because\t .\t .\t .\t something happened\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tstopped.\tFeluda\thad\ttaken\tout\this\tpacket\tof\tcigarettes,\tbut\tdid\tnot\topen\tit. \u2018Yesterday\tevening,\u2019\tDr\tHajra\tspoke\tslowly,\t\u2018there\twas\ta\tphone\tcall.\u2019 \u2018Where?\u2019 \u2018Here\tin\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse.\tI\twasn\u2019t\there;\tMukul\tand\tI\twere\tout\tlooking\tat\tthe\tfort.\tIn\tour\tabsence, someone\trang\tto\task\tif\ta\tman\thad\tarrived\tfrom\tCalcutta\twith\ta\tsmall\tboy.\tNaturally,\tthe\tmanager\tsaid yes.\u2019 \u2018But,\u2019\t Feluda\t suggested,\t \u2018it\t could\t be\t that\t some\t of\t the\t locals\t know\t about\t the\t press\t report\t that appeared\tin\tCalcutta\tand\tsimply\twanted\tto\tverify\tit?\tAfter\tall,\tthere\tare\tplenty\tof\tBengalis\tin\tJodhpur, aren\u2019t\tthere?\tSurely\ta\tlittle\tcuriosity\tin\ta\tmatter\tlike\tthis\tis\tnatural?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tcan\tsee\tthat.\tBut\tthe\tquestion\tis,\twhy\tdidn\u2019t\tthat\tman\tcome\there\tand\tmeet\tme,\tor\tget\tin\ttouch, even\twhen\the\theard\tthat\tI\twas\there?\u2019 \u2018Hmm.\tPerhaps\tit\u2019s\tbest\tthat\tyou\tand\tI\tstay\ttogether.\tAnd\tdon\u2019t\tlet\tMukul\tgo\tout\ton\this\town.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tmad?\tOf\tcourse\tI\twon\u2019t.\u2019\tDr\tHajra\trose.\t\u2018I\thave\tbooked\ta\ttaxi\tfor\ttomorrow.\tAs\tthere\tare just\ttwo\tof\tyou,\twe\u2019ll\tmanage\tquite\teasily\tin\tone\ttaxi.\u2019 He\tbegan\tmoving\ttowards\tthe\tdoor.\tSuddenly,\tFeluda\tasked\ta\tquestion\trather\tunexpectedly:\t\u2018By\tthe way,\tweren\u2019t\tyou\tinvolved\tin\ta\tcase\tin\tChicago,\tabout\tfour\tyears\tago?\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tfrowned.\t\u2018A\tcase?\tYes,\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tto\tChicago,\tbut.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Something\tto\tdo\twith\ta\tspiritual\thealing\tcentre?\u2019","Dr\tHajra\tburst\tout\tlaughing.\t\u2018Ah,\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout\tSwami\tBhavananda?\tThe\tAmericans\tused to\t call\t him\t Byavanyanda.\t Yes,\t there\t was\t a\t case,\t but\t what\t was\t reported\t in\t the\t press\t was\t grossly exaggerated.\tThe\tman\twas\tcertainly\ta\tcheat,\tbut\tyou\u2019ll\tfind\tsimilar\tcheats\tamong\tquacks\tof\tall\tkinds. It\twas\tsmall-time\tstuff,\tno\tmore.\tIn\tfact,\this\tpatients\tcaught\thim\tout,\tand\tthe\tnews\tspread.\tReporters from\tthe\tpress\tcame\tto\tme\tfor\tmy\topinion.\tI\tsaid\tvery\tlittle,\tand\ttried\tto\tplay\tthings\tdown.\tBut\tthose reporters\tblew\teverything\tout\tof\tproportion.\tAfterwards,\tI\thappened\tto\tmeet\tBhavananda.\tI\texplained the\twhole\tmatter\tto\thim\tmyself\tand\twe\tparted\tas\tfriends.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tWhat\tI\tread\tin\tthe\tpapers\ttold\tme\tsomething\tquite\tdifferent.\u2019 We\twent\tout\tof\tthe\troom\ttogether\twith\tDr\tHajra.\tIt\twas\tdark\toutside.\tAlthough\tthe\twestern\tsky\twas still\tglowing\tred,\tthe\tstreetlights\thad\tcome\ton.\tBut\twhere\twas\tMukul?\tHe\twas\tlast\tseen\tin\tthe\tgarden, but\tnow\the\twasn\u2019t\tthere.\tDr\tHajra\thad\ta\tquick\tlook\tin\this\troom,\tand\tcame\tout,\tlooking\tconcerned. \u2018Wher e\u2019s\t that\t bo y\t g o ne?\u2019\t he\t said\t and\t climbed\t do wn\t fr o m\t the\t co r r ido r \t o n\t to \t the\t g r avel\t path.\t We followed\thim.\tMukul\twas\tcertainly\tnot\tin\tthe\tgarden. \u2018Mukul!\u2019\tDr\tHajra\tcalled.\t\u2018Mukul!\u2019 \u2018Yes,\the\u2019s\theard\tyou.\tHe\u2019s\tcoming!\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. In\tthe\ttwilight,\tI\tcould\tsee\tMukul\tcoming\tback\tfrom\tthe\troad\toutside\tand\tturn\tinto\tthe\tgate.