Darkness slowly descended over the vineyard. The setting sun cast its last ray of sunshine over the thick forest before calling it a day. The leaves glinted their adieus to the Sun God, and the faint outline of the moon appeared in the piebald sky. The stars winked in gradually, flashing their distress signal in Morse code to anybody who cared to help. Heavy boots on dry twigs broke the stillness, as a burly man walked hurriedly towards the little shack. He fumbled clumsily singlehanded to unlock the door, glancing around furtively to see if he was being watched. Tightly clutching a flask in the other, he pushed open the door with his shoulder, and quickly slammed the door shut behind himself. The thick shrubs beside the shack seemed to come to life. Inspector Khan rose soundlessly and, with a finger on his lips, he signalled to his trusted aide, Officer Amar Singh, to follow him. Soft-footed, they ran to the door of the shack, and Inspector Khan kicked it open. The latch gave way and the door crashed open.
