Page 87 - Train to Pakistan

turn up who have been through massacres and have lost relations, then it will be
a different matter. I had not thought of the river crossings. Usually, after the
rains the river is a mile in breadth and there are no fords till November or
December. We have hardly had any rain this year. There are several points

where people can cross and I have not got enough policemen to patrol the
riverside.’

Hukum Chand looked across the rest house grounds. The rain was falling
steadily. Little pools had begun to form in the ditches. The sky was a flat stretch
of slate grey.
‘Of course, if it keeps raining, the river will rise and there will not be many

fords to cross. One will be able to control refugee movements over the bridges.’
A crash of lightning and thunder emphasized the tempo of the rain. The wind

blew a thin spray onto the veranda.
‘But we must get the Muslims out of this area whether they like it or not. The
sooner the better.’

There was a long pause in the conversation. Both men sat staring into the rain.
Hukum Chand began to speak again.
‘One should bow before the storm till it passes. See the pampas grass! Its

leaves bend before the breeze. The stem stands stiff in its plumed pride. When
the storm comes it cracks and its white plume is scattered by the winds like
fluffs of thistledown.’ After a pause he added, ‘A wise man swims with the

current and still gets across.’
The subinspector heard the platitudes with polite attention. He did not see
their significance to his immediate problem. Hukum Chand noticed the blank

expression on the police officer’s face. He had to make things more plain.
‘What have you done about Ram Lal’s murder? Have you made any further
arrests?’

‘Yes, sir, Jugga badmash gave us the names yesterday. They are men who
were at one time in his own gang: Malli and four others from village Kapura two
miles down the river. But Jugga was not with them. I have sent some constables

to arrest them this morning.’
Hukum Chand did not seem to be interested. He had his eyes fixed somewhere
far away.

‘We were wrong about both Jugga and the other fellow.’ The Inspector went
on: ‘I told you about Jugga’s liaison with a Muslim weaver’s girl. That kept him