\tAt\tthe same\t time,\t I\t saw\t a\t man\t on\t the\t opposite\t pavement,\t walking\t briskly\t towards\t the\t new\t palace\t on\t the eastern\tside.\tI\tdid\tnot\tsee\this\tface,\tbut\tcould\tsee\u2014even\tin\tthe\tdark\u2014\tthat\tthe\tcolour\tof\this\tshirt\twas bright\tred.\tHad\tFeluda\tseen\thim? Mukul\tcame\ttowards\tus.\tDr\tHajra\twent\tto\thim,\this\tarms\toutstretched,\ta\tsmile\ton\this\tlips.\tThen\the said\tgently,\t\u2018You\tshouldn\u2019t\tgo\tout\tlike\tthat!\u2019 \u2018Why\tnot?\u2019\tasked\tMukul\tcoldly. \u2018You\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthis\tplace.\tThere\tare\tso\tmany\tbad\tpeople\tabout.\u2019 \u2018I\tknow\thim.\u2019 \u2018Who?\u2019 Mukul\tpointed\tat\tthe\troad.\t\u2018That\tman\t.\t.\t.\twho\twas\there.\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tplaced\ta\thand\ton\this\tshoulder\tand\tturned\tto\tFeluda.\t\u2018That\u2019s\tthe\ttrouble,\tyou\tsee,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018It\u2019s\tdifficult\tto\tsay\twhether\the\u2019s\ttalking\tof\tsomeone\the\treally\tknows\tin\tthis\tlife,\tor\twhether\the\u2019s\tstill talking\tabout\this\tprevious\tlife.\u2019 I\t no ticed\t a\t shiny\t piece\t o f\t paper \t in\t Mukul\u2019s\t hand.\t Feluda\t had\t seen\t it,\t to o .\t He\t said,\t \u2018May\t I\t see\t that piece\tof\tpaper\tyou\u2019re\tholding?\u2019 Mukul\t handed\t it\t to\t Feluda.\t It\t was\t a\t piece\t of\t golden\t foil,\t about\t two\t inches\t long\t and\t half\t an\t inch wide. \u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tfind\tit?\u2019 \u2018Over\tthere,\u2019\tMukul\tpointed\tat\tthe\tgrass. \u2018May\tI\tkeep\tit?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda. \u2018No.\t I\t found\t it.\u2019\t Mukul\u2019s\t voice\t hadn\u2019t\t changed.\t His\t tone\t was\t just\t as\t cold\t and\t as\t flat.\t Feluda\t was obliged\tto\treturn\tthe\tpiece\tof\tfoil\tto\thim. Dr\tHajra\tsaid,\t\u2018Come\ton,\tMukul,\tlet\u2019s\tgo\tto\tour\troom.\tWe\u2019ll\thave\ta\twash,\tand\tthen\twe\u2019ll\tboth\tgo and\t have\t dinner.\t Goodnight,\t Mr\t Mitter.\t Early\t breakfast\t at\t half\t past\t seven\t tomorrow\t morning,\t and then\twe\u2019ll\tleave.\u2019","Feluda\twrote\ta\tpostcard\tto\tMr\tDhar\twith\tnews\tof\tMukul\u2019s\twelfare\tbefore\twe\twent\tto\tthe\tdining\thall. By\tthe\ttime\twe\tgot\tthere\tafter\ta\tshower,\tDr\tHajra\tand\tMukul\thad\treturned\tto\ttheir\troom. Mandar\tBose\twas\tsitting\tin\tthe\topposite\tcorner,\thaving\this\tpudding\twith\tthe\tMarwari\tgentleman\the had\t been\t talking \t to \t ear lier.\t T hey\t finished\t their \t meal\t and\t r o se\t as\t we\t wer e\t ser ved\t o ur \t so up.\t Mr \t Bo se raised\this\thand\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Good\tnight!\u2019\tas\the\twent\tout\tthrough\tthe\tdoor. After\t two\t nights\t on\t the\t train,\t I\t was\t feeling\t quite\t tired.\t All\t I\t wanted\t to\t do\t after\t dinner\t was\t go\t to sleep,\tbut\tFeluda\tmade\tme\tstay\tawake\tfor\ta\twhile.\tHe\ttook\tout\this\tblue\tnotebook\tand\tsat\ton\tthe\tsofa.\tI was\t lying\t in\t my\t bed.\t We\t had\t a\t cream\t to\t ward\t off\t mosquitoes,\t so\t there\t was\t no\t need\t to\t use\t the mosquito\tnet. Feluda\t pushed\t the\t little\t butto n\t o n\t his\t ballpo int\t pen,\t g o t\t it\t r eady\t to \t wr ite\t and\t said,\t \u2018Who \t have\t we met\tso\tfar?\tGive\tme\tthe\twhole\tlist.\u2019 \u2018Starting\tfrom\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018Mr\tDhar \u2019s\tarrival.\u2019 \u2018Okay,\tSudhir\tDhar.\tThat\u2019s\tnumber\tone.\tThen\tShivratan.\tThen\tNeelu.\tOh,\tShivratan\u2019s\tservant\u2014\u2019 \u2018What\twas\this\tname?\u2019 Can\u2019t\tremember.\u2019 \u2018Manohar.\tNext?\u2019 \u2018Jatayu.\u2019 \u2018What\u2019s\this\treal\tname?\u2019 \u2018Lalmohan.\u2019 \u2018Surname?