by Ranjit Lal
‘I think,’ Vijaya had said, nodding briskly and sticking a pin into her bun, ‘you both will get along with Rukmini like a house on fire.’
When they did meet Shroom, Monica and Raveena had been all the more glad that they had accepted Vijaya’s proposal; they were looking forward to interacting with her high-spirited granddaughter.
Before they knew it, the sisters had completed a month at the school. Apart from the principal and the other two teachers, Rachna and Salma, they’d met Megha and Ajay at Emerald Eden and the research scholars at their cottage.
‘Hey, Monica, don’t you think that Anantram is cute?’ Raveena teased Monica. ‘He’s got that Bugs Bunny grin.’
‘Very funny! At least he’s different from those oversmart guys back in Delhi. He’s clever, and so intense sometimes.’
‘Anantram needs to see an orthodontist!’ Raveena exclaimed. ‘But hey, if you like him, that’s okay – it’s a free world! We can grow carrots in the garden!’
Monica glared at her. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Rave.’
Suddenly there was a loud thump on the roof. The girls jumped and ran for the washing line in the little yard behind the house. But Ram-babu was already there, his bamboo stave raised, shouting at the langurs that had landed on the roof and were grimacing at him. ‘Hut, hut!’ he yelled, as the two took down their washing. ‘Besharam! Badmash!’
‘Okay, Rave, I’m leaving,’ Monica said fifteen minutes later. She had her first session with Shroom that morning. ‘Wish me luck. I wonder what that kid has in store for me…’
She set off down the narrow forest path, her long dark ponytail swaying with every step. This place is paradise, she thought, breathing in the cool breeze and gazing at the blue and silver peaks glimmering in the distance. I’m walking through a scented pine forest on my way to work. I’m so glad we came here!
Forty minutes later, Shroom stood at her bedroom door, her mouth at the crack. ‘Password!’ she hissed. ‘I can’t let you in unless you give me the password!’
Outside, Monica scratched her head, then broke into a smile. ‘Shroom, Shroom, harbinger of doom, sing me this tune by the light of the moon!’ she intoned in a low sing-song.
The door creaked open and Shroom looked at Monica, a delighted smile on her face. ‘Wow,’ she said. ‘You can make up poems just like that!’
‘Can I come in now? Was that the right password?’
‘Sure.’ Shroom looked a little drowsy. ‘Were you being followed?’
‘Maybe. I’m not sure. Some langurs followed me for a bit, and then I lost them.’
‘Be careful. There are spies everywhere.’
‘I know.’
‘Have you seen that taklu fellow staying at Megha aunty’s place?’
‘No.’
‘He was at Shroom’s Perch this morning, making secret drawings; plans, probably.’
‘Shroom’s Perch? Where’s that?’
Shroom’s eyes widened with horror. ‘You don’t know where Shroom’s Perch is? Everyone knows where it is.’
‘You’ll have to show me.’
‘Come on. Let’s go then!’
‘Umm, now?’
‘Why not? Though I’ve only just returned from there and will have to go back again in the afternoon to meet Taklu.’
‘Tell you what,’ Monica said. ‘You take a piece of paper and write down directions to get there from the stone bridge outside your house. And then draw a map with all the main spots marked on it. You know, like the bridge, the stream and so on. I’ll follow the directions and map, and report back to you when I come the next time.’
‘Okay.’
‘Have you got some paper?’
Shroom tore out a sheet from a notebook. ‘Here.’
Monica bent down and rubbed it on the floor.
Shroom blinked. ‘What are you doing?’
‘A map,’ Monica said gravely, ‘any map that is drawn by hand must be on dirty paper that looks old. Otherwise it’s no fun to follow at all.’
‘Should it be drawn in blood?’
‘A red pencil or felt pen would be less painful.’
‘I have an idea!’ Shroom’s eyes gleamed. ‘Can you come this afternoon?’
‘Err, why?’
