The cave in the hills was a very deep one. Fuchs found out about

the cave some years ago. He explored it over his walks when he

used to analyse complex political scenarios. The warmness inside

the cave during winter and coolness in summer made it his ideal

choice to walk about when he wanted privacy, even from telephone

calls. Only one security guard knew about the cave and he was

instructed not to venture in it, even if Fuchs was presumed dead

inside the cave.

There are many openings to the cave, albeit small ones that facilitate

ventilation. The cross current of air carrying some moisture from

the brook down below was refreshing. Dressed in his woollens,

Fuchs removed his overcoat and tossed it onto the big slab of stone.

He arranged it like a sort of wheel chair. This was his lair where he

was owned by none other than himself. Not even by time. He never

brought even a watch inside the cave. Only thing he carried was a

flask of warm water.

He was conducting an imaginary meeting of his council of ministers.

Only he was sitting on his throne. Others, like obedient servants,

were standing and voicing their opinions as and when he asked.

He even had fanciful names for his council members; varying from

Socrates and Aristotle to Churchill. He felt like the ruler of the

world when he held such meetings. He knew he would be branded

a lunatic if this was known outside the cave. “Who cares? If I can

be the king of the world without spilling a drop of blood, it is an

achievement in itself. And no one can rule forever.”

At present, he was discussing the effects of Jules Borg scheme

on world politics. He was not discussing whether the scheme

would succeed or not. He was sure that it would fail, for

the simple reason that nature has a way of balancing on its own.

Only question was if there was a radioactive material spillage in

Himalayas that might poison the glaciers what might happen to

India and Pakistan? Or would it affect China and Afghanistan?

What could happen if the mighty mountains were shaken at

their foundations? What sort of climate changes could happen

in the Indian subcontinent, on which the modern world was

increasingly depending on to avail services? Even if there was

no damage, what kind of future political actions could arise in

the aftermath?

He was tempted to call Jules Borg to discuss these issues, rather than

playing various roles of thinkers from the past. And the discussion

was going on for nearly six hours a day, for the last five days.

* * * * *