How they had arrived at Deogan, nobody knew. They were certainly not from Odisha, but they spoke the local dialect. They had first dropped in at the mahji’s place and given him a long lecture on who they were and what they expected the villagers to do. The mahji nodded politely, although he was extremely frightened, partly of them and partly of being arrested again by Patnaik if the police ever found out that real Maoists had come to Deogan. But he had listened to them, and they had visited some of the other houses. Nobody knew why they visited Korok. Perhaps it was by accident.

‘Where is your father?’ their leader, a young man, asked the startled boy.

Korok said his father was not at home, which was what he told strangers unless they were pin-striped people who wore sunglasses. They were dressed in pants and shirts and sweaters, almost identical, almost … a uniform, but not quite. Even the woman, who was older than the men. But they were not armed.

Afterwards, Korok thought about this. He had heard a lot about Maoists, but had never seen them. There were no Maoists in this part of Odisha, everyone knew. But he had expected them to be fierce fighters and carrying all kinds of weapons. They were fierce, but only in their eyes, which were hard and blazed. But perhaps it was only the light of the lantern.

‘It’s good you have some dinner for us, then,’ said the leader, and the men took the pots of rice and dal, and the only two plates Korok had, and went into his house and sat on the bed. That is, the four men sat, and the woman stood. Even though she was older.

Whatever they were, they were certainly not Gonds.

There was food for just one thin boy, so it became food for just two of his visitors. Korok stood near the door, nervously. The leader asked him his name, and Korok told him.

‘You know who we are?’

Korok gave a slight nod.

‘Of course you do. We are the Red Brothers.’ They didn’t add ‘and sisters’, but perhaps it was too much effort.

‘We fight the government and the police. We heard what has been happening here, that the government wants to take away your land, and the police have been beating and arresting you people. That is what they do everywhere. So we have come to tell you: don’t worry. We are here.’

Korok, who was very worried by now, gave another nod and shuffled his feet.

‘See, this is what happens when people are quiet and meek,’ said the leader. ‘The government comes and takes things from you. Steals things from you. Leaves you hungry and cold. Will you sit by silently if people come and take what is not theirs?’

Korok, watching his guests eat the dinner he had cooked for himself, didn’t say anything.