As the taxi inched nearer to her destination she was getting more and more hopeful that she would find something – a sure something – at least a clue there – something related to Andrew. His whereabouts in this vast country. At least she wanted to hear his name from some elderly person that he had stayed here for a long time. That would cheer her up. That would lift Veronica's mood. Talking of mood – the driver seemed in a jolly mood. He was playing some vernacular song on his car stereo and it sounded a little loud but happy. It was all very ok for her. As long as the driver or his music did not disturb her trail of thought. She had boarded this taxi in accordance with her Papa's plan just in order to distract any spy. Papa had paid the taxi driver a heavy amount to take care of her. The driver was puzzled to find out that Veronica was going to Malkahan hill – a tribal district of Nenses state without any luggage. He asked, "No luggage?"
Veronica nodded her head negative.
"Why are you going to Malkahan hill, miss?"
She said, "To research on tribal life." She cut him short. The driver seemed an ok man to her – a social type of man. She thought: What if the driver turns not ok? Then I have to kick him out of his car and drive it myself.
The driver said in astonishment, "Wow, research in such an early age! Nice!"
Veronica said looking at her wrist watch, "Yes, and I do not have time to waste. Will you drive for me or I have to take another taxi."
Then the driver did not utter a single word and opened the gate for her to enter into the vehicle on the backseat.
It took her eleven long hours to reach Nenses from Kaerlud. Then it would take another couple of hours to reach Malkahan hill. Then she would go to Maude sector. There she would aboard a hotel and search for a translator as she did not have any knowledge of the Malkhan tribal language. So she would definitely hire someone well versed in the Malkhan language. She was hopeful that she would find someone handy quickly. Papa had asked her to contact other members of their group scarcely. "Protect yourself. Find help yourself. Do not care for money. Do whatever your instinct tells you. Trust none. Control your anger. Your anger will reveal you. Your identity. Better keep it in check. Be hidden – remain hidden. Work secretly. When you get any clue just then inform us." This much of advices his father had given to her while parting along with a small pouch full of money. Almost ten grands. Manage everything in this much of money. I hope you achieve your aim. Papa had also added while departing, "False hope is a killer dear. Hope is a maddening thing. Be hopeful when you hit some concrete facts. Ok."
Veronica thought few weeks earlier they were just wandering aimlessly here and there. Wandering in the dark. Very slow. Lethargic enough. Slow like a snail. Having hardly any progress. No lead, no progress. Groping in the darkness. When Sebastian showed them the news of the publisher declaring to publish Andrew's thesis on matriarchy, there began an immediacy in their search. Papa had reminded them all, "There are only three months left. We are running out of time." Then something struck their minds: We should hurry. We must hurry. This made them frustrated. Ronald and Sebastian had exhausted their contacts and connections – almost all links. They were hopeless before the news of the thesis publishing. They had lost hope. They had accepted that either Andrew was dead or had gone to the dark side of the moon for hiding. They were on the verge of opining to discard the mission, she had heard them secretly talking, and live here or somewhere else for the rest of their lives – for there was no chance of returning home with dignity. They could not return home empty handed. But thanks to Papa. He had not lost hope like the two others. He was still hopeful. When Ronald and Sebastian were vehemently searching – exhausting their sources – connections and everything, Papa was very calm and quiet and gradual – yet working – yet searching, none the less. When the other duo extinguished, Papa was the only candle of hope for her. Seeing others frustrated she was also frustrated. Then now she was feeling like frustration's a gift. After long frustration Sebastian found a hope as a newspaper article. Then she did what was very obvious. She googled Andrew Long. There were millions of Andrew Long. But there was a single news on Andrew's manuscript which was going to be published. Then they got a lead. They got a hope that they would find some information or the manuscript. Now hope had paid her well. She thought: No one can tell what will hope reap for us in future. But for now it is reaping gold. Though they could retrieve no usable information from the publisher Karl, but they had the manuscript. Her group had gone through this manuscript thoroughly and they thought that it was a very genuine copy. Not some decoy put by Andrew or Karl. Hope brings forth hope: Veronica told to herself. Because Papa did not lose faith in himself and others we are now moving forward. Now we have so many leads. And any moment we can locate Andrew. Any moment we can hit our goal. Any moment we can be successful in our mission.
