["\u2018Yes,\tMr\tLahiri.\u2019 \u2018Listen,\tI\thave\tjust\treceived\ta\tmessage\tfrom\tDhameeja.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\the\u2019s\treplied\tto\tyour\ttelegram?\tAlready?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tget\ta\treply\tbefore\ttomorrow.\tI\tam\ttalking\tabout\ta\tphone\tcall.\tApparently, Dhameeja\t had\t g o ne\t to \t the\t r ailway\t r eser vatio n\t o ffice\t and\t g o t\t my\t name\t and\t addr ess\t fr o m\t them.\t But because\the\thad\tto\tleave\tvery\tsuddenly,\the\tcould\tnot\tcontact\tme\thimself.\tHe\tleft\tmy\tattach\u00e9\tcase\twith\ta friend\t here\t in\t Calcutta.\t It\t was\t this\t friend\t who\t rang\t me.\t He\u2019ll\t return\t my\t case\t to\t me\t if\t I\t bring Dhameeja\u2019s.\tSo,\tyou\tsee\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\task\thim\tif\tthe\tmanuscript\twas\tstill\tthere?\u2019 \u2018Oh\tyes.\tEverything\u2019s\tfine.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\tgood\tnews\tthen.\tYour\tproblem\u2019s\tsolved.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t most\t unexpectedly.\t I\u2019m\t leaving\t in\t five\t minutes.\t I\u2019ll\t collect\t Dhameeja\u2019s\t case\t from\t you\t and then\tgo\tto\tPretoria\tStreet.\u2019 \u2018May\tI\tmake\ta\trequest?\u2019 \u2018Certainly.\u2019 \u2018Why\tshould\tyou\ttake\tthe\ttrouble\tof\tgoing\tout?\tWe\twere\tgoing\tto\tgo\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tSimla,\tweren\u2019t we?\t So \t we\u2019d\t quite\t happily\t g o \t to \t Pr eto r ia\t Str eet\t and\t co llect\t yo ur \t case\t fo r \t yo u.\t If\t yo u\t let\t me\t keep\t it tonight,\tI\tcan\tskim\tthrough\tShambhucharan\u2019s\ttale\tof\tTibet.\tYou\tmay\ttreat\tthat\tas\tmy\tfee.\tTomorrow morning\tI\tshall\treturn\tboth\tthe\tcase\tand\tthe\tmanuscript\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tI\thave\tno\tobjection\tto\tthat\tat\tall.\tThe\tman\twho\trang\tme\tis\ta\tMr\tPuri\tand\this\taddress\tis 4\/2\tPretoria\tStreet.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou.\tAll\u2019s\twell\tthat\tends\twell.\u2019 Feluda\t replaced\t the\t receiver\t and\t sat\t frowning.\t I,\t too,\t sat\t silently,\t fighting\t a\t wave\t of disappointment.\tI\tdid\tso\twant\tto\tgo\tto\tSimla\tand\tsee\tit\tsnow.\tNow\tI\thad\tmissed\tthe\tchance\tand\twould have\tto\trot\tin\tCalcutta\twhere\tit\twas\talready\tuncomfortably\thot,\teven\tin\tMarch.\tWell,\tI\tsuppose\tI\tought to\tbe\twith\tFeluda\tin\tthis\tlast\tchapter\tof\tthe\tstory. \u2018Let\tme\tgo\tand\tget\tchanged,\tFeluda,\u2019\tI\tsaid.\t\u2018I\twon\u2019t\tbe\ta\tminute.\u2019 \u2018All\tright.\tHurry\tup.\u2019 Twenty\tminutes\tlater,\twe\twere\tin\ta\ttaxi,\tcruising\tup\tand\tdown\tPretoria\tStreet.\tIt\twas\ta\tquiet\tstreet and,\tit\tbeing\tnearly\thalf\tpast\televen\tat\tnight,\tnot\ta\tsoul\twas\tto\tbe\tseen.\tWe\tdrove\tfrom\tone\tend\tof\tthe str eet\t to \t the\t o ther,\t but\t it\t was\t impo ssible\t to \t see\t the\t number s\t o n\t the\t ho uses\t fr o m\t the\t car.\t \u2018Please\t wait here,\t Sardarji,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t to\t the\t driver.\t \u2018We\u2019ll\t find\t the\t house\t and\t come\t back.\t We\t simply\t have\t to drop\tthis\tcase.\tIt\twon\u2019t\ttake\tlong.\u2019 An\tamiable\tman,\tthe\tdriver\tagreed\tto\twait.\tWe\tgot\tout\tof\tthe\ttaxi\tat\tone\tend\tof\tthe\troad\tand\tbegan walking.\t Beyond\t the\t wall\t on\t our\t left\t stood\t the\t tall\t and\t silent\t Birla\t building,\t dwarfing\t every\t other building\tin\tits\tvicinity\twith\tall\tits\ttwenty-two\tfloors.\tI\thad\toften\theard\tFeluda\tremark\tthat\tthe\tcreepiest things\tin\ta\tcity\tafter\tnightfall\twere\tits\tskyscrapers.\t\u2018Have\tyou\tever\tseen\ta\tcorpse\tstanding\tup?\u2019\the\thad asked\tme\tonce.\t\u2018These\tbuildings\tare\tjust\tthat\tin\tthe\tdark\u2014just\ta\tbody\twithout\tlife\tor\tsoul!\u2019 A\t few\t minutes\t later,\t we\t found\t a\t house\t with\t \u20184\u2019\t written\t on\t its\t gate.\t The\t next\t house,\t which\t was\t at some\t distance,\t turned\t out\t to\t be\t number\t 5.\t So\t 4\/2\t was\t probably\t in\t the\t little\t lane\t that\t ran\t between","numbers\t4\tand\t5.\tIt\twas\tvery\tdifficult\tto\tsee\tanything\tclearly.\tThe\tfew\tdim\tstreetlights\tdid\tnothing\tto help.\tWe\tstepped\tinto\tthe\tlane,\twalking\tcautiously.\tHow\tquiet\tit\twas! Here\twas\tanother\tgate.\tThis\tmust\tbe\t4\/1.\tWhere\twas\t4\/2?\tSomewhere\tfurther\tdown,\thidden\tin\tthe dark?\t There\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t be\t another\t house\t in\t the\t lane\t and,\t even\t if\t there\t was,\t it\t certainly\t did\t not have\ta\tlight\ton.\tThere\twere\twalls\ton\tboth\tsides\tof\tthe\tlane.\tOvergrown\tbranches\tof\ttrees\ton\tthe\tother side\t hung\t over\t these.\t A\t very\t faint\t noise\t of\t traffic\t came\t from\t the\t main\t road.\t A\t clock\t struck\t in\t the distance.\tIt\tmust\tbe\tthe\tclock\tin\tSt\tPaul\u2019s\tChurch.\tIt\twas\tnow\texactly\thalf\tpast\televen.\tBut\tthese\tnoises did\tnothing\tto\timprove\tthe\teerie\tsilence\tin\tPretoria\tStreet.\tA\tdog\tbarked\tnearby.\tAnd,\tin\tthat\tinstant\u2014 \u2018Taxi!\tSardarji,\tSardarji!\u2019\tI\tscreamed,\tquite\tinvoluntarily. A\tman\thad\tjumped\tover\tthe\twall\ton\tour\tright\tand\tfallen\tover\tFeluda.\tHe\twas\tfollowed\tby\tanother. The\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tFeluda\twas\tcarrying\twas\tno\tlonger\tin\this\thand.\tHe\thad\tdropped\tit\ton\tthe\tground\tand was\ttrying\tto\ttackle\tthe\tfirst\tman.\tI\tcould\tfeel\tthe\ttwo\tmen\tstruggling\twith\teach\tother,\tbut\tcould\tsee nothing.\tThe\tblue\tcase\twas\tlying\ton\tthe\troad,\tright\tin\tfront\tof\tme.\tI\tstretched\tmy\thand\tto\tpick\tit\tup, but\t the\t seco nd\t man\t tur ned\t ar o und\t at\t this\t mo ment\t and\t kno cked\t me\t aside.\t Then\t he\t snatched\t the\t case and\trushed\tto\tthe\tentrance\tof\tthe\tlane,\tthrough\twhich\twe\thad\tjust\tstepped.\tOn\tmy\tleft,\tFeluda\tand\tthe other\t man\t were\t still\t grappling\t with\t each\t other,\t but\t I\t could\t not\t figure\t out\t what\t the\t problem\t was. Feluda,\tby\tthis\ttime,\tshould\thave\tbeen\table\tto\toverpower\this\topponent. \u2018God!\u2019 This\t exclamatio n\t came\t fr o m\t o ur \t dr iver.\t He\t had\t hear d\t me\t scr eam\t and\t r ushed\t o ut\t to \t help.\t But\t the man\twho\twas\tmaking\toff\twith\tthe\tcase\tknocked\thim\tdown\tand\tvanished.\tI\tcould\tsee\tthe\tpoor\tdriver lying \t flat\t o n\t the\t g r o und\t under \t a\t str eetlig ht.\t In\t the\t meantime,\t the\t fir st\t man\t manag ed\t to \t wr ig g le\t fr ee from\tFeluda\u2019s\tgrasp\tand\tclimbed\tover\tthe\twall. Feluda\ttook\tout\this\thandkerchief\tand\tbegan\twiping\this\thands.\t\u2018That\tman,\u2019\the\tobserved,\t\u2018had\toiled himself\trather\twell.\tMust\thave\trubbed\tat\tleast\ta\tkilo\tof\tmustard\toil\ton\this\tbody,\tmaking\thim\tslippery as\tan\teel.\tI\tbelieve\tit\u2019s\tan\told\ttrick\twith\tthieves.\u2019 True.\tI\thad\tsmelt\tthe\toil\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\ttwo\tmen\tarrived,\tbut\thad\tnot\tbeen\table\tto\tguess\twhere\tit\twas coming\tfrom. \u2018Thank\tGod!\u2019 For\t the\t life\t of\t me,\t I\t could\t not\t understand\t why\t Feluda\t said\t this.\t How\t could\t he,\t even\t after\t such\t a disaster ?\t \u2018What\t do \t yo u\t mean?\u2019\t I\t asked,\t puzzled.\t Feluda\t did\t no t\t r eply\t at\t o nce.\t He\t helped\t the\t dr iver, who\tappeared\tunhurt,\tto\this\tfeet.\tThen\the\tsaid,\tas\tthe\tthree\tof\tus\tbegan\twalking\ttowards\tthe\ttaxi,\t\u2018You don\u2019t\tthink\twhat\tthose\tscoundrels\tgot\taway\twith\twas\tDhameeja\u2019s\tproperty,\tdo\tyou?\u2019 \u2018Wasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019\tI\twas\teven\tmore\tmystified. \u2018What\tthey\ttook\twas\tthe\tproperty\tof\tPradosh\tC.\tMitter.\tAnd\twhat\tit\tcontained\twere\tthree\ttorn\tvests, five\tthreadbare\thandkerchiefs,\tseveral\tpieces\tof\trag\tand\ta\tfew\told\tnewspapers,\ttorn\tto\tshreds.\tI\trang telephone\t enquiries\t when\t you\t went\t to\t change.\t They\t told\t me\t there\t was\t no\t telephone\t at\t 4\/2\t Pretoria Street.\tBut,\tof\tcourse,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tthat\teven\tthe\taddress\twas\ta\tfake\tone.\u2019 My\theart\tstarted\tpounding\tonce\tmore.\tSomething\ttold\tme\tthe\tvisit\tto\tSimla\twas\tnow\timperative.","Five We\trang\tDinanath\tBabu\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\tgot\thome.\tHe\twas\tcompletely\tnonplussed.\t\u2018Goodness\tme!\u2019\the exclaimed,\t\u2018I\thad\tno\tidea\ta\tthing\tlike\tthis\tcould\thappen!\tOne\tpossible\texplanation\tis,\tof\tcourse,\tthat those\t two\t men\t were\t just\t ordinary\t thieves\t without\t any\t particular\t motive\t to\t steal\t Dhameeja\u2019s\t attach\u00e9 case.\tBut\teven\tso,\tthe\tfact\tremains\tthat\tboth\tthis\tman\tcalled\tPuri\tand\tthe\taddress\the\tgave,\twere\ttotally fictitious.\t That\t means\t Mr\t Dhameeja\t never\t really\t went\t to\t the\t railway\t reservation\t office.\t Who,\t then, made\tthe\tphone\tcall?\u2019 \u2018If\twe\tknew\tthat,\tthere\twould\tbe\tno\tneed\tfor\tfurther\tinvestigations,\tMr\tLahiri.\u2019 \u2018But\ttell\tme,\twhat\tmade\tyou\tsuspicious\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace?\u2019 The\tfact\tthat\tthe\tman\trang\tyou\tso\tlate\tin\tthe\tnight.\tMr\tDhameeja\twent\tback\tyesterday.\tSo\twhy\tdidn\u2019t Mr\tPuri\tgive\tyou\ta\tcall\tyesterday\tor\tduring\tthe\tday\ttoday?\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tWell,\tit\tlooks\tas\tthough\twe\thave\tto\tgo\tback\tto\tour\toriginal\tplan\tof\tsending\tyou\tto\tSimla.\tBut considering\tthe\tturn\tthis\twhole\tbusiness\tis\ttaking,\tfrankly\tI\tam\tnow\tscared\tto\tsend\tyou\tanywhere.\u2019 Feluda\t laughed,\t \u2018Don\u2019t\t worry,\t Mr\t Lahiri.\t I\t can\u2019t\t call\t your\t case\t tame\t and\t insipid\t any\t more.\t It\u2019s definitely\tgot\ta\ttaste\tof\texcitement.\tAnd\tI\tam\tglad,\tfor\tI\twould\thave\tfelt\tashamed\tto\ttake\tyour\tmoney otherwise.\tAnyway,\tI\twould\tnow\tlike\tyou\tto\tdo\tsomething\tfor\tme,\tplease.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018Let\t me\t have\t a\t list\t of\t the\t contents\t of\t your\t case.\t It\t would\t make\t it\t easier\t for\t me\t to\t check\t when Dhameeja\treturns\tit.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s\teasy\tsince\tthere\twasn\u2019t\tanything\tmuch,\tanyway.\tBut\tI\u2019ll\tlet\tyou\thave\tthe\tlist\twhen\tI\tsend\tyou your\ttickets.\u2019 Feluda\t left\t home\t early\t the\t next\t morning.\t His\t whole\t demeanour\t had\t changed\t in\t just\t a\t few\t hours.\t I could\ttell\tby\tthe\tway\the\tkept\tcracking\this\tknuckles\tthat\the\twas\tfeeling\trestless\tand\tdisturbed.\tLike\tme, he\thad\tnot\tbeen\table\tto\twork\tout\twhy\tanyone\tshould\ttry\tto\tsteal\ta\tcase\tthat\tcontained\tnothing\tof\tvalue. He\t had\t examined\t each\t item\t car efully\t o nce\t mo r e,\t g o ing \t so \t far \t as\t squeezing \t so me\t o f\t the\t to o thpaste out\tand\tfeeling\tthe\tshaving\tcream\tby\tpressing\tthe\ttube\tgently.\tHe\teven\ttook\tout\tthe\tblades\tfrom\ttheir container\tand\tunfolded\tthe\tnewspapers.\tStill,\the\tfound\tnothing\tsuspicious.\tFeluda\tleft\tat\tabout\t8\ta.m. \u2018I\t will\t return\t at\t eleven,\u2019\t he\t said\t before\t leaving.\t \u2018If\t anyone\t rings\t the\t calling\t bell\t in\t the\t next\t three hours,\tdon\u2019t\topen\tthe\tdoor\tyourself.\tGet\tSrinath\tto\tdo\tit.\u2019 I\tresigned\tmyself\tto\twait\tpatiently\tfor\this\treturn.\tBaba\thad\tgone\tout\tof\ttown.\tSo\tI\twrote\ta\tletter\tfor him,\t explaining \t why\t Feluda\t and\t I\t had\t to \t g o \t to \t Simla\t befo r e\t he\t g o t\t back.\t Having \t do ne\t this,\t I\t settled down\t on\t the\t settee\t in\t the\t living-room\t with\t a\t book.\t But\t I\t could\t not\t read.\t The\t more\t I\t thought\t about Feluda\u2019s\t new\t case,\t the\t more\t confused\t I\t felt.\t Dinanath\t Babu,\t his\t nephew\t who\t acted\t in\t films,\t the irascible\t Mr\t Pakrashi,\t Mr\t Dhameeja\t of\t Simla,\t the\t moneylender\t called\t Brijmohan\t .\t .\t .\t everyone","seemed\t unr eal,\t as\t tho ug h\t each\t was\t wear ing \t a\t mask.\t Even\t the\t co ntents\t o f\t the\t Air -India\t case\t seemed false.\tAnd,\ton\ttop\tof\teverything\telse,\twas\tlast\tnight\u2019s\tfrightening\texperience\t.\t.\t. No,\tI\tmust\tstop\tthinking.\tI\tpicked\tup\ta\tmagazine.\tIt\twas\ta\tfilm\tmagazine\tcalled\tSparkling\tStars.\tAh yes,\there\twas\tthe\tphotograph\tof\tAmar\tKumar\tI\thad\tseen\tbefore.\t\u2018The\tnewcomer,\tAmar\tKumar,\tin\tthe latest\tfilm\tbeing\tmade\tby\tSri\tGuru\tPictures\u2019,\tsaid\tthe\tcaption.\tAmar\tKumar\twas\tstaring\tstraight\tinto the\t camera,\t wearing\t a\t cap\t very\t much\t in\t the\t style\t of\t Dev\t Anand\t in\t Jewel\t Thief,\t a\t scarf\t around\t his throat,\ta\tcruel\tsmile\tunder\ta\tpencil-thin\tmoustache.\tThere\twas\ta\tpistol\tin\this\thand,\tvery\tobviously\ta fake,\tpossibly\tmade\tof\twood. Something\tmade\tme\tsuddenly\tjump\tup\tand\tturn\tto\tthe\ttelephone\tdirectory.\tHere\tit\twas\u2014Sri\tGuru Pictures,\t53\tBentinck\tStreet.\t24554. I\tdialled\tthe\tnumber\tquickly.\tIt\trang\tseveral\ttimes\tbefore\tsomeone\tanswered\tat\tthe\tother\tend. \u2018Hello.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthat\tSri\tGuru\tPictures?\u2019 My\tvoice\thad\trecently\tstarted\tto\tbreak.\tSo\tI\twas\tsure\twhoever\tI\twas\tspeaking\tto\twould\tnever\tguess I\twas\treally\tno\tmore\tthan\tfifteen-and-a-half. \u2018Yes,\tthis\tis\tSri\tGuru\tPictures.\u2019 \u2018This\tis\tabout\tAmar\tKumar,\tyou\tknow\t.\t.\t.\tthe\tnewcomer\tin\tyour\tlatest\tfilm\u2014\u2019 \u2018Please\tspeak\tto\tMr\tMallik.\u2019\tThe\ttelephone\twas\tpassed\tto\tanother\tman. \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018Mr\tMallik?\u2019 \u2018Speaking.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthere\tsomeone\tcalled\tAmar\tKumar\tworking\tin\tyour\tlatest\tfilm?\tThe\tGhost,\tI\tthink\tit\u2019s\tcalled?\u2019 \u2018Amar\tKumar\thas\tbeen\tdropped.\u2019 \u2018Dropped?\u2019 \u2018Who\tam\tI\tspeaking\tto,\tplease?\u2019 \u2018I\t.\t.\t.\twell,\tI\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Like\ta\tfool,\tI\tcould\tthink\tof\tnothing\tto\tsay\tand\tput\tthe\treceiver\tdown\thurriedly. So\t Amar\t Kumar\t was\t no\t longer\t in\t the\t cast!\t It\t must\t have\t been\t because\t of\t his\t voice.\t How\t unfair, though,\tto\treject\thim\tafter\this\tpicture\thad\tbeen\tpublished\tin\ta\tmagazine.\tBut\tdidn\u2019t\tthe\tman\tknow,\tor did\the\tsimply\tpretend\tto\tus\tthat\the\twas\tstill\tacting\tin\tthe\tfilm? I\twas\tlost\tin\tthought\twhen\tthe\ttelephone\trang,\tstartling\tme\tconsiderably. \u2018Hello!\u2019\tI\tgasped. There\t was\t no\t response\t for\t a\t few\t seconds.\t Then\t I\t heard\t a\t faint\t click.\t Oh,\t I\t knew.\t Someone\t was calling\tfrom\ta\tpublic\tpay\tphone. \u2018Hello?\u2019\tI\tsaid\tagain.\tThis\ttime,\tI\theard\ta\tvoice,\tsoft\tbut\tdistinct.\t\u2018Going\tto\tSimla,\tare\tyou?\u2019 This\twas\tthe\tlast\tthing\tI\u2019d\thave\texpected\tto\thear\tfrom\ta\tstrange\tvoice.\tRendered\tspeechless,\tI\tcould only\tswallow\tin\tsilence. The\tvoice\tspoke\tagain.\tIt\tsounded\tharsh\tand\tthe\twords\tit\tuttered\tchilled\tmy\tblood.\t\u2018Danger.\tDo\tyou hear?\t You\t are\t both\t going\t to\t be\t in\t great\t danger\t if\t you\t go\t to\t Simla.\u2019\t This\t was\t followed\t by\t another click.\tThe\tline\twas\tdisconnected.\tBut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tneed\tto\thear\tany\tmore.\tThose\tfew\twords\twere\tenough.","Like\t the\t Nepali\t Rana\t in\t Uncle\t Sidhu\u2019s\t sto r y,\t who se\t hand\t sho o k\t while\t sho o ting \t at\t a\t tig er,\t I\t r eplaced the\treceiver\twith\ta\ttrembling\thand. Then\t I\t flo pped\t do wn\t o n\t a\t chair \t and\t sat\t ver y\t still.\t Abo ut\t half\t an\t ho ur \t later,\t I\t hear d\t ano ther \t r ing . This\tnearly\tmade\tme\tfall\toff\tthe\tchair,\tbut\tthis\ttime\tI\trealized\tit\twas\tthe\tdoor\tbell,\tnot\tthe\ttelephone.\tIt was\t past\t eleven,\t so\t I\t opened\t the\t door\t myself\t and\t Feluda\t walked\t in.\t The\t huge\t packets\t in\t his\t hands meant\tthat\the\thad\tbeen\tto\tthe\tlaundry\tto\tcollect\tour\twarm\tclothes. Feluda\t gave\t me\t a\t sidelong\t glance\t and\t said,\t \u2018Why\t are\t you\t licking\t your\t lips?\t Has\t there\t been\t a strange\tphone\tcall?\u2019 \u2018How\tdid\tyou\tguess?\u2019\tI\tasked,\tastonished. \u2018From\tthe\tway\tyou\u2019ve\tkept\tthe\treceiver.\tBesides,\tthe\twhole\tthing\u2019s\tbecome\tso\tcomplicated\tthat\tI\u2019d have\tbeen\tsurprised\tif\twe\tdidn\u2019t\tget\ta\tfew\tweird\tcalls.\tWho\twas\tit?\tWhat\tdid\the\tsay?\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tknow\twho\tit\twas.\tHe\tsaid\tgoing\tto\tSimla\tmeant\tdanger\tfor\tboth\tof\tus.\u2019 Feluda\tpushed\tthe\tregulator\tof\tthe\tfan\tto\tits\tmaximum\tspeed\tand\tsat\tcasually\tdown\ton\tthe\tdivan. \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tsay\tto\thim?\u2019 \u2018Nothing.\u2019 \u2018Idiot!\tYou\tshould\thave\tsaid\tgoing\tto\tSimla\tcannot\tpossibly\tbe\tmore\tdangerous\tthan\tgoing\tout\tin the\tstreet\tin\tCalcutta.\tA\tregular\tbattlefield\tis\tprobably\tthe\tonly\tplace\tthat\tcan\tclaim\tto\tbe\tmore\tfull\tof danger\tthan\tthe\tstreets\tin\tthis\tcity.\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\tnonchalance\tcalmed\tmy\tnerves.\tI\tdecided\tto\tchange\tthe\tsubject. \u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tgo?\u2019\tI\tasked.\t\u2018Apart\tfrom\tthe\tlaundry,\tI\tmean.\u2019 \u2018To\tthe\toffice\tof\tS.\tM.\tKedia.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tlearn\tanything\tnew?\u2019 \u2018Brijmohan\t seemed\t a\t friendly\t enough\t fellow.\t His\t family\t has\t lived\t in\t Calcutta\t for\t three generations.\tAnd\tyes,\the\tknows\tMr\tPakrashi.\tI\tgot\tthe\timpression\tthat\tPakrashi\tstill\towes\thim\tsome money.\tBrijmohan,\ttoo,\thad\teaten\tthe\tapple\tDhameeja\thad\toffered\thim.\tBut\tno,\the\tdoesn\u2019t\thave\ta\tblue Air-India\tattach\u00e9\tcase;\tand\the\thad\tspent\tmost\tof\this\ttime\ton\tthe\ttrain\teither\tsleeping\tor\tjust\tlying\twith his\teyes\tclosed.\u2019 I\ttold\tFeluda\tabout\tAmar\tKumar. \u2018If\t he\t knows\t he\t has\t been\t dropped\t but\t is\t pretending\t he\t isn\u2019t,\u2019\t remarked\t Feluda,\t \u2018then\t the\t man\t is truly\ta\tfine\tactor.\u2019 We\t finished\t o ur \t packing \t in\t the\t late\t after no o n.\t Since\t we\t wer e\t g o ing \t fo r \t less\t than\t a\t week,\t I\t didn\u2019t take\ttoo\tmany\tclothes.\tAt\tsix-thirty\tin\tthe\tevening,\tJatayu\trang\tus. \u2018I\tam\ttaking\ta\tnew\tweapon,\u2019\the\tinformed\tus.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tshow\tit\tto\tyou\twhen\twe\tget\tto\tDelhi.\u2019 We\tknew\the\twas\tinterested\tin\tcollecting\tweapons\tof\tvarious\tkind.\tHe\thad\ttaken\ta\tNepali\tdagger\ton our\tjourney\tthrough\tRajasthan,\talthough\the\tdid\tnot\tget\tthe\tchance\tto\tuse\tit. \u2018I\thave\tbought\tmy\tticket,\u2019\the\tadded.\t\u2018I\u2019ll\tsee\tyou\ttomorrow\tat\tthe\tairport.\u2019 Our\ttickets\tarrived\ta\tcouple\tof\thours\tlater,\ttogether\twith\ta\tnote\tfrom\tDinanath\tBabu.\tIt\tsaid: Dear\tMr\tMitter, I\t am\t encl osing\t your\t air\t tickets\t to\t Del hi\t and\t train\t tickets\t to\t Siml a.\t I\t have\t made\t reservations\t for\t you\t for\t a\t day\t in\t Del hi\t at\t the Janpath\tHotel;\tand\tyou\tare\tbooked\tat\tthe\tClarkes\tin\tSimla\tfor\tfour\tdays.\tI\thave\tjust\treceived\ta\treply\tfrom\tMr\tDhameeja.\tHe says\the\thas\tmy\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tsafe.\tHe\texpects\tyou\tto\tcall\ton\thim\tthe\tday\tafter\ttomorrow\tat\t4\tp.m.\tYou\thave\tgot\this\taddress, so\tI\twill\tnot\trepeat\tit\there.\tI\thave\tnot\tmade\ta\tlist\tof\tthe\titems\tin\tmy\tcase\tbecause,\tthinking\tthings\tover,\tit\tstruck\tme\tthat\tthere\tis","only\tone\tthing\tin\tit\tthat\tis\tof\tany\tvalue\tto\tme.\tIt\tis\ta\tbottle\tof\tenterovioform\ttablets.\tThese\tare\tmade\tin\tEngland\tand\tdefinitely more\teffective\tthan\tthose\tproduced\there.\tI\tshould\tbe\thappy\tsimply\tto\tget\tthese\tback.\tI\thope\tyou\thave\ta\tsafe\tand\tsuccessful visit. Yours\tsincerely, Dinanath\tLahiri We\twere\tplanning\tto\thave\tan\tearly\tnight\tand\tgo\tto\tbed\tby\tten\to\u2019\tclock,\tbut\tat\ta\tquarter\tto\tten,\tthe door\tbell\trang.\tWho\tcould\tit\tbe\tat\tthis\thour?\tI\topened\tthe\tdoor\tand\twas\timmediately\tstruck\tdumb\tto find\ta\tman\twho\tI\tnever\tdreamt\twould\tever\tpay\tus\ta\tvisit.\tIf\tFeluda\twas\tsimilarly\tsurprised,\the\tdid\tnot show\tit. \u2018Good\t evening,\t Mr\t Pakrashi,\u2019\t he\t said\t coolly,\t \u2018please\t come\t in.\u2019\t Mr\t Pakrashi\t came\t in,\t a\t slightly embarrassed\tlook\ton\this\tface,\ta\tsmile\thovering\ton\this\tlips.\tHis\till-tempered\tair\twas\tgone.\tWhat\thad happened\tin\ta\tday\tto\tbring\tabout\tthis\tmiraculous\tchange?\tAnd\twhat\thad\the\tcome\tto\ttell\tus\tso\tlate\tin the\tevening? He\t sat\t do wn\t o n\t a\t chair \t and\t said,\t \u2018So r r y\t to \t tr o uble\t yo u.\t I\t kno w\t it\u2019s\t late.\t I\t did\t tr y\t to \t r ing \t yo u,\t but couldn\u2019t\tget\tthrough.\tSo\tI\tthought\tit\twas\tbest\tto\tcall\tpersonally.\tPlease\tdon\u2019t\tmind.\u2019 \u2018We\tdon\u2019t.\tDo\ttell\tus\twhat\tbrings\tyou\there.\u2019 \u2018I\thave\tcome\tto\tmake\ta\trequest.\tIt\tis\ta\tvery\tspecial\trequest.\tIn\tfact,\tit\tmay\tstrike\tyou\tas\tpositively strange.\u2019 \u2018Really?\u2019 \u2018You\t said\t something\t about\t a\t manuscript\t in\t Dinanath\t Lahiri\u2019s\t attach\u00e9\t case.\t Was\t it\t .\t .\t .\t something written\tby\tShambhucharan\tBose?\tYou\tknow,\tthe\tsame\tman\twho\twrote\tabout\tthe\tTerai?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tindeed.\tAn\taccount\tof\this\tvisit\tto\tTibet.\u2019 \u2018My\tGod!\u2019 Feluda\tdid\tnot\tsay\tanything.\tNaresh\tPakrashi,\ttoo,\twas\tquiet\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Are you\taware\tthat\tmy\tcollection\tof\ttravelogues\tis\tthe\tlargest\tand\tthe\tbest\tin\tCalcutta?