["Our\tPunjabi\tdriver,\tHarmeet\tSingh,\tmanaged\tto\tdrive\tat\tsixty\tmph.\tAt\tone\tpoint,\ta\tsmall\tbird\tflew into \t o ur \t windscr een\t and\t died.\t Mukul\t and\t I\t wer e\t sitting \t in\t the\t fr o nt\t with\t the\t dr iver.\t I\t tur ned\t ar o und once\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\tthree\tmen\tin\tthe\tback\tseat.\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tsitting\tcrushed\tbetween\tFeluda\tand Dr \t Hajr a.\t His\t face\t lo o ked\t pale\t and\t his\t eyes\t wer e\t clo sed;\t never theless,\t a\t smile\t ho ver ed\t o n\t his\t lips, which\t to ld\t me\t that\t he\t co uld\t smell\t an\t adventur e.\t Per haps\t he\t had\t even\t tho ug ht\t o f\t a\t plo t\t fo r \t his\t next novel. We\t dr o ve\t at\t that\t speed\t fo r \t a\t hundr ed\t miles,\t but\t by\t that\t time\t it\t had\t beco me\t clear \t that\t the\t cr iminal had\t g o t\t away,\t and\t we\t wo uldn\u2019t\t be\t able\t to \t catch\t up\t with\t him.\t After \t all,\t ther e\t was\t no \t r easo n\t to \t think that\the\twasn\u2019t\ttravelling\tin\ta\tfast\tnew\tcar. When\t we\t r eached\t Jo dhpur,\t it\t was\t dar k\t and\t all\t the\t lig hts\t in\t the\t city\t had\t been\t switched\t o n.\t Feluda said\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu,\t\u2018You\u2019d\tlike\tto\tbe\tdropped\tat\tthe\tNew\tBombay\tLodge,\twouldn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t squeaked,\t \u2018I\t mean,\t all\t my\t things\t are\t there,\t so\t naturally\t .\t .\t .\t but\t I\t was wondering\tif\t.\t.\t.\tafter\tdinner,\tI\tmight\tgo\tover\tto\tyour\tplace\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 \u2018Ver y\t well,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t r eassur ing ly,\t \u2018I\t will\t ask\t at\t the\t Cir cuit\t Ho use\t if\t they\t have\t a\t vacant\t r o o m. You\tcan\tring\tme\tat\taround\tnine.\tI\tshould\tbe\table\tto\ttell\tyou\tthen.\u2019 I\t was\t still\t mulling\t over\t all\t that\t had\t happened\t during\t the\t day.\t We\t were\t up\t against\t someone extremely\tclever\tand\tcrafty\u2014of\tthat\tthere\twas\tno\tdoubt.\tWas\tit\tthe\tman\tin\tthe\tred\tshirt,\twho\twent\tto Bikaner\t today\t wearing\t a\t blue\t one?\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know.\t Nothing\t was\t making\t any\t sense\t to\t me.\t Perhaps Feluda\t was\t just\t as\t puzzled.\t If\t he\t had\t wo r ked\t thing s\t o ut,\t his\t who le\t demeano ur \t wo uld\t have\t chang ed. Having \t spent\t so \t many\t year s\t with\t him\t and\t watched\t his\t r eactio ns,\t that\t was\t so mething \t I\t had\t lear nt\t to read\tquite\twell. Upon\treaching\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse,\twe\tdispersed\tand\twent\tto\tour\tindividual\trooms.\tBefore\tgoing\tto our\troom,\tFeluda\tsaid\tto\tDr\tHajra,\t\u2018If\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind,\tmay\tI\tkeep\tthis\twith\tme?\u2019\tIn\this\thand\twas\tthe torn\tpiece\tof\tcloth\twith\twhich\tDr\tHajra\thad\tbeen\ttied. \u2018Certainly,\u2019\tDr\tHajra\treplied.\tThen\the\tmoved\ta\tlittle\tcloser\tand\tlowered\this\tvoice.\t\u2018As\tyou\tcan\tsee, Mr\tMitter,\tthe\tsituation\tis\tnow\tquite\tserious.\tThis\tis\texactly\twhat\tyou\twere\tafraid\tof,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tI\tmust say\tI\thadn\u2019t\tanticipated\tsuch\ttrouble.\u2019 \u2018Do n\u2019t\t wo r r y,\u2019\t Feluda\t to ld\t him.\t \u2018Yo u\t car r y\t o n\t with\t yo ur \t wo r k\t I\t am\t g o ing \t to \t be\t with\t yo u.\t If\t yo u had\t gone\t straight\t to\t the\t Circuit\t House\t in\t Bikaner\t today,\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t there\t would\t have\t been\t any problem.\t Fortunately,\t whoever\t attacked\t you\t could\t not\t kidnap\t Mukul.\t That\u2019s\t the\t main\t thing.\t From now\ton,\tstay\tclose\tto\tus.\tThat\tshould\tminimize\tthe\tchances\tof\tsomething\tsimilar\thappening\tagain.\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tcontinued\tto\tlook\ttroubled.\tHe\tsaid,\t\u2018I\tam\tnot\tworried\tabout\tmyself,\tyou\tsee.\tIf\ta\tscientist has\tto\tdo\tresearch,\the\thas\tto\ttake\tcertain\trisks\tjust\tto\tcomplete\this\twork.\tI\tam\tworried\tabout\tyou\ttwo. You\tare\toutsiders,\tnot\tinvolved\tin\tthis\tcase\tat\tall.\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled.\t\u2018You\tmust\tassume\tthat\tI,\ttoo,\tam\ta\tscientist\tinvolved\tin\tsome\tresearch,\tand\tso\tI\u2019m taking\trisks\tas\twell!\u2019 Mukul\twas\tpacing\tup\tand\tdown\tthe\tcorridor.\tDr\tHajra\tcalled\thim,\tsaid\t\u2018Good\tnight\u2019\tto\tus\tand\twent to\this\troom\twith\tMukul.\tHe\twas\tstill\tlooking\tpreoccupied. We\t went\t to\t ours.\t Feluda\t called\t a\t bearer\t and\t ordered\t two\t Coca-Colas.\t Then\t he\t took\t out\t his cigarettes\tand\tlighter\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand\tplaced\tthem\ton\tthe\ttable.\tHe\twas\tlooking\tworried.\tFrom\ta different\t pocket,\t he\t took\t out\t the\t matchbox\t he\t had\t found\t in\t Devikund.\t It\t had\t an\t ace\t printed\t on\t one","side,\tand\tit\twas\tempty.\tFeluda\tstared\tat\tit\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tbefore\tsaying,\t\u2018We\tstopped\tat\tso\tmany statio ns\t o n\t the\t way\t to \t Jo dhpur,\t and\t yo u\t saw\t so \t many\t paan\t stalls\t selling \t matches\t and\t cig ar ettes.\t Did you\tnotice\tany\tof\tthem\tselling\tthis\tparticular\tbrand\tof\tmatches?\u2019 I\thad\tto\tadmit\tthe\ttruth.\t\u2018No,\tFeluda,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tnotice\tanything.\u2019 \u2018In\t western\t India,\t this\t brand\t with\t the\t ace\t on\t it\t is\t not\t sold\t anywhere\u2014certainly\t not\t in\t Rajasthan. This\tmatchbox\thas\tcome\tfrom\ta\tdifferent\tstate.\u2019 \u2018Does\tthat\tmean\tit\tdoesn\u2019t\tbelong\tto\tthe\tman\tin\tthe\tred\tshirt?\u2019 \u2018That\t is\t a\t foolish\t question.\t To\t start\t with,\t if\t a\t man\t is\t dressed\t as\t a\t Rajasthani,\t that\t doesn\u2019t automatically\t mean\t that\t he\t is\t one.\t Anyone\t can\t wear\t Rajasthani\t clothes.\t Secondly,\t plenty\t of\t other people\tcould\thave\tgone\tto\tDevikund\tand\tattacked\tDr\tHajra.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t of\t course.\t But\t we\t don\u2019t\t know\t who\t they\t are,\t do\t we?\t So\t what\u2019s\t the\t use\t of\t wondering\t about that?\u2019 \u2018See,\tyou\tare\tspeaking\twithout\tthinking\tagain.\tLalmohan,\tMandar\tBose\tand\tMaheshwari\u2014all\tthree men\treached\tthe\tBikaner\tfort\tquite\tlate.\tJust\tthink\tabout\tthat.\tBesides\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Oh.\tYes,\tyes,\tnow\tI\tcan\tsee\twhat\tyou\tmean!\u2019 It\t just\t hadn\u2019t\t occurred\t to\t me\t before.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t told\t us\t that\t their\t car\t had\t a\t flat\t tyre,\t which delayed\t them\t by\t fo r ty-five\t minutes.\t What\t if\t he\t had\t lied?\t Even\t if\t he\t had\t to ld\t the\t tr uth\t and\t was\t quite innocent,\t Mandar\t Bose\t and\t Maheshwari\t could\t well\t have\t gone\t to\t Devikund\t instead\t of\t going\t to\t the local\tmarket. Feluda\t let\t out\t a\t deep\t sigh\t and\t took\t out\t another\t object\t from\t his\t pocket.\t My\t heart\t gave\t a\t sudden lurch.\tI\thad\ttotally\tforgotten\tabout\tit.\tIt\twas\tthe\tletter\tMandar\tBose\thad\thanded\thim\tthat\tmorning. \u2018Who\twrote\tthat\tletter,\tFeluda?\u2019\tI\tasked,\tmy\tvoice\ttrembling.\t\u2018No\tidea,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied,\tpassing\tit\tto me.\tOnly\tone\tline\twas\twritten\tin\tlarge\tletters\twith\ta\tballpoint\tpen: If\tyou\tvalue\tyour\tlife,\tgo\tback\tto\tCalcutta\timmediately. The\tnote\tshook\tin\tmy\thand.\tI\tput\tit\tquickly\ton\tthe\ttable\tand\tplaced\tmy\thands\ton\tmy\tlap,\ttrying\tto steady\tthem. \u2018What\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tdo,\tFeluda?\u2019 Feluda\t was\t staring\t at\t the\t ceiling\t fan.\t His\t eyes\t remained\t fixed\t on\t it\t as\t he\t muttered,\t almost\t to himself,\t\u2018A\tspider \u2019s\tweb\t.\t.\t.\tgeometry.\tIt\tis\tdark\tnow\t.\t.\t.\tso\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tsee\tit\t.\t.\t.\tbut\twhen\tthe\tsun\trises, the\tweb\twill\tcatch\tits\tlight\t.\t.\t.\tit\twill\tglitter\t.\t.\t.\tand\tthen\tyou\tcan\tsee\tits\tpattern.\tNow,\tall\twe\thave\tto\tdo is\twait\tfor\tsunrise.\t.\t.!\u2019","Seven I\twoke\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight\u2014God\tknows\twhat\ttime\tit\twas\u2014and\tsaw\tFeluda scribbling\tsomething\tin\this\tblue\tnotebook,\tby\tthe\tlight\tof\tthe\tbedside\tlamp.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tlong\the stayed\t awake,\t but\t when\t I\t wo ke\t at\t half\t past\t six,\t he\t had\t sho wer ed,\t had\t a\t shave\t and\t was\t dr essed\t to \t g o out.\tAccording\tto\thim,\twhen\tyour\tbrain\tworks\tat\thigh\tspeed,\tyou\ttend\tto\tsleep\ta\tlot\tless,\tbut\tthat\tdoes not\taffect\tyour\thealth.\tAt\tleast,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\the\tbelieves.\tIn\tthe\tlast\tten\tyears,\tI\thave\tnot\tknown\thim\tto\tbe ill,\t even\t fo r \t a\t sing le\t day.\t Even\t her e\t in\t Jo dhpur,\t he\t was\t do ing \t yo g a\t ever y\t day.\t By\t the\t time\t I\t left\t my bed,\the\thad\tfinished\this\texercises. When\twe\twent\tto\tthe\tdining\troom\tfor\tbreakfast,\twe\tmet\teveryone\telse.\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad\tmoved to\t the\t Circuit\t House\t the\t previous\t night.\t He\t had\t been\t given\t a\t room\t only\t two\t doors\t away\t Mandar Bose.\tWe\tfound\thim\teating\tan\tomelette.\tHe\thad\tthought\tof\ta\twonderful\tplot,\the\ttold\tus.\tDr\tHajra\tstill seemed\tupset.\tHe\thad\tnot\tslept\twell.\tOnly\tMukul\tseemed\ttotally\tunperturbed. Mandar\tBose\tdecided\tto\tbe\tdirect\twith\tDr\tHajra.\t\u2018Please\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tmy\tsaying\tthis,\u2019\the\tbegan,\t\u2018but you\u2019re\t dealing\t with\t such\t a\t weird\t subject\t that\t you\u2019re\t bound\t to\t invite\t trouble.\t In\t a\t country\t where superstition\truns\trife,\tisn\u2019t\tit\tbetter\tnot\tto\tmeddle\twith\tsuch\tthings?\tOne\tday,\tyou\u2019ll\tfind\tlittle\tboys\tin every\t household\t claiming\t to\t be\t jatismars!\t If\t you\t look\t closely,\t you\u2019ll\t find\t that\t their\t parents\t want\t a little\tpublicity\u2014that\u2019s\tall\tthere\tis\tto\tit.\tBut\twhat\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tdo\tif\tthat\thappens?\tHow\tmany\tkids will\tyou\ttake\twith\tyou\tand\ttravel\tall\tover\tthe\tcountry?\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tmade\tno\tcomment.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsimply\tcast\tpuzzled\tglances\tfrom\tone\tto\tthe\tother,\tfor no\tone\thad\ttold\thim\tabout\tMukul\tbeing\table\tto\trecall\this\tpast\tlife. Feluda\thad\talready\ttold\tme\tthat\tafter\tbreakfast,\the\twanted\tto\tgo\tto\tthe\tmain\tmarket.\tI\tknew\the\thad some\tother\tmotive;\tit\tcould\tnot\tbe\tjust\tto\tsee\tmore\tof\tthe\tcity,\tor\tto\tshop.\tWe\tleft\tat\ta\tquarter\tto\teight, accompanied\tby\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tI\ttried\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes\tto\timagine\thim\tas\ta\tferocious\tfoe,\tbut\tthe mere\tidea\twas\tso\tlaughable\tthat\tI\thad\tto\twipe\tit\tfrom\tmy\tmind. The\tarea\tround\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse\twas\tquiet,\tbut\tthe\tmain\tcity\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\tnoisy\tand\tcongested. The\t o ld\t wall\t was\t visible\t fr o m\t vir tually\t ever y\t co r ner.\t Alo ng \t that\t wall\t sto o d\t r o ws\t o f\t sho ps,\t to ng as, houses\tand\tmuch\telse.\tRemnants\tof\ta\tfive-hundred-year-old\tcity\twere\tnow\tinextricably\ttangled\twith the\tmodern\tJodhpur. We\t walked\t through\t the\t bazaar,\t looking\t at\t various\t shops.\t I\t could\t tell\t Feluda\t was\t looking\t for something\tspecific,\tbut\thad\tno\tidea\twhat\tit\twas.\tSuddenly,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked,\t\u2018What\tis\tDr\tHajra\u2019s subject?\tI\tmean,\twhat\tis\the\ta\tdoctor\tof?\tThis\tmorning,\tMr\tTrotter\twas\tsaying\tsomething\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 \u2018Hajra\t is\t a\t parapsychologist,\u2019\t Feluda\t replied.\t \u2018Parapsychologist?\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t frowned,\t \u2018I didn\u2019t\t know\t you\t could\t add\t \u201cpara\u201d\t before\t \u201cpsychologist\u201d!\t I\t know\t you\t can\t do\t that\t to\t \u201ctyphoid\u201d.\t So does\tit\tmean\tit\u2019s\thalf-psychology,\tjust\tas\tparatyphoid\tis\thalf-typhoid?\u2019","\u2018No,\t in\t this\t case\t \u201cpara\u201d\t means\t \u201cabnormal\u201d,\t not\t \u201chalf\u201d.\t Psychology\t is\t a\t complex\t subject,\t in\t any case.\tParapsychology\tdeals\twith\tits\tmore\tobscure\taspects.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tAnd\twhat\twas\tall\tthat\tabout\ta\tjatismar?\u2019 \u2018Mukul\tis\ta\tjatismar.\tAt\tleast,\tthat\u2019s\twhat\the\u2019s\tbeen\tcalled.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tjaw\tfell\topen. \u2018You\u2019ll\t get\t plenty\t of\t material\t for\t a\t plot,\u2019\t Feluda\t continued.\t \u2018That\t young\t boy\t talks\t of\t a\t golden fortress\the\tsaw\tin\ta\tprevious\tlife.\tAnd\tthe\thouse\twhere\the\tlived\thad\thidden\ttreasure,\tburied\tunder\tthe ground.\u2019 \u2018Are\twe\t.\t.\t.\tare\twe\tgoing\tto\tlook\tfor\tthose\tthings?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tvoice\tgrew\thoarse. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tabout\tyou.\tWe\tcertainly\tare.\u2019 Lalmo han\t Babu\t sto pped,\t bang \t in\t the\t middle\t o f\t the\t r o ad,\t and\t g r asped\t Feluda\u2019s\t hand\t with\t bo th\t his own.\t\u2018Mr\tMitter!\tThis\tis\tthe\tchance\tof\ta\tlifetime!\tPlease\tdon\u2019t\tdisappear\tanywhere\twithout\ttaking\tme with\tyou.\tThat\u2019s\tmy\tonly\trequest.\u2019 \u2018But\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhere\twe\u2019re\tgoing\tnext.\tNothing\u2019s\tdecided.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tpaused\tfor\ta\twhile, deep\tin\tthought.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Will\tMr\tTrotter\tgo\twith\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Why?\tWould\tyou\tmind\tif\the\tdid?\u2019 \u2018That\tman\tis\tpowerfully\tsuspicious!\u2019 There\t was\t a\t stall\t by\t the\t roadside,\t selling\t naagras.\t Most\t people\t in\t Rajasthan\t wear\t these\t shoes. Feluda\tstopped\tat\tthe\tstall. \u2018Powerful\the\tmight\tbe.\tWhy\tsuspicious?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018When\twe\twere\ttravelling\tto\tBikaner\tyesterday,\the\twas\tbragging\ta\tlot\tin\tthe\tcar.\tSaid\the\thad\tshot\ta wolf\t in\t Tanganyika.\t Yet\t I\t know\t that\t there\t are\t no\t wolves\t anywhere\t in\t Africa.\t I\t have\t read\t books\t by Martin\tJohnson.\tNo\tone\tcan\tfool\tme\tthat\teasily!\u2019 \u2018So\twhat\tdid\tyou\tsay?\u2019 \u2018What\tcould\tI\tsay?\tI\tcould\thardly\tcall\thim\ta\tliar\tto\this\tface.\tI\twas\tsitting\tsandwiched\tbetween\tthose two\tmen.\tYou\u2019ve\tseen\thow\tbroad\this\tchest\tis,\thaven\u2019t\tyou?\tAt\tleast\tforty-five\tinches.\tBoth\tsides\tof\tthe road\t were\t lined\t with\t huge\t cactus\t bushes\t and\t prickly\t pear.\t If\t I\t dared\t to\t contradict\t him,\t he\u2019d\t have picked\tme\tup\tand\tthrown\tme\tbehind\tone\tof\tthose\tbushes\u2014and\tthen,\tin\tno\ttime,\tI\u2019d\thave\tturned\tinto fodder\tfor\tvultures.\tGreat\tsquadrons\tof\tvultures\twould\thave\tlanded\ton\tme\tand\thad\ta\tfeast!\u2019 \u2018You\tthink\tso?\tHow\tmany\tvultures\tcould\tpossibly\tfeed\ton\tyour\tcorpse?\u2019 \u2018Ha\tha\tha\tha!\u2019 Feluda\t had,\t in\t the\t mean\t time,\t taken\t o ff\t his\t sandals\t and\t put\t o n\t a\t pair \t o f\t naag r as.\t He\t was\t walking back\tand\tforth\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tstall. \u2018Very\tpowerful\tshoes.\tAre\tyou\tgoing\tto\tbuy\tthose?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked. \u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\ttry\ton\ta\tpair\tyourself?\u2019\tFeluda\tsuggested. None\tof\tthe\tshoes\twere\tsmall\tenough\tto\tfit\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tbut\the\tdid\tslip\this\tfeet\tinto\tthe\tsmallest pair\tthat\tcould\tbe\tfound,\tand\tgave\ta\tshudder.\t\u2018Oh\tmy\tGod!\tThis\twas\tmade\tfrom\tthe\thide\tof\ta\trhino. You\u2019d\thave\tto\tbe\ta\trhino\tyourself\tto\twear\tsuch\tshoes.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\tyou\tmust\tassume\tthat\tninety\tper\tcent\tof\tRajasthanis\tare\trhinos.\u2019 Both\t men\t took\t the\t naagras\t off\t and\t wore\t their\t own\t shoes\t again.\t Even\t the\t shopkeeper\t began laughing,\thaving\trealized\tthat\tthe\tBabus\tfrom\tthe\tcity\twere\thaving\ta\tlittle\tjoke.","We\tleft\tthe\tstall\tand\twalked\ton.\tFrom\ta\tpaan\tshop,\ta\tfilm\tsong\twas\tbeing\tplayed\tvery\tloudly\ton\ta radio.\tThat\treminded\tme\tof\tDurga\tPuja\tin\tCalcutta.\tOver\there,\tpeople\tcelebrated\tnot\tDurga\tPuja,\tbut Dussehra.\tBut\tthat\twas\ta\tlong\tway\taway. A\t few\t minutes\t later,\t Feluda\t suddenly\t stopped\t at\t a\t shop\t selling\t stoneware.\t It\t was\t a\t prosperous looking\tshop\tcalled\tSolanki\tStores.\tDisplayed\tin\tthe\tshowcase\twere\tbeautiful\tpots,\tbowls,\tplates\tand g lasses,\t all\t made\t o f\t sto ne.\t Feluda\t was\t star ing \t at\t tho se\t fixedly.\t The\t sho pkeeper \t saw\t us,\t came\t to \t the door\tand\tinvited\tus\tinto\this\tshop. Feluda\tpointed\tat\ta\tbowl\tin\tthe\tglass\tcase,\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018May\tI\tsee\tit,\tplease?\u2019 The\t sho pkeeper \t did\t no t\t pick\t up\t the\t bo wl\t that\t was\t displayed.\t Instead,\t he\t to o k\t o ut\t an\t identical\t o ne fr o m\t a\t cupbo ar d.\t It\t was\t beautiful,\t made\t o f\t yello w\t sto ne.\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t r emember \t having \t seen\t anything like\tit\tbefore. \u2018Was\tthis\tmade\there?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018It\twas\tmade\tin\tRajasthan,\tbut\tnot\tin\tJodhpur.\u2019 \u2018No?\tWhere\twas\tit\tmade\tthen?\u2019 \u2018Jaisalmer.\tThis\tyellow\tstone\tcan\tbe\tfound\tonly\tin\tJaisalmer.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 I\thad\theard\tof\tJaisalmer,\tbut\tonly\tvaguely.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhere\texactly\tin\tRajasthan\tit\twas.\tFeluda bought\tthe\tbowl.\tThen\twe\ttook\ta\ttonga\tback\tto\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse.\tIt\twas\thalf\tpast\tnine\tby\tthe\ttime\twe returned,\t after\t a\t most\t bumpy\t ride.\t But\t it\t did\t mean\t that,\t after\t such\t a\t journey,\t our\t breakfast\t was certainly\tdigested. Mandar\t Bose\t was\t sitting\t outside\t in\t the\t corridor,\t reading\t a\t newspaper.\t \u2018What\t did\t you\t buy?\u2019\t he asked,\tlooking\tat\tthe\tpacket\tin\tFeluda\u2019s\thand. \u2018A\tbowl.\tAfter\tall,\tI\tmust\thave\ta\tRajasthani\tmemento.\u2019 \u2018I\tsaw\tyour\tfriend\tgo\tout.\u2019 \u2018Who,\tDr\tHajra?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tI\tsaw\thim\tleave\tin\ta\ttaxi,\tat\taround\tnine\to\u2019clock.\u2019 \u2018And\tMukul?\u2019 \u2018He\twent\twith\thim.\tPerhaps\tthey\u2019ve\tgone\tto\ttalk\tto\tthe\tpolice.\tAfter\twhat\thappened\tyesterday,\tHajra must\tstill\tbe\tquite\tshaken.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t returned\t to\t his\t room,\t on\t the\t grounds\t that\t he\t had\t to\t work\t on\t his\t new\t plot\t and change\tit\ta\tlittle.\tWe\twent\tto\tours. \u2018Why\tdid\tyou\tsuddenly\tbuy\tthat\tbowl,\tFeluda?\u2019\tI\tasked. Feluda\t sat\t do wn\t o n\t the\t so fa,\t unwr apped\t the\t bo wl\t and\t placed\t it\t o n\t the\t table,\t \u2018Ther e\t is\t so mething special\tabout\tit,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018What\u2019s\tso\tspecial?\u2019 \u2018Here\tis\ta\tbowl\tmade\tof\tstone.\tYet\tif\tI\twere\tto\tsay\tit\twas\ta\tgolden\tbowl,\tI\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tfar\twrong!\tI have\tnever\tseen\tanything\tlike\tthis\tin\tmy\tlife.\u2019 After\tthis,\the\tlapsed\tinto\tsilence\tand\tbegan\tturning\tthe\tpages\tof\ta\trailway\ttimetable.\tThere\twas\tlittle that\t I\t could\t do.\t I\t knew\t Feluda\t wouldn\u2019t\t open\t his\t mouth,\t at\t least\t for\t an\t hour.\t Even\t if\t I\t asked\t him questions,\the\twouldn\u2019t\tanswer.\tSo\tI\tleft\tthe\troom.","The\t corridor\t was\t now\t empty.\t Mandar\t Bose\t had\t gone.\t So\t had\t the\t European\t lady,\t who\t had\t been sitting\tat\tthe\tfar\tend\tearlier\ton.\tThe\tsound\tof\ta\tdrum\treached\tmy\tears.\tThen\tsomeone\tstarted\tsinging. I\t lo o ked\t at\t the\t g ate\t and\t fo und\t a\t bo y\t and\t a\t g ir l,\t who \t lo o ked\t like\t beg g ar s.\t The\t bo y\t was\t beating \t the drum\tand\tthe\tgirl\twas\tsinging.\tThey\twere\twalking\ttowards\tthe\tcorridor.\tI\twent\tforward. When\t I\t reached\t the\t open\t space,\t suddenly\t I\t felt\t like\t going\t upstairs.\t I\t had\t been\t walking\t past\t the staircase\t every\t day.\t I\t knew\t there\t was\t a\t terrace\t upstairs,\t but\t hadn\u2019t\t yet\t seen\t it.\t So\t I\t climbed\t up\t the steps. There\t were\t four\t rooms\t upstairs.\t To\t the\t east\t and\t west\t of\t these\t was\t an\t open\t terrace.\t The\t rooms appeared\tto\tbe\tunoccupied.\tOr\tit\tcould\tbe\tthat\tthe\toccupants\thad\tall\tgone\tout. I\twent\tto\tthe\twestern\tside.\tThe\tfort\twas\tclearly\tvisible\tfrom\there,\tlooking\tquite\tmajestic. The\ttwo\tbeggars\tdownstairs\twere\tstill\tsinging.\tThe\ttune\tof\ttheir\tsong\tsounded\tfamiliar.\tWhere\thad I\theard\tit\tbefore?\tSuddenly\tI\trealized\tit\twas\tvery\tsimilar\tto\tthe\ttune\tI\thad\theard\tMukul\thum\tat\ttimes. The\tsame\ttune\twas\tbeing\trepeated\tevery\tnow\tand\tthen,\tbut\tit\tdid\tnot\tsound\tmonotonous. I\t went\t closer\t to\t the\t low\t wall\t that\t surrounded\t the\t terrace.\t It\t overlooked\t the\t rear\t portion\t of\t the Circuit\tHouse. There\twas\ta\tgarden\tat\tthe\tback\tas\twell.\tI\twas\tconsiderably\tsurprised\tto\tsee\tit.\tAll\tI\thad\tseen\tfrom one\t of\t the\t windows\t in\t our\t room\t was\t a\t single\t juniper\t tree\t standing\t at\t the\t back,\t but\t that\t gave\t no indication\tthat\tthere\twere\tso\tmany\ttrees\tspread\tover\tsuch\ta\tlarge\tarea. What\twas\tthat\tbright\tblue\tobject\tglittering\tbehind\ta\ttree?\tOh,\tit\twas\ta\tpeacock.\tMost\tof\tits\tbody\twas hidden\t behind\t the\t tree,\t so\t at\t first\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t see\t it\t properly.\t Now\t it\t emerged,\t and\t was\t pecking\t the ground.\t Was\t it\t looking\t for\t worms?