Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda

Author:Sarwat Chadda
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2011-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

ou’ve got five minutes,” said John. “Rajiv’s on door duty, but I told him I’d cover for him while he sneaked off to see Padmi.”

“Let’s go, Lucks.”

John went down the stairs first, Lucky next and Ash behind. It was one o’clock and pretty much everyone in the Lalgur was asleep. The door was open to one of the larger rooms, where a whole bunch of kids slept, sprawled over the floor on thin mattresses. A rusty old fan cranked in the corner. If the other kids could sleep through that, then Ash’s soft footsteps weren’t going to wake them. But in a building with about fifty people in it, there was always a chance someone was wandering off to the toilet or to find a midnight snack.

A mat lay beside the door with a half-finished bowl of plain rice on top of it. Otherwise the small lobby was empty.

Ash pulled back the heavy iron bolt. The metal screamed. He stopped dead.

“Shut up!” hissed Lucky, thumping him on the arm. “Why not just bang a gong and tell everyone we’re going?”

“Sorry.”

They listened in fearful silence, waiting for the sound of feet on flagstones and expecting Rajiv or, worse, Ujba, to come running in.

But nothing. Hardly daring to breathe, Ash twisted the bolt further. It squeaked as the metal worked its way against the stone. Then, with a final cry of protest, the door opened.

Ash took a long deep breath. The air was fresh and cool, rising straight off the Ganges and carried by a soft, night breeze. The sky was clear, but the route John had explained to them would keep them in the alleyways, hidden from the stark eye of the moon.

“You want to come?” asked Ash.

John shrugged. “And what then? This is my home.” He smiled. It was sort of sad. “Goodbye, English.”

“You’ll get in trouble, you know that.”

“Not as much as you if they catch you standing around here.”

Lucky embraced John. “Thanks,” she said with tears in her eyes. Then she scurried out into the alleyway.

“Anything for Parvati?” asked John.

Ash grinned. “Yes. Give her a huge kiss on the lips. Don’t hold back.”

“I do that and she’ll tear my face off.”

Ash hugged the small boy. “Thanks, mate. I owe you.”

Ash wanted to tell John that he’d been a good friend, a great one. The boy was taking a big, big risk in helping them escape. He wouldn’t be treated gently when their disappearance was discovered. John deserved more than just thanks. He was saving their lives. But before Ash could speak, the door behind him closed and the little light that had spilled through vanished.

He took Lucky’s hand. Though the last few weeks had been hard, there was something about the Lalgur. It had changed him. The simple food, the hard, brutal training. A strange magic had been worked upon him. He was sharper, tougher than he’d ever been. He felt… awake. India had awakened him.

Lucky’s fingers tightened round his.

“Dad’s waiting,” she said.

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