\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t fully\t pr epar ed\t to \t believe\t that.\t I\t did\t happen\t to \t g lance\t at\t tho se\t almir ahs\t in\t yo ur \t r o o m;\t and\t I caught\tthe\tnames\tof\tquite\ta\tfew\tvery\twell-known\ttravel\twriters.\u2019 \u2018Your\tpowers\tof\tobservation\tmust\tbe\tvery\tgood.\u2019 \u2018That\tis\twhat\tI\tlive\tby,\tMr\tPakrashi.\u2019 Mr\tPakrashi\tnow\ttook\tthe\tpipe\tout\tof\this\tmouth,\tlooked\tstraight\tat\tFeluda\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018You\tare\tgoing to\tSimla,\taren\u2019t\tyou.\u2019 It\twas\tFeluda\u2019s\tturn\tto\tbe\tsurprised.\tHe\tdid\tnot\tactually\task,\t\u2018How\tdo\tyou\tknow.\u2019\tBut\this\teyes\theld\ta quizzical\tlook. Mr \t Pakr ashi\t smiled.\t \u2018A\t clever \t man\t like\t yo u,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018wo uld\t natur ally\t no t\t find\t it\t to o \t difficult\t to disco ver \t that\t Dinu\t Lahir i\u2019s\t attach\u00e9\t case\t had\t g o t\t exchang ed\t with\t Dhameeja\u2019s.\t I\t had\t seen\t Dhameeja\u2019s name\twritten\ton\this\tsuitcase.\tHe\tdid,\tin\tfact,\ttake\tout\this\tshaving\tthings\tfrom\tthe\tblue\tAir-India\tcase, so\tI\tknew\tit\twas\this.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\tsay\tso\tyesterday?\u2019 \u2018Isn\u2019t\t it\t a\t greater\t joy\t to\t have\t worked\t things\t out\t for\t yourself?\t It\t is\t your\t case,\t after\t all.\t You\t will work\ton\tit\tand\tget\tpaid\tfor\tyour\tpains.\tWhy\tshould\tI\tvoluntarily\toffer\tany\thelp?\u2019 Feluda\t appeared\t to\t be\t in\t agreement.\t All\t he\t said\t was,\t \u2018But\t you\t haven\u2019t\t yet\t told\t me\t what\t your strange\trequest\tis.\u2019","\u2018I\tam\tcoming\tto\tthat.\tYou\twill\u2014no\tdoubt\u2014manage\tto\tretrieve\tDinanath\u2019s\tcase.\tAnd\tthe\tmanuscript with\tit.\tI\twould\trequest\tyou\tnot\tto\tgive\tit\tback\tto\thim.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019\tThis\ttime\tFeluda\tcould\tnot\tconceal\this\tsurprise.\tNor\tcould\tI. \u2018I\tsuggest\tyou\tpass\tthe\tmanuscript\tto\tme.\u2019 \u2018To\tyou?\u2019\tFeluda\traised\this\tvoice. \u2018I\ttold\tyou\tit\twould\tsound\todd.\tBut\tyou\tmust\tlisten\tto\tme,\u2019\tMr\tPakrashi\tcontinued,\tleaning\tforward a\tlittle,\this\telbows\tresting\ton\this\tknees.\t\u2018Dinanath\tLahiri\tcannot\tappreciate\tthe\tvalue\tof\tthat\tbook.\tDid you\tsee\ta\tsingle\tgood\tbook\tin\this\thouse?\tNo,\tI\tknow\tyou\tdid\tnot.\tBesides,\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing to\tcompensate\tyou\tfor\tthis.\tI\thave\tgot\u2014\u2019 Her e\t he\t sto pped\t and\t to o k\t o ut\t a\t lo ng \t blue\t envelo pe\t fr o m\t the\t inside\t po cket\t o f\t his\t jacket.\t Then\t he opened\tit\tand\toffered\tit\tto\tFeluda.\tIt\twas\tstuffed\twith\tnew,\tcrisp,\tsweet-smelling\thundred-rupee\tnotes. \u2018I\thave\ttwo\tthousand\there,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018and\tthis\tis\tonly\tan\tadvance\tpayment.\tI\twill\tgive\tyou\tanother\ttwo thousand\twhen\tyou\thand\tover\tthe\tmanuscript\tto\tme.\u2019 Feluda\tdid\tnot\teven\tglance\tat\tthe\tenvelope.\tHe\ttook\tout\ta\tcigarette\tfrom\this\tpocket,\tlit\tit\tcasually and\t said,\t \u2018I\t don\u2019t\t think\t it\u2019s\t of\t any\t relevance\t whether\t Dinanath\t Lahiri\t appreciates\t the\t value\t of\t the manuscript\tor\tnot.\tI\thave\tpromised\tto\tcollect\this\tcase\tfrom\tDhameeja\tin\tSimla\tand\treturn\tit\tto\thim, with\tall\tits\tcontents\tintact.\tAnd\tthat\tis\twhat\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tdo.\u2019 Mr\t Pakrashi\t appeared\t to\t be\t at\t a\t loss\t to\t find\t a\t suitable\t answer\t to\t this.\t After\t a\t few\t moments,\t he simply\t said,\t \u2018All\t right.\t Let\u2019s\t forget\t about\t your\t payment.\t All\t I\t am\t asking\t you\t to\t do\t is\t give\t me\t the manuscript.\tTell\tLahiri\tit\twas\tmissing.\tSay\tDhameeja\tsaid\the\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tit.\u2019 \u2018How,\u2019\t asked\t Feluda,\t \u2018can\t I\t put\t Mr\t Dhameeja\t in\t a\t position\t like\t that?\t Can\t you\t think\t of\t the consequences?\t You\t can\u2019t\t seriously\t expect\t me\t to\t tell\t lies\t about\t a\t totally\t innocent\t man?\t No,\t Mr Pakrashi,\tI\tcannot\tdo\tas\tyou\task.\u2019 Feluda\t rose\t and\t added,\t perfectly\t civilly,\t \u2018Good-night,\t Mr\t Pakrashi.\t I\t hope\t you\t will\t not misunderstand\tme.\u2019 Mr\t Pakrashi\t continued\t to\t sit,\t staring\t into\t space.\t Then\t he\t replaced\t the\t envelope\t into\t his\t pocket, stood\tup,\tgave\tFeluda\ta\tdry\tsmile\tand\twent\tout\twithout\ta\tword.\tIt\twas\timpossible\tto\ttell\tfrom\this\tface whether\the\tfelt\tangry,\tdisappointed\tor\thumiliated. Would\t any\t other\t sleuth\t have\t been\t able\t to\t resist\t such\t temptation\t and\t behave\t the\t way\t Feluda\t had done?\tPerhaps\tnot.","Six Feluda,\tJatayu\tand\tI\twere\tsitting\tin\tIndian\tAirlines\tflight\tnumber\t263,\ton\tour\tway\tto\tDelhi.\tThe\tplane left\tat\t7.30\ta.m.\tFeluda\thad\texplained\tto\tJatayu,\twhile\twe\twere\twaiting\tin\tthe\tdeparture\tlounge,\tabout our\tvisit\tto\tPretoria\tStreet\tand\tthe\tensuing\tevents.\tJatayu\tlistened,\tround-eyed,\toccasionally\tbreaking into\t exclamations\t like\t \u2018thrilling!\u2019\t and\t \u2018highly\t suspicious!\u2019\t Then\t he\t jotted\t down\t in\t his\t notebook\t the little\tmatter\tof\tthe\tthief\tand\tthe\tmustard\toil. \u2018Have\tyou\tflown\tbefore?\u2019\tI\tasked\thim. \u2018If,\u2019\the\treplied\tsagely,\t\u2018a\tman\u2019s\timagination\tis\tlively\tenough,\the\tcan\tsavour\tan\texperience\twithout actually\t doing\t anything.\t No,\t I\u2019ve\t never\t travelled\t by\t air.\t But\t if\t you\t asked\t me\t whether\t I\u2019m\t feeling ner vo us,\t my\t answer \t wo uld\t be\t \u201cno t\t a\t bit\u201d\t because\t in\t my\t imag inatio n,\t I\t have\t tr avelled\t no t\t just\t in\t an aeroplane\tbut\talso\tin\ta\trocket.\tYes,\tI\thave\tbeen\tto\tthe\tmoon!\u2019 Despite\tthese\tbrave\twords,\twhen\tthe\tplane\tbegan\tto\tspeed\tacross\tthe\trunway\tjust\tbefore\ttake-off,\tI saw\tLalmohan\tBabu\tclutching\tthe\tarmrests\tof\this\tseat\tso\ttightly\tthat\this\tknuckles\tturned\twhite.\tWhen the\tplane\tactually\tshot\tup\tin\tthe\tair,\this\tcolour\tturned\ta\trather\tunhealthy\tshade\tof\tyellow\tand\this\tface broke\tinto\ta\tterrible\tgrimace. \u2018What\thappened\tto\tyou?\u2019\tI\tasked\thim\tafterwards. \u2018But\tthat\twas\tnatural!\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018When\ta\trocket\tleaves\tfor\touter\tspace,\teven\tthe\tfaces\tof\tastronauts get\tdistorted.\tThe\tthing\tis,\tyou\tsee,\tas\tyou\u2019re\tleaving\tthe\tground,\tthe\tlaws\tof\tgravity\tpull\tyou\tback.\tIn that\tconflict,\tthe\tfacial\tmuscles\tcontract,\tand\thence\tthe\tdistortion\tof\tthe\twhole\tface.\u2019 I\t wanted\t to\t ask\t if\t that\t was\t indeed\t the\t case,\t why\t should\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t be\t the\t only\t person\t to\t be singled\tout\tby\tthe\tlaws\tof\tgravity,\twhy\tdidn\u2019t\teveryone\telse\tget\tsimilarly\taffected;\tbut\tseeing\tthat\the had\trecovered\this\tcomposure\tand\twas,\tin\tfact,\tlooking\tquite\tcheerful,\tI\tsaid\tnothing\tmore. Breakfast\tarrived\tsoon,\twith\tthe\tcutlery\twrapped\tin\ta\tcellophane\tsheet.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tattacked\this omelette\twith\tthe\tcoffee\tspoon,\tused\tthe\tknife\tlike\ta\tspoon\tto\tscoop\tout\tthe\tmarmalade\tfrom\tits\tlittle pot,\tputting\tit\tstraight\tinto\this\tmouth\twithout\tbothering\tto\tspread\tit\ton\ta\tpiece\tof\tbread;\tthen\the\ttried to\tpeel\tthe\torange\twith\this\tfork,\tbut\tgave\tup\tsoon\tand\tused\this\tfingers\tinstead. Finally,\the\tleant\tforward\tand\tsaid\tto\tFeluda,\t\u2018I\tsaw\tyou\tchewing\tbetel-nut\ta\twhile\tago.\tDo\tyou\thave any\tleft?\u2019 Feluda\ttook\tout\tthe\tKodak\tcontainer\tfrom\tthe\tblue\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tand\tpassed\tit\tto\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tI couldn\u2019t\thelp\tglancing\tagain\tat\tMr\tDhameeja\u2019s\tcase.\tDid\tit\tknow\tthat\twe\twere\tgoing\tto\ttravel\ttwelve hundred\tmiles\tto\ta\tsnow-laden\tplace\tsituated\tat\ta\theight\tof\tseven\tthousand\tfeet,\tsimply\tto\treturn\tit\tto its\towner\tand\tpick\tup\tan\tidentical\tone?\tThe\tthought\tsuddenly\tmade\tme\tshiver. Feluda\t had\t said\t virtually\t nothing\t after\t we\t took\t off.\t He\t had\t taken\t out\t his\t famous\t blue\t notebook (volume\t seven)\t and\t was\t scribbling\t in\t it,\t occasionally\t looking\t up\t to\t stare\t out\t of\t the\t window\t at\t the","fluffy\twhite\tclouds,\tbiting\tthe\tend\tof\this\tpen.\tIt\twas\timpossible\tto\ttell\twhat\the\twas\tthinking.\tI,\tfor\tmy part,\thad\tgiven\tup\ttrying\tto\tthink\tat\tall.\tIt\twas\tall\ttoo\tcomplex. We\t so o n\t landed\t in\t Delhi\t and\t came\t o ut\t o f\t the\t air po r t.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t no ticeable\t nip\t in\t the\t air.\t \u2018This probably\tmeans\tthere\thas\tbeen\ta\tfresh\tsnowfall\tin\tSimla,\u2019\tFeluda\tobserved.\tHe\twas\tstill\tclutching\tthe blue\tcase.\tNot\tfor\ta\tsecond\thad\the\tallowed\thimself\tto\tbe\tseparated\tfrom\tit. \u2018I\tthink\tI\tcan\tget\ta\troom\tat\tthe\tAgra\tHotel,\u2019\tsaid\tLalmohan\tBabu.\t\u2018I\twill\tjoin\tyou\tat\tthe\tJanpath\tby noon.\tThen\twe\tcan\thave\tlunch\ttogether\tand\thave\ta\tlittle\troam\taround.\tThe\ttrain\tto\tSimla\tdoesn\u2019t\tleave until\teight\tthis\tevening,\tdoes\tit?\u2019 The\t Janpath\t was\t a\t fairly\t large\t hotel.\t We\t were\t given\t room\t 532\t on\t the\t fifth\t floor.\t Feluda\t put\t our lug g ag e\t o n\t the\t lug g ag e-r ack\t and\t thr ew\t himself\t o n\t the\t bed.\t I\t decided\t to \t take\t this\t o ppo r tunity\t to \t ask him\tsomething\tthat\tI\thad\tbeen\tfeeling\tcurious\tabout. \u2018Feluda,\u2019\t I\t said,\t \u2018in\t this\t who le\t business\t o f\t blue\t cases\t and\t jumping \t ho o lig ans,\t what\t str ikes\t yo u\t as most\tsuspicious?\u2019 \u2018The\tnewspapers.\u2019 \u2018Er\t.\t.\t.\twould\tyou\tcare\tto\telaborate?\u2019\tI\tasked\thesitantly. \u2018I\tcannot\tfigure\tout\twhy\tMr\tDhameeja\tfolded\tthe\ttwo\tnewspapers\tso\tneatly\tand\tput\tthem\tin\this\tcase with\t such\t car e.\t A\t newspaper,\t o nce\t r ead,\t especially\t o n\t a\t tr ain,\t is\t useless.\t Mo st\t peo ple\t wo uld\t leave\t it behind\twithout\ta\tsecond\tthought.\tThen\twhy\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 This\t was\t Feluda\u2019s\t technique.\t He\t would\t begin\t to\t worry\t about\t a\t seemingly\t completely\t irrelevant point\tthat\twould\tescape\teveryone\telse.\tCertainly\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tmake\thead\tor\ttail\tof\tit. In\t the\t remaining\t hours\t that\t we\t spent\t in\t Delhi,\t two\t things\t happened.\t The\t first\t was\t nothing remarkable,\tbut\tthe\tother\twas\thorrifying. Lalmo han\t Babu\t tur ned\t up\t at\t abo ut\t half\t past\t twelve.\t We\t decided\t to \t g o \t to \t the\t Jantar \t Mantar,\t which was\tnot\tfar\tfrom\tour\thotel.\tJatayu\tand\tI\twere\tboth\tkeen\tto\tsee\tthis\tobservatory\tbuilt\ttwo\thundred\tand fifty\tyears\tago\tby\tSawai\tJai\tSingh.\tFeluda\tsaid\the\u2019d\tmuch\trather\tstay\tin\tthe\thotel,\tboth\tto\tkeep\tan\teye on\tDhameeja\u2019s\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tand\tto\tthink\tmore\tabout\tthe\tmystery. The\t first\t incident\t took\t place\t within\t ten\t minutes\t of\t our\t arrival\t at\t the\t Jantar\t Mantar.\t We\t were strolling\t along\t peacefully,\t when\t suddenly\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t clutched\t at\t my\t sleeve\t and\t whispered,\t \u2018I think\t.\t.\t.\tI\tthink\ta\trather\tsuspicious\tcharacter\tis\ttrying\tto\tfollow\tus!\u2019 I\tlooked\tat\tthe\tman\the\tindicated.\tIt\twas\tan\told\tman,\ta\tNepali\tcap\ton\this\thead,\tcotton\twool\tplugged in\this\tears,\this\teyes\thidden\tbehind\ta\tpair\tof\tdark\tglasses.\tIt\tdid\tappear\tas\tthough\the\twas\tinterested\tin our\tmovements.\tHow\tvery\tstrange! \u2018I\tknow\tthat\tman!\u2019\tsaid\tJatayu. \u2018What!\u2019 \u2018He\tsat\tnext\tto\tme\ton\tthe\tplane.\tHelped\tme\tfasten\tmy\tseat\tbelt.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\tspeak\tto\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tthanked\thim,\tbut\the\tsaid\tnothing.\tMost\tsuspicious,\tI\ttell\tyou!\u2019 Perhaps\tthe\tman\tcould\tguess\twe\twere\ttalking\tabout\thim.\tHe\tdisappeared\tonly\ta\tfew\tminutes\tlater. By\t the\t time\t we\t returned\t to\t the\t hotel,\t it\t was\t almost\t half\t past\t three.\t I\t asked\t for\t our\t key\t at\t the reception,\t but\t the\t receptionist\t said\t he\t didn\u2019t\t have\t it.\t This\t alarmed\t me\t somewhat,\t but\t then\t I remembered\t I\t had\t not\t handed\t it\t in\t at\t all.\t It\t was\t still\t in\t my\t pocket.\t Besides,\t it\t was\t rather\t foolish\t to","worry\tabout\tthe\tkey\twhen\tFeluda\twas\tin\tthe\troom\tto\tlet\tus\tin.\t\u2018Just\tgoes\tto\tshow\tyou\u2019re\tnot\tused\tto staying\tin\thotels,\u2019\tI\ttold\tmyself. Our\troom\twas\ton\tthe\tright,\tabout\tthirty\tyards\tdown\tthe\tcorridor.\tI\tknocked\ton\tthe\tdoor.\tThere\twas no\tresponse. \u2018Perhaps\t your\t cousin\t is\t having\t a\t nap,\u2019\t remarked\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t I\t knocked\t again.\t Nothing happened. Then\t I\t tur ned\t the\t handle\t and\t disco ver ed\t that\t the\t do o r \t was\t o pen.\t But\t I\t knew\t Feluda\t had\t lo cked\t it from\tinside\twhen\twe\tleft. I\t pushed\t the\t do o r,\t but\t it\t r efused\t to \t o pen\t mo r e\t than\t a\t little.\t So mething \t pr etty\t heavy\t must\t be\t lying behind\tit.\tWhat\tcould\tit\tbe? I\tpeered\tin\tthrough\tthe\tlittle\tgap,\tand\tmy\tblood\tfroze. Feluda\twas\tlying\ton\tthe\tfloor,\tface\tdown.\tHis\tright\telbow\twas\twhat\tthe\tdoor\twas\tknocking\tagainst. I\tcould\thardly\tbreathe,\tbut\tknew\tthat\tI\tmust\tnot\tpanic.\tTogether\twith\tLalmohan\tBabu,\tI\tpushed\tthe door\tharder\tand\teventually\twe\tboth\tmanaged\tto\tslide\tin. Feluda\twas\tunconscious.\tBut,\tpossibly\tas\ta\tresult\tof\tour\tpushing\tand\theaving,\the\twas\tbeginning\tto stir\t and\t groan.\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t it\t turned\t out,\t could\t keep\t a\t calm\t head\t in\t a\t crisis.\t It\t was\t he\t who splashed\tcold\twater\ton\tFeluda\u2019s\tface\tand\tfanned\thim\tfuriously\tuntil\the\topened\this\teyes. Then\the\traised\ta\thand\tgingerly\tand\tfelt\tthe\tcentre\tof\this\thead,\tmaking\ta\tface.\t\u2018It\u2019s\tgone,\tI\tassume?\u2019 he\tasked.\tI\thad\talready\tchecked. \u2018Yes,\t Feluda,\u2019\t I\t had\t to\t tell\t him,\t \u2018that\t attach\u00e9\t case\t has\t vanished.\u2019\t Feluda\t staggered\t to\t his\t feet, declining \t o ur \t o ffer \t o f\t assistance.\t \u2018It\u2019s\t all\t r ig ht,\u2019\t he\t insisted,\t \u2018I\t can\t manag e.\t I\u2019ve\t g o t\t a\t bump\t o n\t my head,\tbut\tI\tthink\tthat\u2019s\tall.\tIt\tmight\thave\tbeen\tworse.\u2019 It\t mig ht\t indeed.\t Feluda\t to o k\t a\t few\t minutes\t to \t r est\t and\t to \t make\t sur e\t no thing \t was\t br o ken.\t T hen\t he rang\troom\tservice,\tordered\ttea\tfor\tus\tall\tand\ttold\tus\twhat\thad\thappened. \u2018I\t studied\t the\t entr ies\t in\t my\t no tebo o k\t fo r \t abo ut\t half\t an\t ho ur \t after \t yo u\t had\t g o ne.\t Then\t I\t beg an\t to feel\t tir ed.\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t slept\t fo r \t mo r e\t than\t a\t co uple\t o f\t ho ur s\t last\t nig ht,\t yo u\t see.\t So \t I\t tho ug ht\t I\u2019d\t have\t a little\trest,\tbut\tjust\tat\tthat\tmoment\tthe\ttelephone\trang.\u2019 \u2018The\ttelephone?\tWho\twas\tit?\u2019 \u2018Wait,\t let\t me\t finish.\t It\t was\t the\t r eceptio nist.\t He\t said,\t Mr \t Mitter,\t ther e\u2019s\t a\t g entleman\t her e\t who \t has recognized\tyou.\tHe\tsays\the\u2019d\tlike\tto\ttake\tthe\tautograph\tof\tsuch\ta\tbrilliant\tsleuth\tas\tyourself.\tShall\tI send\thim\tup?\u2019 Feluda\t paused\t here,\t turned\t to\t me\t and\t continued,\t \u2018I\t realized\t one\t thing\t today,\t Topshe,\t and\t I\t don\u2019t mind\tadmitting\tit\u2014to\tgive\tan\tautograph\tis\tas\ttempting\tas\ttaking\tit.\tI\tshall,\tof\tcourse,\tbe\tmore\tcareful in\tfuture.\tBut\tI\tneeded\tthis\tlesson.\u2019 \u2018What\tdoes\tthat\tmean?\u2019 \u2018I\t felt\t so \t pleased\t that\t I\t to ld\t the\t r eceptio nist\t to \t send\t the\t man\t up.\t He\t came,\t kno cked\t o n\t the\t do o r,\t I o pened\t it,\t felt\t a\t shar p\t kno ck\t o n\t my\t o wn\t head,\t and\t .\t .\t .\t ever ything \t went\t black.\t T he\t man\t had\t co ver ed his\tface\twith\ta\tlarge\thandkerchief,\tso\tI\tdon\u2019t\teven\tknow\twhat\the\tlooked\tlike.\u2019 \u2018Since\t we\t are\t in\t Delhi,\u2019\t suggested\t Jatayu,\t \u2018wouldn\u2019t\t it\t be\t a\t good\t idea\t to\t inform\t the\t Prime Minister?\u2019","Feluda\t smiled\t wryly\t at\t this.\t \u2018God\t knows\t what\t that\t man\t gained\t by\t stealing\t that\t blue\t case,\u2019\t he remarked,\t\u2018but\the\thas\tcertainly\tput\tus\tin\tan\timpossible\tsituation.\tWhat\ta\treckless\tdevil!\u2019 For\tthe\tnext\tfew\tminutes,\tno\tone\tspoke.\tAll\tthat\tcould\tbe\theard\tin\tthe\troom\twas\tthe\tsound\tof\tsighs. At\tlast,\tFeluda\tuttered\ta\tfew\tsignificant\twords.\t\u2018There\tis\ta\tway,\u2019\the\tsaid\tslowly.\t\u2018Not,\tI\tadmit,\ta\tsimple way.\t But\t it\u2019s\t the\t only\t one\t I\t can\t think\t of,\t and\t we\u2019ve\t got\t to\t take\t it\t because\t we\t cannot\t go\t to\t Simla empty-handed.\u2019 He\treached\tfor\this\tblue\tnotebook,\tand\tran\this\teyes\tthrough\tthe\tlist\tof\tcontents\tin\tDhameeja\u2019s\tcase. \u2018There\tis\tnothing\tin\tthis\tlist,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018that\twe\tcan\u2019t\tget\there\tin\tDelhi.\tWe\u2019ve\tgot\tto\tget\tevery\titem.\tI remember\t what\t each\t one\t looked\t like\t and\t what\t condition\t it\t was\t in.\t So\t that\u2019s\t one\t thing\t we\t needn\u2019t worry\tabout.\tI\tcould\tmake\tthe\ttoothpaste\tand\tthe\tshaving\tcream\tlook\told\tand\tused.\tAnd\tit\tshould\tbe possible\t to\t get\t hold\t of\t a\t white\t handkerchief\t and\t have\t it\t embroidered.\t I\t remember\t the\t pattern.\t The newspapers\t will,\t of\t course,\t have\t a\t different\t date,\t but\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t Mr\t Dhameeja\t will\t notice\t it.\t The only\texpensive\tthing\twould\tbe\ta\troll\tof\tKodak\tfilm\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018Hey!\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t interrupted.\t \u2018Hey,\t look,\t I\t completely\t forgot\t to\t give\t this\t back\t to\t you.\t You passed\tit\tto\tme\ton\tthe\tplane,\tremember?\u2019\tHe\treturned\tthe\tKodak\tcontainer\tto\tFeluda. \u2018Good,\tthat\u2019s\tone\tproblem\tsolved\t.\t.\t.\tbut\twhat\tis\tthat\tsticking\tout\tof\tyour\tpocket?\u2019 A\tpiece\tof\tpaper\thad\tslipped\tout\twith\tthe\tlittle\tbox\tof\tbetel-nuts.\tWe\tcould\tall\tsee\twhat\twas\twritten on\tit: \u2018Do\tnot\tgo\tto\tSimla\tif\tyou\tvalue\tyour\tlife.\u2019","Seven It\twas\tnow\t9.30\tp.m.\tOur\ttrain\twas\trushing\tthrough\tthe\tdarkness\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tKalka.\tWe\twould have\tto\tchange\tat\tKalka\tto\tgo\ton\tto\tSimla.\tThere\twere\tonly\tthe\tthree\tof\tus\tin\tour\tcompartment.\tThe fo ur th\t ber th\t was\t empty.\t I\t co uldn\u2019t\t g uess\t ho w\t the\t o ther \t two \t wer e\t feeling ,\t but\t in\t my\t o wn\t mind\t ther e was\ta\tmixture\tof\tso\tmany\tdifferent\temotions\tthat\tit\twas\timpossible\tto\ttell\twhich\twas\tthe\tuppermost: excitement,\tpleasure,\tan\teager\tanticipation\tor\tfear. Lalmohan\tBabu\tbroke\tthe\tsilence\tby\tsaying,\tsomewhat\thesitantly,\t\u2018Tel!\tme,\tMr\tMitter,\tthe\tdividing line\tbetween\ta\tbrilliant\tdetective\tand\ta\tcriminal\twith\treal\tcunning\tis\treally\tquite\tthin,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 Feluda\t was\t so\t preoccupied\t that\t he\t did\t not\t reply.\t But\t I\t knew\t very\t well\t what\t had\t prompted\t the question.\tIt\twas\trelated\tto\ta\tcertain\tincident\tthat\ttook\tplace\tduring\tthe\tevening.\tI\tshould\tdescribe\tit\tin some\tdetail,\tfor\tit\trevealed\ta\trather\tunexpected\tstreak\tin\tFeluda\u2019s\tcharacter. It\thad\ttaken\tus\tbarely\thalf\tan\thour\tto\tcollect\tmost\tof\tthe\tthings\twe\tneeded\tto\tdeceive\tMr\tDhameeja. The\tonly\tmajor\tproblem\twas\tthe\tattach\u00e9\tcase\titself. Where\tcould\twe\tfind\ta\tblue\tAir-India\tcase?\tWe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tanyone\tin\tDelhi\twe\tcould\task.\tIt\tmight be\t po ssible\t to \t g et\t a\t similar \t blue\t case\t in\t a\t sho p\u2014but\t that\t wo uldn\u2019t\t have\t Air \t India\t wr itten\t o n\t it.\t And that\twould,\tnaturally,\tgive\tthe\twhole\tshow\taway. In\tthe\tend,\thowever,\tin\tsheer\tdesperation,\twe\tdid\tbuy\ta\tplain\tblue\tcase\tand,\tclutching\tit\tin\tone\thand, Feluda\tled\tus\tinto\tthe\tmain\toffice\tof\tAir-India. The\tfirst\tperson\tour\teyes\tfell\ton\twas\tan\told\tman,\ta\tParsee\tcap\ton\this\thead,\tsitting\tright\tnext\tto\tthe \u2018Enquiries\u2019\tcounter.\tOn\this\tleft,\tresting\tagainst\this\tchair,\twas\ta\tbrand\tnew\tblue\tAir\tIndia\tattach\u00e9\tcase, exactly\tthe\tkind\twe\twere\tlooking\tfor. Feluda\twalked\tstraight\tup\tto\tthe\tcounter\tand\tplaced\this\town\tcase\tbeside\tthe\told\tman\u2019s.\t\u2018Is\tthere\tan Air-India\tflight\tto\tFrankfurt\tfrom\tDelhi?\u2019\the\tasked\tthe\tman\tbehind\tthe\tcounter.\tIn\ta\tmatter\tof\tseconds, he\tgot\tthe\tnecessary\tinformation,\tsaid,\t\u2018Thank\tyou,\u2019\tpicked\tup\tthe\told\tman\u2019s\tcase\tand\tpushed\this\town to\t the\t spot\t where\t it\t had\t been\t resting\t and\t coolly\t walked\t out.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I\t followed,\t quite speechless.\tThen\twe\treturned\tto\tthe\thotel\tand\tFeluda\tbegan\tto\twork\ton\tthe\tattach\u00e9\tcase.\tBy\tthe\ttime\the finished,\tno\tone\u2014not\teven\tMr\tDhameeja\u2014could\thave\tsaid\tthat\tit\twas\tnot\tthe\tone\twe\thad\tbeen\tgiven by\tDinanath\tLahiri.