\u2019 \u2018Surname\t.\t.\t.\this\tsurname\tis\t.\t.\t.\tGanguli!\u2019 \u2018Good.\u2019 Feluda\tcontinued\tto\twrite\tas\tI\tproceeded\twith\tmy\tlist.\t\u2018Then\twe\tsaw\tthat\tman\tin\tthe\tred\tshirt.\u2019 \u2018Did\twe\tactually\tmeet\thim?\tGet\tto\tknow\thim?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tGo\ton.\u2019 \u2018Mandar\tBose,\tand\tthat\tother\tgentleman.\u2019 \u2018And\tthen\twe\tmet\tMukul\tDhar.\tDoctor\u2014\u2019 \u2018Feluda!\u2019 My\tsudden\tscream\tmade\tFeluda\tstop\tin\tmid-sentence.\tMy\teyes\thad\tfallen\ton\tFeluda\u2019s\tbed.\tAn\tugly, creepy\tcreature\twas\ttrying\tto\tslip\tout\tfrom\tunder\this\tpillow.\tI\tpointed\tat\tit. Feluda\tsprang\tto\this\tfeet,\tmoved\tquickly\tand\tremoved\tthe\tpillow.\tA\tscorpion\tlay\ton\tthe\tbed.\tFeluda pulled\tthe\tbedsheet\toff\tin\tone\tswift\tmotion\tand\tthe\tscorpion\tfell\ton\tthe\tground.\tThen\the\tgrabbed\this chappal\tand\tsmacked\tit\tthree\ttimes\twith\tall\this\tmight.\tAfter\tthat,\the\ttore\toff\ta\tpiece\tfrom\ta\tnewspaper, picked\tup\tthe\tcrushed\tcreature\twith\tit\tand\twent\tinto\tthe\tbathroom.\tI\tsaw\thim\tcrumple\tthe\twhole\tthing into\ta\tball\tand\tthrow\tit\tout\tof\tthe\tback\tdoor. He\t came\t back\t to \t the\t r o o m\t and\t said\u2019,\t \u2018T he\t do o r \t which\t the\t cleaner s\t use\t was\t left\t o pen.\t T hat\u2019s\t ho w Mr\tScorpion\tgot\tinto\tour\troom.\tAnyway,\tgo\tto\tsleep\tnow.\tWe\thave\tan\tearly\tstart\ttomorrow.\u2019 But\tI\tcould\tnot\tdismiss\tthe\tmatter\tso\teasily.\tSomething\ttold\tme\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tI\tput\tthe\tthought\tout\tof\tmy mind.\tIf\tI\tkept\tthinking\tof\tpossible\tdanger,\tand\tif\tmy\ttelepathy\twas\tstrong\tenough,\tit\tmight\tjust\tdrag","that\tdanger\tcloser\u2014who\tknew? It\twould\tbe\tfar\tbetter\tto\ttry\tto\tsleep.","Six The\t fo llo wing \t mo r ning ,\t as\t so o n\t as\t I\t emer g ed\t fr o m\t o ur \t r o o m,\t I\t hear d\t a\t familiar \t vo ice\t say,\t \u2018Go o d morning!\u2019\tIt\twas\tJatayu.\tFeluda\twas\talready\tseated\ton\ta\tchair\ton\tthe\tcorridor\toutside,\twaiting\tfor\this tea.\t Jatayu\t glanced\t round\t excitedly\t and\t said,\t \u2018Oh!\t This\t is\t such\t a\t thrilling\t place,\t Mr\t Mitter!\t Full\t of powerfully\tsuspicious\tcharacters.\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tunharmed,\tI\thope?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Oh\tyes.\tI\tfeel\tfitter\tthan\tever.\tThis\tmorning,\tyou\tknow\twhat\tI\tdid?\tI\tchallenged\tthe\tmanager\tof\tour lodge\tto\tan\tarm-wrestle.\tBut\tthe\tfellow\tdidn\u2019t\taccept.\u2019\tThen\the\tcame\ta\tlittle\tcloser\tand\twhispered,\t\u2018I have\ta\tweapon\tin\tmy\tsuitcase!\u2019 \u2018A\tcatapult?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tA\tNepali\tdagger,\tstraight\tfrom\tKathmandu.\tIf\tI\u2019m\tattacked,\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\tstab\tmy\tattacker with\tit\u2014push\tit\tstraight\tinto\this\tstomach,\tI\ttell\tyou.\tThen\tlet\u2019s\tsee\twhat\thappens.\tI\u2019ve\talways\twanted\tto build\tup\ta\tcollection\tof\tweapons,\tyou\tknow.\u2019 I\t wanted\t to\t laugh\t again,\t but\t my\t self-control\t was\t getting\t better,\t so\t I\t managed\t to\t stop\t myself. Lalmohan\tBabu\tsat\tdown\ton\tthe\tchair\tnext\tto\tFeluda\tand\tasked,\t\u2018What\u2019s\tyour\tplan\ttoday?\tAren\u2019t\tyou going\tto\tsee\tthe\tfort?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tnot\tthe\tfort\tin\tJodhpur.\tWe\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tBikaner.\u2019 \u2018Bikaner?\tWhy\tBikaner?\u2019 \u2018We\u2019ve\tgot\tcompany.\tSomebody\u2019s\tarranged\ta\tcar.\u2019 Another\t voice\t said\t \u2018Good\t morning!\u2019\t from\t a\t different\t part\t of\t the\t corridor.\t Mr\t Globetrotter\t was walking\ttowards\tus.