"Little miss," the driver intervened her thought and asked. "Do you want to stretch your legs? Or want to eat something? Here are two or three roadside hotels."
He had stopped the car and she had not noticed it.
"No," she said angrily. "No need to stop the car until we get to the place. Get to the Malkhan hill."
Then she calmed herself down reminding herself of her Papa's promise: Control your anger. She said to the driver, "Thanks for asking. But please drive now. I do not need any food. I am good. Well, are you hungry?"
The driver said, "No little miss. I am not hungry. I was worried about you."
She laughed. His each Spanish accented syllable made her laugh.
"Why laugh miss?" asked he sounding a bit embarrassed.
"Your calling me little miss," She lied. "I am about half a foot taller than you, yet you are calling me little miss!"
The driver replied with his brotherly instinct, "I may be shorter than you, but you are just of my sister's age. So I called you little miss."
He would certainly ask more about her fictitious research on tribal life – about her family, etc. So she presumed it was best for her to take a nap. She had a couple of hours at hand. She chose to sleep – she closed her eyes. But the bumpy road – both literal and figurative, would not let her sleep and relax. But she was adamant. She did not open her eyes. After ten minutes or so she fell asleep she did not notice it. In a half trance state she dreamt of a hooded female figure – very tall and muscular inching closer to her. She herself was kneeling cowering before the hooded figure. She was feeling the utmost chill around her. She also felt an acute chest pain.
Veronica was shocked. Almost she screamed. The next moment she opened her eyes to find herself safe inside the car. The driver was driving. She felt secure that the driver was there. She thanked the driver in her mind. But the next moment she felt a deafening silence for the driver had switched off the stereo. She felt the chill because she was profusely drenched with sweat. And she found that she had slept in an odd angle pressing her fist on her chest which caused the horrific dream and the chest pain. Now she slowly woke up. She sat straight. And she thought about the nightmarish dream. She exactly knew what this dream signified. The more she thought about it, the more she felt terrified and more disturbed. She wished to scream and kick. But she chose to remember her Papa. His image somewhat soothed her uneasy brain. She breathed heavily. She drew long breaths. Then very calmly asked the driver to turn on the loud music. The driver was happy to oblige. She felt ok now. She tried to think about anything other than her nightmare. She tried to look at the valley that was crossing. The greenery – though was nothing new to her, yet was something soothing. The blue sky – omnipresent and calm. She felt as if imbibing some of the calmness from the sky above by looking at it. The kites circling above were also soothingly gliding in the vast soothing sky.
"How much more time?" she asked the driver.
The driver replied, "Half an hour."
So, I have to pretend like sleeping for another half an hour: she thought. The driver interjected her thought with a silly question whether she was hungry or not. She told the driver not to worry and focus on driving. Then she closed her eyes and acted as if fast asleep. After few minutes the driver switched off the stereo. The disturbing calm settled in again. Why this driver is caring too much for me. This is very annoying: she thought. She felt an urge for yelling at the driver, but she managed to check that urge by consoling herself: It is only a matter of half an hour. You are not going to see the driver's face ever again in your entire life. Stay calm. Stay low.
She thought how much happy she would be if she found Andrew. This way she passed half an hour keeping her eyes closed. Then after sometime she felt the halting of the car. Then the driver announced, "Little miss. We reached the place. Wake up."
She opened her eyes. Acted as if yawning – artificial yawning. Then she opened the door and went out of the car and stretched her limbs in the fresh air. A furlong away before her stood erect the green hill called the Malkhan hill. At its foot was a small market and a civilization surrounding the hill from every side. The people living at its foot're called Under Malkhans or the Downhill Malkhans. But the Malkhans living on the hill're called Upper Malkhans or the Uphill Malkhans. Mostly Malkhans're tribal people. Veronica had heard that Malkhans do not wear dresses. Almost naked. It was nothing new to her.
She was hopeful now that she reached the place in time and would find something hinting the whereabouts of Andrew.