The next moment the Malkhan man carrying the photo of Andrew rose up from his place and he tried to drag Matthew out of the room. Though Matthew was a thin boy yet it was difficult to drag him. The old man stopped dragging him. He headed toward Veronica. Before he could lay his hand upon her she leapt from her place. She could see the anger in the old man's eyes.
"Matthew, what has happened? Why this old man is angry?" she asked while backing away toward the wall.
Matthew was in no mood to answer, because other six old men were after him. He was fighting with his all force. His karate punches were hitting them hard, yet they were like zombies coming back at him. When the seventh old man advanced toward her she prepared herself to throw a punch herself. But the seventh man was wise enough. He stopped in his midway and bellowed something to his companions. They all retreated quickly. Veronica joined Matthew hoping to fight those old men. But they were cunning enough. They all backed away and shut the door of the hut.
"What is happening?" asked she. "Why all of a sudden they got angry?"
Matthew was behaving as if he had not heard anything. Then she repeated her question again. This time loud enough. Matthew eyed at her and said, "They are angry."
"I can see that," She shouted.
"They are angry because, because the man in the photo has disgraced the tribe."
"How come?"
"The Malkhan man gets angry only for one reason, if someone teases his wife. This man in the photo had come here once and had wooed several women here. That is why these men are still angry upon him. When they saw his photo they are angry upon us. That is why all of a sudden they got angry. Got it."
She nodded her head and said, "I did not know my inspirer was such a womanizer. What should we do? We are struck inside a hut. We have to break the gate and get out of this place as soon as possible."
He smirked and said, "It is so nice of you that you are still hopeful."
"Why? What is the matter? Can not we escape this place?"
He nodded his head and said, "Escape! They have shut us inside a hut and are planning to burn the hut."
She raised her hands in exasperation. "Why the…"
"We will be toast in moments."
She went near the wooden door and kicked it hard. The door was very strong.
"Suppose you break the door yet you can not escape, because several old men are guarding it now while some are busy preparing a fire."
"Why have you turned such a pessimist?" she shouted.
"I am telling you facts dear," said he. She felt like this young boy had lost his mind. But she did not do anything. After few minutes Matthew kicked the door several times. But the wooden door did not give way. He paced to and fro. Veronica was rooted to the place. She thought: Is this the end of me? I have covered this long distance just to die in oblivion! Get murdered – get burned! She could not believe it. Her instinct told her to try breaking the door or at least do something. But she could not buzz. Matthew eyed here and there searching for something. But perhaps did not find what he was looking for – for his face turned from bright to dark – from hope to despair. He shouted at her, "Veronica, do something."
"What?" she squeaked.
"Something at least. Do you have any idea how to get out of this danger?"
She stood there silent. Rooted.
Matthew fetched a stick from the corner of the room and continuously struck it to the wall. He did it hundred times. Every time he was striking the wall with the stick, a patch of caked mud was falling down. When he got tired, he asked Veronica to do as he was doing. As a robot she did as was directed. But she thought that in this way they could not get out of danger.
Matthew said, "It is better to try and die than not try and die."
While striking the wall she nodded her head.