Amitav Ghosh - Flood of Fire

Thinking that she was unsure of whether he understood English, Kesri said: ‘Good evening, memsah’b.’

That was when she began to speak — and not in English but Hindustani.

It is true, isn’t it, she said, that you are Deeti’s brother? I can see it in your face, your eyes. She used to draw pictures of you. I saw one once, she had drawn you holding a bundook.

Now Kesri too lost his tongue for a moment. When he regained it, all he could say was: How did you know? How did you know about Deeti — that she is my sister?

Mr Reid told me, said Paulette. I was on the ship too, you know — the Ibis . Your sister was my friend; we talked a lot, especially in the last days, before we reached Mauritius.

You were with her? Kesri shook his head incredulously. Did Deeti tell you why she ran away from her village after her husband’s death?

Yes, she told me all about it.

Kesri was seized with panic now, thinking that there might not be enough time to hear the whole story.

Tell me; tell me what Deeti said. I have been waiting so long to hear — tell me everything.

*

The twilight had turned to darkness now so Raju did not see Baboo Nob Kissin’s saffron-clad figure until it was almost on top of him.

Here, boy! Come aside — I have to talk to you.

Leading Raju to the bulwark, Baboo Nob Kissin knelt to whisper into his ear: Raju, listen, this is very important. Among the guests at this party there are some friends of your father’s. They might be able to help you find him.

Who are they? said Raju.

Did you see a memsah’b in a black dress and a bonnet? Her name is Paulette Lambert — she knows your father. She was on the Ibis too and she has met him here in China as well. And you may have seen also a man in a Chinese robe? He too is your father’s friend. If anyone can get a message to your father it is he. You should talk to him.

Raju looked around the maindeck and saw no sign of either.

Where are they?

I think they went inside, said Baboo Nob Kissin. They went to see how Mrs Moddie is doing.

The gomusta raised a finger to point to a gangway that led astern: Go and have a look over there; that’s where they’ll be.

Raju set off without another word. Threading his way through the guests, he circled around until he reached the gangway that led to the cabins at the rear of the vessel.

This part of the ship was empty and silent; the gangway was dimly lit, by a few, flickering lamps.

Keeping to one side, Raju made his way slowly forward. There were cabins to the right and to the left of the gangway, but the doors were all shut. Only one door was ajar and it was at the far end; above it was a sign that said ‘Owner’s Suite’.

Creeping up to the entrance, Raju put his eye to the crack in the doorway. There seemed to be a lot of old furniture inside; there was a draught blowing through and it pushed the door a little further ajar, as if to invite Raju in. After hesitating for a minute, Raju stepped through the doorway.

Moonlight was flowing in through the windows, one of which was wide open. Raju saw now, to his great surprise, that someone was sitting by the window, in a chair: all Raju could see of him was a turbaned head, silhouetted against the moolight.

To Raju’s relief it seemed that the man had not noticed his presence. Holding his breath, he took a step backwards, thinking that he had better leave while he could.

But just as he was about to slip away the turbaned head turned to look in his direction: the silvery moonlight gave Raju a glimpse of a man with a broad, square face and a clipped beard.

‘Sorry, sir,’ said Raju apologetically. ‘I didn’t know you were here.’

To his relief, there was no torrent of abuse as he had half-expected: the man only smiled silently.

Mumbling another ‘Sorry, sir,’ Raju ducked out. Pulling the door shut behind him, he turned around to find that two figures, a man and a woman, had stepped out of one of the cabins that lined the gangway. The man was dressed in a Chinese gown and when he caught sight of Raju he said: ‘Hello? Who are you, eh? And what you doing here?’

Suddenly Raju understood that this was the couple that Baboo Nob Kissin had told him about.

‘I was looking for you, sir,’ he blurted out. ‘And for ma’am too.’

‘You were looking for us?’ said Paulette in surprise. ‘But why?’

Raju stepped quickly towards them. ‘You both know my father,’ he said, lowering his voice. ‘Baboo Nob Kissin told me so.’

‘Who is your father?’

‘His name is Neel.’

Kesri was still recovering from the shock of his meeting with Paulette when Zachary appeared in front of him.

‘Good day there, Sarjeant. Could I have a word with you please?’

‘Yes, Reid-sah’b?’

‘Sarjeant, you remember that evening, on the Hind ? How you came to my cabin and asked me questions about your sister?’

‘Yes, Reid-sah’b.’

‘Sarjeant, I need you to return the favour now. I’ve got some questions that I need you to answer.’

‘Questions?’ said Kesri in surprise. ‘For me?’

‘Yes, Sarjeant. You said that you’d been Captain Mee’s orderly twenty years ago — isn’t that right?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Were you ever with him in a place called Ranchi?’

‘Yes, Reid-sah’b.’

‘Was he a lieutenant then?’

‘Yes.’

‘And was Mrs Burnham there too?’

Kesri’s face hardened and the muscles in his jaw began to twitch. ‘Why you want to know, Reid-sah’b?’

‘Listen, Sarjeant,’ said Zachary sharply, ‘when you asked me questions about your sister I answered. You told me then to come to you if I ever needed anything. Well I’ve come to you now with a question, a very simple one, and if you’re a man of your word you’ll answer it. Let me ask again: was Mrs Burnham in Ranchi at the same time as Captain Mee?’

Kesri nodded reluctantly. ‘Yes, Mr Reid,’ he said. ‘She was there.’

‘Thank you, Sarjeant. That’s all I need.’

Now that he had received confirmation, Zachary felt vastly more calm than he had been when the idea was just a suspicion in his head. It was as if Mrs Burnham had given him yet another gift; it was up to him now to use her secret to his own advantage.

*

Tu kahan jaich? Kai? Where are you going? Why?

As her eyes flew open Shireen experienced a moment of pure terror: she had no idea of where she was or how she had got there.

Then she heard Zadig Bey’s voice, somewhere close by: ‘It’s all right, Bibiji — I am here, with you.’

She sat up with a start and a cold towel flew off her forehead. ‘Where am I?’

Holding up a lamp, Zadig Bey turned up the wick: ‘You are in Mrs Burnham’s cabin, Bibiji, on her bed. After you fainted she suggested that we bring you here. I’ve been sitting with you all this while. Paulette and Freddie just looked in on you; seeing that you were still unconscious they stepped out.’

Casting her eyes around the panelled cabin, Shireen fell back against the pillows. Her heart was beating wildly, erratically, and she pressed a hand against her chest, as if to slow it down.

‘What’s the matter, Bibiji?’

Zadig Bey took hold of her other hand and pressed her feverishly hot palm between his own cool fingers. ‘What is it, Bibiji? Tell me.’

Shireen closed her eyes. ‘I had a dream, Zadig Bey; it was very strange — like the dreams that Freddie talks about.’

‘How do you mean, Bibiji?’

‘I saw my husband: he was standing beside me. He had come to see me; there was something he wanted to say.’

She began to cough, choking on her words. Zadig Bey handed her a glass of water. ‘Go on, Bibiji.’