The Deceivers Page #2

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All of them. All of them.

I swear by all the gods, sahib.

I know nothing of these men. Nothing.

That's enough. Corporal. take him away.

Thank you, Your Honor-

What good is it. sahib?

They're angry and frightened.

They will say nothing.

- Well. they must know something.

I therefore take it they're lying.

All of them!

Sahib.

- Yes, I know. The end of my district.

But we have no right!

- Stop telling me my job. Daffadar!

Come on!

Stop. No. Stay!

Do not kill me. lord.

We thought you were... dacoit bandits.

What is your name?

Hus - Hussein.

Hussein.

- Your profession?

No lies now.

I'm a jewel carrier. sir.

These are mine.

Get up.

Get up!

A month ago you came from Madhya

on the ferry...

with a party of Rajputs. yes?

No. sahib.

I come from Balaghat.

and I go to Agra.

You're a liar!

No. sahib.

- Savage sahib.

Savage sahib. we've got them all.

Good. Take them all back to Madhya.

- But. sahib. they don't belong -

That's an order. Daffadar!

Yes. sahib.

You were there

when the Rajputs were murdered.

Hmm?

Who is Ali?

Look at me. Hussein.

Look at me!

You weren't there alone.

Well?

I'm not like the others. Hussein.

You don't frighten me.

You're just a squalid little thief.

And you murdered a British officer.

- No!

You'll hang for it!

Come on. Up.

How do you think it feels

when the rope tightens. huh?

Like this? Is this how it feels?

Huh?

Is how the men feel -

the men that you strangle? Huh?

But you cannot hang me.

You have no proof.

Oh.

I did not kill the sahib.

- Then who did? Hmm?

Then who did?

I-If I tell you -

If I tell you anything...

then she'll kill me.

Who will kill you?

Kali.

Well. if you do not tell me...

then I will kill you.

I see that it is true.

I see that God...

is assisting you...

and Kali has withdrawn her protection...

because of our transgressions.

We should not have killed the sahib.

Withdrawn her protection

from whom?

What are you talking about. Hussein?

Who are " we"?

We are thugs, sahib.

Thugs?

Deceivers.

"Thug" is the Hindustani word for "deceiver. '"

He says they've been murdering

travelers for centuries.

Always under the instructions of Kali.

Who's Kali?

Their six-armed goddess of destruction.

They worship her.

Hindu and Muslim alike.

Hussein says there's killing groves

all over India.

He says he'll give me

names. places - everything.

I can start first thing tomorrow.

- Are you sure you want to?

Perhaps it's better not to know.

You wanted me to save the life

of one woman.

Should I stop now?

Should I?

When perhaps I can save

the lives of hundreds.

Thousands.

Yes. Ji. Ji. Ji.

I was appalled to learn

of your handling of this incident.

But they exist. sir.

Thugs. Deceivers.

Followers of Kali.

If I can only have some men.

some help.

You have 32 people sitting in jail

without an arrest warrant for one of them.

Don't you have any regard

for the rule of law. Captain Savage?

What does the rule of law matter

to a man who gets killed?

Or to his wife and children.

Or to poor Lieutenant Maunsell.

Sir, I beg you to understand.

- No. Captain Savage!

I will not have one of my officers.

no matter who he is...

flouting the very laws

he is supposed to be administering.

Oh. as for your thugs,

frankly. I find it incredible.

You discover a few men

murdered by bandits...

and turn it into the biggest.

fantastical conspiracy in history.

Meanwhile, you neglect

every one of your proper duties.

If you had seen the bodies. Father.

you wouldn't speak like this.

Why don't you help him?

- Because no one...

is entitled to go outside the law.

No one.

William...

I'm relieving you

of your position here in Madhya.

I wish to have your formal application

before I leave in the morning.

I'm sorry.

- Are you. Father?

I presume I can remain here

until my successor is appointed.

Yes. Yes. it will take

a few weeks. I expect.

But you will have all illegally detained

prisoners released by tomorrow.

All of them.

That is an order. Captain Savage!

I'm going to release you.

- Oh. no. sahib.

I have betrayed Kali.

- I have my orders.

I have no choice.

- I have told you all the secrets of the Deceivers.

It is forbidden.

Kali will surely kill me.

I also have a god. Hussein.

And my god is greater than Kali.

Just as he is more merciful.

My god...

protects me against Kali.

If you help me.

he will protect you also.

What must I do. sahib?

William?

William.

What are you doing?

I must become Gopal again.

What?

I'm going with Hussein

on the roads.

I have to get proof.

It's the only way.

But they'll kill you.

No. I'll travel as one of them -

as a Deceiver.

You don't have to prove yourself.

Not to me.

I know that you are honorable.

that you always do the right thing.

But if I don't do the right thing now.

where will my honor be then?

I can't give it up.

I can't.

You must understand.

You must promise not to tell anyone.

Your father. Sher Dil - no one.

Do you promise?

Greetings. Ali. my brother.

Why did he call you that?

It is a thug password.

We're all Ali.

Then those travelers?

Yes. If the omens are favorable.

they will all be killed.

The path is dangerous.

Are you sure you wish to travel it. Gopal?

Where do we go?

- Some distance.

We must join Feringeea's party atJalpura.

He's a relation of mine.

He will accept us as gravediggers.

The crying of an owl is a good omen.

Unless it is answered by another.

The cries of the jackal... are evil.

But the ass and the crow?

They are Kali's blessings.

They bring good luck.

You must learn our signs. Gopal.

But if Kali tells you to kill

innocent men...

surely she's an evil and wicked goddess.

No. Gopal.

Kali is not evil.

Kali is beautiful.

More beautiful than any woman.

To serve her is to know ecstasy.

You will see, Gopal.

You will see.

And you always kill with the rumal?

Where did you get that?

Show me.

Take it.

Well...

get a few rupees...

and you tie them...

at one end... like...

this.

You wear it thus.

What are the rupees for?

To make it fly!

Why did you not kill me?

Oh. what's the use?

We're both dead already.

No. no. Sher Dil.

Not there. Over there.

Did you not hear me?

I should like it there.

Please, do as I say.

As you wish. memsahib.

Jalpura.

Salaam, Hussein.

- Salaam.

Hussein. Hussein.

How long are you staying?

Ah.

- Hussein. please.

-Be off with you.

Ah Gopal,

this is my cousin Feringeea...

the jemadar of our party...

and the thakur of this village.

A very well-respected man.

Greetings. Ali. my brother.

Good.

Good.

Come now. Have some food.

We must be in good spirits.

In two days' time.

the hunt begins.

Hira Lal. My son.

Hira Lal. how you've grown.

You come and hunt with us.

I'll never have occasion to use it.

I just thought I ought to know how.

- It is clear that you know how.

Gopal.

But whatever you do...

do not eat the consecrated gur.

What do you mean?

It's only lumps of sugar. You said so yourself.

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