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tsleep\twell?\u2019\the\tasked. I\t caught\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t casting\t admiring\t glances\t at\t Mandar\t Bose\u2019s\t handsome\t moustache\t and muscular\tphysique.\tFeluda\tintroduced\thim\tto\tMr\tBose. \u2018Good\theavens,\ta\tglobetrotter!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\teyes\twidened.\t\u2018I\tmust\tcultivate\tyou,\tdear\tsir.\tYou must\thave\thad\ta\tlot\tof\thair-raising\texperiences!\u2019 \u2018Plenty,\tI\tcan\tassure\tyou.\tThe\tonly\tthing\tthat\tI\thave\tmissed\tis\tbeing\tboiled\tin\ta\tcannibal\u2019s\tcooking pot.\tApart\tfrom\tthat,\tI\thave\thad\tvirtually\tevery\texperience\ta\tman\tcan\tpossibly\thave.\u2019 Suddenly,\tI\tnoticed\tMukul.\tI\thadn\u2019t\tseen\thim\tcome\tout\ton\tthe\tcorridor.\tHe\twas\tstanding\tquietly\tin\ta corner,\tstaring\tat\tthe\tgarden.\tThen\tDr\tHajra\tappeared,\tdressed\tand\tready\tto\tgo\tout.\tA\tflask\twas\tslung from\tone\tshoulder;\tfrom\tthe\tother\thung\tbinoculars,\tand\taround\this\tneck\twas\tthe\tstrap\tof\this\tcamera. He\tsaid,\t\u2018It\twill\ttake\tus\talmost\tfour\tand\ta\thalf\thours\tto\tget\tthere.\tIf\tyou\thave\ta\tflask,\ttake\tit\twith\tyou. God\t knows\t if\t we\u2019ll\t get\t anything\t to\t drink\t on\t the\t way.\t But\t I\u2019ve\t told\t the\t dining\t hall\t to\t give\t us\t four packed\tlunches.\u2019 \u2018Where\tare\tyou\toff\tto?\u2019\tasked\tMandar\tBose.","On\t being\t told\t where\t we\t were\t going,\t he\t became\t all\t excited.\t \u2018Why\t don\u2019t\t we\t all\t go\t together?\u2019\t he asked. \u2018What\ta\tgood\tidea!\u2019\texclaimed\tLalmohan\tBabu. Dr\tHajra\tlooked\ta\tlittle\tuncomfortable.\t\u2018Well\tthen,\thow\tmany\tare\tactually\tgoing?\u2019\the\tenquired. \u2018Lo o k,\t ther e\u2019s\t no \t questio n\t o f\t all\t o f\t us\t g o ing \t in\t o ne\t car,\u2019\t Mr \t Bo se\t r eassur ed\t him.\t \u2018I\t will\t ar r ang e another\ttaxi.\tI\tthink\tMr\tMaheshwari\twould\talso\tlike\tto\tgo\twith\tme.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\tgoing,\ttoo?\u2019\tDr\tHajra\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018If\t I\t g o ,\t I\u2019ll\t pay\t my\t shar e.\t I\t do n\u2019t\t want\t anyo ne\t else\t to \t pay\t fo r \t me.\t Tell\t yo u\t what,\t why\t do n\u2019t\t yo u four\tgo\tin\tone\ttaxi?\tI\u2019ll\tgo\twith\tMr\tGlobetrotter.\u2019 Obviously,\tJatayu\twanted\tto\thear\ta\tfew\tstories\tfrom\tMr\tBose\tand\tperhaps\tget\tideas\tfor\ta\tnew\tplot. He\thad\talready\twritten\tat\tleast\ttwenty-five\tadventure\tstories.\tTo\tbe\thonest,\this\tremark\tmade\tme\tfeel quite\trelieved.\tFive\tin\tone\tcar\twould\thave\tbeen\tcramped\tand\tuncomfortable. Mr\tBose\tspoke\tto\tthe\tmanager\tand\tbooked\ta\tsecond\ttaxi.\tLalmohan\tBabu\treturned\tto\tNew\tBombay Lodge.\t\u2018Please\tpick\tme\tup\ton\tyour\tway,\u2019\the\tsaid\tbefore\the\tdeparted.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tbe\tready\tin\thalf\tan\thour.\u2019 Befo r e\t I\t descr ibe\t anything \t else\t abo ut\t o ur \t visit\t to \t Bikaner,\t per haps\t I\t o ug ht\t to \t mentio n\t that\t Mukul rejected\tthe\tfort\tthere\tas\tsoon\tas\the\tsaw\tit.\tBut\tthat\twas\tnot\tthe\thighlight\tof\tour\tvisit.\tSomething\tfar more\timportant\thappened\tin\tDevikund,\twhich\tproved\tthat\twe\twere\ttruly\tup\tagainst\ta\tferocious\tfoe. Nothing\tmuch\thappened\ton\tthe\tway\tto\tBikaner,\texcept\tthat\twe\tsaw\ta\tgroup\tof\tgypsies.\tThey\twere camping\tby\tthe\troadside.\tMukul\tasked\tus\tto\tstop,\tgot\tout\tof\tthe\tcar\tand\troamed\tamongst\tthe\tgypsies for\ta\twhile.\tThen\the\treturned\tand\tdeclared\tthat\the\tknew\tthose\tpeople. After\tthat,\tFeluda\tand\tDr\tHajra\tspoke\tabout\tMukul\tfor\ta\tfew\tminutes.