\tThe\tsame\tapplied\tto\tits\tcontents. Feluda\t had\t been\t staring\t at\t his\t notebook.\t Now\t he\t shut\t it,\t rose\t and\t began\t pacing.\t \u2018It\t was\t just\t like this,\u2019\the\tmuttered.\t\u2018Those\tfour\tmen\twere\tin\ta\tcoach\texactly\tlike\tthis\t.\t.\t.\u2019 I\t have\t always\t found\t it\t difficult\t to\t tell\t what\t would\t attract\t Feluda\u2019s\t attention.\t Right\t now,\t he\t was star ing \t at\t the\t g lasses\t that\t sto o d\t inside\t metal\t r ing s\t attached\t to \t the\t wall.\t Why\t sho uld\t these\t be\t o f\t any interest\tto\thim? \u2018Can\tyou\tsleep\tin\ta\tmoving\ttrain,\tor\tcan\u2019t\tyou?\u2019\the\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu,\trather\tabruptly. \u2018Well,\tI\t.\t.\t.\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\treplied,\ttrying\tto\tsuppress\ta\tgiant\tyawn,\t\u2018I\tquite\tlike\tbeing\trocked.\u2019","\u2018Yes.\t I\t know\t the\t rocking\t generally\t helps\t one\t sleep.\t But\t not\t everyone,\t mind\t you.\t I\t have\t an\t uncle who\tcannot\tsleep\ta\twink\tin\ta\ttrain,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tand\tjumped\tup\ton\tthe\tempty\tberth.\tThen\the\tswitched on\tthe\treading\tlamp,\topened\tthe\tbook\tthat\twas\tin\tDhameeja\u2019s\tattach\u00e9\tcase,\tand\tturned\ta\tfew\tpages.\tWe had\tbought\ta\tsecond\tcopy\tat\ta\tbook\tstall\tin\tthe\tNew\tDelhi\trailway\tstation. Laying\t the\t book\t aside,\t Feluda\t stretched\t on\t the\t upper\t berth\t and\t stared\t up\t at\t the\t ceiling.\t It\t was completely\tdark\toutside.\tNothing\tcould\tbe\tseen\texcept\ta\tfew\tflickering\tlights\tin\tthe\tdistance. I\t was\t about\t to\t ask\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t if\t he\t had\t remembered\t to\t bring\t his\t weapon\t and,\t if\t so,\t when would\the\tshow\tit\tto\tus,\twhen\the\tspoke\tunexpectedly. \u2018We\t fo r g o t\t o ne\t thing ,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018betel-nuts.\t We\t must\t check\t with\t the\t fello w\t fr o m\t the\t dining \t car \t if they\t have\t any.\t If\t no t,\t we\t shall\t have\t to \t buy\t so me\t at\t the\t next\t statio n.\t T her e\u2019s\t just\t o ne\t left\t in\t this\t little box.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\ttook\tout\tthe\tKodak\tcontainer,\tthe\tonly\toriginal\tobject\tleft\tfrom\tDhameeja\u2019s\tattach\u00e9 case,\tand\ttilted\tit\ton\this\tpalm.\tThe\tbetel-nut\tdid\tnot\tslip\tout. \u2018How\tannoying!\u2019\the\texclaimed.\t\u2018I\tcan\tsee\tit,\tbut\tit\twon\u2019t\tcome\tout!\u2019\tHe\tbegan\tto\tshake\tthe\tcontainer vigorously,\tshowering\tstrong\twords\ton\tthe\tobstinate\tpiece\tof\tbetel-nut,\tbut\tit\trefused\tto\tbudge. \u2018Give\t it\t to\t me!\u2019\t said\t Feluda\t and\t leapt\t down\t from\t the\t upper\t berth,\t snatching\t the\t container\t from Lalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\thand.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcould\tonly\tstare\tat\thim,\tcompletely\ttaken\taback. Feluda\t slipped\t his\t little\t finger\t into\t the\t box\t and\t pushed\t at\t the\t small\t object,\t using\t a\t little\t force.\t It no w\t came\t o ut\t like\t an\t o bedient\t child.\t Feluda\t sniffed\t a\t co uple\t o f\t times\t and\t said,\t \u2018Ar aldite.\t So meo ne used\tAraldite\ton\tthis\tpiece\tof\tbetel-nut.\tI\twonder\twhy\u2014?\tTopshe,\tshut\tthe\tdoor.\u2019\tThere\twere\tfootsteps outside\tin\tthe\tcorridor.\tI\tdid\tshut\tthe\tdoor,\tbut\tnot\tbefore\tI\thad\tcaught\ta\tglimpse\tof\tthe\tman\twho\twent past\tour\tcompartment.\tIt\twas\tthe\tsame\told\tman\twe\thad\tseen\tat\tthe\tJantar\tMantar.\tHe\twas\tstill\twearing the\tdark\tglasses\tand\this\tears\twere\tstill\tplugged\twith\tcotton\twool. \u2018Sh-h-h-h,\u2019\tFeluda\twhistled. He\twas\tgazing\tsteadily\tat\tthe\tlittle\tbetel-nut\tthat\tlay\ton\this\tpalm.\tI\twent\tforward\tfor\ta\tcloser\tlook.\tIt was\tclear\tthat\tit\twas\tnot\ta\tbetel-nut\tat\tall.\tSome\tother\tobject\thad\tbeen\tpainted\tbrown\tto\tcamouflage\tit. \u2018I\tshould\thave\tguessed,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\tsoftly.\t\u2018I\tshould\thave\tknown\ta\tlong\ttime\tago.\tOh,\twhat\ta\tfool\tI have\tbeen,\tTopshe!\u2019 Feluda\tnow\tlifted\tone\tof\tthe\tglasses\tfrom\tits\tring,\tpoured\ta\tlittle\twater\tfrom\tour\tflask\tand\tdipped the\tbetel-nut\tin\tit.\tThe\twater\tbegan\tto\tturn\ta\tlight\tbrown\tas\the\tgently\trubbed\tthe\tobject.\tThen\the\twiped it\twith\ta\thandkerchief\tand\tput\tit\tback\ton\this\tpalm. The\t betel-nut\t had\t disappeared.\t In\t its\t place\t was\t a\t beautifully\t cut,\t brilliant\t stone.\t From\t the\t way\t it glittered\teven\tin\tour\tsemi-dark\tcompartment,\tI\tcould\ttell\tit\twas\ta\tdiamond.\tAnd\tit\twas\tpretty\tobvious that\tnone\tof\tus\thad\tseen\tsuch\ta\tlarge\tone\tever\tbefore.\tAt\tleast,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tmade\tno\tbones\tabout it. \u2018Is\tthat\t.\t.\t.\u2019\the\tgasped,\t\u2018a\td.\t.\t.di.\t.\t.di.\t.\t.?\u2019 Feluda\t clo sed\t his\t fist\t ar o und\t the\t sto ne,\t went\t o ver \t to \t the\t do o r \t to \t lo ck\t it,\t then\t came\t back\t and\t said, \u2018We\u2019ve\talready\thad\twarnings\tthreatening\tour\tlives.\tWhy\tare\tyou\ttalking\tof\tdying?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tnot\td-dying.\tI\tmean,\tis\tthat\ta\tdiam-m-m-?\u2019 \u2018Very\tprobably,\tor\tit\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tchased\tso\tpersistently.\tBut\tmind\tyou,\tI\tam\tno\texpert.\u2019 \u2018Well\tthen,\tis\tit\tval-val-val-?\u2019","\u2018I\u2019m\tafraid\tthe\tvalue\tof\tdiamonds\tis\tsomething\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tmuch\tabout.\tI\tcan\tonly\tmake\ta\trough g uess.\t This\t o ne,\t I\t think,\t is\t in\t the\t r eg io n\t o f\t twenty\t car ats.\t So \t its\t value\t wo uld\t cer tainly\t exceed\t half\t a million\trupees.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tgulped\tin\tsilence.\tFeluda\twas\tstill\tturning\tthe\tstone\tbetween\this\tfingers. \u2018How\tdid\tDhameeja\tget\thold\tof\tsomething\tso\tprecious?\u2019\tI\tasked\tunder\tmy\tbreath. \u2018I\t do n\u2019t\t kno w,\t dear \t bo y.\t All\t I\t kno w\t abo ut\t Dhameeja\t is\t that\t he\t said\t he\t had\t an\t o r char d\t and\t that\t he likes\treading\tthrillers\ton\ttrains.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu,\t in\t the\t meantime,\t had\t recovered\t somewhat.\t \u2018Will\t this\t stone\t now\t go\t back\t to Dhameeja?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018If\twe\tcan\tbe\tsure\tthat\tit\tis\tindeed\this,\tthen\tcertainly\tit\twill\tgo\tback\tto\thim.\u2019 \u2018Does\tthat\tmean\tyou\tsuspect\tit\tmight\tactually\tbelong\tto\tsomeone\telse?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t but\t ther e\t ar e\t o ther \t questio ns\t that\t need\t to \t be\t answer ed.\t Fo r \t instance,\t I\t do n\u2019t\t kno w\t if\t peo ple outside\tBengal\tare\tin\tthe\thabit\tof\tchewing\tchopped\tbetel-nuts.\u2019 \u2018But\tif\tthat\tis\tso\u2014\u2019\tI\tbegan. \u2018No.\tNo\tmore\tquestions\ttonight,\tTopshe.\tThis\twhole\taffair\thas\ttaken\tanother\tnew\tturn.\tWe\thave\tto take\tevery\tstep\twith\textreme\tcaution.\tI\tcan\u2019t\twaste\tany\tmore\ttime\tchatting.\u2019 Feluda\ttook\tout\this\twallet,\tput\tthe\tsparkling\tstone\taway\tsafely,\tpulled\tthe\tzip\tand\tclimbed\ton\tto\this ber th.\t I\t knew\t he\t didn\u2019t\t want\t to \t be\t distur bed.\t Lalmo han\t Babu\t o pened\t his\t mo uth\t to \t speak,\t but\t I\t laid\t a finger\tagainst\tmy\tlips\tto\tstop\thim.\tHe\tglanced\tonce\tat\tFeluda\tand\tthen\tturned\tto\tme.\t\u2018I\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tgive up\twriting\tsuspense\tthrillers,\u2019\the\tconfided. \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018The\tfew\tthings\tthat\thave\thappened\tin\tthe\tlast\tcouple\tof\tdays\t.\t.\t.\tthey\u2019re\tbeyond\tone\u2019s\timagination, aren\u2019t\tthey?\tHaven\u2019t\tyou\theard\tthe\tsaying,\ttruth\tis\tstronger\tthan\tfiction?\u2019 \u2018Not\tstronger.\tI\tthink\tthe\tword\tis\tstranger.\u2019 \u2018Stranger?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tmeaning\tmore\t.\t.\t.\tamazing.\tMore\tcurious.\u2019 \u2018Oh\t really?\t I\t thought\t a\t stranger\t was\t someone\t one\t hadn\u2019t\t met\t before.\t Oh\t no,\t no,\t I\t see\t what\t you mean.\tStrange,\tstranger,\tstrangest\t.\t.\t.\u2019 I\tdecided\tto\tcheer\thim\tup.\t\u2018We\tfound\tthe\tdiamond\tonly\tbecause\tof\tyou,\u2019\tI\ttold\thim.\t\u2018If\tyou\thadn\u2019t finished\tall\tthe\treal\tbetel-nuts,\tthat\tdiamond\twould\thave\tremained\thidden\tforever.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tgrinned\tfrom\tear\tto\tear. \u2018You\tmean\tto\tsay\teven\tI\thave\tmade\ta\tlittle\tcontribution\tto\tthis\tgreat\tmystery?\tHeh,\theh,\theh,\theh\t.\t. .\u2019\tThen\the\tthought\tfor\ta\tminute\tand\tadded,\t\u2018You\tknow\twhat\tI\treally\tthink?\tI\tam\tsure\tyour\tcousin\tknew about\tthe\tdiamond\tright\tfrom\tthe\tstart.\tOr\thow\tcould\twe\thave\tsurvived\ttwo\tattempts\tto\tsteal\tit\tfrom us?\u2019 This\tmade\tme\tthink.\tThe\tthief\thad\tnot\tyet\tmanaged\tto\tlay\this\thands\ton\tthe\treal\tstuff.\tNot\teven\tby breaking\tinto\tour\thotel\troom.\tThat\tprecious\tstone\twas\tstill\twith\tus.\tThis\tmeant\twe\twere\tprobably\tstill being\tfollowed,\tand\ttherefore,\tin\tconstant\tdanger. And\twe\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tsafe\teven\tin\tSimla\t.\t.\t. Heaven\tknows\twhen\tI\tfell\tasleep.\tI\twoke\tsuddenly\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight.\tIt\twas\ttotally\tdark\tin the\t compartment,\t which\t meant\t even\t Feluda\t had\t switched\t off\t the\t reading\t lamp\t and\t gone\t to\t sleep.","Lalmohan\t Babu\t was\t sleeping\t on\t the\t lower\t berth\t opposite\t mine.\t I\t was\t about\t to\t switch\t on\t my\t own lamp\t to\t look\t at\t the\t time,\t when\t my\t eyes\t fell\t on\t the\t door.\t The\t curtain\t from\t our\t side\t was\t drawn partially\tover\tthe\tfrosted\tglass.\tBut\tthere\twas\ta\tgap,\tand\ton\tthis\tgap\tfell\tthe\tshadow\tof\ta\tman. What\t was\t he\t doing\t there?\t It\t took\t me\t a\t few\t seconds\t to\t realize\t he\t was\t actually\t trying\t to\t turn\t the handle\tof\tthe\tdoor.\tI\tknew\tthe\tdoor\twas\tlocked\tand\twould\tnot\tyield\tto\tpressure\tfrom\toutside;\tbut\teven so,\tI\tbegan\tto\tfeel\tbreathless\twith\tfear. How\t long\t the\t man\t would\t have\t persisted,\t it\t is\t difficult\t to\t say.\t But,\t only\t a\t few\t seconds\t later, Lalmohan\tBabu\tshouted\t\u2018Boomerang!\u2019\tin\this\tsleep,\tand\tthe\tshadow\tdisappeared. I\trealized\tthat\teven\tin\tthe\tcool\tnight\tair,\tI\thad\tbroken\tinto\ta\tcold\tsweat.","Eight I\t had\t seen\t snow-capped\t mountains\t before\u2014Kanchenjunga\t in\t Darjeeling\t and\t the\t top\t of\t Annapurna fr o m\t a\t plane;\t and\t cer tainly\t I\t had\t seen\t sno w\t in\t films.\t But\t no thing \t had\t star tled\t me\t as\t much\t as\t what\t I saw\t in\t Simla.\t If\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t fo r \t o ther \t Indians\t str o lling \t o n\t the\t str eets,\t I\t co uld\t have\t swo r n\t we\t wer e\t in\t a foreign\tcountry. \u2018This\t town\t was\t built\t by\t the\t British,\t like\t Darjeeling,\u2019\t Feluda\t told\t me,\t \u2018so\t it\t does\t have\t the appearance\tof\ta\tforeign\tcity.\tOne\tLt.\tRoss\tbuilt\ta\twooden\tcottage\there\tin\t1819\tfor\thimself.\tThat\twas the\tbeginning.\tSoon,\tthe\tBritish\tturned\tthis\tinto\ttheir\tsummer\tcapital,\tsince\tin\tthe\tsummer\tmonths\tlife on\tthe\tplains\tbecame\tpretty\tuncomfortable.\u2019 We\t had\t taken\t a\t metre\t gauge\t train\t at\t Kalka\t to\t reach\t Simla.\t Nothing\t remarkable\t happened\t on\t the way,\talthough\tI\tnoticed\tthat\tthe\told\tman\twith\tthe\tearplugs\ttravelled\ton\tthe\tsame\ttrain\tand\tchecked\tin at\t the\t Clarkes\t just\t like\t us.\t Since\t the\t main\t season\t had\t not\t yet\t started,\t there\t were\t plenty\t of\t rooms available\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu,\ttoo,\tfound\tone\tat\tthe\tClarkes\twithout\tany\tproblem. Feluda\twent\tlooking\tfor\ta\tpost\toffice\tsoon\tafter\tchecking\tin.\tI\toffered\tto\tgo\twith\thim,\tbut\the\tsaid someone\tshould\tstay\tbehind\tto\tguard\tthe\tnew\tattach\u00e9\tcase;\tso\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tremained\tat\tthe hotel.\tFeluda\thadn\u2019t\tmade\ta\tsingle\tremark\ton\tthe\tsnow\tor\tthe\tbeautiful\ttown.\tLalmohan\tBabu,\ton\tthe other\thand,\tappeared\tto\tbe\ttotally\toverwhelmed.\tEverything\the\tsaw\tstruck\thim\tas\t\u2018fanastatic\u2019.\tWhen\tI pointed\tout\tthat\tthe\tword\twas\t\u2018fantastic\u2019,\the\tsaid\tairily\tthat\tthe\tspeed\twith\twhich\the\tread\tEnglish\twas so\tremarkable\tthat\tnot\toften\tdid\the\tfind\tthe\ttime\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\twords\tcarefully.\tBesides,\tthere\twere\ta number\tof\tother\tquestions\the\twanted\tanswered\u2014was\tit\tpossible\tto\tfind\tpolar\tbears\tin\tSimla,\tdid\tthe Aurora\tBorealis\tappear\there,\tdid\tthe\tEskimos\tuse\tthe\tsame\tsnow\tto\tbuild\ttheir\tilgoos\t(at\twhich\tpoint I\t had\t to\t correct\t him\t again\t and\t say\t that\t it\t was\t igloos\t the\t Eskimos\t built,\t not\t ilgoos).\t The\t man\t was unstoppable. The\tClarkes\tHotel\tstood\ton\ta\tslope.\tA\tveranda\tran\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tits\tsecond\tfloor,\twhich\tled\tto\tthe street.\t The\t manager \u2019s\t room,\t the\t lounge,\t as\t well\t as\t our\t own\t rooms,\t were\t all\t on\t the\t second\t floor. Wooden\tstairs\tran\tdown\tto\tthe\tfirst\tfloor\twhere\tthere\twere\tmore\trooms\tand\tthe\tdining-hall. Feluda\tgot\tdelayed\ton\this\tway\tback,\tso\tit\twas\tpast\t2\tp.m.\tby\tthe\ttime\twe\tfinished\tour\tlunch.\tA\tband was\tplaying\tin\tone\tcorner\tof\tthe\tdining-hall.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcalled\tit\ta\tconcert.\tThe\told\tman\twith\tthe earplugs\twas\talso\thaving\tlunch\tin\tthe\tsame\troom,\tas\twere\tthree\tforeigners\u2014two\tmen\tand\ta\twoman.\tI had\t seen\t a\t man\t with\t dark\t glasses\t and\t a\t pointed\t beard\t leave\t the\t room\t when\t we\t came\t in.\t It\t did\t not appear\tas\tthough\tthere\twas\tanyone\telse\tin\tthe\thotel\tapart\tfrom\tthese\tpeople\tand\tourselves. \u2018We\tare\tgoing\tto\tsee\tMr\tDhameeja\ttoday,\taren\u2019t\twe?\u2019\tI\tasked,\tslowly\tsipping\tthe\thot\tsoup. \u2018Yes,\tat\tfour\to\u2019clock.\tWe\tneedn\u2019t\tleave\tbefore\tthree,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. \u2018Where\texactly\tdoes\the\tlive?\u2019 \u2018The\tWildflower\tHall\tis\ton\tthe\tway\tto\tKufri.\tEight\tmiles\tfrom\there.\u2019","\u2018Why\tshould\tit\ttake\tan\thour\tto\tget\tthere?\u2019 \u2018Mo st\t o f\t the\t way\t is\t sno wed\t under.\t The\t car \t mig ht\t skid\t if\t we\t tr y\t to \t do \t anything \t o ther \t than\t cr awl.\u2019 Then\t Feluda\t said\t to\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t \u2018Wear\t all\t your\t warm\t clothes.\t This\t place\t we\u2019re\t going\t to\t is\t a thousand\tfeet\thigher\tthan\tSimla.\tThe\tsnow\tthere\tis\ta\tlot\tworse.\u2019 Lalmohan\t Babu\t put\t a\t spoonful\t of\t soup\t into\t his\t mouth,\t slurping\t noisily,\t and\t asked,\t \u2018Is\t a\t sherpa going\tto\taccompany\tus?\u2019 I\tnearly\tburst\tout\tlaughing,\tbut\tFeluda\tkept\ta\tstraight\tface.\t\u2018No,\u2019\the\tsaid\tseriously,\t\u2018there\tis\tactually a\troad\tthat\tleads\tup\tthere.\tWe\u2019ll\tbe\tgoing\tin\ta\tcar.\u2019 We\t finished\t our\t soup\t and\t were\t waiting\t for\t the\t next\t course,\t when\t Feluda\t spoke\t again.\t \u2018What happened\tto\tyour\tweapon?\u2019\the\tasked\tLalmohan\tBabu. \u2018I\thave\tit\twith\tme,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\treplied,\tchewing\ta\tbread\tstick,\t\u2018haven\u2019t\thad\tthe\tchance\tto\tshow it\tto\tyou,\thave\tI?\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tit?\u2019 \u2018A\tboomerang.\u2019 Ah,\tthat\tmade\tsense.\tI\thad\tbeen\twondering\twhy\the\thad\tshouted\t\u2018boomerang!\u2019\tin\this\tsleep. \u2018Where\tdid\tyou\tget\ta\tthing\tlike\tthat?\u2019 \u2018An\tAustralian\twas\tselling\tsome\tof\this\tstuff.\tHe\thad\tput\tan\tadvertisement\tin\tthe\tpaper.\tThere\twere many\t other\t interesting\t things,\t but\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t resist\t this\t one.\t I\t have\t heard\t that\t if\t you\t can\t throw\t it correctly,\tit\twould\thit\tyour\ttarget\tand\treturn\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018No,\tthat\u2019s\tnot\tquite\ttrue.\tIt\twould\tcome\tback\tto\tyou\tonly\tif\tit\tmisses\tthe\ttarget,\tnot\tif\tit\thits\tit.\u2019 \u2018Well\t yes,\t you\t may\t be\t right.\t But\t let\t me\t tell\t you\t one\t thing.\t It\u2019s\t damn\t difficult\t to\t throw\t it.\t I\t tried from\t my\t terrace,\t and\t it\t went\t and\t broke\t a\t flower\t pot\t on\t the\t balcony\t of\t the\t house\t opposite.\t Thank goodness,\tthose\tpeople\tknew\tme\tand\twere\tkind\tenough\tto\treturn\tmy\tweapon\twithout\tmaking\ta\tfuss about\ttheir\tflower\tpot.\u2019 \u2018Please\tdon\u2019t\tforget\tto\ttake\tit\twith\tyou\ttoday.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\teyes\tbegan\tto\tshine\twith\texcitement. \u2018Are\tyou\texpecting\ttrouble?\u2019 \u2018Well,\t I\t can\u2019t\t guarantee\t anything,\t can\t I?\t After\t all,\t whoever\t has\t been\t trying\t to\t steal\t that\t diamond hasn\u2019t\tyet\tgot\tit,\thas\the?\u2019\tFeluda\tspoke\tlightly,\tbut\tI\tcould\tsee\the\twas\tnot\ttotally\teasy\tin\this\tmind. At\tfive\tto\tthree,\ta\tblue\tAmbassador\tdrove\tup\tand\tstopped\tbefore\tthe\tmain\tentrance.\t\u2018Here\u2019s\tour\ttaxi,\u2019 said\tFeluda\tand\tstood\tup.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\tfollowed\tsuit.\tThe\tdriver\twas\ta\tlocal\tman,\tyoung\tand well\t built.\t Feluda\t joined\t him\t on\t the\t front\t seat,\t clutching\t Mr\t Dhameeja\u2019s\t (fake)\t attach\u00e9\t case.\t Jatayu and\t I\t sat\t at\t the\t back.\t T he\t bo o mer ang \t was\t hidden\t inside\t Jatayu\u2019s\t vo lumino us\t o ver co at.\t I\t had\t taken\t a good\tlook\tat\tit.\tIt\twas\tmade\tof\twood\tand\tlooked\ta\tbit\tlike\tthe\tbottom\thalf\tof\ta\thockey\tstick,\talthough it\twas\ta\tlot\tthinner\tand\tsmoother. The\tsky\thad\tstarted\tto\tturn\tgrey\tand\tthe\ttemperature\tdropped\tappreciably.\tBut\tthe\tclouds\twere\tnot very\theavy,\tso\tit\tdid\tnot\tseem\tas\tthough\tit\tmight\train.\tWe\tleft\tfor\tthe\tWildflower\tHall\ton\tthe\tdot\tof\t3 p.m. Our\thotel\twas\tin\tthe\tmain\ttown.\tWe\thadn\u2019t\thad\tthe\tchance\tto\tgo\tout\tof\tthe\thotel\tsince\tour\tarrival. The\t true\t spirit\t of\t the\t cold,\t sombre,\t snow-covered\t mountains\t struck\t me\t only\t when\t our\t car\t left\t the town\tand\tbegan\tits\tjourney\talong\ta\tquiet,\tnarrow\tpath.","The\t mountains\t rose\t on\t one\t side,\t on\t the\t other\t was\t a\t deep\t ravine.\t The\t road\t was\t wide\t enough\t to allow\tanother\tcar\tto\tsqueeze\tpast,\tbut\tthat\twas\tjust\tabout\tall\tit\tcould\tdo.\tA\tthick\tpine\tforest\tgrew\ton the\tmountains. The\t first\t four\t miles\t were\t covered\t at\t a\t reasonable\t speed\t since\t the\t snow\t on\t the\t road\t was\t almost negligible.\t Through\t the\t pine\t trees,\t I\t could\t catch\t glimpses\t of\t heavier\t snow\t on\t the\t mountains\t at\t a distance;\tbut,\tsoon,\tthe\tsnow\ton\tthe\troad\twe\twere\ton\tgrew\tvery\tmuch\tthicker.\tFeluda\twas\tright. We\thad\tto\treduce\tour\tspeed\tand\tcrawl\tcarefully,\tfollowing\tthe\ttyre\tmarks\tof\tcars\tthat\thad\tpreceded us.\t The\t ground\t was\t so\t slippery\t that,\t at\t times,\t the\t car\t failed\t to\t move\t forward,\t its\t wheels\t spinning furiously. The\ttip\tof\tmy\tnose\tand\tmy\tears\tbegan\tto\tfeel\ticy.\tLalmohan\tBabu\ttold\tme\tat\tone\tpoint\tthat\this\tears were\tringing.\tFive\tminutes\tlater\the\tsaid\the\thad\ta\tblocked\tnose.\tI\tpaid\tlittle\tattention.\tThe\tlast\tthing\tI was\tworried\tabout\twas\thow\tmy\tbody\twould\tcope\twith\tthe\tcold.\tAll\tI\tcould\tdo\twas\tlook\taround\tme and\t wonder\t at\t this\t remarkable\t place.\t Did\t man\t indeed\t live\t here?\t Wasn\u2019t\t this\t a\t corner\t nature\t had created\t only\t for\t animals\t and\t birds\t and\t insects\t that\t lived\t in\t snowy\t mountains?\t Shouldn\u2019t\t this\t stay unspoilt\tand\tuntouched\tby\tthe\thuman\thand?\tBut\tno,\tthe\troad\twe\twere\ttravelling\ton\thad\tbeen\tbuilt\tby man,\t other\t cars\t had\t driven\t on\t the\t same\t road\t and,\t no\t doubt,\t others\t would\t follow.\t In\t fact,\t if\t this wonderful\tplace\thad\tnot\talready\tbeen\tdiscovered\tby\tman,\tI\twould\tnot\tbe\there\ttoday. The\t unmarred\t strange\t whiteness\t ended\t abruptly\t about\t twenty\t minutes\t later,\t with\t a\t black\t wooden board\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\troad\tthat\tproclaimed\tin\twhite\tletters:\tWildflower\tHall.\tI\thad\tnot\texpected\tour journey\tto\tend\tso\tpeacefully. A\t little\t later\t we\t came\t upon\t a\t gate\t with\t The\t Nook\t written\t on\t it.\t Our\t car\t turned\t right\t and\t drove through\t this\t gate.\t A\t long\t driveway\t led\t to\t a\t large,\t old-fashioned\t bungalow,\t very\t obviously\t built during\tBritish\ttimes.\tIts\troof\tand\tparapets\twere\tcovered\twith\ta\tthick\tlayer\tof\tsnow.\tIts\toccupant\thad\tto be\ta\tpukka\tsahib,\tor\the\twouldn\u2019t\tlive\tin\ta\tplace\tlike\tthis. Our\ttaxi\tdrew\tup\tunder\tthe\tportico.\tA\tman\tin\ta\tuniform\tcame\tout\tand\ttook\tFeluda\u2019s\tcard.\tA\tminute later,\tthe\towner\tof\tthe\thouse\tcame\tout\thimself\twith\tan\toutstretched\tarm. \u2018Good\t afternoon,\t Mr\t Mitter.\t I\t must\t say\t I\t am\t most\t impressed\t by\t your\t punctuality.\t Do\t come\t in, please.\u2019 Mr \t Dhameeja\t mig ht\t have\t been\t an\t Eng lishman.\t His\t dictio n\t was\t flawless.\t His\t appear ance\t fitted\t Mr Lahiri\u2019s\t description.\t Feluda\t introduced\t me\t and\t Lalmohan\t Babu,\t and\t then\t we\t all\t went\t in.\t The\t floor was\twooden,\tas\twere\tthe\twalls\tof\tthe\thuge\tdrawing-room.