The Blaft Anthology of Tamil Pulp Fiction, Volume 3

By Rajesh Kumar, Subha, Pattukkottai Prabakar and 3 more

Selected and translated by Rashmi Ruth Devadasan, Rakesh Khanna, V. Vinod, and Nirmal Rajagopalan.

The doyens of Tamil Pulp Fiction bring you SIX short novels of LOVE... CRIME... and INTERSTELLAR TERROR!

"White Rose, Black Cat" by Rajesh Kumar. In the middle of the night, a young woman jumps over a compound wall and is found half-conscious in the garden of a prominent judge. Can the police department solve the mystery?

"Look Out, Narendran!" by Subha. A mad bomber blows up Mambakkam police station, and threatens that the Taj Mahal will be next. Can Narendran and Vaijayanthi stop him?

"Shabaash, Susheela!" by Pattukkottai Prabakar. A woman who claims to have powers of ESP walks into the offices of Moonlight Detective Agencies and says she has foreseen a murder.

"At the Peak" by Indra Soundar Rajan. Sai has had enough of the life of organized crime. He's found love, and he wants to go straight... But Vedachalam, his boss, won't let him get out of it so easy.

"A Stream in the Desert" by Kanchana Jeyathilagar. A woman travels from Chennai to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to explore the mystery of how her brother died.

"Operation Nova" by Tamilmagan. A large-canvas science fiction story about people being abducted from Earth to join a utopian civilization on the planet Gleise 581b, 50 light years away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blaft Publications
• Release date: Aug 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9789380636283

Book preview

THE BLAFT ANTHOLOGY OF TAMIL PULP FICTION, VOLUME 3

selected and translated by

Rashmi Ruth Devadasan,

Rakesh Khanna,

V. Vinod, &

Nirmal Rajagopalan

Published in India in 2017 by

Blaft Publications Pvt. Ltd.

ISBN 978-93-80636-28-3

English translations and all editorial material

copyright © 2017 Blaft Publications Pvt. Ltd.

A version of the English translation of Look Out, Narendran! was

originally published on Granta.com.

White Rose, Black Cat © 2012 Rajesh Kumar

Look Out, Narendran! © 1987 Subha

The Top of the Game © 2005 Indra Soundar Rajan

Shaabaash, Susheela! © 1987 Pattukkottai Prabakar

A Stream in the Desert © 2010 Kanchana Jeyathilagar

Operation Nova © 2014 Tamilmagan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, psychic, photonic, modulated neutrinoic, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Blaft Publications Pvt. Ltd.

4/192 Ellaiamman Koil St.

Neelankarai

Chennai 600041

www.blaft.com

Printed at

Sudarsan Graphics, Chennai

Acknowledgements

The production of this book was funded in part through an Indiegogo campaign. We’d like to give a big thank you to the following contributors:

Pankaj Mullick, P. Srinivasan, Raghu Tenkayala, George Thomas, Lakshminarasimhan TCA, Sudhir Nair, Andrew Hatchell, Preeti Singh, R. M. Donovan, Danielle E. Sucher, Andreas S. Fuchs, Chitra Seker, Richard Stewart, Dr. Paul Billinger, Vinay Aravind, Jonathan Freundlich, Amandine D'Azevedo, Jennifer Gresham, Roos Gerritsen, John Kovacich, Deepika Sarma, Narendiran Sundararajan, Chandni Ananth, Bakos Jarrett Petra, Sananda Sahoo, Eric Legoux, Colin Raff, Lara Ortiz de Montellano, Johnny C. Chu, Karthikeyan Manivannan, Pavithra Sankaran, Atul J., Raghunandan B., Brandon Stadnicki, John Devenny, Nat Vaprin, Chandravani Sathiyamurthi, Nicholas Mamatas, John Antony, Anjali Bhide, Tara Parthasarathy, Meredeth A. Beckett, Sushmitha P. Kini, Velupillai Aruna, Deborah Layne, Ian Sales, James Boo, David Boyk, Zachary Mann, Mary F. Cappiello, Stephany Q. Lu, Sook Yi Goh, Vijaykanth Sadhasivam, P. Srinivasan, Miss We Zen Cho, D. F. Mayo-Wells, Meha Desai, Abbas Momin, Deepanjana Pal, Anna K. Zieg, William A. Cleland, Oroszlany Balazs, Sankar Thiagasamudram, Hannah Hawkins, Laura C. Brown, Aditi Shiva, Thejaswi Udupa, A. Krishnamoorthi, Vinay Kesari, Elizabeth M. Cook, Kumar Sivasubramanian, Amy Pettijohn, Rajalakshmi Ramesh, Miss E. M. Stalker, Deepa Choundappan, Arun Jiwa, Rajesh Parameswaran, Rangaprabhu Parthasarathy, Siddharth Venkatesh Rao, Swethaa Ballakrishnen, Padma Chirumamilla, Rohan K. George, Thomas Lehmann, Kaushik P. Viswanath, Achal Prabhala, Chelsea M. McGill, Jennifer A. Kidd, Kaushik Reddy, Vajra Chandrasekera, Malaveeka, Aparnaa K. Seshadri, Maria Dhanaraj Thivyarajan, Madhuri Shekar, M. Speller, Lillian C. Ryan, Sudarshan Purohit, and Brontë Wieland