\tI\tcannot\ttell\twhether\the\theard the\tconversation\tfrom\tthe\tfront\tseat.\tIf\the\tdid,\this\tdemeanour\tgave\tnothing\taway. \u2018Dr\tHajra,\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan,\t\u2018when\tMukul\ttalks\tof\this\tprevious\tlife,\twhat\texactly\tdoes\the\tsay?\u2019 \u2018He\tmentions\tone\tthing\trepeatedly\u2014a\tgolden\tfortress.\tHis\thouse\twas\tapparently\tnear\tthat\tfortress. Gold\tand\tjewels\twere\tburied\tunder\tthe\tground\tin\tthat\thouse.\tFrom\tthe\tway\the\ttalks,\tit\tseems\tas\tif\the was\tpresent\twhen\tthe\ttreasure\twas\tburied.\tApart\tfrom\tthat,\the\ttalks\tof\ta\tbattle.\tHe\tsays\the\tsaw\ta\tlarge number\t of\t elephants,\t horses,\t soldiers,\t guns,\t cannons\u2014there\t was\t a\t lot\t of\t noise,\t and\t people\t were screaming.\t And\t he\t talks\t of\t camels.\t Says\t he\u2019s\t ridden\t camels.\t Then\t he\t talks\t of\t peacocks.\t Once\t a peacock\thad\tattacked\thim,\tpecked\this\thand\tso\thard\tthat\tit\tbegan\tbleeding.\tThere\u2019s\tsomething\telse\the mentions\tfrequently.\tSand.\tHaven\u2019t\tyou\tnoticed\thow\tanimated\the\tbecomes\twhen\the\tsees\tsand?\u2019 We\treached\tBikaner\tat\ta\tquarter\tto\ttwelve.\tThe\troad\tbegan\tgoing\tuphill\ta\tlittle\tbefore\twe\treached the\t city,\t which\t was\t sur r o unded\t by\t a\t wall,\t o n\t to p\t o f\t the\t hill.\t The\t mo st\t str iking \t building \t ther e\t was\t a huge\tfort,\tmade\tof\tred\tsandstone. Our\t car\t drove\t straight\t to\t the\t fort.\t As\t it\t got\t closer,\t the\t fort\t appeared\t to\t grow\t bigger.\t Baba\t was right.\tThe\tappearance\tof\tthe\tforts\tin\tRajasthan\twas\ta\tgood\tindicator\tof\tthe\tmight\tof\tthe\tRajputs. As\tsoon\tas\tour\ttaxi\tdrew\tup\tat\tthe\tentrance,\tMukul\tsaid,\t\u2018Why\thave\twe\tstopped\there?\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tasked\thim,\t\u2018Does\tthis\tfort\tseem\tfamiliar,\tMukul?\u2019\tMukul\treplied\tsolemnly,\t\u2018No.\tThis\tis\ta stupid\tfort,\tnot\tthe\tgolden\tone.\u2019 By\t this\t time,\t we\t had\t all\t climbed\t o ut\t o f\t the\t car.\t Just\t as\t Mukul\t finished\t speaking ,\t a\t har sh\t r auco us so und\t r eached\t o ur \t ear s.\t At\t o nce,\t Mukul\t r an\t to \t Dr \t Hajr a\t and\t flung \t his\t ar ms\t ar o und\t him.\t T he\t so und had\tcome\tfrom\ta\tpark\topposite\tthe\tfort.","\u2018That\twas\ta\tpeacock.\tHas\tthis\thappened\tbefore?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda. Dr\t Hajra\t stroked\t Mukul\u2019s\t head\t gently.\t \u2018Yes.\t It\t happened\t yesterday\t in\t Jodhpur.\t He\t can\u2019t\t stand peacocks.\u2019 Mukul\thad\tturned\tquite\tpale.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tstay\there,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tin\tthe\tsame\tlifeless\tyet\tsweet\tvoice. Dr \t Hajr a\t tur ned\t to \t Feluda.\t \u2018I\u2019m\t g o ing \t to \t take\t the\t car \t and\t g o \t to \t the\t lo cal\t Cir cuit\t Ho use.\t Then\t I\u2019ll send\tit\tback\there.\tWhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\ttwo\tsee\twhatever\tyou\twant\tto?\tYou\tcan\tjoin\tme\tat\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse when\tthe\tcar\tcomes\tback\tto\tpick\tyou\tup.\tBut\tplease\tmake\tsure\twe\tleave\there\tby\ttwo\to\u2019clock,\tor\tit\twill be\tlate\tby\tthe\ttime\twe\tget\tback\tto\tJodhpur.\u2019 There\twas\treason\tto\tfeel\tdisappointed,\tparticularly\tfor\tDr\tHajra,\tbut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tmind\tall\tthat\tmuch.\tI was\tabout\tto\tstep\tinto\ta\tRajasthani\tfort\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tin\tmy\tlife.\tThe\tthought\twas\tgiving\tme\tgoose pimples. We\t pr o ceeded\t to war ds\t the\t main\t g ate\t o f\t the\t fo r t.\t Suddenly,\t Feluda\t sto pped\t and\t laid\t a\t hand\t o n\t my shoulder.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tsee?