\t As\t far\t as\t I\t knew,\t peacocks\t ate\t insects.\t Suddenly\t something\t I\u2019d once\tread\tabout\tpeacocks\tcame\tback\tto\tme.\tIt\tis\talways\tdifficult\tto\tfind\ta\tpeacock\u2019s\tnest.\tApparently, they\tmanage\tto\tchoose\tthe\tmost\tinaccessible\tspots\tto\tlay\ttheir\teggs\tand\traise\ttheir\tyoung. The\tpeacock\twas\tmoving\tforward,\ttaking\tslow,\tmeasured\tsteps,\tcraning\tits\tneck\tand\toccasionally looking\taround.\tIts\tlong\ttail\tfollowed\tthe\tmovement\tof\tits\tbody. Suddenly,\t the\t peacock\t stopped.\t It\t craned\t its\t neck\t to\t the\t right.\t What\t had\t it\t seen?\t Or\t had\t it\t heard something? The\tpeacock\tmoved\taway.\tSomething\thad\tdisturbed\tit. It\t was\t a\t man,\t standing\t right\t below\t the\t spot\t where\t I\t was.\t I\t could\t see\t him\t through\t the\t gaps\t in\t the trees.\tThe\tman\thad\ta\tturban\ton\this\thead.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tvery\tlarge.\tHe\thad\twrapped\ta\twhite\tshawl\taround himself.\tAs\tI\twas\tstanding\tabove\thim,\tI\tcould\tnot\tsee\this\tface.\tAll\tI\tcould\tsee\twere\this\tturban\tand\this shoulders.\tHis\tarms\twere\thidden\tunder\tthe\tshawl. He\t began\t walking\t stealthily,\t moving\t from\t the\t western\t side\t of\t the\t building.\t I\t was\t on\t the\t terrace facing\tthe\twest.\tOur\troom\twas\ton\tthe\tground\tfloor,\tin\tthe\topposite\tdirection. I\twanted\tto\tsee\twhere\tthe\tman\twas\tgoing.\tSo\tI\tran\tpast\tthe\trooms\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tterrace,\tand leant\tover\tthe\twall\ton\tthe\teastern\tside. The\t man\t was\t standing \t belo w\t me\t o nce\t ag ain.\t If\t he\t lo o ked\t up,\t he\t wo uld\t see\t me.\t But\t he\t didn\u2019t.\t He was\t creeping\t closer\t to\t our\t room,\t to\t one\t of\t its\t windows.\t Then\t one\t of\t his\t hands\t slipped\t out\t from under\tthe\tshawl.\tWhat\twas\tthat,\tclose\tto\this\twrist,\tglinting\tin\tthe\tsun? The\tman\tstopped.\tMy\tthroat\tfelt\tdry.\tThen\the\ttook\tanother\tstep\tforward.","Suddenly,\ta\tloud,\tharsh\tsound\tbroke\tthe\tsilence.\tThe\tpeacock\thad\tcried\tfrom\tsomewhere.\tThe\tman gave\ta\tviolent\tstart\tand,\tat\tthe\tsame\tmoment,\tI\tscreamed,\t\u2018Feluda!\u2019 The\t man\t in\t the\t turban\t turned\t and\t ran\t in\t the\t same\t direction\t from\t which\t he\t had\t come.\t He disappeared\tin\ta\tmatter\tof\tseconds.\tI\tsprinted\tdown\tthe\tstairs,\ttaking\ttwo\tsteps\tat\ta\ttime,\tran\talong\tthe corridor\t without\t stopping,\t crashed\t straight\t into\t Feluda\t at\t the\t door\t to\t our\t room,\t and\t stood\t there, stunned. Feluda\tpulled\tme\tinside\tand\tasked,\t\u2018What\u2019s\tthe\tmatter?\tWhat\thappened?\u2019 \u2018I\tsaw\tfrom\tthe\troof\t.\t.\t.\ta\tman\t.\t.\t.\twearing\ta\tturban\t.\t.\t.\twalking\ttowards\tyour\twindow!\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\tlook\tlike?\tTall?\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tknow.\tSaw\thim\tfrom\ta\theight,\tyou\tsee.\tOn\this\thand\t.\t.\t.\twas\ta\t.\t.\t.a\t.\t.\t.\u2019. \u2018A\twhat?\u2019 \u2018Watch\t.\t.\t.!\u2019 I\t tho ug ht\t Feluda\t wo uld\t either \t laug h\t the\t who le\t thing \t o ff,\t o r \t tease\t me\t by\t calling \t me\t an\t idio t\t and\t a coward.\tHe\tdid\tneither.\tLooking\ta\tlittle\tgrim,\the\tsimply\tpeered\tout\tof\tthe\twindow\tand\tlooked\taround. Someone\tknocked\ton\tour\tdoor. \u2018Come\tin!\u2019 A\tbearer\tcame\tin\twith\tcoffee. \u2018Salaam,\tsaab!\u2019\tHe\tplaced\tthe\ttray\ton\tthe\ttable\tand\ttook\tout\ta\tfolded\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tfrom\this\tpocket. He\thanded\tit\tto\tFeluda,\tsaying,\t\u2018Manager\tsaab\tasked\tme\tto\tgive\tit\tto\tyou.\u2019 He\tleft.\tFeluda\tread\tthe\tnote\tquickly,\tthen\tflopped\tdown\ton\tthe\tsofa,\twith\tan\tair\tof\tresignation. \u2018Whose\tletter\tis\tthat,\tFeluda?\u2019 \u2018Read\tit.\u2019 It\twas\ta\tshort\tnote\tfrom\tDr\tHajra,\twritten\ton\ta\tsheet\tof\tpaper\tthat\thad\this\tname\tprinted\tin\ta\tcorner. It\tsaid: I\t believe\t it\t is\t no\t longer\t safe\t for\t me\t to\t remain\t in\t Jodhpur.\t I\t am\t going\t somewhere\t else,\t where\t I\t hope\t to\t have\t better success.\t I\t see\t no\t reason\t to\t drag\t you\t and\t your\t cousin\t into\t further\t danger.\t So\t I\t am\t leaving\t without\t saying\t goodbye.\t I wish\tyou\tboth\tall\tthe\tvery\tbest. Yours,\tH.M.\tHazra \u2018He\t has\t acted\t mo st\t hastily,\u2019\t Feluda\t spo ke\t thr o ug h\t clenched\t teeth.\t Then\t he\t made\t fo r \t the\t r eceptio n desk\twithout\teven\tdrinking\this\tcoffee.\tToday,\twe\tfound\ta\tdifferent\tman\tat\tthe\tdesk.\t\u2018Did\tDr\tHajra\tsay when\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\tback?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No,\tsir.\tHe\tpaid\tall\this\tbills.\tSaid\tnothing\tabout\tcoming\tback.\u2019 \u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhere\the\thas\tgone?\u2019 \u2018To\tthe\trailway\tstation.\tThat\u2019s\tall\tI\tknow.\u2019 Feluda\t thought\t for\t a\t moment.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018It\u2019s\t possible\t to\t go\t to\t Jaisalmer\t by\t train\t from\t here, isn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tWe\u2019ve\thad\ta\tdirect\tline\tfor\ttwo\tyears.\u2019 \u2018When\tis\tthe\ttrain?\u2019 \u2018It\tleaves\tat\tten\to\u2019clock\tat\tnight.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthere\ta\ttrain\tin\tthe\tmorning?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tbut\tit\tgoes\tonly\tup\tto\tPokhran.\tIt\tshould\thave\tleft\thalf\tan\thour\tago.\tOne\tcan\tgo\tto\tJaisalmer by\tthis\ttrain,\tif\tone\tcan\tarrange\ta\tcar\tfrom\tPokhran.\u2019 \u2018How\tfar\tis\tit\tfrom\tPokhran?\u2019 \u2018Seventy\tmiles.\u2019 \u2018What\tother\ttrains\tgo\tfrom\tJodhpur\tin\tthe\tmorning?\tI\tmean,\tto\tother\tdestinations?\u2019 The\t man\t consulted\t a\t book,\t leafing\t through\t a\t few\t pages.\t \u2018A\t train\t leaves\t for\t Barmer\t at\t eight o\u2019clock.\tAnd\tat\tnine,\tthere\u2019s\tthe\tRewari\tPassenger.\tThat\u2019s\tall.\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\t fing er s\t beat\t an\t impatient\t tatto o \t o n\t the\t co unter.\t \u2018Jaisalmer \t is\t abo ut\t 200\t miles\t fr o m\t her e, isn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Could\tyou\tplease\tarrange\ta\ttaxi\tfor\tus?\tWe\twould\tlike\tto\tleave\tfor\tJaisalmer\tat\thalf\tpast\televen.\u2019 \u2018Certainly,\tsir.\u2019\tThe\treceptionist\tpicked\tup\ta\ttelephone. \u2018Where\tare\tyou\toff\tto?\u2019\tasked\ta\tvoice.\tIt\twas\tMandar\tBose,\tcoming\tout\tof\this\troom\twith\ta\tsuitcase in\this\thand.\tHe\thad\tjust\thad\ta\tshower\tand\twas\tsmartly\tdressed. \u2018I\u2019d\tlike\tto\tsee\tthe\tThar\tdesert,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. \u2018Oh.\tSo\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tthe\tnorthwest?\tI\u2019m\toff\tto\tthe\teast.\u2019 \u2018You\tare\tleaving\tJodhpur,\ttoo?\u2019 \u2018My\t taxi\t should\t be\t here\t any\t minute.\t I\t don\u2019t\t like\t spending\t a\t very\t long\t time\t in\t any\t one\t place. Besides,\tif\tyou\tleave\tas\twell,\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse\twill\tbecome\tempty,\tin\tany\tcase.\u2019 The\treceptionist\tfinished\ttalking\tinto\tthe\tphone\tand\tturned\tto\tus.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tarranged,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Topshe,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tto\tme,\t\u2018go\tand\tsee\tif\tyou\tcan\tfind\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tTell\thim\twe\tare\tgoing\tto Jaisalmer.\tIf\the\twants\tto\tcome\twith\tus,\the\tshould\tget\tready\timmediately.\u2019 I\t r an\t to war ds\t r o o m\t number \t 10.\t It\t was\t no t\t clear \t to \t me\t why\t we\t wer e\t suddenly\t g o ing \t to \t Jaisalmer. Why\t did\t Feluda\t choose\t Jaisalmer,\t of\t all\t places?\t Was\t it\t because\t it\t was\t close\t to\t the\t desert?\t Had\t Dr Hajra\tand\tMukul\talso\tgone\tthere?\tDid\tthis\tmean\tthat\twe\twere\tno\tlonger\tin\tany\tdanger?\tOr\twere\twe going\tto\twalk\tstraight\tinto\tit?","Eight Pokhran\twas\t120\tmiles\tfrom\tJodhpur.\tJaisalmer\twas\tanother\tseventy.\tIt\tshould\tnot\ttake\tmore\tthan\tsix or\tseven\thours\tto\tcover\t190\tmiles.\tOr,\tat\tleast,\tthat\twas\twhat\tour\tdriver,\tGurbachan\tSingh,\ttold\tus.\tHe was\t a\t plump\t and\t cheerful\t Sikh.\t I\t saw\t him\t taking\t his\t hands\t off\t the\t steering\t wheel\t at\t times,\t and clasping \t them\t behind\t his\t head.\t Then\t he\t wo uld\t lean\t back\t in\t his\t seat\t and\t take\t a\t little\t r est.\t But\t the\t car stayed\ton\tcourse\tbecause\tGurbachan\trested\tthe\tsteering\twheel\ton\this\tfat\tpaunch,\teven\tmoving\tit\twhen necessary,\t without\t putting\t his\t hands\t back\t on\t it.\t This\t action\t was\t actually\t not\t as\t difficult\t as\t it\t may sound,\tfor\tthere\twas\tvirtually\tno\ttraffic\ton\tthe\troad.\tBesides,\tthe\troad\tran\tstraight,\twithout\tcurves\tor bends,\t for\t as\t much\t as\t five\t or\t six\t miles\t in\t many\t places.\t Unless\t something\t went\t wrong,\t we\t would reach\tJaisalmer\tby\tsix\to\u2019clock\tin\tthe\tevening. The\t scenery\t started\t to\t change\t when\t we\t were\t only\t ten\t miles\t out\t of\t Jodhpur.\t I\t had\t never\t seen anything \t like\t it.\t Jo dhpur \t had\t a\t number \t o f\t hills\t ar o und\t it.\t The\t fo r t\t ther e\t was\t made\t o f\t r ed\t sandsto ne that\t came\t from\t those\t hills.\t But\t now,\t those\t hills\t disappeared,\t and\t were\t replaced\t by\t an\t undulating terrain\t that\t stretched\t right\t up\t to\t the\t horizon.\t It\t was\t a\t mixture\t of\t grass,\t red\t earth,\t sand\t and\t loose stones.\t Ordinary\t trees\t and\t plants\t had\t disappeared,\t too.\t Now\t all\t I\t could\t see\t were\t acacia,\t cacti\t and similar\tplants\twhose\tnames\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow. The\tother\tthing\tI\tnoticed\twas\twild\tcamels.\tThey\twere\troaming\tfreely,\tlike\tcattle\tand\tsheep.\tSome wer e\t lig ht\t br o wn,\t like\t milky\t tea;\t o ther s\t had\t dar ker \t co ats,\t clo ser \t to \t black\t co ffee.\t I\t saw\t o ne\t o f\t them munching\ton\ta\tthorny\tplant.\tFeluda\tsaid\tthat\tthe\tthorns\tfrequently\tinjured\ta\tcamel\u2019s\tmouth;\tbut\tsince those\tbushes\twere\tits\tonly\tsource\tof\tfood,\tthe\tcamel\tput\tup\twith\tthe\tdiscomfort. Feluda\t also\t told\t me\t a\t little\t about\t Jaisalmer.\t It\t was\t built\t in\t the\t twelfth\t century,\t and\t became\t the capital\t of\t the\t Bhati\t Rajputs.\t Only\t sixty-four\t miles\t from\t there\t was\t the\t border\t between\t India\t and Pakistan.\t Even\t ten\t year s\t ag o ,\t g o ing \t to \t Jaisalmer \t was\t quite\t difficult.\t Ther e\t wer e\t no \t tr ains,\t and\t what roads\tthere\twere\toften\tdisappeared\tunder\tthe\tsand.\tThe\tplace\twas\tso\tdry\tthat\tif\tit\trained\tjust\tfor\ta\tday in\ta\twhole\tyear,\tpeople\tthought\tthey\twere\tlucky.\tWhen\tI\tasked\thim\tabout\tbattles,\tFeluda\tsaid\tAlauddin Khilji\thad\tonce\tattacked\tJaisalmer. We\thad\ttravelled\tfor\tnearly\tninety\tkilometres\t(fifty-six\tmiles),\twhen\tpurely\tout\tof\tthe\tblue,\twe\tgot a\tpuncture,\twhich\tmade\tthe\tcar\tgive\tan\tunpleasant\tshriek,\tlurch\tand\tcome\tto\ta\thalt\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe road.\tI\tfelt\tquite\tcross\twith\tGurbachan\tSingh.\tHe\thad\tassured\tus\tthat\the\thad\tchecked\tthe\tpressure\tin each\ttyre\tand\tall\twas\twell.\tAs\ta\tmatter\tof\tfact,\tthe\tcar\tappeared\tto\tbe\tnew\tand\tin\tgood\tcondition. We\tgot\tout\twith\tGurbachan.\tIt\twould\ttake\tat\tleast\tfifteen\tminutes\tto\tchange\tthe\ttyre. As\tsoon\tas\tour\teyes\tfell\ton\tthe\tflat\ttyre,\twe\trealized\twhat\thad\tcaused\tthe\tpuncture.\tStrewn\tover\ta large\tarea\ton\tthe\troad\twere\thundreds\tof\tnails.\tIt\twas\tobvious\tthat\tthey\twere\tnew\tand\thad\tbeen\tbought recently.","We\texchanged\tglances.\tGurbachan\tlet\tout\tan\texpletive\tthrough\tclenched\tteeth\tthat\tI\tshall\tnot\trepeat here.\t Feluda\t said\t nothing.\t He\t simply\t stood\t there,\t arms\t akimbo,\t and\t stared\t at\t the\t road,\t deep\t in tho ug ht.\t His\t br o ws\t wer e\t dr awn\t to g ether \t in\t a\t fr o wn.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t to o k\t o ut\t a\t g r een\t no tebo o k\u2014it looked\tlike\ta\tdiary\u2014from\tan\told\tJapan\tAirlines\tbag,\tand\tscribbled\tsomething\tin\tit\twith\ta\tpencil. By\tthe\ttime\twe\tfinished\tchanging\tthe\ttyre,\tremoved\tall\tthe\tnails\tfrom\tthe\troad\tand\twere\tready\tto leave,\t it\t was\t a\t quarter\t to\t two.\t Feluda\t said\t to\t Gurbachan,\t \u2018Sardarji,\t please\t keep\t an\t eye\t on\t the\t road. You\tcan\tsee\tthat\tour\tenemies\tare\ttrying\tto\tmake\tthings\tdifficult\tfor\tus!\u2019 However,\t it\t wouldn\u2019t\t do\t to\t go\t too\t slowly,\t if\t we\t were\t to\t reach\t Jaisalmer\t before\t nightfall.\t So Gurbachan\tSingh\treduced\this\tspeed\tfrom\tsixty\tto\tforty.\tIf\the\twere\tto\tkeep\this\teye\ton\tthe\troad\tall\tthe time,\the\tcould\thardly\tmove\tfaster\tthan\tten\tor\tfifteen\tmiles\tan\thour. About\tforty\tmiles\tlater,\twhen\twe\thad\tcovered\talmost\ta\thundred\tmiles,\tthe\tsecond\tdisaster\thit\tus.\tIt simply\tcould\tnot\tbe\tavoided. This\ttime,\tinstead\tof\tnails,\tthousands\tof\tdrawing\tpins\thad\tbeen\tstrewn\tover\tat\tleast\ttwenty\tfeet\tof the\troad.\tObviously,\twhoever\twanted\tus\tto\thave\ta\tflat\ttyre\twas\tnot\ttaking\tany\tchances. What\twas\talso\tobvious\twas\tthat\tGurbachan\tSingh\tdid\tnot\thave\tanother\tspare\ttyre. We\t all\t climbed\t out\t again.\t If\t Gurbachan\t had\t not\t been\t wearing\t a\t turban,\t he\t would\t probably\t have scratched\this\thead.\tFeluda\tasked\thim,\t\u2018Is\tPokhran\ta\ttown\tor\ta\tvillage?\u2019 \u2018It\tis\ta\ttown,\tBabu.\u2019 \u2018How\tfar\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018About\ttwenty-five\tmiles.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tGod.\tWhat\tare\twe\tgoing\tto\tdo?\u2019 Gurbachan\ttried\tto\tbe\treassuring.\tEvery\ttaxi\tthat\tplied\ton\tthat\troute,\the\tsaid,\twas\tknown\tto\thim.\tIf we\twaited\tuntil\tanother\ttaxi\tcame\talong,\the\twould\tborrow\ta\tspare\tfrom\tits\tdriver.\tThen\twe\tcould\tgo to\tPokhran\tand\thave\tour\town\tpunctured\ttyres\tmended.\tThe\tquestion\twas,\twould\ta\ttaxi\tcome\talong?\tIf so,\twhen?\tHow\tlong\twere\twe\tsupposed\tto\twait\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tnowhere? A\t group\t of\t three\t men\t passed\t us\t by,\t leading\t five\t camels.\t They\t were\t going\t in\t the\t direction\t of Jodhpur.\tEach\tman\thad\tsuch\tdark\tskin\tthat\tit\tlooked\talmost\tblack.\tOne\tof\tthem\tsported\ta\tsnowy\twhite beard\tand\tsideburns.\tI\tsaw\tLalmohan\tBabu\tmove\tcloser\tto\tFeluda,\tpossibly\tbecause\the\thad\tcaught\tthe men\tcasting\tcurious\tglances\tat\tus. \u2018Which\t is\t the\t near est\t r ailway\t statio n\t fr o m\t her e?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked,\t r emo ving \t the\t pins\t fr o m\t the\t r o ad. We\thad\tall\tjoined\thim\tin\tthis\tgood\tdeed,\tto\tsave\tother\tcars\tfrom\ta\tsimilar\tfate. \u2018Ramdeora.\tIt\tis\tseven\tor\teight\tmiles\tfrom\there.\u2019 \u2018Ramdeora\t.\t.\t.!\u2019 When\tall\tthe\tpins\thad\tbeen\tremoved,\tFeluda\ttook\tout\ta\tBradshaw\ttimetable\tfrom\this\tshoulder\tbag. One\tparticular\tpage\twas\tfolded.\tFeluda\topened\tthe\ttimetable\tat\tthat\tpage,\tran\this\teye\tover\tit\tand\tsaid, \u2018It\u2019s\t no\t use.\t The\t morning\t train\t that\t leaves\t Jodhpur\t reaches\t Ramdeora\t at\t 3.45.\t It\t must\t have\t left Ramdeora\tby\tnow.\u2019 \u2018But\tisn\u2019t\tthere\tanother\ttrain\tto\tJaisalmer\tat\tnight?\u2019\tI\tasked.\t\u2018Yes,\tbut\tthat\twill\treach\tRamdeora\tvery early\t in\t the\t morning,\t at\t 3.53.\t If\t we\t began\t walking\t now,\t we\u2019d\t take\t at\t least\t two\t hours\t to\t get\t to Ramdeora.\tThere\tmight\thave\tbeen\ta\tpoint\tin\twalking\tall\tthat\tway,\tif\tthere\twas\tany\tchance\tof\tcatching","the\tmorning\ttrain.\tWe\tcould\tthen\thave\ttravelled\tto\tPokhran,\tif\tnothing\telse.\tNow\tin\tthis\tgodforsaken\t. .\t.\u2019\tFeluda\tbroke\toff. Even\t under \t such\t difficult\t cir cumstances,\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t smiled\t and\t said\t in\t a\t so mewhat\t unsteady vo ice,\t \u2018Well,\t yo u\t must\t admit\t such\t a\t situatio n\t wo uld\t be\t easier \t to \t find\t in\t a\t no vel.\t Who \t knew\t even\t in real\tlife\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 Rather\t unexpectedly,\t Feluda\t raised\t a\t hand\t and\t stopped\t him.\t Our\t surroundings\t were\t completely silent,\tas\tif\tthe\tentire\tworld\there\thad\tturned\tmute.\tIn\tthat\tsilence,\ta\tfaint\tnoise\treached\tour\tears.\tThere could\tbe\tno\tmistake:\tchug-chug,\tchug-chug,\tchug-chug! It\twas\ta\ttrain,\tthe\ttrain\tto\tPokhran.\tBut\twhere\twas\tthe\ttrack? I\t stared\t in\t the\t direction\t from\t which\t the\t noise\t was\t coming,\t and\t suddenly\t noticed\t a\t column\t of smoke.\t Almost\t immediately,\t I\t spotted\t a\t telegraph\t pole.\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t seen\t it\t before\t because\t the\t ground sloped\tdown\tand\tthe\tred\tpole\tpractically\tmerged\twith\tthe\treddish\tbrown\tearth.\tHad\tit\tbeen\tstanding on\thigher\tground,\toutlined\tagainst\tthe\tsky,\tit\twould\thave\tbeen\tfar\tmore\teasily\tvisible. \u2018Run!\u2019\t shouted\t Feluda\t and\t began\t running\t towards\t the\t smoke.\t I\t followed\t suit.\t Lalmohan\t Babu followed\t me.\t To\t my\t amazement,\t he\t ran\t so\t fast\u2014despite\t his\t thin\t and\t scraggy\t appearance\u2014that\t he nearly\tcaught\tup\twith\tFeluda,\tleaving\tme\tbehind. I\t could\t see\t grass\t under\t my\t feet,\t but\t instead\t of\t being\t green,\t it\t was\t as\t white\t as\t cotton\t wool.\t We scrambled\tdown\tthe\tslope,\tstill\tmoving\tas\tfast\tas\twe\tcould,\tand\treached\tthe\trailway\ttrack.\tThe\ttrain was\tnow\twithin\ta\thundred\tyards. Without\ta\tsecond\u2019s\thesitation,\tFeluda\tjumped\tinto\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\ttrack\tand\tbegan\twaving\tmadly, both\t his\t arms\t raised\t high.\t The\t train\t began\t whistling\t loudly,\t but\t drowning\t the\t sound\t of\t the\t whistle rose\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tvoice:\t\u2018Stop!\tStop!\tHalt,\tI\tsay!\u2019 Nothing\tworked.\tIt\twas\ta\tsmall\ttrain,\tbut\tnot\tlike\tthe\tones\tthat\tMartin\t&\tCo.\tonce\tused\tto\trun.\tIf\tone stood\tby\tthe\ttracks\tand\traised\ta\thand,\tthose\ttrains\twould\tstop,\tjust\tlike\tbuses.\tThis\ttrain,\thowever,\tdid nothing\tto\treduce\tits\tspeed.\tWhistling\tmightily,\tit\tcame\tdangerously\tclose,\tat\twhich\tpoint\tFeluda\twas obliged\tto\tspring\tto\tsafety.\tWe\tsimply\tstood\tand\twatched\tas\tthe\ttrain\tcoolly\tpassed\tus\tby,\tclanging\ton its\t way,\t hiding\t the\t bright\t sun\t momentarily\t behind\t thick,\t black\t smoke.\t Even\t at\t a\t time\t like\t that,\t I couldn\u2019t\thelp\tthinking\tthat\tI\tmight\thave\tseen\tsuch\ta\tscene\tonly\tin\ta\tHollywood\twestern.\tNot\tonce\tdid I\tever\timagine\tI\u2019d\tget\tto\twitness\ta\tscene\tlike\tthat\tin\tmy\town\tcountry! \u2018Such\tarrogance!\u2019\tremarked\tLalmohan\tBabu\twhen\tthe\ttrain\thad\tgone.\t\u2018It\tdidn\u2019t\tlook\tbigger\tthan\ta caterpillar,\tdid\tit?\u2019 \u2018Bad\tluck!\u2019\tmuttered\tFeluda,\t\u2018That\ttrain\twas\trunning\tlate,\tyet\twe\tcouldn\u2019t\ttake\tadvantage\tof\tthat.\tIf we\tcould\thave\tsomehow\tgot\tto\tPokhran,\twe\tmight\thave\tfound\tanother\ttaxi.\u2019 Gur bachan\t Sing h,\t with\t g r eat\t tho ug htfulness,\t had\t co llected\t o ur \t lug g ag e\t and\t was\t car r ying \t it\t o ver, but\tnow\tthere\twas\tno\tneed\tfor\tit.\tI\tglanced\tbriefly\tat\tthe\ttrack.\tAll\tthat\tcould\tbe\tseen\twas\tsmoke. Suddenly,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tspoke\texcitedly.\t\u2018What\tabout\tcamels?\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018Camels?\u2019 \u2018Over\tthere\u2014look!\u2019 Yes.\tAnother\tgroup\twith\tcamels\twas\tcoming\tour\tway,\tthis\ttime\tfrom\tthe\tdirection\tof\tJodhpur. \u2018Good\tidea,\tlet\u2019s\tgo!\u2019","At\tFeluda\u2019s\twords,\twe\tbegan\trunning\tagain.\t\u2018When\ta\tcamel\treally\tgets\tgoing,\tI\u2019ve\theard\tthat\tit\tcan cover\ttwenty\tmiles\tin\tan\thour!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttold\tme\tas\the\tran. We\t manag ed\t to \t sto p\t the\t g r o up.\t This\t time,\t ther e\t wer e\t two \t men\t and\t seven\t camels.\t \u2018We\t need\t thr ee camels,\t and\t we\t want\t to \t g o \t to \t Ramdeo r a.\t Ho w\t much\t wo uld\t that\t be?\u2019\t asked\t Feluda\t in\t Hindi.\t Then\t it tur ned\t o ut\t that\t the\t men\t spo ke\t so me\t lo cal\t dialect.\t Ho wever,\t they\t co uld\t under stand\t a\t little\t Hindi,\t and speak\tit,\ttoo,\talbeit\thaltingly.\tGurbachan\tspoke\ton\tour\tbehalf.\tIn\tthe\tend,\tthey\tagreed\tto\tlend\tus\ttheir camels\tfor\tten\trupees. \u2018Can\tyour\tcamels\trun\tfast?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twanted\tto\tknow,\t\u2018We\thave\ta\ttrain\tto\tcatch!\u2019 Feluda\tlaughed.\t\u2018Don\u2019t\tworry\tabout\trunning.\tGet\ton\tthe\tcamel\tfirst.\u2019 \u2018Get\ton\t.\t.\t.\ton\tits\tback?\u2019 Perhaps\t for\t the\t first\t time,\t face\t to\t face\t with\t a\t camel,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t realized\t the\t complexities involved\t in\t climbing\t on\t to\t its\t back.\t I\t was\t looking\t carefully\t at\t the\t animals.\t They\t looked\t perfectly weird,\tbut\thad\tbeen\tsaddled\twith\tcare.\tOn\ttheir\tbacks\twere\tthe\tkind\tof\tsheets\twith\tfringes\tand\ttassels that\tI\u2019d\tseen\tearlier\ton\telephants.\tOn\ttop\tof\tthis\tsheet\twas\ta\twooden\tseat.\tThe\tsheet\twas\tcovered\twith red,\tblue,\tyellow\tand\tgreen\tgeometric\tpatterns.\tEach\tcamel\thad\tits\tlong\tneck\twrapped\twith\ta\tlength of\tred\tfabric\tdecorated\twith\tcowrie\tshells.\tIt\twas\tclear\tthat,\tin\tspite\tof\ttheir\tstrange\tappearance,\ttheir owners\tloved\tand\tcared\tfor\tthem. Three\tcamels\twere\tnow\tkneeling\ton\tthe\tground.\tGurbachan\tSingh,\tby\tthis\ttime,\thad\tfetched\tevery piece\t of\t our\t luggage,\t which\t consisted\t of\t two\t suitcases,\t two\t holdalls\t and\t a\t few\t smaller\t items. Gurbachan\t told\t us\t to\t wait\t for\t him\t in\t Pokhran,\t if\t we\t could\t catch\t the\t train\t in\t Ramdeora.\t He\t would definitely\tget\tto\tPokhran\tthat\tnight.\tOur\tluggage\twas\ttied\tsecurely\ton\tto\ttwo\tof\tthe\tother\tcamels. The\tfirst\tthree\tcamels\twere\tstill\twaiting\tfor\tus. \u2018You\tsaw\thow\tthey\tsat\tdown,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018A\tcamel\tfolds\tits\tforelegs first,\t and\t the\t front\t part\t of\t its\t body\t comes\t down\t before\t its\t rear.