\tA\tfire\tcrackled\tin\tthe\tfireplace. Feluda\thanded\tover\tthe\tblue\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tbefore\the\tsat\tdown.\tThe\tsmile\ton\tMr\tDhameeja\u2019s\tface\tdid not\tfalter.\tOur\tattempt\tat\tdeception\twas\tthus\trewarded\twith\tcomplete\tsuccess. \u2018Thank\tyou\tso\tmuch.\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tMr\tLahiri\u2019s\tcase\tand\tkept\tit\thandy.\u2019 \u2018Please\tcheck\tthe\tcontents\tin\tyour\tcase,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda\twith\ta\tslight\tsmile. \u2018If\tyou\tsay\tso,\u2019\treplied\tMr\tDhameeja,\tlaughing,\tand\topened\tthe\tcase.\tThen\the\tran\this\teyes\tover\tthe items\t we\t had\t so \t car efully\t placed\t in\t it\t and\t said,\t \u2018Yes,\t ever ything \u2019s\t fine,\t except\t that\t these\t newspaper s are\tnot\tmine.\u2019 \u2018Not\tyours?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda,\tretrieving\tthe\ttwo\tEnglish\tdailies.\t\u2018No,\tand\tneither\tis\tthis.\u2019 Mr\tDhameeja\treturned\tthe\tbox\tof\tbetel-nuts,\twhich\thad\tbeen\tfilled\tat\tthe\tKalka\trailway\tstation.\t\u2018Oh, I\tsee,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.\t\u2018Those\tmust\thave\tgot\tthere\tby\tmistake.\u2019","Well,\t at\t least\t it\t pr o ved\t that\t Mr \t Dhameeja\t knew\t no thing \t abo ut\t the\t diamo nd.\t But,\t in\t that\t case,\t ho w did\tthe\tbox\tget\tinside\tthe\tattach\u00e9\tcase? \u2018And\there\tis\tMr\tLahiri\u2019s\tcase,\u2019\tsaid\tMr\tDhameeja,\tpicking\tup\tan\tidentical\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tfrom\ta\tside table\t and\t handing\t it\t over\t to\t Feluda.\t \u2018May\t I,\u2019\t he\t added,\t \u2018make\t the\t same\t request?\t Please\t check\t its contents.\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s\treally\tonly\tone\tthing\tMr\tLahiri\tis\tinterested\tin.\tA\tbottle\tof\tenterovioform\ttablets.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tit\u2019s\tthere.\u2019 \u2018\t.\t.\t.\tAnd,\ta\tmanuscript?\u2019 \u2018Manuscript?\u2019 Feluda\thad\topened\tthe\tcase.\tA\tbrief\tglance\teven\tfrom\ta\tdistance\ttold\tme\tthat\tthere\twas\tnot\teven\ta scrap\tof\tpaper\tin\tit,\tlet\talone\ta\twhole\tmanuscript. Feluda\t was\t frowning\t deeply,\t staring\t into\t the\t open\t attach\u00e9.\t \u2018What\t manuscript\t are\t you\t talking about?\u2019\tasked\tMr\tDhameeja. Feluda\tsaid\tnothing.\tI\tcould\tsee\twhat\ta\tdifficult\tposition\the\twas\tin;\teither\tMr\tDhameeja\thad\tto\tbe accused\tof\tstealing,\tor\twe\thad\tto\ttake\tour\tleave\tpolitely,\twithout\tShambhucharan\u2019s\ttale\tof\tTibet. Mercifully,\tMr\tDhameeja\tcontinued\tto\tspeak.\t\u2018I\tam\tvery\tsorry,\tMr\tMitter,\tbut\tthat\tattach\u00e9\tcase\tnow contains\t exactly\t what\t I\t found\t in\t it\t when\t I\t opened\t it\t in\t my\t room\t in\t the\t Grand\t Hotel.\t I\t searched\t it thoroughly\t in\t the\t hope\t of\t finding\t its\t owner \u2019s\t address.\t But\t there\t was\t nothing,\t and\t certainly\t not\t a manuscript.\tOn\tmy\treturn\tto\tSimla,\tI\tkept\tit\tlocked\tin\tmy\town\tcupboard.\tNot\tfor\ta\tsecond\tdid\tanyone else\ttouch\tit.\tI\tcan\tguarantee\tthat.\u2019 After\ta\tspeech\tlike\tthat,\tthere\twas\tvery\tlittle\tthat\tFeluda\tcould\tdo.\tHe\trose\tto\this\tfeet\tand\tsaid\twith\ta slig htly\t embar r assed\t air,\t \u2018It\t must\t be\t my\t mistake,\t then.\t Please\t do n\u2019t\t mind,\t Mr \t Dhameeja.\t Thank\t yo u very\tmuch\tfor\tyour\thelp.\tWe\tshould\tperhaps\tnow\tbe\tmaking\ta\tmove.\u2019 \u2018Why?\tAllow\tme\tat\tleast\tto\toffer\tyou\ta\tcup\tof\ttea.\tOr\twould\tyou\tprefer\tcoffee?\u2019 \u2018No,\tno,\tnothing,\tthank\tyou.\tIt\u2019s\tgetting\tlate.\tWe\treally\tought\tto\tgo.\tGood-bye.\u2019 We\tcame\tout\tof\tthe\tbungalow\tand\tgot\tinto\tour\ttaxi.\tI\twas\tfeeling\teven\tmore\tconfused.\tWhere\tcould the\tmanuscript\thave\tdisappeared?\tNaresh\tPakrashi\thad\ttold\tus\tthat\the\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tMr\tLahiri\tread\ton\tthe train.\tWas\tthat\tthe\ttruth? Had\tDinanath\tLahiri\tsimply\ttold\tus\ta\tpack\tof\tlies?","Nine It\t grew\t darker\t soon\t after\t we\t left.\t But\t it\t was\t only\t 4.25\t p.m.\t Surely\t the\t sun\t wasn\u2019t\t setting\t already?\t I looked\t at\t the\t sky,\t and\t found\t the\t reason.\t The\t light\t grey\t clouds\t had\t turned\t into\t heavy,\t black\t ones. Please\tGod,\tdon\u2019t\tlet\tit\train.\tThe\troad\twas\talready\tslippery.\tSince\twe\twere\tnow\tgoing\tto\tgo\tdownhill, the\tchances\tof\tskidding\twere\tgreater.\tThe\tonly\tgood\tthing\twas\tthat\ttraffic\twas\tvirtually\tnonexistent, so\tthere\twas\tno\tfear\tof\tcrashing\tinto\tanother\tcar. Feluda\twas\tsitting\tnext\tto\tthe\tdriver.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\this\tface,\tbut\tcould\ttell\tthat\the\twas\tstill\tfrowning. And\t I\t also\t knew\t what\t he\t was\t thinking.\t Either\t Dinanath\t Babu\t or\t Mr\t Dhameeja\t had\t lied\t to\t us.\t Mr Dhameeja\u2019s\t living-room\t had\t been\t full\t of\t books.\t Perhaps\t he\t knew\t the\t name\t of\t Shambhucharan.\t An account\tof\ta\tvisit\tto\tTibet\tfifty\tyears\tago\u2014and\tthat,\ttoo,\twritten\tin\tEnglish\u2014might\twell\thave\tbeen\ta temptation.\tIt\twas\tnot\ttotally\timpossible,\twas\tit?\tBut\tif\tthe\tmanuscript\twas\twith\tMr\tDhameeja,\thow\ton earth\twould\tFeluda\tever\tretrieve\tit? Clearly,\t there\t were\t two\t mysteries\t now.\t One\t involved\t the\t diamond,\t and\t the\t other\t the\t missing manuscript.\tWhat\tif\tsuch\ta\tterrible\ttangle\tproved\ttoo\tmuch\tto\tunravel,\teven\tfor\tFeluda? The\t temperature\t had\t dropped\t further.\t I\t could\t see\t my\t breath\t condensing\t all\t the\t time.\t Lalmohan Babu\t undid\t the\t to p\t butto n\t o f\t his\t o ver co at,\t slipped\t his\t hand\t in\t and\t said,\t \u2018Even\t the\t bo o mer ang \t feels stone\tcold.\tIt\tcomes\tfrom\ta\twarm\tcountry,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\tI\thope\tit\u2019ll\twork\there\tin\tthis\tclimate.\u2019\tI\topened my\tmouth\tto\ttell\thim\tthere\twere\tplaces\tin\tAustralia\twhere\tit\tsnowed,\tbut\thad\tto\tshut\tit.\tOur\tcar\thad come\tto\ta\tcomplete\thalt.\tAnd\tthe\treason\twas\tsimple.\tA\tblack\tAmbassador\tblocked\tour\tway.\tAbout\ta hundred\tyards\taway,\tdiagonally\tacross\tthe\troad,\tstood\tthis\tother\tcar,\tmaking\tit\timpossible\tfor\tus\tto proceed. When\tthe\tloud\tblowing\tof\tour\thorn\tdid\tnot\thelp,\tit\tbecame\tobvious\tthat\tsomething\twas\twrong.\tThe driver\tof\tthe\tother\tcar\twas\tnowhere\tin\tsight. Feluda\tplaced\ta\thand\ton\tthe\tsteering\twheel\tand\tquietly\ttold\tthe\tdriver\tto\tmove\this\tcar\tto\tone\tside, closer\tto\tthe\thill.\tThe\tdriver\tdid\tthis\twithout\ta\tword.\tThen\tall\tfour\tof\tus\tgot\tout\tand\tstepped\ton\tto\tthe slushy\tpath. Everything\t was\t very\t quiet.\t Not\t even\t the\t twitter\t of\t a\t bird\t broke\t the\t eerie\t silence.\t What\t was\t most puzzling\twas\tthat\tthere\twas\tneither\ta\tdriver\tnor\ta\tpassenger\tin\tthe\tblack\tcar.\tWho\twould\tplace\ta\tcar across\tthe\troad\tlike\tthat\tand\tthen\tabandon\tit\ttotally? We\t were\t making\t our\t way\t very\t cautiously\t along\t the\t tyre\t marks\t on\t the\t snow,\t when\t a\t sudden splashing\tnoise\tmade\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgive\ta\tviolent\tstart,\tstumble\tand\tgo\tsprawling\ton\tthe\tsnow.\tHe landed\tflat\ton\this\tface.\tI\tknew\tthe\tnoise\thad\tbeen\tcaused\tby\ta\tchunk\tof\tthawing\tice\tthat\thad\tdislodged itself\t from\t a\t branch.\t In\t the\t total\t silence\t of\t the\t surroundings,\t it\t did\t sound\t as\t loud\t as\t a\t pistol\t shot. Feluda\tand\tI\tpulled\tLalmohan\tBabu\tup\tto\this\tfeet\tand\twe\tresumed\twalking.","A\t few\t yar ds\t later,\t I\t r ealized\t I\t had\t been\t wr o ng .\t T her e\t was\t indeed\t a\t fig ur e\t sitting \t in\t the\t car,\t in\t the driver \u2019s\tseat.\t\u2018I\tknow\tthis\tman,\u2019\tsaid\tour\tdriver,\tHarbilas,\tpeering\tcarefully,\t\u2018he\tis\ta\ttaxi\tdriver\tlike me.\tAnd\tthis\ttaxi\tis\this\town.\tHe\u2019s\tcalled\tArvind.\tBut\t.\t.\t.\tbut\t.\t.\t.\tI\tthink\the\u2019s\tunconscious,\tor\tperhaps\t.\t.\t. dead?\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\tright\thand\tautomatically\tmade\tits\tway\tto\this\tpocket.\tI\tknew\the\twas\tclutching\this\trevolver. Splash! Another\tchunk\tof\tice\tfell,\ta\tlot\tcloser\tthis\ttime.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstarted\tagain,\tbut\tmanaged\tto\tstop himself\t from\t stumbling.\t In\t the\t next\t instant,\t however,\t a\t completely\t unexpected\t ear-splitting\t noise made\thim\tlose\tcontrol\tand\the\twent\trolling\ton\tthe\tsnow\tonce\tmore.\tThis\ttime,\tit\twas\ta\tpistol\tshot. The\t bullet\t hit\t the\t ground\t less\t than\t ten\t yards\t ahead\t of\t us,\t making\t the\t snow\t spray\t up\t in\t the\t air. Feluda\thad\tpulled\tme\taside\tthe\tmoment\tthe\tshot\twas\tfired,\tand\twe\thad\tboth\tthrown\tourselves\ton\tthe ground.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcame\trolling\thalf\ta\tsecond\tlater.\tThe\tdriver,\ttoo,\thad\tjumped\tbehind\tthe\tcar. Although\tyoung\tand\tstrong,\tclearly\the\thad\tnever\thad\tto\tcope\twith\tsuch\ta\tsituation\tbefore. The\t so und\t o f\t the\t sho t\t echo ed\t amo ng \t the\t hills.\t So meo ne\t hiding \t in\t the\t pine\t fo r est\t had\t fir ed\t at\t us. Presumably,\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tus\tany\tmore\tfor\twe\twere\tshielded\tby\tthe\tblack\tAmbassador. Lying\tprostrate\ton\tthe\tground,\tI\ttried\tto\tcome\tto\tterms\twith\tthis\tnew\tdevelopment.\tSomething\tcold and\twet\twas\ttickling\tthe\tback\tof\tmy\tneck.\tI\tturned\tmy\thead\ta\tfew\tdegrees\tand\trealized\twhat\tit\twas.\tA fine\twhite\tcurtain\tof\tsnow\thad\tbeen\tthrown\tdown\tfrom\tthe\tsky.\tEven\tin\tsuch\ta\tmoment\tof\tdanger,\tI co uldn\u2019t\t help\t star ing \u2014\t fascinated\u2014at\t the\t little\t flakes\t that\t fell\t like\t co tto n\t fluff.\t Fo r \t the\t fir st\t time\t in my\t life,\t I\t discovered\t falling\t snow\t made\t no\t noise\t at\t all.\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t looked\t as\t though\t he\t was about\tto\tmake\ta\tremark,\tbut\tone\tgesture\tfrom\tFeluda\tmade\thim\tchange\this\tmind. At\tthis\tprecise\tmoment,\tthe\tsilence\twas\tshattered\tonce\tmore,\tbut\tnot\tby\ta\tpistol\tshot,\tor\ta\tchunk\tof ice,\tor\tthe\tsound\tof\twheels\tturning\tin\tthe\tslippery\tsnow.\tThis\ttime,\twe\theard\tthe\tvoice\tof\ta\tman. \u2018Mr\tMitter!\u2019 Who\twas\tthis?\tWhy\tdid\tthe\tvoice\tsound\tvaguely\tfamiliar?\t\u2018Listen\tcarefully,\tMr\tMitter,\u2019\tit\twent\ton. \u2018You\tmust\thave\trealized\tby\tnow\tthat\tI\thave\tgot\tyou\twhere\tI\twant\tyou.\tSo\tdon\u2019t\ttry\tany\tclever\ttricks. It\u2019s\tnot\tgoing\tto\twork\tand,\tin\tfact,\tyour\tlives\tmay\tbe\tin\tdanger.\u2019 It\twas\tsome\ttime\tbefore\tthe\tfinal\techo\tof\tthe\twords\tdied\tdown.\tThen\tthe\tman\tspoke\tagain. \u2018I\twant\tonly\tone\tthing\tfrom\tyou,\tMr\tMitter.\u2019 \u2018What\tis\tit?\u2019\tFeluda\tshouted\tback. \u2018Come\tout\tfrom\twhere\tyou\u2019re\thiding.\tI\twould\tlike\tto\tsee\tyou,\talthough\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tme\teven\tif you\ttried.\tI\twill\tanswer\tyour\tquestion\twhen\tyou\tcome\tout.\u2019 For\ta\tfew\tminutes,\tI\thad\tbeen\taware\tof\ta\tstrange\tnoise\tin\tmy\timmediate\tvicinity.\tAt\tfirst\tI\tthought\tit was\t coming\t from\t inside\t the\t car.\t Now\t I\t turned\t my\t head\t and\t realized\t it\t was\t simply\t the\t sound\t of Lalmohan\tBabu\u2019s\tchattering\tteeth. Feluda\trose\tto\this\tfeet\tand\tslowly\twalked\tover\tto\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tcar,\twithout\tuttering\ta\tword. Per haps\t he\t knew\t under \t the\t cir cumstances,\t it\t was\t best\t to \t do \t as\t he\t was\t to ld.\t Never \t befo r e\t had\t I\t seen him\tgrapple\twith\tsuch\ta\tdifficult\tsituation. \u2018I\t ho pe,\u2019\t said\t the\t vo ice,\t \u2018that\t yo ur \t thr ee\t co mpanio ns\t r ealize\t that\t a\t sing le\t mo ve\t fr o m\t them\t wo uld simply\tspell\tdisaster.\u2019 \u2018Kindly\ttell\tme\twhat\tyou\twant,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda.","I\t could\t see\t him\t standing\t from\t behind\t one\t of\t the\t wheels.\t He\t was\t looking\t up\t at\t the\t mountain.\t In front\tof\thim\tlay\ta\twide\texpanse\tof\tsnow.\tThe\tpine\tforest\tstarted\tat\tsome\tdistance. \u2018Take\t out\t your\t revolver,\u2019\t commanded\t the\t voice.\t Feluda\t obeyed.\t \u2018Throw\t it\t across\t on\t the\t slope.\u2019 Feluda\tdid. \u2018Do\tyou\thave\tthe\tKodak\tcontainer?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u2018Show\tit\tto\tme.\u2019 Feluda\ttook\tout\tthe\tyellow\tcontainer\tfrom\this\tpocket\tand\traised\tit. \u2018Now\tshow\tme\tthe\tstone\tyou\tfound\tin\tit.\u2019 Feluda\tslipped\this\thand\tinto\tthe\tpocket\tof\this\tjacket.\tThen\the\tbrought\tit\tout\tand\theld\tit\thigh\tonce more,\tholding\ta\tsmall\tobject\tbetween\this\tthumb\tand\tforefinger. No\tone\tspoke\tfor\ta\tfew\tseconds.\tNo\tdoubt\tthe\tman\twas\ttrying\tto\ttake\ta\tgood\tlook\tat\tthe\tdiamond. Did\the\thave\tbinoculars,\tI\twondered. \u2018All\t right,\u2019\t the\t voice\t came\t back.\t \u2018Now\t put\t that\t stone\t back\t into\t its\t container\t and\t place\t it\t on\t that large\tgrey\tboulder\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\troad.\tThen\tyou\tmust\treturn\tstraight\tto\tSimla.\tIf\tyou\tthink\t.\t.\t.\u2019 Feluda\tcut\thim\tshort. \u2018You\treally\twant\tthis\tstone,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018For\tGod\u2019s\tsake,\tdo\tI\thave\tto\tspell\tit\tout?\u2019\tthe\tvoice\tretorted\tsharply. \u2018Well\tthen,\there\tit\tis!\u2019 Feluda\t swung\t his\t arm\t and\t threw\t the\t stone\t in\t the\t direction\t of\t the\t forest.\t This\t was\t followed\t by\t a breath-taking\tsequence\tof\tevents. Our \t invisible\t adver sar y\t thr ew\t himself\t o ut\t o f\t his\t hiding \t place\t in\t an\t attempt\t to \t catch\t the\t diamo nd, but\tfell\ton\ta\tslab\tof\thalf-frozen\tsnow.\tIn\tthe\tnext\tinstant,\the\tlost\this\tfoothold\tand\twas\trolling\tdown\tthe hill\tlike\ta\tgiant\tsnowball.\tHe\tfinally\tcame\tto\trest\tnear\tthe\tsnow-covered\tnullah\tthat\tran\talongside\tthe road.\tBy\tthis\ttime,\tthe\tpistol\tand\tbinoculars\thad\tdropped\tfrom\this\thands.\tA\tpair\tof\tdark\tglasses\tand\ta pointed\tbeard\tlay\tnot\tfar\tfrom\tthese. Ther e\t was\t no \t po int\t in\t o ur \t hiding \t any\t mo r e.\t The\t thr ee\t o f\t us\t leapt\t to \t o ur \t feet\t and\t r an\t fo r war d\t to join\tFeluda.\tI\thad\texpected\tthe\tother\tman\tto\tbe\tat\tleast\tunconscious,\tif\tnot\tdead.\tHe\thad\tslipped\tfrom\ta considerable\t height\t at\t enormous\t speed.\t But,\t to\t my\t surprise,\t I\t found\t him\t lying\t flat\t on\t his\t back, glaring\tmalevolently\tat\tFeluda\tand\tbreathing\tdeeply. It\twas\teasy\tenough\tnow\tto\tunderstand\twhy\this\tvoice\thad\tsounded\tfamiliar.\tThe\tfigure\tstretched\tout on\t the\t snow\t was\t none\t other\t than\t the\t unsuccessful\t film\t star,\t Amar\t Kumar,\t alias\t Prabeer\t Lahiri, Dinanath\tBabu\u2019s\tnephew. Feluda\tspoke\twith\tice\tin\this\tvoice.\t\u2018You\tdo\trealize,\tdon\u2019t\tyou,\tthat\tthe\ttables\thave\tturned?\tSo\tstop playing\tthis\tgame\tand\tlet\u2019s\thear\twhat\tyou\thave\tto\tsay.\u2019 Prabeer\tLahiri\tdid\tnot\treply.\tHe\tcontinued\tto\tlie\ton\this\tback,\tsnow\tdrifting\tdown\ton\this\tupturned face,\tgazing\tsteadily\tat\tFeluda. Nothing\twas\tas\tyet\tclear\tto\tme,\tbut\tI\thoped\tPrabeer\tBabu\twould\tthrow\tsome\tlight\ton\tthe\tmystery. But\tstill\the\tsaid\tnothing. \u2018Very\twell,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\t\u2018if\tyou\twill\tnot\topen\tyour\tmouth,\tallow\tme\tto\tdo\tthe\ttalking.\tPray\ttell\tme if\tI\tget\tanything\twrong.\tYou\thad\tgot\tthe\tdiamond\tfrom\tthat\tNepali\tbox,\thadn\u2019t\tyou?\tIt\twas\tpossibly","the\t same\t jewel\t that\t the\t Rana\t o f\t Nepal\t had\t g iven\t to \t Shambhuchar an\t as\t a\t to ken\t o f\t his\t g r atitude.\t T hat box,\tin\tfact,\tmust\thave\tbeen\tShambhucharan\u2019s\tproperty;\tand\the\tmust\thave\tleft\tit\tbefore\this\tdeath\twith his\t fr iend,\t Satinath\t Lahir i.\t Satinath\t br o ug ht\t it\t back\t to \t India\t with\t him,\t but\t was\t unable\t to \t tell\t anyo ne about\t the\t diamond,\t presumably\t because\t by\t the\t time\t he\t returned,\t he\t was\t seriously\t ill.\t You\t found\t it o nly\t a\t few\t days\t ag o \t pur ely\t by\t chance.\t T hen\t yo u\t painted\t it\t br o wn\t and\t kept\t it\t to g ether \t with\t cho pped betel-nuts\t in\t that\t empty\t film\t container.\t When\t your\t uncle\t gave\t you\t the\t Air\t India\t attach\u00e9\t case,\t you thought\t it\t would\t be\t perfectly\t safe\t to\t hide\t your\t diamond\t in\t it.\t But\t what\t you\t didn\u2019t\t foresee\t was\t that only\ta\tday\tlater,\tthe\tcase\twould\tmake\tits\tway\tfrom\tyour\troom\tto\tmine.\tYou\teavesdropped,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou, when\t yo ur \t uncle\t was\t talking \t to \t us\t that\t evening \t in\t yo ur \t ho use?\t So \t yo u\t decided\t to \t steal\t it\t fr o m\t me. When\tthe\ttelephone\tcall\tfrom\ta\tfictitious\tMr\tPuri\tand\tthe\tefforts\tof\tyour\thired\thooligans\tfailed,\tyou chased\tus\tto\tDelhi.\tBut\teven\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\twork,\tdid\tit?\tYou\ttook\ta\tvery\tgreat\trisk\tby\tbreaking\tinto\tour room\tin\tthe\thotel,\tbut\tthe\tdiamond\tstill\teluded\tyour\tgrasp.\tThere\twas\treally\tonly\tone\tthing\tyou\tcould do\tafter\tthat.\tYou\tfollowed\tus\tto\tSimla\tand\tplanned\tthis\tmagnificent\tfiasco.\u2019 Feluda\tstopped.\tWe\twere\tall\tstanding\tround,\tstaring\tat\thim,\ttotally\tfascinated. \u2018Tell\tme,\tMr\tLahiri,\tis\tany\tof\tthis\tuntrue?\u2019 The\tlook\tin\tPrabeer\tLahiri\u2019s\teyes\tunderwent\ta\tswift\tchange.\tHis\teyes\tglittered\tand\this\tlips\tspread in\t a\t cunning\t smile.\t \u2018What\t are\t you\t talking\t about,\t Mr\t Mitter?\u2019\t he\t asked\t almost\t gleefully.\t \u2018What diamond?\tI\tknow\tnothing\tabout\tthis!\u2019 My\t heart\t missed\t a\t beat.\t The\t diamond\t was\t lost\t in\t the\t snow.\t Perhaps\t forever.\t How\t could\t Feluda prove\u2014? \u2018Why,\tMr\tLahiri,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\u2018are\tyou\tnot\tacquainted\twith\tthis\tlittle\tgem?\u2019 We\tstarted\tagain.\tFeluda\thad\tslipped\this\thand\tinto\ta\tdifferent\tpocket\tand\tbrought\tout\tanother\tstone. Even\tin\tthe\tfading\tlight\tfrom\tthe\tovercast\tsky,\tit\twinked\tmerrily. \u2018That\tlittle\tstone\tthat\u2019s\tburied\tin\tthe\tsnow\twas\tsomething\tI\tbought\tthis\tmorning\tat\tthe\tMiller\tGem Company\tin\tSimla.\tDo\tyou\tknow\thow\tmuch\tI\tspent\ton\tit?\tFive\trupees.\tThis\tone\tis\tthe\treal\t.\t.\t.\u2019 He\t couldn\u2019t\t finish.\t Prabeer\t Lahiri\t sprang\t up\t like\t a\t tiger\t and\t jumped\t on\t Feluda,\t snatching\t the diamond\tfrom\this\thand. Clang! This\t time,\t Feluda,\t too,\t gave\t a\t start.\t This\t unexpected\t noise\t was\t simply\t the\t result\t of\t Lalmohan Babu\u2019s\tboomerang\thitting\tPrabeer\tLahiri\u2019s\thead.\tHe\tsank\tdown\ton\tthe\tsnow\tagain,\tunconscious.\tThe diamond\treturned\tto\tFeluda. \u2018Thank\tyou,\tLalmohan\tBabu.\u2019 But\t it\t was\t do ubtful\t whether \t Lalmo han\t Babu\t hear d\t the\t wo r ds\t fo r \t he\t was\t star ing ,\t dumbfo unded,\t at the\tboomerang\tthat\thad\tshot\tout\tin\tthe\tair\tfrom\this\town\tright\thand\tand\tfound\tits\tmark\tso\taccurately.","Ten The\tbudding\tfilm\tstar,\tAmar\tKumar,\twas\tnow\ta\tsorry\tsight.\tHe\thad\tmade\ta\tfull\tconfession\tin\tthe\tcar on\t the\t way\t back\t to\t Simla.\t This\t was\t made\t easier\t by\t the\t revolver\t in\t Feluda\u2019s\t hand,\t which\t he\t had recovered\tsoon\tafter\tthe\tdrama\tended.\tIt\thad\tnot\ttaken\tPrabeer\tBabu\tlong\tto\tcome\tround.\tLalmohan Babu,\t having\t thrown\t the\t boomerang\t at\t him,\t had\t made\t an\t attempt\t at\t nursing\t him\t by\t scooping\t up\t a handful\tof\tsnow\tand\tplastering\this\thead\twith\tit.\tI\tcannot\ttell\tif\tit\thelped\tin\tany\tway,\tbut\the\topened\this eyes\tsoon\tenough. The\t dr iver \t called\t Ar vind\t had\t also \t r eg ained\t co nscio usness\t and\t was,\t r epo r tedly,\t feeling \t better.\t He had,\tat\tfirst,\tbeen\toffered\tmoney\tto\tjoin\tPrabeer\tLahiri.\tBut\twhen\the\trefused\tto\tbe\ttempted,\tPrabeer Babu\tlost\this\tpatience\tand\tsimply\tknocked\thim\tout. Things\thad\tstarted\tto\tgo\twrong\tfor\tPrabeer\tLahiri\tever\tsince\the\twas\tdropped\tfrom\tthe\tfilm.\tIt\thad been\ta\tlong-cherished\tdream\tthat\the\twould\tbe\ta\tfamous\tfilm\tstar\tone\tday,\tliving\tin\tluxury,\tchased\tby thousands\tof\tadmirers.\tWhen\this\tvoice\tlet\thim\tdown\tand\tthis\tdream\twas\tshattered,\tPrabeer\tLahiri,\tin a\tmanner\tof\tspeaking,\tlost\this\thead. He\t had\t to\t get\t what\t he\t wanted.\t If\t it\t was\t not\t possible\t to\t fulfil\t his\t dream\t by\t fair\t means,\t he\t was prepared\tto\tadopt\tunfair\tones.\tBy\ta\tstrange\ttwist\tof\tfate,\tthe\tNepali\tbox\tfell\tinto\this\thands,\tlike\tmanna from\theaven.\tIn\tit\the\tfound\ta\tstone\tbeautifully\tcut\tand\tsparkling\tbright.\tWhen\the\thad\tit\tvalued,\tit\ttook his\tbreath\taway;\tand\this\tplans\ttook\ta\tdifferent\tshape.\tHe\twould\tproduce\this\town\tfilm,\the\tdecided,\tand take\t the\t lead\t r o le.\t No \t o ne\u2014but\t no \t o ne\u2014co uld\t have\t him\t dr o pped.\t What\t fo llo wed\t this\t decisio n\t was now\thistory. We\thanded\thim\tover\tto\tthe\tHimachal\tPradesh\tstate\tpolice.\tIt\tturned\tout\tthat\tFeluda\u2019s\tsuspicions\thad fallen\t on\t Prabeer\t Babu\t as\t soon\t as\t we\t had\t found\t the\t diamond.\t So\t he\t had\t called\t Dinanath\t Lahiri immediately\ton\tarrival\tin\tSimla,\tand\tasked\thim\tto\tjoin\tus.\tMr\tLahiri\twas\texpected\tto\treach\tSimla\tthe next\t day.\t It\t would\t then\t be\t up\t to\t him\t to\t decide\t what\t should\t be\t done\t with\t his\t nephew.