Death to the Landlords

‘We, too, of course, the car we have hired there, we must return it Then we think of going out by train to Rameshwaram for one or two nights, before going on south.’

‘I am so thankful,’ Sudha said fervently, ‘that they found out so quickly it was that boat-boy. Imagine, he had Naxalite propaganda hidden away in his belongings. I ask you, did that man look like a terrorist? You cannot any longer trust anyone or anything,’

‘Hush, my dear, don’t distress yourself,’ murmured Gopal Krishna, patting her plump amber hand. ‘It is all over now. You must forget about it.’

‘That is so easy to say,’ she protested fretfully, ‘but it is not so easy to forget one has sat in the same boat with a murderer.’

‘Two murderers,’ Larry corrected cynically, but only in a whisper, and not until they had moved on from the table and could not possibly be overheard. ‘One with money, one with none. One who hired thugs to do the job for him, the other who did it himself, and felt so strongly about it that he made sure by killing himself as well. But you know which of the two she’d retain some respect for, don’t you?’

‘Ah, so you’re off already,’ said Inspector Raju, looking up at them over a table strewn with papers, the debris of a hasty breakfast, and the cigarette-butts of a sleepless night overflowing from two glass ashtrays. He had discarded his tie and his jacket, and his lank, greying hair stood on end in all directions from the activities of his long, thin fingers. Even Sergeant Gokhale looked less immaculate than on the previous evening. ‘No doubt you have heard by now how this affair has come out? Now it only remains for me to wish you a good journey wherever you are going, and happier arrivals than this one has been.’ He did not look at Dominic with any more pointed significance than at the rest of them; the conversation of yesterday might as well never have taken place.

‘Is it quite certain that this man Ghose was responsible?’ Larry asked curiously.

‘Miss Madhavan did not confide in you all?’ The inspector looked at Priya with a small, glimmering smile. ‘What admirable discretion! But yes, it is generally known by this time. Why not? We have found ample evidence in the dead man’s possessions that he was deeply involved with the Naxalite terrorists, and the head boatman confirms that it was at Ghose’s request that he changed round the duties for yesterday. There is not much room for doubt.’

All very decisive and satisfactory, Dominic thought, meeting the placid grey eyes. A case quickly and tidily solved, and a nice clear field ahead for that other person, the one who supplied the bullets but did not fire them, to lower his guard and emerge from cover, like the animals crossing that treeless belt of scrub grass to reach the water. Where, if he happens to be anyone present here, someone who has appeared only as an innocent bystander in this lake atrocity, he will not only afford the police a good view of him, but will also be on a long lead and ready to be hauled in at will. Because they’re going to know where every one of us is – or says he’s going to be – for the next few days, longer if they feel like continuing the supervision; and they’re going to be checking that we really are where we say we are.

‘I think,’ said Priya, looking hesitantly at Patti, ‘that Miss Galloway wanted to speak with you. Inspector.’

‘At your service, Miss Galloway. I hope you are feeling better this morning?’

For once Patti looked disconcerted, even stammered a little. ‘Thank you, I’m quite all right It was only that I rather thought you would want to talk to me, since I made such a fool of myself keeling over like that last night. I don’t suppose I can add much to what the others told you, but I thought you’d probably want to see me, anyhow.’

‘That was very correct of you. But I think there is no need to trouble you any more. Now if you will give us particulars of your future movements, Sergeant Gokhale will note them down.’ He pushed back his chair from the table, and stretched out his long legs with a tired but well-satisfied sigh. ‘You are all going on together for the time being?’

‘From here, yes,’ Priya said, after a pause to allow Patti to take the initiative if she chose, and a quick, shy glance at Larry. ‘Mr Preisinger has been kind enough to offer us a lift down to the railway line at Tirumangalam, and from there we are going to take the train to Tenkasi Junction. By this evening we shall be in Kuttalam – Patti wanted to see the resort there, and the Chittar Falls. But we don’t yet know where we shall be staying. If there is room at the travellers’ bungalow we shall stay there overnight, perhaps tomorrow night, too. We could report there to the police, if that will do, and say where we are living. Then the next day we shall go by train to Tirunelveli, and by the bus to Nagarcoil, and there we shall be staying with my parents. I will give you the address.’ She recited it gravely, and Sergeant Gokhale wrote it down.

‘Thank you, that is quite sufficient. And Mr Preisinger and Mr Felse?’

‘After we drop the girls,’ Larry said, ‘We’re going on by the Tirunelveli road to a spot near Koilpatti. It’s a village you reach by a minor road, slightly higher up in the foothills. What’s the name of it, Dom?’

‘Malaikuppam. It’s on my account that we’re making this detour. I have to visit somebody there, and we’re invited to stay a couple of nights. We ought to reach the place early this evening, with any luck, so we shall be there tonight and tomorrow night. I don’t know what he calls his house, but it’s the main house of the village. Our host’s name is Purushottam Narayanan.’

‘I see. And you will be there two nights. And then?’

‘Then,’ said Larry, ‘we go on to Nagarcoil and the Cape. Probably in one day, it’s no distance, not more than a hundred and twenty miles. We shall stay at the Cape hotel at least one night, maybe two. If you could give us a telephone number, we can report any changes direct, or go to the local police as you wish.’

‘No need to do either until you leave the Cape, but in any case I will give you the telephone number of my own office, in case you need me.’ He smiled as he quoted it for them to take down; a slightly oblique and unamused smile. ‘Thank you, that is all. I wish you all good travelling and safe arrival.’

‘Just a minute! Please…!’ Patti broke in quickly and eagerly. ‘Could I… If Priya doesn’t mind, I should like to change our plans. But it depends on Mr Preisinger, really.’ She turned to look appealingly at Larry. ‘Could you bear it if we asked to travel on with you, instead of going by train? I know I did say I wanted to see the Chittar Falls, and this Kuttalam place in the hills, but after what’s happened here, honest to God, I’d be so much happier with a safe escort. And you see, I didn’t realise until now that you were actually going through Nagarcoil. If you can possibly put up with us for a couple of days more, and take us all the way to Priya’s folks, I’d gladly do without the Chittar Falls.’

‘But, Patti, they are going to stay with a friend,’ Priya objected, mildly shocked at this bold asking.

‘I know, but surely there’d be a dak bungalow or a rest house somewhere near, where we could bed down. We