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The God of Small Things - Get a Free Blog

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It had been in the papers. <strong>The</strong> news <strong>of</strong> Sophie Mol‟s death,<br />

<strong>of</strong> the police “Encounter” with a Paravan charged with kidnapping<br />

and murder. Of the subsequent Communist Party siege <strong>of</strong> Paradise<br />

Pickles & Preserves, led by Ayemenem‟s own Crusader for Justice<br />

and Spokesman <strong>of</strong> the Oppressed. Comrade K. N. M. Pillai<br />

claimed that the Management had implicated the Paravan in a false<br />

police case because he was an active member <strong>of</strong> the Communist<br />

Party.<br />

That they wanted to eliminate him for indulging in “Lawful<br />

Union Activities.”<br />

All that had been in the papers. <strong>The</strong> Official Version.<br />

Of course the thicklipped man with rings had no idea about<br />

the other version.<br />

<strong>The</strong> one in which a posse <strong>of</strong> Touchable Policemen crossed<br />

the Meenachal River, sluggish and swollen with recent rain, and<br />

picked their way through the wet undergrowth, clumping into the<br />

Heart <strong>of</strong> Darkness.<br />

Chapter 18.<br />

<strong>The</strong> History House<br />

A posse <strong>of</strong> Touchable Policemen crossed the Meenachal<br />

River, sluggish and swollen with recent rain, and picked their way<br />

through the wet undergrowth, the clink <strong>of</strong> handcuff in someone‟s<br />

heavy pocket.<br />

<strong>The</strong>ir wide khaki shorts were rigid with starch, and bobbed<br />

over the tall grass like a row <strong>of</strong> stiff skirts, quite independent <strong>of</strong> the<br />

limbs that moved inside them.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re were six <strong>of</strong> them. Servants <strong>of</strong> the State.<br />

Politeness.<br />

Obedience.<br />

Loyalty.<br />

Intelligence.<br />

Courtesy.<br />

Efficiency.

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