\t The\t diamond would\tprobably\treturn\tto\tDinanath\tBabu,\tsince\tit\thad\tbeen\tfound\tamongst\this\tuncle\u2019s\tbelongings. \u2018That\u2019s\t all\t very\t well,\u2019\t I\t said,\t after\t Feluda\t explained\t the\t whole\t story,\t \u2018but\t what\t about Shambhucharan\u2019s\ttravelogue?\u2019 \u2018That,\u2019\tsaid\tFeluda,\t\u2018is\tmystery\tnumber\ttwo.\tYou\u2019ve\theard\tof\tdouble-barrelled\tguns,\thaven\u2019t\tyou? This\tone\u2019s\ta\tdouble-barrelled\tmystery.\u2019 \u2018But\tare\twe\tanywhere\tnear\tfinding\tits\tsolution?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tmy\tdear\tboy,\tyes.\tThanks\tto\tthe\tnewspapers\tand\tthat\tglass\tof\twater.\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\t words\t sounded\t no\t less\t mysterious,\t so\t I\t decided\t not\t to\t probe\t any\t further.\t He,\t too,\t said nothing\tmore.","We\treturned\tto\tthe\thotel\twithout\tany\tother\texcitement\ton\tthe\tway.\tA\tfew\tminutes\tlater,\twe\twere\tseated o n\t the\t o pen\t ter r ace\t o f\t the\t ho tel\t under \t a\t co lo ur ful\t cano py,\t sipping \t ho t\t cho co late.\t Seven\t o ther \t tables stood\ton\tthe\tterrace.\tTwo\tJapanese\tmen\tsat\tat\tthe\tnext\tone\tand,\tat\tsome\tdistance,\tsat\tthe\told\tman\twho had\ttravelled\twith\tus\tfrom\tDelhi.\tHe\thad\tremoved\tthe\tcotton\twool\tfrom\this\tears. The\tsky\twas\tnow\tclear,\tbut\tthe\tevening\tlight\twas\tfading\trather\tquickly.\tThe\tmain\tcity\tof\tSimla\tlay among\tthe\teastern\thills.\tI\tcould\tsee\tits\tstreets\tand\thouses\tbeing\tlit\tup\tone\tby\tone. Lalmohan\tBabu\thad\tbeen\tvery\tquiet,\tlost\tin\this\tthoughts.\tNow\the\ttook\ta\tlong\tsip\tof\this\tchocolate and\t said,\t \u2018Perhaps\t it\t is\t true\t that\t there\t is\t an\t underlying\t current\t of\t viciousness\t in\t the\t mind\t of\t every human\tbeing.\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tagree,\tFelu\tBabu?\tWhen\tone\tblow\tfrom\tmy\tboomerang\tmade\tthat\tman\tspin and\tfall,\tI\tfelt\tso\t.\t.\t.\texcited.\tEven\tpleased.\tIt\u2019s\tstrange!\u2019 \u2018Man\t descended\t from\t monkeys,\u2019\t Feluda\t remarked.\t \u2018You\t knew\t that,\t didn\u2019t\t you?\t Well,\t a\t modern theo r y\t no w\t says\t that\t it\t was\t r eally\t a\t special\t br eed\t in\t Afr ica\t that\t was\t man\u2019s\t ancesto r.\t It\u2019s\t well\t kno wn fo r \t its\t killer \t instinct.\t So ,\t if\t yo u\t ar e\t feeling \t pleased\t abo ut\t having \t hit\t Pr abeer \t Lahir i,\t yo ur \t ancesto r s are\tto\tblame.\u2019 An\t interesting\t theory,\t no\t doubt.\t But\t I\t was\t in\t no\t mood\t to\t discuss\t monkeys.\t My\t mind\t kept\t going back\tto\tShambhucharan.\tWhere\twas\this\tmanuscript?\tWho\thad\tgot\tit?\tOr\tcould\tit\tbe\tthat\tno\tone\tdid, and\tthe\twhole\tthing\twas\ta\tlie?\tBut\twhy\tshould\tanyone\ttell\tsuch\ta\tlie? I\thad\tto\tspeak. \u2018Feluda,\u2019\tI\tblurted\tout,\t\u2018who\tis\tthe\tliar?\tDhameeja\tor\tDinanath\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018Neither.\u2019 \u2018You\tmean\tthe\tmanuscript\tdoes\texist?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\twhether\twe\u2019ll\tever\tget\tit\tback\tis\textremely\tdoubtful.\u2019\tFeluda\tsounded\tgrave. \u2018Do\tyou\thappen\tto\tknow,\u2019\tI\tasked\ttentatively,\t\u2018who\thas\tgot\tit?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t I\t do.\t It\u2019s\t all\t quite\t clear\t to\t me\t now.\t But\t the\t man\t who\t has\t it\t is\t so\t remarkably\t clever\t that\t it would\tbe\tvery\tdifficult\tindeed\tto\tprove\tanything\tagainst\thim.\tTo\ttell\tyou\tthe\ttruth,\the\talmost\tmanaged to\thoodwink\tme.\u2019 \u2018Almost?\u2019\tThe\tword\tpleased\tme\tfor\tI\twould\thave\thated\tto\tthink\tFeluda\thad\tbeen\ttotally\tfooled\tby anyone. \u2018Mitter\tsahib!\u2019 This\tcame\tfrom\ta\tbearer\twho\twas\tstanding\tnear\tthe\tdoor,\tglancing\taround\tuncertainly. \u2018Here!\u2019\tFeluda\tshouted,\twaving.\tThe\tbearer\tmade\this\tway\tto\tour\ttable,\tclutching\ta\tbrown\tparcel. \u2018Someone\t left\t this\t for\t you\t in\t the\t manager \u2019s\t room,\u2019\t he\t said.\t Feluda\u2019s\t name\t was\t written\t on\t it\t in large\tbold\tletters:\tMR\tP.\tC.\tMITTER,\tCLARKES\tHOTEL. Feluda\u2019s\texpression\thad\tchanged\tthe\tminute\tthe\tparcel\twas\thanded\tto\thim.\tNow\the\topened\tit\tswiftly and\texclaimed,\t\u2018What!\tWhere\tdid\tthis\tcome\tfrom?\u2019 A\tfamiliar\tsmell\tcame\tfrom\tthe\tparcel.\tFeluda\theld\tup\tits\tcontent.\tI\tstared\tat\tan\tancient\tnotebook, the\tkind\tthat\twas\timpossible\tto\tfind\tnowadays.\tThe\tfront\tpage\thad\tthese\twords\twritten\ton\tit\tin\ta\tvery neat\thand: A\tBengalee\tin\tLamaland Shambhucharan\tBose June\t1917","\u2018Good\theavens!\tIt\u2019s\tthat\tfamous\tmanusprint!\u2019\tsaid\tLalmohan\tBabu. I\t did\t not\t bother\t to\t correct\t him.\t I\t could\t only\t look\t dumbly\t at\t Feluda,\t who\t was\t staring\t straight\t at something\t specific.\t I\t turned\t my\t gaze\t in\t the\t same\t direction.\t The\t two\t Japanese\t had\t gone.\t There\t was only\tone\tother\tperson\tleft\ton\tthe\tterrace,\tapart\tfrom\tourselves.\tIt\twas\tthe\tsame\told\tman\twe\thad\tseen so\t many\t times\t before.\t He\t was\t still\t wearing\t a\t cap\t and\t dark\t glasses.\t Feluda\t was\t looking\t straight\t at him. The\tman\trose\tto\this\tfeet\tand\twalked\tover\tto\tour\ttable.\tThen\the\ttook\toff\this\tglasses\tand\this\tcap.\tYes, he\tcertainly\tseemed\tfamiliar.\tBut\tthere\twas\tsomething\todd\t.\t.\t.\tsomething\tmissing\t.\t.\t.\twhat\thad\tI\tseen before\t.\t.\t.\t? \u2018Aren\u2019t\tyou\tgoing\tto\twear\tyour\tfalse\tteeth?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked.\t\u2018Certainly.\u2019 The\t man\t to o k\t o ut\t a\t set\t o f\t false\t teeth\t fr o m\t his\t po cket\t and\t slipped\t it\t into \t his\t mo uth.\t Instantly,\t his hollowed\tcheeks\tfilled\tout,\this\tjaw\tbecame\tfirm\tand\the\tbegan\tto\tlook\tten\tyears\tyounger.\tAnd\tit\twas easy\tto\trecognize\thim. This\t was\t none\t other\t than\t that\t supremely\t irritable\t man\t we\t had\t visited\t in\t Lansdowne\t Road,\t Mr Naresh\tChandra\tPakrashi. \u2018When\tdid\tyou\tget\tthe\tdentures\tmade?\u2019\tasked\tFeluda. \u2018I\thad\tordered\tthem\ta\twhile\tago.\tBut\tthey\twere\tdelivered\tthe\tday\tafter\tI\treturned\tto\tCalcutta\tfrom Delhi.\u2019 That\texplained\twhy\tDinanath\tBabu\thad\tthought\thim\told.\tHe\thad\tnot\tworn\this\tdentures\ton\tthe\ttrain. But\the\thad\tstarted\tusing\tthem\tby\tthe\ttime\twe\tmet\thim\tin\this\thouse. \u2018I\t had\t guessed\t from\t the\t start\t that\t the\t attach\u00e9\t cases\t had\t been\t exchanged\t deliberately,\u2019\t Feluda\t told him.\t\u2018I\tknew\tit\twas\tno\taccident.\tBut\twhat\tI\tdid\tnot\tknow\u2014and\tit\ttook\tme\ta\tlong\ttime\tto\tfigure\tthat\tone out\u2014was\tthat\tyou\twere\tresponsible.\u2019 \u2018That\tis\tnatural\tenough,\u2019\tMr\tPakrashi\treplied\tcalmly.\t\u2018You\tmust\thave\trealized\tthat\tI\tam\tno\tfool.\u2019 \u2018No,\tmost\tcertainly\tyou\tare\tnot.\tBut\tdo\tyou\tknow\twhere\tyou\twent\twrong?\tYou\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tput those\t newspapers\t in\t Mr\t Dhameeja\u2019s\t attach\u00e9\t case.\t I\t know\t why\t you\t did\t it,\t though.\t Dinanath\t Lahiri\u2019s case\twas\theavier\tthan\tDhameeja\u2019s\tbecause\tit\thad\tthis\tnotebook\tin\tit.\tSo\tyou\tstuffed\tthe\tnewspapers\tin Dhameeja\u2019s\tcase,\tso\tthat\tits\tweight\tbecame\tmore\tor\tless\tthe\tsame\tas\tDinanath\u2019s.\tWhen\tDinanath\tBabu picked\t it\t up,\t naturally\t he\t noticed\t nothing\t unusual.\t But\t people\t don\u2019t\t normally\t bother\t to\t pack\t their cases\twith\tpapers\tthey\u2019ve\tread\ton\tthe\ttrain,\tdo\tthey?\u2019 \u2018You\u2019re\tright.\tBut\tthen,\tyou\tare\tmore\tintelligent\tthan\tmost.\tNot\tmany\twould\thave\tpicked\tthat\tup.\u2019 \u2018I\t have\t a\t questio n\t to \t ask,\u2019\t Feluda\t co ntinued.\t \u2018Ever yo ne,\t with\t the\t so le\t exceptio n\t o f\t yo ur self,\t slept well\tthat\tnight,\tdidn\u2019t\tthey?\u2019 \u2018Hmmm\t.\t.\t.\tyes,\tyou\tmight\tsay\tthat.\u2019 \u2018And\tyet,\tDinanath\tLahiri\tsays\the\tcannot\tsleep\tin\ta\tmoving\ttrain.\tDid\tyou\tdrug\thim?\u2019 \u2018Right.\u2019 \u2018By\tcrushing\ta\tpill\tand\tpouring\tit\tinto\ta\tglass\tof\twater?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\t I\t always\t carry\t my\t sleeping\t pills\t with\t me.\t Everyone\t had\t been\t given\t a\t glass\t of\t water\t when dinner\twas\tserved,\tand\ttwo\tof\tthe\tpassengers\twent\tto\twash\ttheir\thands.\tOnly\tDhameeja\tdidn\u2019t.\u2019 \u2018Does\tthat\tmean\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\ttamper\twith\tMr\tDhameeja\u2019s\tdrinking\twater?\u2019","\u2018No,\tand\tas\ta\tresult\tof\tthat\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tdo\ta\tthing\tduring\tthe\tnight.\tAt\tsix\tin\tthe\tmorning,\tDhameeja got\t up\t to\t have\t a\t shave\t and\t then\t went\t to\t the\t bathroom.\t I\t did\t what\t I\t had\t to\t do\t before\t he\t came\t back Lahiri\tand\tthe\tother\tone\twere\tstill\tfast\tasleep.\u2019 \u2018I\t see.\t Yo u\t to o k\t o ne\t hell\t o f\t a\t r isk,\t didn\u2019t\t yo u,\t with\t Dhameeja\t actually\t in\t the\t co mpar tment,\t when you\tpoured\tthe\tpill\tinto\tDinanath\u2019s\twater?\u2019 \u2018I\twas\tlucky.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tglance\tat\tme.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t lucky\t you\t certainly\t were.\t But,\t later,\t you\t did\t something\t that\t gave\t you\t away.\t It\t was\t a\t clever move,\tno\tdoubt,\tbut\twhat\tmade\tyou\toffer\tme\tmoney\teven\tafter\tyou\thad\tgot\thold\tof\tShambhucharan\u2019s manuscript?\u2019 Mr\tPakrashi\tburst\tout\tlaughing,\tbut\tsaid\tnothing. \u2018That\t phone\t call\t in\t Calcutta\t and\t that\t piece\t of\t paper\t in\t Delhi\t .\t .\t .\t you\t were\t behind\t both,\t weren\u2019t you?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t of\t course.\t I\t did\t not\t want\t you\t to\t go\t to\t Simla\u2014at\t least,\t not\t at\t first.\t I\t knew\t a\t man\t like\t you wo uld\t tear \t apar t\t my\t per fect\t cr ime.\t So \t I\t r ang \t yo ur \t ho use\t and\t even\t slipped\t a\t wr itten\t thr eat\t into \t yo ur friend\u2019s\tpocket\twhen\tI\tfound\thim\tsitting\tnext\tto\tme\tin\tthe\tplane.\tBut\tthen\t.\t.\t.\tslowly,\tI\tbegan\tto\tchange my\tmind.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tI\treached\tSimla,\tI\twas\tconvinced\tI\tshould\treturn\tthe\tstolen\tproperty\tto\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019 \u2018Because\tif\tyou\twent\tback\twithout\tthe\tmanuscript,\tyou\tyourself\tmight\thave\tbeen\tunder\tsuspicion.\tI did\t no t\t want\t that\t to \t happen.\t I\t have\t co me\t to \t appr eciate\t yo u\t and\t yo ur \t metho ds\t in\t these\t few\t days,\t yo u see.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\tMr\tPakrashi.\tOne\tmore\tquestion.\u2019 \u2018Yes?\u2019 \u2018You\tmade\ta\tduplicate\tcopy\tof\tthe\twhole\tmanuscript\tbefore\treturning\tit\tto\tme,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 All\tthe\tcolour\tfrom\tMr\tPakrashi\u2019s\tface\treceded\tinstantly.\tFeluda\thad\tplayed\this\ttrump\tcard. \u2018When\twe\twent\tto\tyour\thouse,\tyou\twere\ttyping\tsomething.\tIt\twas\tthe\tstuff\tin\tthis\tnotebook,\twasn\u2019t it?\tYou\twere\ttyping\tevery\tword\tin\tit.\u2019 \u2018But\t.\t.\t.\tyou\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018There\twas\ta\tfunny\tsmell\tin\tyour\troom,\tthe\tsame\tas\tthe\tsmell\tin\tShambhucharan\u2019s\told\tNepali\tbox. And\tnow\tI\tcan\tsee\tthat\tthis\tnotebook\thas\tit,\ttoo.\u2019 \u2018But\tthe\tcopy\u2014\u2019 \u2018Let\t me\t finish.\t Shambhucharan\t died\t in\t 1921.\t Fifty-one\t years\t ago.\t That\t means\t the\t fifty-year copyright\tperiod\twas\tover\ta\tyear\tago.\tSo\tanyone\tcan\tnow\thave\tit\tprinted,\tright?\u2019 \u2018Of\t course!\u2019\t Mr\t Pakrashi\t shouted,\t displaying\t signs\t of\t agitation.\t \u2018Are\t you\t trying\t to\t tell\t me\t I\t did wrong?\t Never!\t It\u2019s\t an\t extraordinary\t tale,\t I\t tell\t you.\t Dinanath\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t known\t its\t value,\t nor would\the\thave\thad\tit\tpublished.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tprint\tit\tnow,\tand\tno\tone\tcan\tstop\tme.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tsure.\tNo\tone\tcan\tstop\tyou,\tMr\tPakrashi,\tbut\twhat\u2019s\twrong\twith\ta\tbit\tof\thealthy\tcompetition?\u2019 \u2018Competition?\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 Feluda\u2019s\tfamous\tlopsided\tsmile\tpeeped\tout.\tHe\tstretched\this\tright\thand\ttowards\tMr\tPakrashi. \u2018Meet\t yo ur \t r ival,\t Nar esh\t Babu,\u2019\t he\t said.\t \u2018When\t Dinanath\t Lahir i\t ar r ives\t to mo r r o w,\t I\t shall\t no t\t ask fo r \t my\t fees\t with\t r eg ar d\t to \t this\t myster io us\t case.\t All\t I\t do \t want\t fr o m\t him\t is\t this\t o ld\t no tebo o k.\t And\t I happen\tto\tknow\ta\tfew\tpublishers\twho\tmight\tbe\tinterested.\tNow\tdo\tyou\tbegin\tto\tsee\twhat\tI\tmean?\u2019","Naresh\tPakrashi\tglared\tin\tsilence. Lalmohan\t Babu,\t however,\t suddenly\t found\t his\t voice,\t and\t uttered\t one\t word,\t without\t any\t apparent rhyme\tor\treason. \u2018Boomerang!\u2019\the\tyelled.","","A\tKILLER\tIN\tKAILASH","One It\t was\t the\t middle\t of\t June.\t I\t had\t finished\t my\t school\t final\t exams\t and\t was\t waiting\t for\t the\t results\t to come\tout.\tFeluda\tand\tI\twere\tsupposed\tto\thave\tgone\tto\ta\tfilm\ttoday,\tbut\tten\tminutes\tbefore\twe\twere\tto leave,\tit\tbegan\training\tso\theavily\tthat\twe\thad\tto\tdrop\tthe\tidea.\tI\twas\tnow\tsitting\tin\tour\tliving\troom, immersed\tin\ta\tTintin\tcomic\t(Tintin\tin\tTibet).\tFeluda\tand\tI\twere\tboth\tvery\tfond\tof\tthese\tcomics\twhich had\t mystery,\t adventure\t and\t humour,\t all\t in\t full\t measure.\t I\t already\t had\t three\t of\t these.\t This\t one\t was new.\t I\t had\t pr o mised\t to \t pass\t it\t o n\t to \t Feluda\t when\t I\t finished\t with\t it.\t Feluda\t was\t str etched\t o ut\t o n\t the divan,\treading\ta\tbook\tcalled\tChariots\tof\tthe\tGods?\tHe\thad\tnearly\tfinished\tit. After \t a\t while,\t he\t shut\t the\t bo o k,\t placed\t it\t o n\t his\t chest\t and\t lay\t still,\t star ing \t at\t the\t whir r ing \t ceiling fan.\t Then\t he\t said,\t \u2018Do\t you\t know\t how\t many\t stone\t blocks\t there\t are\t in\t the\t pyramid\t of\t Giza?\t Two hundred\tthousand.\u2019 Why\t was\t he\t suddenly\t interested\t in\t pyramids?\t He\t went\t on,\t \u2018Each\t block\t weighs\t nearly\t fifteen tonnes.\t From\t what\t is\t known\t of\t ancient\t engineering,\t the\t Egyptians\t could\t not\t have\t polished\t to perfection\tand\tplaced\ttogether\tmore\tthan\tten\tblocks\tevery\tday.\tBesides,\tthe\tstone\tit\u2019s\tmade\tof\thad\tto be\tbrought\tfrom\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tNile.\tA\trough\tcalculation\tshows\tthat\tit\tmust\thave\ttaken\tthem\tat least\tsix\thundred\tyears\tto\tbuild\tthat\tone\tsingle\tpyramid.\u2019 \u2018Is\tthat\twhat\tyour\tbook\tsays?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\t but\t that\t isn\u2019t\t all.\t This\t book\t mentions\t many\t other\t wonders\t that\t cannot\t be\t explained\t by archaeologists\tand\thistorians.\tTake\tour\town\tcountry,\tfor\tinstance.\tThere\tis\tan\tiron\tpillar\tat\tthe\tQutab Minar\tin\tDelhi.\tIt\tis\ttwo\tthousand\tyears\told,\tbut\tit\thasn\u2019t\trusted.\tNo\tone\tknows\twhy.\tHave\tyou\theard of\tEaster\tIsland?\tIt\u2019s\ta\tsmall\tisland\tin\tthe\tSouth\tPacific\tOcean.\tThere\tare\thuge\trocks\tfacing\tthe\tsea, on\t which\t human\t faces\t were\t carved\t thousands\t of\t years\t ago.\t These\t rocks\t were\t dragged\t from\t the middle\tof\tthe\tisland,\ttaken\tto\tits\tedge\tand\tarranged\tin\tsuch\ta\tway\tthat\tthey\twere\tvisible\tfrom\tthe\tsea. Each\tweighs\talmost\tfifty\ttonnes.\tWho\tdid\tthis?\tHow\tdid\tthe\tancient\ttribal\tpeople\tget\thold\tof\tadequate technology\tto\tdo\tthis?\tThey\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tthings\tlike\tlorries,\ttractors,\tcranes\tor\tbulldozers.\u2019 Feluda\tstopped,\tthen\tsat\tup\tand\tlit\ta\tCharminar.\tThe\tbook\thad\tclearly\tstirred\thim\tin\ta\tbig\tway.\t\u2018In Peru,\u2019\t he\t went\t on,\t \u2018there\t is\t an\t area\t which\t has\t geometric\t patterns\t drawn\t on\t the\t ground.\t Everyone knows\tabout\tthese\tpatterns,\tthey\tare\tvisible\tfrom\tthe\tair,\tbut\tno\tone\tcan\ttell\twhen\tand\thow\tthey\tcame to\tbe\tthere.\tIt\tis\tsuch\ta\tbig\tmystery\tthat\tscientists\tdo\tnot\toften\ttalk\tabout\tit.\u2019 \u2018Has\tthe\tauthor\tof\tyour\tbook\ttalked\tabout\tit?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t yes,\t and\t he\u2019s\t come\t up\t with\t a\t very\t interesting\t theory.\t According\t to\t him,\t creatures\t from\t a different\t planet\t came\t to\t earth\t more\t than\t twenty-five\t thousand\t years\t ago.\t Their\t technological expertise\twas\tmuch\thigher\tthan\tman\u2019s.\tThey\tshared\ttheir\tknowledge\twith\thumans,\tand\tbuilt\tstructures like\t the\t pyramids\u2014which,\t one\t must\t admit,\t modern\t man\t has\t not\t been\t able\t to\t match\t despite\t all\t his","technical\tknow-how.\tIt\tis\tonly\ta\ttheory,\tmind\tyou,\tand\tof\tcourse\tit\tneed\tnot\tnecessarily\tbe\ttrue.\tBut\tit makes\tyou\tthink,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\tThe\tweapons\tdescribed\tin\tour\tMahabharata\tbear\tresemblances\tto\tatomic weapons.\tSo\tmaybe\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018\t.\t.\t.\tThe\tbattle\tof\tKurukshetra\twas\tfought\tby\tcreatures\tfrom\tanother\tplanet?\u2019 Feluda\topened\this\tmouth\tto\treply,\tbut\twas\tinterrupted.\tSomeone\thad\tbraved\tthe\train\tand\tarrived\tat our\tdoor,\tpressing\tthe\tbell\tthree\ttimes\tin\ta\trow.\tI\tran\tand\topened\tit.\tUncle\tSidhu\trushed\tin,\ttogether with\t sprays\t of\t water.\t Then\t he\t shook\t his\t umbrella\t and\t shut\t it,\t sending\t more\t droplets\t flying everywhere. Uncle\t Sidhu\t was\t not\t really\t a\t relation.\t He\t and\t my\t father\t used\t to\t be\t neighbours\t many\t years\t ago. Since\tmy\tfather\ttreated\thim\tlike\tan\telder\tbrother,\twe\tcalled\thim\tUncle. \u2018What\t a\t miser able\t day\t g et\t me\t a\t cup\t o f\t tea\t quick\t the\t best\t yo u\u2019ve\t g o t,\u2019\t he\t said\t in\t o ne\t br eath.\t I\t r an back\tinside,\twoke\tSrinath\tand\ttold\thim\tto\tmake\tthree\tcups\tof\ttea.\tWhen\tI\treturned\tto\tthe\tliving\troom, Uncle\tSidhu\twas\tseated\ton\ta\tsofa,\tfrowning\tdarkly\tand\tstaring\tat\ta\tporcelain\tashtray. \u2018Why\tdidn\u2019t\tyou\ttake\ta\trickshaw?\tIn\tthis\tweather,\treally,\tyou\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\u2014\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan. \u2018People\t get\t murdered\t every\t day.\t Do\t you\t know\t there\u2019s\t a\t different\t type\t of\t murder\t that\u2019s\t much worse?\u2019\tUncle\tSidhu\tasked,\tas\tif\tFeluda\thadn\u2019t\tspoken\tat\tall.\tWe\tremained\tsilent,\tknowing\tthat\the\twas going\tto\tanswer\this\town\tquestion. \u2018I\t think\t most\t people\t would\t agree\t that\t our\t present\t downfall\t notwithstanding,\t we\t have\t a\t past\t of which\t every\t Indian\t can\t be\t justly\t proud,\u2019\t Uncle\t Sidhu\t went\t on.\t \u2018And,\t today,\t what\t do\t we\t see\t of\t this glorious\tpast?\tIsn\u2019t\tit\tour\tart,\tchiefly\tpaintings\tand\tsculptures?\tTell\tme,\tFelu,\tisn\u2019t\tthat\tright?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse,\u2019\tFeluda\tnodded. \u2018The\tbest\texamples\tof\tthese\u2014particularly\tsculptures\u2014\tare\tto\tbe\tfound\ton\tthe\twalls\tof\told\ttemples, right?\u2019 \u2018Right.\u2019 Uncle\tSidhu\tappeared\tto\tknow\tabout\tmost\tthings\tin\tlife,\tbut\this\tknowledge\tof\tart\twas\tprobably\tthe deepest,\t for\t two\t out\t of\t his\t three\t bookcases\t were\t full\t of\t books\t on\t Indian\t art.\t But\t what\t was\t all\t this about\ta\tmurder? He\t stopped\t for\t a\t minute\t to\t light\t a\t cheroot.\t Then\t he\t coughed\t twice,\t filling\t the\t whole\t room\t with smoke,\t and\t continued,\t \u2018Several\t rulers\t in\t the\t past\t destroyed\t many\t of\t our\t temples.\t Kalapahar\t alone was\t r espo nsible\t fo r \t the\t destr uctio n\t o f\t do zens\t o f\t temples\t in\t Beng al.\t Yo u\t knew\t that,\t didn\u2019t\t yo u?\t But did\tyou\tknow\tthat\ta\tnew\tKalapahar\thas\temerged\ttoday?\tI\tmean,\tnow,\tin\t1973?\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\ttalking\tof\tpeople\tstealing\tstatues\tfrom\ttemples\tto\tsell\tthem\tabroad?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Exactly!\u2019\t Uncle\t Sidhu\t almost\t shouted\t in\t excitement.\t \u2018Can\t you\t imagine\t what\t a\t huge\t crime\t it\t is? And\t it\u2019s\t not\t even\t done\t in\t the\t name\t of\t religion,\t it\u2019s\t just\t plain\t commerce.\t Our\t own\t art,\t our\t own heritage\tis\tmaking\tits\tway\tto\twealthy\tAmericans,\tbut\tit\u2019s\tbeing\tdone\tso\tcleverly\tthat\tit\u2019s\timpossible\tto catch\t anyone.\t Do\t you\t know\t what\t I\t saw\t today?\t The\t head\t of\t a\t yakshi\t from\t the\t Raja-Rani\t temple\t in Bhubaneshwar.\tIt\twas\twith\tan\tAmerican\ttourist\tin\tthe\tGrand\tHotel.\u2019 \u2018You\tdon\u2019t\tsay!\u2019 I\thad\tbeen\tto\tBhubaneshwar\twhen\tI\twas\ta\tchild.\tMy\tfather\thad\tshown\tme\tthe\tRaja-Rani\ttemple.\tIt was\tmade\tof\tterracotta\tand\tits\twalls\twere\tcovered\tby\tbeautiful\tstatues\tand\tcarvings.","Uncle\t Sidhu\t continued\t with\t his\t story.\t \u2018I\t had\t a\t few\t old\t Rajput\t paintings\t which\t I\t had\t bought\t in Varanasi\tin\t1934.\tI\ttook\tthose\tto\tNagarmal\tto\tsell.\tI\thave\tknown\thim\tfor\tyears.\tHe\thas\ta\tshop\tin\tthe Grand\t Hotel\t arcade.\t Just\t as\t I\t was\t placing\t my\t paintings\t on\t the\t counter,\t this\t American\t arrived.\t It seemed\the\thad\tbought\ta\tfew\tthings\tfrom\tNagarmal\tbefore.\tIn\this\thand\twas\tsomething\twrapped\tin\ta newspaper.\tIt\tseemed\theavy.\tThen\the\tunwrapped\tit,\tand\u2014oh\tGod!\u2014my\theart\tjumped\tinto\tmy\tmouth. It\twas\tthe\thead\tof\ta\tyakshi,\tmade\tof\tred\tstone.\tI\thad\tseen\tit\tbefore,\tmore\tthan\tonce.\tBut\tI\thad\tseen\tthe whole\tbody.