Rude Awakenings - Forest Sangha Publications

^0 T H I R D M O O N 06It was a small hotel just down the main street. The sub-inspector wascalled and came down, still adjusting his dress and obviously having justgotten up.“You are wanting to go to the scene of the crime?”“Yes. We were supposed to go at seven!”“An important police incident happened last night, and so I was lateto this hotel.” The manager had a look of disbelief but I said nothing.At least now we could be on our way.When we got back to the station, there were actually a couple ofpolicemen sitting outside. The sub-inspector called out loudly to themin Hindi. Where was the jeep? Where was the driver? No one knew. Witha sinking heart, I sat down again. After a good while the jeep returned,the sub-inspector came out and did some more shouting, and the driverwent off for petrol. Only when the jeep returned again did the subinspectororder his men to get ready. My agitated mind could not believeit; surely he could have told them to prepare earlier!I tried to keep calm, but after a further half an hour of waiting Idecided to go and look to see what was happening. I went round theback and found the constable’s barracks. Inside were half a dozen ofthem, some still getting dressed, others cleaning their rifles, and oneshining the buckle of his belt. Then I noticed, to the side, a figuresquatting over a fire with a big pot on it full of rice. They were cookingtheir meal!I had had enough! I went back to the sub-inspector and completelylost my cool. I told him that we were supposed to go at seven and it wasnow nearly ten. What was happening? Where were the constables? Ifwe did not go now then we were going on our own! The result wasimmediate. He was outside barking out orders in Hindi, and the constablesquickly appeared.Suddenly we were ready, everyone was in the jeep. Ajahn Sucitto andI were in the front, squeezed between the sub-inspector, who was driving,and his number two. In the back sat five policemen and the vihara2 4 8