We left for Phulberey after a most sumptuous meal. By the time we got there, it was a quarter past ten. A crowd had gathered in a large open field. Not many of them were Santhals; obviously, people from towns nearby had arrived to see the dance. The full moon and torches that burnt here and there made it possible to see everything clearly. Inspector Chaubey emerged from the crowd. ‘You’ll find many other familiar figures here,’ he informed us. ‘Why, who else has turned up?’ ‘I saw Kishorilal and Chandu Mallik. And that gentleman who’s an expert on Birbhum.’ ‘Jagannath Chatterjee. Well, that’s good news. When is the dance going to start?’ ‘Any minute now. Look, the dancers are all standing together.’ Feluda spotted Peter. ‘Don’t get lost, Peter,’ he called. ‘If we don’t stay relatively close to each other, going back together won’t be easy.’ I saw Tom getting his camera ready with a flash gun. Mr Naskar, too, was holding a small camera in his hand. ‘Do you have a studio of your own?’ he asked Tom. ‘No. I am not a studio photographer. I take photographs while I travel. I only do freelance work. My photos have been printed in several magazines and journals. In fact, this assignment in India is being paid for by the National Geographic.’ The drums began to roll. All of us moved forward to get a better view. About thirty women, dressed in their traditional costume and jewellery, were standing in a semicircle, holding hands and swaying gently to the rhythm of the music. Two men playing flutes sat with the drummers. The drummers wore bells around their ankles. Lalmohan Babu came and stood by my side. ‘Now my left eye is twitching. Heaven knows what’s in store,’ he muttered. ‘Getting hypnotized didn’t have any adverse effects on you, I hope?’ I asked. ‘No, no. It’s been an amazing experience, you know. I can’t remember even a single word that I spoke.’ In the light of a torch, I saw Chandu Mallik smoking a beedi and moving slowly in the direction of the dancers. But no. It was not the dancers he was interested in. He had seen Tom, and was sneaking up to him. ‘We must keep an eye on him, Lalmohan Babu,’ I whispered. ‘Yes, you’re quite right.’ But Tom had moved from where he had been standing to a different spot, possibly to get a better angle. Were all photographers restless like him? Chandu Mallik came and stood in front of us. He was frowning. His hands were stuffed into his pockets. Then he moved on in a different direction. Our group dispersed gradually. Lalmohan Babu and I stayed together, trying to spot the others for we were all supposed to regroup once the dance

was over. There was Feluda in the distance. Chaubey had been standing next to him even a moment ago, but now I couldn’t see him. Mr Naskar was busy clicking; I saw his