'Tell me something. What happened today in the marketplace?'
'I'm not sure,' Nazir replied.
'Would you tell me if you did?' Friday asked.
'I'm not sure,' Nazir admitted.
'Why was the SFF handling the investigation instead of your people?'
Friday asked.
Nazir stopped walking. He retrieved a pack of cigarettes from under his sweatshirt and used one to light another. He looked at Friday in the glow of the newly lit cigarette.
'I do not know the answer to that,' the officer replied as he continued walking.
'Let me point you in a direction,' Friday said.
'Does the SFF have special jurisdiction over Srinagar or religious targets?'
'No,' Nazir replied.
'But their personnel were on the scene and your people were not,' Friday repeated.
'Yes,' Nazir said.
This was becoming frustrating. Friday stopped walking.
He grabbed Nazir by the arm. The officer did not react.
'Before I head north and risk my life, I need to know if there's a leak in your organization,' Friday said.
'Why would you think there is?' Nazir asked.
'Because there was not a single Black Cat Commando at the scene,' Friday told him.
'Why else would you be shut out of the investigation except for security issues?'
'Humiliation,' Nazir suggested.
'You have conflicts between your intelligence services. They go to great lengths to undermine one another even though you work toward the same goal.'
There was no disputing that, Friday thought. He had killed a CIA agent not long ago.
'The truth is, the SFF has been extremely quiet about their activities of late and we have been quiet about our operations, including this one,' Nazir went on.
'Both groups have their allies in New Delhi and, eventually, all the intelligence we gather gets shuffled into the system and used.'
'Like a slaughterhouse,' Friday observed.
'A slaughterhouse,' Nazir said. He nodded appreciatively.
'I like that. I like it very much.'
'I'm glad,' Friday replied.
'Now tell me something I'm going to like. For example, why we should put ourselves into the hands of an intelligence agency that may be risking our lives to boost their own standing in New Delhi?'
'Is that what you think?' Nazir asked.
'I don't know,' Friday replied.
'Convince me otherwise.'
'Do you know anything about Hinduism?' Nazir asked Friday.
'I'm familiar with the basics,' Friday replied. He had no idea what that had to do with anything.
'Do you know that Hinduism is not the name we use for our faith. It's something the West invented.'
'I didn't know that,' Friday admitted.
'We are countless sects and castes, all of which have their own names and very different views of the Veda, the holy text,' Nazir said.
'The greatest problem we have as a nation is that we carry our factionalism into government. Everyone defends his own unit or department or consulate as if it were his personal faith. We do this without considering how our actions affect the whole. I am guilty of that too. My 'god,' if you will, is the one who can help me get things done. Not necessarily the one who can do the best job for India.' He drew on his cigarette.
'The tragedy is that the whole is now threatened with destruction and we are still not pulling together.
We need more intelligence on Pakistan's nuclear threat. We cannot go and get that information ourselves for fear of triggering the very thing we are trying to avoid--a nuclear exchange. You and your group are the only ones who can help us.' Nazir regarded Friday through the twisting smoke of his cigarette.
'If you are still willing to undertake this mission I will be the point man for you. I will go as far into the field as I can with maps, clearances, and geographical reconnaissance. The minister and I will make certain that no one interferes with your activities. He does not know the men who are coming from Washington but he has enormous respect for you. He considers you a member of 'his' sect.
That is more than simply an honor. It means that in future undertakings of your own you will be able to call on him.
