‘They don’t respect me like they used to. If Ho Chang Ho goes, it may be better.’

‘He has been arrested. How can he convince them? You will have to do the talking. Come on now, let’s go,’ the officer said in a commanding voice.

A. C. Chow stood up without any protest.

There was no one now at the entrance of the lane except for the armed guards. A little distance away, some of the families of the detainees and few locals were waiting. The night slowly deepened, bringing with it an unkind darkness. A couple of hours had passed after the last truck had entered the lane.

Breaking the silence and the darkness of the lane, a military jeep came to a halt at the entrance. Robin and two other men in uniform got off the jeep. Seeing him, Xonpahi ran towards him and cried out, ‘It’s me, Xonpahi, Robin dada.’

Robin looked at Xonpahi’s tear-stained face. His stiff expression remained unchanged. Meanwhile, Yiu Yi’s mother, Madhabi, Phulmoni and Chitta moved closer. Xonpahi was crying.

‘Do something Robin dada – no one is listening to us. We are not allowed to go inside. Where are they taking our families?’

Robin looked at her silently. His face still showed no emotion.

‘Hey, Robin, why are you silent?’ Chitta shouted in anger.

‘Is he a friend?’ one of the army men looked at Robin with suspicion.

Inside the lane a different situation was playing out. Robin looked around. While some government officers were sealing Chinese homes, many others were busy looting them. Among them were Thakur Prasad and Rajendra.

Robin entered C Hoi’s house first. The beautiful house was now in shambles. The armed guards were loitering around inside while a police officer and a magistrate known to Robin were questioning C Hoi. His entire family was crying loudly in a corner. Seeing Robin, C Hoi cried out, ‘Robin, look! They think I’m a Chinese spy. They beat me. Tell them I’ve done nothing wrong. I am only a carpenter. I haven’t done anything, Robin.’

‘Hey, shut up! If you are not a spy then what are you? Do you know this man?’ The officer looked at Robin.

‘Yes, I do.’ Robin answered gravely. ‘What happened?’

‘Go and have a look at his house, upstairs,’ the magistrate said.

‘I’ve seen it.’

‘When?’

‘When I was invited for the housewarming.’

‘Have you seen the secret passage?’

‘Secret passage?’

‘Yes. Go and see yourself. He is definitely a Chinese spy. We haven’t checked the other houses yet. There may be others too. These Chinese people are treacherous!’