part0026

It was nearing 10 o'clock that morning before John got back to his bungalow. He had directed that Raman Nair's body be carried to the coolie-lines and arranged for a message to be sent at once to the police at Nilambur, reporting the death of the Malayali. They would want to hold an inquest.

Ruth was sitting in one of the cane chairs in the front verandah when he climbed the steps. Greystone walked up to her and kissed the top of her head. Then leaning both his rifles against a corner, he sank into the chair next to hers and called for Chandra.

"Please bring me a strong cup of coffee and some biscuits. I'm famished".

Turning to Ruth, he announced, "Our attempt last night ended in a tragedy, darling". And then he told if her what had happened.

Ruth bent forward in surprise, "Do you really mean that swine has been killed?"

"Precisely", John returned; then added, "what a quirk of fate, eh?"

"Good old man-eater!" Ruth interjected, with evident glee, "at last you've done something really useful".

"Your coffee and biscuits, sahib ".

Chandra had come back as noiselessly as usual and stood solicitously at the side of his employer preferring a tray with the snacks.

John looked up to thank him. The bearer's countenance wore a satanic look as he glared malevolently at Ruth. Quickly Greystone glanced at his wife. But she was looking out of the window and had noticed nothing.

Rather stiffly John said, "Thank you. Please leave, the tray on the table here. Yes, that's it".

The look of hatred vanished from Chandra's face. It now wore its usual placid expression. He inclined his head slightly, turned, and left the room.

My God; he has overheard Ruth, thought Greystone to himself. In a low voice, he said to his wife, "I think Chandra heard what you said. There was a murderous look on his face just now".

"Who cares", she replied disdainfully, and next, "I wish you would get rid of that man, John. He gives me the creeps, moving about as furtively as he does like a beastly ghost".

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Chicka who stood differentially at the foot of the verandah steps. John saw him, got up, and walked towards him.

"What's it, Chicka?" he inquired.

"Yesterday morning, when I offered to search for the tiger alone", replied the Karumba, "your honour in the kindness of his heart insisted in accompanying me.

"However, what has happened, has happened. Doubtless it was old wind-bag's fate to be killed. "Will the dorai please give me leave of absence for two days so that I may fulfil a plan I have in mind of slaying this tigress? But I can only do it singlehanded, and not with the dorai accompanying me".

"What is this plan?" Greystone demanded.

The Karumba hesitated awhile. Then he said, "Your honour perhaps has sticks of dynamite which he uses for blasting rocks on the estate? I will search now till I find the den in which this man-eater lives. Then you can blow up the entrance in the middle of the day while she's asleep inside, in such a way that the rocks fall down and bury her alive.

"But before this can be clone, as I said just now, her den must be located. That's a task that only I, stalking by myself, can accomplish".

The scheme seemed foolish and impossible and John said so in no uncertain terms. He did not feel justified in permitting this little jungle man to expose himself to the frightful risk of searching for the man-eater's den alone, and unarmed at that.

"Chicka, I think your idea is ridiculous. In the first place, the tigress will probably kill you long before you get anywhere near her. At least you had better take my heavy rifle and some cartridges with you".

Chicka shook his head. "No dorai , it will be useless. I do not know how to use the weapon".

"When do you intend to start?" John inquired.

"At midday, as soon as I have had my meal", the Karumba answered.

"And when do you expect to return?" was the next Question.

Chicka was silent for a few minutes. Then he smiled hugely. "If I do not report to your honour by tomorrow at sunset, don't worry about me anymore. You may make other arrangements to kill the tigress and get yourself another shikari".

He was stark, staring, raving mad, John decided.

"If that happens, it is I who will have been responsible for your life or rather, for your death", Grey-stone stated flatly.

"Oh no, master, you will not", put in the little man quickly, "for I'm about to quit your service as of this moment. But I shall apply for re-employment tomorrow evening, if your honour is good enough to take me back and if I am lucky enough to return myself".

With those words, as if to terminate the conversation, he ‘salaamed’ quickly and was gone.

An hour later, from the window of his dressing-room, John saw the little figure walking towards the jungle. The only weapon he carried was his axe.