\u2019 \u2018What?\u2019 \u2018That\tman.\u2019 Was\t he\t r efer r ing \t to \t the\t man\t in\t the\t r ed\t shir t?\t I\t fo llo wed\t his\t g aze,\t but\t co uld\t no t\t spo t\t a\t sing le\t r ed shirt\tanywhere.\tThere\twere\tlots\tof\tpeople\tmilling\tabout,\tfor\tthere\twas\ta\tsmall\tmarket\tjust\toutside\tthe fort.\t\u2018Where\tis\the?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018Idiot!\tAre\tyou\tlooking\tfor\ta\tred\tshirt?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tShouldn\u2019t\tI?\tWho\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout?\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\tthe\tbiggest\tfool\ton\tearth.\tAll\tyou\tremember\tis\tthe\tshirt,\tnothing\telse.\tIt\twas\tthe\tsame\tman, he\twas\twearing\ta\tshawl\tand\tmost\tof\this\tface\twas\tcovered,\tall\texcept\this\teyes.\tBut\ttoday\the\thad\ta\tblue shirt\ton.\tWhen\twe\tstopped\tto\tlook\tat\tthose\tgypsies,\tI\tsaw\ta\ttaxi\tgoing\ttowards\tBikaner.\tThat\u2019s\twhen\tI spotted\tthat\tblue\tshirt.\u2019 \u2018But\twhat\tis\the\tdoing\there?\u2019 \u2018If\twe\tknew\tthat,\tthere\twould\tbe\tno\tmystery!\u2019 The\t man\t had\t vanished.\t I\t passed\t through\t the\t gate\t and\t entered\t the\t fort,\t feeling\t rather\t agitated.\t A large\tcourtyard\tgreeted\tme.\tThe\tfort\tstood\tproudly\tto\tthe\tright.\tThere\twere\tpigeons\teverywhere,\tin every\t niche\t in\t the\t wall.\t A\t thousand\t years\t ago,\t Bikaner\t was\t a\t thriving\t city,\t but\t it\t had\t disappeared under \t the\t sand.\t Feluda\t to ld\t me\t that\t fo ur \t hundr ed\t year s\t ag o ,\t Raja\t Rai\t Sing h\t beg an\t building \t the\t fo r t. He\twas\ta\tfamous\tleader\tin\tAkbar \u2019s\tarmy. Something\thad\tbeen\tbothering\tme\tfor\ta\twhile.\tWhy\thadn\u2019t\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tthe\tothers\tarrived yet?\tDid\tthey\tget\tlate\tin\tsetting\tout?\tOr\thad\ttheir\tcar\tbroken\tdown\ton\tthe\tway?\tThen\tI\ttold\tmyself\tnot to\tworry.\tThere\twas\tno\tpoint\tin\tspoiling\tthe\tjoy\tof\tseeing\tan\tamazing\thistorical\tsight. What\tstruck\tme\tas\tmost\tamazing\twas\tthe\tarmoury.\tNot\tonly\tdid\tit\tcontain\tweapons,\tbut\talso\ta\tvery beautiful\t silver\t throne,\t called\t Alam\t Ambali.\t It\t was\t said\t to\t be\t a\t gift\t from\t a\t Mughal\t badshah.\t Apart from\t that,\t there\t were\t swords,\t spears,\t daggers,\t shields,\t armour,\t helmets\u2014there\t was\t no\t end\t to\t the weapons.\tThe\tswords\twere\tso\tlarge\tand\tso\tstrong\tthat\tit\tseemed\tincredible\tthat\tthey\twere\tmeant\tto\tbe used\tby\thuman\tbeings.\tThe\tsight\tof\tthose\tweapons\treminded\tme\tof\tJatayu\tagain.\tFunnily\tenough,\tas soon\tas\tI\tthought\tof\thim,\the\tarrived,\tpossibly\tdragged\tby\tthe\tforce\tof\tmy\ttelepathy.\tIn\tthat\thuge\troom","in\t the\t massive\t fort,\t standing\t near\t a\t very\t large\t door,\t Jatayu\t looked\t smaller\t and\t more\t comical\t than ever. When\t he\t saw\t us,\t he\t grinned,\t looked\t around\t and\t simply\t said,\t \u2018Was\t every\t Rajput\t a\t giant?\t Surely these\tthings\tweren\u2019t\tmade\tto\tbe\tused\tby\tordinary\tmen?\u2019 It\tturned\tout\tthat\tmy\thunch\twas\tright.\tThey\thad\ttravelled\tfor\tabout\tseventy\tkilometres,\twhen\ttheir taxi\tgot\ta\tflat\ttyre.\t\u2018Where\tare\tthe\tother\ttwo?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018They\tstopped\tto\tbuy\tthings\tin\tthe\tmarket.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\twait\tany\tlonger,\tso\tI\tcame\tin.\u2019 We\tleft\tthe\tarmoury\tand\twent\toff\tto\tsee\tPhool\tMahal,\tGaj\tMandir,\tSheesh\tMahal\tand\tGanga\tNivas. When\t we\t got\t to\t Chini\t Burj,\t we\t saw\t Mandar\t Bose\t and\t Mr\t Maheshwari.\t They\t were\t both\t clutching parcels\t wrapped\t with\t newspaper,\t so\t clearly\t they\t had\t done\t some\t shopping.