...and an extra big thank you to the following extra generous and helpful contributors:

Ronald Choy, Candace Khanna, Divya Manian,

Mandira Moddie, Nirmal Rajagopalan,

Jennifer Randles, Jeyamalini Venkatesh,

and Gurpreet Sidhu

....and a super fantastic excellent balle thank you to pulp superstar

Darshan Dayal

WHITE ROSE, BLACK CAT

RAJESH KUMAR

Rajesh Kumar’s claim as the most prolific author alive, with more than 1700 published books to his credit, is yet to be independently verified—perhaps because verification would require years of work even for a dedicated speed-reader. Averaging more than three pocket novels per month for nearly five decades, his rate has slowed recently as he has started working more with television and film producers. He’s been writing for the Kalaignar TV serial Chinnathirai Cinema (Small Screen Cinema) for four years; the film Kuttrham 23 (Crime 23), based on his story of the same name, opened in 2017 to strong reviews. However, he still publishes at least one new novella every month in publisher G. Asokan’s periodical Crime Story. His recent works are available as ebooks, as well, through a popular app called DailyHunt.

He lives in Coimbatore, also known as Kovai.

WHITE ROSE, BLACK CAT

There’s a town in India known as Love Town. Okay, not exactly a town, but a temple village. Which temple, you ask? Why, Khajuraho, in the Bundelkhand district of Madhya Pradesh. Though village isn’t really the right word for the area surrounding the temple either; it boasts of six different five-star hotels, and many other only slightly less fancy resorts besides. The place has become quite prosperous these days, all on account of the many tourist groups who come to visit.

What is so unique about Khajuraho? We’ll find out shortly...

¹

A little past midnight, Devayani was awakened from deep sleep by a noise, and she opened her eyes with a start. The room was bathed in blue  light from a zero-watt bulb. Next to her, lying on his side and snoring lightly, was Pandurangan. He turned slowly and continued to sleep.

Devayani sat up. Was it real or did I imagine it? No, it can’t have been my imagination. I clearly heard something go thump.

Gently she touched her husband’s shoulder.

Dear…

Ummmmm, he answered, without coming out of his sleep, and tried to cover himself with the sheet.

Can you please get up? she said, shaking his shoulder.

Umm. Urm... why?

I heard a sound.

Pandurangan sat up with a lengthy yawn. He looked angrily at his wife. Irritated, he asked, What sort of sound?

I don’t know, like someone climbing over the wall…

Now look here, Devayani. Ever since the watchman went on leave for a week, as soon as night falls, you get scared. Any noise from the bungalow next door, and you start imagining it’s coming from our house. I am a public prosecutor; in court I stand bravely in front of criminals and make sure they get their sentences. The lawyers have nicknamed me The Terror. Now, as my wife, how can you be so scared? What’s more, your son is also studying to be an IPS officer!

Aiyyo, you can tease and mock me tomorrow! Right now listen to what I’m saying. Someone has definitely just climbed over the wall behind our house and jumped down! Quick, without making a sound, get up and go lean out the window and see.

You won’t let a man sleep peacefully at night, will you? Pandurangan got up, wearing his nightdress. He took a long torch out of the almirah in the wall, and brought it to life with a flick of the switch. He went to the window and leaned out to look at the back of the house.

In the darkness, the four coconut trees, the lone guava tree, and the hundred-foot-long compound wall looked like a sketch. He held the torch high, and pierced the darkness with the light beam.