‘I’ll write the directions and draw the map now. Then in the afternoon I’ll give them to you and we’ll both go, but I won’t tell you the directions. You’ll have to read them and follow the map, and I’ll come along to check if you’re on the right path or not. It’ll be like playing hot and cold. Then I’ll know how good a trainee you are. And then at 1500 hours we can go to the bottom of the… err, wherever that secret place is, and check on Taklu. I can only reveal the actual place to you at the proper time.’
‘Umm, okay, I guess. Provided your nani doesn’t mind. She said you get tired in the afternoons.’
‘It only takes half an hour to reach, so I can sleep and be refreshed by 1430 hours.’
‘Is it okay if I ask my sister to come along? She should also know where Shroom’s Perch is. And she’ll be done with school by then.’
‘Okay, sure. But she too must know the password.’
‘Of course! Now why don’t you start writing out the instructions and drawing the map? I’ll just call my sister and tell her about the afternoon plan.’ They were supposed to make apricot jam in the afternoon but, hell, that could wait.
Forty-five minutes later, Shroom looked up and carefully folded the piece of paper. ‘It’s done,’ she announced. ‘I finished the map and writing the directions.’ Around her, scattered on the wooden floor, lay screwed up balls of paper that had not quite made the grade.
Monica grinned. ‘Can I have a sneak peek, please?’ she asked.
Shroom shook her head firmly. ‘Not a chance! If you know, you might spill the beans when you’re tortured. If you don’t know anything, you won’t be able to tell the enemy.’ With a satisfied smile, she slid the map down the front of her sweater. ‘Read me a story, now.’
‘Okay.’ Monica rummaged through her bag again and took out a tattered spiral-bound book. ‘This is a top-secret book, Shroom,’ she said, her voice hushed, her smile mysterious. ‘There is only one copy in existence and it’s here in my hand right now…’
Shroom’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
Monica nodded solemnly. ‘Truly.’
‘What’s it called?’
The Mad Killers of Killjoy Mountain.’
‘Who wrote it?’
Monica closed her eyes and sat back. ‘That, my dear Shroom, is for me to know and you to find out.’
Shroom’s eyes were the size of dinner plates by now. ‘Don’t tell me!’ she whispered. ‘You wrote it!’
Monica looked around furtively. ‘Hush, this must only be between us!’
‘You mean the Geek Empress must never know? Okay, now read it, read it!’
Monica grinned and carefully opened the book.
THE MAD KILLERS OF KILLJOY MOUNTAIN
CHAPTER ONE
No one knew who the mad killers of Killjoy Mountain really were. All people knew was that whenever anyone attempted to climb that mountain, they rarely returned. If they did, it was usually in bits and pieces – an arm that swung through the trees and branches, or a leg that hopped down the mountains from boulder to boulder. Once, a neatly severed head had rolled down the mountainside like a basketball, and bounced right through the window of the village school onto the teacher’s desk and winked at the teacher.
In spite of this, people were determined to reach the top of this mountain. It was like there was this powerful magnet on the top that pulled people towards it. No one had ever successfully climbed the mountain before and it was believed that it was exactly this that the mad killers wanted. They would lure them and tempt them into trying, but would make sure they failed spectacularly.
‘But why?’ asked twelve-year-old Akshay, looking at his sister. ‘Why don’t they want anyone to succeed in climbing to the top? There must be someth
ing there that they are guarding… a treasure perhaps.’
‘There’s only one thing to do,’ Juhi, who was fourteen – and thought herself a bit too grown up, according to Akshay – replied, tossing her head. ‘Why don’t we climb up and find out?’
Monica glanced at Shroom. The child’s head had dropped to her chest and her eyes were closed. But her lips were moving and her fingers were twitching. And her face had an expression of sheer thrill. Shroom was already dreaming about the Mad Killers of Killjoy Mountain and what they had in store for Akshay and Juhi.
Gently, Monica put her arms around her and lifted her up. The little girl’s arms instinctively tightened around her neck as she clung on. Monica was surprised at how feather-light she was, how fragile her bones felt. She lay her down on the bed, drew up the duvet and, on an impulse, bent down and kissed her cheek. Then she left the room.
