“No pods? What do you mean?”

“Not a single pod.”

“But you filed the report last week yourself!”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean ‘yes’?!”

“I estimated it at forty-five rupees.”

“So what the hell happened?”

“The pods were there then.”

“And now?”

“Not a single one.”

“Theft?”

“I don’t know.”

The chairman turned to look at the council, all of whom were still staring at them.

“There’s something else,” Valli said, his voice low. “There’s a big crowd gathered outside.”

Chairman M. C. Joseph did a double take. “What now?”

“A crowd. You know that Thazhakudy Moothapillai. You know what a troublesome fellow he is. He has dragged everyone here to discuss the matter.”

“So now I have to go and attend to that?”

“No, you don’t have to go. Quietly delegate it to somebody else.”

“Who?”

“The Palm Tree.”

“The tall guy from Ward Twenty-Three?”

“That’s the guy. He will get things under control. If you go, they will blow it out of proportion.”

The chairman walked back into the shed and sat in his chair. Gnanasigamani, the leader of the opposition party, stood up. “If there is something the council needs to know,” he said loudly, “you should tell us.” As if on cue, everyone else—Maria Anthony, Kuriakose, Anbayya, V. V. S. Pillai, Kambaramayanam Ananthan Pillai, Chellasami, V. X. Fernandez (Junior)—jumped up in unison and bellowed: “You have to share it with the council!”

The chairman told the council what had happened.

Umaiyorubagam Pillai stood up. “This sounds like a serious matter. We need to set up an inquiry committee.” A few from the ruling party and every member of the opposition party seconded that motion. So an inquiry committee was set up. Umaiyorubagam Pillai was to head the committee. Six other members were appointed.

Then the council adjourned.

Chairman M. C. Joseph stepped outside and whispered in Kambaramayanam Ananthan Pillai’s ear. This was the man from Ward 23, whom Valli had called “the Palm Tree.” Kambaramayanam Ananthan Pillai listened intently. “That’s it?” he said. “Don’t worry. I will get rid of them. They will even applaud me and then quietly disperse like good children.” He rushed toward the front of the building to take care of the crowd.

When Chairman M. C. Joseph returned to his office, Moothapillai, Sahib, and Konar were seated in a row.

“We just thought we’d talk to you in person, that’s all,” Sahib said, conversationally.

“Not to worry. The tamarind tree is still standing at the junction,” Moothapillai joked, winking at his driver, Nagaru Pillai, who was looking in from outside.

“We have formed a committee,” Chairman M. C. Joseph said quickly. “Nothing like this has ever happened before, but I will take all necessary action. Very responsible of you to come in person . . .”

“Right, right,” said Moothapillai.