\t When\t it\t gets\t up,\t expect\t just\t the o ppo site.\t It\t will\t r aise\t its\t hind\t leg s\t fir st.\t If\t yo u\t can\t r emember \t that\t and\t lean\t backwar ds\t and\t fo r war ds accordingly,\tyou\tcan\tavoid\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tof\tembarrassment.\u2019 \u2018Emb-embarrassment?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcroaked. \u2018Here,\twatch\tme!\u2019 Feluda\t jumped\t o n\t to \t the\t back\t o f\t the\t fir st\t camel.\t One\t o f\t the\t men\t made\t a\t funny\t no ise\t thr o ug h\t his teeth.\t At\t once,\t the\t camel\t raised\t itself\u2014quickly\t but\t awkwardly\u2014in\t exactly\t the\t same\t manner\t that Feluda\thad\tjust\tdescribed.\tBut\the\tmanaged\tvery\twell,\tthere\twas\tno\tawkwardness. \u2018Co me\t o n,\t To pshe!\t Yo u\t two \t ar e\t smaller \t and\t lig hter \t than\t me,\t it\t sho uld\t be\t easier \t fo r \t yo u,\u2019\t Feluda called. Both\t the\t Rajasthani\t men\t were\t grinning\t at\t our\t antics.\t I\t gathered\t all\t my\t courage\t and\t got\t on\t the second\t camel,\t which\t stood\t up\t immediately.\t Now\t I\t could\t tell\t where\t the\t real\t problem\t lay.\t When\t the hind\tlegs\twere\traised,\tthe\trider\ton\tthe\tcamel\u2019s\tback\twas\tlikely\tto\tslide\tforward\tin\tone\tswift\tmotion.\tIf one\t could\t lean\t back\t and\t remain\t in\t that\t position\t as\t the\t camel\t rose\t to\t its\t feet,\t it\t would\t be\t easier\t to maintain\tone\u2019s\tbalance.\tIf\tI\tever\thad\tto\tride\ta\tcamel\tagain,\tI\tmust\tremember\tthat,\tI\ttold\tmyself. \u2018Dear\tG-ya-aa-d!\u2019\tsaid\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018God\u2019\t became\t \u2018Gyad\u2019\t for\t the\t simple\t reason\t that,\t even\t as\t he\t was\t uttering\t those\t words,\t the\t rear po r tio n\t o f\t the\t camel\u2019s\t bo dy\t jer ked\t into \t mo tio n\t and\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t slid\t fo r war d\t o n\t its\t back.\t In\t the","next\t instant,\t he\t was\t thrown\t back\t in\t the\t opposite\t direction.\t I\t heard\t him\t gulp\t noisily,\t as\t he\t lay horizontal\ton\tthe\tcamel\u2019s\tback,\tcast\tinto\tan\tundignified\theap. Having\tsaid\tgoodbye\tto\tGurbachan\tSingh,\twe\tthree\tBedouins\tbegan\tour\tjourney\tto\tRamdeora. \u2018We\t must\t g et\t to \t Ramdeo r a\t in\t half\t an\t ho ur.\t It\u2019s\t eig ht\t miles\t fr o m\t her e,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\t We\t have\t a\t tr ain\t to catch!\u2019\t Feluda\t yelled\t to\t the\t two\t men.\t At\t these\t words,\t one\t of\t them\t jumped\t up\t on\t his\t camel\t and marched\tforward\tbriskly\tto\ttake\tthe\tlead.\tThe\tsecond\tman\tshouted,\t\u2018Hei!\tHei!\u2019\tand\tevery\tcamel\tbroke into\ta\trun. As\tit\twas,\tthe\tanimals\twere\tungainly\tand\tnot\texactly\teasy\tto\tsit\ton.\tWhen\tthey\tlurched\tforward,\tmy who le\t bo dy\t swung \t and\t sho o k\t fr o m\t side\t to \t side;\t but\t I\t didn\u2019t\t mind.\t We\t wer e\t r unning \t acr o ss\t a\t sandy terrain,\tcovered\twith\tdry,\tscorched\tgrass,\tand\tthe\tplace\twas\tRajasthan\u2014so,\tall\tin\tall,\tit\twas\ta\tthrilling experience. Feluda\t was\t ahead\t o f\t me,\t and\t Lalmo han\t Babu\u2019s\t camel\t was\t behind\t me.\t Feluda\t tur ned\t his\t head\t and called\tout,\t\u2018How\tdo\tyou\tfind\tthe\tship\tof\tthe\tdesert,\tMr\tGanguli?\u2019 I,\ttoo,\tlooked\tback\tto\tsee\twhat\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tdoing.\tI\tfound\thim\tmaking\tan\tawful\tgrimace, as\tif\the\twas\tin\ta\tfreezing\tcold\tclimate.\tHis\tlips\thad\tparted,\this\tteeth\twere\tclenched,\tand\tthe\tveins\ton his\tneck\twere\tall\tstanding\tout. \u2018What\u2019s\tthe\tmatter?\u2019\tFeluda\twent\ton.\t\u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tsay\tsomething?\u2019 Six\twords\temerged\tfrom\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tin\tfive\tinstalments:\t\u2018Ship\t.\t.\t.\tall\tright.\t.\t.\tbut.\t.\t.\ttalking\t.\t. .\timpossible!\u2019 Laughter\tbegan\tbubbling\tup\tinside\tme\tonce\tagain,\tbut\tI\tquelled\tit\tand\tfocussed\ton\tthe\tjourney.\tWe were\tnow\trunning\talongside\tthe\trailway\ttrack.\tIn\tthe\tdistance,\ta\tcolumn\tof\tsmoke\tseemed\tto\trise\tfor a\tminute;\tthen\tit\tdisappeared.\tThe\tsun\twas\tgoing\tdown\tin\tthe\twestern\thorizon,\tand\tthe\tlandscape\twas chang ing .\t A\t hazy\t r ang e\t o f\t hills\t was\t visible\t in\t the\t far \t distance.\t On\t o ur \t r ig ht\t was\t a\t hug e\t sand\t dune, unmarked\tby\thuman\tfeet.\tIt\twas\tcovered\twith\twavy\tlines\tfrom\ttop\tto\tbottom. Perhaps\t the\t camels\t were\t not\t used\t to\t running\t fast\t for\t any\t length\t of\t time,\t so\t their\t speed\t faltered ever y\t no w\t and\t then.\t When\t that\t happened,\t o ne\t o f\t the\t men\t bar ked,\t \u2018Hei!\t Hei!\u2019\t ag ain,\t and\t the\t animals ran\tfaster. Ar o und\t a\t quar ter \t past\t fo ur,\t a\t squar e\t str uctur e\t came\t into \t view.\t It\t appear ed\t to \t be\t a\t building ,\t r ig ht next\tto\tthe\trailway\ttrack.\tWhat\tcould\tit\tbe,\tif\tit\twasn\u2019t\ta\trailway\tstation? As\t we\t got\t closer,\t it\t became\t clear\t that\t we\t were\t right.\t There\t was\t a\t signal,\t too.\t So\t it\t had\t to\t be\t a station,\tand\tthe\tplace\thad\tto\tbe\tRamdeora. The\tcamels\thad\tslowed\tdown\tagain.\tBut\tnow\tthere\twas\tno\tneed\tto\tshout\tat\tthem.\tThe\ttrain\twe\twere hoping\tto\tcatch\thad\tcome\tand\tgone.\tWe\tcouldn\u2019t\ttell\twhen\tit\thad\tleft,\tbut\tthere\tcould\tbe\tno\tdoubt\tthat we\thad\tmissed\tit. It\tmeant\tonly\tone\tthing.\tUntil\tthree\to\u2019clock\tin\tthe\tmorning,\twe\twould\thave\tto\twait\tin\tthis\tunknown place,\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tnowhere,\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\ttiny\tstructure\tthat\twas\ttrying\tto\tpass\titself\toff\tas\ta station.\tAnd\tthere\twas\tnot\ta\tsoul\tin\tsight.","Nine It\tturned\tout\tthat\tthe\tstation\twas\tin\tthe\tprocess\tof\tbeing\tbuilt.\tAll\tit\thad\tat\tthe\tmoment\twas\ta\tplatform and\tthat\tstructure,\twhich\twas\treally\ta\tticket\twindow.\tHeaven\tknew\twhen\tthe\tbuilding\twork\twould\tbe completed.\tWe\tselected\ta\tspot\tclose\tto\tthe\tticket\twindow\tand\tsat\ton\tour\tholdalls,\tpreparing\tourselves for\ta\tlong\twait.\tA\tkerosene\tlamp\thung\tfrom\ta\twooden\tpost\tnearby,\tso\twhen\tit\tgot\tdark,\twe\twould\tat least\tbe\table\tto\tsee\tone\tanother. There\t appeared\t to\t be\t signs\t of\t habitation\t not\t all\t that\t far\t from\t the\t station.\t Feluda\t went\t to\t have\t a look,\tthen\treturned\tand\tsaid\tthat\talthough\the\thad\tseen\thouses,\tthere\twere\tno\tshops\tand\tnowhere\tto\teat. All\twe\thad\twith\tus\twas\ta\tlittle\twater\tin\tour\tflasks,\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad\ta\ttin\tof\tgoja\t(deep-fried pastry\tdipped\tin\tsyrup).\tPerhaps\twe\twould\thave\tto\tspend\tthe\twhole\tnight\ton\tthe\tstrength\tof\tthose. The\t sun\t had\t set\t abo ut\t ten\t minutes\t ag o .\t It\t wo uld\t so o n\t be\t dar k.\t Gur bachan\t Sing h\u2019s\t ar r ival\t did\t no t seem\tlikely,\tas\tin\tthe\tlast\tthree\thours,\twe\thad\tnot\tseen\ta\tsingle\tcar\tgo\tpast,\teither\ttowards\tJodhpur\tor Jaisalmer.\tThere\twas\tnothing\tto\tdo\tbut\twait\ton\tthe\tplatform\tuntil\tthe\tnext\ttrain\tcame\tat\tthree\to\u2019clock. Feluda\t was\t sitting\t on\t his\t suitcase\t and\t gazing\t steadily\t at\t the\t track.\t I\t watched\t him\t cracking\t the fingers\tof\this\tright\thand\twith\this\tleft.\tObviously,\the\twas\tanxious\tor\tagitated\tabout\tsomething,\twhich was\twhy\the\twasn\u2019t\tsaying\tmuch. Lalmohan\tBabu\topened\this\ttin,\tbit\tinto\ta\tgoja\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Who\tknew\tthis\twould\thappen?\tIf\tI\tdidn\u2019t travel\t with\t you\t in\t the\t same\t compartment\t on\t the\t way\t from\t Agra,\t the\t entire\t nature\t of\t my\t holiday would\tnot\thave\tchanged\tlike\tthis,\twould\tit?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tdo\tyou\tmind?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018No,\tof\tcourse\tnot!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tlaughed.\t\u2018But\tit\twould\tcertainly\thelp\tif\ta\tfew\tthings\twere\ta\tbit clearer.\u2019 \u2018Which\tthings\tin\tparticular?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\treally\tknow\twhat\u2019s\tgoing\ton,\tdo\tI?\tI\tfeel\ta\tbit\tlike\ta\tshuttlecock\u2014slapped\tfrom\tone\tside\tto the\tother,\tand\tback\tagain.\tI\tmean,\tI\tdon\u2019t\teven\tknow\twho\tyou\tare.\tAre\tyou\tthe\thero,\tor\tthe\tvillain?\tHa ha!\u2019 \u2018Why\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tknow?\tWhat\twould\tyou\tdo,\tanyway,\tif\tyou\tknew?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\twith\ta\tsmile. \u2018When\t you\t write\t a\t novel,\t do\t you\t reveal\t everything\t at\t the\t outset?\t Why\t don\u2019t\t you\t treat\t this\t entire Rajasthani\texperience\tas\ta\tnovel?\tWhen\tit\tcomes\tto\tan\tend,\tevery\tmystery\twill\tbe\tcleared\tup.\u2019 \u2018And\tI?\tWill\tI\tstill\tbe\talive,\tand\tin\tone\tpiece?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t you\u2019ve\t already\t proved\t that\t you\t can\t run\t faster\t than\t a\t rabbit,\t if\t you\t have\t to.\t Isn\u2019t\t that reassuring\tenough?\u2019 I\thadn\u2019t\trealized\tit\tbefore,\tbut\tsomeone\thad\tcome\tand\tlit\tthe\tkerosene\tlamp\twhile\twe\twere\ttalking. In\tits\tlight,\tI\tsuddenly\tsaw\ttwo\tmen,\tclad\tin\tlocal\tRajasthani\tgarb\twith\tturbans\ton\ttheir\theads,\tmaking their \t way\t to war ds\t us.\t In\t their \t hands\t wer e\t sto ut\t sticks,\t which\t they\t wer e\t tapping \t o n\t the\t g r o und.\t They","stopped\t a\t few\t feet\t away,\t squatted\t and\t began\t a\t conversation\t in\t a\t completely\t incomprehensible language. One\t thing\t about\t those\t men\t made\t my\t jaw\t fall\t open.\t Both\t were\t sporting\t huge\t moustaches.\t They didn\u2019t\t just\t tur n\t upwar d,\t but\t had,\t in\t fact,\t co iled\t at\t least\t fo ur \t times\t o n\t either \t side\t o f\t the\t men\u2019s\t faces. The\tfinal\teffect\twas\tlike\tthe\tspring\tfitted\tinside\ta\tclock.\tIf\tthey\twere\tpulled\tstraight,\teach\tside\twould probably\tmeasure\teighteen\tinches.\tLalmohan\tBabu,\ttoo,\tseemed\ttotally\tdumbstruck\tby\tthe\tsight. \u2018Bandits!\u2019\tmuttered\tFeluda\tunder\this\tbreath. \u2018Really?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tquickly\tpoured\thimself\tsome\twater\tfrom\tthe\tflask\tand\tgulped\tit\tdown. \u2018Undoubtedly.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\ttried\tto\treplace\tthe\tlid\ton\this\ttin,\tbut\tdropped\tit\ton\tthe\tplatform\twith\ta\tloud\tclang. The\tnoise\tmade\thim\tjump,\tand\the\tbecame\tmore\tnervous. I\tlooked\tat\tthe\ttwo\tmen\tclosely.\tTheir\tskin\twas\tas\tdark\tand\tshiny\tas\ta\tfreshly\tpolished\tshoe.\tOne\tof them\t took\t out\t a\t cigarette,\t placed\t it\t between\t his\t lips,\t and\t slapped\t all\t his\t pockets\t until\t he\t found\t a matchbox\tin\tone\tof\tthem.\tBut\tit\tturned\tout\tto\tbe\tempty,\tso\the\tthrew\tit\taway\ton\tthe\ttrack. A\tsudden\tnoise\tmade\tme\tglance\tat\tFeluda.\tHe\thad\tflicked\this\tlighter\ton\tand\twas\toffering\tit\tto\tthe man.\tThe\tman\tlooked\ttaken\taback\tat\tfirst,\tthen\tleant\tforward\tto\tlight\this\tcigarette.\tAfter\tthat,\the\ttook the\t lighter\t from\t Feluda\t and\t examined\t it\t closely,\t pressing\t it\t here\t and\t there\t before\t finding\t the\t right spot\tand\tlighting\tit\tonce\tmore.\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttried\tto\tspeak,\tbut\this\tvoice\tsounded\tchoked. The\tman\tswitched\tthe\tlighter\ton\tand\toff\ta\tfew\ttimes,\tbefore\treturning\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tLalmohan\tBabu began\tstuffing\this\ttin\tback\tinto\this\tsuitcase,\tbut\tit\tslipped\tfrom\this\thand\tand,\tthis\ttime,\tthe\twhole\ttin fell\ton\tthe\tground,\tmaking\ta\tracket\tthat\twas\tten\ttimes\tworse\tthan\tthe\tprevious\tone.\tFeluda\tpaid\thim no\tattention.\tHe\tsimply\ttook\tout\this\tblue\tnotebook\tfrom\this\tshoulder\tbag\tand\tbegan\tleafing\tthrough its\tpages\tin\tthe\tdim\tlight\tfrom\tthe\tkerosene\tlamp. Suddenly,\tmy\teyes\tfell\ton\ta\tthorny\tbush\ta\tlittle\tway\tbeyond\tthe\tticket\twindow.\tA\tlight\twas\tfalling on\tit.\tWhere\twas\tit\tcoming\tfrom? It\t was\t growing\t brighter.\t Then\t I\t heard\t a\t car.\t It\t was\t coming\t from\t the\t direction\t of\t Jaisalmer.\t Oh good.\tPerhaps\tGurbachan\tSingh\twould\tnow\tbe\table\tto\tborrow\ta\tspare\ttyre. The\t car\t came\t into\t view,\t then\t whooshed\t past\t the\t little\t station\t and\t vanished\t towards\t Jodhpur.\t My watch\tshowed\thalf\tpast\tseven. Feluda\traised\this\teyes\tfrom\this\tnotebook\tand\tlooked\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018Lalmohan\tBabu,\u2019\the\tsaid, \u2018yo u\t wr ite\t no vels,\t do n\u2019t\t yo u?\t Yo u\t must\t kno w\t a\t lo t\t o f\t thing s.\t Can\t yo u\t tell\t me\t what\t a\t blister \t is,\t and what\tcauses\tit?\u2019 \u2018Blister?\t.\t.\t.\tBlister?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsounded\tcompletely\ttaken\taback.\t\u2018Why\tdoes\tone\tget\tblisters, you\t mean?\t But\t one\t could,\t quite\t easily.\t I\t mean,\t suppose\t you\t burnt\t your\t finger\t while\t lighting\t your cigarette\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tBut\twhy\tshould\tthat\tcause\ta\tblister?\u2019 \u2018Oh.\tI\tsee.\tWhy?\tYou\twant\tto\tknow\tthe\treason?\u2019 \u2018All\t r ig ht,\t never \t mind.\t Tell\t me\t so mething \t else.\t If\t yo u\t lo o k\t at\t a\t man\t fr o m\t a\t heig ht,\t why\t do es\t he appear\tshort?\u2019 Lalmo han\t Babu\t simply\t star ed\t witho ut\t a\t wo r d.\t Even\t in\t that\t dim\t lig ht,\t I\t co uld\t see\t him\t r ubbing \t his hands\t uncertainly.\t The\t two\t Rajasthani\t men\t were\t still\t talking\t in\t that\t same\t language,\t using\t the\t same","tone.\tFeluda\u2019s\teyes\twere\tfixed\ton\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tface. Lalmohan\tBabu\tlicked\this\tlips\tand\tfound\this\tvoice.\t\u2018Why\tare\tyou\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean,\tall\tthese\tquestions\t.\t. .?\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tone\tmore.\tAnd\tI\u2019m\tsure\tyou\tknow\tthe\tanswer\tto\tthis\tone.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\tnothing.\tIt was\tas\tif\tFeluda\thad\thypnotized\thim. \u2018This\tmorning,\twhat\twere\tyou\tdoing\tamong\tthe\ttrees\tbehind\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse,\tcreeping\tup\tto\tmy window?\u2019 Just\t fo r \t a\t mo ment,\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t r emained\t mo tio nless.\t Then\t life\t r etur ned\t to \t his\t limbs,\t and\t he burst\t into\t speech.\t \u2018But\t I\t was\t going\t to\t see\t you!\u2019\t he\t declared,\t gesticulating\t wildly.\t \u2018Believe\t me,\t Mr Mitter,\t it\t was\t you\t I\t wanted\t to\t see.\t But\t that\t peacock\t made\t such\t a\t racket,\t and\t then\t I\t heard\t someone scream\t.\t.\t.\tso\tI\tgot\tall\tstartled\tand\tnervous\tand\tso\t.\t.\t.\t.!\u2019 \u2018Was\t that\t the\t o nly\t way\t to \t g et\t to \t my\t r o o m?\t And\t was\t it\t necessar y\t to \t wear \t a\t tur ban\t and\t a\t shawl\t to come\tand\tsee\tme?\u2019 \u2018Look,\tthat\tshawl\twas\tonly\ta\tbed\tsheet.\tI\ttook\tit\tfrom\tmy\troom.\tAnd\tthe\tturban?\tThat\twas\ta\ttowel from\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse.\tI\thad\tto\thave\tsome\tsort\tof\ta\tdisguise,\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tsee?\tOr\thow\tcould\tI\tspy\ton that\tman?\u2019 \u2018Which\tman?\u2019 \u2018Mr\tTrotter.\tVery\tsuspicious,\tthat\tman.\tBut\tthank\tgoodness\tI\tdid\tgo\tthere.\tSee\twhat\tI\tfound,\tlying on\tthe\tgrass\toutside\this\twindow.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tsecret\tcode.\tI\twas\tgoing\tto\tpass\tit\ton\tto\tyou,\twhen\tthat\tpeacock cried\tout\tand\tspoilt\teverything!\u2019 I\twas\tlooking\tcarefully\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\twatch.\tYes,\tit\twas\tthe\tsame\twatch\tI\thad\tseen\tfrom\tthe terrace\tin\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse. Lalmohan\tBabu\topened\this\tsuitcase\tand\tgroped\tin\tit.\tHe\tfished\tout\ta\tcrumpled\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tand handed\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tI\tcould\tsee\tthat\tit\thad\tbeen\tscrewed\tinto\ta\tball,\tbut\tstraightened\tlater. I\tpeered\tover\tFeluda\u2019s\tshoulder\tto\tsee\twhat\twas\twritten\ton\tit\twith\ta\tpencil.\tIt\tsaid: IP\t1625+U U\t\u2013\tM Feluda\t frowned\t darkly\t at\t the\t piece\t of\t paper.\t Was\t it\t algebra?\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t make\t head\t or\t tail\t of\t it. Lalmohan\tBabu\twhispered\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes,\t\u2018Highly\tsuspicious!\u2019 Feluda\twas\tmuttering\tto\thimself,\t1625\t.\t.\t.1625\t.\t.\t.\twhere\thave\tI\tseen\tthat\tnumber\trecently?\u2019 \u2018Could\tit\tbe\tthe\tnumber\tof\ta\ttaxi?\u2019\tI\tasked. \u2018No.\t 1625\t .\t .\t .\t sixteen\t twenty-fi\u2014!\u2019\t Feluda\t left\t his\t sentence\t incomplete\t and\t pounced\t upon\t his shoulder\tbag.\tThen\the\ttook\tout\tthe\trailway\ttimetable\tand\topened\tit\tat\tthe\tpage\tthat\twas\tfolded.\tHe\tran a\tfinger\tquickly\tdown\tthe\tpage,\tand\tstopped\tabruptly. \u2018Yes,\there\tit\tis.\t1625\tis\tthe\tarrival.\u2019 \u2018Where?\u2019 \u2018Pokhran.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\u2019\tI\tremarked,\t\u2018the\t\u201cP\u201d\tmight\tmean\t\u201cPokhran\u201d.\t1625\tin\tPokhran.\tWhat\tabout\tthe\trest?\u2019 \u2018The\trest\tis\t.\t.\t.\t\u201cIP\u201d\tand\tthen\t\u201c+U\u201d\t.\t.\t.\twhat\tcould\tit.\t.\t.?\u2019","\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tthat\t\u201cM\u201d\tin\tthe\tsecond\tline,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttold\tus.\t\u2018The\tletter\tM\talways\treminds\tme of\tthe\tword\t\u201cmurder\u201d.\u2019 \u2018Wait,\tdear\tsir,\tlet\tme\tfirst\tdeal\twith\tthe\ttop\tline!\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tcontinued\tto\tmutter\tunder\this\tbreath,\t\u2018Murder.\t.\t.\tmystery\t.\t.\t.\tmassacre\t.\t.\t.\tmonster .\t.\t.!\u2019 Feluda\t sat\t with\t the\t piece\t of\t paper\t on\t his\t lap,\t lost\t in\t thought.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t took\t out\t his\t tin\t of goja\tand\toffered\tit\tto\tme\tagain.\tWhen\tI\u2019d\ttaken\tone,\the\tturned\tto\tFeluda\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018By\tthe\tway,\thow did\tyou\tknow\tI\u2019d\tcrept\tup\tto\tyour\twindow?\tDid\tyou\tsee\tme?\u2019 Feluda\thelped\thimself\tto\ta\tgoja.\t\u2018You\ttook\tyour\tturban\toff,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tbrush\tyour\thair.\tWhen\tI\tmet you\tshortly\tafter\tthe\tincident.\tthe\tstate\tof\tyour\thair\tmade\tme\tquite\tsuspicious.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tsmiled.\t\u2018I\thope\tyou\twon\u2019t\tmind\tmy\tsaying\tit,\tsir,\tbut\tyou\tstrike\tme\tas\ta\tdetective.\tA hundred\tper\tcent,\tfull-fledged\tdetective!\u2019 Without\t saying\t anything,\t Feluda\t handed\t him\t one\t of\t his\t cards.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\u2019s\t eyes\t began glinting. \u2018Oh.\tPradosh\tC.\tMitter!\tIs\tthat\tyour\treal\tname?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tWhy,\tis\tthere\tsomething\twrong\twith\tit?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tBut\tisn\u2019t\tit\tstrange?\u2019 \u2018What\tis?\u2019 \u2018Yo ur \t name.\t Lo o k,\t it\t matches\t yo ur \t pr o fessio n.\t P-r -a-d-o -s-h,\t pr o no unced\t pr o -do sh.\t \u201cPr o \u201d\t stands for\t \u201cprofessional\u201d;\t and\t \u201cdosh\u201d\t is\t the\t Bengali\t word\t for\t \u201ccrime\u201d.\t The\t \u201cC\u201d\t is\t \u201cto\t see\u201d,\t that\t is\t \u201cto investigate\u201d.\tSo\tthe\twhole\tthing\tworks\tout\tas\tPradosh\tC\t=\tProfessional\tCrime\tInvestigator!\u2019 \u2018Great.\tWell\tdone.\tBut\twhat\tabout\t\u201cMitter\u201d?\u2019 \u2018Mitter?\tOh,\tthat\t.\t.\t.\tI\u2019ll\thave\tto\tthink\tabout\tit,\u2019\tsaid\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tscratching\this\thead. \u2018There\u2019s\tno\tneed.\tI\tcan\tsolve\tit\tfor\tyou.\tYou\thave\tseen\tmeters\ton\ttaxis,\thaven\u2019t\tyou?\tIt\u2019s\tthe\tsame thing \u2014that\t is\t to \t say,\t it\u2019s\t an\t indicato r.\t So \t it\t do esn\u2019t\t just\t investig ate,\t it\t also \t indicates.\t It\t picks\t o ut\t the criminal\tafter\tan\tinvestigation\tand\tpoints\ta\tfinger\tat\thim.\tWould\tyou\tgo\talong\twith\tthat?\u2019 \u2018Bravo!\u2019\t said\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t clapping.\t But\t Feluda\t grew\t serious\t again.\t He\t glanced\t at\t the\t code, transferred\tit\tto\this\tshirt\tpocket\tand\ttook\tout\ta\tcigarette. \u2018The\t\u201cI\u201d\tand\tthe\t\u201cU\u201d\tcan\tbe\teasily\texplained,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018that\t\u201cI\u201d\tis\tprobably\tthe\tfellow\twho\twrote\tthe code.\tAnd\t\u201cU\u201d\tis\t\u201cyou\u201d.\tBut\tthat\tplus\tsign\tdoesn\u2019t\tmake\tsense.\tAnd\tthe\tsecond\tline\tis\ttotally\tobscure\t. .\t.\tLook,\tTopshe,\twhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\tspread\tyour\tholdall\ton\tthe\tplatform\there\tand\ttry\tto\tget\tsome\tsleep? You,\ttoo,\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tThe\ttrain\twon\u2019t\tbe\there\tfor\tanother\tseven\tand\ta\thalf\thours.\tI\twill\twake\tyou up\tat\tthe\tright\ttime.\u2019 It\twas\tnot\ta\tbad\tidea.\tI\tunstrapped\tour\tholdall\tand\tspread\tit\tout. As\tsoon\tas\tI\tlay\tflat\ton\tmy\tback,\tmy\teyes\twent\tto\tthe\tsky\tand\tI\trealized\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tso\tmany stars\tin\tmy\tlife.\tWas\tthe\tsky\tso\tclear\tbecause\twe\twere\tclose\tto\ta\tdesert?\tPerhaps. Soon,\tmy\teyes\tgrew\theavy\twith\tsleep.\tOnce,\tI\theard\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsay,\t\u2018I\tsay,\triding\ta\tcamel\thas made\tmy\tjoints\tache!\u2019\tThen\tI\tthought\tI\theard\thim\tmutter,\t\u2018M\tis\tmurder.\u2019\tAfter\tthat\tI\tfell\tasleep. The\t next\t thing\t I\t knew,\t Feluda\t was\t trying\t to\t shake\t me\t awake.\t \u2018Topshe!\t Get\t up,\t here\t comes\t the train!\u2019","I\tscrambled\tto\tmy\tfeet\tand\tbegan\trolling\tmy\tholdall.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tthe\tstraps\thad\tbeen\tfastened,\tthe headlight\ton\tthe\ttrain\thad\tcome\tinto\tview.","Ten It\twas\ta\tpassenger\ttrain\trunning\ton\tmeter\tgauge.