\tNow\tthe\thead\thad\tbeen\tsevered. \u2018Nagarmal\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhere\tit\thad\tcome\tfrom,\tbut\tcould\ttell\tthat\tit\twas\tgenuine,\tnot\ta\tfake.\tThe American\tsaid\the\thad\tpaid\ttwo\tthousand\tdollars\tfor\tit.\tIf\tyou\tadded\ttwo\tmore\tzeros\tafter\tit,\tI\tsaid\tto myself,\teven\tthen\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\tsay\tit\twas\tthe\tright\tvalue.\tAnyway,\tthat\tman\twent\tup\tto\this\troom.\tI\twas so\tamazed\tthat\tI\tdidn\u2019t\teven\task\thim\twho\thad\tsold\tit\tto\thim.\tI\trushed\tback\thome\tand\tconsulted\ta\tfew of\tmy\tbooks\tjust\tto\tmake\tsure.\tNow\tI\tam\tabsolutely\tpositive\tit\twas\tfrom\ta\tstatue\ton\tthe\twall\tof\tRaja- Rani.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tit\twas\tdone\u2014possibly\tby\tbribing\tthe\tchowkidar\tat\tnight.\tAnything\tis\tpossible these\t days.\t I\t have\t written\t to\t the\t Bhubaneshwar\t Archaeological\t Department\t and\t sent\t it\t by\t express delivery,\tbut\twhat\tgood\tis\tthat\tgoing\tto\tdo?\tThe\tdamage\tis\talready\tdone!\u2019 Srinath\t came\t in\t with\t the\t tea.\t Uncle\t Sidhu\t picked\t up\t a\t cup,\t took\t a\t sip,\t and\t said,\t \u2018This\t has\t to\t be sto pped,\t Felu.\t I\t am\t no w\t to o \t o ld\t to \t do \t anything \t myself,\t but\t yo u\t ar e\t an\t investig ato r,\t it\t is\t yo ur \t jo b\t to find\t criminals.\t What\t could\t be\t worse\t than\t destroying\t and\t disfiguring\t our\t ancient\t art,\t tell\t me? Shouldn\u2019t\t these\t criminals\t be\t caught?\t I\t could,\t of\t course,\t write\t to\t newspapers\t and\t try\t to\t attract\t the attention\tof\tthe\tpolice,\tbut\tdo\tyou\tknow\twhat\tthe\tproblem\tis?\tNot\teveryone\tunderstands\tthe\ttrue\tvalue of\tart.\tI\tmean,\tan\told\tstatue\ton\ta\ttemple\twall\tisn\u2019t\tthe\tsame\tas\tgold\tor\tdiamonds,\tis\tit?\tYou\tcannot\tput a\tmarket\tprice\ton\tit.\u2019 Feluda\twas\tquiet\tall\tthis\twhile.\tNow\the\tsaid,\t\u2018Did\tyou\tmanage\tto\tlearn\tthe\tname\tof\tthat\tAmerican?\u2019 \u2018Yes.\tI\tdid\tspeak\tto\thim\tvery\tbriefly.\tHe\tgave\tme\this\tcard.\tHere\tit\tis.\u2019\tUncle\tSidhu\ttook\tout\ta\tsmall white\t card\t from\t his\t pocket\t and\t gave\t it\t to\t Feluda.\t Saul\t Silverstein,\t it\t said.\t His\t address\t was\t printed below\this\tname. \u2018A\t Jew,\u2019\t Uncle\t Sidhu\t remarked.\t \u2018Most\t undoubtedly\t very\t wealthy.\t The\t watch\t he\t was\t wearing\t was probably\tworth\ta\tthousand\tdollars.\tI\thad\tnever\tseen\tsuch\tan\texpensive\twatch\tbefore.\u2019 \u2018Did\the\ttell\tyou\thow\tlong\the\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tstay\there?\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s\t going\t to\t Kathmandu\t tomorrow\t morning.\t But\t if\t you\t ring\t him\t now,\t you\t might\t get\t him.\u2019 Feluda\t got\t up\t and\t began\t dialling.\t The\t telephone\t number\t of\t the\t Grand\t Hotel\t was\t one\t of\t the\t many important\tnumbers\the\thad\tmemorized. The\t receptionist\t said\t Mr\t Silverstein\t was\t not\t in\t his\t room.\t No\t one\t knew\t when\t he\t might\t be\t back. Feluda\t replaced\t the\t receiver,\t looking\t disappointed.\t \u2018If\t we\t could\t get\t even\t a\t description\t of\t the\t man who\tsold\tthat\tstatue\tto\thim,\twe\tmight\tdo\tsomething\tabout\tit.\u2019 \u2018I\t know.\t That\u2019s\t what\t I\t should\t have\t asked\t him,\u2019\t Uncle\t Sidhu\t sighed,\t \u2018but\t I\t simply\t couldn\u2019t\t think straight.\tHe\twas\tlooking\tat\tmy\tpaintings.\tHe\tsaid\the\twas\tinterested\tin\tTantric\tart,\tso\tif\tI\thad\tanything to\tsell\tI\tshould\tcontact\thim.\tThen\the\tgave\tme\tthat\tcard.\tBut\tI\thonestly\tdon\u2019t\tsee\thow\tyou\u2019ll\tproceed\tin this\tmatter.\u2019 \u2018Well,\tlet\u2019s\tjust\twait\tand\tsee.\tThe\tpress\tmay\treport\tthe\ttheft.\tAfter\tall,\tRaja-Rani\tis\ta\tvery\tfamous temple\tin\tBhubaneshwar.\u2019","Uncle\t Sidhu\t finished\t his\t tea\t and\t r o se.\t \u2018This\t has\t been\t g o ing \t o n\t fo r \t year s,\u2019\t he\t said,\t co llecting \t his umbrella.\t \u2018So\t far,\t the\t target\t seems\t to\t have\t been\t smaller\t and\t lesser\t known\t temples.\t But\t now, whoever \u2019s\tinvolved\thas\tbecome\tmuch\tbolder.\tPerhaps\ta\tgroup\tof\treckless\tand\tvery\tpowerful\tpeople are\tbehind\tthis.\tFelu,\tif\tyou\tcan\tdo\tsomething\tabout\tit,\tthe\tentire\tnation\tis\tgoing\tto\tappreciate\tit.\tI\tam positive\tabout\tthat.\u2019 Uncle\t Sidhu\t left.\t Feluda\t then\t spent\t all\t day\t trying\t to\t get\t hold\t of\t Saul\t Silverstein,\t but\t he\t did\t not return\tto\this\troom.\tAt\t11\tp.m.,\tFeluda\tgave\tup.\t\u2018If\twhat\tUncle\tSidhu\tsaid\tis\ttrue,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tfrowning, \u2018whoever\tis\tresponsible\tis\ta\tcriminal\tof\tthe\tfirst\torder.\tWhat\tis\tmost\tfrustrating\tis\tthat\tthere\u2019s\tno\tway I\tcan\ttrack\thim\tdown.\tNo\tway\tat\tall.\u2019 A\tway\topened\tthe\tvery\tnext\tday,\tin\tsuch\ta\ttotally\tunexpected\tmanner\tthat,\teven\tnow,\tmy\thead\treels when\tI\tthink\tabout\tit.","Two What\t happened\t was\t a\t terrible\t accident.\t But,\t before\t I\t speak\t about\t it,\t there\u2019s\t something\t else\t I\t must mention.\t There\t was\t a\t small\t report\t in\t the\t newspaper\t the\t next\t day,\t which\t confirmed\t Uncle\t Sidhu\u2019s suspicions: T he\tHeadless\tYakshi The\t head\t from\t the\t statue\t of\t a\t yakshi\t has\t been\t stolen\t from\t the\t wall\t of\t the\t Raja-Rani\t temple\t in\t Bhubaneshwar.\t This\t temple serves\t as\t one\t of\t the\t best\t examples\t of\t old\t Indian\t architecture.\t The\t chowkidar\t of\t the\t temple\t is\t said\t to\t be\t missing.\t The Archaeological\tDepartment\tof\tOrissa\thas\tasked\tfor\ta\tpolice\tinvestigation. I\tread\tthis\treport\taloud,\tand\tasked,\t\u2018Would\tthat\tmean\tthe\tchowkidar\tis\tthe\tthief?\u2019 Feluda\t finished\t squeezing\t out\t toothpaste\t from\t a\t tube\t of\t Forhans\t and\t placed\t it\t carefully\t on\t his toothbrush.\tThen\the\tsaid,\t\u2018No,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tstealing\tthe\thead\twas\tjust\tthe\tchowkidar \u2019s\tidea.\tA\tpoor man\tlike\thim\twould\tnot\thave\tthe\tnerve.\tSomeone\telse\tis\tresponsible,\tsomeone\tbig\tenough\tand\tstrong enough\tto\tthink\the\tis\tnever\tgoing\tto\tbe\tcaught.\tPresumably,\the\u2014or\tthey\u2014simply\tpaid\tthe\tchowkidar to\tget\thim\tout\tof\tthe\tway\tfor\ta\tfew\tdays.\u2019 Uncle\tSidhu\tmust\thave\tseen\tthe\treport\ttoo.\tHe\twould\tprobably\tturn\tup\tat\tour\thouse\tagain\tto\ttell\tus proudly\tthat\the\twas\tright. He\t did\t arrive,\t but\t not\t before\t half\t past\t ten.\t Today\t being\t Thursday,\t our\t area\t had\t been\t hit\t by\t its regular\t power\t cut\t since\t nine\t o\u2019clock.\t Feluda\t and\t I\t were\t sitting\t in\t our\t living\t room,\t staring occasionally\tat\tthe\tovercast\tsky,\twhen\tsomeone\tknocked\tloudly\tat\tthe\tdoor.\tUncle\tSidhu\trushed\tin\ta minute\tlater,\tdemanding\ta\tcup\tof\ttea\tonce\tmore.\tFeluda\tbegan\ttalking\tof\tthe\theadless\tyakshi,\tbut\twas told\tto\tshut\tup. \u2018That\u2019s\tstale\tnews,\tyoung\tman,\u2019\tUncle\tSidhu\tbarked.\t\u2018Did\tyou\thear\tthe\tlast\tnews\tbulletin?\u2019 \u2018No,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tnot.\tOur\tradio\tis\tnot\tworking.\tToday\tis\t.\t.\t.\u2019 \u2018I\tknow,\tit\u2019s\tThursday,\tand\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\ta\tlong\tpower\tcut.\tThat\tis\twhy,\tFelu,\tI\tkeep\tasking\tyou\tto\tbuy a\t tr ansisto r.\t Anyway,\t I\t came\t as\t so o n\t as\t I\t hear d.\t Yo u\u2019ll\t never \t believe\t this.\t That\t flig ht\t to \t Kathmandu crashed,\tnot\tfar\tfrom\tCalcutta.\tIt\ttook\toff\tat\tseven-thirty,\tbut\tcrashed\tonly\tfifteen\tminutes\tlater.\tThere was\t a\t sto r m,\t so \t per haps\t it\t was\t tr ying \t to \t co me\t back.\t Ther e\t wer e\t fifty-eig ht\t passeng er s.\t All\t o f\t them died,\tincluding\tSaul\tSilverstein.\tYes,\this\tname\twas\tmentioned\ton\tthe\tradio.\u2019 For\t a\t few\t moments,\t neither\t of\t us\t could\t speak.\t Then\t Feluda\t said,\t \u2018Where\t did\t it\t crash?\t Did\t they mention\tthe\tplace?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tnear\ta\tvillage\tcalled\tSidikpur,\ton\tthe\tway\tto\tHasnabad.\tFelu,\tI\thad\tbeen\tpraying\tvery\thard\tfor that\tstatue\tnot\tto\tleave\tthe\tcountry.\tWho\tknew\tmy\tprayer\twould\tbe\tanswered\tthrough\tsuch\ta\tterrible tragedy?\u2019 Feluda\tglanced\tat\this\twatch.\tWas\the\tthinking\tof\tgoing\tto\tSidikpur?","Uncle\t Sidhu\t looked\t at\t him\t sharply.\t \u2018I\t know\t what\t you\u2019re\t thinking.\t There\t must\t have\t been\t an explo sio n\t and\t ever ything \t the\t plane\t co ntained\t must\t have\t been\t scatter ed\t o ver \t miles.\t Suppo se,\t amo ng the\tbelongings\tof\tthe\tpassengers,\tthere\tis\u2014?\u2019 Feluda\t decided\t in\t two \t minutes\t that\t he\u2019d\t take\t a\t taxi\t and\t g o \t to \t Sidikpur \t to \t lo o k\t fo r \t the\t head\t o f\t the yakshi.\tThe\tcrash\thad\toccurred\tthree\thours\tago.\tIt\twould\ttake\tus\tan\thour\tand\ta\thalf\tto\tget\tthere.\tBy this\ttime,\tthe\tpolice\tand\tthe\tfire\tbrigade\twould\thave\tgot\tthere\tand\tstarted\ttheir\tinvestigation.\tNo\tone could\t tell\t whether\t we\u2019d\t succeed\t in\t our\t mission,\t but\t we\t could\t not\t miss\t this\t chance\t to\t retrieve\t what was\tlost. \u2018Those\tpaintings\tI\tsold\tto\tNagarmal\tfetched\tme\ta\ttidy\tlittle\tsum,\u2019\tUncle\tSidhu\ttold\tFeluda.\t\u2018I\twould like\tto\tgive\tyou\tsome\tof\tit.\tAfter\tall,\tyou\tare\tgoing\tto\tget\tinvolved\tonly\tbecause\tof\tme,\taren\u2019t\tyou?\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied\tfirmly.\t\u2018It\tis\ttrue\tthat\tyou\tgave\tme\tall\tthe\tdetails.\tBut,\tbelieve\tme,\tI\twouldn\u2019t have\t taken\t any\t actio n\t if\t I\t didn\u2019t\t feel\t str o ng ly\t abo ut\t it\t myself.\t I\t have\t tho ug ht\t a\t g r eat\t deal\t abo ut\t this, and\u2014like\tyou\u2014I\thave\tcome\tto\tthe\tconclusion\tthat\tthose\twho\tthink\tthey\tcan\tsell\tour\tancient\theritage to\tfill\ttheir\town\tpockets\tshould\tbe\tcaught\tand\tpunished\tseverely.\u2019 \u2018Bravo!\u2019\t Uncle\t Sidhu\t beamed.\t \u2018Please\t remember\t one\t thing,\t Felu.\t Even\t if\t you\t don\u2019t\t need\t any money,\tyou\tmay\tneed\tinformation\ton\tart\tand\tsculpture.\tI\tcan\talways\thelp\tyou\twith\tthat.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tI\tknow.\tThank\tyou.\u2019 We\tdecided\tthat\tif\twe\tcould\tfind\twhat\twe\twere\tlooking\tfor,\twe\twould\ttake\tit\tstraight\tto\tthe\toffice\tof the\t Archaeological\t Survey\t of\t India.\t The\t thief\t might\t still\t be\t at\t large,\t but\t at\t least\t the\t stolen\t object would\tgo\tback\tto\tthe\tauthorities. We\t quickly\t g o t\t r eady,\t and\t g o t\t into \t a\t yello w\t taxi.\t It\t was\t 10.55\t when\t we\t set\t o ff.\t \u2018I\u2019ve\t no \t idea\t ho w long\tthis\tis\tgoing\tto\ttake,\u2019\tFeluda\tsaid.\t\u2018We\tcan\tstop\tfor\tlunch\tat\ta\tdhaba\ton\tJessore\tRoad\ton\tour\tway back.\u2019 This\t pleased\t me\t no\t end.\t The\t food\t in\t dhabas\u2014which\t were\t usually\t frequented\t by\t lorry\t drivers\u2014 was\talways\tdelicious.\tRoti,\tdaal,\tmeat\tcurry\t.\t.\t.\tmy\tmouth\tbegan\tto\twater.\tFeluda\tcould\teat\tanything anywhere.\tI\ttried\tto\tfollow\this\texample. There\twas\ta\tshower\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\tleft\tthe\tmain\tcity\tand\treached\tVIP\tRoad.\tBut\tthe\tsun\tcame\tout\tas we\tgot\tclose\tto\tBarasat.\tHasnabad\twas\tforty\tmiles\tfrom\tCalcutta.\t\u2018If\tthe\troad\twasn\u2019t\twet\tand\tslippery, I\t could\t have\t got\t there\t in\t an\t hour,\u2019\t said\t our\t driver.\t \u2018There\u2019s\t been\t a\t plane\t crash\t there,\t sir,\t did\t you know?\tI\theard\tabout\tit\ton\tthe\tradio.\u2019 On\t being \t to ld\t that\t that\t was\t wher e\t we\t wer e\t g o ing ,\t he\t became\t ver y\t excited.\t \u2018Why,\t sir,\t was\t any\t o f your\trelatives\tin\tthat\tplane?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018No,\tno.\u2019 Feluda\tcould\thardly\ttell\thim\tthe\twhole\tstory,\tbut\this\tcuriosity\twas\taroused\tand\the\twent\ton\tasking questions. \u2018I\tbelieve\teverything\u2019s\tbeen\treduced\tto\tashes.\tWhat\twill\tyou\tget\tto\tsee,\tanyway?\u2019 \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u2019 \u2018Are\tyou\ta\treporter?\u2019 \u2018I\t.\t.\t.\twell,\tI\twrite\tstories.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee.\tYou\u2019ll\tget\tall\tthe\tdetails\tand\tthen\tuse\tit\tin\ta\tstory?\tVery\tgood,\tvery\tgood.\u2019","We\thad\tleft\tBarasat\tbehind\tus.\tNow\twe\thad\tto\tstop\tevery\tnow\tand\tthen\tto\task\tpeople\tif\tthey\tknew where\t Sidikpur\t was.\t Finally,\t a\t group\t of\t young\t men\t standing\t near\t a\t cycle\t repair\t shop\t gave\t us\t the r ig ht\t dir ectio ns.\t \u2018Two \t miles\t fr o m\t her e,\t yo u\u2019ll\t see\t an\t unpaved\t r o ad\t o n\t yo ur \t left,\u2019\t said\t o ne\t o f\t them. \u2018This\troad\twill\ttake\tyou\tto\tSidikpur.\tIt\u2019s\tonly\ta\tmile\tfrom\tthere.\u2019\tFrom\tthe\tway\the\tspoke,\tit\tseemed obvious\tthat\the\tand\this\tfriends\thad\talready\tgiven\tthe\tsame\tdirections\tto\tmany\tothers. T he\t unpaved\t r o ad\t tur ned\t o ut\t to \t be\t little\t mo r e\t than\t a\t dir t\t tr ack.\t It\t was\t muddy\t after \t the\t r ecent\t r ain and\tbore\tseveral\tsets\tof\ttyre\tmarks.\tThank\tgoodness\tit\twas\tonly\tJune.\tA\tmonth\tlater,\tthis\troad\twould become\timpossible\tto\tdrive\tthrough.\tThree\tother\tAmbassadors\tpassed\tus.\tSeveral\tpeople\twere\tgoing on\tfoot,\tand\tsome\tothers\twere\treturning\tfrom\tthe\tsite\tof\tthe\tcrash. A\tnumber\tof\tpeople\twere\tgathered\tunder\ta\tbanyan\ttree.\tThree\tcars\tand\ta\tjeep\twere\tparked\tnear\tit. Our\ttaxi\tpulled\tup\tbehind\tthese.\tThere\twas\tno\tsign\tof\tthe\tcrash\tanywhere,\tbut\tit\tbecame\tclear\tthat\twe couldn\u2019t\t drive\t any\t further.\t To\t our\t right\t was\t an\t open\t area,\t full\t of\t large\t trees.\t Beyond\t these,\t in\t the distance,\ta\tfew\tsmall\thouses\tcould\tbe\tseen. \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\tSidikpur,\u2019\tone\tof\tthe\tmen\ttold\tus.\t\u2018There\u2019s\ta\tlittle\twood\twhere\tthe\tvillage\tends.\tThat\u2019s where\tthe\tplane\tcrashed.\u2019 By\tthis\ttime,\tour\tdriver\thad\tintroduced\thimself\tto\tus.\tHis\tname\twas\tBalaram\tGhosh.\tHe\tlocked\this car\t and\t came\t with\t us.\t As\t it\t turned\t out,\t the\t wood\t wasn\u2019t\t large.\t There\t were\t more\t banana\t trees\t than anything\t else.\t Only\t half\t a\t dozen\t mango\t and\t jackfruit\t trees\t stood\t amongst\t them.\t Each\t of\t them\t was badly\tcharred.\tThere\twere\tvirtually\tno\tleaves\tleft\ton\ttheir\tbranches,\tand\tsome\tof\tthe\tbranches\tlooked as\tif\tthey\thad\tbeen\tdeliberately\tchopped\toff.\tThe\twhole\tarea\twas\tnow\tteeming\twith\tmen\tin\tuniform, and\tsome\tothers\twho\twere\tprobably\tfrom\tthe\tairline.\tThere\twas\ta\tvery\tstrong\tpungent\tsmell,\twhich made\tme\tcover\tmy\tface\twith\ta\thandkerchief.\tThe\tground\twas\tlittered\twith\tendless\tpieces\tof\tbroken, bur nt\t and\t half-bur nt\t o bjects,\t so me\t damag ed\t beyo nd\t r eco g nitio n,\t o ther s\t mo r e\t o r \t less\t usable.\t Feluda clicked\this\ttongue\tin\tannoyance\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018If\tonly\twe\tcould\thave\tgot\there\tan\thour\tago!\u2019 The\t main\t site\t had\t been\t cordoned\t off.\t There\t was\t no\t way\t we\t could\t get\t any\t closer.\t So\t we\t started walking\t around\t the\t cordon.\t Some\t of\t the\t policemen\t were\t picking\t up\t objects\t from\t the\t ground\t and inspecting\tthem:\ta\tportion\tof\ta\tstethoscope,\ta\tbriefcase,\ta\tflask,\ta\tsmall\tmirror\tthat\tglinted\tbrightly\tin the\t sun.\t The\t site\t was\t o n\t o ur \t r ig ht.\t We\t wer e\t slo wly\t mo ving \t in\t that\t dir ectio n,\t when\t suddenly\t Feluda saw\tsomething\ton\ta\tmango\ttree\ton\tour\tleft\tand\tstopped. A\tlittle\tboy\twas\tsitting\ton\ta\tlow\tbranch,\tclutching\ta\thalf-burnt\tleather\tshoe.\tHe\tmust\thave\tfound\tit among\tthe\tdebris.\tFeluda\tglanced\tup\tand\tasked,\t\u2018You\tfound\ta\tlot\tof\tthings,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u2019\tThe\tboy\tdid not\t reply,\t but\t stared\t solemnly\t at\t Feluda.\t \u2018What\u2019s\t the\t matter?\t Can\u2019t\t you\t speak?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked\t again. Still\the\tgot\tno\treply.\t\u2018Hopeless!\u2019\the\texclaimed\tand\twalked\ton,\taway\tfrom\tthe\tdebris\tand\ttowards\tthe village.\tBalaram\tGhosh\tbecame\tcurious\tonce\tmore. \u2018Are\tyou\tlooking\tfor\tsomething\tspecial,\tsir?\u2019\the\tasked. \u2018Yes.\tThe\thead\tof\ta\tstatue,\tmade\tof\tred\tstone.\u2019 \u2018I\t see.\t Just\t the\t head?\t OK.\u2019\t He\t started\t searching\t in\t the\t grass.\t There\t was\t a\t peepul\t tree\t about\t a hundred\t yards\t away,\t under\t which\t a\t group\t of\t old\t men\t were\t sitting,\t smoking\t hookahs.\t The\t oldest among\tthem\tasked\tFeluda,\t\u2018Where\tare\tyou\tfrom?\u2019 \u2018Calcutta.\tYour\tvillage\thasn\u2019t\tcome\tto\tany\tharm,\thas\tit?\u2019","\u2018No ,\t babu.\t Allah\t saved\t us.\t Ther e\t was\t a\t fir e\t as\t so o n\t as\t the\t plane\t came\t do wn\u2014it\t made\t such\t a\t big noise\tthat\twe\tall\tthought\ta\tbomb\thad\tgone\toff\u2014and\tthen\tthe\twhole\tvillage\twas\tfilled\twith\tsmoke.\tWe could\tsee\tthe\tfire\tin\tthe\twood,\tbut\tnone\tof\tus\tknew\twhat\tto\tdo\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tsoon\tit\tstarted\tto\train,\tand\tthen the\tfire\tbrigade\tarrived.\u2019 \u2018Did\tany\tof\tyou\tgo\tnear\tthe\tplane\twhen\tthe\tfire\twent\tout?\u2019 \u2018No,\tbabu.\tWe\u2019re\told\tmen,\twe\twere\tsimply\tglad\tto\thave\tbeen\tspared.\u2019 \u2018What\tabout\tthe\tyoung\tboys?\tDidn\u2019t\tthey\tgo\tand\tcollect\tthings\tbefore\tthe\tpolice\tgot\there?\u2019 T he\t o ld\t men\t fell\t silent.\t By\t this\t time,\t sever al\t o ther \t peo ple\t had\t g ather ed\t to \t listen\t to \t this\t exchang e. Feluda\t spo tted\t a\t bo y\t and\t becko ned\t him.\t \u2018What\u2019s\t yo ur \t name?\u2019\t he\t asked\t as\t the\t bo y\t came\t clo ser.\t His tone\twas\tgentle\tand\tfriendly. \u2018Ali.\u2019 Feluda\tplaced\ta\thand\ton\this\tshoulder\tand\tlowered\this\tvoice.\t\u2018A\tlot\tof\tthings\tscattered\teverywhere when\tthe\tplane\tcrashed.\tYou\u2019ve\tseen\tthat\tfor\tyourself,\thaven\u2019t\tyou?\tNow,\tthere\tshould\thave\tbeen\tthe head\tof\ta\tstatue\tamong\tthose\tthings.\tJust\tthe\thead\tof\ta\tstatue\tof\ta\twoman.\tDo\tyou\tknow\tif\tanyone\tsaw it?\u2019 \u2018Ask\thim!\u2019\tAli\treplied,\tpointing\tat\tanother\tboy.\tFeluda\thad\tto\trepeat\tthe\twhole\tprocess\tonce\tmore. \u2018What\u2019s\tyour\tname?\u2019 \u2018Panu.\u2019 \u2018Did\tyou\tsee\tthe\thead\tof\ta\tstatue?\tDid\tyou\ttake\tit?\u2019 Silence.\t \u2018Look,\t Panu,\u2019\t Feluda\t said\t even\t more\t gently,\t \u2018it\u2019s\t all\t right.\t No\t one\u2019s\t going\t to\t get\t angry with\tyou.\tBut\tif\tyou\tcan\tgive\tme\tthat\thead,\tI\u2019ll\tpay\tyou\tfor\tit.\tHave\tyou\tgot\tit\twith\tyou?\u2019 Mo r e\t silence.\t T his\t time,\t o ne\t o f\t the\t o ld\t men\t sho uted\t at\t him,\t \u2018Go \t o n,\t Panu,\t answer \t the\t g entleman. He\thasn\u2019t\tgot\tall\tday.\u2019 Panu\tfinally\topened\this\tmouth.\t\u2018I\thaven\u2019t\tgot\tit\twith\tme\tnow.\u2019 \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tmean?\u2019 \u2018I\tfound\tit,\tbabu.\tI\tswear\tI\tdid.\tBut\tI\tgave\tit\tto\tsomeone\telse,\tonly\ta\tfew\tminutes\tago.\u2019 What!\tCould\tthis\treally\tbe\ttrue?\tMy\theart\tstarted\thammering\tin\tmy\tchest. \u2018Who\twas\tit?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked\tsharply. \u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tHe\twas\ta\tman\tfrom\tthe\tcity,\tlike\tyou.\tHe\tcame\tin\ta\tcar,\ta\tblue\tcar.\u2019 \u2018What\tdid\the\tlook\tlike?\tWas\the\ttall?\tShort?\tThin?\tFat?\tDid\the\twear\tglasses?\u2019 This\tprompted\tmany\tof\tPanu\u2019s\tfriends\tto\tjoin\tthe\tconversation.\tFrom\tthe\tdescription\tthey\tgave,\tit seemed\tthat\ta\tman\tof\tmedium\theight,\twho\twas\tneither\tthin\tnor\tfat,\tneither\tfair\tnor\tdark,\tand\twhose age\twas\tbetween\tthirty\tand\tfifty,\thad\tarrived\thalf\tan\thour\tbefore\tus\tand\thad\tmade\tsimilar\tenquiries. Panu\t had\t sho wn\t him\t the\t yakshi\u2019s\t head,\t and\t he\t had\t bo ug ht\t it\t fr o m\t him\t fo r \t a\t no minal\t sum.\t Then\t he had\tdriven\toff\tin\ta\tblue\tcar. When\t we\t were\t driving\t to\t Sidikpur,\t a\t blue\t Ambassador\t had\t come\t from\t the\t opposite\t direction, passed\tus\tand\tgone\ttowards\tthe\tmain\troad.\tAll\tof\tus\tremembered\thaving\tseen\tit. \u2018OK.\tCome\ton,\tTopshe.\tLet\u2019s\tgo,\tMr\tGhosh.\u2019 If\t Feluda\t was\t disappointed\t by\t what\t we\t had\t just\t learnt,\t he\t did\t not\t show\t it.\t On\t the\t contrary,\t he seemed\tto\thave\tfound\tnew\tenergy.\tHe\tran\tall\tthe\tway\tback\tto\tthe\ttaxi,\twith\tthe\tdriver\tand\tme\tin\ttow. God\tknew\twhat\tlay\tin\tstore.","Three We\t were\t now\t going\t back\t the\t same\t way\t we\t had\t come.\t It\t was\t past\t one-thirty,\t but\t neither\t of\t us\t was thinking\t of\t lunch.\t Balaram\t Ghosh\t did\t suggest\t stopping\t for\t a\t cup\t of\t tea\t when\t we\t reached\t Jessore Ro ad,\t but\t Feluda\t paid\t no \t attentio n.\t Per haps\t o ur \t dr iver \t smelt\t an\t adventur e\t in\t all\t this,\t so \t he,\t to o ,\t did not\traise\tthe\tsubject\tof\tfood\tagain. Our\tcar\twas\tnow\tgoing\tat\t75\tkmph.\tI\twas\taware\tof\tonly\tone\tthought\tthat\tkept\tgoing\tover\tand\tover in\tmy\tmind:\thow\tclose\twe\thad\tgot\tto\tretrieving\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead!\tIf\twe\thadn\u2019t\thad\ta\tpower\tcut\tthis morning,\twe\twould\thave\theard\tthe\tnews\ton\tthe\tradio,\tand\tthen\twe\twould\thave\treached\tSidikpur\tmuch so o ner \t and\t mo st\t cer tainly\t we\t wo uld\t have\t g o t\t ho ld\t o f\t Panu.