Page 137 - Train to Pakistan

is, not one was killed. I was able to take them all out.’
The subinspector emphasized ‘not one’ and ‘all’. He watched Hukum Chand’s

reaction.
It worked. Hukum Chand stopped rubbing the corners of his eyes and asked
casually, as if he were only seeking information, ‘You mean to tell me there is

not one Muslim family left in Chundunnugger?’
‘No, sir, not one.’
‘I suppose,’ said Hukum Chand, clearing his throat, ‘they will came back

when all this blows over?’
‘Maybe,’ the subinspector answered. ‘There is not much for them to come
back to. Their homes have been burned or occupied. And if anyone did come

back, his or her life would not be worth the tiniest shell in the sea.’
‘It will not last forever. You see how things change. Within a week they will
be back in Chundunnugger and the Sikhs and Muslims will be drinking water

out of the same pitcher.’ Hukum Chand detected the note of false hope in his
own voice. So did the subinspector.

‘You may be right, sir. But it will certainly take more than a week for that to
happen. Chundunnugger refugees are being taken to Pakistan by train tonight.
God alone knows how many will go across the bridge alive; those that do are not
likely to want to come back in a hurry.’

The subinspector had hit the mark. Hukum Chand’s face went pale. He could
no longer keep up the pretense.

‘How do you know that Chundunnugger refugees are going by the night
train?’ he asked.
‘I got it from the camp commander. There was danger of attack on the camp
itself, so he decided to get the first train available to take the refugees out. If they

do not go, probably no one will be left alive. If they do, some at least may get
through, if the train is running at some speed. They are not planning to derail the

train; they want it to go on to Pakistan with a cargo of corpses.’
Hukum Chand clutched the arms of his chair convulsively.
‘Why don’t you warn the camp commander about it? He may decide not to

go.’
‘Cherisher of the poor,’ explained the subinspector patiently, ‘I have not told
him anything about the proposed attack on the train because if he does not go the

whole camp may be destroyed. There are mobs of twenty to thirty thousand
armed villagers thirsting for blood. I have fifty policemen with me and not one