\tIts\tcompartments\twere\ttherefore\tquite\tsmall.\tThere were\tnot\tmany\tpassengers,\teither;\thence\twhen\twe\tfound\tan\tempty\tfirst-class\tcompartment,\tit\tdid\tnot surprise\tme. Inside\t the\t coach,\t it\t was\t dark.\t We\t groped\t for\t a\t switch,\t found\t it\t and\t pressed\t it\u2014to\t no\t avail. Lalmohan\t Babu\t said,\t \u2018Bulbs\t in\t railway\t compartments\t tend\t to\t vanish\t even\t in\t civilized\t areas.\t In\t this land\tof\tbandits,\tone\tshouldn\u2019t\teven\texpect\tto\tfind\tany!\u2019 \u2018The\ttwo\tof\tyou\tcan\ttake\tthe\tbenches.\tI\twill\tspread\ta\tdurrie\ton\tthe\tfloor\tand\tmanage.\tWe\thave\tsix whole\thours\tin\thand\u2014time\tenough\tfor\ta\tnice,\tlong\tnap!\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. Lalmohan\tBabu\traised\ta\tmild\tobjection\tto\tthis\tplan,\t\u2018Why\tshould\tyou\tbe\ton\tthe\tfloor?\tLet\tme\t.\t.\t.!\u2019 But\tFeluda\tsaid,\t\u2018Certainly\tnot!\u2019\tso\tsternly\tthat\the\tsaid\tnothing\tmore.\tI\tsaw\thim\tspread\this\tholdall\ton one\t of\t the\t benches,\t not\t merely\t because\t of\t Feluda\u2019s\t words,\t but\t perhaps\t also\t out\t of\t concern\t for\t his aching\tjoints. The\t train\t began\t pulling\t out\t of\t the\t platform.\t Within\t a\t minute\t of\t leaving\t the\t station,\t suddenly\t a figure\tjumped\ton\tto\tthe\tfootboard\tof\tour\tcarriage.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\twith\ta\tlaugh,\t\u2018Hey,\tthis\tis\ta reserved\tcompartment.\tLadies\tonly!\u2019 Then\t the\t door\t swung\t open\t quickly,\t and\t a\t bright\t light\t from\t a\t torch\t dazzled\t our\t eyes\t for\t a\t few seco nds.\t We\t saw\t a\t hand\t co ming \t to war ds\t us.\t The\t po int\t o f\t a\t g un\t sho ne\t in\t that\t lig ht.\t All\t o f\t us\t r aised our\tarms\thigh\tabove\tour\theads. \u2018Get\tup,\tdear\thearts!\tThe\tdoor \u2019s\topen,\tget\tout\tof\tthe\ttrain.\tAll\tof\tyou!\u2019\tIt\twas\tthe\tvoice\tof\tMandar Bose. \u2018But\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tthe\ttrain\u2019s\tstill\trunning!\u2019\tsaid\tLalmohan\tBabu\tin\ta\ttrembling\tvoice. \u2018Shut\tup!\u2019\troared\tMandar\tBose\tand\tinched\ta\tlittle\tcloser.\tThe\ttorchlight\twas\tplaying\ton\tour\tfaces constantly,\tnever\tstanding\tstill\tfor\tmore\tthan\ta\tfew\tmoments. \u2018You\ttrying\tto\tbe\tfunny?\u2019\tMr\tBose\twent\ton.\t\u2018What\tdo\tyou\tdo\tin\tCalcutta?\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tclimb\tin\tand out\trunning\tbuses?\tGet\tup,\tI\ttell\tyou!\u2019 Just\t as\t he\t finished\t speaking,\t something\t happened\t so\t totally\t unexpectedly\t that\t it\t took\t my\t breath away.\tI\tshall\tnever\tforget\tit\tas\tlong\tas\tI\tlive.\tFeluda\u2019s\tright\tarm\tcame\tdown\tin\ta\tflash.\tHe\tgrasped\ta co r ner \t o f\t the\t dur r ie\t and\t yanked\t it\t o ff\t the\t flo o r.\t As\t a\t r esult,\t Mandar \t Bo se\t lo st\t his\t balance.\t His\t feet slipped,\tthen\trose\tin\tthe\tair\tfor\ta\tsecond,\tbefore\the\tfell,\tthe\ttop\thalf\tof\this\tbody\thitting\tthe\twall\tof\tthe carriage\twith\ta\tbang.\tAt\tthe\tsame\ttime,\tthe\trevolver\twas\tknocked\tout\tof\this\thand.\tIt\tfell\ton\tLalmohan Babu\u2019s\tbench,\tand\tthe\ttorch\tdropped\tfrom\this\tleft\thand\ton\tto\tthe\tfloor. All\t that\t happened\t in\t a\t split\t seco nd.\t Even\t befo r e\t Mandar \t Bo se\t cr ashed\t do wn\t o n\t the\t flo o r,\t Feluda had\tsprung\tup,\tclutching\this\town\trevolver,\twhich\thad\tcome\tout\tof\this\tjacket\tpocket.","\u2018Get\tup!\u2019\tThis\ttime\tit\twas\tFeluda\twho\tordered\tMandar\tBose.\tThe\tmeter\tgauge\ttrain\twas\tswinging and\tswaying\tacross\tthe\tdesert,\tmaking\ta\tlot\tof\tnoise.\tLalmohan\tBabu\thad,\tin\tthe\tmeantime,\tgrabbed Mr\tBose\u2019s\trevolver\tand\tstuffed\tit\tinto\this\town\tJapan\tAirlines\tbag. \u2018Get\tup!\u2019\tFeluda\tshouted\tagain. The\ttorch\twas\trolling\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tI\tcould\tsee\tthat\tit\tshould\treally\tbe\tfocussed\ton\tMr\tBose,\tor\tthe fellow\t might\t take\t advantage\t of\t the\t darkness\t and\t try\t to\t trick\t us.\t Some\t such\t thought\t made\t me\t bend down\tto\tpick\tit\tup\u2014which\tled\tto\tdisaster.\tEven\tnow,\tmy\tblood\truns\tcold\twhen\tI\tthink\tabout\tit. Mandar\tBose\twas\tfacing\tmy\tbench.\tJust\tas\tI\tbent\tdown,\the\tsuddenly\tlunged\tforward,\tgrabbed\tme and\tgot\tto\this\tfeet,\tholding\tme\tfirmly\tin\tfront\tof\thimself.\tAs\ta\tresult,\tI\tbecame\ta\tprotective\tshield\tfor him.\tEven\tat\tsuch\ta\tcritical\tmoment,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\tadmiring\this\tcunning.\tIt\twas\tclear\tthat\talthough round\tone\thad\tgone\tto\tFeluda\tmost\tunexpectedly,\the\twas\tcertainly\tin\ta\tdifficult\tposition\tin\tthe\tsecond round.\tAnd\tI\twas\twholly\tto\tblame. Mandar\t Bose\t kept\t a\t tight\t hold\t on\t me\t as\t he\t began\t moving\t towards\t the\t open\t door.\t I\t could\t feel something\tsharp\thurting\tmy\tshoulder.\tThen\tI\trealized\tit\twas\tone\tof\this\tnails.\tSuddenly,\tI\tremembered little\tNeelu\tcomplaining\tthat\this\thand\thurt. We\twere\tnow\tstanding\tvery\tclose\tto\tthe\tdoor.\tI\tcould\tfeel\tthe\tbiting\tcold\tnight\tair.\tIt\twas\tbrushing against\tmy\tleft\tshoulder. Mandar\tBose\ttook\tanother\tstep.\tFeluda\u2019s\tgun\twas\tpointed\tat\thim,\tbut\tnow\tFeluda\tcouldn\u2019t\treally\tdo anything.\tThe\ttorch\twas\tstill\trolling\ton\tthe\tfloor\tas\tthe\ttrain\tswayed\tfrom\tside\tto\tside. Suddenly,\tI\twas\tflung\tforward,\twith\tconsiderable\tforce.\tIt\tmade\tme\tcollide\twith\tFeluda.\tThe\tsound that\tcame\ta\tsecond\tlater\ttold\tme\tthat\tMandar\tBose\thad\tjumped\tout\tof\tthe\tmoving\ttrain.\tWhat\tI\tcould not\ttell\twas\twhether\the\thad\tsurvived\tor\tnot. Feluda\t went\t to\t the\t door\t and\t peered\t out.\t He\t came\t back\t a\t couple\t of\t minutes\t later,\t replaced\t his revolver\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018I\thope\the\tbreaks\ta\tfew\tbones,\tor\tit\twill\tbe\ta\tmatter\tof\tgreat\tregret.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tlaughed\u2014a\ttrifle\tloudly\u2014and\tsaid,\t\u2018Didn\u2019t\tI\ttell\tyou\tthe\tman\twas\tsuspicious?\u2019 I\t gulped\t some\t water\t from\t the\t flask.\t My\t heartbeat\t was\t gradually\t returning\t to\t normal,\t as\t was\t my breathing.\tI\twas\tstill\tfinding\tit\tdifficult\tto\tgrasp\tthe\tenormity\tof\twhat\thad\tjust\thappened,\tin\ta\tmatter\tof minutes. \u2018He\tgot\taway\tthis\ttime\tonly\tbecause\tof\tdear\tTopesh,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\t\u2018or\tI\u2019d\thave\tused\tmy\tgun\tto\tdrag a\tfull\tconfession\tout\tof\thim.\tHowever\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tstopped.\tAfter\ta\tbrief\tpause,\the\tsaid,\t\u2018When\tI\tcome\tface to\tface\twith\tdanger,\tmy\tbrain\tstarts\tworking\tmuch\tmore\tefficiently.\tI\u2019ve\tnoticed\tit\tbefore.\tNow\tI\tcan see\twhat\tthat\tcode\tmeant.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsounded\tamazed. \u2018It\u2019s\tactually\tquite\tsimple.\t\u201cI\u201d\tis\tthe\tman\twriting\tthe\tnote,\t\u201cP\u201d\tis\tPokhran,\t\u201cU\u201d\tis\t\u201cyou\u201d,\tand\t\u201cM\u201d\tis \u201cMitter\u201d.\tPradosh\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tplus\tand\tminus\tsigns?\u2019 \u2018IP\t1625\t+\tU.\tThat\tmeans\t\u201cI\tam\tarriving\tat\tPokhran\tat\t4.25.\tYou\tmust\tjoin\tme.\u201d\u2019 \u2018And\tU\t\u2013\tM?\tWhat\tdoes\tthat\tmean?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\teven\tsimpler.\tIt\tmeans\t\u201cyou\tget\trid\tof\tMitter\u201d.\u2019 \u2018Get\trid\t.\t.\t.?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcould\tbarely\tspeak.\t\u2018You\tmean\tthe\tminus\tsign\tstands\tfor\tmurder?\u2019","\u2018No,\t not\t necessarily.\t If\t you\t were\t forced\t to\t jump\t out\t of\t a\t moving\t train,\t chances\t are\t you\u2019d\t be injured.\tAnd,\tin\tany\tcase,\tyou\u2019d\thave\tto\twait\tanother\ttwenty-four\thours\tfor\tthe\tnext\ttrain.\tThe\tcrooks would\thave\tfinished\ttheir\tbusiness\tin\tthat\ttime.\tWhat\tthey\treally\tneeded\tto\tdo\twas\tstop\tus\tfrom\tgoing to\tJaisalmer.\tThat\u2019s\twhy\tthey\tlittered\tthe\troad\twith\tnails\tand\tpins.\tBut\twhen\tthey\trealized\tthat\thadn\u2019t worked,\tBose\ttried\tto\tget\tus\toff\tthe\ttrain.\u2019 Suddenly,\tI\tbecame\taware\tof\ta\tsmell.\t\u2018I\tcan\tsmell\ta\tcigar,\tFeluda!\u2019\tI\texclaimed. \u2018Yes,\tI\tgot\tthat\tsmell\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\tfellow\tjumped\tinto\tthe\tcompartment.\tIt\twas\tobvious\teven\tin\tthe Circuit\t House\t that\t someone\t was\t smoking\t cigars.\t Remember\t that\t golden\t foil\t Mukul\t found?\t Cigars are\twrapped\tin\tthat\tkind\tof\tfoil.\u2019 \u2018And\tthere\u2019s\tsomething\telse.\tOne\tof\this\tnails\tis\tmuch\tlonger\tthan\tothers.\tMy\tshoulder\tmust\tbe\tas badly\tscratched\tas\tNeelu\u2019s\thand.\u2019 \u2018All\tright,\tbut\twho\tis\tthe\t\u201cI\u201d\twho\tis\tgiving\tall\tthe\tinstructions?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\twanted\tto\tknow. Feluda\u2019s\t voice\t sounded\t solemn\t when\t he\t spoke.\t \u2018That\t warning\t someone\t had\t left\t for\t me\t in\t the Circuit\tHouse,\tand\tthis\thandwritten\tcode\tboth\tpoint\tto\tone\tperson.\u2019 \u2018Who?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tcried\ttogether.\t\u2018Dr\tHemanga\tMohan\tHajra.\u2019 The\trest\tof\tthe\tnight\tpassed\twithout\tfurther\texcitement.\tI\tslept\tfor\tabout\tthree\thours.\tWhen\tI\twoke,\tit was\tbright\tand\tsunny\toutside.\tFeluda\twas\tno\tlonger\tlying\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tHe\twas\tseated\tin\tone\tcorner\tof my\tbench\tand\tstaring\tout\tof\tthe\twindow.\tOn\this\tlap\twas\this\tblue\tnotebook,\tand\tin\this\thands\twere\ttwo notes.\t One\t was\t the\t warning,\t and\t the\t other\t was\t the\t letter\t Dr\t Hajra\t had\t left\t for\t us\t before\t leaving Jo dhpur.\t I\t g lanced\t at\t my\t watch.\t It\t was\t a\t quar ter \t to \t seven.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t was\t still\t fast\t asleep.\t I\t felt very\thungry,\tbut\thad\tno\twish\tto\teat\tanother\tgoja.\tWe\twould\treach\tJaisalmer\tat\tnine.\tSomehow,\tI\tmust put\tup\twith\tthe\tpangs\tof\thunger\tuntil\tthen. The\t scenery\t outside\t was\t really\t strange.\t For\t mile\t after\t mile\t stretched\t an\t undulating\t landscape\u2014 there\twas\tnot\ta\tsingle\thouse\tin\tsight,\tnot\ta\tsingle\thuman\tbeing,\tnot\teven\ta\ttree.\tYet\tI\tcould\tnot\tcall\tit\ta desert\tbecause,\talthough\tthere\twas\ta\tlittle\tsand,\tmost\tof\tit\tconsisted\tof\tdry,\tpale\tgrass,\treddish\tearth and\t blackish-red\t chips\t of\t stone.\t It\t seemed\t incredible\t that,\t after\t such\t a\t landscape,\t we\t would\t find\t a whole\ttown\tagain. The\t tr ain\t sto pped\t at\t a\t statio n\t called\t Jetha-chandan.\t I\t o pened\t the\t r ailway\t timetable\t and\t disco ver ed that\tthe\tnext\tstation\twas\tcalled\tThaiyat\tHamira,\tand\tthe\tone\tafter\tthat\twas\tJaisalmer.\tAt\tJetha-chandan, there\twere\tno\tshops\tor\tstalls\ton\tthe\tplatform,\tno\thawkers,\tno\tporters,\tno\tpassengers.\tIt\twas\tas\tif\tour train\t had\t somehow\t arrived\t at\t a\t place\t that\t had\t not\t yet\t been\t discovered\t by\t man.\t It\t was\t no\t different from\ta\trocket\tlanding\ton\tmoon. Lalmohan\t Babu\t woke\t soon\t after\t the\t train\t started\t moving\t again.\t He\t yawned\t and\t said,\t \u2018I\t had\t the mo st\t fantastic\t dr eam,\t yo u\t kno w.\t Ther e\t was\t this\t g ang \t o f\t bandits,\t each\t with\t a\t mo ustache\t that\t lo o ked like\t the\t ho r ns\t o f\t a\t r am.\t I\t had\t hypno tized\t them,\t and\t was\t leading \t them\t thr o ug h\t a\t castle.\t Ther e\t was\t a tunnel.\t We\t went\t through\t the\t tunnel\t and\t reached\t an\t underground\t chamber.\t I\t knew\t there\t was\t some treasure\tburied\tin\tthat\tchamber,\tbut\tall\tI\tcould\tsee\twas\ta\tcamel\tsitting\ton\tthe\tfloor,\tchewing\tgojas!\u2019 \u2018Ho w\t do \t yo u\t kno w\t that?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked.\t \u2018Did\t the\t camel\t o pen\t its\t mo uth\t and\t sho w\t yo u\t what\t it\t was chewing?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tBut\tI\tsaw\tmy\ttin\u2014there\tit\twas,\tlying\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tcamel!\u2019","Soon\tafter\twe\tleft\tThaiyat\tHamira,\tin\tthe\tdistance,\tthe\thazy\toutline\tof\ta\thill\tcame\tinto\tview.\tIt\twas\ta Rajasthani\ttable\tmountain\twith\ta\tflat\ttop.\tOur\ttrain\tappeared\tto\tbe\tgoing\tin\tthat\tdirection. Around\t eight\t o\u2019clock,\t we\t could\t dimly\t see\t some\t sort\t of\t structure\t on\t top\t of\t that\t hill.\t Slowly,\t it became\t clear \t that\t it\t was\t a\t fo r tr ess.\t It\t sto o d\t like\t a\t cr o wn\t ato p\t the\t hill,\t spr ead\t all\t ar o und\t its\t flattened top.\tIt\twas\tbathed\tin\tthe\tbright\tlight\tof\tthe\tearly\tmorning\tsun,\twhich\twas\tfalling\tdirectly\tupon\tit\tfrom a\tdazzling\tsky.\tQuite\tinvoluntarily,\tthree\twords\tslipped\tout\tof\tmy\tmouth:\t\u2018The\tgolden\tfortress!\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tright,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\tme.\t\u2018This\tis\tthe\tonly\tgolden\tfortress\tin\tRajasthan.\tThat\tbowl\tin\tthat\tshop in\t Jodhpur\t raised\t my\t suspicions.\t Then\t I\t looked\t it\t up\t in\t the\t guide\t book,\t and\t my\t suspicions\t were confirmed.\tThe\tfort\tand\tthe\tbowl\twere\tboth\tmade\twith\tthe\tsame\tstone\u2014yellow\tsandstone.\tIf\tMukul\tis truly\t a\t jatismar,\t and\t if\t there\t is\t truly\t something\t like\t a\t previous\t life,\t then\t I\t think\t he\t was\t born somewhere\tin\tthis\tregion.\u2019 \u2018But\tdoes\tDr\tHajra\tknow\tthat?\u2019\tI\tasked. Feluda\tdid\tnot\treply.\tHe\twas\tstill\tstaring\tat\tthe\tfort.\t\u2018You\tknow\tsomething\tTopshe?\u2019\the\tsaid\tfinally. \u2018There\t is\t something\t special\t about\t that\t golden\t light.\t It\t has\t helped\t me\t see\t the\t whole\t pattern\t of\t the spider \u2019s\tweb,\tvery\tclearly!\u2019","Eleven The\tfirst\tthing\twe\tdid\ton\tgetting\toff\tthe\ttrain\tin\tJaisalmer\twas\tto\tstop\tat\ta\ttea\tstall\tand\thave\ta\tcup\tof tea\tand\tsome\tsweets.\tIt\twas\ta\tnew\tkind\tof\tsweet,\tone\tthat\twe\thadn\u2019t\thad\tbefore.\tFeluda\tsaid\tit\twould do\tus\tgood\tas\tit\thad\tglucose\tin\tit.\tA\tlot\tof\tactivity\tlay\tahead,\tthe\tglucose\twould\tprovide\textra\tenergy. We\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tstation\tto\tfind\tthat\tthere\twas\tnot\ta\tsingle\tvehicle\twe\tcould\thire\u2014no\ttongas, ekkas,\t cycle-r ickshaws,\t o r \t taxis.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t jeep\t waiting ,\t but\t it\t was\t o bvio usly\t no t\t meant\t fo r \t hir e. When\twe\tgot\toff\tthe\ttrain,\tI\thad\tnoticed\ta\tblack\tAmbassador\tstanding\toutside.\tBut\tnow\teven\tthat\thad gone. \u2018It\u2019s\t a\t small\t to wn,\u2019\t Feluda\t said.\t \u2018I\t do n\u2019t\t think\t a\t place\t is\t all\t that\t far \t fr o m\t ano ther.\t My\t g uide\t bo o k says\tthere\u2019s\ta\tdak\tbungalow.\tLet\u2019s\tgo\tand\tfind\tit.\u2019 We\t set\t off,\t carrying\t our\t luggage.\t Soon\t enough,\t we\t found\t a\t petrol\t station,\t where\t a\t man\t gave\t us directions.\t In\t order\t to\t get\t to\t the\t dak\t bungalow,\t we\t would\t not\t have\t to\t climb\t the\t hill,\t he\t said.\t The bungalow\t was\t located\t on\t the\t plains,\t to\t the\t south\t of\t the\t hill.\t As\t we\t began\t walking\t again,\t Feluda looked\tat\tthe\ttyre\tmarks\ton\tthe\tsand\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018That\tAmbassador\tmust\thave\tcome\tthis\tway!\u2019 About\tfifteen\tminutes\tlater,\twe\tcame\tupon\ta\tbungalow.\tA\twooden\tboard\tfixed\tto\tits\tgate\ttold\tus\tthat we\thad\tcome\tto\tthe\tright\tplace.\tThe\tblack\tAmbassador\twas\tparked\tin\tfront\tof\tit. An\t o ld\t man\t wear ing \t a\t khaki\t shir t\t and\t a\t sho r t\t dho ti\t came\t o ut\t o f\t an\t o utho use.\t On\t his\t head\t was\t a tur ban.\t Per haps\t he\t had\t seen\t us\t ar r ive.\t Feluda\t asked\t him\t in\t Hindi\t if\t he\t was\t the\t cho wkidar.\t The\t man nodded.\tIt\tappeared\tfrom\tthe\tway\the\twas\tlooking\tat\tus\tthat\tour\tarrival\twas\tunexpected,\tand\the\tdidn\u2019t altogether\tapprove\tof\tour\tsudden\tappearance,\tas\tno\tone\twas\tallowed\tto\tstay\tin\tthe\tbungalow\twithout prior\tpermission. Feluda\t said\t nothing\t about\t staying\t there.\t All\t we\t wanted\t to\t do,\t he\t told\t the\t man,\t was\t leave\t our luggage\tin\tthe\tbungalow.\tThen\twe\u2019d\ttry\tto\tget\tthe\tnecessary\tpermission.\t\u2018You\u2019ll\thave\tto\tsee\tthe\tRaja\u2019s secretary\tfor\tthat,\u2019\tsaid\tthe\tchowkidar\tand\tpointed\tus\tin\tthe\tright\tdirection.\tThe\tpalace,\talso\tmade\tof yellow\tsandstone,\twas\tat\tsome\tdistance;\tbut\tcertain\tportions\tof\tit\twere\tvisible,\trising\tabove\tthe\ttrees. The\t chowkidar\t raised\t no\t objection\t to\t our\t luggage\t being\t left\t there,\t He\t showed\t us\t into\t a\t small room,\twhere\twe\tdumped\tour\tsuitcases\tand\tholdalls.\tThen\twe\tfilled\tour\tflasks\twith\tfresh\twater,\tslung them\ton\tour\tshoulders\tand\tasked\thim\tthe\tway\tto\tthe\tfort. \u2018You\twant\tto\tgo\tto\tthe\tfort?\u2019 The\t questio n\t came\t fr o m\t the\t far \t end\t o f\t a\t passag e.\t A\t g entleman\t had\t just\t co me\t o ut\t o f\t a\t r o o m.\t He appeared\t no\t more\t than\t forty,\t had\t a\t clear\t complexion,\t and\t a\t sharp\t nose,\t under\t which\t was\t a\t thin moustache,\tvery\tcarefully\ttrimmed.\tA\tsecond\tlater,\the\twas\tjoined\tby\tan\tolder\tman,\twho\twas\tclutching a\tstick\u2014the\tkind\tthat\twe\thad\tseen\tin\tthe\tmarket\tin\tJodhpur\u2014and\twas\twearing\tan\todd,\tsomewhat\till- fitting\tblack\tsuit.\tI\tcould\tnot\ttell\twhich\tpart\tof\tthe\tcountry\tthey\tmight\tbe\tfrom.\tThe\tsecond\tman\twas limping\tslightly,\twhich\texplained\tthe\tneed\tfor\tthe\tstick.","\u2018Yes,\ta\tlook\tat\tthe\tfort\tmight\tbe\tinteresting,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018Come\talong\twith\tus,\twe\tare\tgoing\tthat\tway.\u2019 Feluda\tthought\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tthen\tagreed.\t\u2018Thank\tyou\tvery\tmuch,\tit\tis\tvery\tkind\tof\tyou,\u2019\the said As\twe\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tthe\tcar,\tLalmohan\tBabu\twhispered\tinto\tmy\tear:\t\u2018I\thope\tthese\tmen\twon\u2019t\ttry to\tthrow\tus\tout\tof\ta\tmoving\tcar!\u2019 The\tcar\tbegan\tits\tjourney\tto\tthe\tfort.\tThe\tman\twith\tthe\tstick\tasked\tus,\t\u2018Are\tyou\tfrom\tCalcutta\t?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. To\tour\tleft,\tin\tthe\tdistance,\trising\tfrom\tthe\tsand,\twere\tstone\tpillars.\tWe\thad\tseen\tsomething\tsimilar in\tDevikund.\tFeluda\tsaid\tsuch\tstructures\twere\tquite\tcommon\tin\tRajasthan. Our\t car\t started\t going\t uphill.\t About\t a\t minute\t later,\t we\t heard\t another\t car.\t It\t was\t tooting\t urgently. That\twas\ta\tbit\tsurprising,\tsince\twe\twere\tnot\tdriving\tall\tthat\tslowly\tand\tgetting\tin\tits\tway.\tFeluda\twas sitting\t at\t the\t back\t with\t the\t two\t gentlemen.\t He\t turned\t round,\t peered\t through\t the\t glass\t and\t suddenly said\tto\tour\tdriver,\t\u2018Stop!\tPlease\tstop!\u2019 Our\t car\t pulled\t up\t by\t the\t side\t of\t the\t road.\t At\t once,\t a\t taxi\t came\t along\t and\t stopped\t on\t our\t right. Holding\tits\tsteering\twheel\twas\tGurbachan\tSingh,\tgreeting\tus\twith\ta\tsmile. The\t thr ee\t o f\t us\t climbed\t o ut.\t Feluda\t said\t to \t the\t two \t men,\t \u2018Thank\t yo u\t so \t much\t fo r \t yo ur \t help.\t But this\tis\tour\town\ttaxi.\tIt\thad\tbroken\tdown\ton\tthe\tway\tto\tJaisalmer,\tbut\tnow\tit\u2019s\tcaught\tup\twith\tus.\u2019 When\twe\twere\tback\tin\this\tcar,\tGurbachan\ttold\tus\thow,\tat\thalf\tpast\tsix\tthat\tmorning,\the\thad\tspotted another\t taxi\t going\t back\t from\t Jaisalmer.\t He\t knew\t its\t driver,\t and\t managed\t to\t get\t a\t spare\t tyre\t from him.\tThen\the\tcovered\tninety\tmiles\tin\ttwo\thours.\tWhen\the\treached\tJaisalmer,\the\tsimply\twaited\tat\tthe petrol\tstation,\tuntil\the\tspotted\tus\tinside\tthe\tblack\tAmbassador. A\t little\t later,\t we\t found\t ourselves\t going\t through\t a\t market.\t There\t were\t shops\t everywhere,\t a loudspeaker\twas\tplaying\ta\tHindi\tsong\tand,\toutside\ta\tsmall\tcinema,\twas\ta\tposter\tadvertising\ta\tHindi film. \u2018You\twant\tto\tsee\tthe\tfort?\u2019\tGurbachan\tasked. \u2018Yes,\u2019\tFeluda\ttold\thim.\tGurbachan\tstopped\tthe\ttaxi\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018This\tis\tits\tgate.\u2019 To\tour\tright\twas\ta\tmassive\tgate,\tbeyond\twhich\trose\ta\troad,\tpaved\twith\tstone,\twhich\tled\tto\ta\tsecond gate.\tThat,\tI\trealized,\twas\tthe\treal\tentrance\tto\tthe\tfort,\tthe\tfirst\tone\tacted\tas\tthe\tfront\tgate.\tBehind\tthe entrance,\trising\tsteeply,\twas\tthe\tgolden\tfortress\tof\tJaisalmer. A\tguard\twas\tstanding\toutside\tthe\tfront\tgate.\tFeluda\twent\tand\tasked\thim\tif\the\thad\tseen\ta\tman\twith\ta small\tboy\tthat\tmorning.\tHe\tindicated\tMukul\u2019s\theight. \u2018Yes,\tsir,\tthey\twere\there.\tBut\tthey\u2019ve\tnow\tleft,\u2019\treplied\tthe\tguard.\t\u2018When\tdid\tthey\tleave?\u2019 \u2018About\thalf\tan\thour\tago.\u2019 \u2018Did\tthey\tcome\tby\tcar?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tIn\ta\ttaxi.\u2019 \u2018Which\tway\tdid\tthey\tgo?\tCan\tyou\tremember?\u2019 The\t guard\t nodded\t and\t pointed\t at\t the\t road\t that\t went\t further\t west.\t We\t got\t back\t to\t the\t car\t and followed\t it,\t passing\t through\t little\t alleys\t and\t more\t shops.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t was\t sitting\t next\t to Gurbachan.\t Feluda\t and\t I\t were\t in\t the\t back\t seat.\t After\t a\t few\t minutes,\t Feluda\t suddenly\t asked,\t \u2018You didn\u2019t\tbring\tyour\tweapon\twith\tyou,\tdid\tyou?\u2019","Startled\t by\t such\t a\t question,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t said,\t \u2018The\t dodger?\t No,\t sorry,\t I\t mean\t that\t Nepali dagger?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\tYour\tdagger.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tin\tmy\tsuitcase.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\ttake\tout\tMandar\tBose\u2019s\trevolver\tfrom\tyour\tJapan\tAirlines\tbag\tand\ttuck\tit\tinto\tyour belt.\tMake\tsure\tit\tisn\u2019t\tvisible.\u2019 Fr o m\t Lalmo han\t Babu\u2019s\t mo vements,\t it\t became\t clear \t that\t he\t was\t fo llo wing \t Feluda\u2019s\t instr uctio n.