Devayani came and stood behind him. In a tremulous voice she asked, Dear... can you see anything?

Hmmm, yes, I can see very clearly! Four or five elephants, one tiger, and two lions have jumped over our wall, and are now standing around blinking, wondering what to do next.

Devyani’s face did an angry dance.

Dear, listen! I am talking seriously and you’re just making a joke of it. Someone must have known that there was no watchman on guard and jumped over the wall. Look carefully.

Pandurangan pushed the curtains all the way to one side, stuck the torch through the grill, and maneuvered it so the torch light spread over the whole compound. The torch beam crept, foot by foot, over the ground. After it had moved about fifty feet the beam suddenly stopped and set up camp.

Near the compound wall, in the middle of the croton plants, someone had fallen face down.

The torch in Pandurangan’s hand shook. His face and the back of his neck broke out in a sweat.

D-D-Devayani...

What?

Someone fell off the compound wall. They’re lying on the ground.

Wh-wh-what?

Come over this side and see.

Devayani, trying to control her fear and anxiety, came to the grill and leaned forward to look. Her voice was trembling.

D-Dear... they’re hiding behind the croton plants!

That’s what it looks like to you?

Yes!

But the body’s not moving.

As soon as you turned on the torch, the thief got wary and lay down in the middle of the plants.

So what do we do?

Call the police station at once. After all it’s just two streets away. Inspector Govindavasan can be here within five minutes.

Ok, you stand by the window and keep watching him. I’ll go call and come, Pandurangan said, as he picked up his cell phone from the table near the bed, and dialed the police station two streets away.

On the other end Inspector Govindavasan spoke. Sir, the incidence of burglaries has increased in this area, so we’ve been doing special rounds for the last week. It’s possible that since there is no watchman in your house someone has trespassed with intent to rob you. I’ll come at once sir. I’ll be there in five minutes. Please wait.

Pandurangan cut the call and went back to the window to stand next to his wife.

The Inspector will be here soon. It seems there have been a lot of robberies in this area.

Dear… said Devayani in a hushed tone.

Hmm?

I think the shape just slithered over to the next croton plant. He’s hiding there, now. Oh, tomorrow the first job is to cut all these plants. Please arrange for a gardener.

Hmm. Yes. We’ll get it done. First switch off the torch. The police will be here shortly.

Devayani switched off the torch.

Come, let’s go down and wait in the portico. The Inspector should be here any minute.

They both walked down the stairs, and stood behind the grilled bars of the portico in the safety of the darkness.

Devayani whispered near her husband’s ear. His face was now sweating profusely.

Dear…

Hmm?

Do you think he’s escaped?

He doesn’t know we’ve called the police. I don’t think he would be able to get out so fast; somehow or other they’re sure to catch him.

As Pandurangan spoke, the beam from the jeep’s headlights came into view near the compound gate. Clutching a bunch of keys, Pandurangan walked quickly through the darkness to unlock the gate.

As soon as the jeep came to a standstill, Inspector Govindavasan and four constables jumped out.

Because Pandurangan was a public prosecutor, the Inspector saluted him.

Sir, is the thief still at the back of the house?

Yes Inspector, we have a small garden at the back of the house. He’s hiding behind a croton plant.

Don’t worry, sir. We’ll catch him, said Govindavasan. He sent two constables to wait outside the compound wall. With the remaining two constables, and with his gun drawn, he walked to the rear of the bungalow.

Sir, please switch on all the lights. Then he won’t be able to hide inside or outside.

Pandurangan and Devayani went into the house and flicked on all the switches. The bungalow was now flooded with light.

Holding the revolver in his hand, the Inspector crept behind the bungalow with great caution, flanked by the constables holding their torches. After walking twenty feet, the Inspector’s gaze stopped at a croton plant, behind which a form was seen fallen face down.

Hey! Come on out! the Inspector barked.

The form did not budge.

Constable, shine the torch on that side!

The beam from the torch washed over the person’s face. After a careful look, the constable called out in a surprised voice: Sir!

What is it?

It’s a girl, sir!

What! A girl?!

Yes, sir.

Inspector Govindavasan reached the girl in two strides and bent over to look at her. There was no movement.

What is this? She how she’s sprawled here. Bleeding from the head too. See if there are any signs of life.

She’s breathing, sir!

Pandurangan and Devayani joined them.

