He was relieved to be free of the basket containing the cobra as he headed straight on Assi Road. He wanted to distance himself as much as possible before the authorities arrived, but he didn’t want to draw attention by running. A brisk walk would do him good anyway. His interrogation methods had been brilliant but had yielded an unsatisfactory result. The effete professor hadn’t told him much he didn’t already know. Misaki and Matthews had traveled to Sarnath, and then they would return to Varanasi. A motorized rickshaw waited on the street corner just ahead. He would intercept them at their hotel. “He’s still not answering.” Kristin returned Grant’s cell phone. “It is Saturday. Maybe he’s taking the day off.” “No, he practically lives in his office, even weekends.” The taxi driver turned down the university’s tree-lined road, following Kristin’s pointed finger. “Why don’t we come back later? I’m anxious to get to the hotel and see if we have power yet.
