Amongst them were eight of Robin’s compatriots. Robin had survived. So had Prahlad, Abinash and Amarendra. Taking the injured Amarendra with them, they returned to the air strip in Walong.

Evacuation was in full swing at Walong and the airstrip was packed with people from the army as well as civilians. Soon after Robin and his comrades reached the airstrip, an Otter that could carry six passengers landed. Robin, with the help of the others, tried to take Amarendra to the plane. A scuffle broke out between the army and the civil officers. Not a single civilian succeeded in getting into the Otter. In all of the Otters that landed on the airstrip, only army officers got in and flew to safety. The low-ranking officers and support staff of the army and civil administration kept looking on.

Tired of waiting, some of the dejected and frightened people fled on foot. Brigadier Rawley and other responsible officers, however, did not desert their soldiers. They did not board the Otters.

Robin and his group returned from the airstrip. Their faces brightened seeing Chowdhury walking towards them from the opposite direction.

‘Where are the others?’ Chowdhury enquired anxiously.

Before Robin could answer him, a mortar shell landed right near them. There was no time for talk. Quickening their steps, they reached Chowdhury’s government quarters. As soon as Chowdhury entered, he asked Biren, ‘Is the food ready?’

‘There is just rice and daal, nothing else.’

‘Just serve that. Let us all eat whatever we can.’

Chowdhury gave Amarendra first aid, then told everyone to eat and pack as many provisions as they could carry in their pockets and bags. In fifteen minutes they were ready to leave. There was just one thing left to do. They had to set fire to the godowns that were filled with their supplies.

Chowdhury started with the government papers and the godowns of food supplies located at the centre of Walong, now almost deserted. Robin and the rest came forward to help. There was no one now to give commands to. They did not notice the local people who had come out from the villages. They came to the godown with dao blades in their hands. As the godowns burned, the villagers became ferocious.

‘Hey, sahab, why are you setting fire to the godowns? Why are you burning the rations? Give them to us. We will take them for our families.’

‘The rule is to not give the rations to villagers. The rule is to burn down the godowns before abandoning a place. We can’t keep anything for the enemy.’

‘We are not enemies. We are Indians. Give us the rations. We won’t give anything to the enemies.’

The villagers encircled Chowdhury.

‘Move back!’

‘We won’t. What will you do? If you burn the godown, we will use our arms.’ They took out their glistening daos from their scabbards.

Robin and his group came forward. Seeing their arms the villagers slowly backed away.