What is it, Inspector? Did the fellow get caught? asked Pandurangan.

Sir, it’s a young woman. She’s hurt her head while jumping down from the compound wall. She’s unconscious. We need to take her to the hospital immediately.

Jayam Hospital is nearby. We can take her in our car. Dr. Jayalakshmi is our family doctor. I can call and inform her, she’ll come at once.

As Pandurangan spoke, a small murmur came from the girl. Her eyelids fluttered and her eyes opened halfway. Her lips parted slightly.

Sir, she’s regaining consciousness. She’s trying to say something, said the constable.

Inspector Govindavasan bent down so his ears were close to the girl’s mouth. Broken words came from her dry lips.

Th-th-three p-people… chasing me... S-save me.

²

Agricultural University Soil Quality Control Department. 11 a.m.

Soil Conservation Officer Markandeyan was sucking coconut water through a straw and talking with a farmer who had his hands folded in supplication.

Look here Sivasami, you’ve used worthless fertilizer and turned your fertile land into a rubbish dump. Why didn’t you ever try the fertilizer I suggested? Look what’s happened now! Even two years ago, your land was yielding three harvests a year. Now you can never plant paddy there again. Plant some kind of vegetable instead.

Aiya, I tried that too, but there was no good yield.

‘See! Now do you understand to what extent the soil is has been spoiled?"

Sivasami folded his hands again, beseechingly.

Aiya, all I have is that one acre of land. I have fathered three girl children, and all three are of marriageable age. Aiya, you must set your mind to helping me, to make my land how it was in the past—fertile, and able to yield three harvests.

I understand your condition, Sivasami. But it’s not as you think; one can’t just magically turn the land back into a golden paddy field. The results of the soil test show that there’s seventy percent calcium. That seventy has to be brought down to twenty. It will cost money to do that. Is that alright with you?

How much will it cost, Aiya?

It will come up to about twenty-five thousand. To immediately decrease the calcium content in the soil we need to add yeast and bacteria to the soil, then for every hundred square feet we need one kilo of earthworms. Next we need to plant kufa grass, and let it grow lush, to suck out all the calcium. After you do all of that, your soil will return to its previous state.

We’ll do as you say, Aiya. Where should I give the money?

You shouldn’t give it to me. When you go inside the university you’ll see a building with a signboard that reads Soil Quality Control Department. Pay the money there and bring the receipt here. After that an official will come to your land, and he’ll do what he has to do.

Thanks very much Aiya.

At least from now on, put good fertilizer for the soil. The earth gives us food; it’s like our mother. Isn’t it our duty to care for her well?

I will from now on, Aiya!

When will you pay the money?

I’ll pay within two days, Aiya.

Sivasami again brought his hands together in a prayerful gesture of respect, and took his leave.

Agricultural officer Markandeyan finished his coconut water and called out, Munniappan!

Outside, Markandeyan’s assistant Munniappan was loading young coconut tree saplings into a lorry. He came running.

Aiya?

Here, cut this tender coconut and scrape out the pulp for me. Oh, never mind, it’s starting to become tough—I don’t want it.

Okay, Aiya.

Have you loaded the lorry?

It’s half-done, Aiya.

Make sure they’re all the tall kind, Markandeyan said, as a car silently came to a halt outside of the building.

Munniappan, someone’s come in a car. Go ask them what they want.

Must have come to buy coconut saplings. As Munniappan spoke these words, a young man got down from the car and came inside.

He was about thirty years old, and dressed in a blindingly bright yellow shirt with white pants. He had a healthy physique. He looked at Markandeyan and asked in a nervous voice, Sir… who is the soil conservation officer here?

I am.

Vanakkam, sir, the young man said, extending his hand. My name is Amudha Kumar. My father and I run a real estate business together. We’re from Pachaipalayam village, nearby. I need to talk to you. A quick consultation, that’s all.

Markandeyan gestured to the empty chair in front of him.

First, please sit down, Mr. Amudha Kumar.

Amudha Kumar sat. Markandeyan leaned back in his chair and asked genially, Tell me, what’s the matter?