\t I was\tdying\tto\tsee\this\tface,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t. \u2018Don\u2019t\tworry,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\treassuringly,\t\u2018If\tthings\tget\tsticky,\tall\tyou\thave\tto\tdo\tis\ttake\tthat\tgun\tout and\tpoint\tit\tin\tfront\tof\tyou.\u2019 \u2018What\tif\tb-b-behind\tme,\tthere\u2019s\t.\t.\t.?\u2019 \u2018If\t you\t hear\t a\t noise\t behind\t you,\t then\t just\t turn\t around.\t Then\t your\t \u201cbehind\u201d\t will\t become\t your \u201cfront\u201d,\tsee?\u2019 \u2018And\tyou?\tAre\tyou\t.\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean,\ttoday,\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tbe\tnon-violent?\u2019 \u2018That\tdepends.\u2019 Our\ttaxi\tleft\tthe\tmarket\tbehind\tand\tcame\tto\tan\topen\tspace.\tWe\thad\talready\tasked\ta\tcouple\tof\tmen o n\t the\t way,\t and\t lear nt\t that\t the\t o ther \t taxi\t had\t been\t seen\t co ming \t this\t way.\t Besides,\t we\t had\t also \t seen tyre-marks\tin\tthe\tsand\tfrom\ttime\tto\ttime,\twhich\ttold\tus\tthat\twe\twere\tfollowing\tthe\tsame\troute\tthat\tDr Hemanga\tHajra\thad\ttaken. Gurbachan\tSingh\tcame\tup\twith\tmore\tinformation.\t\u2018This\tis\tthe\tway\tto\tMohangarh,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tcould dr ive\t fo r \t ano ther \t mile,\t but\t after \t that\t the\t r o ad\t g ets\t r eally\t r o ug h.\t Only\t jeeps\t can\t tr avel\t o n\t that\t r o ad, nothing\telse.\u2019 But\twe\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tto\tgo\tanother\tmile.\tOnly\ta\tlittle\tlater,\twe\tsaw\ta\ttaxi\tstanding\ton\tone\tside\tof\tthe road.\tTo\tour\tright,\tat\tsome\tdistance,\twere\ta\tnumber\tof\told,\tabandoned\tstone\thouses.\tAll\tthe\troofs\thad caved\t in.\t Clearly,\t it\t had\t once\t been\t a\t village.\t We\t had\t seen\t similar\t villages\t elsewhere.\t People\t had moved\tout\tof\tthem\ta\tlong\ttime\tago.\tThe\twalls\tof\tthese\thouses\twere\tstill\tstanding\tonly\tbecause\tthey were\tmade\tof\tstone. We\ttold\tGurbachan\tto\twait,\tand\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tthe\thouses.\tI\tsaw\tGurbachan\tget\tout\tof\this\tcar\tand go\ttowards\tthe\tother\tone,\tperhaps\tto\tchat\twith\tits\tdriver. Everything\twas\teerily\tsilent.\tIf\tI\tturned\tmy\thead,\tI\tcould\tsee\tthe\tfort\tbehind\tme,\ton\ttop\tof\tthe\thill. Opposite\tthe\troad,\tanother\thill\trose\tsteeply.\tAt\tits\tfoot,\tspread\tover\ta\twide,\topen\tarea\twere\trows\tof yellow\tstones,\tembedded\tin\tthe\tground.\tThey\tlooked\tlike\tgiant\tspice-grinders.\t\u2018Graves\tof\twarriors,\u2019 whispered\tFeluda. Lalmohan\tBabu\tspoke,\tin\ta\thoarse\tyet\tsqueaky\tvoice,\t\u2018I\t.\t.\t.\tI.\t.\t.\thave\tlow\tblood\tpressure!\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tyou\tworry,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\t\u2018It\twill\tsoon\trise\thigher,\tI\tpromise\tyou,\tand\tstop\texactly\twhere it\tshould.\u2019 We\twere\tnow\tquite\tclose\tto\tthe\thouses.\tA\tpath\tran\tstraight\tthrough\tthem.\tI\trealized\tthis\tvillage\twas different\tfrom\tthe\tones\tI\thad\tseen\tin\tBengal.\tIt\thad\ta\tsimple,\tgeometric\tplan. But\twhere\twere\tthe\tpeople\twho\thad\ttravelled\tin\tthe\tother\ttaxi?\tWhere\twas\tMukul?\tAnd\tDr\tHajra? Had\tsomething\thappened\tto\tMukul?","Suddenly,\tI\tbecame\taware\tof\ta\tnoise.\tIt\twas\tfaint,\tbut\taudible\tif\tI\tstrained\tmy\tears:\tthud,\tthud,\tthud, thud! We\t walked\t on,\t very\t carefully\t and\t very\t silently.\t Then\t we\t reached\t a\t crossroad\t where\t two\t lanes intersected.\tThe\tnoise\twas\tcoming\tfrom\tthe\tright.\tTen\tor\ttwelve\thouses\tstood\tby\tthe\troad.\tThere\twere yawning\tgaps\tbetween\ttheir\twalls\tand\twhere\tonce\tthere\tmust\thave\tbeen\tdoors. We\tturned\tright\tand\tresumed\twalking\tstealthily. Feluda\t uttered\t one\t word\t through\t his\t teeth,\t almost\t inaudibly,\t \u2018Revolver!\u2019\t I\t saw\t that\t his\t hand\t had disappeared\tunder\this\tjacket.\tOut\tof\tthe\tcorner\tof\tmy\teye,\tI\tsaw\ta\trevolver\tin\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\thand, which\twas\ttrembling\tviolently. A\tsudden\tcrunching\tnoise\tmade\tus\tcome\tto\ta\thalt.\tIn\tthe\tnext\tinstant,\tthrough\tthe\tdoor\tof\ta\thouse\tat the\t far\t end\t on\t our\t left,\t appeared\t Mukul,\t running\t fast.\t Then\t he\t saw\t us,\t ran\t even\t faster,\t and\t flung himself\ton\tFeluda\u2019s\tchest.\tHe\twas\tgasping,\this\tface\twas\tdeathly\tpale. I\t opened\t my\t mouth\t to\t ask\t him\t what\t had\t happened,\t but\t Feluda\t placed\t a\t finger\t on\t his\t lips\t and stopped\tme\tfrom\tspeaking\taloud. \u2018Please\tlook\tafter\thim\tuntil\tI\treturn!\u2019\the\twhispered\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tand\tleft\tMukul\tin\this\tcharge. Then\the\tproceeded\ttowards\tthe\thouse\tfrom\twhich\twe\thad\tjust\tseen\tMukul\temerge.\tI\tfollowed\tFeluda. The\t strange\t noise\t was\t getting\t louder.\t It\t sounded\t as\t if\t someone\t was\t lifting\t stones.\t Thud!\t Bang! Clang!\tIt\twent\ton. Feluda\t flattened\t himself\t ag ainst\t the\t wall\t as\t we\t g o t\t clo se\t to \t the\t ho use.\t A\t co uple\t o f\t steps\t later,\t we were\table\tto\tpeer\tthrough\tthe\tgap\tleft\tby\tthe\tmissing\tdoor.\tWith\this\tback\tto\tus,\tcrouching\tover\ta\thuge pile\tof\trubble,\twas\tDr\tHajra.\tLike\ta\tmadman,\the\twas\tremoving\tstone\tafter\tstone\tfrom\tthat\theap,\tand casting\teach\tone\taside.\tHe\thad\tno\tidea\tthat\twe\twere\tstanding\tso\tclose. Feluda\ttook\tanother\tstep,\tpointing\this\trevolver\tat\tDr\tHajra.\tSuddenly,\twe\theard\ta\tflutter\tabove\tour heads. A\tpeacock\tswooped\tdown\tfrom\tthe\tcompound\twall.\tIt\tsped\ttowards\tDr\tHajra\tthe\tinstant\tit\tlanded, and\t attacked\t him,\t pecking\t hard\t just\t under\t his\t left\t ear.\t Dr\t Hajra,\t who\t was\t still\t crouching\t over\t the sto nes,\t co uld\t o nly\t scr eam\t in\t ag o ny\t and\t pr ess\t his\t hand\t o ver \t that\t spo t.\t At\t o nce,\t the\t white\t cuff\t o f\t his shirt\tturned\tred. But\t the\t peacock\t hadn\u2019t\t finished.\t It\t continued\t to\t attack\t him,\t pecking\t wherever\t it\t could.\t Dr\t Hajra turned,\ttook\ta\tstep\ttowards\tthe\tdoor\tin\tan\tattempt\tto\tescape,\tand\tsaw\tus.\tHe\tstarted\tas\tif\the\u2019d\tseen\ta pair\tof\tghosts.\tWe\tstepped\taside.\tThe\tpeacock\tchased\thim\tout\tthrough\tthe\tdoor. \u2018You\tdid\tnot\timagine,\tdid\tyou,\tthat\ta\tpeacock\twould\thave\tbuilt\tits\tnest\u2014and\tthat\tnest\twould\tcontain its\teggs\u2014in\tthe\tsame\tspot\twhere\tthe\ttreasure\twas\tburied?\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\t vo ice\t so unded\t as\t co ld\t as\t steel.\t His\t r evo lver \t was\t po inted\t at\t Dr \t Hajr a.\t It\t was\t clear \t to \t me now\tthat\tthe\treal\tculprit\tin\tthis\twhole\taffair\twas\tDr\tHajra\u2014and\the\thad\tbeen\tsuitably\tpunished\talready \u2014but\tthere\twere\tso\tmany\tother\tthings\tthat\tstill\tseemed\thazy\tthat\tmy\thead\tstarted\treeling. Then\twe\theard\ta\tcar. Dr \t Hajr a\t fell\t to \t the\t g r o und.\t He\t was\t lying \t o n\t his\t sto mach.\t He\t lifted\t his\t head\t and\t tur ned\t it\t slo wly towards\t Feluda.\t His\t left\t hand,\t clutching\t a\t bloodstained\t handkerchief,\t was\t still\t pressed\t against\t his wound.","\u2018There\tis\tabsolutely\tno\thope\tleft\tfor\tyou.\tI\thope\tyou\trealize\tthat?\tEvery\troute\tof\tescape\tis\tclosed, and\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Before\tFeluda\tcould\tfinish\tspeaking,\tDr\tHajra\tsprang\tto\this\tfeet\tand\tbegan\trunning\tblindly\tin\tthe opposite\tdirection,\taway\tfrom\tthe\tderelict\thouse.\tFeluda\tlowered\this\tgun\tbecause\tthere\treally\twas\tno way\t that\t Dr \t Hajr a\t co uld\t no w\t escape.\t Two \t men,\t who m\t I\t r eco g nized,\t wer e\t walking \t to war ds\t us.\t The one\twho\twas\tnot\thampered\tby\ta\tstick\tcaught\tDr\tHajra\tneatly\tin\this\tarms,\tas\tif\the\twere\ta\tcricket\tball. The\tother\tman\tclutching\tthe\tstick\tapproached\tFeluda.\tI\tsaw\tFeluda\ttransfer\this\trevolver\tto\this\tleft hand\tand\toffer\tthe\tman\this\tright\thand.\t\u2018Hello,\tDr\tHajra!\u2019\the\tsaid. What!\tThat\tman\twas\tDr\tHajra? He\tshook\thands\twith\tFeluda.\t\u2018And\tyou\tare\tPradosh\tMitter?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThose\tnew\tnaagras\tcaused\tblisters\ton\tyour\tfeet,\tdidn\u2019t\tthey?\tAre\tthey\tstill\tbothering\tyou?\u2019 T he\t r eal\t Dr \t Hajr a\t smiled.\t \u2018I\t r ang \t Mr \t Dhar \t the\t day\t befo r e\t yester day.\t He\t to ld\t me\t yo u\t wer e\t her e.\t I had\t no\t problem\t in\t recognizing\t you\t from\t his\t description.\t Allow\t me\t to\t introduce\t you\u2014this\t is Inspector\tRathor.\u2019 \u2018And\t what\t about\t him?\u2019\t Feluda\t pointed\t at\t the\t other\t man,\t whom\t until\t now\t we\t had\t known\t as\t Dr Hajra.\tHe\twas\tnow\thandcuffed\tand\thanging\this\thead,\t\u2018Is\tthat\tBhavananda?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tDr\tHajra\treplied,\t\u2018alias\tAmiyanath\tBurmun,\talias\tthe\tGreat\tBar-man\u2014Wizard\tof\tthe\tEast!\u2019","Twelve Bhavananda\twas\thanded\tover\tto\tthe\tlocal\tpolice.\tThe\tcharges\tagainst\thim\twere\tmany.\tThey\tincluded an\t attempt\t to\t murder\t Hemanga\t Hajra,\t disappearing\t with\t his\t belongings,\t and\t trying\t to\t pass\t himself off\tas\tDr\tHajra. We\twere\tback\tin\tthe\tdak\tbungalow,\thaving\tcoffee\t(made\twith\tcamel\u2019s\tmilk)\ton\tthe\tveranda.\tMukul was\tromping\thappily\ton\tthe\tlawn\tin\tfront\tof\tus.\tHe\tknew\the\twould\tleave\tfor\tCalcutta\tthe\tsame\tnight. Having\tseen\tthe\tgolden\tfortress,\the\thad\tno\twish\tto\tremain\tin\tRajasthan\tany\tlonger. Feluda\tturned\tto\tthe\treal\tDr\tHajra\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Bhavananda\twas\ttruly\ta\tfraud,\twasn\u2019t\the?\tI\tmean,\twhat he\tdid\tin\tChicago,\tand\tall\tthat\tI\tread\tin\tthe\tpress\treports\t.\t.\t.\twas\tall\tof\tit\ttrue?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tOne\thundred\tper\tcent.\tBhavananda\tand\this\taccomplice\tcheated\tand\tswindled\tothers\tin\tvarious countries,\tnot\tjust\tone.\tBesides,\tback\tin\tChicago,\tthey\twere\tdoing\tsomething\telse.\tNot\tonly\twere\tthey out\t to\t deceive\t everyone,\t but\t they\t were\t also\t spreading\t evil\t tales\t and\t rumours\t about\t me,\t which\t was affecting\tmy\twork.\tSo,\tin\tthe\tend,\tI\twas\tforced\tto\ttake\tcertain\tsteps.\tBut\tall\tthat\thappened\tfour\tyears ago.\t I\t do\t not\t know\t when\t they\t returned\t to\t India.\t I\t came\t back\t only\t three\t months\t ago.\t One\t day,\t I happened\tto\tbe\tin\tMr\tDhar \u2019s\tshop,\twhen\tI\theard\tabout\this\tson.\tSo\tI\twent\tto\tmeet\thim.\tYou\tknow\tthe rest.\tWhen\tI\tdecided\tto\ttravel\tto\tRajasthan\twith\tMukul,\tI\thad\tno\tidea\tI\u2019d\tbe\tfollowed!\u2019 \u2018Who\twouldn\u2019t\twant\tto\tkill\ttwo\tbirds\twith\tone\tstone?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked.\t\u2018There\twas\tthe\tchance\tto\tgrab that\thidden\ttreasure,\tplus\tsettle\tscores\twith\tyou\t.\t.\t.\tBut\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tsee\tthem\tanywhere\tin\tCalcutta?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tonce.\tThe\tfirst\ttime\tI\tmet\tthem\twas\tin\tthe\trefreshment\troom\tin\tthe\tstation\tat\tBandikui.\tThe two\tmen\tcame\tup\tto\tme\tand\tbegan\tchatting.\u2019 \u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\trecognize\tthem?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbow\tcould\tI?\tI\thad\tonly\tseen\tthem\tin\tChicago,\twhere\tthey\thad\tlong\thair,\tflowing\tbeards\tand fat\tmoustaches!\u2019 \u2018What\thappened\tnext?\u2019 \u2018They\t sat\t at\t the\t same\t table\t and\t had\t a\t meal\t with\t us.\t They\t told\t Mukul\t they\t knew\t magic\t and\t even pulled\tsome\ttricks.\tThen\tthey\tgot\tinto\tthe\tsame\tcompartment\twith\tus.\tI\tgot\toff\tat\tKisangarh\tto\tshow Mukul\t the\t fo r t\t ther e,\t but\t didn\u2019t\t r ealize\t that\t tho se\t two \t char acter s\t had\t fo llo wed\t me.\t They\t r eached\t the fo r t\t so o n\t after \t us,\t and\t hid\t so mewher e\t until\t the\t co ast\t was\t clear.\t It\t was\t a\t deser ted\t place,\t in\t any\t case. Ther e\t was\t no \t o ne\t in\t sig ht.\t When\t they\t fo und\t an\t o ppo r tunity,\t they\t pushed\t me\t do wn\t a\t slo pe.\t I\t r o lled down,\tperhaps\ta\thundred\tfeet.\tLuckily,\tmy\tfall\twas\tbroken\tby\ta\tclump\tof\tbushes.\tIf\tI\ttake\tmy\tshirt\toff, you\u2019ll\tsee\tthat\tmy\tbody\tis\tstill\tcovered\twith\tbruises.\tAnyway,\tI\tremained\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthat\tbush\tfor\ta whole\thour.\tI\twanted\tthem\tto\tthink\tthat\tthey\thad\tmanaged\tto\tget\trid\tof\tme,\tand\tleave\twith\tMukul.\tAt least,\tMukul\twould\tthen\tbe\tsafe.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tI\tgot\tup\tand\twalked\tto\tthe\tstation,\tthe\teight\to\u2019clock\ttrain to\tMarwar\thad\tgone.\tThose\ttwo\tcriminals\thad\tleft\tby\tthe\tsame\ttrain,\twith\tMukul\tand\tmy\tluggage.\tAll my\tpapers\twere\tin\tmy\tsuitcase,\tso\tthere\twas\tno\tway\tI\tcould\tprove\tto\tanyone\twho\tI\treally\twas.\u2019","\u2018Didn\u2019t\tMukul\tmind\tgoing\twith\tthem?\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tsmiled.\t\u2018Mukul\twas\tin\ta\ttotally\tdistracted\tstate\tof\tmind.\tDidn\u2019t\tyou\trealize\tthat?\tHe\thad\tno problem\t leaving\t his\t own\t parents\t and\t setting\t off\t with\t me.\t So\t why\t should\t he\t make\t a\t distinction between\tone\tstrange\tman\tand\tanother?\tBhavananda\ttold\thim\the\twould\ttake\thim\tto\tthe\tgolden\tfortress. That\twas\tenough\tto\tentice\tMukul.\tAnyway,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tgive\tup.\tIf\tanything,\tI\twas\tmore\tdetermined\tnow to \t g et\t to \t the\t bo tto m\t o f\t this\t business.\t Fo r tunately,\t I\t still\t had\t my\t wallet\t with\t me.\t So \t I\t co uld\t buy\t new clothes\u2014local\t Rajasthani\t ones.\t I\t packed\t my\t old\t torn\t ones\t into\t a\t bundle.\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t used\t to\t wearing naagras,\tyou\tsee,\tso\tI\tgot\tblisters\ton\tmy\tfeet. \u2018The\t next\t day,\t I\t boarded\t the\t train\t at\t Kisangarh\t and\t got\t into\t your\t compartment.\t Then\t I\t took\t the same\t tr ain\t as\t yo u\t fr o m\t Mar war \t to \t Jo dhpur.\t I\t went\t to \t stay\t in\t a\t place\t called\t Rag hunath\t Sar ai.\t I\t knew someone\tin\tJodhpur\u2014one\tProfessor\tTrivedi.\tBut,\tat\tfirst,\tI\ttold\thim\tnothing.\tIf\tthe\tmatter\tcame\tto\tbe known,\t the\t two\t men\t might\t have\t tried\t to\t run\t away,\t or\t Mukul\t himself\t might\t have\t felt\t scared\t and refused\t to\t cooperate.\t By\t then\t I\t had\t guessed\t that\t the\t fort\t in\t Jaisalmer\t was\t where\t Mukul\t should\t be taken.\tAll\tI\thad\tto\tdo\twas\twait\tuntil\tBhavananda\thad\tthe\tsame\tidea\tand\tleft\twith\tMukul.\tUntil\tthen,\tmy job\twas\tto\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\tthe\tpair.\u2019 \u2018We\tsaw\tsomeone\thanging\taround\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse\ton\tthe\tvery\tfirst\tday.\tIt\twas\tyou,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tand\tthat\tcaused\tanother\tproblem.\tMukul\tsaw\tme,\tand\tseemed\tto\trecognize\tme!\tAt\tleast,\tthat\u2019s how\tit\tappeared\tfrom\tthe\tway\the\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\tgate\tand\tbegan\twalking\tstraight\ttowards\tme.\u2019 \u2018So,\tlater,\tyou\tfollowed\tBhavananda\tand\tgot\tinto\tthe\tsame\ttrain\tthat\twas\tgoing\tto\tPokhran?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThe\tstrangest\tthing\twas\tthat\tI\tsaw\tyou\tfrom\tthe\ttrain,\ttrying\tto\tstop\tit!\u2019 \u2018Bhavananda\tmust\thave\tseen\tme,\ttoo.\tHe\twould\tthen\thave\trealized\twe\twould\ttry\tto\tcatch\tthe\tearly morning\ttrain\tfrom\tRamdeora.\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tcontinued\twith\this\tstory.\t\u2018Before\tI\tcaught\tthat\ttrain,\tI\ttold\tTrivedi\tto\tinform\tthe\tpolice\tin Jaisalmer.\tBefore\tthat,\tI\thad\tspoken\tto\tMr\tDhar\tfrom\tTrivedi\u2019s\thouse;\tand\tthen\tI\tborrowed\tone\tof\this suits\tto\tdress\tnormally.\u2019 \u2018And\twhen\tyou\tgot\tto\tPokhran,\tyou\tsaw\tthat\tBhavananda\u2019s\tassistant\twas\talready\tthere\twith\ta\ttaxi,\tis that\tright?\u2019\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018That\u2019s\t wher e\t thing s\t went\t wr o ng .\t I\t lo st\t them.\t Then\t I\t had\t to \t wait\t ano ther \t ten\t ho ur s\t and\t catch\t that early\t morning\t train.\t I\t had\t no\t idea\t that\t you\t were\t on\t the\t same\t train.\t I\t saw\t you\t here\t in\t the\t dak bungalow.\tNow,\twhat\tI\twould\tlike\tto\tknow\tis,\twhen\tdid\tyou\tfirst\tstart\tsuspecting\tBhavananda?\u2019 Feluda\t smiled.\t \u2018It\t would\t be\t wrong\t to\t say\t that\t I\t suspected\t Bhavananda.\t It\t was\t the\t character\t of\t Dr Hajra\tthat\tmade\tme\tsuspicious.\tNot\tin\tJodhpur,\tbut\tin\tBikaner.\tWhen\twe\twent\tto\tDevikund,\twe\tfound him\twith\this\thands\ttied,\this\tmouth\tgagged.\tJust\tbefore\tthat,\tI\u2019d\tfound\ta\tmatchbox\twith\tan\tace\tprinted o n\t it.\t I\t knew\t that\t par ticular \t br and\t isn\u2019t\t so ld\t in\t Rajasthan.\t Then,\t when\t we\t saw\t Dr \t Hajr a\t lying \t o n\t the ground\tso\thelplessly,\tat\tfirst\tI\tthought\tthat\tmatchbox\twas\tdropped\tby\twhoever\thad\tattacked\thim.\tBut then\tI\tnoticed\tthat\tthere\twas\tsomething\twrong\twith\tthe\tway\the\twas\ttied\tup.\tI\tmean,\tif\ta\tman\u2019s\thands and\t legs\t are\t tied,\t that\t may\t make\t him\t perfectly\t immobile;\t but\t if\t only\t his\t hands\t are\t tied\t behind\t his back,\tany\tintelligent\tman\twill\tfold\this\tlegs,\tslip\this\thands\tbelow\tthem\tand\tloosen\this\tties.\tThen\the\tcan set\thimself\tfree.\tIt\tbecame\tclear\tto\tme\tthat\tDr\tHajra\thad\ttied\thimself\tup.\tBut\teven\tso,\tit\tdid\tnot\toccur to\tme\tat\tthe\ttime\tthat\tthat\tman\twas\tnot\tthe\treal\tDr\tHajra.\tThe\tscales\tfell\tfrom\tmy\teyes\tthis\tmorning,","in\tthe\ttrain\tto\tJaisalmer,\twhen\tI\thappened\tto\tbe\tstaring\tat\ta\tnote\tBhavananda\thad\twritten\tto\tme.\tHe\thad used\ta\tsheet\tof\tyour\tletterhead.\u2019 \u2018So?\tHow\twas\tthat\tsignificant?\u2019 \u2018The\t pr inted\t name\t sho wed\t \u201cHajr a\u201d\t with\t a\t \u201cj\u201d.\t But\t Bhavananda,\t pr etending \t to \t be\t yo u,\t had\t sig ned his\tname\t\u201cHazra\u201d,\twith\ta\t\u201cz\u201d.\tThat\ttold\tme\tthat\tthe\tman\tI\thad\tmet\tin\tJodhpur\tand\twho\thad\twritten\tthat note\twas\tnot\tthe\treal\tDr\tHajra.\tBut\tin\tthat\tcase,\twho\twas\the?\tHe\thad\tto\tbe\tone\tof\tthose\tmen\twho\thad kidnapped\tNeelu.\tAnd\tthe\tother\tman\twas\tMandar\tBose,\twho\thad\tone\tlong\tnail\ton\this\tright\thand,\twho smoked\tcigars\u2014Neelu\thad\trecognized\tthe\tsmell,\tand\tso\thad\twe.\tThe\tquestion\tnow\twas,\twho\twas\tthe real\tDr\tHajra,\tand\twhere\twas\the?\tThere\tcould\tbe\tonly\tone\tanswer\tto\tthat\u2014Hajra\thad\tto\tbe\tthat\tsame man\twho\thad\tgot\tinto\tour\tcompartment\tat\tKisangarh,\twho\thad\tnew\tnaagras\tand\tblisters\ton\this\tfeet, who\twas\tseen\tloitering\toutside\tthe\tCircuit\tHouse\tand\tthe\tBikaner\tfort,\tand\twho\twe\tsaw\tthis\tmorning in\tthe\tdak\tbungalow\tin\tJaisalmer,\tlimping\twith\ta\tstick\tin\this\thand!\u2019 Dr\tHajra\tnodded.\t\u2018Mr\tDhar\tdid\ta\tmost\tintelligent\tthing\tby\tasking\tyou\tto\tcome\there.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI could\t have\t managed\t entirely\t on\t my\t own.\t It\t was\t you\t who\t tackled\t Bhavananda\u2019s\t assistant.\t If\t he\t is arrested\tas\twell,\twe\tcan\tthen\tsay\tthat\tit\tall\tended\thappily.\u2019 Feluda\tpointed\tat\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018He\tmade\ta\tsignificant\tcontribution\ttowards\traising\tthe alarm\tagainst\tMandar\tBose.\u2019 Lalmo han\t Babu\t was\t str ug g ling \t all\t this\t while\t to \t g et\t in\t a\t wo r d.\t No w\t he\t blur ted\t o ut,\t \u2018I\t say,\t what\u2019s going\tto\thappen\tto\tthat\thidden\ttreasure?\u2019 \u2018Why\t do n\u2019t\t yo u\t leave\t it\t to \t the\t peaco ck?\u2019\t said\t Dr \t Hajr a.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t g uar ding \t it\t quite\t admir ably,\t isn\u2019t\t it? You\tsaw\twhat\thappens\twhen\tyou\tmeddle\twith\ta\tpeacock!\u2019 \u2018For\t the\t moment,\u2019\t suggested\t Feluda,\t \u2018kindly\t return\t the\t treasure\t you\t have\t got\t hidden.\t Mind\t you, from\tthe\tway\tyour\tjacket\tis\tbulging\tnear\tyour\twaist,\tone\tcan\thardly\tcall\tit\t\u201chidden\u201d!\u2019 Lalmo han\t Babu\t lo o ked\t po sitively\t sad\t as\t he\t pulled\t o ut\t Mandar \t Bo se\u2019s\t r evo lver \t and\t r etur ned\t it\t to Feluda. \u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tas\the\ttook\tit.\tThen\this\tface\tsuddenly\tgrew\tgrave.\tI\tsaw\thim\texamine\tthe revolver\tclosely. \u2018I\t must\t hand\t it\t to \t yo u,\t Mr \t Tr o tter !\u2019\t he\t mutter ed.\t \u2018Who \t knew\t yo u\u2019d\t ho o dwink\t Pr ado sh\t Mitter \t like this?\u2019 \u2018Why,\twhat\u2019s\thappened?\u2019\twe\tcried. \u2018This\trevolver \u2019s\ta\tfake!\tMade\tin\tJapan.\tMagicians\tuse\tsuch\tguns\ton\tthe\tstage!\u2019 Just\t before\t everyone\t burst\t into\t laughter,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t took\t the\t revolver\t back\t from\t Feluda, grinned\t and\t said,\t \u2018For\t my\t collection\u2014\t and\t as\t a\t souvenir\t of\t our\t powerful\t adventure\t in\t Rajasthan. Thank\tyou,\tsir!\u2019","","I NC I DENT \t O N\t T HE\t K A LK A\t MA I L","One I\thad\tonly\tjust\tfinished\treading\ta\thair-raising\taccount\tof\tan\texpedition\tby\tCaptain\tScott.\tWho\tknew\tI would\thave\tto\ttravel\tto\tthe\tland\tof\tmist\tand\tsnow\tso\tsoon\tafter\tthis?\tWell\tno,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tmean\tthe\tNorth or\tthe\tSouth\tPole.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tFeluda\twould\tever\tbe\trequired\tto\thelp\tsolve\tmysteries\tin\tsuch\tremote corners.\t The\t place\t I\t am\t talking\t about\t is\t in\t our\t own\t country.\t Here\t I\t saw\t snowflakes\t floating\t down from\tthe\tsky\tlike\tcotton\tfluff.\tIt\tspread\ton\tthe\tground\tlike\ta\tcarpet,\tdazzling\tmy\teyes\tas\tthe\tsun\tfell on\tit;\tyet\tit\tstayed\tsoft\tenough\tto\tbe\tscooped\tand\tgathered\tinto\ta\tball. This\t particular\t adventure\t started\t last\t March,\t on\t a\t Thursday\t morning.\t By\t this\t time,\t Feluda\t had become\tfairly\twell\tknown\tas\ta\tdetective,\tso\this\tnumber\tof\tclients\thad\tgrown.\tBut\the\tdidn\u2019t\taccept\ta case\t unless\t it\t was\t o ne\t that\t g ave\t him\t the\t chance\t to \t shar pen\t his\t r emar kable\t br ain.\t When\t I\t fir st\t hear d about\t this\t case,\t it\t did\t not\t strike\t me\t as\t anything\t extraordinary.