Shadow of the giant

as they swept across India, you made a great public pronouncement. You
said, if I remember rightly, that there would be no government in exile. That
the ruler of India from then on would be ... and I say this with all modesty
... me."
    "I meant, of course, only until I returned."
    "No you were very clear," said Wahabi. "I'm
sure we can get someone to play you the vid. I can send for someone if
you—"
    "You are going to hold India without a government
because—"
    "India has a government. From the mouth of the Indus to
the mouth of the Ganges, from the Himalayas to the waves that lap the shores of
Sri Lanka, the flag of Pakistan flies over a united India. Under the divinely
inspired leadership of Caliph Alai, may Allah be thanked for him."
    "Now I understand why you suppress news of my
coming," said Chapekar, rising to his feet. "You are afraid of losing
what you have."
    "What I have?" Wahabi laughed. "We are the
government, but Virlomi rules India. You think we blacked out the news about
you? Virlomi asked the Indian people not to look at television as long as the
Muslim invaders retained their unwelcome presence in Mother India."
    "And they obey her?"
    "The drop in national power consumption is noticeable.
No one interviewed you, old friend, because there are no reporters. And even if
there were, why would they care about you? You don't rule India, and I don't
rule India, and if you want to have anything to do with India, you'll take off
your shoes and get in that line in front of the hut outside the gate."
    "Yes," said Chapekar. "I'll do that."
    "Come back and tell me what she says," said
Wahabi. "I've been contemplating doing the same thing myself."
    So Chapekar walked back out of the military compound and
joined the line. When the sun set and the sky began to darken, Virlomi came out
of the hut and wept with grief that she could not hear and speak to everyone personally.
"Go home," she said. "I pray for you, all of you. Whatever is
the desire of your heart, let the Gods grant it, if it would bring no harm to
another. If you need food or work or shelter, go back to your city or your
village and tell them that Virlomi is praying for that city, that village. Tell
them that my prayer is this: Let the gods bless the people to exactly the
degree that they help the hungry and jobless and homeless. Then help them make
this prayer a blessing upon them instead of curse. You try to find someone less
fortunate than you, and help him. In helping him, you will also rise."
    Then she went back inside the hut.
    The crowd dispersed. Chapekar sat down to wait until the
morning.
    One of the others who had been in the line said, "Don't
bother. She never sees anyone who spends the night. She says that if she lets
people gain an advantage by doing that, soon the plain will be covered with
snoring Indians and she will never get any sleep!"
    He and several others laughed, but Chapekar did not laugh.
Now that he had seen his adversary, he was worried. She was beautiful and
gentle-seeming, and moved with unspeakable grace. She had mastered it all—the
perfect demagogue for India. Politicians had always shouted to whip an audience
into a frenzy. But this woman spoke quietly, and made them hunger for her
words, so she hardly had to say anything, and they felt blessed to hear her.
    Still, she was only a lone woman. Chapekar knew how to
command armies. More important, he knew how to get legislation through Congress
and keep party members in line. All he needed to do was attach himself to this
girl and soon he would be the real ruler of her party.
    Now all he needed was to find a place to spend the night and
come back in the morning to see her.
    He was leaving when one of Virlomi's aides touched his
shoulder. "Sir," said the young man, "the Lady has asked to see
you."
    "Me?"
    "Aren't you Tikal Chapekar?"
    "I am."
    "Then you're the one she asked for." The young man
eyed him up and down, then knelt, scooped up some dirt, and flung it at
Chapekar's suit and began to rub it in.
    "What are you doing! How dare you!"
    "If I don't make you look like your suit is old and you
have seen much suffering, then—"
    "You idiot! My suit is old, and I have suffered in
exile!"
    "The Lady will not care, sir. But do as you wish. It's
this or the loincloth. She keeps several in her hut, so she can humble proud
men."
    Chapekar glared at the young man, then squatted, scooped up
dirt, and began rubbing it into his own clothing.
    A few minutes later, he was inside