The epho’s wife, who was waiting for just something like this, caught Korok hiding behind a row of plants. She did not raise her voice (she never raised her voice) but she was very stern. She told Korok not to come to the garden until he had completely recovered. She said he was being very foolish if he thought he could help his plants and flowers when he was injured. She told him to think about what would happen to his garden if he fell really sick and couldn’t work for days.

The epho’s wife was very clever, and knew that the only way she could make Korok stay at home was if she told him to think about his garden. So Korok slowly watered some rows of flowers, and went home. The epho’s wife told him Anchita would visit every day with food, and that he should not worry about anything.

That afternoon, the first of the newspaper reporters from the big cities on the coast arrived in Deogan. They talked to the people sitting in protest, and with the mahji, and took a lot of photographs. Over the next few days, even TV news crews came to the Gond villages, as did some local political leaders.

Korok stayed at home and rested for two more days. Anchita visited him every day, and brought cake as often as her mother baked them. Anchita would return home every evening and tell her mother that Korok was getting better, and the cakes were really helping. The two children would watch movies, and Anchita would explain most of the dialogue.

Korok returned to his garden, and went back to his plants. They were doing well, despite the heat. There were still no rains, and the ground was drying up, but the plants and flowers were local, and tough.

Behera, the Collector of Balangir, the most powerful person in the district, sat at his desk. His hands rested on the small desk atop his big desk. It was afternoon, ten days after Patnaik had ordered his men to charge the Gonds at the bridge. It was blazing hot outside, but the air-conditioner was bravely keeping Behera cool. The only noise in the room came from the big wall clock opposite Behera’s desk. He was thinking, and his assistants in the rooms outside were as quiet as mice. He was an important person, and he was not to be disturbed by noise.