Sir, near Pachaipalayam there is a village called Veppampatti. In that village, six months ago, we bought a two-acre coconut grove. We were maintaining it well. In one particular area of the grove about seven or eight coconut trees got diseased. We sprayed medicine on them, but we could not control it. Week after week, one by one, the trees began to dry up. The once-green fronds began falling. We went to pest control and told them about it and asked for different medicine, and they gave us some. They even injected the roots of the trees. But nothing worked. After that, they said there might be something wrong with the soil. They told us to go to the Agri University and see the Soil Conservation Officer. That’s why I’m here to meet you.

Markandeyan worriedly took his spectacles off his face. How many trees are there in your grove?

Four hundred and fifty-seven, sir.

Out of that how many are dead?

Up until yesterday it was eight. Today we found one more tree is showing the first signs of being affected.

What kind of fertilizer are you using for the trees?

WellGrow, Good-Yield, Green Treasure... we mix these three together and put it down once a month. Till now they’ve been growing nicely. My father’s plan was to keep the grove for two years and then sell it for a good profit. But suddenly this problem has arisen. We don’t know what to do. We need your help, sir.

Based on what you’ve told me, it sounds like there must be a problem with the soil near where the trees have died. Did you bring a sample with you?

No sir. My father and I will be very happy if you could come directly to our grove and have a look.

Fine. We’ll go to your coconut grove in the mobile lab van and test the soil. For that you’ll need to pay a fee of 1,500 rupees.

Money is not an issue, sir. I’ll pay immediately. Please leave at once in the mobile lab van. After you test the soil, you have to save our remaining trees.

Markandeyan leaned outside and called Munniappan!

Aiya?

Go to the center office and see if the mobile lab van is free.

Okay, Aiya. Muniappan ran on the path behind the building. Markandeyan looked back towards Amudha Kumar.

If the van is free we can go to the spot right away and do the test.

I should tell you… I’m frightened, sir.

Of what?

The pujari at the temple in Pachaipalayam told me something. Ever since then, there’s been this fear playing upon my mind.

What did he say?

Amudha Kumar wiped the sweat off his forehead with his handkerchief and began to speak in a quiet voice.

³

Jayam Hospital. 7 a.m.

Forty-five year old Dr. Jayalakshmi looked hard at the three people in front of her: Pandurangan, Devayani and Inspector Govindavasan. Then she started talking.

The young woman has suffered a blow to the head, which has caused a blood clot in her brain. That’s the reason for her brain hemorrhage. She’s in a coma. We have given her powerful medicines to cure the blood clot.

Is there any chance for her to come out of the coma, doctor?

At present, I can’t say anything. Some blood clots can be very stubborn and not respond to any medication. Sometimes the medicine will have immediate effect. We’ll see how this goes.

How long will it take for us to know the result?

About an hour.

Doctor, before we brought the girl to the hospital she spoke a few words. She said three people were chasing her.

Why were they chasing her?

She slipped back into unconsciousness before she could give us any further details.

She’s attractive, it was nighttime, she was out alone... Some rowdies might have waylaid her and misbehaved with her. To escape the rowdies she climbed over Pandurangan’s compound wall. As she jumped, she lost her balance, slipped and hurt her head. There’s a possibility it could have happened like that.

Pandurangan interrupted. She doesn’t look like she’s from a wealthy home. There’s not a drop of gold on her, no thali around her neck. Surely, she’s not married.

Dr. Jayalakshmi touched her forehead with a slight smile.

All this guesswork we’re doing isn’t very helpful. The girl has to come out of her coma; she has to speak at least two sentences continuously. There’s no need for any of you to wait here. When she regains consciousness, I’ll speak with her myself and get all the details.

Fine, doctor, said Govindavasan, getting up. The second he rose his cell phone rang. Excuse me, he said, and held the phone to his ear.

On the other end was Sub-Inspector Anwar. Sir, there was a troubling phone call that came to the control room last night.

What was the message?

Sir, last night at around eleven o’clock, a young woman walked out of Central Station, alone, and waited for someone for at least ten minutes. After that she took an auto from the auto stand. The minute the auto left, three men took off on a single bike following the auto. Someone saw it all and called the control room. The person who spoke wouldn’t give his name. He just said the auto was heading down Poonamallee Highway Road, and then put down the receiver. Immediately the control room contacted the policemen who were patrolling that area. The Inspector on patrol informed the control room that he’d been up and down the whole of Poonamallee High Road but he found no girl in an auto being followed by three people on a bike. They could have missed each other, though, I suppose?

You have the photograph of the girl who’s here in hospital in your hands now, right?

Yes, sir.