\t Mr\t Bose\t said,\t \u2018The weapons\tI\tsaw\tin\tthe\tforts\tand\tcastles\tin\tEurope\u2014all\tbuilt\tin\tmedieval\ttimes\u2014and\tthe\tweapons\tI\u2019ve seen\there\ttoday,\tall\tprove\tone\tthing.\tThe\thuman\trace\tis\tbecoming\tweaker\tevery\tday,\tand\tsmaller\tin size!\u2019 \u2018Like\t me,\t yo u\t mean?\u2019\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t r emar ked\t with\t a\t smile.\t \u2018Rig ht.\t Exactly\t like\t yo u,\u2019\t Mr \t Bo se r eplied.\t \u2018I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t a\t sing le\t Rajput\t wo uld\t have\t matched\t yo ur \t dimensio ns\t in\t the\t sixteenth\t centur y. Oh,\t by\t the\t way,\u2019\t he\t turned\t to\t Feluda,\t \u2018this\t was\t waiting\t for\t you\t at\t the\t reception\t desk\t in\t the\t Circuit House.\u2019 He\t took\t out\t a\t sealed\t envelope\t from\t his\t pocket\t and\t passed\t it\t to\t Feluda.\t It\t had\t no\t stamp\t on\t it. Someone\tmust\thave\tdelivered\tit\tby\thand.\t\u2018Who\tgave\tit\tto\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked,\topening\tthe\tenvelope. \u2018Bagri,\tthe\tfellow\twho\tsits\tat\tthe\treception\tdesk.\tHe\thanded\tit\tto\tme\tjust\tas\twe\twere\tleaving.\tSaid\the had\tno\tidea\twho\thad\tdropped\tit\toff.\u2019 \u2018Excuse\tme,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\tThen\the\tread\tthe\tnote,\treplaced\tit\tin\tthe\tenvelope\tand\tput\tit\tin\this\tpocket. I\tcould\tnot\ttell\twhat\tit\tsaid,\tnor\tcould\tI\task. We\tspent\tanother\thalf\tan\thour\tin\tthe\tfort.\tThen\tFeluda\tlooked\tat\this\twatch\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Time\tto\tgo\tto the\tCircuit\tHouse!\u2019\tI\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tleave\tthe\tfort,\tbut\tknew\tI\thad\tto. Bo th\t taxis\t wer e\t waiting \t o utside.\t This\t time,\t we\t decided\t to \t leave\t to g ether.\t As\t we\t wer e\t g etting \t into ours,\tthe\tdriver\ttold\tus\tthat\tDr\tHajra\tand\tMukul\thad\tnot\tgone\tto\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse.\tApparently,\tMukul had\t declared\t that\t he\t had\t no\t wish\t to\t go\t there.\t So\t where\t did\t they\t go?\t \u2018Devikund,\u2019\t said\t the\t driver. Where\twas\tthat?\tNot\tfar\tfrom\tBikaner,\tit\tturned\tout.\tFeluda\tsaid\tthere\twere\tcenotaphs\tthere\t(locally known\tas\t\u2018chhatris\u2019),\tbuilt\tas\tmemorials\tto\tRajput\twarriors. We\thad\tto\ttravel\tfive\tmiles,\tand\tit\ttook\tus\tten\tminutes.\tDevikund\treally\twas\tbeautiful,\tas\twere\tthe cenotaphs.\t Each\t cenotaph\t had\t stone\t columns\t that\t rose\t from\t stone\t platforms,\t supporting\t a\t small cano py,\t also \t made\t o f\t sto ne.\t T he\t who le\t str uctur e,\t fr o m\t to p\t to \t bo tto m,\t was\t exquisitely\t car ved.\t T her e were\tat\tleast\tfifty\tsuch\tcenotaphs\tspread\tover\tthe\twhole\tarea.\tThere\twere\tplenty\tof\ttrees,\tall\tof\tthem full\tof\tparrots.\tThe\tbirds\twere\tflocking\ttogether\ton\tsome,\tor\tflitting\tfrom\tone\ttree\tto\tanother,\tcrying raucously.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tso\tmany\tparrots\tin\tone\tplace. But\twhere\twas\tDr\tHajra?\tAnd\tMukul? Lalmohan\tBabu\twas\tgetting\trestless.\t\u2018Very\tsuspicious\tand\tmysterious!\u2019\the\texclaimed. \u2018Dr\tHajra!\u2019\tshouted\tMandar\tBose.\tHis\tdeep,\tbooming\tvoice\tmade\ta\tnumber\tof\tparrots\ttake\tflight, but\tno\tone\tanswered.","We\t beg an\t a\t sear ch.\t Ther e\t wer e\t so \t many\t ceno taphs\t that\t the\t place\t was\t like\t a\t maze.\t As\t we\t r o amed amongst\tthem,\tI\tsaw\tFeluda\tpick\tup\ta\tmatchbox\tfrom\tthe\tgrass\tand\tput\tit\tin\this\tpocket. In\t the\t end,\t it\t was\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t who \t fo und\t Dr \t Hajr a.