Everyone at the outpost was busy. Everyone looked serious. For the first time, the outpost had been assigned a big responsibility: the arrests of the Chinese. The Makum area had the largest concentration of Chinese people and people of Chinese origin. The military and the paramilitary forces had also been employed for the same task.

After hesitating for a while, Minaram Baruah went to a constable and said, ‘Sir, it is important to meet Ali sir.’

Gratified at being called ‘sir’, the constable measured Minaram Baruah from top to bottom and said, ‘Why? What’s so important?’

‘I have some information about the enemy,’ Baruah whispered.

The constable became alert.

‘Is that so? What is your name? Where have you come from?’

Minaram Baruah answered in whispers. Thinking for a while, the constable said, ‘Alright. You wait here. I will inform sir.’

The other constables who were standing nearby heard Minaram Baruah’s whispered words. They came forward.

‘What happened? What’s the matter?’

‘I have come to meet Ali sir. I have some information.’

‘Oh really!’ The constables didn’t look impressed.

Many had been streaming in with information for the last few days, after the chief minister’s appeal to inform the police about anything suspicious. Most of the information they brought with them was imaginary, unfounded.

‘You have done very well, arresting these enemies. They live in our country and spy for China. Everyone should be chased away. Let them go where they have come from. Ungrateful people!’ said Minaram Baruah.

The constables had just returned from the day-long assignment of arresting the Chinese. They were depressed.

‘They shouldn’t just be arrested, they should be finished off. They came as coolies and became kings. They have taken away our wealth, and grown fat and –’

‘Shut up! Keep quiet! I am really pissed off. I don’t know what I will do with you. Get out of here. I say – go –’ one of the constables yelled at him.

Minaram Baruah was about to leave, scared out of his wits at this unexpected reaction, when the first constable came back.

‘Sir has called you.’

Swallowing hard, Pulok’s father went in.

‘What news do you have?’ Ali asked Minaram Baruah.

Rubbing his hands, Baruah said, ‘It’s a secret.’

Ali thought for a while and asked the constable to leave. Then he looked at Minaram Baruah.

‘Now tell me what you have to say. I have very little time.’