Show that photo to the other auto drivers who wait at Central Station, and try to find out which auto she went in.’

I’m doing just that, sir. We should know within an hour who the driver was.

Fine. Call me once you do.

Yes sir!

Inspector Govindavasan turned to Pandurangan and relayed to him what Sub-Inspector Anwar had said. Devayani interrupted him.

Inspector, based on what you’re telling us, those three men on the bike must have blocked the girl’s auto near our house. She must have jumped over our compound wall in an attempt to escape to safety.

You may be correct, madam. My guess is the same. According to Sub-Inspector Anwar’s information, the girl reached Chennai around eleven o’clock, and was travelling alone. First we need to find out which train she came by.

Poor thing! I wonder what urgent work brought her here so late at night? As Pandurangan spoke Inspector Govindavasan’s phone rang again. He looked to see who was calling: Sub-Inspector Anwar.

Tell me Anwar, anything important?

Yes sir.

What?

We found the auto driver she went with.

⁴

Soil Conservation Officer Markandeyan gave Amudha Kumar an astonished look.

What did the pujari say?

He said, ‘The reason the coconut trees in your grove are getting that charred look and dying one by one is that someone has done sorcery against you. You must do a pooja to counteract it. If you do, all your problems will be solved.’ I don’t really believe in sorcery and astrology and poojas and such things, though, which is why I came to see you.

You’ve made a wise decision. We must all have faith in God, of course, but just because some pujari says you have to do a pooja to counteract black magic—all that stuff isn’t necessary. Where in Veppampatti is this coconut grove?

Kallimadai, near the canal.

Okay, Markandeyan said, smiling slightly.

Why are you smiling, sir?

Now I think I know the reason why your trees are drying out and dying.

What is the reason, sir?

Just recently, a leather company’s tanning and waste residue has begun polluting the Kallimadai canal. These are its effects.

But we don’t use the canal water for our trees. In the middle of the grove there’s a big well; we’ve only been using that.

Perhaps the canal water has been seeping into the groundwater and contaminating the well source.

But sir, if it’s polluted water like you suggest, wouldn’t it have affected all the trees in the grove?

Yes, that’s something to think about. First let us test the soil.

As Markandeyan finished, Munnaiappan came in.

Aiya, the mobile lab van is free today. The van driver’s on his way.

Who’s the driver today?

Ramadhorai, sir.

Lab assistant?

Vincent.

Marakandayan rose.

Come, Amudha Kumar, you’re in luck today. The mobile van has not gone out. Vincent is an excellent soil analyst. He can predict what to plant in which soil so it will yield gold. He’ll tell you in ten minutes what’s wrong with your coconut grove.

Marakandayan and Amudha Kumar had been waiting outside only five minutes when the mobile lab van arrived.

The coconut grove was on the outskirts of Veppampatti village. From a distance, the trees appeared to be growing well, spaced a healthy even distance apart from one another, and heavy with clusters of fruit.

The mobile lab van travelled at a medium speed down a twenty-foot-wide mud road in the middle of the grove. Markandeyan looked up at the trees. You’re maintaining the trees well. Each stem has around thirty fruits.

Yes, sir. My father says each tree is like a child. He gets really angry if you don’t fertilize and water them at the right intervals.

What’s your father’s name?

Soundarajan, sir. He was in politics for some time. Twice he stood for elections for the Thondamuthur constituency MLA post, but both times he lost. After that he moved away from politics and turned his attention to agriculture and real estate. You’ll get to meet him in a little while.

Within two minutes the mobile lab van reached the center of the grove, where it stopped by the side of the road.

Is this the place?

Yes, sir.

Markandeyan got down. Even in the middle of the day the grove had an impossible stillness. A short distance away, sitting on a rope bed, was man wearing a white veshti and banyan, with a thundu tied around his hand. He bowed in greeting as he rose and came towards them.

This is my father, said Amudha Kumar.

Markandeyan joined his hands in greeting. Vannakam.

The man lifted his mouth, which was filled with betel leaf, and chuckled.

My name is Soundarajan. My son must have told you about me?

Hmmm, he did… Just now, in fact. I’m very happy to meet you. My name is Markandeyan. I’m the Soil Conservation Officer.

Did my son tell you about the problems we’re having?