\t If\t that\t had\t happened,\t by\t no w\t we\t wo uld have\t been\t making \t o ur \t way\t to \t the\t o ffice\t o f\t the\t Ar chaeo lo g ical\t Sur vey\t o f\t India.\t Who \t kno ws,\t Feluda might\thave\tbeen\tgiven\ta\tPadma\tShree\tfor\trecovering\tthe\tcountry\u2019s\tlost\theritage! T he\t sun\t had\t alr eady\t dr ied\t the\t r o ad.\t I\t was\t beg inning \t to \t wo nder \t why\t we\t co uldn\u2019t\t g o \t a\t little\t faster, when\tmy\teyes\tcaught\tsight\tof\tsomething\tby\tthe\troadside\tthat\tcaused\ta\tsharp\trise\tin\tmy\tpulse\trate. A\tblue\tAmbassador\twas\tstanding\toutside\ta\tsmall\tgarage.\t\u2018Should\tI\tstop\there,\tsir?\u2019\tBalaram\tGhosh asked,\treducing\this\tspeed.\tHe\thad\tobviously\tpaid\tgreat\tattention\tto\twhat\tthose\tboys\thad\ttold\tus. \u2018Yes,\tat\tthat\ttea\tstall\tover\tthere,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\tMr\tGhosh\tswept\tup\tto\tthe\tstall\tand\tpulled\tup\tby\tits side\t with\t a\t screech.\t We\t got\t out\t and\t Feluda\t ordered\t three\t cups\t of\t tea.\t I\t noticed\t that\t tea\t was\t being served\tin\tsmall\tglasses,\tthere\twere\tno\tcups. \u2018What\telse\thave\tyou\tgot?\u2019\tFeluda\tasked. \u2018Biscuits.\t Would\t you\t like\t some?\t They\u2019re\t fresh,\t sir,\t and\t very\t tasty.\u2019\t Two\t glass\t jars\t stood\t on\t a counter,\tfilled\twith\tlarge,\tround\tbiscuits.\tFeluda\tasked\tfor\thalf-a-dozen\tof\tthose. My\teyes\tkept\tdarting\tback\tto\tthe\tblue\tcar.\tA\tmechanic\twas\tin\tthe\tprocess\tof\treplacing\ta\tpunctured tyre.\t A\t man\u2014medium\t height,\t age\t around\t forty,\t thick\t bushy\t eyebrows,\t hair\t brushed\t back\u2014was pacing\tup\tand\tdown,\tinhaling\tevery\tnow\tand\tthen\tfrom\ta\thalf-finished\tcigarette. Our\ttea\twas\talmost\tready.\tFeluda\ttook\tout\ta\tCharminar,\tthen\tpretended\the\thad\tlost\this\tlighter.\tHe patted\this\tpocket\ttwice,\tthen\tshrugged\tand\tmoved\tover\tto\tjoin\tthe\tother\tman.\tThe\tdriver\tand\tI\tstayed near\tour\ttaxi,\tbut\twe\tcould\thear\twhat\twas\tsaid. \u2018Excuse\tme.\u2019\tFeluda\tbegan,\t\u2018do\tyou\t.\t.\t.\t?\u2019 The\tman\ttook\tout\ta\tlighter\tand\tlit\tFeluda\u2019s\tcigarette\tfor\thim.\t\u2018Thanks,\u2019\tFeluda\tinhaled.\t\u2018A\tterrible business,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 The\tman\tglanced\tat\tFeluda,\tthen\tlooked\taway\twithout\treplying.\tFeluda\ttried\tonce\tmore. \u2018Weren\u2019t\tyou\tat\tthe\tsite\twhere\tthat\tplane\tcrashed?\tI\tthought\tI\tsaw\tyour\tcar\tthere!\u2019 This\ttime,\tthe\tman\tspoke.\t\u2018What\tplane\tcrash?\u2019 \u2018Good\theavens,\thaven\u2019t\tyou\theard?\tA\tplane\tbound\tfor\tKathmandu\tcrashed\tnear\tSidikpur.\u2019 \u2018I\tam\tcoming\tfrom\tTaki.\tNo,\tI\thadn\u2019t\theard\tof\tthe\tcrash.\u2019","Taki\t was\t a\t town\t near\t Hasnabad.\t Could\t the\t man\t be\t telling\t the\t truth?\t If\t only\t we\t had\t noted\t the number\tof\this\tcar\twhen\the\tpassed\tus! \u2018How\tmuch\tlonger\twill\tit\ttake?\u2019\the\tasked\tthe\tmechanic\timpatiently. \u2018A\tcouple\tof\tminutes,\tsir,\tno\tmore.\u2019 Our\ttea\thad\tbeen\tserved\tby\tthis\ttime.\tFeluda\tcame\tback\tto\tpick\tup\ta\tglass.\tThe\tthree\tof\tus\tsat\tdown on\ta\tbench\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tstall.\t\u2018He\tdenied\teverything\t.\t.\t.\tthe\tman\u2019s\ta\tliar,\u2019\tFeluda\tmuttered. \u2018How\tcan\tyou\tbe\tso\tsure,\tFeluda?\tThere\tare\tmillions\tof\tblue\tAmbassadors.\u2019 \u2018His\tshoes\tare\tcovered\tby\tash.\tHave\tyou\tlooked\tat\tyour\town\tsandals?\u2019 I\t g lanced\t do wn\t quickly\t and\t r ealized\t the\t co lo ur \t o f\t my\t sandals\t had\t chang ed\t co mpletely.\t T he\t o ther man\u2019s\tbrown\tshoes\twere\tsimilarly\tcovered\twith\tdark\tpatches. Feluda\ttook\this\ttime\tto\tfinish\this\ttea.\tWe\twaited\tuntil\tthe\tblue\tcar\tgot\ta\tnew\ttyre\u2014this\ttook\tanother fifteen\t minutes\t instead\t of\t two\u2014and\t went\t towards\t Jessore\t Road.\t Our\t own\t taxi\t left\t a\t minute\t later. There\twas\tquite\ta\tbig\tgap\tbetween\tthe\ttwo\tcars\twhich,\tFeluda\tsaid,\twas\tno\tbad\tthing.\t\u2018He\tmustn\u2019t\tsee that\twe\u2019re\tfollowing\thim,\u2019\the\ttold\tMr\tGhosh. It\t began\t raining\t again\t as\t we\t reached\t Dum\t Dum.\t Everything\t went\t hazy\t for\t a\t few\t minutes\t and\t it became\tdifficult\tto\tkeep\tthe\tblue\tcar\tin\tview.\tBalaram\tGhosh\twas\ttherefore\tobliged\tto\tget\ta\tbit\tcloser, which\thelped\tus\tin\tgetting\tthe\tnumber\tof\tthe\tcar.\tIt\twas\tWMA\t5349. \u2018This\t is\t like\t a\t Hindi\t film,\t sir!\u2019\t Mr\t Ghosh\t enthused.\t \u2018I\t saw\t a\t film\t only\t the\t other\t day\u2014it\t had Shatrughan\t Sinha\t in\t it\u2014which\t had\t a\t chase\t scene,\t exactly\t like\t this.\t But\t the\t second\t car\t went\t and crashed\tinto\ta\thill.\u2019 \u2018We\u2019ve\talready\thad\ta\tcrash\ttoday,\tthank\tyou.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\t do n\u2019t\t wo r r y,\t sir.\t I\u2019ve\t been\t dr iving \t fo r \t thir teen\t year s.\t I\t haven\u2019t\t had\t a\t sing le\t accident.\t I\t mean, not\tyet.\u2019 \u2018Good.\tKeep\tit\tthat\tway.\u2019 Balaram\t Ghosh\t was\t a\t good\t driver,\t I\t had\t to\t admit.\t We\t were\t now\t back\t in\t Calcutta,\t but\t he\t was weaving\this\tway\tthrough\tthe\tbusy\troads\twithout\tonce\tlosing\tsight\tof\tthe\tblue\tcar.\tI\twondered\twhere\tit was\tgoing. \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthe\tman\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tstatue?\u2019\tI\tasked\tFeluda\tafter\ta\twhile. \u2018Well,\the\u2019s\tcertainly\tnot\tgoing\tto\ttake\tit\tback\tto\tBhubaneshwar,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied.\t\u2018What\the\tmight\tdo is\tfind\tanother\tbuyer.\tAfter\tall,\tit\tisn\u2019t\toften\tthat\tone\tgets\tthe\tchance\tto\tsell\tthe\tsame\tthing\ttwice!\u2019 The\t blue\t car\t finally\t brought\t us\t to\t Park\t Street.\t We\t drove\t past\t the\t old\t cemetery,\t Lowdon\t Street, Camac\tStreet,\tand\tthen\tsuddenly,\tit\tturned\tleft\tand\tdrove\tinto\ta\tbuilding\tcalled\tQueen\u2019s\tMansion. \u2018Should\tI\tgo\tin,\tsir?\u2019 \u2018Of\tcourse.\u2019 Our\ttaxi\tpassed\tthrough\tthe\tfront\tgates.\tA\thuge\topen\tsquare\tfaced\tus,\tsurrounded\tby\ttall\tblocks\tof flats.\t A\t number \t o f\t car s\t and\t a\t co uple\t o f\t sco o ter s\t wer e\t par ked\t befo r e\t these.\t T he\t blue\t car \t went\t to \t the far\tend\tand\tstopped.\tWe\twaited\tin\tour\ttaxi\tto\tsee\twhat\thappened\tnext. The\t man\t got\t out\t with\t a\t black\t bag,\t wound\t up\t the\t windows\t of\t his\t car,\t locked\t it\t and\t slipped\t into Queen\u2019s\tMansion\tthrough\ta\tlarge\tdoor.\tFeluda\twaited\tfor\tanother\tminute,\tthen\tfollowed\thim. By\tthe\ttime\twe\treached\tthe\tdoor,\tthe\told-fashioned\tlift\tin\tthe\tlobby\thad\talready\tgone\tup,\tmaking\ta great\t deal\t of\t noise.\t It\t came\t back\t a\t few\t seconds\t later.\t An\t old\t liftman\t emerged\t from\t behind\t its","collapsible\tgate.\tFeluda\twent\tup\tto\thim. \u2018Did\tI\tjust\tmiss\tMr\tSengupta?\u2019\the\tasked\tanxiously. \u2018Mr\tSengupta?\u2019 \u2018The\tman\twho\tjust\twent\tup?\u2019 \u2018That\tman\twas\tMr\tMallik\tof\tnumber\tfive.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tSengupta\tin\tthis\tbuilding.\u2019 \u2018Oh.\tI\tmust\thave\tmade\ta\tmistake.\tSorry.\u2019 We\tcame\taway.\tMr\tMallik,\tflat\tnumber\tfive.\tI\tmust\tremember\tthese\tdetails. Feluda\t paid\t Balaram\t Ghosh\t and\t said\t he\t was\t no\t longer\t needed.\t Before\t driving\t off,\t he\t gave\t us\t a piece\tof\tpaper\twith\ta\tphone\tnumber\tscribbled\ton\tit.\t\u2018That\u2019s\tmy\tneighbour \u2019s\tnumber,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018If\tyou ever\tneed\tme,\tring\tthat\tnumber.\tMy\tneighbour\twill\tcall\tme.\tI\u2019d\tlove\tto\tbe\table\tto\thelp,\tsir.\tYou\tsee, life\u2019s\tusually\tso\tboring\tthat\tsomething\tlike\tthis\tcomes\tas\ta\ttremendous\t.\t.\t.\tI\tmean,\tit\tmakes\ta\tchange, doesn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 We\tmade\tour\tway\tto\tthe\tPark\tStreet\tpolice\tstation.\tFeluda\tknew\tits\tOC,\tMr\tHaren\tMutsuddi.\tTwo years\tago,\tthey\thad\tworked\ttogether\tto\ttrace\tthe\tculprit\twho\thad\tpoisoned\ta\trace\thorse\tcalled\tHappy- Go-Lucky.\t It\t turned\t out\t that\t Mr\t Mutsuddi\t was\t aware\t of\t the\t theft\t in\t Bhubaneshwar.\t Feluda\t told\t him briefly\t about\t our\t encounter\t with\t Mr\t Mallik\t and\t said,\t \u2018Even\t if\t Mallik\t is\t not\t the\t real\t thief,\t he\t has clearly\ttaken\tit\tupon\thimself\tto\trecover\tthe\tstolen\tobject\tand\tpass\tit\ton\tto\tsomeone\telse.\tI\thave\tcome to\tmake\ttwo\trequests,\tMr\tMutsuddi.\tSomeone\tmust\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\this\tmovements,\tand\tI\tneed\tto\tknow who \t he\t r eally\t is\t and\t wher e\t he\t wo r ks.\t He\t lives\t in\t flat\t number \t five,\t Queen\u2019s\t Mansio n,\t dr ives\t a\t blue Ambassador,\tWMA\t5349.\u2019 Mr\tMutsuddi\theard\tFeluda\tin\tsilence.\tThen\the\tremoved\ta\tpencil\tthat\twas\ttucked\tbehind\this\tear\tand said,\t\u2018Very\twell,\tMr\tMitter.\tIf\tyou\twant\tthese\tthings\tdone,\tthey\twill\tbe\tdone.\tA\tspecial\tconstable\twill follow\t your\t man\t everywhere,\t and\t I\u2019ll\t see\t if\t we\t have\t anything\t in\t our\t files\t on\t him.\t There\u2019s\t no guarantee,\tmind\tyou,\tthat\tI\u2019ll\tget\tanything,\tparticularly\tif\the\thasn\u2019t\tactually\tbroken\tthe\tlaw.\u2019 \u2018Thank\t you.\t But\t please\t treat\t this\t matter\t as\t urgent.\t If\t that\t statue\t gets\t passed\t on\t to\t someone\t else, we\u2019ll\tbe\tin\tbig\ttrouble.\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019\t Mr \t Mutsuddi\t smiled,\t \u2018Why\t sho uld\t yo u\t be\t in\t big \t tr o uble,\t Mr \t Mitter ?\t Yo u\u2019ll\t have\t me\t and the\t entire\t police\t force\t to\t help\t you.\t Doesn\u2019t\t that\t count\t for\t anything?\t We\u2019re\t not\t totally\t useless,\t you know.\t But\t there\u2019s\t just\t one\t thing\t I\u2019d\t like\t to\t tell\t you.\t The\t people\t who\t are\t behind\t such\t rackets\t are usually\tquite\tpowerful.\tI\u2019m\tnot\ttalking\tof\tphysical\tstrength.\tI\tmean\tthey\toften\tmanage\tto\tdo\tthings\tfar worse\tand\tmuch\tmore\tvile\tthan\tordinary\tpetty\tcriminals.\tI\tam\ttelling\tyou\tall\tthis,\tMr\tMitter,\tbecause you\tare\tyoung\tand\ttalented,\tand\tI\tlook\tupon\tyou\tas\ta\tfriend.\u2019 \u2018Thank\tyou,\tMr\tMutsuddi.\tI\tappreciate\tyour\tconcern.\u2019 We\tleft\tthe\tpolice\tstation\tand\twent\tto\tthe\tChinese\trestaurant,\tWaldorf,\tto\thave\tlunch.\tFeluda\twent\tto the\tmanager \u2019s\troom\tto\tmake\ta\tcall\tafter\twe\thad\tplaced\tour\torder. \u2018I\t r ang \t Mallik,\u2019\t he\t said\t when\t he\t came\t back.\t \u2018He\t was\t still\t in\t his\t r o o m\t and\t he\t answer ed\t the\t pho ne himself.\tI\trang\toff\twithout\tsaying\tanything.\u2019\tHe\tsounded\ta\tlittle\trelieved. We\t returned\t home\t at\t three\t o\u2019clock.\t Mr\t Mutsuddi\t called\t us\t a\t little\t after\t four.\t Feluda\t spoke\t for nearly\t five\t minutes,\t noting\t things\t down\t in\t his\t notebook.\t Then\t he\t put\t the\t phone\t down\t and\t told\t me everything\teven\tbefore\tI\tcould\task.","\u2018The\tman\u2019s\tcalled\tJayant\tMallik.\tHe\tmoved\tinto\tthat\tflat\tabout\ttwo\tweeks\tago.\tIt\tactually\tbelongs\tto a\t Mr\t Adhikari,\t who\t is\t away\t in\t Darjeeling\t at\t the\t moment.\t Perhaps\t he\u2019s\t a\t friend,\t and\t he\u2019s\t allowed Mallik\tto\tuse\this\tflat\tin\this\tabsence.\tThat\tblue\tAmbassador\tis\tAdhikari\u2019s.\tMallik\ttook\tit\tto\tthe\tGrand Hotel\tat\tthree\to\u2019clock\ttoday.\tHe\twent\tin\tfor\tfive\tminutes,\tthen\tcame\tout\tand\twas\tseen\twaiting\tin\this car\tfor\ttwenty\tminutes.\tAfter\tthat,\the\twent\tin\tonce\tmore\tand\temerged\tin\tten\tminutes.\tThen\the\twent\tto Dalho usie\t Squar e.\t Mutsuddi\u2019s\t man\t lo st\t him\t fo r \t a\t while\t after \t this,\t but\t then\t fo und\t him\t in\t the\t r ailway booking\toffice\tin\tFairlie\tPlace.\tHe\tbought\ta\tticket\tto\tAurangabad,\tsecond\tclass\treserved.\tMutsuddi\u2019s man\twill\tring\thim\tagain\tif\tthere\u2019s\tmore\tnews.\u2019 \u2018Aurangabad?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tthat\u2019s\twhere\tMallik\tis\tgoing.\tAnd\twe\tare\tgoing\timmediately\tto\tSardar\tShankar\tRoad,\tto\tvisit Uncle\tSidhu.\tI\tneed\tto\tconsult\thim\turgently.\u2019","Four \u2018Aurangabad!\u2019\tUncle\tSidhu\u2019s\teyes\tnearly\tpopped\tout.\t\u2018Do\tyou\trealize\twhat\tthis\tmeans?\tAurangabad is\tonly\ttwenty\tmiles\tfrom\tEllora,\twhich\tis\ta\tsort\tof\tdepot\tfor\tthe\tbest\tspecimens\tof\tIndian\tart.\tThere is\tthe\tKailash\ttemple,\tcarved\tout\tof\ta\tmountain.\tThen\tthere\tare\tthirty-three\tcaves\u2014Hindu,\tBuddhist, Jain\u2014that\tstretch\tfor\ta\tmile\tand\ta\thalf.\tEach\tis\tpacked\twith\tbeautiful\tstatues,\twonderful\tcarvings\t.\t.\t. oh\tGod,\tI\tcan\thardly\tthink!\tBut\twhy\tis\tthis\tman\tgoing\tby\ttrain\twhen\the\tcan\tfly\tto\tAurangabad?\u2019 \u2018I\tthink\the\twants\tto\tkeep\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead\twith\thim\tat\tall\ttimes.\tIf\the\twent\tby\tair,\this\tbaggage\tmight be\tsearched\tby\tsecurity\tmen.\tNo\tone\twould\tbother\tto\tdo\tthat\ton\ta\ttrain,\twould\tthey?\u2019 Feluda\tstood\tup\tsuddenly. \u2018What\tdid\tyou\tdecide?\u2019\tUncle\tSidhu\tasked\tanxiously. \u2018We\tmust\tgo\tby\tair,\u2019\tFeluda\treplied. The\tlook\tUncle\tSidhu\tgave\thim\tat\tthis\twas\tfilled\twith\tpride\tand\tjoy.\tBut\the\tsaid\tnothing.\tAll\the\tdid was\tget\tup\tand\tselect\ta\tslim\tbook\tfrom\tone\tof\this\tbookcases.\t\u2018This\tmay\thelp\tyou,\u2019\the\tsaid.\tI\tglanced at\tits\ttitle.\tA\tGuide\tto\tthe\tCaves\tof\tEllora,\tit\tsaid. Feluda\trang\this\ttravel\tagent,\tMr\tBakshi,\tas\tsoon\tas\twe\tgot\tback\thome. \u2018I\t need\t thr ee\t tickets\t o n\t the\t flig ht\t to \t Bo mbay\t to mo r r o w,\u2019\t I\t hear d\t him\t say.\t This\t sur pr ised\t me\t ver y much.\tWhy\tdid\the\tneed\tthree\ttickets?\tWas\tUncle\tSidhu\tgoing\tto\tjoin\tus?\tWhen\tI\tasked\thim,\thowever, Feluda\tonly\tsaid,\t\u2018The\tmore\tthe\tmerrier.\tWe\tmay\tneed\tan\textra\tpair\tof\thands.\u2019 Mr \t Bakshi\t came\t back\t o n\t the\t line.\t \u2018I\u2019ll\t have\t to \t put\t yo u\t o n\t the\t waiting \t list,\u2019\t he\t said,\t \u2018but\t it\t do esn\u2019t look\ttoo\tbad,\tI\tthink\tit\u2019ll\tbe\tOK.\u2019 He\talso\tagreed\tto\tmake\tour\thotel\tbookings\tin\tAurangabad\tand\tEllora.\tThe\tflight\tto\tBombay\twould get\t us\t there\t by\t nine\t o\u2019clock.\t Then\t we\u2019d\t have\t to\t catch\t the\t flight\t to\t Aurangabad\t at\t half\t past\t twelve, reaching\tthere\tan\thour\tlater.\tThis\tmeant\twe\twould\tarrive\tin\tAurangabad\ton\tSaturday,\tand\tMr\tMallik would\tget\tthere\ton\tSunday. Feluda\t rang\t off\t and\t began\t dialling\t another\t number.\t The\t doorbell\t rang\t before\t he\t could\t finish dialling.\t I\t opened\t it\t to\t find\t Lalmohan\t Babu.\t Feluda\t stared,\t as\t though\t he\t had\t seen\t a\t ghost,\t and exclaimed,\t\u2018My\tword,\twhat\ta\tcoincidence!\tI\twas\tjust\tdialling\tyour\tnumber.\u2019 \u2018Really?\t Now,\t that\t must\t mean\t I\t have\t got\t a\t telepathetic\t link\t with\t you,\t after\t all,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu laughed,\tlooking\tpleased.\tNeither\tof\tus\thad\tthe\theart\tto\ttell\thim\tthe\tcorrect\tword\twas\t\u2018telepathic\u2019. \u2018It\u2019s\tso\thot\tand\tstuffy\t.\t.\t.\tcould\tyou\tplease\task\tyour\tservant\tto\tmake\ta\tlemon\tdrink,\twith\tsome\tice from\tthe\tfridge,\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tmind?\u2019 Feluda\tpassed\ton\this\trequest\tto\tSrinath,\tthen\tcame\tstraight\tto\tthe\tpoint. \u2018Are\tyou\tvery\tbusy\tthese\tdays?\tHave\tyou\tstarted\twriting\tanything\tnew?\u2019","\u2018No,\tno.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tcome\there\tfor\ta\tchat\tif\tI\thad\talready\tstarted\twriting.\tAll\tI\u2019ve\tgot\tis\ta\tplot.\tI think\t it\t would\t make\t a\t good\t Hindi\t film.\t There\t are\t five\t fights.\t My\t hero,\t Prakhar\t Rudra,\t goes\t to Baluchistan\t this\t time.\t Tell\t me,\t ho w\t do \t yo u\t think\t Ar jun\t Mehr o tr a\t wo uld\t handle\t the\t r o le\t o f\t Pr akhar Rudra?\tI\tthink\the\u2019d\tfit\tthe\tpart\tvery\twell\u2014unless,\tof\tcourse,\tyou\tagreed\tto\tdo\tit,\tFelu\tBabu?\u2019 \u2018I\tcannot\tspeak\tHindi.\tAnyway,\tI\tsuggest\tyou\tcome\twith\tus\tto\tKailash\tfor\ta\tfew\tdays.\tYou\tcan\tstart thinking\tof\tBaluchistan\twhen\tyou\tget\tback.\u2019 \u2018Kailash?\tAll\tthe\tway\tto\tTibet?\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tunder\tthe\tChinese?\u2019 \u2018No.\tThis\tKailash\thas\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tTibet.\tHave\tyou\theard\tof\tEllora?\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tI\tsee,\tI\tsee.\tYou\tmean\tthe\ttemple?\tBut\tisn\u2019t\tthat\tfull\tof\tstatues\tand\trocks\tand\tmountains?\tWhat have\tyou\tto\tdo\twith\tthose,\tFelu\tBabu?\tYour\tbusiness\tis\thuman\tbeings,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 \u2018Correct.\tA\tgroup\tof\thuman\tbeings\thas\tstarted\ta\thideous\tracket\tinvolving\tthose\trocks\tand\tstatues.\tI intend\tto\tput\ta\tstop\tto\tit.\u2019 Lalmohan\tBabu\tstared.\tFeluda\tfilled\thim\tin\tquickly,\twhich\tmade\thim\tgrow\teven\tmore\tround-eyed. \u2018What\t are\t you\t saying,\t Felu\t Babu?\t I\t had\t no\t idea\t stone\t statues\t could\t be\t so\t valuable.\t The\t only valuable\tstones\tI\tcan\tthink\tof\tare\tprecious\tstones\tlike\trubies\tand\temeralds\tand\tdiamonds.\tBut\tthis\u2014!\u2019 \u2018T his\t is\t far \t mo r e\t pr ecio us.\t Yo u\t can\t g et\t diamo nds\t and\t r ubies\t elsewher e\t in\t the\t wo r ld.\t But\t ther e\t is o nly\t o ne\t Kailash,\t o ne\t Sanchi\t and\t o ne\t Elephanta.\t If\t these\t ar e\t destr o yed,\t ther e\t wo uld\t be\t no \t evidence left\t of\t the\t amazing\t heights\t our\t ancient\t art\t had\t risen\t to.\t Modern\t artists\t do\t not\u2014they\t cannot\u2014get anywher e\t near \t the\t skill\t and\t per fectio n\t these\t specimens\t sho w.\t Anyo ne\t who \t tr ies\t to \t disfig ur e\t any\t o f them\tis\ta\tdangerous\tcriminal.\tIn\tmy\tview,\tthe\tman\twho\ttook\tthat\thead\tfrom\tthe\tstatue\tof\tthe\tyakshi\tis no\tless\tthan\ta\tmurderer.\tHe\thas\tgot\tto\tbe\tpunished.\u2019 This\twas\tenough\tto\tconvince\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tHe\twas\tfond\tof\ttravelling,\tin\tany\tcase.\tHe\tagreed\tto accompany\tus\tat\tonce,\tand\tbegan\tasking\ta\tlot\tof\tquestions,\tincluding\twhether\tor\tnot\the\tshould\tcarry a\tmosquito\tnet,\tand\twas\tthere\tany\tdanger\tof\tbeing\tbitten\tby\tsnakes?\tThen\the\tleft,\twith\ta\tpromise\tto meet\tus\tat\tthe\tairport. Neither\t of\t us\t knew\t how\t long\t we\t might\t have\t to\t stay\t in\t Aurangabad,\t but\t decided\t to\t pack\t enough clo thes\t fo r \t a\t week.\t Since\t Feluda\t was\t o ften\t r equir ed\t to \t tr avel,\t he\t always\t had\t a\t suitcase\t packed\t with essentials\t such\t as\t a\t fifty-foot\t steel\t tape,\t an\t all-purpose\t knife,\t rail\t and\t air\t timetables,\t road\t maps,\t a long\tnylon\trope,\ta\tpair\tof\thunting\tboots,\tand\tseveral\tpieces\tof\twire\twhich\tcame\tin\thandy\tto\tunlock doors\tand\ttable-drawers\tif\the\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ta\tkey.\tNone\tof\tthis\ttook\tup\ta\tlot\tof\tspace,\tso\the\tcould\tpack his\tclothes\tin\tthe\tsame\tsuitcase. He\talso\thad\tguide\tbooks\tand\ttourist\tpamphlets\ton\tvarious\tparts\tof\tthe\tcountry.\tI\tleafed\tthrough\tthe ones\tI\tthought\tmight\tbe\trelevant\tfor\tthis\tvisit.\tFeluda\tset\tthe\talarm\tclock\tat\t4\ta.m.\tbefore\tgoing\tto\tbed at\tten\to\u2019clock,\tthen\trang\t173\tand\tasked\tfor\ta\twake-up\tcall,\tin\tcase\tthe\talarm\tdid\tnot\tgo\toff\tfor\tsome reason. Ten\t minutes\t later,\t Mr \t Mutsuddi\t r ang \t ag ain.\t \u2018Mallik\t r eceived\t a\t tr unk\t call\t fr o m\t Bo mbay,\u2019\t he\t said. \u2018The\twords\tMallik\tspoke\twere\tthese:\t\u201cThe\tdaughter\thas\treturned\tto\ther\tfather\tfrom\ther\tin-laws.\tThe father\tis\ttaking\ther\twith\thim\ttwenty-seventy-five.\u201d\tThe\tcaller\tfrom\tBombay\tsaid:\t\u201cCarry\ton,\tbest\tof luck.\u201d\tThat\twas\tall.\u2019 Feluda\t thanked\t him\t and\t r ang \t o ff.\t Mallik\u2019s\t wo r ds\t made\t no \t sense\t to \t me.\t When\t I\t mentio ned\t this\t to Feluda,\t he\t simply\t said,\t \u2018Even\t the\t few\t grey\t cells\t you\t had\t seem\t to\t be\t disappearing,\t my\t boy.\t Stop","worrying\tand\tgo\tto\tsleep.\u2019 The\tflight\tto\tBombay\twas\tdelayed\tby\tan\thour.\tIt\tfinally\tleft\tat\thalf\tpast\tseven.\tThere\twere\tquite\ta\tfew cancellations,\tso\twe\tgot\tthree\tseats\tpretty\teasily. Lalmohan\t Babu\t had\t flown\t with\t us\t for\t the\t first\t time\t when\t we\t had\t gone\t to\t Delhi\t and\t Simla\t in connection\t with\t Mr\t Dhameeja\u2019s\t case.\t This\t was\t possibly\t the\t second\t time\t he\t was\t travelling\t by\t air.\t I noticed\tthat\tthis\ttime\the\tdid\tnot\tpull\tfaces\tand\tgrip\tthe\tarms\tof\this\tchair\twhen\twe\ttook\toff;\tbut,\ta\tlittle later,\twhen\twe\tran\tinto\tsome\trough\tweather,\the\tleant\tacross\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Felu\tBabu,\tthis\tis\tno\tdifferent from\t travelling\t in\t a\t rickety\t old\t bus\t down\t Chitpur\t Road.\t How\t can\t I\t be\t sure\t the\t whole\t plane\t isn\u2019t coming\tapart?\u2019 \u2018It\tisn\u2019t,\trest\tassured.\u2019 After\tbreakfast,\the\tseemed\tto\thave\trecovered\ta\tlittle,\tfor\tI\tsaw\thim\tpress\ta\tbutton\tand\tcall\tthe\tair ho stess.\t \u2018Excuse\t please\t Miss,\t a\t to o thpick,\u2019\t he\t said\t smar tly.\t Then\t he\t beg an\t r eading \t a\t g uide\t bo o k\t o n Bombay.\tNone\tof\tus\thad\tbeen\tto\tBombay\tbefore.\tFeluda\thad\tdecided\tto\tspend\ta\tfew\tdays\tthere\twith\ta friend\t on\t our\t way\t back\u2014provided,\t of\t course,\t that\t our\t business\t in\t Ellora\t could\t be\t concluded satisfactorily. When\tthe\t\u2018fasten\tseat\tbelts\u2019\tsign\tcame\ton\tjust\tbefore\tlanding,\tthere\twas\tsomething\tI\tfelt\tI\thad\tto\task Feluda.