Yiu Yi’s grandmother held up the newborn. The children came forward with curious faces, thirst forgotten for the moment.

The train suddenly halted. The captives again got anxious. Liang lifted one window slightly and looked outside. The train had not received the signal to proceed. A locomotive had also stopped on the parallel line. After some thought, Liang turned around and said, ‘Give me the kettle. Quickly. I will bring water from the engine.’

Without heeding the warnings of his fellow captives, he jumped down with the kettle and started running in the direction of the engine. Showing the kettle to the driver, Liang started pleading for water. The army men who were on the train started shouting at him.

‘Hey Chinese! Son of a swine! Move back or we will shoot you.’

Liang ignored them and kept on pleading. The driver looked at Liang with surprise and then at the train. He thought for some time and then released the engine water. Filling up the kettle with hot water, Liang ran back to the coach amidst the volley of abuses from the army men. The train had started to gather speed by then.

It would appear that life had returned to the coach. Cooling down the water, Yiu Yi’s grandmother said, ‘I will let everyone have a sip. Be patient.’

Everyone waited in restless anticipation. Only Ho Yin’s father was impatient and started shouting, ‘Water. Give me water.’

Inside the compartments played out scenes from hell, as the passengers hurtled towards a frightening uncertainty.

Twenty-four

Twenty-four

It was afternoon. Without any warning, the train had stopped after seven days and seven nights.

No one had the strength to react. No one tried to look out of the window.

‘Open the door! Open the door!’ someone shouted from outside, banging on the door with a stick.

Khagen Baishya went forward sluggishly and opened the door. The armed guard who was looking to come inside was repulsed by the stench.

‘Get down. All of you get down. You will have to go to another place.’

The platform was empty. It was cordoned off by armed guards. People slowly started disembarking. There was a huge crowd outside the station. They looked at the filthy group of people alighting from the train with curiosity and hatred.

Yiu Yi walked over to Khagen Baishya and gave him her doll.

‘Police dada, take this. This is for you.’

‘Why are you giving this to me? What will I do?’

‘You have cared for us a lot. You are very good. Take this.’

‘I cannot take this, Yiu Yi. Take it back or else I will feel very hurt.’

‘Don’t think like that. How will I get a chance to play with this doll? Give it to your children. It is a little dirty – just was it once.’

Without waiting for Khagen Baishya’s answer, Yiu Yi got down.