Yes, he did. He says you have eight trees drying up and dying, just in one particular corner of this large grove, and you can’t understand why. What ails the trees? We’ll see if there is any problem with the soil, he said, looking at Amudha Kumar. Where are the dead trees?

There, behind you, he said, pointing. Markandeyan turned to look. In the midst of the green lush coconut trees, eight trunks stood, shriveled and bald.

Soundarajan began to mutter. Sir, my stomach burns when I see them. Going forward, you need to show us a way so that no more trees dry up.

We’ll see to it, sir. First we’ll cut a few roots from the dead trees and examine them. If there’s any problem we’ll know at once. Markandeyan shot a look at Vincent, the lab assistant, who went to the van to get some equipment. They began to walk to the affected trees.

Markandeyan asked Soundarajan, Your son said you planned to develop this grove well and then sell it. Is that true?

That was the original idea, but I’ve come to like this parcel of land. If I sell it, I doubt I’ll be able to buy another grove like this. A few problems should always be expected; if we can correct them, this land will yield gold.

They came to the dead trees. Vincent got to work efficiently. He began to collect mud samples from the ground between the trunks. After that, he cut small portions of the roots from the dead trees. He took both samples and began to test them.

Ten minutes dissolved. At the end of that time, Vincent’s face was bathed in sweat, and fear and panic were spreading in his eyes.

⁵

With a look, Inspector Govindavasan summoned the auto driver, who came and stood in front of him, his arms folded in respect.

What’s your name?

Shanmugam, sir.

How many years have you been driving an auto?

Ten years, sir.

Last night around eleven, did the girl in this photo get into your auto?

Yes, sir.

How can you say that with such certainty?

What answer am I supposed to give to that question, sir? She was beautiful enough to leave a record in my mind, that’s all. When your Sub-Inspector showed me the photo and asked if she’d ridden in my auto, I remembered her immediately.

Okay. As soon as she got into your auto, did you notice three people on a bike following you?

It didn’t seem like anyone was following us, no sir.

Okay. Where did she say she wanted to go when she got in?

She asked me to go to Alamelu Nagar, behind Anu Ega theatre. But before we came to that address we stopped, and she got out close to the theatre itself.

Why?

I don’t know, but as soon as we came to the theater she told me to stop to the side. She gave me money and got down.

You didn’t ask her why?

I did, sir. I asked her, ‘Why ma, why are you getting down here? You said you wanted to go to Alamelu Nagar?’

What did she say in reply?

She said her house was close by, just down the lane. Then she walked away. Going full speed.

Look here. Whatever you’ve been saying so far is the truth, right?

It’s the truth, sir.

If you’re lying, you’ll be counting bars for two years. Remember that.

Why should I lie, sir? I’m telling you line by line everything that happened last night, without leaving anything out.

Okay. Did she talk to anyone on the phone while she was in the auto?

No, sir.

How much luggage did she have?

Just one suitcase, sir.

Someone called the police control room and said that three persons on a bike followed your auto. But you’re saying no one followed you. Which one is true?

I don’t know, sir! As far as I know, no one followed my auto. If they had I think I would have known. Maybe those three people who tried to misbehave with her met her after I dropped her off.

You swear you’re telling the truth?

Sir, I’m married with three children. I know very well what will happen if I lie to the police.

Okay, you can leave now. You must come to station again whenever we call you. Understood?

Yes. Sir.

As soon as Shanmugam left, Inspector Govindavasan looked at Sub-Inspector Anwar.

So it seems the driver didn’t notice those fellows on the bike.

Yes, sir, and there’s another thing that’s troubling me.

What do you mean?

The girl told the driver she wanted to go to Alamelu Nagar, but instead she got down by the theater and walked down a lane. Why was an attractive girl in such a hurry to walk down some tiny lane, alone, at that time of night? Alamelu Nagar is another kilometre away from where the auto dropped her. I sent a constable to ask around Alamelu Nagar with her photo. The head of the Alamelu Nagar Residential Association looked at the photo and said there was no one like her in the area. The girl must have been lying. She got out of the auto and went down that lane to meet someone. That must have been when the three fellows on the bike started chasing her.

There’s another thing, Anwar.

What sir?

How far is Anna Nagar East from the lane by Anu Ega?

Around five kilometers, sir.

To save herself from those three men, she jumped over the compound wall of the public prosecutor’s bungalow. Is it likely that she ran five kilometers?

Sir, can I tell you my theory?

Please tell.

