She took her place at the table with Buck and Singh.

Marlon focused on Singh.

“So – what’s the plan?” he said.

Singh didn’t hesitate –

“Well, the way I see it,” he began. “You shouldn’t concern yourself too much with the sadhus. I know you think they are menaces, but you can’t do anything about them – it’s not as if you can send in a rocket and just get rid of the lot of them.”

“Sounds like a great idea to me!” Marlon said, looking around for a laugh.

As usual, he got none.

Singh continued –

“In any case, history has proven that they are too resilient to be destroyed by any conventional means. Sadhus are like ants – sure, you can kill a few here and there. But before you know it a colony of bigger, stronger, more threatening variants appear – fired up with some new technique for survival. No – the story of India has proven beyond doubt – killing sadhus only makes them more determined.”

Julia wondered where this was going –

Did they interrupt your unpacking just to discuss sadhus?

Don’t we already know enough about them?

“I suggest we forget the sadhus. Let them have their little meeting. You’re right Marlon – what does it matter anyway?”

What’s going on?

Suddenly it’s a love-in up here!

“Earlier I was under the impression that Shard had timed the meeting to present the Australian, Max, to the Mehants.”

That was never going to happen.

“I was under the mistaken belief that that they were going to take him straight up to the mountain from the airport.”

How ridiculous!

“I thought we had missed our opportunity.”

What opportunity?

“I have since been informed that this is not the case.”

This all sounded most odd to Julia. Surely Singh didn’t think the sadhus would just set Max up on the mountain as some kind of empty figure-head – where is the experiment in that?

“Just do what you must without leaving a mess.”

Do what you must?

“I want this to be… just another unexplained missing person.”

Marlon nodded agreeably.