Excerpt
The next morning Mirak met Xenon in the park. They went to their favorite wine shop and had their usual quota of drink. Xenon said “I am amazed how easily you can withstand so much drink and remain steady!”
M: This is nothing; I can take ten times as much and remain steady.
Xenon knew that it was an idle boast. That was exactly the state of mind to which he wanted to take Mirak.
X: Not so fast my friend! I want to ascertain your capacity by testing you.
M: I am a game! Any time you wish! Go ahead!
This was a part of Xenon’s sinister plan. Not far from the park there was a street from which trucks entered Uyav frequently. The traffic was heavy in the early hours but tapered off as the day advanced but it was considerable till about ten o clock. The street took a sharp turn, some distance away from the park. Xenon took Mirak to a point, some distance before the turning of the road. He asked Mirak to cross the road, reach the other end and then return to the starting point.
Mirak laughed and said “It is ridiculous! It is no test at all!” and swiftly completed the test successfully.
X: Wonderful! That was brilliant. That is enough for today; let us not overdo the test. We shall attempt a more difficult test tomorrow.
Progressively, Mirak was treated to increasing amount of liquor and was asked to repeat the test; on the third day, he began to falter and almost fell down on the road. Xenon congratulated him and while parting said “Mirak! Please bring your passport tomorrow. I need to note some information from it in the context of my trial for your job in Urtivas. Put on the new dress I presented you; you look great in it.”
Next morning the unsuspecting Mirak came in his new dress happily, along with his passport. He gave the passport to Xenon who pretended to make some notings from it. Instead of returning Mirak’s passport, Xenon deliberately gave his own Suris passport saying “Mirak! Passport is a very important document; keep it securely in your pocket.”
M: (Putting it into his shirt pocket) I will take good care of it. I never lost anything in my life!
Both went to the wine shop and Mirak was treated to one more peg than the last time. Xenon asked him “Do you think you can take your usual test today?”
M: (As he completed the drink) W h y n o t? … I c a n t a k e a f e w m o r e a n d r u n !
He himself gestured for one more drink; he gulped the drink got up and said “C o m e o n,
l e t’ s g o .”
Xenon took him to the usual spot, waited till a truck was approaching fast and asked Mirak to start. He couldn’t see the truck coming and started to cross the street. He reached the other end, lifted up his right hand victoriously and started to return. Apparently the truck driver was also drunk, as they usually were and did not notice Mirak. The truck dashed against him from his side so forcefully that Mirak was felled down dead! The truck driver slowed down, craned out of the window, saw Mirak’s still body and sped away. Xenon quietly slipped into a by-lane and walked away. He was happy that everything happened just as he planned.
He already booked a seat to Hotch by the evening flight under Mirak’s name. With the help of the passport which he now possessed, he completed the formalities and confirmed his ticket. From now on, Arohga began using Mirak as his name and we shall do likewise. It was necessary for him to remain incognito somewhere in Uyav and to board the plane under the name of Mirak. He decided that the best place to hide during the day was the cinema theater and went to one of them.
Hit-and-run accidents were not uncommon on that roa