‘Nothing. Just a stray thought in the wind. The Scorpions will hit back hard, Abdullah. I’ve met this guy, Vishnu. He’s no lightweight. He’s smart, and he’s got a political agenda. That gives him allies in unlikely places. Don’t underestimate his revenge.’
‘What does he want?’
‘He wants what you want, up to a point. He wants Sanjay dead. But he wants the whole Company dead with him. And he’s got a thing about Pakistan.’
‘Pakistan?’
‘Pakistan,’ I repeated. ‘Neighbour country, kind people, nice language, great music, secret police. Pakistan.’
‘That is not a good thing,’ Abdullah frowned. ‘Sanjay has made many friends in Pakistan. It was those friends who sent the Afghan guards to protect him.’
We were approaching a curve in the fence. A young couple sat on a blanket in the warm, plush grass. They had several books open in front of them. A message of crows was hopping around them, basking in the morning sun and searching for worms.
Abdullah began to turn away to avoid the couple.
‘Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘I know those guys.’
Vinson and Rannveig looked up, smiling, as we approached. I introduced Abdullah, and stooped to pick up one of the books. It was Joseph Campbell’s
‘How did you get into Campbell?’
‘We studied him at university,’ Rannveig said. ‘I’m teaching a crash course to Stuart.’
‘It’s over my head,’ Vinson grinned, waving a hand over the blonde waves of his hair.
‘Carlos Castaneda,’ I said, reading the covers of other books. ‘Robert Pirsig, Emmett Grogan, Eldridge Cleaver, and the Buddha. Nice bunch. You could throw Socrates and Howard Zinn onto that list. I didn’t know you’re a student here.’
‘I’m not,’ Rannveig said quickly.
‘Technically, I’m the student,’ Vinson said. ‘I enrolled here nearly two years ago, but I’ve bunked all my classes. Still have the library card, though.’
‘Well, happy reading, guys,’ I said, turning away.
‘It worked,’ Rannveig said. ‘That thing, with the plate of food.’
I turned back.
‘It did?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Sweet Tooth was happy, I guess. He’s gone. Thank you.’
‘What are you guys talking about?’ Vinson asked, his face as perplexed as a ten-year-old kid’s.
One of the things I liked most about Vinson was that his face was so wide open that it gave nowhere for his feelings to hide. Whatever he thought or felt started in his face. He was his own straight man.
‘Tell you later,’ Rannveig said, waving goodbye.
‘Do those people also buy and sell watches?’ Abdullah asked, as we continued the loop of the playing fields back toward the campus entrance.
‘Are we back to that again?’
Abdullah harrumphed. There actually are people who harrumph. I know quite a few, as it turns out. My theory is that harrumphers have a tiny pinch of extra bear DNA than the rest of us, in their setup.
‘I have your guns for you,’ he said grudgingly. ‘Tell me where you want me to deliver them.’
‘I know a guy who’ll keep them safe, for ten per cent. I’ll give you the details. Thanks, Abdullah. Let me know what I owe you.’
‘The weapons are a gift,’ he said, stung.
‘I’m sorry, brother, of course. Damn nice. And speaking of weapons, I’ve got a meeting with Vikrant, my knife guy, in Sassoon Dock. Is there anything I can do for you?’
We approached the archway leading back through the campus to the street, but he stopped me before I could join the mill of students passing through the arch.
‘There is something,’ Abdullah began, but he closed his mouth firmly again, breathing hard through his nose. ‘Sanjay has forbidden us from befriending you, or contacting you, for any reason other than Company business.’
‘I see.’
‘You understand what this means?’
‘I . . . guess so.’
‘It means that the next time we meet openly, Sanjay will be dead.’
‘What?’
‘Be confident and unafraid,’ he said, hugging me fiercely, and then holding me in his outstretched arms, as solid as a doorjamb. ‘You have eyes watching you.’
‘You got that right.’
‘No. I mean that I have paid some eyes to watch you, for some time,’ he said patiently.
‘You have? Who?’
‘The Cycle Killers.’
‘You paid homicidal maniacs to watch out for me?’
‘I did.’
‘That’s very thoughtful. And expensive. Maniacs don’t come cheap.’
‘You are right. I took some money from Khaled’s treasure, to pay for it.’
‘How did Khaled feel about that?’
‘He agreed. My feeling is that the only way I can lure him back to Bombay, and his true destiny, is to bring his treasure from the mountain to the city, one piece at a time.’
‘You’re kidding, right?’
He looked me up and down, profoundly offended.
‘I never make jokes.’
‘You do, too,’ I laughed. ‘You just don’t
‘I am?’ he asked, grimacing.
‘You hired homicidal maniacs to protect me. You’re a funny guy, Abdullah. Lisa always laughed when she was with you, remember?’
Lisa.
He looked across the fields, the muscles in his jaw rippling, although his eyes were perfectly still. University students were playing cricket, kicking footballs, sitting in groups, doing cartwheels, and dancing for no reason.
Lisa.
