The Mountain Shadow

‘My wife is ill,’ Vishnu said, turning to me. ‘She is being attended by our doctor, and two nurses. That’s why I keep her close to me. That’s why my men wanted to kill you, just now. Because my wife is in this house. That’s why I’m thinking about killing you. Are you quite mad, to come here?’

‘I’m sorry that your wife is ill, and that I disturbed her peace,’ I said, standing to leave. ‘I’ll find another way.’

‘You give up so easily?’ Vishnu sneered.

‘Look, Vishnu, I thought this was your gambling den, your club, I didn’t know it was your home. I’ll find another way.’

‘Sit down,’ Vishnu said. ‘Tell me what this is all about.’

‘I know how you would feel if anything happened to your wife,’ I began, sitting again, ‘because something happened to my girlfriend. She died. The man who provided the pills that killed her is under your protection. I came into your clubhouse to ask you to let me talk to him, out on the street.’

‘Why don’t you just wait for him, outside?’

‘I don’t lie in wait for people. I’m a front door guy. That’s why I asked to see you. The man’s working for you, so I’m asking.’

‘What do you want to know?’

‘I want to know what he knows. The name of the man who was with him, the one who gave my girlfriend the pills.’

‘And what could you give me in return?’

‘Whatever you ask of me, that we both think is fair.’

‘A favour?’

He laughed a grin at me.

‘It’s not a small thing,’ I said. ‘If you let me have time with this man, I’ll do anything you ask that we both think is fair. You have my word.’

‘Cigar?’ he asked.

‘No thanks.’

‘Very gracious,’ Didier said, reaching for one, and inhaling its fragrance. ‘You know, Vishnudada, if you plan to kill us, this is almost exactly how I would choose to go.’

Vishnu laughed.

‘I did something like this myself, once, when I was seventeen,’ he said, staring an unsatisfactory smile at me. ‘I carried a tray of chai glasses, all the way to the local don’s living room, put down the tray, and put my knife to the don’s throat.’

‘What happened?’ Didier asked, engrossed.

‘I told him that if his goondas didn’t stop molesting my sister, I’d come back, just as silently, and cut his throat.’

‘Did he punish you?’ Didier asked.

‘Yes, he did. He recruited me,’ Vishnu replied, taking a sip of his drink. ‘But even though it reminds me of my youthful self, I cannot approve of what you have done, in coming to my home. Who is this man, under my protection?’

‘The Irishman. Concannon.’

‘Ah, then you are too late. He is gone.’

‘He was here today, monsieur,’ Didier said quietly.

‘Yes, Mr Levy. But here today, gone tonight, that is the nature of our business, isn’t it? The Irishman left three hours ago. Where he went, or if I ever see him again, I don’t really care.’

‘Then, I’ll take my leave, and I apologise again, if I disturbed your wife.’

‘Is it true,’ he asked, waving me back into my seat, ‘that you’re no longer with the Sanjay Company?’

‘It is,’ I said.

‘If you will permit me, Vishnudada,’ Didier said, trying to change the subject, ‘you did not know this girl, who died. But I had the honour to know her. She was a jewel, a very rare human flower. Her loss is simply insupportable.’

‘And this intrusion is insupportable, Mr Levy. Order must be maintained. Rules must be obeyed.’

‘Regrettably so,’ Didier replied. ‘But love is a poor master, and a poorer slave.’

‘Shall I tell you something about the poor,’ Vishnu said, rising to top up our glasses, but keeping an eye on me.

‘With pleasure,’ Didier said, puffing the cigar.

‘If you build a nice house,’ Vishnu said, sitting again, ‘they break the floor, so they can sit in the dirt. If you build it up stronger, they bring dirt in from outside, so they can sit in the dirt again. I run a construction business. I know. What do you think, Shantaram?’

What did I think? You’re a megalomaniac, and you’ll die violently.

‘I think it sounds like you’re a man who hates the poor.’

‘Oh, come on,’ he protested. ‘Everyone hates the poor. Even the poor hate the poor. My point is that some are born to lead, and most are born to follow. You have taken a big step in the right direction.’

‘What step?’

‘Leaving the Sanjay Company. There is only one small step, now, between you and me. If you were to join me, and tell me everything you know about the Sanjay Company, you would be a leader, and not a follower. And I would make you richer than you can imagine.’

I stood up.

‘I apologise again for busting in on you. If I’d known you had family here, I wouldn’t have come. Will your men let us leave, without waking everyone upstairs?’

‘My men?’ Vishnu laughed.

‘Your men.’

‘My men won’t lay a finger on you,’ he said. ‘You have my word.’

I turned to leave, but he stopped me.

‘The Irishman isn’t the only one who knows,’ he said.

I faced him again. Didier was standing beside me.

‘There was a driver,’ he said. ‘My driver. The black car was one of mine.’

‘Yours?’