"Hey... you're here...!"
He came closer and said, "The train arrives at eleven o'clock. Where are those two donkeys? You guys go to the station—I won't be able to make it!"
"Aren't they going back?" Sophia asked, looking at Imran.
"No," the Colonel replied. "Hurry up, it's already half-past nine!"
Sophia stood staring at Imran for a few moments, then went inside.
"Are you expecting guests?" Imran asked the Colonel.
"Yes, they're my friends," the Colonel said. "Colonel Dixon!... He's an Englishman, Miss Dixon his daughter, and Mr. Bartosh..."
"Bartosh!" Imran exclaimed. "Is he from Czechoslovakia?"
"Yes... why? How do you know?"
"Names like that are only found there."
"Bartosh is Dixon's friend. I've never seen him before; he's also a painter."
"Are they staying for a few days?"
"Yes, they might spend the summer here!"
"Are you going to mention the Lee Yuka affair to them?"
"Absolutely not!" the Colonel said. "But why did that come to your mind?"
"Just a thought... but I'm considering something important."
"What?"
"They have used nearly all tactics on you so far but have failed to obtain the documents. Without the documents, they can't kill you, because they might fall into someone else's hands afterward. Now I'm wondering... can you bear the death of your daughter or nephews?"
"What are you saying!" the Colonel shuddered.
"I'm speaking the truth!" Imran nodded. "Suppose they capture Sophia!... Then demand the documents from you... what would you do in that case?"
"My God!" The Colonel closed his eyes and leaned against a pillar.
Imran stood silently. The Colonel opened his eyes and spoke in a lifeless voice.
"You're right! What should I do? I never thought about this before."
"Don't send Sophia to the station."
"Now I can't send Anwar and Arif either."
"Alright!... Why don't you go yourself?"
"I can't leave them alone either."
"Don't worry about that! I'll be here."
"You!..." The Colonel looked at him as if he were completely mindless. "You... do you think you can handle any danger?"
"Ha ha... why not... haven't you seen my air gun?"
"Seriously, my boy... seriously," the Colonel said impatiently, raising his hand.
"Do you think Captain Fayyaz is a fool too?"
"Uh... no."
"Then you can go without any worries! My air gun can hunt anything from a sparrow to a deer."
"Take my revolver with you!"
"Oh no, no." Imran slapped his forehead. "What if it accidentally goes off!"
The Colonel stared at Imran for a few moments, then said, "Alright, I'll go stop them!"
"Wait! Listen to one more thing!" Imran said, and then he continued speaking softly...
The Colonel's face turned pale and then returned to its normal color several times.
After a while, licking his dry lips, he said, "I don't understand."
"You can understand everything! Now go."
"Oh... but!"
"No Colonel... I'm right."
"You've confused me."
"Nothing to it... just go."
The Colonel went inside. Imran stood there for a while, rubbing his hands together. Then a faint smile spread across his lips.