CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE – The Mehras
One of the current fads in India is the usage of skin creams that are designed to lighten skin coloring, especially, but not exclusively, among women. Another whim sweeping the country is for males to be clean shaven. Television and magazine advertisements tout the heightened social and professional status of pale skin, and for males, the absence of facial hair. Such was the current topic of conversation that was an obvious source of irritation to Amit Mehra, who was considerably darker in pigmentation than either his wife or daughter.
Joshua towered over Amit by fully nine inches. A rather strange phenomenon in India is that both men and women, on average, are the same height…..five feet, five inches. Despite recent developments that elevated the female status in that country, Shreya displayed the old school demeanor, that is, she spoke only when spoken to. Because of Amit’s fragmented understanding and usage of the English language, and Shreya’s hesitancy to spearhead a conversation, there were noticeable periods of silence. Namanda was mum as well, probably in deference to her father ruling her roost. Joshua was amused that Amit was clean shaven and that the two women were secretly using the forbidden skin creams. How Indian in one sense; how American in another, he thought.
“NIL…..very goot.” Amit said in his longest English sentence thus far. There had been considerable use of the Hindi language among the family members prior to Amit’s attempts to communicate with Joshua.
The four sat at the Arabica lounge and had just finished the dose of NIL. Finally, Namanda asked permission to speak for her father.
“Yes, yes. haHA” Amit approved by waving his hands toward Namanda.
“haHA,” Namanda volunteered, “is Hindi for yes, YES. It means one is in agreement emphatically. It is slang, but many in India use that affirmative. My parents are very appreciative of you being so kind to me. They are impressed with your barn and the way you present yourself. My mother could have said that to you but it is taboo for a woman to flatter a man, and legally forbidden in the presence of her husband.
They both are worried about our safety. They feel they must leave this area because Tracy will eventually lead dangerous people to here. I have informed them about Van’s offer in California, but they feel that is unsafe since Tracy has met Van, and his name would surely surface when and if she is interrogated. They do not want to continue to use the surname of Singh because of the flight arrangements that included Tracy as a fellow passenger. They have asked me to ask you if there is a way to accomplish another name change. They trust no one, including you, to be honest, but they don’t know where else to turn.”
“haHA,” Joshua said, which caused everyone to laugh aloud. “I have an idea how to accomplish that.” What Joshua didn’t say was the name of Jack Meadors, the person who was responsible for making himself a Meadors. “Assuming the name change can be made, what would your parents do, or where would they go?”
“They won’t tell me that, because once I know, you will know, and they do not wish for you to be further endangered by knowing. I have told them that you have the same ability as I do.”
“I see,” said Joshua, “but if they want to consider the reservation in Arizona, it would be safe there. It is a tightly closed community, with adequate policing, and on my recommendation you would be hidden well. The drawback would be the lack of opportunity for all of you, other than helping produce the NIL.
Namanda, why don’t I make a phone call or two while you show your parents the rest of the property. There is a small surprise for you in our secret hiding place, that is, if you want to reveal that to your parents.”
Namanda spoke in Hindi to her father and mother. The Mehra family rose and left through the back door.
“Hello Adele. Are you still with Patricia?” Joshua asked.
“We’re just coming into Frankfurt. Boy have I got news for you, young man.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“Patricia made two stops in Danville on the way back. She had five Ball jars converted into eighty one ounce, plastic containers. She didn’t have to pay a dime for that, plus she set it up to have more made only with a different shape container. What do you think about that?”
“That is terrific. That’s something we’ve thought about a lot. But listen, I have a question for you and Patricia. What is the US policy for granting asylum to refugees?”
“Hang on.” Adele held the phone down while asking Patricia, then returned after a few moments. “She isn’t quite sure because the US has no beef with India like they do with North Korea. She could find out but she suggests we don’t pursue that route anyway. If we did there would be too many questions asked and then Namanda’s gifts would be discovered. The bottom line is that she would be taken advantage of here just like over there. If the Mehras haven’t made their own plans yet, she thinks a safe house that she knows of makes the most sense until something else can be worked out. Once they become US citizens they would be protected and could not be forcefully returned to India. Pat says they will have to get a green card using something called Asylee Status. She can help them obtain that.”
“Do you think Jack can handle a name change for the Mehras, who are using the name Singh at present? They are probably correctly worried the Singh name is traceable.”
“I’ll ask him. We also stopped at an attorney’s house. He is going to look into the patenting and whatnot. That’s also free of charge, I think. There’s even more to talk about, but I want to get with Jack first. So I’ll ask him tonight about the name change thing and then give you a call. I had planned to call you anyway once I got home. Hang on.” Adele once again held her phone down.
“Hey, Joshua, it’s Pat. The Mehras have a car, right?”
“Yes, they do. Thank you for all you’ve done today.”
“Don’t mention it. Glad to help. Their car is a rental, right?”
“Yes.”
“That has to go, and like now. The newest rental cars have homing devices. It is the best way for the bad guys to find them. I can arrange for a car they can borrow, if that is something they want to take advantage of. The sooner the better on that. Make sure they are aware of that. And when they turn the rental in, make sure it isn’t near the location they are staying. You have my business card and private number, correct?”
“Yes, I have it.”
“Call me tomorrow. Here’s Adele.”
“I’ll call you later tonight, Joshua. There’s a lot to talk about. Bye.” Adele hung up before he could return the goodbye. Typical Adele.
Namanda stopped on the trail where the eastern view availed itself. Her parents were impressed with the majestic view of the rolling hills in the distance and the river below. She was amazed to see her mother and father embrace as they observed the scenery. Shreya told her it was reminiscent of a place in northern India they had done the same, many years ago, and very much against the law.
