The Unicorn Expedition by Satyajit Ray

Author:Satyajit Ray [Ray, Satyajit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9788184758399
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2012-05-24T00:00:00+00:00

Avinash Babu’s story

My name is Sri Avinashchandra Chatterjee. This notebook belongs to Professor Shonku. The date today is 6 April, the time is 2.30 a.m. I am not used to writing. I have not written anything for a long time, except letters. When I was in school, one of my essays had won some praise from my teacher. Fifty years later, I have had to pick up a pen once again, because it is essential to record today’s events. If something untoward happens to me, this notebook will tell the tale of an unforgettable, horrific, supernatural occurrence. Whoever finds this notebook will learn of this experience. Behind me, about ten feet away, is a forest. I am writing in the light that is being exuded by the trees and leaves. There is no other light, for though the sky is cloudless, there is no moon.

Earlier in the day, we landed on the eastern coast of the island. After resting there for half an hour, Shonku suggested that we explore the other side of the island and see for ourselves what else it could offer. We had seen from the sky that the island was circular, and the diameter of that circle was no more than two miles. We decided to travel to the western coast, not on foot, but in our aeroplane. So we did not waste another moment and got into the plane, taking the monkey, Dozy, with us.

We then made our way to the western coast, travelling at fifty feet above the ground, and at a speed of ten mph.

As we travelled further west, the colours of the plants below us became increasingly bright. Seventeen minutes later, Shonku’s aircraft touched solid ground again.

As soon as I climbed out of the aircraft, a strange object lying on the ground attracted my attention. It was a pair of spectacles, its golden frame and lenses glinting in the afternoon sun. Shonku gave a stifled exclamation and picked it up. Then he said, ‘Hamlyn.’

We moved on (with Dozy taking a ride on my shoulder) and, a little later, found a number of other objects most unexpectedly. The first of these was a grey felt-hat, then we found a walking stick, a green silk scarf, a pipe and, at the end of it all, a man.

He was from either China or Japan. He was wearing a dark blue suit and, clutching one of his shoes in his hand, was sitting on the ground and looking at us with a big smile on his face. I noticed that three of his teeth were golden. On seeing him, Shonku uttered only one word, ‘Hamada.’ I could not understand the meaning of this word. The Japanese (or Chinese) gentleman did not speak. He continued to sit on that same spot, grinning foolishly.

I looked at Shonku and asked, ‘What do you make of this?’ But he paid no attention to my question. He appeared to be greatly delighted by something. Twice, I saw him jump. Then he clapped his hands.

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