A great crowd had gathered inside and outside of Maude sector police station. People outside and people inside. The whole gang that saved the two teens was inside the police station, as if enjoying the glory, as if celebrating its victory. In front of the crowd were two main heroes of the situation: Daniel and Charles. At the center was the Inspector in Charge, a heavy built man with a pair of bushy mustaches. Feeling the demand of the situation he himself was onto write the report. Just before him was seated Veronica and Matthew, who were looking uncomfortable – fidgeting and shifting too much on their seats. Daniel thought: Perhaps it is fatigue and frustration, that is why the boy though is rescued and safe now is fidgeting too much. Or it might be that a good boy like him must be feeling uncomfortable around police or inside police station. And by the way he was almost dead. And the boy is tall for his age. Perhaps his long legs must be hurting him too much. Or might be feeling claustrophobic around so many people. Or may be he needs to leek.
The Inspector Robert asked, "Boy, tell me your name."
The boy briefly answered, "Matthew Mullohland."
"Where do you live?"
"I live here. In Madal Street."
"Who else lives with you?" Inspector Robert asked.
"I live alone."
"Father, mother, uncle or aunty, no one else."
Matthew nodded his head negative.
"Ok, fine. How long have you been staying here?"
Matthew said, "Just a month. This month I have started living here."
"Rented house or your own house?" Inspector Robert asked.
"Rented," was the short answer from Matthew.
"Can you please disclose the fact why you are not staying in your hometown? What is your hometown by the way? Do you have any identity card?"
Matthew produced his visa card from his leather purse and handed it over to Inspector Robert.
Inspector Robert saw it thoroughly and said, "Oh Lambtown. You are an inhabitant of the city of the royals! Good." Then he noted down Matthew's visa number.
The people surrounding them started conversing. A buzz arose. "Lambtown city" was heard several times. Then Inspector Robert handed Matthew back his visa card. Again there fell a pin-drop silence, miraculously enough. Inspector Robert eyed Matthew now and asked, "May I know, why are you so away from your hometown?"
Matthew cleared his throat and said, "My father is a well-to-do man. He is a tycoon there. But in his youth he never wanted to be a businessman and manage his father's firm. Rather in his youth he wanted to be a researcher. A researcher of languages – to be very particular, languages of tribal societies. He is a master of several tribal languages, including Orag, Isakh, Gana and Malkhan, etc. He had taught me all the languages. My grandpa also knows a lot of tribal languages. I am just planning of going on my father's dream way. And I am here for some field research. Well I translate for people and charge money for that. I want to be self dependent." He then looked at Veronica, who for some unknown reason was looking baffled. Or perhaps it was the common expression of the people inside the police station who were listening to his story. Then Matthew diverted his gaze at the wall behind Inspector's seat and resumed, "I do it for my research. You can verify all these things from my house owner and my father. I can give their mobile phone numbers."
"Thank you, Matthew," Inspector Robert said. "We will surely confirm your story. But later…. Now Miss Veronica…?"