\t We\t hear d\t him\t sho ut\t and\t r an\t to \t jo in\t him. Under\ta\tmango\ttree,\tin\tfront\tof\ta\tmossy\tplatform,\tDr\tHajra\twas\tlying\tcrumpled\ton\tthe\tground.\tHis mouth\twas\tgagged,\tand\this\thands\twere\ttied\tbehind\this\tback.\tHe\twas\tgroaning\thelplessly. Feluda\tbent\tover\thim\tquickly,\tremoved\tthe\tgag\tand\tuntied\this\thands.\tA\ttorn\tpiece\tof\ta\tturban\thad been\tused\tto\tcover\this\tmouth. \u2018How\ton\tearth\tdid\tthis\thappen?\u2019\tasked\tMr\tBose. Fortunately,\tDr\tHajra\twas\tnot\tinjured.\tHe\tsat\tup\ton\tthe\tgrass\tand\tpanted\tfor\ta\twhile.\tThen\the\ttold us\t what\t had\t happened.\t \u2018Mukul\t said\t he\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t go\t to\t the\t Circuit\t House,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018so\t we\t just drove\t on.\t Then\t we\t happened\t to\t come\t here.\t Mukul\t liked\t the\t place.\t \u201cThose\t things\t are\t chhatris,\u201d\t he said.\t He\t had\t seen\t them\t befo r e,\t and\t he\t wanted\t a\t clo ser \t lo o k.\t So \t we\t g o t\t o ut\t o f\t the\t car.\t Mukul\t beg an exploring,\t and\t I\t stood\t in\t the\t shade,\t under\t a\t tree.\t Suddenly\t someone\t attacked\t me\t from\t behind.\t He placed\ta\thand\tover\tmy\tmouth\tand\tknocked\tme\tdown.\tI\tfell\tflat\ton\tmy\tface.\tThen\the\tpressed\tme\tdown firmly\u2014I\t think\t he\t kept\t his\t knee\t on\t the\t back\t of\t my\t head\u2014and\t tied\t my\t hands,\t and\t then\t gagged\t my mouth.\u2019 \u2018Where\u2019s\tMukul?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tanxiously. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\tdid\thear\ta\tcar\tstart\tsoon\tafter\tI\twas\ttied\tup.\u2019 \u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tthis\tman\u2019s\tface?\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tshook\this\thead.\t\u2018No,\tbut\twhen\twe\tstruggled,\tI\tgot\tan\tidea\tof\this\tclothes.\tHe\twas\twearing Rajasthani\tclothes,\tnot\ta\tshirt\tand\ttrousers.\u2019 \u2018There\the\tis!\u2019\tshouted\tMandar\tBose. To\tmy\tsurprise,\tMukul\temerged\tfrom\tbehind\ta\tchhatri,\tchewing\ta\tstalk\tof\tgrass.\tDr\tHajra\tlet\tout an\taudible\tsigh\tof\trelief.\t\u2018Thank\tGod!\u2019\the\tcried. \u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tgo,\tMukul?\u2019 No\tanswer. \u2018Where\twere\tyou\tall\tthis\twhile?\u2019 \u2018Behind\tthat,\u2019\tMukul\treplied\tthis\ttime,\tpointing\tat\ta\tchhatri.\t\u2018I\thave\tseen\tsuch\tthings\tbefore.\u2019 Feluda\tspoke\tnext.\t\u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tthe\tman\twho\twas\there?\u2019 \u2018Which\tman?\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tintervened,\t\u2018Mukul\tcould\tnot\thave\tseen\thim.\tHe\tran\toff\tto\texplore\tthe\tarea\tthe\tminute\the got\tout\tof\tthe\tcar.\tI\tnever\timagined\tsuch\ta\tthing\twould\thappen\tin\tBikaner,\tso\tI\twasn\u2019t\tunduly\tworried about\thim.\u2019 Even\tso,\tFeluda\ttried\tagain,\t\u2018Didn\u2019t\tyou\tsee\tthe\tman\twho\ttied\tthe\tdoctor \u2019s\thands?\u2019 \u2018I\twant\tto\tsee\tthe\tgolden\tfortress,\u2019\tsaid\tMukul.\tIt\twas\tclearly\tpointless\tto\task\thim\tanything\telse. \u2018Let\u2019s\t not\t waste\t our\t time\t any\t more,\u2019\t Feluda\t spoke\t abruptly.\t \u2018In\t a\t way,\t I\t am\t glad\t that\t Mukul\t was no wher e\t near \t yo u.\t Or \t that\t man\t mig ht\t have\t made\t o ff\t with\t Mukul.\t If\t he\t has\t r etur ned\t to \t Jo dhpur,\t we might\tbe\table\tto\tcatch\tup\twith\thim,\tif\twe\tdrive\tfast\tenough.\u2019 In\t two \t minutes,\t we\t wer e\t all\t back\t in\t o ur \t car s\t and\t speeding \t back\t to \t Jo dhpur.\t This\t time,\t Lalmo han Babu\tdecided\tto\tjoin\tus.\t\u2018Those\tmen\tdrink\ta\tlot.\tI\tcan\u2019t\tstand\tthe\tsmell\tof\talcohol!\u2019\the\tconfided."]
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