\t But\t Feluda\t must\t have\t sensed\t a\t great challenge,\twhich\twas\twhy\the\tagreed\tso\treadily.\tThe\tonly\tother\tfactor\tthat\tmight\thave\tinfluenced\this decision\t was\t that\t the\t client\t seemed\t to\t be\t pretty\t well\t off,\t so\t perhaps\t he\t was\t expecting\t a\t fat\t fee. However,\twhen\tI\tmentioned\tthis\tto\tFeluda,\the\tgave\tme\tsuch\ta\tglare\tthat\tI\thad\tto\tshut\tup\timmediately. The\t client\t was\t called\t Dinanath\t Lahiri.\t He\t rang\t us\t in\t the\t evening\t on\t Wednesday\t and\t made\t an appo intment\t fo r \t eig ht\t o \u2019\t clo ck\t the\t fo llo wing \t mo r ning .\t On\t the\t do t\t o f\t eig ht\t o n\t T hur sday,\t we\t hear d\t a car\t stop\t and\t blow\t its\t horn\t outside\t our\t house\t in\t Tara\t Road.\t The\t horn\t sounded\t strangely\t different from\t other\t cars.\t I\t sprang\t to\t my\t feet\t and\t moved\t towards\t the\t door,\t but\t Feluda\t stopped\t me\t with\t a gesture. \u2018You\tmust\tlearn,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018to\tplay\tit\tcool.\tAt\tleast\twait\ttill\tthe\tbell\trings.\u2019 It\trang\tin\ta\tfew\tseconds.\tWhen\tI\topened\tthe\tdoor,\tthe\tfirst\tthing\tI\tsaw\twas\ta\thuge\tcar.\tNever\tbefore had\tI\tseen\tsuch\ta\tbig\tcar,\texcept\tfor\ta\tRolls-Royce.\tThe\tgentleman\twho\temerged\tfrom\tit\twas\tequally impressive,\tthough\tthat\thad\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\this\tsize.\tA\tman\tin\this\tmid-fifties,\the\thad\ta\tremarkably fair\t complexion\t and\t was\t wearing\t a\t fine\t dhoti\t and\t kurta.\t On\t his\t feet\t were\t white\t nagras\t with\t an upturned\tfront.\tIn\this\tleft\thand\twas\ta\twalking-stick\twith\tan\tivory\thandle;\tand\tin\this\tright\thand\the\theld a\tblue\tsquare\tattach\u00e9\tcase,\tof\ta\ttype\twhich\tI\thad\tseen\tmany\ttimes\tbefore.\tThere\twere\ttwo\tin\tour\town house\u2014one\twas\tBaba\u2019s,\tthe\tother\tbelonged\tto\tFeluda.\tThey\twere\thanded\tout\tby\tAir-India\tas\tfree\tgifts to\ttheir\tpassengers. Feluda\t offered\t the\t gentleman\t the\t most\t comfortable\t armchair\t in\t the\t living-room\t and\t took\t an ordinary\tchair\thimself\tto\tsit\topposite\thim. \u2018I\trang\tlast\tnight,\u2019\tsaid\tour\tvisitor.\t\u2018My\tname\tis\tDinanath\tLahiri.\u2019\tFeluda\tcleared\this\tthroat\tand\tsaid, \u2018Before\tyou\tsay\tanything\tfurther,\tmay\tI\task\tyou\ta\tcouple\tof\tquestions?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019 \u2018First\tof\tall,\twould\tyou\tmind\thaving\ta\tcup\tof\ttea?\u2019","Mr\tLahiri\tfolded\this\thands,\tbent\this\thead\tpolitely\tand\treplied,\t\u2018You\tmust\tforgive\tme,\tMr\tMitter,\tI am\tnot\tused\tto\thaving\tanything\texcept\tat\tcertain\thours.\tBut\tplease\tdon\u2019t\tlet\tme\tstop\tyou\tfrom\thaving a\tcup\tof\ttea,\tif\tyou\tso\twish.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tMy\tsecond\tquestion\tis\u2014is\tyour\tcar\ta\tHispano\tSuiza?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\tThere\taren\u2019t\ttoo\tmany\tof\tthose\tin\tthis\tcountry.\tMy\tfather\tbought\tit\tin\t1934.\tAre you\tinterested\tin\tcars?\u2019 Feluda\tsmiled,\t\u2018Yes,\tamong\tother\tthings.\tBut\tmy\tinterests\tare\tchiefly\trelated\tto\tmy\tprofession.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tAllow\tme\tnow\tto\ttell\tyou\twhy\tI\u2019m\there.\tYou\tmay\tfind\tthe\twhole\tthing\ttotally\tinsignificant.\tI am\taware\tof\tyour\treputation,\tso\tthere\u2019s\tno\tway\tI\tcan\tinsist\tthat\tyou\ttake\tthe\tcase.\tI\tcan\tonly\tmake\ta request.\u2019 Ther e\t was\t a\t cer tain\t po lish\t and\t so phisticatio n\t in\t his\t vo ice\t and\t the\t way\t he\t spo ke,\t but\t no t\t even\t the slightest\ttrace\tof\tarrogance.\tOn\tthe\tcontrary,\tMr\tLahiri\tspoke\tgently\tand\tquietly. \u2018Let\u2019s\thear\tthe\tdetails\tof\tyour\tcase,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. \u2018You\tmay\tcall\tit\tmy\tcase,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tLahiri\twith\ta\tsmile,\tpointing\tat\tthe\tblue\tobject\tin\this\thand,\t\u2018or the\ttale\tof\tmy\tattach\u00e9\tcase\t.\t.\t.\tha\tha.\tYou\tsee,\tmy\tstory\trevolves\tround\tthis\tattach\u00e9\tcase.\u2019 Feluda\tglanced\tat\tthe\tcase\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018It\tseems\tto\thave\tgone\tabroad\tfew\ttimes.\tThe\ttags\tare\ttorn\tbut\tI can\tsee\tthe\telastic\tbands\ton\tthe\thandle\u2014one,\ttwo,\tthree,\tfour\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthe\thandle\tof\tmy\town\tcase\talso\thas\telastic\tbands\thanging\tfrom\tit.\u2019 \u2018Your\town\tcase?\tYou\tmean\tthis\tone\tisn\u2019t\tyours?\u2019 \u2018No.\tThis\tbelongs\tto\tsomeone\telse.\tIt\tgot\texchanged\twith\tmine.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWhere\tdid\tthis\thappen?\tIn\ta\tplane,\tor\twas\tit\ta\ttrain?\u2019 \u2018It\t was\t a\t tr ain.\t Kalka\t Mail.\t I\t was\t co ming \t back\t fr o m\t Delhi.\t Ther e\t wer e\t fo ur \t passeng er s\t in\t a\t fir st class\tcompartment,\tincluding\tmyself.\tMy\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tmust\thave\tgot\tmixed\tup\twith\tone\tof\tthe\tother three.\u2019 \u2018I\tassume\tyou\tdo\tnot\tknow\twhose\tit\twas\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018No.\tIf\tI\tdid,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tsuppose\tI\u2019d\tneed\tyour\thelp.\u2019 \u2018And\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthe\tnames\tof\tthe\tothers?\u2019 \u2018There\twas\tanother\tBengali.\tHis\tname\twas\tPakrashi.\tHe\ttravelled\tfrom\tDelhi,\tlike\tme.\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\tyou\tget\tto\tknow\this\tname?\u2019 \u2018One\t of\t the\t other\t passengers\t happened\t to\t recognize\t him.\t I\t heard\t this\t other\t man\t say,\t \u201cHello,\t Mr Pakrashi!\u201d\tand\tthen\tthey\tgot\ttalking.\tI\tthink\tboth\twere\tbusinessmen.\tI\tkept\thearing\twords\tlike\tcontract and\ttender.\u2019 \u2018You\tdidn\u2019t\tlearn\tthe\tname\tof\tthis\tother\tman?\u2019 \u2018No.\t He\t was\t not\t a\t Bengali,\t though\t he\t was\t speaking\t the\t language\t quite\t well.\t I\t gathered\t he\t came from\tSimla.\u2019 \u2018And\tthe\tfourth\tpassenger?\u2019 \u2018He\t stayed\t o n\t o ne\t o f\t the\t upper \t ber ths\t mo st\t o f\t the\t time.\t I\t saw\t him\t climb\t do wn\t o nly\t dur ing \t lunch and\tdinner.\tHe\twas\tnot\ta\tBengali,\teither.\tHe\toffered\tme\tan\tapple\tsoon\tafter\twe\tleft\tDelhi\tand\tsaid\tit was\tfrom\this\town\torchard.\tSo\tperhaps\the\twas\tfrom\tSimla,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\teat\tthat\tapple?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tcertainly.\tIt\twas\ta\tgood,\ttasty\tapple.\u2019","\u2018So\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind\teating\tthings\toutside\tyour\tregular\thours\twhen\tyou\u2019re\tin\ta\ttrain?\u2019 Mr\tLahiri\tburst\tout\tlaughing. \u2018My\t God!\t I\u2019d\t never\t have\t thought\t you\u2019d\t pick\t that\t up!\t But\t you\u2019re\t right.\t In\t a\t moving\t train\t I\t am tempted\tto\tbreak\tmy\town\trules.\u2019 \u2018OK,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\t\u2018I\tnow\tneed\tto\tknow\texactly\twhere\twho\twas\tsitting.\u2019 \u2018I\twas\ton\ta\tlower\tberth.\tMr\tPakrashi\twas\ton\tthe\tberth\tabove\tmine.\tOn\tthe\tOther\tside,\tthe\tman\twho gave\tme\tthe\tapple\tsat\ton\tthe\tupper\tberth\tand\tbelow\thim\twas\tthe\tbusinessman\twho\tknew\tMr\tPakrashi.\u2019 Feluda\t was\t silent\t for\t a\t few\t moments.\t Then\t he\t rubbed\t his\t hands\t together\t and\t said,\t \u2018If\t you\t don\u2019t mind.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\task\tfor\tsome\ttea.\tDo\thave\ta\tcup\tif\tyou\twant.\tTopshe,\twould\tyou\tplease\tgo\tin?\u2019 I\t r an\t in\t to \t tell\t o ur \t co o k,\t Sr inath,\t to \t br ing \t the\t tea.\t When\t I\t r etur ned,\t Feluda\t had\t o pened\t the\t attach\u00e9 case. \u2018Wasn\u2019t\tit\tlocked?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018No .\t No r \t was\t mine.\t So \t who ever \t to o k\t it\t co uld\t easily\t have\t seen\t what\t was\t in\t it.\t This\t o ne\t is\t full\t o f routine,\tordinary\tstuff.\u2019 True.\t It\t contained\t little\t besides\t two\t English\t dailies,\t a\t cake\t of\t soap,\t a\t comb,\t a\t hairbrush,\t a toothbrush,\ttoothpaste,\ta\tshaving\tkit,\ta\thandkerchief\tand\ta\tpaperback. \u2018Did\tyour\tcase\tcontain\tanything\tvaluable?\u2019\tFeluda\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018No,\tnothing.\tIn\tfact,\twhat\tmy\tcase\thad\twas\tprobably\tof\tless\tvalue\tthan\twhat\tyou\tsee\there.\tThe\tonly interesting\tthing\tin\tit\twas\ta\tmanuscript.\tIt\twas\ta\ttravelogue,\tabout\tTibet.\tI\thad\ttaken\tit\twith\tme\tto\tread on\tthe\ttrain.\tIt\tmade\tvery\tgood\treading.\u2019 \u2018A\t travelogue\t about\t Tibet?\u2019\t Feluda\t was\t now\t clearly\t curious.\t \u2018Yes.\t It\t was\t written\t in\t 1917\t by\t a Shambhucharan\tBose.\tAs\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\tmake\tout,\tmy\tuncle\tmust\thave\tbrought\tit,\tsince\tit\twas\tdedicated to\t him.\t His\t name\t was\t Satinath\t Lahiri.\t He\t had\t lived\t in\t Kathmandu\t for\t many\t years,\t working\t as\t a private\ttutor\tin\tthe\thousehold\tof\tthe\tRanas.\tHe\treturned\thome\tabout\tforty-five\tyears\tago,\ta\tsick\told man.\t In\t fact,\t he\t died\t shortly\t after\t his\t return.\t Among\t his\t belongings\t was\t a\t Nepali\t box.\t It\t lay\t in\t a corner\t of\t our\t box\t room.\t We\t had\t all\t forgotten\t its\t existence\t until\t recently,\t when\t I\t called\t the\t Pest Control.\tThe\troom\thad\tto\tbe\temptied\tfor\tthe\tmen\tto\twork\tin.\tIt\twas\tthen\tthat\tI\tfound\tthe\tbox\tand,\tin\tit, the\tmanuscript.\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\tthis\thappen?\u2019 \u2018The\tday\tbefore\tI\tleft\tfor\tDelhi.\u2019 Feluda\t grew\t a\t little\t thoughtful.\t \u2018Shambhucharan?\u2019\t he\t muttered\t to\t himself.\t \u2018Shambhucharan\t .\t .\t . Shambhucharan\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Anyway,\u2019\t co ntinued\t Mr \t Lahir i,\t \u2018that\t manuscr ipt\t do es\t no t\t mean\t ver y\t much\t to \t me.\t To \t tell\t yo u\t the truth,\tI\twasn\u2019t\treally\tinterested\tin\tgetting\tmy\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tback.\tBesides,\tthere\twas\tno\tguarantee\tthat\tI would\tfind\tthe\towner\tof\tthe\tone\tthat\tgot\texchanged\twith\tmine.\tSo\tI\tgave\tthis\tcase\tto\tmy\tnephew.\tBut since\tlast\tnight,\tI\thave\tbeen\tthinking.\tThese\tarticles\tthat\tyou\tsee\tbefore\tyou\tmay\tnot\tbe\texpensive,\tbut for\t their\t owner\t they\t might\t have\t a\t great\t deal\t of\t sentimental\t value.\t Look\t at\t this\t handkerchief,\t for instance.\tIt\u2019s\tinitialled\t\u201cG\u201d.\tSomeone\thad\tembroidered\tthe\tletter\twith\tgreat\tcare.\tWho\tcould\tit\tbe?\tHis wife?\t Per haps\t she\t is\t no \t mo r e.\t Who \t kno ws?\t Sho uldn\u2019t\t I\t tr y\t to \t r etur n\t this\t attach\u00e9\t case\t to \t its\t r ig htful o wner ?\t I\t was\t g etting \t wo r r ied,\t so \t I\t to o k\t it\t back\t fr o m\t my\t nephew\t and\t came\t to \t yo u.\t Fr ankly,\t I\t do n\u2019t","care\tif\tmy\town\tcase\tdoes\tnot\tcome\tback\tto\tme.\tI\twould\tsimply\tfeel\ta\tlot\tmore\tcomfortable\tif\tthis\tone could\tbe\trestored\tto\twhoever\towns\tit.\u2019 Srinath\t came\t in\t with\t the\t tea.\t Feluda,\t of\t late,\t had\t become\t rather\t fussy\t about\t his\t tea.\t What\t he\t was now\t going\t to\t drink\t had\t come\t from\t the\t Makaibari\t tea\t estate\t of\t Kurseong.\t Its\t fragrance\t filled\t the room\tthe\tinstant\tSrinath\tplaced\tthe\tcups\tbefore\tus.\tFeluda\ttook\ta\tsip\tquietly\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Did\tyou\thave to\topen\tyour\tcase\tquite\ta\tfew\ttimes\tin\tthe\ttrain?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tat\tall.\tI\topened\tit\tonly\ttwice.\tI\ttook\tthe\tmanuscript\tout\tsoon\tafter\tthe\ttrain\tleft\tDelhi,\tand then\tI\tput\tit\tback\tbefore\tgoing\tto\tsleep.\u2019 Feluda\tlit\ta\tCharminar\tand\tblew\tout\ta\tcouple\tof\tsmoke\trings.\t\u2018So\tyou\u2019d\tlike\tme\tto\treturn\tthis\tcase to\tits\towner\tand\tget\tyours\tback\tfor\tyou\u2014right?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tBut\tdoes\tthat\tdisappoint\tyou?\tDo\tyou\tthink\tit\u2019s\tall\ta\tbit\ttoo\ttame?\u2019 Feluda\t ran\t his\t fingers\t through\t his\t hair.\t \u2018No,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018I\t understand\t your\t sentiments.\t And\t I\t must admit\tthat\tyour\tcase\tis\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\tones\tI\tusually\thandle.\u2019 Dinanath\tBabu\tlooked\tvisibly\trelieved.\t\u2018Your\tacceptance\tmeans\ta\tlot\tto\tme,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tletting\tout\ta deep\tbreath. \u2018I\t shall,\t of\t course,\t do\t my\t best,\u2019\t Feluda\t replied,\t \u2018but\t I\t cannot\t guarantee\t success.\t You\t must understand\tthat.\tHowever,\tI\tshould\tnow\tlike\tsome\tinformation.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 Feluda\trose\tquickly\tand\twent\tinto\tthe\tnext\troom.\tHe\treturned\twith\this\tfamous\tblue\tnotebook.\tThen, pencil\tin\thand,\the\tbegan\tasking\tquestions. \u2018When\tdid\tyou\tleave\tDelhi?\u2019 \u2018On\t5\tMarch\tat\t6.30\tp.m.\tI\treached\tCalcutta\tthe\tnext\tmorning\tat\tnine-thirty.\u2019 \u2018Today\tis\tthe\t9th.\tSo\tyou\tarrived\there\tthree\tdays\tago,\tand\tyou\trang\tme\tyesterday.\u2019 Feluda\topened\tthe\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tand\ttook\tout\ta\tyellow\tKodak\tfilm\tcontainer.\tAs\the\tunscrewed\tits\tlid, a\tfew\tpieces\tof\tbetel-nut\tfell\tout\tof\tit\ton\tthe\ttable.\tFeluda\tput\tone\tof\tthese\tin\this\tmouth\tand\tresumed speaking. \u2018Was\tthere\tanything\tin\tyour\tcase\tthat\tmight\tgive\tone\tan\tidea\tof\tyour\tname\tand\taddress?\u2019 \u2018No,\tnot\tas\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\trecall.\u2019 \u2018Hm.\t Co uld\t yo u\t no w\t please\t descr ibe\t yo ur \t fello w\t passeng er s?\u2019\t Dinanath\t Babu\t tilted\t his\t head\t and stared\tat\tthe\tceiling,\tfrowning\ta\tlittle. \u2018Pakrashi\twould\thave\tbeen\tabout\tthe\tsame\tage\tas\tme.\tBetween\tsixty\tand\tsixty-five.\tHe\thad\tsalt-and- pepper\thair,\tbrushed\tback.\tHe\twore\tglasses\tand\this\tvoice\twas\trather\tharsh.\u2019 \u2018Good.\u2019 \u2018The\tman\twho\toffered\tme\tthe\tapple\thad\ta\tfair\tcomplexion.\tHe\twas\ttall\tand\tslim,\thad\ta\tsharp\tnose, wore\tgold-framed\tglasses\tand\twas\tquite\tbald\texcept\tfor\ta\tfew\tstrands\tof\tblack\thair\taround\this\tears. He\tspoke\tto\tme\tonly\tin\tEnglish,\twith\ta\tflawless\taccent.\tAnd\the\thad\ta\tcold.\tHe\tkept\tblowing\this\tnose into\ta\ttissue.\u2019 \u2018A\tpukka\tsahib,\tI\tsee!\tAnd\tthe\tthird\tgentleman?\u2019 \u2018His\t appearance\t was\t really\t quite\t ordinary\u2014there\t was\t nothing\t that\t one\t might\t have\t noticed\t in particular.\tBut\the\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tordered\ta\tvegetarian\tthali.\u2019 Feluda\tjotted\tall\tthis\tdown\tin\this\tnotebook.\tThen\the\tlooked\tup\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Anything\telse?\u2019","\u2018No,\tI\tcan\u2019t\trecall\tanything\telse\tworth\treporting.\tYou\tsee,\tI\tspent\tmost\tof\tthe\tday\treading.\tAnd\tI\tfell asleep\tsoon\tafter\tdinner.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tusually\tsleep\tvery\twell\tin\ta\ttrain.\tBut\tthis\ttime\tI\tslept\tlike\ta\tbaby\tuntil we\tarrived\tat\tHowrah.\tIn\tfact,\tit\twas\tMr\tPakrashi\twho\twoke\tme.\u2019 \u2018In\tthat\tcase,\tpresumably\tyou\twere\tthe\tlast\tperson\tto\tleave\tthe\tcoach?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018By\twhich\ttime\tone\tof\tthe\tother\tthree\thad\twalked\tout\twith\tyour\tattach\u00e9\tcase?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Hm,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid,\tshutting\this\tnotebook,\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tsee\twhat\tI\tcan\tdo.\u2019\tDinanath\tBabu\trose. \u2018I\twill,\tof\tcourse,\tpay\tyour\tfee.\tBut\tyou\twill\tnaturally\tneed\tsomething\tto\tbegin\tyour\tinvestigation.\tI brought\tsome\tcash\ttoday\tfor\tthis\tpurpose.\u2019\tHe\ttook\tout\ta\twhite\tenvelope\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand\toffered it\tto\tFeluda,\twho\ttook\tit\tcoolly\twith\ta\tcasual\t\u2018Oh,\tthanks\u2019\tand\tstuffed\tit\tinto\this\town\tpocket,\ttogether with\this\tpencil. Dinanath\t Babu\t came\t out\t and\t began\t walking\t towards\t his\t car.\t \u2018You\t will\t get\t my\t telephone\t number fr o m\t the\t dir ecto r y,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018please\t let\t me\t kno w\t if\t yo u\t hear \t anything .\t As\t a\t matter \t o f\t fact,\t yo u\t can come\tstraight\tto\tmy\thouse\tif\tneed\tbe.\tI\tam\tusually\thome\tin\tthe\tevening.\u2019 The\tyellow\tHispano\tSuiza\tdisappeared\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tRashbehari\tAvenue,\tblowing\tits\thorn\tlike a\tconch\tshell,\tstartling\tall\tpassers-by.\tWe\treturned\tto\tthe\tliving-room.\tFeluda\ttook\tthe\tchair\tDinanath Babu\thad\toccupied.\tThen\the\tcrossed\this\tlegs,\tstretched\tlazily\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Another\ttwenty-five\tyears\t.\t.\t. and\tpeople\twith\tsuch\tan\taristocratic\tstyle\twill\thave\tvanished.\u2019 The\tblue\tcase\twas\tstill\tlying\ton\tthe\ttable.\tFeluda\ttook\tits\tcontents\tout\tone\tby\tone.\tEach\tobject\twas really\tquite\tordinary.\tWhoever\tbought\tthem\tcould\tnot\thave\tspent\tmore\tthan\tfifty\trupees. \u2018Let\u2019s\tmake\ta\tlist,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\tThis\twas\tsoon\tready,\tand\tit\tcontained\tthe\tfollowing: Two\tEnglish\tdailies\tfrom\tDelhi,\tneatly\tfolded.\tOne\twas\tthe\tSunday\tStatesman,\tthe\tother\tthe\tSunday\tHindustan\tTimes. A\thalf-used\ttube\tof\tBinaca\ttoothpaste.\tThe\tempty\tportion\thad\tbeen\trolled\tup. A\tgreen\tBinaca\ttoothbrush. A\tGillette\tsafety\trazor. Three\tthin\tGillette\tblades\tin\ta\tpacket. An\told\tand\tused\tOld\tSpice\tshaving\tcream.\tIt\twas\tnearly\tfinished. A\tshaving\tbrush. A\tnail\tcutter\u2014pretty\told. Three\ttablets\tof\tAspro\twrapped\tin\ta\tcellophane\tsheet. A\tfolded\tmap\tof\tCalcutta.\tIt\tmeasured\t4\u2019\tx5\u2019\twhen\topened. A\tKodak\tfilm\tcontainer\twith\tchopped\tbetel-nuts\tin\tit. A\tmatchbox,\tbrand\tnew. A\tVenus\tred-and-blue\tpencil. A\twhite\thandkerchief,\twith\tthe\tletter\t\u2018G\u2019\tembroidered\tin\tone\tcorner. A\tpen-knife,\tpossibly\tfrom\tMoradabad. A\tsmall\tface-towel. A\trusted\told\tsafety-pin. Three\tequally\trusted\tpaper\tclips. A\tshirt\tbutton. A\tdetective\tnovel\u2014Ellery\tQueen\u2019s\tThe\tDoor\tBetween. Feluda\tpicked\tup\tthe\tbook\tand\tturned\ta\tfew\tpages. \u2018No,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tmention\tof\tthe\towner \u2019s\tname,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018but\the\tclearly\thad\tthe\thabit\tof\tmarking\ta page\tby\tfolding\tits\tcorner.\tThere\tare\t236\tpages\tin\tthis\tbook.\tThe\tlast\tsign\tof\tfolding\tis\tat\tpage\t212.\tI","assume\the\tfinished\treading\tit.\u2019 Feluda\tnow\tturned\this\tattention\tto\tthe\thandkerchief. \u2018The\tfirst\tletter\tof\this\tname\tor\tsurname\tmust\tbe\t\u201cG\u201d.\tNo,\tit\tmust\tbe\this\tfirst\tname,\tthat\u2019s\tfar\tmore natural.\u2019 Then\t he\t opened\t the\t map\t of\t Calcutta\t and\t spread\t it\t on\t the\t table.\t \u2018Red\t marks,\u2019\t he\t said,\t looking closely\tat\tit,\t\u2018someone\tmarked\tit\twith\ta\tred\tpencil\t.\t.\t.\thmm\t.\t.\t.\tone,\ttwo,\tthree,\tfour,\tfive\t.\t.\t.\thm\t.\t.\t. Chowringhee\t.\t.\t.\tPark\tStreet\t.\t.\t.\tI\tsee.\tTopshe,\tget\tthe\ttelephone\tdirectory.\u2019 Feluda\tput\tthe\tmap\tback\tinto\tthe\tcase.\tThen\the\tbegan\tturning\tthe\tpages\tof\tthe\ttelephone\tdirectory. \u2018P\t.\t.\t.\there\twe\tare,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018There\tare\tonly\tsixteen\tPakrashis\tlisted\there.\tTwo\tof\tthem\tare\tdoctors\t, so\twe\tcan\teasily\tleave\tthem\tout.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018The\tman\twho\trecognized\thim\tin\tthe\ttrain\tcalled\thim\tMr\tPakrashi,\tnot\tDoctor,\tremember?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes,\tthat\u2019s\tright.\u2019 Feluda\tpicked\tup\tthe\ttelephone\tand\tbegan\tdialling.\tEach\ttime\the\tgot\tthrough,\tI\theard\thim\tsay,\t\u2018Has Mr\tPakrashi\treturned\tfrom\tDelhi?\t.\t.\t.\tOh,\tsorry!\u2019 This\thappened\tfive\ttimes\tin\ta\trow.\tBut\tthe\tsixth\tnumber\the\tdialled\tapparently\tgot\thim\tthe\tright\tman for,\tthis\ttime,\the\tspoke\tfor\tmuch\tlonger.\tThen\the\tsaid\t\u2018Thanks\u2019\tand\tput\tthe\tphone\tdown. \u2018I\t think\t I\u2019ve\t g o t\t him,\u2019\t he\t said\t to \t me.\t \u2018N.C.\t Pakr ashi.\t He\t answer ed\t the\t pho ne\t himself.\t He\t r etur ned from\tDelhi\tby\tKalka\tMail\tthe\tday\tbefore\tyesterday.\tEverything\ttallies,\texcept\tthat\this\tluggage\tdidn\u2019t get\texchanged.\u2019 \u2018Then\twhy\tdid\tyou\tmake\tan\tappointment\twith\thim\tthis\tevening?\u2019 \u2018Why,\the\tcan\tgive\tus\tsome\tinformation\tabout\tthe\tother\tpassengers,\tcan\u2019t\the?\tHe\tappears\tto\tbe\tan ill-tempered\tfellow,\tbut\tit\twould\ttake\tmore\tthan\till-temper\tto\tput\tFelu\tMitter\toff.\tCome,\tTopshe,\tlet\u2019s go\tout.\u2019 \u2018Now?\tI\tthought\twe\twere\tmeeting\tMr\tPakrashi\tin\tthe\tevening?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tbefore\tcalling\ton\tPakrashi\tI\tthink\twe\tneed\tto\tvisit\tyour\tUncle\tSidhu.\tNow.\u2019","Two Uncle\t Sidhu\t was\t no\t relation.\t He\t used\t to\t be\t Baba\u2019s\t next\t door\t neighbour\t when\t he\t lived\t in\t our\t old ancestral\thome,\tlong\tbefore\tI\twas\tborn.\tBaba\ttreated\thim\tlike\ta\tbrother,\tand\twe\tall\tcalled\thim\tUncle. Uncle\tSidhu\u2019s\tknowledge\tabout\tmost\tthings\twas\textraordinary\tand\this\tmemory\tremarkably\tpowerful. Feluda\tand\tI\tboth\tadmired\tand\trespected\thim\tenormously. But\t why\t did\t Feluda\t want\t to \t see\t him\t at\t this\t time?\t The\t fir st\t questio n\t Feluda\t asked\t made\t that\t clear. \u2018Have\t yo u\t hear d\t o f\t a\t tr avel\t wr iter \t called\t Shambhuchar an\t Bo se?\t He\t used\t to \t wr ite\t in\t Eng lish,\t abo ut sixty\tyears\tago.\u2019 Uncle\tSidhu\u2019s\teyes\twidened. \u2018Good\theavens,\tFelu,\thaven\u2019t\tyou\tread\this\tbook\ton\tthe\tTerai?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t yes,\u2019\t said\t Feluda,\t \u2018now\t I\t do\t remember.\t The\t man\u2019s\t name\t sounded\t familiar,\t but\t no,\t I\t haven\u2019t read\tthe\tbook.\u2019 \u2018It\t was\t called\t The\t Terrors\t of\t Terai.\t A\t British\t publisher\t in\t London\t published\t it\t in\t 1915. Shambhucharan\t was\t both\t a\t traveller\t and\t a\t shikari.