\t\u2018Will\tyou\tplease\texplain\twhat\tMr\tMallik\u2019s\twords\tmeant?\u2019 Feluda\tlooked\tamazed.\t\u2018What,\tyou\tmean\tyou\treally\tdidn\u2019t\tunderstand\tit?\u2019 \u2018No.\u2019 \u2018The\tdaughter\thas\treturned\tto\ther\tfather\tfrom\ther\tin-laws.\t\u201cThe\tdaughter\u201d\tis\tthe\tyakshi\u2019s\thead,\tthe \u201cin-laws\u201d\trefers\tto\tSilverstein\twho\thad\tbought\tit,\tand\tthe\t\u201cfather\u201d\tis\tMallik\thimself.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee\t.\t.\t.\tWhat\tabout\t\u201ctwenty-seventy-five\u201d?\u2019 \u2018That\trefers\tto\tthe\tlatitude.\tIf\tyou\tlook\tat\ta\tmap,\tyou\u2019ll\tsee\tthat\u2019s\twhere\tAurangabad\tis\tshown.\u2019 We\tlanded\tat\tSanta\tCruz\tairport\tat\tten.\tSince\tour\tflight\tto\tAurangabad\twas\tat\thalf\tpast\ttwelve,\twe saw\tno\tpoint\tin\tgoing\tinto\tthe\ttown,\talthough\tan\taerial\tview\tof\tthe\tcity\thad\timpressed\tme\tvery\tmuch. We\tremained\tin\tthe\tairport,\thad\tchicken\tcurry\tand\trice\tfor\tlunch\tat\tthe\tairport\trestaurant,\tand\tboarded the\t plane\t to\t Aurangabad\t at\t quarter\t to\t one.\t There\t were\t only\t eleven\t passengers,\t since\t it\t was\t not\t the tourist\tseason. This\t time,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t and\t I\t sat\t together.\t Feluda\t sat\t on\t the\t other\t side\t of\t the\t aisle,\t next\t to\t a middle-aged\tman\twith\ta\tparrot-like\tnose,\tthick\twavy\tsalt-and-pepper\thair\tbrushed\tback\tand\twearing glasses\t with\t a\t heavy\t black\t frame.\t We\t got\t to\t know\t him\t after\t landing\t at\t the\t small\t airport\t at Aurangabad.\tHe\twas\texpecting\tto\tbe\tmet,\the\tsaid,\tbut\tno\tone\thad\tturned\tup.\tSo\the\tdecided\tto\tjoin\tus to\tgo\tto\ttown\tin\tthe\tbus\tprovided\tby\tthe\tairline. \u2018Where\twill\tyou\tbe\tstaying?\u2019\the\tasked\tFeluda. \u2018Hotel\tAurangabad.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\tthat\u2019s\twhere\tI\tshall\tbe\tstaying\tas\twell.\tWhat\tbrings\tyou\there?\tHoliday?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tyou\tmight\tcall\tit\tthat.\tAnd\tyou?\u2019 \u2018I\t am\t writing\t a\t book\t on\t Ellora.\t This\t is\t my\t second\t visit.\t I\t teach\t the\t history\t of\t Indian\t art\t in Michigan.\u2019 \u2018I\tsee.\tAre\tyour\tstudents\tenthusiastic\tabout\tthis\tsubject?\u2019","\u2018Yes,\tmuch\tmore\tnow\tthan\tthey\tused\tto\tbe.\tIndia\tseems\tto\tinspire\tyoung\tpeople\tmore\tthan\tanything else.\u2019 \u2018I\t believe\t the\t Vaishnavas\t have\t got\t a\t strong\t hold\t over\t there?\u2019\t Feluda\t asked\t lightly.\t The\t other gentleman\t laughed.\t \u2018Are\t you\t talking\t of\t the\t Hare\t Krishna\t people?\u2019\t he\t asked.\t \u2018Yes,\t their\t presence canno t\t be\t ig no r ed.\t T hey\t ar e,\t in\t fact,\t ver y\t ser io us\t abo ut\t what\t they\t do \t and\t ho w\t they\t dr ess.\t Have\t yo u heard\ttheir\tkeertan?\tSometimes\tit\tis\timpossible\tto\ttell\tthey\tare\tforeigners.\u2019 It\ttook\tus\tonly\tfifteen\tminutes\tto\treach\tour\thotel.\tIt\twas\tsmall,\tbut\tneat\tand\ttidy.\tWe\tchecked\tin\tand were\tshown\tinto\troom\tnumber\t11.\tLalmohan\tBabu\twent\tto\troom\t14.\tFeluda\thad\tbought\ta\tnewspaper at\t Bo mbay\t air po r t.\t I\t had\t seen\t him\t r ead\t it\t in\t the\t plane.\t No w\t he\t sat\t do wn\t o n\t a\t chair \t in\t the\t middle\t o f our\troom,\tspread\tit\tonce\tmore\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Do\tyou\tknow\twhat\t\u201cvandalism\u201d\tmeans?\u2019 I\t did,\t but\t only\t vaguely.\t Feluda\t explained,\t \u2018The\t barbarian\t invaders\t who\t sacked\t Rome\t in\t the\t fifth century\twere\tcalled\tVandals.\tAny\tact\trelated\tto\tdisfiguring,\tdamaging\tor\tdestroying\ta\tbeautiful\tobject has\tcome\tto\tbe\tknown\tas\tvandalism.\u2019\tThen\the\tpassed\tthe\tnewspaper\tto\tme\tand\tsaid,\t\u2018Read\tit.\u2019 I\tsaw\ta\tshort\treport\twith\tthe\theading,\t\u2018More\tVandalism\u2019.\tAccording\tto\tit,\ta\tstatue\tof\ta\twoman\thad been\t broken\t and\t its\t head\t lifted\t from\t one\t of\t the\t walls\t of\t the\t temple\t of\t Kandaria\t Mahadev\t in Khajuraho.\t A\t group\t of\t art\t students\t from\t Baroda\t who\t were\t visiting\t the\t complex\t were\t the\t first\t to notice\twhat\thad\thappened.\tThis\twas\tthe\tthird\tcase\treported\tin\tthe\tlast\tfour\tweeks.\tThere\tcould\tbe\tno doubt\tthat\tthese\tstatues\tand\tother\tpieces\tof\tsculpture\twere\tbeing\tsold\tabroad. As\tI\tsat\ttrying\tto\tgrasp\tthe\tfull\timplications\tof\tthe\treport,\tFeluda\tspoke.\tHis\ttone\twas\tgrim. \u2018As\tfar\tas\tI\tcan\tmake\tout,\u2019\the\tsaid,\t\u2018there\tis\tonly\tone\toctopus.\tIt\thas\tspread\tits\ttentacles\tto\tvarious temples\t in\t differ ent\t par ts\t o f\t the\t co untr y.\t If\t even\t o ne\t tentacle\t can\t be\t caug ht\t and\t cho pped\t o ff,\t it\t will make\t the\t whole\t body\t of\t the\t animal\t squirm\t and\t wriggle.\t It\t should\t be\t our\t aim\t here\t to\t spot\t that\t one tentacle\tand\tseize\tit.\u2019","Five Aurangabad\twas\ta\thistorical\tcity.\tAn\tAbyssinian\tslave\tcalled\tMalik\tAmbar\thad\tbeen\tbrought\tto\tIndia. In\t time,\t he\t became\t the\t Prime\t Minister\t of\t the\t King\t of\t Ahmednagar\t and\t built\t a\t city\t called\t Khadke. During\t the\t time\t of\t Aurangzeb,\t Khadke\t changed\t its\t name\t and\t came\t to\t be\t known\t as\t Aurangabad.\t In additio n\t to \t Mug hal\t building s\t and\t str uctur es,\t ther e\t wer e\t abo ut\t ten\t Buddhist\t caves\u2014thir teen\t hundr ed years\told\u2014that\tcontained\tstatues\tworth\tseeing. The\tgentleman\twe\thad\tmet\tat\tthe\tairport\u2014whose\tname\twas\tShubhankar\tBose\u2014came\tto\tour\troom later\tin\tthe\tevening\tfor\ta\tchat.\t\u2018You\tmust\tsee\tthe\tcaves\there\tbefore\tgoing\tto\tEllora,\u2019\the\ttold\tus.\t\u2018If\tyou do,\tyou\u2019ll\tbe\table\tto\tsee\tthat\tthe\ttwo\tare\tsimilar\tin\tsome\tways.\u2019 Since\t it\t was\t drizzling\t outside,\t we\t decided\t not\t to\t go\t out\t immediately.\t Tomorrow,\t if\t the\t day\t was fine,\twe\twould\tsee\tthe\tcaves\tand\tthe\tmausoleum\tbuilt\tin\tthe\tmemory\tof\tAurangzeb\u2019s\twife,\tcalled\tBibi ka\t Makbar a.\t We\t wo uld\t have\t to \t r emain\t in\t Aur ang abad\t until\t the\t next\t after no o n,\t anyway,\t since\t Jayant Mallik\twas\tsupposed\tto\tget\there\tat\televen\to\u2019clock.\tHe\twould\tprobably\tgo\tto\tEllora\tthe\tsame\tday,\tand we\twould\tthen\tfollow\thim. After\t dinner,\t Feluda\t sat\t down\t with\t his\t guide\t book\t on\t Ellora.\t I\t was\t wondering\t what\t to\t do,\t when Lalmohan\tBabu\tturned\tup. \u2018Have\tyou\tlooked\tout\tof\tthe\twindow,\tTapesh?\u2019\the\tasked.\t\u2018The\tmoon\thas\tcome\tout\tnow.\tWould\tyou like\tto\tgo\tfor\ta\twalk?\u2019 \u2018Sure.\u2019 We\t came\t out\t of\t the\t hotel\t to\t find\t everything\t bathed\t in\t moonlight.\t In\t the\t distance\t was\t a\t range\t of hills.\tPerhaps\tthat\twas\twhere\tthe\tBuddhist\tcaves\twere\tlocated.\tA\tpaan\tshop\tclose\tby\thad\ta\ttransistor on,\t playing\t a\t Hindi\t song.\t Two\t men\t were\t sitting\t on\t a\t bench,\t having\t a\t loud\t argument.\t They\t were probably\t speaking\t in\t Marathi,\t for\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t understand\t a\t word.\t The\t road\t outside\t had\t been\t full\t of people\t and\t traffic\t during\t the\t day,\t but\t was\t now\t very\t quiet.\t A\t train\t blew\t its\t whistle\t somewhere\t far away,\tand\ta\tman\twearing\ta\tturban\twent\tpast,\triding\ta\tcycle.\tI\tfelt\ta\tlittle\tstrange\tin\tthis\tnew\tplace\u2014 there\tseemed\tto\tbe\ta\thint\tof\tmystery\tin\twhatever\tI\tsaw,\tsome\texcitement\tand\teven\ta\tlittle\tfear.\tAt\tthis moment,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t suddenly\t brought\t his\t face\t close\t to\t my\t ear\t and\t whispered,\t \u2018Doesn\u2019t Shubhankar\tBose\tstrike\tyou\tas\ta\tbit\tsuspicious?\u2019 \u2018Why?\u2019\tI\tasked,\tconsiderably\tstartled. \u2018What\tdo\tyou\tthink\this\tsuitcase\tcontains?\tWhy\tdoes\tit\tweigh\t35\tkgs?\u2019 \u2018Thirty-five?\u2019\tI\twas\tvery\tsurprised. \u2018Yes.\t He\t was\t befo r e\t me\t in\t the\t queue\t in\t Bo mbay,\t when\t we\t wer e\t to ld\t to \t check\t in.\t I\t saw\t ho w\t much his\tsuitcase\tweighed.\tHis\twas\tthirty-five,\tyour\tcousin\u2019s\twas\ttwenty-two,\tyours\twas\tfourteen\tand\tmine was\tsixteen\tkilograms.\tBose\thad\tto\tpay\tfor\texcess\tbaggage.\u2019","This\twas\tnews\tto\tme.\tI\thad\tseen\tMr\tBose\u2019s\tsuitcase.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tvery\tlarge.\tWhat\tcould\thave\tmade\tit so\theavy? Lalmohan\tBabu\tprovided\tthe\tanswer. \u2018Rocks,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tstill\twhispering,\t\u2018or\ttools\tto\tbreak\tsomething\tmade\tof\tstone.\tDidn\u2019t\tyour\tcousin tell\tus\tthere\twas\ta\tlarge\tgang\tworking\tbehind\tthis\twhole\tbusiness?\tI\tbelieve\tBose\tis\tone\tof\tthem.\tDid you\tsee\this\tnose?\tIt\u2019s\texactly\tlike\tGhanashyam\tKarkat\u2019s.\u2019 \u2018Who\tis\tGhanashyam\tKarkat?\u2019 \u2018Oh\t ho,\t didn\u2019t\t I\t tell\t you?\t He\t is\t the\t villain\t in\t my\t next\t book.\t Do\t you\t know\t how\t I\u2019m\t going\t to describe\this\tnose?\t\u201cIt\twas\tlike\ta\tshark\u2019s\tfin,\trising\tabove\tthe\twater.\u201d\u2019 I\tpaid\tno\tattention\tto\tthis\tlast\tbit,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t\tignore\this\tremarks\tabout\tMr\tBose.\tI\twould\tnot\thave suspected\t him\t at\t all.\t Ho w\t co uld\t a\t man\t who \t knew\t so \t much\t abo ut\t ar t\t be\t a\t cr iminal?\t But\t then,\t tho se who\t go\t about\t stealing\t art\t must\t know\t something\t about\t the\t subject.\t Besides,\t there\t really\t was something\tsharp\tabout\this\tappearance. \u2018I\t only\t wanted\t to\t warn\t you,\u2019\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t went\t on\t speaking,\t \u2018just\t keep\t an\t eye\t on\t him.\t He offered\tme\ta\ttoffee,\tbut\tI\tdidn\u2019t\ttake\tit.\tWhat\tif\tit\twas\tpoisoned?\tTell\tyour\tcousin\tnot\tto\tlet\ton\tthat\the is\ta\tdetective.\tIf\the\tdoes,\this\tlife\tmay\tbe\tat\trisk.\u2019 T he\t next\t day,\t we\t left\t in\t a\t taxi\t at\t half\t past\t six\t in\t the\t mo r ning \t and\t went\t to \t see\t Bibi\t ka\t Makbar a\t (also known\t as\t the\t \u2018second\t Taj\t Mahal\u2019).\t Then\t we\t went\t to\t the\t Buddhist\t caves.\t The\t taxi\t dropped\t us\t at\t the bottom\t of\t a\t hill.\t A\t series\t of\t steps\t led\t to\t the\t caves.\t Mr\t Bose\t had\t accompanied\t us,\t and\t was\t talking constantly\t about\t ancient\t art,\t most\t of\t which\t went\t over\t my\t head.\t I\t still\t couldn\u2019t\t think\t of\t him\t as\t a criminal,\tbut\tcaught\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgiving\thim\tsidelong\tglances.\tThis\toften\tmade\thim\tstumble,\tbut he\tdid\tnot\tstop. Two\tother\tmen\thad\talready\tgone\tinto\tthe\tcaves.\tI\thad\tseen\tthem\tclimbing\tthe\tsteps\tbefore\tus.\tOne of\t them\t was\t a\t bald\t American\t tourist,\t dressed\t in\t a\t colourful\t bush\t shirt\t and\t shorts;\t the\t other\t was\t a guide\tfrom\tthe\ttourist\tdepartment. Feluda\ttook\tout\this\tPentax\tcamera\tfrom\this\tshoulder\tbag\tand\tbegan\ttaking\tphotos\tof\tthe\thills,\tthe view\tand,\toccasionally,\tof\tus.\tEach\ttime\the\tpeered\tat\tus\tthrough\tthe\tcamera,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tstopped and\t smiled,\t lo o king \t so mewhat\t self-co nscio us.\t After \t a\t while,\t I\t was\t o blig ed\t to \t tell\t him\t that\t he\t didn\u2019t necessarily\t have\t to\t stop\t walking\t and,\t in\t fact,\t photos\t often\t came\t out\t quite\t well\t even\t if\t one\t didn\u2019t smile. When\t we\t r eached\t the\t caves,\t Feluda\t suddenly\t said,\t \u2018Yo u\t two \t car r y\t o n,\t I\u2019ll\t jo in\t yo u\t in\t a\t minute.\t I must\ttake\ta\tfew\tphotos\tfrom\tthe\tother\tside.\u2019 \u2018Don\u2019t\tmiss\tthe\tsecond\tand\tthe\tseventh\tcave,\u2019\tMr\tBose\tcalled\tout\tto\tus.\t\u2018The\tfirst\tfive\tare\tall\tin\tthis area,\tbut\tnumbers\tsix\tto\tnine\tare\thalf\ta\tmile\taway,\ton\tthe\teastern\tside.\tA\troad\truns\tround\tthe\tedge\tof the\thill.\u2019 The\t bright\t sun\t outside\t was\t making\t me\t feel\t uncomfortably\t hot,\t but\t once\t I\t stepped\t into\t the\t first cave,\tI\trealized\tit\twas\trefreshingly\tcool\tinside.\tBut\tthere\twasn\u2019t\tmuch\tto\tsee.\tIt\twas\tobvious\tthat\tit\thad been\t left\t incomplete,\t and\t what\t little\t work\t had\t been\t done\t had\t started\t to\t crumble.\t Even\t so,\t Mr\t Bose beg an\t inspecting \t the\t ceiling \t and\t the\t pillar s\t with\t g r eat\t inter est,\t jo tting \t thing s\t do wn\t in\t his\t no tebo o k. Lalmohan\tBabu\tand\tI\twent\tinto\tthe\tsecond\tcave.\tFeluda\thad\tgiven\tus\ta\ttorch.\tWe\tnow\thad\tto\tswitch\tit on.\tWe\twere\tin\ta\tlarge\thall,\tat\tthe\tend\tof\twhich\twas\ta\thuge\tstatue\tof\tthe\tBuddha.\tI\tshone\tthe\ttorch\ton","the\twalls,\tto\tfind\tthat\tbeautiful\tfigures\thad\tbeen\tcarved\ton\tthese.\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tsilent\tfor\ta\tfew mo ments,\t taking \t it\t all\t in.\t Then\t he\t r emar ked,\t \u2018Did\t yo u\t r ealize,\t Tapesh,\t ho w\t physically\t str o ng \t these ancient\t ar tists\t must\t have\t been?\t I\t mean,\t a\t kno wledg e\t o f\t ar t\t and\t a\t cr eative\t imag inatio n\t alo ne\t wasn\u2019t enough,\t was\t it?\t They\t had\t to\t pick\t up\t hammers\t and\t chisels\t and\t knock\t through\t such\t hard\t rock\t .\t .\t . makes\tthe\tmind\tboggle,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\u2019 The\tthird\tcave\twas\teven\tlarger,\tbut\tthe\tguide\twas\tspeaking\tso\tloudly\tand\trapidly\tthat\twe\tcouldn\u2019t\tstay in\tit\tfor\tmore\tthan\ta\tfew\tseconds.\t\u2018Where\tdid\tyour\tcousin\tgo?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tasked\tas\twe\temerged. \u2018I\tcan\u2019t\tsee\thim\tanywhere.\u2019 This\t was\t tr ue.\t I\t had\t assumed\t Feluda\t wo uld\t catch\t up\t with\t us,\t but\t he\t was\t no wher e\t to \t be\t seen.\t No r was\tMr\tBose.\t\u2018Let\u2019s\tcheck\tthe\tother\tcaves,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsuggested. The\t fourth\t and\t the\t fifth\t caves\t were\t not\t far,\t but\t something\t told\t me\t Feluda\t had\t not\t gone\t there.\t I began\tto\tfeel\tfaintly\tuneasy.\tWe\tstarted\twalking\ttowards\tcave\tnumber\tsix,\twhich\twas\thalf\ta\tmile\taway. This\t side\t of\t the\t hill\t was\t barren\t and\t rocky,\t there\t were\t few\t plants\t apart\t from\t the\t occasional\t small bush.\t I\t glanced\t at\t my\t watch.\t It\t was\t only\t a\t quarter\t past\t eight,\t but\t we\t could\t not\t afford\t to\t stay\t here beyond\tten\to\u2019clock,\tfor\tMr\tMallik\twas\tgoing\tto\tarrive\tat\televen. Fifteen\tminutes\tlater,\twe\tlooked\tup\tand\tsaw\tanother\tcave.\tIt\twas\tprobably\tcave\tnumber\tsix.\tThere was\tno\tway\tof\ttelling\twhether\tFeluda\thad\tcome\tthis\tway.\tLalmohan\tBabu\tkept\tpeering\tat\tthe\tground in\tthe\thope\tof\tfinding\tfootprints.\tIt\twas\ta\tfutile\texercise,\treally,\tsince\tthe\tground\twas\tabsolutely\tdry. Was\tthere\tany\tpoint\tin\tgoing\tany\tfurther?\tMight\tit\thelp\tif\twe\tcalled\this\tname? \u2018Feluda!\tFeluda!\u2019\tI\tstarted\tshouting. \u2018Pradosh\tBabu!\tFelu\tBabu!\tMr\tMit-te-er!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tjoined\tme. There\twas\tno\tanswer.\tI\tbegan\tto\tget\ta\tsinking\tfeeling\tin\tthe\tpit\tof\tmy\tstomach. Had\the\tclimbed\tup\tthe\thill\tand\tgone\tto\tthe\tother\tside?\tHad\the\tseen\tor\theard\tsomething\tthat\tmade him\tforget\tall\tabout\tus? After\ta\twhile,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tgave\tup.\t\u2018He\u2019s\tobviously\tnowhere\there,\u2019\the\tsaid,\tshaking\this\thead, \u2018or\t he\u2019d\t have\t heard\t us.\t Let\u2019s\t go\t back.\t I\u2019m\t sure\t we\u2019ll\t find\t him\t this\t time.\t He\t couldn\u2019t\t have\t left\t us without\ta\tword.\tHe\twould\tnot\tdo\tan\tirresponsible\tthing\tlike\tthat,\twould\the?\u2019 We\t turned\t back\t and\t retraced\t our\t steps.\t In\t a\t few\t minutes,\t we\t saw\t the\t foreigner\t and\t his\t guide making\ttheir\tway\tto\tthe\tsixth\tcave.\tI\tcould\tsee\tthat\tthe\tAmerican\twas\tfinding\tit\tdifficult\tto\tcope\twith the\tguide\tand\this\tendless\tpatter.\t\u2018Look,\there\u2019s\tMr\tBose!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcried.\tMr\tBose\twas\twalking towards\tus\twith\ta\tpreoccupied\tair.\tHe\traised\this\teyes\tas\the\theard\this\tname.\tI\twent\tto\thim\tquickly\tand asked,\t\u2018Have\tyou\tseen\tmy\tcousin?\u2019 \u2018No.\tDidn\u2019t\the\tsay\the\twas\tgoing\toff\tto\ttake\tpictures?\u2019 \u2018Yes,\tbut\tthat\twas\ta\tlong\ttime\tago.\tMaybe\the\u2019s\tin\tone\tof\tthese\tcaves?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\thave\tbeen\tto\teach\tone\tof\tthem.\tIf\the\twas\tthere,\tI\twould\tcertainly\thave\tseen\thim.\u2019 Perhaps\tmy\tface\tregistered\tmy\tanxiety,\tfor\this\ttone\tsoftened.\t\u2018He\tmay\thave\tclimbed\ta\tlittle\thigher. There\tis,\tin\tfact,\ta\tfantastic\tview\tof\tthe\twhole\tcity\tof\tAurangabad\tif\tyou\tcan\tget\tto\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\thill. Why\tdon\u2019t\tyou\twalk\ton\tand\tkeep\tcalling\this\tname?\tHe\u2019s\tbound\tto\thear\tyou\tsooner\tor\tlater,\u2019\tMr\tBose said\treassuringly,\tand\twent\toff\tin\tthe\tdirection\tof\tcave\tnumber\tsix. Lalmohan\tBabu\tlowered\this\tvoice.\t\u2018I\tdon\u2019t\tlike\tthis,\tTapesh,\u2019\the\tsaid.\t\u2018I\tnever\tthought\tthere\twould be\tcause\tfor\tanxiety\teven\tbefore\twe\tgot\tto\tEllora.\u2019","I\t pulled\t myself\t to g ether \t and\t kept\t walking .\t My\t speed\t had\t auto matically\t beco me\t faster.\t All\t I\t co uld think\tof\twas\tthat\twe\twere\trunning\tout\tof\ttime,\twe\thad\tto\tget\tback\tto\tthe\thotel\tby\televen\tto\tfind\tout\tif Mr\tMallik\thad\tarrived,\tbut\twhat\twere\twe\tto\tdo\tif\twe\tcouldn\u2019t\tfind\tFeluda? Without\thim\t.\t.\t. \u2018Charminar!\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tcried\tsuddenly,\tmaking\tme\tjump.\tWe\twere\tstanding\tnear\tthe\tpillars of\t the\t fifth\t cave.\t A\t yellow\t packet\t of\t Charminar\t was\t lying\t under\t a\t bush\t a\t few\t feet\t away\t from\t the pillars.\tIt\thad\teither\tnot\tbeen\tthere\twhen\twe\twere\there\tearlier,\tor\twe\thad\tsomehow\tmissed\tit.\tHad\tit dropped\tout\tof\tFeluda\u2019s\tpocket?\tI\tpicked\tit\tup\tquickly\tand\topened\tits\ttop.\tIt\twas\tempty.\tJust\tas\tI\twas about\tto\tthrow\tit\taway,\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid,\t\u2018Let\tme\tsee,\tlet\tme\tsee!\u2019\tand\ttook\tit\tfrom\tme.\tThen\the opened\tit\tfully,\tand\ta\tsmall\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tslipped\tout.\tThere\twas\ta\tbrief\tmessage\tscribbled\ton\tit\tin Feluda\u2019s\thandwriting. \u2018Go\tback\tto\tthe\thotel\u2019,\tit\tsaid. Considerably\t relieved,\t we\t debated\t on\t what\t to\t do\t next.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t think\t very\t clearly\t as\t Feluda\u2019s message\tsaid\tnothing\tabout\twhere\the\twas\tor\twhy\the\twas\tasking\tus\tto\tgo\tback.\tThe\tempty\tfeeling\tin my\tstomach\tcontinued\tto\tlinger. \u2018How\tcan\twe\tgo\tback?\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\tsaid.\t\u2018Mr\tBose\tis\twith\tus,\tand\the\thas\tfour\tmore\tcaves\tto see.\u2019 \u2018Why\tdon\u2019t\twe\treturn\tto\tthe\thotel,\u2019\tI\tsaid\tslowly,\tforcing\tmyself\tto\tthink,\t\u2018and\tsend\tthe\ttaxi\tback\tto fetch\thim?\u2019 \u2018Ye-es,\twe\tcould\tdo\tthat,\tbut\tshouldn\u2019t\twe\tstay\there\tto\twatch\this\tmovements?\u2019 \u2018No.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso,\tLalmohan\tBabu.\tFeluda\tsaid\tnothing\tabout\tMr\tBose.\tHe\tjust\twanted\tus\tto\tgo back,\tand\tthat\u2019s\twhat\twe\tought\tto\tdo.\u2019 \u2018Very\twell.\tSo\tbe\tit,\u2019\tLalmohan\tBabu\treplied,\tsounding\ta\tlittle\tdisappointed. Since\t he\t wrote\t mystery\t stories,\t Lalmohan\t Babu\t occasionally\t took\t it\t into\t his\t head\t to\t act\t like\t a professional\tsleuth.\tI\tcould\tsee\tthat\the\twanted\tto\tfollow\tMr\tBose,\tbut\tI\tfelt\tobliged\tto\tstop\thim.\tOur taxi\tdropped\tus\tat\tthe\thotel,\tthen\twent\tback\tto\tthe\tcaves.\tIt\twas\tnine\to\u2019clock.\tGod\tknew\thow\tlong\twe\u2019d have\tto\twait\tfor\tFeluda. Neither \t o f\t us\t co uld\t r emain\t in\t o ur \t r o o m,\t so \t we\t came\t o ut\t o f\t the\t ho tel\t and\t beg an\t str o lling \t o n\t the road\toutside.\tThe\tsky\thad\tstarted\tto\tcloud\tover.\tIf\tit\trained,\tit\tmight\tcool\tdown\ta\tbit,\tI\tthought. Mr\t Bose\t returned\t at\t nine\t forty-five\t and\t looked\t rather\t puzzled\t when\t we\t told\t him\t Feluda\t had\t not returned.\tNaturally,\twe\tcould\tnot\ttell\thim\tthe\treal\treason\twhy\twe\twere\tworried.\tAfter\tall,\twe\tdid\tnot know\thim\twell\tand\tLalmohan\tBabu\twas\tstill\tconvinced\the\twas\tone\tof\tthe\tcriminals\tinvolved.\tIn\torder to\t stop\t him\t from\t asking\t further\t questions,\t I\t said\t quickly,\t \u2018I\u2019m\t afraid\t my\t cousin\t often\t does\t things witho ut\t telling \t o ther s.\t He\u2019s\t do ne\t this\t befo r e\u2014I\t mean,\t he\u2019s\t g o ne\t o ff\t like\t this,\t but\t has\t r etur ned\t later. I\u2019m\tsure\the\u2019ll\tbe\tback\tsoon.\u2019 We\t stayed\t o ut\t fo r \t near ly\t an\t ho ur,\t then\t I\t went\t back\t to \t my\t r o o m\t and\t beg an\t r eading \t Tintin\t in\t Tibet. Just\tafter\televen,\tI\tthought\tI\theard\ta\ttrain\twhistle,\tand\tat\tquarter\tto\ttwelve,\ta\tcar\tdrew\tup\toutside\tin\tthe porch.\tUnable\tto\tcontain\tmyself,\tI\twent\tout\tto\thave\ta\tlook. Two\t men\t got\t out\t of\t the\t taxi.\t One\t of\t them\t was\t of\t medium\t height\t and\t pretty\t stout.\t His\t broad shoulders\tseemed\tto\tstart\tjust\tbelow\this\tjaws;\this\tneck\twas\talmost\tnon-existent.\tFor\tsome\treason,\the seemed\t as\t if\t he\t might\t easily\t fly\t into\t a\t temper.\t The\t other\t man\t was\t just\t the\t opposite:\t tall,\t lanky,"]
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