Tinku, just outside the door as always, wagged her tail and went back to sleep. Tentatively, Monica knocked on the adjoining door. ‘That’s the Geek Empress’s Lair!’ Shroom had informed her. ‘You enter that lair knowing you may never come out again!’
‘Yes? Come in!’
Monica entered. It was a long wood-panelled study with bookshelves from floor to ceiling along all the walls. A big plate-glass window let in mellow sunlight on a polished rosewood desk. Vijaya looked over her spectacles at Monica, who felt like she was in a headmistress’s office – which, in a way, she was. ‘Shroom, I mean, Rukmini’s fallen asleep,’ she said. ‘I was reading her a story and she dropped off.’
Vijaya inclined her head. ‘That happens sometimes; don’t worry about it.’ She sighed and lowered her glasses. ‘No one quite knows how the operation and treatment have affected her. She’s still sharp as a tack for the most part and very hyperactive, thank god for that – I’ve had nightmares about her losing her brightness and spark. And she loves all this cloak and dagger stuff that she goes on about. But she doesn’t have too much stamina; she tires very suddenly, or might feel dizzy or vertiginous and faint, or get confused and fall down. That’s why she must have someone with her at all times; and she, of course, sees that as an impediment.’ Vijaya smiled. ‘But as long as she’s not in pain… she’s had a pretty rough time over the last three years.’
‘She’s very brave.’
‘Yes… Well, dear, you can run along if you like. Rukmini will be asleep for a while. How are the children at the school treating you and your sister?’
‘They’re really very sweet and enthusiastic. Er, there’s one more thing…’
‘Yes?’
Monica hesitated and looked at the door. ‘Well, I’ve promised to meet Rukmini at the guardhouse at two-thirty. Is that okay? She has drawn me a map and written directions to a place called Shroom’s Perch, which I have to find from the map while she accompanies me. I gave her the exercise to see how well she can describe her own surroundings; what her powers of observation are like.’
‘That’s fine. As long as you are with her, it’s all right. Also the two girls, Savita and – what’s the other one – Gudiya, will be there.’
Relieved, Monica left the study. It was still only close to noon and Monica had time to kill. She could just wander along the stream towards the estate, find a place among the rocks to sit and read and maybe, like Shroom, take a nap. This was the life, really.
‘Careful,’ she told herself as she stepped over the lovely grey-and-white and green-and-maroon river rocks. If you stared at the rushing water for too long, it sort of hypnotized you and made you dizzy. Monica made her way towards the gorge, where the stream was squeezed between high shoulders of rock on either side. She noticed the huge egg-shaped rock and smiled as she made a mental note to mention the ‘Humpty Dumpty rock’ to Shroom. Then she looked up at the mountainside rearing up on the right bank – high up there on another path, picking their way along like a pair of herons, were Anantram and Dr Sham. They seemed to be peering behind the rocks and boulders, probably searching for nests. Monica felt her pulse quicken and knew she was blushing. In spite of – or perhaps because of – his buck teeth, Anantram was cute. She began climbing up towards them.
‘Hey there!’ she called. They whirled around, surprised. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Are you looking for nests?’
Anantram smiled, displaying four Bugs Bunny teeth, and looked at Dr Sham. ‘Yes,’ he shrugged. ‘Some birds just lay their eggs on the bare rocks. No interior decoration for them!’
‘But how will you record their calls? Doesn’t the sound of water drown everything else?’
‘If we find a nest, we place a miniature mike – like a bug – near the eggs. We can filter out the sound frequency of the stream and get a clear recording of just the baby bird as it emerges from the egg, and later, when it screams for food.’
‘Wow!’ Monica looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Hey, would it be possible for you to come down to the school – when you’re free, of course – and play some of the recordings for the children? And maybe do a slide show too?’
Dr Sham looked taken aback.
‘Please, they’ll be so happy!’ Monica persisted.
He shrugged and smiled. ‘Why not? I’ll send Anantram down to your place sometime and you can decide when and how and all that.’