\t But\t by\t profession\t he\t was\t a\t doctor.\t He\t used\t to practise\tin\tKathmandu.\tThis\twas\tlong\tbefore\tthe\tpresent\troyal\tfamily\tcame\tinto\tpower.\tThe\tpowerful peo ple\t in\t Nepal\t then\t wer e\t the\t Ranas.\t Shambhuchar an\t tr eated\t and\t cur ed\t a\t lo t\t o f\t ailments\t amo ng \t the Ranas.\tHe\tmentioned\tone\tof\tthem\tin\this\tbook.\tVijayendra\tShamsher\tJung\tBahadur.\tThe\tman\twas\tkeen on\thunting,\tbut\the\tdrank\tvery\theavily.\tApparently,\the\tused\tto\tclimb\ta\tmachan\twith\ta\tbottle\tin\tone\thand and\ta\trifle\tin\tthe\tother.\tBut\tboth\this\thands\tstayed\tsteady\twhen\tit\tcame\tto\tpressing\tthe\ttrigger.\tExcept once.\tOnly\tonce\tdid\the\tmiss,\tand\tthe\ttiger\tjumped\tup\ton\tthe\tmachan.\tIt\twas\tShambhucharan\twho\tshot the\ttiger\tfrom\tthe\tnext\tmachan\tand\tsaved\tthe\tRana\u2019s\tlife.\tThe\tRana\texpressed\this\tgratitude\tby\tgiving him\t a\t pr iceless\t jewel.\t A\t mo st\t thr illing \t sto r y.\t Tr y\t and\t g et\t a\t co py\t fr o m\t the\t Natio nal\t Libr ar y.\t I\t do n\u2019t think\tyou\u2019ll\tget\tit\teasily\tanywhere\telse.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\tever\tgo\tto\tTibet?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t certainly.\t He\t died\t in\t 1921,\t soon\t after\t I\t finished\t college.\t I\t saw\t an\t obituary\t on\t him,\t I remember.\tIt\tsaid\the\thad\tgone\tto\tTibet\tafter\this\tretirement,\talthough\the\tdied\tin\tKathmandu.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\u2019 Feluda\t remained\t silent\t for\t a\t few\t moments.\t Then\t he\t said,\t in\t a\t clear,\t distinct\t tone,\t \u2018Supposing\t an unpublished\tmanuscript\twas\tdiscovered\ttoday,\twritten\tafter\this\tvisit\tto\tTibet,\twould\tthat\tbe\ta\tvaluable document?\u2019 \u2018My\tgoodness!\u2019\tUncle\tSidhu\u2019s\tbald\tdome\tglistened\twith\texcitement.\t\u2018You\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tyou\u2019re saying,\t Felu!\t Valuable?\t I\t still\t remember\t the\t very\t high\t praise\t Terai\t had\t received\t from\t the\t London Times.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t the\t stories\t he\t told,\t Shambhucharan\u2019s\t language\t was\t easy,\t lucid\t and\t clear\t as crystal.\tWhy,\thave\tyou\tfound\tsuch\ta\tmanuscript?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbut\tthere\tmight\tbe\tone\tin\texistence.\u2019","\u2018If\t you\t can\t lay\t your\t hands\t on\t it,\t please\t don\u2019t\t forget\t to\t show\t it\t to\t me,\t Felu.\t And\t in\t case\t it\t gets auctioned,\tlet\tme\tknow.\tI\u2019d\tbe\tprepared\tto\tbid\tup\tto\tfive\tthousand\trupees\t.\t.\t.\u2019 We\tleft\tsoon\tafter\tthis,\tbut\tnot\tbefore\ttwo\tcups\tof\tcocoa\thad\tbeen\tpressed\tupon\tus. \u2018Mr\t Lahiri\t doesn\u2019t\t even\t know\t his\t attache\t case\t contains\t such\t hot\t stuff,\u2019\t I\t said\t as\t we\t came\t out. \u2018Aren\u2019t\tyou\tgoing\tto\ttell\thim?\u2019 \u2018Wait.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tneed\tto\trush\tthings.\tLet\u2019s\tsee\twhere\tall\tthis\tleads\tto.\tIn\tany\tcase,\tI\thave\ttaken\tthe job,\thaven\u2019t\tI?\tIt\u2019s\tjust\tthat\tnow\tI\tfeel\ta\tlot\tmore\tenthusiastic.\u2019 Naresh\t Chandra\t Pakrashi\t lived\t in\t Lansdowne\t Road.\t It\t was\t obvious\t that\t his\t house\t had\t been\t built\t at least\t forty\t years\t ago.\t Feluda\t had\t taught\t me\t how\t to\t assess\t the\t age\t of\t a\t house.\t For\t instance,\t houses built\tfifty\tyears\tago\thad\ta\tcertain\ttype\tof\twindow,\twhich\twas\tdifferent\tfrom\tthose\tbuilt\tten\tyears\tlater. The\trailings\ton\tverandas\tand\tterraces,\tpatterns\ton\tgates,\tpillars\tat\tporticos\u2014all\tbore\tevidence\tof\tthe period\ta\tbuilding\twas\tmade.\tThis\tparticular\thouse\tmust\thave\tbeen\tbuilt\tin\tthe\t1920s. The\tfirst\tthing\tI\tnoticed\tas\twe\tclimbed\tout\tof\tour\ttaxi\twas\ta\tnotice\toutside\tthe\tmain\tgate:\t\u2018Beware of\tthe\tDog\u2019. \u2018It\t wo uld\t have\t made\t better \t sense,\u2019\t r emar ked\t Feluda,\t \u2018if\t it\t had\t said,\t \u201cBewar e\t o f\t the\t Owner \t o f\t the Dog\u201d.\u2019 We\t passed\t thr o ug h\t the\t g ate\t and\t fo und\t a\t cho wkidar \t standing \t near \t the\t po r ch.\t Feluda\t g ave\t him\t his visiting\t card,\t which\t bore\t the\t legend:\t \u2018Pradosh\t C.\t Mitter,\t Private\t Investigator \u2019.\t The\t chowkidar disappeared\twith\tthe\tcard\tand\treappeared\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater. \u2018Please\tgo\tin,\u2019\the\tsaid. We\thad\tto\tcross\ta\twide\tmarble\tlanding\tbefore\twe\tgot\tto\tthe\tdoor\tof\tthe\tliving-room.\tIt\tmust\thave been\tabout\tten\tfeet\thigh.\tWe\tlifted\tthe\tcurtain\tand\twalked\tin,\tto\tbe\tgreeted\tby\trows\tand\trows\tof\tbooks, all\t stashed\t in\t hug e\t almir ahs.\t Ther e\t was\t quite\t a\t lo t\t o f\t o ther \t fur nitur e,\t a\t wall-to -wall\t car pet,\t pictur es on\tthe\twalls,\tand\teven\ta\tchandelier.\tBut\tthe\twhole\tplace\thad\tan\tunkempt\tair.\tApparently,\tno\tone\tcared to\tclean\tit\tregularly. We\t found\t Mr\t Pakrashi\t in\t his\t study,\t hidden\t behind\t the\t living-room.\t The\t sound\t of\t typing\t had already\treached\tour\tears.\tNow\twe\tsaw\ta\tman\tsitting\tbehind\tan\tancient\ttypewriter,\twhich\trested\ton\ta massive\ttable,\tcovered\twith\tgreen\trexine.\tThe\ttable\twas\tplaced\ton\tthe\tright.\tOn\tour\tleft,\tas\twe\tstepped in,\t we\t saw\t three\t couches\t and\t a\t small\t round\t table.\t On\t this\t one\t stood\t a\t chess\t board\t with\t all\t the chessmen\tin\tplace,\tand\ta\tbook\ton\tthe\tgame.\tThe\tlast\tthing\tmy\teyes\tfell\ton\twas\ta\tlarge\tdog,\tcurled\tup and\tasleep\tin\tone\tcorner\tof\tthe\troom. The\tman\tfitted\tDinanath\tBabu\u2019s\tdescription.\tA\tpipe\thung\tfrom\this\tmouth.\tHe\tstopped\ttyping\tupon our\tentry,\tand\this\teyes\tswept\tover\tus\tboth.\t\u2018Which\tone\tof\tyou\tis\tMr\tMitter?\u2019\the\tfinally\tasked. Perhaps\t it\t was\t his\t idea\t of\t a\t joke,\t but\t Feluda\t did\t not\t laugh.\t He\t answered\t civilly\t enough,\t \u2018I\t am Pradosh\tMitter.\tThis\tis\tmy\tcousin.\u2019 \u2018Ho w\t was\t I\t to \t kno w?\u2019\t said\t Mr \t Pakr ashi.\t \u2018Little\t bo ys\t have\t g o ne\t into \t so \t many\t differ ent\t thing s\t .\t .\t . music,\t acting,\t painting;\t why,\t some\t have\t even\t become\t religious\t gurus!\t So\t your\t cousin\t here\t might well\thave\tbeen\tthe\tgreat\tsleuth\thimself.\tBut\tanyway,\ttell\tme\twhy\tyou\u2019re\there.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\twant\tfrom a\tman\twho\u2019s\tnever\tdone\tanything\tother\tthan\tmind\this\town\tbusiness?\u2019 Feluda\twas\tright.\tIf\tever\ta\tcompetition\twas\theld\tin\tirascibility,\tthis\tman\twould\thave\tbeen\ta\tworld champion.","\u2018Who\tdid\tyou\tsay\tsent\tyou\there?\u2019\the\twanted\tto\tknow. \u2018Mr \t Lahir i\t mentio ned\t yo ur \t name.\t He\t ar r ived\t fr o m\t Delhi\t thr ee\t days\t ag o .\t Yo u\t and\t he\t tr avelled\t in the\tsame\tcompartment.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tAnd\tis\the\tthe\tone\twhose\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tgot\tlost?\u2019 \u2018Not\tlost.\tMerely\tmistaken\tfor\tsomeone\telse\u2019s.\u2019 \u2018Careless\t fool.\t But\t why\t did\t he\t have\t to\t employ\t you\t to\t retrieve\t it?\t What\t precious\t object\t did\t it contain?\u2019 \u2018There\twas\tnothing\tmuch,\treally,\texcept\tan\told\tmanuscript.\tThere\tis\tno\tother\tcopy.\u2019 I\tcould\ttell\twhy\tFeluda\tmentioned\tthe\tmanuscript.\tIf\the\ttold\tMr\tPakrashi\tthe\treal\treason\twhy\the\thad been\temployed,\tno\tdoubt\tMr\tPakrashi\twould\thave\tlaughed\tin\tderision. \u2018Manuscript?\u2019\the\tasked\tsomewhat\tsuspiciously. \u2018Yes.\t A\t tr avelo g ue\t wr itten\t by\t Shambhuchar an\t Bo se.\t Mr \t Lahir i\t had\t r ead\t it\t o n\t the\t tr ain,\t then\t put\t it back\tin\tthe\tcase.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tthe\tman\tis\tnot\tjust\ta\tfool,\the\tseems\tto\tbe\ta\tliar,\ttoo.\tYou\tsee,\talthough\tI\thad\tan\tupper\tberth,\tI spent\tmost\tof\tthe\tday\tsitting\tright\tnext\tto\thim.\tHe\tnever\tread\tanything\tother\tthan\ta\tnewspaper\tand\ta Bengali\tmagazine.\u2019 Feluda\t did\t not\t say\t anything.\t Mr\t Pakrashi\t paused\t for\t breath,\t then\t continued,\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t know\t what you\u2019d\tmake\tof\tit\tas\ta\tsleuth.\tI\tfind\tthe\twhole\tthing\tdistinctly\tsuspicious.\tAnyway,\tif\tyou\twish\tto\tgo\ton a\twild-goose\tchase,\tsuit\tyourself.\tI\tcannot\toffer\tany\thelp.\tI\ttold\tyou\ton\tthe\tphone\tI\thave\tabout\tthree\tof those\tAir-India\tbags,\tbut\ton\tthis\ttrip\tI\tdidn\u2019t\ttake\tany\twith\tme.\u2019 \u2018One\tof\tthe\tother\tpassengers\tknew\tyou,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\u2019 \u2018Who,\tBrijmohan?\tYes.\tHe\tis\ta\tmoneylender.\tI\u2019ve\thad\ta\tfew\tdealings\twith\thim.\u2019 \u2018Could\the\thave\thad\ta\tblue\tcase?\u2019 \u2018How\t on\t earth\t should\t I\t know?\u2019\t Mr\t Pakrashi\t frowned\t darkly.\t \u2018Could\t you\t give\t me\t Brijmohan\u2019s telephone\tnumber?\u2019 \u2018Look\tit\tup\tin\tthe\tdirectory.\tS.\tM.\tKedia\t&\tCo.\tSM\twas\tBrijmohan\u2019s\tfather.\tTheir\toffice\tis\tin\tLenin Sarani.\tAnd\tone\tmore\tthing\u2014you\u2019re\twrong\tin\tthinking\tI\tknew\tonly\tone\tof\tthe\tother\tpassengers.\tAs\ta matter\tof\tfact,\tI\tknew\ttwo\tof\tthem.\u2019 \u2018Who\u2019s\tthe\tsecond\tone?\u2019\tFeluda\tsounded\tsurprised. \u2018Dinanath\t Lahir i.\t I\t had\t seen\t him\t befo r e\t at\t the\t r aces.\t He\t used\t to \t be\t quite\t a\t lad.\t No w\t I\t believe\t he\u2019s changed\this\tlifestyle\tand\teven\tfound\thimself\ta\tguru\tin\tDelhi.\tHeaven\tknows\tif\tany\tof\tthis\tis\ttrue.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tthe\tfourth\tman\tin\tyour\tcoach?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda.\tHe\twas\tobviously\ttrying\tto\tgain\tas\tmuch information\tas\the\tcould. \u2018What\u2019s\tgoing\ton?\u2019\tshouted\tMr\tPakrashi,\tpulling\ta\tface,\tin\tspite\tof\tthe\tpipe\tstill\thanging\tfrom\this mouth.\t\u2018Are\tyou\there\tsimply\tto\task\tquestions?\tAm\tI\tan\taccused\tstanding\ttrial\tor\twhat?\u2019 \u2018No,\t sir,\u2019\t said\t Feluda\t calmly.\t \u2018I\t am\t asking\t these\t questions\t only\t because\t you\t play\t chess\t all\t by yourself,\tyou\tclearly\thave\ta\tsharp\tbrain,\ta\tgood\tmemory,\tand\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Mr\t Pakrashi\t thawed\t a\t little.\t He\t cleared\t his\t throat\t and\t said,\t \u2018Chess\t has\t become\t an\t addiction.\t The partner\tI\tused\tto\tplay\twith\tis\tno\tmore.\tSo\tnow\tI\tplay\talone.\u2019 \u2018Every\tday?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tAnother\treason\tfor\tthat\tis\tmy\tinsomnia.\tI\tplay\tuntil\tabout\tthree\tin\tthe\tmorning.\u2019","\u2018Do\tyou\tnever\ttake\ta\tpill\tto\thelp\tyou\tsleep?\u2019 \u2018I\tdo\tsometimes.\tBut\tit\tdoesn\u2019t\talways\thelp.\tNot\tthat\tit\tmatters.\tI\tgo\tto\tbed\tat\tthree,\tand\trise\tat\teight. Five\thours\tis\tgood\tenough\tat\tmy\tage.\u2019 \u2018Is\ttyping\talso\t.\t.\t.\tone\tof\tyour\taddictions?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\twith\this\tlopsided\tsmile. \u2018No,\t but\t there\t are\t times\t when\t I\t do\t like\t to\t do\t my\t own\t typing.\t I\t have\t a\t secretary,\t who\u2019s\t pretty useless.\t Anyway,\t you\t were\t talking\t about\t the\t fourth\t passenger,\t weren\u2019t\t you?\t He\t had\t sharp\t features, was\tquite\tbald,\ta\tnon-Bengali,\tspoke\tvery\tgood\tEnglish\tand\toffered\tme\tan\tapple.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\teat\tit.\tWhat else\t would\t you\t like\t to\t know?\t I\t am\t fifty-three\t and\t my\t dog\t is\t three-and-a-half.\t He\u2019s\t a\t boxer\t and doesn\u2019t\tlike\tvisitors\tto\tstay\tfor\tmore\tthan\thalf\tan\thour.\tSo\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018An\tinteresting\tman,\u2019\tFeluda\tremarked.\tWe\twere\tout\tin\tthe\tstreet,\tbut\tnot\twalking\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof home.\tWhy\tFeluda\tchose\tto\tgo\tin\tthe\topposite\tdirection,\tI\tcould\tnot\ttell;\tnor\tdid\the\tmake\tany\tattempt at\thailing\teither\tof\tthe\ttwo\tempty\ttaxis\tthat\tsailed\tby. One\t little\t thing\t was\t bothering\t me.\t I\t had\t to\t mention\t it\t to\t Feluda.\t \u2018Didn\u2019t\t Dinanath\t Babu\t say\t he thought\tPakrashi\twas\tabout\tsixty?\tBut\tMr\tPakrashi\thimself\tsaid\the\twas\tfifty-three\tand,\tquite\tfrankly, he\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tolder\tthan\tthat.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tfunny?\u2019 \u2018All\tit\tproves\tis\tthat\tDinanath\tBabu\u2019s\tpower\tof\tobservation\tis\tnot\twhat\tit\tshould\tbe,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda. A\tcouple\tof\tminutes\tlater,\twe\treached\tLower\tCircular\tRoad.\tFeluda\tturned\tleft.\t\u2018Are\tyou\tgoing\tto look\t at\t that\t case\t of\t robbery?\u2019\t I\t asked.\t Only\t three\t days\t ago,\t the\t papers\t had\t reported\t a\t case\t of\t a daylight\trobbery.\tApparently,\tthree\tmasked\tmen\thad\twalked\tinto\ta\tjeweller \u2019s\tshop\ton\tLower\tCircular Road\tand\tgot\taway\twith\ta\tlot\tof\tvaluable\tjewellery\tand\tprecious\tstones,\tfiring\trecklessly\tin\tthe\tair\tas they\tmade\ttheir\tescape\tin\ta\tblack\tAmbassador\tcar.\t\u2018It\tmight\tbe\tfun\ttracing\tthose\tdaredevils,\u2019\tFeluda had\tsaid.\tBut\tsadly,\tno\tone\thad\tcome\tforward\tto\task\thim\tto\tinvestigate.\tSo\tI\tthought\tperhaps\the\twas going\tto\task\ta\tfew\tquestions\ton\this\town.\tBut\tFeluda\tpaid\tno\tattention\tto\tme.\tIt\tseemed\tas\tthough\this sole\tpurpose\tin\tlife,\tcertainly\tat\tthat\tmoment,\twas\tto\tget\tsome\texercise\tand\tso\the\twould\tdo\tnothing but\tcontinue\tto\twalk. A\t little\t later,\t he\t turned\t left\t again\t rather\t abruptly,\t and\t walked\t briskly\t into\t the\t Hindustan International\tHotel.\tI\tfollowed\thim\tquickly. \u2018Did\t anyone\t from\t Simla\t check\t in\t at\t your\t hotel\t on\t 6\t March?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked\t the\t receptionist,\t \u2018His first\tname\tstarts\twith\ta\t\u201cG\u201d\t.\t.\t.\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tI\tcan\u2019t\trecall\this\tfull\tname.\u2019 Neither\t Brijmohan\t nor\t Naresh\t Pakrashi\t had\t names\t that\t started\t with\t a\t \u2018G\u2019.\t So\t this\t had\t to\t the applewalla. The\treceptionist\tlooked\tat\this\tbook. \u2018There\tare\ttwo\tforeigners\tlisted\there\ton\t6\tMarch,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Gerald\tPratley\tand\tG.\tR.\tHolmes.\tBoth came\tfrom\tabroad.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tand\tleft. We\ttook\ta\ttaxi\tas\twe\tcame\tout.\t\u2018Park\tHotel,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tto\tthe\tdriver\tand\tlit\ta\tCharminar. \u2018If\tyou\thad\tlooked\tcarefully\tat\tthose\tred\tmarks\ton\tthe\tmap,\u2019\the\tsaid\tto\tme,\t\u2018you\u2019d\thave\tseen\tthey were\tmarkers\tfor\thotels.\tIt\u2019s\tnatural\tthat\tthe\tman\twould\twant\tto\tstay\tat\ta\tgood\thotel.\tAt\tpresent,\tthere are\tfive\twell-known\thotels\tin\tCalcutta\u2014Grand,\tHindustan\tInternational,\tPark,\tGreat\tEastern\tand\tRitz Continental.\tAnd\tthose\tred\tmarks\thad\tbeen\tplaced\ton,\tthese.\tThe\tPark\tHotel\twould\tbe\tour\tnext\tport\tof call.\u2019","As\tit\tturned\tout,\tno\tone\twith\ta\tname\tstarting\twith\t\u2018G\u2019\thad\tchecked\tin\tat\tthe\tPark\ton\t6\tMarch.\tBut the\tGrand\toffered\tsome\tgood\tnews.\tFeluda\thappened\tto\tknow\tone\tof\tits\tBengali\treceptionists\tcalled Dasgupta.\tHe\tshowed\tus\ttheir\tvisitors\u2019\tbook.\tOnly\tone\tIndian\thad\tchecked\tin\ton\tthe\t6th.\tHe\tdid\tarrive from\tSimla\tand\this\tname\twas\tG.\tC.\tDhameeja. \u2018Is\the\tstill\there?\u2019 \u2018No,\tsir.\tHe\tchecked\tout\tyesterday.\u2019 The\tlittle\tflicker\tof\thope\tin\tmy\tmind\twas\tsnuffed\tout\timmediately. Feluda,\ttoo,\twas\tfrowning.\tBut\the\tdidn\u2019t\tstop\tasking\tquestions. \u2018Which\troom\twas\the\tin?\u2019 \u2018Room\t216.\u2019 \u2018Is\tit\tempty\tnow?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tWe\u2019re\texpecting\ta\tguest\tthis\tevening,\tbut\tright\tnow\tit\u2019s\tvacant.\u2019 \u2018Can\tI\tspeak\tto\tthe\troom\tboy?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\tI\u2019ll\tget\tsomeone\tto\tshow\tyou\tthe\tway.\u2019 We\t to o k\t the\t lift\t up\t to \t the\t seco nd\t flo o r.\t A\t walk\t do wn\t a\t lo ng \t co r r ido r \t finally\t br o ug ht\t us\t to \t r o o m 216.\tThe\troom\tboy\tappeared\tat\tthis\tpoint.\tWe\twent\tinto\tthe\troom\twith\thim.\tFeluda\tbegan\tpacing. \u2018Can\tyou\tremember\tthe\tman\twho\tleft\tyesterday?\tHe\twas\tstaying\tin\tthis\troom.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tsir.\u2019 \u2018Now\ttry\tto\tremember\tcarefully.\tWhat\tluggage\tdid\the\thave?\u2019 \u2018A\tlarge\tsuitcase,\tand\ta\tsmaller\tone.\u2019 \u2018Was\tit\tblue?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tWhen\tI\tcame\tback\tto\tthe\troom\tafter\tfilling\this\tflask,\tI\tfound\thim\ttaking\tthings\tout\tof\tthe\tblue case.\tHe\tseemed\tto\tbe\tlooking\tfor\tsomething.\u2019 \u2018Very\tgood.\tCan\tyou\tremember\tif\tthis\tman\thad\ta\tfew\tapples\u2014\tperhaps\tin\ta\tpaper\tbag?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tThere\twere\tthree\tapples.\tHe\ttook\tthem\tout\tand\tkept\tthem\ton\ta\tplate.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\tthis\tman\tlook\tlike?\u2019 But\t the\t description\t the\t room\t boy\t gave\t did\t not\t help.\t At\t least\t a\t hundred\t thousand\t men\t in\t Calcutta would\thave\tfitted\tthat\tdescription. However,\t there\t was\t reason\t to\t feel\t pleased.\t We\t now\t had\t the\t name\t and\t address\t of\t the\t man\t whose attach\u00e9\t case\t had\t g o t\t exchang ed\t with\t Mr \t Lahir i\u2019s.\t Mr \t Dasg upta\t g ave\t us\t a\t piece\t o f\t paper \t as\t we\t went out.\tI\tglanced\tover\tFeluda\u2019s\tshoulder\tand\tsaw\twhat\twas\twritten\ton\tit: G.\tC.\tDhameeja \u2018 The\tN ook\u2019 Wild\tFlower\tHall Simla.","Three \u2018Kaka\thas\tgone\tout.\tHe\u2019ll\treturn\taround\tseven,\u2019\twe\twere\ttold. So\t this\t was\t Dinanath\t Babu\u2019s\t nephew.\t We\t had\t come\t straight\t from\t the\t Grand\t Hotel\t to\t Dinanath Babu\u2019s\thouse\tto\treport\tour\tprogress,\tstopping\ton\tour\tway\tonly\tto\tbuy\tsome\tmeetha\tpaan\tfrom\ta\tshop outside\tthe\tNew\tEmpire. Lined\ton\tone\tside\tof\tthe\tgate\tof\tMr\tLahiri\u2019s\thouse\twere\tfour\tgarages.\tThree\tof\tthese\twere\tempty. The\tfourth\tcontained\tan\told,\tstrange\tlooking\tcar.\t\u2018Italian,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018It\u2019s\ta\tLagonda.\u2019 The\tchowkidar\ttook\tour\tcard\tin,\tbut,\tinstead\tof\tDinanath\tBabu,\ta\tyounger\tman\temerged\tfrom\tthe house.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\tmore\tthan\tthirty.\tOf\tmedium\theight,\the\thad\tfair\tskin\tlike\this\tuncle;\this hair\t was\t long\t and\t tousled;\t and\t running\t down\t from\t his\t ears\t were\t broad\t sideburns,\t the\t kind\t that seemed\tto\tbe\tall\tthe\trage\tamong\tfashionable\tmen.\tThe\tman\twas\tstaring\thard\tat\tFeluda. \u2018Could\t we\t please\t wait\t until\t he\t returns?\u2019\t asked\t Feluda.\t \u2018We\t have\t something\t rather\t important\t to discuss,\tyou\tsee.\u2019 \u2018Please\tcome\tthis\tway.\u2019 We\twere\ttaken\tinto\tthe\tliving-room.\tThe\twalls\tand\tthe\tfloor\twere\tlittered\twith\ttiger\tand\tbear\tskins; a\thuge\thead\tof\ta\tbuffalo\tgraced\tthe\twall\tover\tthe\tmain\tdoor.\tPerhaps\tDinanath\tBabu\u2019s\tuncle\thad\tbeen a\tshikari,\ttoo.\tMay\tbe\tthat\twas\twhy\the\tand\tShambhucharan\thad\tbeen\tso\tclose? \u2018My\tuncle\tgoes\tout\tfor\ta\twalk\tevery\tevening.\tHe\u2019ll\tbe\tback\tsoon.\u2019\tDinanath\tBabu\u2019s\tnephew\thad\tan exceptionally\tthin\tvoice.\tI\twondered\tif\tit\twas\the\twho\thad\tbeen\tgiven\tMr\tDhameeja\u2019s\tattach\u00e9\tcase. \u2018Are\tyou,\u2019\the\tasked,\t\u2018the\tsame\tFelu\tMitter\twho\tsolved\tthe\tmystery\tof\tthe\tGolden\tFortress?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tbriefly,\tand\tleant\tback\tin\this\tchair,\tcrossing\this\tlegs,\tperfectly\trelaxed. I\t kept\t looking\t at\t the\t other\t man.\t His\t face\t seemed\t familiar.\t Where\t had\t I\t seen\t him\t before?\t Then something\tseemed\tto\tjog\tmy\tmemory. \u2018Have\tyou\tever\tacted\tin\ta\tfilm?\u2019\tI\tasked. The\tman\tcleared\this\tthroat. \u2018Yes,\tin\tThe\tGhost.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tthriller.\tI\tplay\tthe\tvillain.\tBut\tit\thasn\u2019t\tyet\tbeen\treleased.\u2019 \u2018Your\tname\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 \u2018My\treal\tname\tis\tPrabeer\tLahiri.\tBut\tmy\tscreen\tname\tis\tAmar\tKumar.\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes,\tnow\tI\tremember.\tI\thave\tseen\tyour\tphotograph\tin\ta\tfilm\tmagazine.\u2019 Heavens,\twhat\tkind\tof\ta\tvillain\twould\the\tmake\twith\ta\tvoice\tlike\tthat? \u2018Are\t you\t a\t professional\t actor?\u2019\t asked\t Feluda.\t For\t some\t strange\t reason,\t Prabeer\t Babu\t was\t still standing. \u2018I\thave\tto\thelp\tmy\tuncle\tin\this\tbusiness,\u2019\the\treplied,\t\u2018which\tmeans\tgoing\tto\this\tplastic\tfactory.\tBut my\treal\tinterest\tis\tin\tacting.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tyour\tuncle\tthink?\u2019","\u2018Uncle\tisn\u2019t\t.\t.\t.\tvery\tenthusiastic\tabout\tit.\u2019 \u2018Why\tnot?\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tthe\tway\the\tis.\u2019 Amar\tKumar \u2019s\tface\tgrew\tgrave.\tClearly,\the\thad\thad\targuments\twith\this\tuncle\tover\this\tcareer\tin films. \u2018I\thave\tto\task\tyou\tsomething,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tpolitely,\tpossibly\tbecause\tAmar\tKumar\twas\tbeginning to\tlook\tbelligerent. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tmind\tanswering\tyour\tquestions,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018What\tI\tcan\u2019t\tstand\tis\tmy\tuncle\u2019s\tconstant\tdigs\tat my\u2014\u2019 \u2018Did\tyour\tuncle\trecently\tgive\tyou\tan\tAir-India\tattach\u00e9\tcase?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tsomeone\tpinched\tit.\tWe\u2019ve\tgot\ta\tnew\tservant,\tyou\tsee\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Feluda\traised\ta\treassuring\thand\tand\tsmiled. \u2018No,\tno\tone\tstole\tthat\tcase,\tI\tassure\tyou.\tIt\u2019s\twith\tme.\u2019 \u2018With\tyou?\u2019\tPrabeer\tBabu\tseemed\tperfectly\ttaken\taback. \u2018Yes.\tYour\tuncle\tdecided\tto\treturn\tthe\tcase\tto\tits\towner.