Namanda thought a moment, then said, in Hindi, “Come, follow me.”
She backtracked on the trail and led them to the tree marked with the DB initials, then said, “I have a hiding place. Do you want to see it?”
“haHA,” Amit replied.
Though Shreya was hesitant, Amit helped Shreya by pushing her derriere, in a quite inappropriate manner, through the narrow hillside opening, since Namanda had already gone ahead. “America, it ok.” He rationalized, though Shreya made no complaint. It was apparent to her that the NIL had side effects.
The flashlight was found easily enough. Namanda switched it on, then gasped. “Oooh.” She marveled at the vast expanse that lay ahead. She also was startled that beyond the first few paces there was an expanse to the left and right, as well as ahead. It was an enormous cave that sloped downward to a basin far below.
“Do you want to explore?” Namanda asked in Hindi.
“haHA.” Amit was apparently was not a stranger to spelunking.
Namanda swung the flashlight left to right and established that the right hand side was more easi
ly traversed. She measured each downward step, touching the cavern wall with her right hand while with her other hand she aimed the light ahead and to the left. After twenty or so careful paces there appeared a plateau in the distance, to which Namanda squinted her eyes, then said, “Oh my, oh my.” The flat area contained a cot, two sleeping bags, a knapsack, a lantern, and canned food. She found the button on the lantern and switched it on. Amit screamed, “Baap re baap.” In English that would loosely translate, “Oh my God.” He pointed out, with the flashlight now in his hand, the writing on the right hand wall, which displayed……’Jedidiah Fielding’, followed by ’12 June, 1803,’ followed by a drawing of an arrow pointed to the left and downward.
Amit walked slowly with flashlight in hand to the left, and saw that the passage downward was precarious. “Nahi.” The Hindi word for no was a flexible one depending on inflection. Amit said it in an unmistakable tone. A definite, ‘I don’t mean maybe’ no. Namanda looked at the steep, rocky, and narrow presentation, and agreed with her father.
“We must get going. It will be getting dark soon, and there’s more to see.” She said in Hindi. Yet she was determined that in another time she would embrace the challenge to discover what it was that a Mr. Fielding had found so long ago. She took a moment to consider the items Joshua had evidently arranged for her. She opened the knapsack and discovered camping utensils, another flashlight, and a jar of NIL. The discovery prompted her to shut her eyes. She must not let anyone know that she was falling in love with him. Of course, he would know that, and that would be embarrassing and unfortunate, and without a logical conclusion. In a cave, in Kentucky, in America, for the first time in her life, she felt like a woman, and she liked it immensely.
They did not find Joshua at his usual haunt, the workroom. Instead he was seated at one of the Adirondack chairs facing the valley. He motioned for them to join him, and he could smell the fusty dankness of the cave on their clothing. He smiled at Namanda, but she avoided eye contact with him. They silently watched the fireflies begin to display their unique spectacle as the sky turned lavender.
Joshua broke the silence. “Explain to Amit that the rental car may have a tracking device and it must be exchanged for another vehicle not so equipped, and that it must be done soon.”
Namanda spoke as instructed, to which Amit slapped his hand to the side of his head, and spoke in Hindi in reply.
“In Delhi, automobiles like the large ones in America are rare,” Namanda said. “The city is so old there is no room to maneuver them in many places. He says he didn’t give that a thought. He agrees, it must be done, and quickly.”
Amit rose to his feet and spoke in his native tongue to Namanda. “Your mother wishes to bathe, and I must unpack our necessities. You stay here with Joshua, then we will join you later.”
It was yet another time Namanda wished she could not read people’s minds, especially her father’s masqueraded intentions. To derail her train of thought, she said to Joshua, “Let’s go make some NIL. And Joshua, what did Jedidiah Fielding find in the cave?”
Joshua stopped at the tank of water, and pointed. "This water. That's what he found. Plus ancient artifacts that predate the Shawnee Indians. There are still some artifact remains there. He may have encountered bats too, because they are still there.”
“Oooh.” Namanda shivered in response.
+ + + + +
Jackie pulled up the ILINet webpage to check for updates. With luck, she just might sleep in her own bed tonight. To her chagrin it looked like that may not happen. There were five new cases of H7N9 logged in since the early morning weekly report. Two were near her in Douglasville, one in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, another one in Houston, and one in Cleveland, Tennessee. The virus was starting to cluster. She knew there were more than likely two to three times more infections that were as yet unreported. Still, no baselines were exceeded, so she would not bother calling Clarence Hill again. She shut down her computer, switched off her office light, and walked down the hall. She would make it home after all. She noticed Randy’s light was still on, so she stopped in to say she was leaving for the night.
“Hey, Jackie. Just now have another one coming in. H7N9, this one coming out of Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset, Kentucky. Patient is Charles Mayes, in isolation. Patient input says the strain may have come from a softball tournament in Douglasville. Looks like we got us a cluster blooming here. The two male patients at Wellstar in Douglasville played in that tourney.”
“Were all three softball players on the same team?”
“Uh, I can’t answer that for sure, but I’d say not. The two here live in Douglasville. The other one lives in Kentucky.”
Jackie closed her eyes and imagined herself on the softball field. How in the world could the strain find its way in the open air without intimate contact? “Anyway of knowing that the three knew each other…..maybe went for a beer together after the game?”
“No way of knowing from the reports we have. But Shalandra found out something that connects the dots. Guess who one of the Douglasville patient’s girlfriend was?”
“Sandi Kaiser?”
“You got it.”
“Damn.” Jackie went back to her office and placed a call to Clarence Hill.