Those three men who chased the girl weren’t harassers. They were business partners.

What business?

It could be anything—anything illegal. They went down that lane to discuss something. Some problem must have arisen. The girl somehow escaped and ran towards Anna Nagar East. Or else one of the fellows took her to Anna Nagar East on the bike.

There’s a small problem with your theory, Anwar.

What, sir?

When the girl regained consciousness she said there were three people chasing her. That’s why she jumped into the public prosecutor’s compound.

Yes, that’s something to think about. You know, somehow… Somehow I suspect that auto driver Shanmugam was lying to us, sir.

If you’re suspicious, then have a plainclothes officer in mufti keep an eye on him.

The telephone on the table rang. Govindavasan picked up the receiver.

Yes?

Inspector Govindavasan?

Speaking.

Inspector, it’s Pandurangan speaking.

Good morning, sir. Any news from the hospital’s side?

Yes. The girl regained consciousness ten minutes ago. I was by her side, with the doctor. She was only awake for about a minute. Her words weren’t clear at first, but we understood a bit of what she said.

What did she say?

She said her name is Kabila. She said she’d come to tell someone something very important. I asked her what it was about.

What did she answer?

She said two things. One was ‘white rose’, and the other was ‘black cat.’

What? White rose and black cat?

Yes.

But what does it mean?

I don’t know. Before we could ask anything else she fell unconscious again. We’ll have to ask her again once she comes to.

⁶

When Markandeyan saw Vincent’s face, his expression changed.

What does the soil report say, Vincent? Why does your face look like that?

Sir! The report is extremely dire!

Dire?

Yes sir! The test shows that there is a high concentration of strychnine poison in the soil.

Now Markandeyan’s face began to sweat profusely. What! Strychnine? How did such a dangerous poison come to be in this grove? They used to use it as a rodent killer, but it’s been banned for years. Besides... that can’t be what’s killing the trees.

Except I think it might be, said Vincent. This appears to be an incredibly potent form of the chemical. Everything in this soil sample is dead, even the fungus and bacteria one normally finds!

Amudha Kumar and his father looked worried.

Sir! We’re getting scared hearing the two of you talk! You say there’s poison in the soil?

That’s what the soil test says, said Markandeyan. But since we caught it early, we should be able to add another chemical to neutralize it.

Please do it immediately, sir.

Immediately will be impossible, Mr. Amudha Kumar. We need to arrange for a Poclain earth mover and dig up the soil to see how far and how deep the strychnine goes. Only after that can we put in the chemical to counteract the poison.

Sir, we already have a Poclain. We just need to make a phone call, it’ll be here in half an hour. Let’s dig up the soil at once.

Then no problem. Call them immediately. Once we know how deep the poison has penetrated, we can begin the recovery treatment.

Amudha dialed a number on his phone and spoke with someone.

Soundarajan called Markandeyan. Come sir, let’s sit in the shade till the Poclain comes.

Good idea.

The two of them walked towards the rope cot. Soundarajan was upset. Markandeyan gave him words of encouragement. Don’t be afraid. We can decontaminate the soil. How long has it been since you bought this place?

Six months.

From whom did you buy it?

A man named Sudalaimuthu. An upstanding fellow. I bought it from him. As he sat on the cot, Soundarajan looked thoughtful. How can land suddenly become poisoned like this? What do you think the reason could be?

"There are all kinds of possible reasons. These days, there’s pollution in the water, in the land, in the air, even high in the sky. On top of that, there are so many different kinds of pesticides in use. But strychnine is unusual; how it came to be in the soil of your grove is a mystery. It’s a botanical product, from a forest tree known as Nux vomica. If you eat a limited quantity of the leaves and flowers, it can give you a high. But if you eat even a little bit of the root, it’s fatal. Botanists have classified it as a dangerous plant."

Could it have grown somewhere in this grove?

"No, there’s no chance of a Nux vomica tree growing in an area like this. Let the Bocline come. Let’s dig up this place and see."

Shall we talk to Sudalaimuthu, sir?

Not yet. Let the earth mover come first. After we’ve dug up the soil and tested it to see if the poison is still there at a depth, we’ll ask Sudalaimuthu to come and tell us if he knows a reason. We might find some truth in his answers. Based on that truth we can take some relief measures and sort out this problem.

Markandeyan’s conversation dissolved the half-hour wait, and the Poclain