\tHe\thired\tme\tfor\tthis\tpurpose.\tWhat\tI\twant to\tknow\tis\twhether\tyou\tremoved\tanything\tfrom\tit.\u2019 \u2018I\tdid,\tnaturally.\tHere\tit\tis.\u2019 Prabeer\tBabu\ttook\tout\ta\tballpoint\tpen\tfrom\this\tpocket.\t\u2018I\twanted\tto\tuse\tthe\tblades\tand\tthe\tshaving cream,\u2019\the\tadded,\t\u2018but\tof\tcourse\tI\tnever\tgot\tthe\tchance.\u2019 \u2018You\tdo\trealize,\tdon\u2019t\tyou,\tthat\tthe\tcase\tmust\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\towner\twith\tevery\titem\tintact?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyes,\tnaturally.\u2019 He\t handed\t the\t pen\t o ver \t to \t Feluda.\t But\t he\t was\t o bvio usly\t still\t g r eatly\t anno yed\t with\t his\t uncle.\t \u2018At least,\u2019\the\tmuttered,\t\u2018I\tshould\thave\tbeen\ttold\tthe\tcase\twas\tgoing\tback.\tAfter\tall,\the\tdid\tgive\t.\t.\t.\u2019 He\t couldn\u2019t\t finish\t his\t sentence.\t Dinanath\t Babu\u2019s\t car\t sounded\t its\t horn\t at\t this\t moment,\t thereby causing\tthe\tfilm\tvillain\tto\tbeat\ta\tquick\tretreat. \u2018Oh\tno,\thave\tyou\tbeen\twaiting\tlong?\u2019\tDinanath\tBabu\twalked\tinto\tthe\troom,\tlooking\tslightly\trueful, his\thands\tfolded\tin\ta\tnamaskar.\tWe\tstood\tup\tto\tgreet\thim.\t\u2018No,\tno,\tplease\tsit\tdown,\u2019\the\tsaid\thurriedly. \u2018You\twouldn\u2019t\tmind\ta\tcup\tof\ttea,\twould\tyou?\u2019 His\tservant\tappeared\talmost\timmediately\tand\tleft\twith\tan\torder\tto\tbring\tus\ttea.\tDinanath\tBabu\tsat down\ton\tthe\tsettee\tnext\tto\tours. \u2018So\t.\t.\t.\ttell\tme\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019\the\tinvited. \u2018Your\tcase\tgot\texchanged\twith\tthe\tman\twho\tgave\tyou\tthe\tapple.\tHis\tname\tis\tG.\tC.\tDhameeja.\u2019 Dinanath\tBabu\tgrew\tround-eyed.\t\u2018You\tfound\tthat\tout\tin\tjust\ta\tday?\tWhat\tis\tthis\u2014magic?\u2019 Feluda\tgave\this\tfamous\tlopsided\tsmile\tand\tcontinued,\t\u2018He\tlives\tin\tSimla\tand\tI\u2019ve\tgot\this\taddress. He\twas\tsupposed\tto\tspend\tthree\tdays\tat\tthe\tGrand,\tbut\the\tleft\ta\tday\tearly.\u2019 \u2018Has\the\tleft\talready?\u2019\tDinanath\tBabu\tasked,\ta\tlittle\tregretfully.\t\u2018Yes.\tHe\tleft\tthe\thotel,\tbut\twe\tdon\u2019t know\twhether\the\treturned\tto\tSimla.\tOne\ttelegram\tto\this\thouse\tin\tSimla,\tand\tyou\tshall\tget\tan\tanswer to\tthat.\u2019 Dinanath\t Babu\t seemed\t to \t po nder \t fo r \t a\t few\t mo ments.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018All\t r ig ht.\t I\t will\t send\t a\t cable today.\tBut\tif\tI\tdiscover\the\thas\tindeed\tgone\tback\tto\tSimla,\tI\tstill\thave\tto\treturn\this\tcase\tto\thim,\tdon\u2019t I?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse.\tAnd\tyours\thas\tto\tcome\tback\tto\tyou.\tI\tam\tquite\tcurious\tabout\tthat\ttravelogue.\u2019 \u2018Very\t good.\t Allow\t me\t to\t make\t a\t proposal,\t Mr\t Mitter.\t Why\t don\u2019t\t you\t go\t to\t Simla\t with\t your cousin?\tI\tshall,\tof\tcourse,\tpay\tall\tyour\texpenses.\tIt\u2019s\tsnowing\tin\tSimla,\tI\thear.\tHave\tyou\tever\tseen\tit snow,\tKhoka?\u2019 At\t any\t o ther \t time,\t I\t wo uld\t have\t been\t affr o nted\t at\t being \t called\t a\t child.\t But\t no w\t it\t did\t no t\t seem\t to matter\tat\tall.\tGo\tto\tSimla?\tOh,\thow\texciting!\tMy\theart\tstarted\tto\trace\tfaster. But\tFeluda\u2019s\tnext\twords\twere\tmost\tannoying.\t\u2018You\tmust\tthink\tthis\tone\tthrough,\tMr\tLahiri,\u2019\the\tsaid. \u2018It\u2019s\tjust\ta\tmatter\tof\ttaking\tan\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tto\tSimla,\tand\tbringing\tone\tback,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\tSo\tanyone\tcan\tdo the\tjob.\tIt\tdoesn\u2019t\tnecessarily\thave\tto\tbe\tme.\u2019 \u2018No ,\t no ,\t no ,\u2019\t Dinanath\t Babu\t pr o tested\t r ather \t vehemently,\t \u2018wher e\t will\t I\t find\t anyo ne\t as\t r eliable\t as you?\tAnd\tsince\tyou\tbegan\tthe\tinvestigation,\tI\tthink\tyou\tshould\tend\tit.\u2019 \u2018Why,\tyou\thave\ta\tnephew,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 A\tshadow\tpassed\tover\tDinanath\tBabu\u2019s\tface. \u2018He\tis\tno\tgood,\treally.\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tmy\tnephew\u2019s\tsense\tof\tresponsibility\tis\tvirtually\tnonexistent.\tDo you\tknow\twhat\the\thas\tdone?\tHe\u2019s\tgone\tinto\tfilms!\tNo,\tI\tcannot\trely\ton\thim\tat\tall.\tI\u2019d\trather\tthe\ttwo of\tyou\twent.\tI\u2019ll\ttell\tmy\ttravel\tagents\tto\tmake\tall\tarrangements.\tYou\tcan\tfly\tup\tto\tDelhi\tand\tthen\tcatch a\t tr ain.\t When\t yo u\u2019ve\t do ne\t yo ur \t jo b,\t yo u\t can\t even\t have\t a\t ho liday\t in\t Simla\t fo r \t a\t few\t days.\t It\t wo uld give\tme\ta\tlot\tof\tpleasure\tto\tbe\tof\tservice\tto\ta\tman\tlike\tyou.\tWhat\tyou\u2019ve\tdone\tin\tjust\ta\tfew\thours\tis truly\tremarkable!\u2019 The\t tea\t arrived,\t together\t with\t cakes\t and\t sandwiches.\t Feluda\t picked\t up\t a\t piece\t of\t chocolate\t cake and\t said,\t \u2018Thank\t you.\t There\t is\t one\t little\t thing\t I\t am\t still\t feeling\t curious\t about.\t The\t Nepali\t box\t in which\tyou\tfound\tthe\tmanuscript.\tIs\tit\tpossible\tto\tsee\tit?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\tThat\u2019s\tnot\ta\tproblem\tat\tall.\tI\u2019ll\tget\tmy\tbearer\tto\tbring\tit.\u2019 The\tbox\tappeared\tin\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tAbout\ttwo\tfeet\tin\tlength\tand\tten\tinches\tin\theight,\tits\twooden surface\twas\tcovered\tby\ta\tsheet\tof\tcopper.\tRed,\tblue\tand\tyellow\tstones\twere\tset\ton\tthe\tlid.\tThe\tsmell that\tgreeted\tmy\tnostrils\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\tlid\twas\tlifted\twas\tthe\tsame\tas\tthat\tin\tNaresh\tPakrashi\u2019s\tstudy. Dust-covered\told\tfurniture\tand\tthreadbare\tcurtains\tgave\tout\tthe\tsame\tmusty\tsmell. Dinanath\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018As\tyou\tcan\tsee,\tthere\tare\ttwo\tcompartments\tin\tthe\tbox.\tThe\tmanuscript\twas\tin the\tfirst\tone,\twrapped\tin\ta\tNepali\tnewspaper.\u2019 \u2018Good\theavens,\tit\u2019s\tstuffed\twith\tso\tmany\tdifferent\tthings!\u2019\texclaimed\tFeluda. \u2018Yes,\u2019\t Dinanath\t Babu\t smiled.\t \u2018Yo u\t mig ht\t call\t it\t a\t mini\t cur io \t sho p.\t But\t it\u2019s\t so \t filthy\t I\t haven\u2019t\t felt tempted\tto\thandle\tanything.\u2019 It\t turned\t out\t that\t the\t compartments\t could\t be\t removed.\t Feluda\t brought\t out\t the\t second\t one\t and inspected\t the\t o bjects\t it\t co ntained.\t Ther e\t wer e\t sto ne\t necklaces,\t little\t eng r aved\t discs\t made\t o f\t co pper and\tbrass,\ttwo\tcandles,\ta\tsmall\tbell,\ta\tcouple\tof\tlittle\tbowls,\ta\tbone\tof\tsome\tunknown\tanimal,\ta\tfew dried\therbs\tand\tflowers,\treduced\tto\tdust\u2014truly\ta\tlittle\tjunk\tshop. \u2018Did\tthis\tbox\tbelong\tto\tyour\tuncle?\u2019 \u2018It\tcame\twith\thim,\tso\tI\tassume\tit\tdid.\u2019 \u2018When\tdid\the\treturn\tfrom\tKathmandu?\u2019 \u2018In\t1923.\tHe\tdied\tthe\tsame\tyear.\tI\twas\tseven.\u2019","\u2018Ver y\t inter esting ,\u2019\t said\t Feluda.\t Then\t he\t to o k\t a\t last\t sip\t fr o m\t his\t cup\t and\t sto o d\t up.\t \u2018I\t accept\t yo ur proposal,\tMr\tLahiri,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018but\twe\tcannot\tleave\ttomorrow.\tWe\u2019ll\thave\tto\tcollect\tour\twarm\tclothes from\t the\t dry-cleaner \u2019s.\t The\t day\t after\t tomorrow\t might\t be\t a\t better\t idea.\t And\t please\t don\u2019t\t forget\t to cable\tDhameeja.\u2019 We\t returned\t home\t at\t around\t half-past-eight\t to\t find\t Jatayu\t waiting\t for\t us\t in\t the\t living-room,\t a brown\tparcel\ton\this\tlap. \u2018Have\tyou\tbeen\tto\tthe\tpictures?\u2019\the\tasked\twith\ta\tsmile.","Four Jatayu\twas\tthe\tpseudonym\tof\tLalmohan\tGanguli,\tthe\tfamous\twriter\tof\tbest-selling\tcrime\tthrillers.\tWe had\t fir st\t met\t him\t o n\t o ur \t way\t to \t the\t g o lden\t fo r tr ess\t in\t Rajasthan.\t Ther e\t ar e\t so me\t men\t who \t appear strangely\tcomical\twithout\tany\tapparent\treason.\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tone\tof\tthem.\tHe\twas\tshort\u2014the top\tof\this\thead\tbarely\treached\tFeluda\u2019s\tshoulder;\the\twore\tsize\tfive\tshoes,\twas\tpainfully\tthin,\tand\tyet would\toccasionally\tfold\tone\tof\this\tarms\tabsentmindedly\tand\tfeel\this\tbiceps\twith\tthe\tother.\tThe\tnext instant,\the\twould\tgive\ta\tviolent\tstart\tif\tanyone\tso\tmuch\tas\tsneezed\tloudly\tin\tthe\tnext\troom. \u2018I\tbrought\tmy\tlatest\tbook\tfor\tyou\tand\tTapesh,\u2019\the\tsaid,\toffering\tthe\tbrown\tparcel\tto\tFeluda.\tHe\thad started\tcoming\tto\tour\thouse\tfairly\tregularly\tever\tsince\tour\tadventure\tin\tRajasthan. \u2018Which\tcountry\tdid\tyou\tchoose\tthis\ttime?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked,\tunwrapping\tthe\tparcel.\tThe\tspine-chilling escapades\tof\tLalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\thero\tinvolved\tmoving\tthrough\tdifferent\tcountries. \u2018Oh,\tI\thave\tcovered\tpractically\tthe\twhole\tworld\tthis\ttime,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\treplied\tproudly,\t\u2018from the\tNilgiris\tto\tthe\tNorth\tPole.\u2019 \u2018I\t hope\t there\t are\t no\t factual\t errors\t this\t time?\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t quizzically,\t passing\t the\t book\t to\t me. Feluda\t had\t had\t to \t co r r ect\t a\t mistake\t in\t his\t last\t bo o k,\t The\t Sahara\t Shivers,\t r eg ar ding \t a\t camel\u2019s\t water supply. \u2018No,\t sir,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t grinned.\t \u2018One\t of\t my\t neighbours\t has\t a\t full\t set\t of\t the\t \u201cEncyclopaedia Britannia\u201d.\tI\tchecked\tevery\tdetail.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019d\t have\t felt\t mo r e\t r eassur ed,\t Lalmo han\t Babu,\t if\t yo u\t had\t co nsulted\t the\t Br itannica\t r ather \t than\t the Britannia.\u2019 But\tJatayu\tignored\tthis\tremark\tand\twent\ton,\t\u2018The\tclimax\tcomes\u2014\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tread\tit\u2014with\tmy hero,\tPrakhar\tRudra,\thaving\ta\tfight\twith\ta\thippopotamus.\u2019 \u2018A\thippo?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tit\u2019s\treally\ta\tthrilling\taffair.\u2019 \u2018Where\tdoes\tthis\tfight\ttake\tplace?\u2019 \u2018Why,\tin\tthe\tNorth\tPole,\tof\tcourse.\tA\thippo,\tdidn\u2019t\tI\tsay?\u2019 \u2018A\thippopotamus\tin\tthe\tNorth\tPole?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t yes.\t Haven\u2019t\t you\t seen\t pictures\t of\t this\t animal?\t It\t has\t whiskers\t like\t the\t bristles\t of\t a\t garden broom,\tfangs\tthat\tstick\tout\tlike\ta\tpair\tof\twhite\tradishes,\tit\tpads\tsoftly\ton\tthe\tsnow\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\ta\twalrus,\tsurely?\tA\thippopotamus\tlives\tin\tAfrica!\u2019\tJatayu\tturned\ta\tdeep\tshade\tof\tpink\tand bit\t his\t lip\t in\t pr o fo und\t embar r assment.\t \u2018Eh\t heh\t heh\t heh!\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018Bad\t mistake,\t that!\t Tell\t yo u\t what, from\tnow\ton\tI\u2019ll\tshow\tyou\tmy\tmanuscript\tbefore\tgiving\tit\tto\tthe\tpublisher.\u2019 Feluda\tmade\tno\treply\tto\tthis.\t\u2018Excuse\tme,\u2019\the\tsaid\tand\tdisappeared\tinto\this\troom. \u2018Your\tcousin\tappears\ta\tlittle\tquiet,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid\tto\tme.\t\u2018Has\the\tgot\ta\tnew\tcase?\u2019 \u2018No,\tit\u2019s\tnothing\timportant,\u2019\tI\ttold\thim.\t\u2018But\twe\thave\tto\tgo\tto\tSimla\tin\tthe\tnext\tcouple\tof\tdays.\u2019","\u2018A\tlong\ttour?\u2019 \u2018No,\tjust\tabout\tfour\tdays.\u2019 \u2018Hmm\t.\t.\t.\tI\u2019ve\tnever\tbeen\tto\tthat\tpart\tof\tthe\tcountry\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgrew\tpreoccupied.\tBut\the began\tto\tshow\tsigns\tof\tanimation\tthe\tminute\tFeluda\treturned. \u2018Tapesh\ttells\tme\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tSimla.\tIs\tit\tsomething\tto\tdo\twith\tan\tinvestigation?\u2019 \u2018No,\t not\t exactly.\t It\u2019s\t just\t that\t Tom\u2019s\t case\t has\t got\t exchanged\t with\t Dick\u2019s.\t So\t we\t have\t to\t return Dick\u2019s\tcase\tto\thim\tand\tcollect\tTom\u2019s.\u2019 \u2018Good\tlord,\tthe\tmystery\tof\tthe\tmissing\tcase?\tOr,\tsimply,\ta\tmysterious\tcase?\u2019 \u2018Look,\tI\thave\tno\tidea\tif\tthere\tis\tany\treal\tmystery\tinvolved.\tBut\tone\tor\ttwo\tthings\tmake\tme\twonder .\t.\t.\tjust\ta\tlittle\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Felu\t Babu,\u2019\t Jatayu\t interrupted,\t \u2018I\t have\t come\t to\t know\t you\t pretty\t well\t in\t these\t few\t months.\t I\u2019m convinced\tyou\twouldn\u2019t\thave\ttaken\tthe\tcase\tunless\tyou\tfelt\tthere\twas\t.\t.\t.\twell,\tsomething\tin\tit.\tDo\ttell me\twhat\tit\tis.\u2019 I\tcould\tsense\tFeluda\twas\treluctant\tto\treveal\ttoo\tmuch\tat\tthis\tstage.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tdifficult\tto\tsay\tanything,\u2019\the said\tguardedly,\t\u2018without\tknowing\tfor\tsure\twho\tis\ttelling\tlies,\tand\twho\tis\ttelling\tthe\ttruth,\tor\twho\tis simply\ttrying\tto\tconceal\tthe\ttruth.\tAll\tI\tknow\tis\tthat\tthere\tis\tsomething\twrong\tsomewhere.\u2019 \u2018All\t r ig ht,\t that\u2019s\t eno ug h!\u2019\t Jatayu\u2019s\t eyes\t beg an\t to \t shine.\t \u2018Just\t say\t the\t wo r d,\t and\t I\u2019ll\t tag \t alo ng \t with you.\u2019 \u2018Can\tyou\tbear\tthe\tcold?\u2019 \u2018Cold?\tI\twent\tto\tDarjeeling\tlast\tyear.\u2019 \u2018When?\u2019 \u2018In\tMay.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tsnowing\tin\tSimla\tnow.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\trose\tfrom\this\tchair\tin\texcitement.\t\u2018Snow?\tYou\tdon\u2019t\tsay!\tIt\twas\tthe\tdesert the\t last\t time\t and\t now\t it\u2019s\t going\t to\t be\t snow?\t From\t the\t frying\t pan\t into\t the\t frigidaire?\t Oh,\t I\t can\u2019t imagine\tit!\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\tan\texpensive\tbusiness.\u2019 I\tknew\tFeluda\twas\ttrying\tgently\tto\tdiscourage\thim,\tbut\tJatayu\tpaid\tno\tattention\tto\this\twords. \u2018I\tam\tnot\tafraid\tof\texpenses,\u2019\the\tretorted,\tlaughing\tlike\ta\tfilm\tvillain.\t\u2018I\thave\tpublished\ttwenty-one thrillers,\teach\tone\tof\twhich\thas\tseen\tat\tleast\tfive\teditions.\tI\thave\tbought\tthree\thouses\tin\tCalcutta,\tby the\tgrace\tof\tGod.\tIt\u2019s\tin\tmy\town\tinterest\tthat\tI\ttravel\tas\tmuch\tas\tpossible.\tThe\tmore\tplaces\tI\tsee,\tthe easier \t it\t is\t to \t think\t up\t new\t plo ts.\t And\t no t\t ever yo ne\t is\t clever \t like\t yo u,\t so \t mo st\t peo ple\t can\u2019t\t see\t the difference\tbetween\ta\twalrus\tand\ta\thippo,\tanyway.\tThey\u2019ll\thappily\tswallow\t what\t I\t dish\t out,\t and\t that simply\tmeans\tthat\tthe\tcash\tkeeps\trolling\tin.\tOh\tno,\tI\tam\tnot\tbothered\tabout\tthe\texpenses.\tBut\tif\tyou give\tme\ta\tstraight\t\u201cno\u201d,\u2019\tthen\tobviously\tit\u2019s\ta\tdifferent\tmatter.\u2019 Feluda\t g ave\t in.\t Befo r e\t taking \t his\t leave,\t Jatayu\t to o k\t the\t details\t o f\t when\t and\t ho w\t we\u2019d\t be\t leaving and\tfor\thow\tlong,\tjotted\tthese\tdown\tin\this\tnotebook\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Woollen\tvests,\ta\tcouple\tof\tpullovers,\ta woollen\tjacket\tand\tan\tovercoat\t.\t.\t.\tsurely\tthat\tshould\tbe\tenough\teven\tfor\tSimla?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tgravely,\t\u2018but\tonly\tif\tyou\tadd\tto\tit\ta\tpair\tof\tgloves,\ta\tBalaclava\thelmet,\ta\tpair\tof galoshes,\twoollen\tsocks\tand\tsomething\tto\tfight\tfrostbite.\tThen\tyou\tmay\trelax.\u2019","I\thate\texams\tand\ttests\tin\tschool,\tbut\tI\tlove\tthe\tkind\tof\ttests\tFeluda\tsets\tfor\tme.\tThese\tare\tfun\tand\tthey help\tclear\tmy\tmind. Feluda\ttold\tme\tto\tcome\tto\this\troom\tafter\tdinner.\tThere\the\tlay\ton\this\tbed,\tflat\ton\this\tstomach,\tand began\t throwing\t questions\t at\t me.\t The\t first\t was,\t \u2018Name\t all\t the\t people\t we\u2019ve\t got\t to\t know\t who\t are related\tto\tthis\tcase.\u2019 \u2018Dinanath\tLahiri.\u2019 \u2018OK.\tWhat\tsort\tof\ta\tman\tdo\tyou\tthink\the\tis?\u2019 \u2018All\t r ig ht,\t I\t g uess.\t But\t he\t do esn\u2019t\t kno w\t much\t abo ut\t bo o ks\t and\t wr iter s.\t And\t I\u2019m\t slig htly\t do ubtful about\tthe\tway\the\tis\tspending\tsuch\ta\tlot\tof\tmoney\tto\tsend\tus\tto\tSimla.\u2019 \u2018A\t man\t who \t can\t maintain\t a\t co uple\t o f\t car s\t like\t that\t do esn\u2019t\t have\t to \t wo r r y\t abo ut\t mo ney.\t Besides, you\tmustn\u2019t\tforget\tthat\temploying\tFelu\tMitter\tis\ta\tmatter\tof\tprestige.\u2019 \u2018Well,\t in\t that\t case\t there\t is\t nothing\t to\t be\t doubtful\t about.\t The\t second\t person\t we\t met\t was\t Naresh Chandra\tPakrashi.\tVery\till-tempered.\u2019 \u2018But\tplain\tspoken.\tThat\u2019s\tgood.\tNot\tmany\thave\tthat\tquality.\u2019 \u2018But\tdoes\the\talways\ttell\tthe\ttruth?\tI\tmean,\thow\tdo\twe\tknow\tthat\tDinanath\tLahiri\treally\tused\tto\tgo\tto the\traces?\u2019 \u2018Perhaps\the\tstill\tdoes.\tBut\tthat\tdoesn\u2019t\tnecessarily\tmean\tthat\the\u2019s\ta\tcrook.\u2019 \u2018Then\twe\tmet\tPrabeer\tLahiri,\talias\tAmar\tKumar.\tDidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\tlike\this\tuncle.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tperfectly\tnatural.\tHis\tuncle\tis\ta\tstumbling\tblock\tin\this\tway\tforward\tin\tfilms,\the\tgives\thim an\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tfull\tof\tthings\tone\tday,\tand\tthen\ttakes\tit\tback\twithout\ttelling\thim\t.\t.\t.\tso\tobviously\the\u2019s annoyed\twith\this\tuncle.\u2019 \u2018Prabeer\tBabu\tseemed\tpretty\twell\tbuilt.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\the\thas\tstrong\tand\tbroad\twrists.\tPerhaps\tthat\u2019s\twhy\this\tvoice\tsounds\tso\todd.\tIt\tdoesn\u2019t\tmatch his\t manly\t fig ur e\t at\t all.\t No w\t tell\t me\t the\t names\t o f\t the\t o ther \t passeng er s\t who \t tr avelled\t with\t Dinanath Lahiri.\u2019 \u2018One\tof\tthem\twas\tBrijmohan.\tAnd\this\tsurname\twas\t.\t.\t.\tlet\tme\tsee\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Kedia.\tMarwari.\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tHe\u2019s\ta\tmoneylender.\tNothing\tremarkable\tin\this\tappearance,\tapparently.\tKnew\tMr\tPakrashi.\u2019 \u2018He\treally\tdoes\thave\tan\toffice\tin\tLenin\tSarani.\tI\tlooked\tit\tup\tin\tthe\ttelephone\tdirectory.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWell,\tthe\tother\twas\tG.\tC.\tDhameeja.\tHe\tlives\tin\tSimla.\tHas\tan\torchard.\u2019 \u2018So\the\tsaid.\tWe\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tthat\tfor\tsure.\u2019 \u2018But\tit\tis\this\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tthat\tgot\texchanged\twith\tMr\tLahiri\u2019s.\tSurely\tthere\tis\tno\tdoubt\tabout\tthat?\u2019 The\tcase\tin\tquestion\twas\tlying\topen\tnext\tto\tFeluda\u2019s\tbed.\tHe\tstared\tabsentmindedly\tat\tits\tcontents and\tmuttered,\t\u2018Hm\t.\t.\t.\tyes,\tthat\tis\tperhaps\tthe\tonly\tthing\tone\tcan\tbe\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tHe\tbroke\toff\tand\tpicked\tup the\ttwo\tEnglish\tnewspapers\tthat\twere\tin\tthe\tcase\tand\tglanced\tat\tthem.\t\u2018These,\u2019\the\tcontinued\tto\tmutter, \u2018are\tthe\tonly\tthings\tthat\t.\t.\t.\tyou\tknow\t.\t.\t.\tmake\tme\tfeel\tdoubtful.\tThey\tdon\u2019t\tfit\tin\tsomehow.\u2019 At\t this\t po int,\t he\t had\t to \t sto p\t mutter ing \t fo r \t the\t pho ne\t r ang .\t Feluda\t had\t had\t an\t extensio n\t put\t in\t his own\troom. \u2018Hello.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthat\tyou,\tMr\tMitter?\u2019 I\tcould\thear\tthe\twords\tspoken\tfrom\tthe\tother\tside,\tpossibly\tbecause\tit\twas\tquiet\toutside."]
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- 156
- 157
- 158
- 159
- 160
- 161
- 162
- 163
- 164
- 165
- 166
- 167
- 168
- 169
- 170
- 171
- 172
- 173
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- 180
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- 191
- 192
- 193
- 194
- 195
- 196
- 197
- 198
- 199
- 200
- 201
- 202
- 203
- 204
- 205
- 206
- 207
- 208
- 209
- 210
- 211
- 212
- 213
- 214
- 215
- 216
- 217
- 218
- 219
- 220
- 221
- 222
- 223
- 224
- 225
- 226
- 227
- 228
- 229
- 230
- 231
- 232
- 233
- 234
- 235
- 236
- 237
- 238
- 239
- 240
- 241
- 242
- 243
- 244
- 245
- 246
- 247
- 248
- 249
- 250
- 251
- 252
- 253
- 254
- 255
- 256
- 257
- 258
- 259
- 260
- 261
- 262
- 263
- 264
- 265
- 266
- 267
- 268
- 269
- 270
- 271
- 272
- 273
- 274
- 275
- 276
- 277
- 278
- 279
- 280
- 281
- 282
- 283
- 284
- 285
- 286
- 287
- 288
- 289
- 290
- 291
- 292
- 293
- 294
- 295
- 296
- 297
- 298
- 299
- 300
- 301
- 302
- 303
- 304
- 305
- 306
- 307
- 308
- 309
- 310
- 311
- 312
- 313
- 314
- 315
- 316
- 317
- 318
- 319
- 320
- 321
- 322
- 323
- 324
- 325
- 326
- 327
- 328
- 329
- 330
- 331
- 332
- 333
- 334
- 335
- 336
- 337
- 338
- 339
- 340
- 341
- 342
- 343
- 344
- 345
- 346
- 347
- 348
- 349
- 350
- 351
- 352
- 353
- 354
- 355
- 356
- 357
- 358
- 359
- 360
- 361
- 362
- 363
- 364
- 365
- 366
- 367
- 368
- 369
- 370
- 371
- 372
- 373
- 374
- 375
- 376
- 377
- 378
- 379
- 380
- 381
- 382
- 383
- 384
- 385
- 386
- 387
- 388
- 389
- 390
- 391
- 392
- 393
- 394
- 395
- 396
- 397
- 398
- 399
- 400
- 401
- 402
- 403
- 404
- 405
- 406
- 407
- 408
- 409
- 410
- 411
- 412
- 413
- 414
- 415
- 416
- 417
- 418
- 419
- 420
- 421
- 422
- 423
- 424
- 425
- 426
- 427
- 428
- 429
- 430
- 431
- 432
- 433
- 434
- 435
- 436
- 437
- 438
- 439
- 440
- 441
- 442
- 443
- 444
- 445
- 446
- 447
- 448
- 449
- 450
- 451
- 452
- 453
- 454
- 455
- 456
- 457
- 458
- 459
- 460
- 461
- 462
- 463
- 464
- 465
- 466
- 467
- 468
- 469
- 470
- 471
- 472
- 473
- 474
- 475
- 476
- 477
- 478
- 479
- 480
- 481
- 482
- 483
- 484
- 485
- 486
- 487
- 488
- 489
- 490
- 491
- 492
- 493
- 494
- 495
- 496
- 497
- 498
- 499
- 500
- 501
- 502
- 503
- 504
- 505
- 506
- 507
- 508
- 509
- 510
- 511
- 512
- 513
- 514
- 515
- 516
- 517
- 518
- 519
- 520
- 521
- 522
- 523
- 524
- 525
- 526
- 527
- 528
- 529
- 530
- 531
- 532
- 533
- 534
- 535
- 536
- 537
- 538
- 539
- 540
- 541
- 542
- 543
- 544
- 545
- 546
- 547
- 548
- 549
- 550
- 551
- 552
- 553
- 554
- 555
- 556
- 557
- 558
- 559
- 560
- 561
- 562
- 563
- 564
- 565
- 566
- 567
- 568
- 569
- 570
- 571
- 572
- 573
- 574
- 575
- 576
- 577
- 578
- 579
- 580
- 581
- 582
- 583
- 584
- 585
- 586
- 587
- 588
- 589
- 590
- 591
- 592
- 593
- 594
- 595
- 596
- 597
- 598
- 599
- 600
- 601
- 602
- 603
- 604
- 605
- 606
- 607
- 608
- 609
- 610
- 611
- 612
- 613
- 614
- 615
- 616
- 617
- 618
- 619
- 620
- 621
- 622
- 623
- 624
- 625
- 626
- 627
- 628
- 629
- 630
- 631
- 632
- 633
- 634
- 635
- 636
- 637
- 638
- 639
- 640
- 641
- 642
- 643
- 644
- 645
- 646
- 647
- 648
- 649
- 650
- 651