‘Thanks, thanks so much.’ Monica smiled prettily. ‘Actually, it would be wonderful if you could copy the calls and pictures on a CD and give them to the school. Then we won’t have to bother you again. We could give you the blank CDs.’
Dr Sham and Anantram exchanged glances. ‘Sure, no problem,’ Dr Sham said.
After all, the birds belong to this place!’ Anantram added.
‘Great! Raveena will be thrilled when I tell her – she’s the science teacher… Well, I should get going now,’ she said, turning back on the narrow path. ‘Bye, and thanks again.’
‘Bye!’ the men said together.
When she reached the boulders below, Monica turned around and waved again. The scholars had come down to the Humpty Dumpty rock and were rooting around it. Bird researchers at Humpty Dumpty rock. Monica smiled. How deliciously appropriate. This place was turning out to be a quaint little wonderland.
As Gaurav started out from the estate after breakfast, he wondered where he should go. He’d explored the path leading to the waterfall this morning, so that was done. Then he thought of the map Megha aunty had shown him. Perhaps he could check out the higher path that ran parallel to the lower one; it might be interesting.
Gaurav made his way through the dappled forest track till he reached the fork. He took the higher path and soon came to Nandadevi Gram Pathshala, which was in full session, judging by the high-pitched sing-song voices resonating from within. Through the trees, the spanking white of the forest rest-house caught his eye and he made towards it, following the steep path from the school. He loitered for a bit outside its front gate – there seemed to be nobody around – and then continued along the zigzag slope. He was soon on a narrow track running parallel to the stream and the path below – yes, this must be it.
Forty-five minutes later, Gaurav realized he was near the spot where he’d seen the researchers earlier. Far below, he could see patches of the red-roofed house with the armed guards and, of course, the path he’d taken in the morning. He thought about his encounter with the strange little girl. She would have been thrilled to meet Rani – a proper ‘hound’ dog! But who would have thought she would turn out to be the prime minister’s grandniece.
His heart started pounding. Was there a possibility or opportunity here? Or was he being downright stupid? But he had to find out more before he could even think about anything like that. Maybe he ought to meet her again, at 1500 hours as she had demanded. He glanced at his watch. It was nearing twelve. He’d eaten a big breakfast and Megha aunty had packed him a sandwich for lunch so he wouldn’t have to rush back. ‘Go explore and discover yourself among these mountains, young man!’ she’d exclaimed. But now Gaurav was getting restless as he
thought about Rani and Zara and how much they would have loved all this. The anger inside began to burn again. It was time for him to find a sniper’s spot and take out his steel catapult.
Perched on the school’s little terrace at the edge of a steep slope, and enjoying the stunning panorama, Raveena checked her watch and smiled as the kids looked up at her expectantly. ‘Okay,’ she called, ‘Divya – your turn to ring the bell!’
A chubby-cheeked girl in pigtails grinned and jumped up. As soon as she went outside the class and rang the big brass bell, shrieks of glee erupted. It was lunch break, but the end of the school day for Raveena; now the ‘regular’ ma’am would take over.
Raveena had an hour to kill before meeting Shroom and Monica, and scenic surroundings to kill it in. She decided to climb the steep slope right behind the rest-house. There was a track, higher up, that went along the side of the ridge, Ram-babu had said. The view from there would be spectacular and she could get some good pictures.
The path twisted and curved, almost like a spiral staircase at places, and Raveena had to stop now and then to catch her breath. Her cheeks were pink with exertion, but she was loving every moment of the trek. She turned a corner and stopped to gaze at the view. Far below her, the stream rippled over its treasure of multicoloured rocks, and the mountainsides dropped away, cloaked in dark-green pine and deodar. She walked on along the dappled track for about 250 yards, and then stopped as a movement caught her eye.
Just off the path, below her to the left, was a dark round fuzz-ball-like thing that glistened slightly and moved. Was it an animal? A hedgehog? Porcupine? Holding her breath, Raveena took a step forward and peered down from behind a bush. It was something blackish-brown… it was somebody’s head! A bald head with newly sprouting hair. Was it Shroom? But Shroom was supposed to be with Monica. Raveena stepped down closer.