Staffrider Vol.3 No.4 Dec-Jan 1980 - DISA

landish appearance of the man — hissaffron robe, his sandals, the beadsaround his neck and strange mark on hisforehead, all contrasting strongly withthe stiff light-blue uniforms of theofficers. For a moment he believed hewas seeing an illusion. A sense ofprofound fear filled him, his larynxtightened and he could only manage tosay in a soft voice, 'Sit down, Borg.'And then the Colonel did not knowwhat to do. The four men who hadarrested Borg left the room quicklywithout waiting to be dismissed. TheColonel looked at Borg as though heexpected to be addressed. Borg remainedsilent. The Colonel began to feelthat if he did not leave the office hewould be impaled by the look in Borg'sgrey eyes. He turned and hurried out ofthe office. He ran into the next-doorroom, asked an official to leave as hewished to make a private telephone call,and then with brisk, nervous fingersspun the dial.'Brigadier Becket, please. It's veryurgent.'He waited for the call to be putthrough and then said, 'Listen Brigadier,this is van Dijk speaking. Borg is now inmy office and I don't know . . . ''Lock the man up!' Brigadier Becketshouted.'Please listen, how can I lock a manup who does not look like a man.''What, Colonel? Is your eye-sight failingyou?''I don't know how to explain, but heis in a sort of dress . . . ''Listen to me, Colonel. If Security isafraid of the way in which a mandresses, then we might as well closeRosevale and everybody can go home. Isay lock the man up immediately.''But he is wearing a sort of long yellow. . . orange dress.''A man in a dress? He must be mad.Then why arrest him?''On your orders . . . ''Listen, Colonel, I think there issomething wrong with you. You informedme that you wanted Borgarrested for being a traitor and a threatto the security of the state. I think I willspeak to the Honourable Minister aboutgetting a psychiatrist stationed at Rosevale.'Brigadier Becket put the telephonedown.The Colonel returned despondentlyto his office, hoping that Borg hadtaken the opportunity to escape. But hewas still there, sitting very serenely inhis chair. The Colonel sat down in hischair.'I am afraid, Borg,' the Colonel saidapologetically, 'I have to do something Iam very reluctant to do. You know thatorders cannot be stopped by an officialof lower rank. I was forced by the Brigadierto send for you.''You have to do your duty,' Borgsaid. 'The Lord Khrishna in the Gitatells Arjuna the warrior to perform hisduty during battle.'The Colonel picked up the telephoneand summoned the quartet of officerswho had arrested Borg. They camewithin a few minutes and saluted.'Khrishna says that you must performyour duty,' the Colonel said, lookingat Borg.The officers looked at each other andthen at the Colonel.'Why don't you carry out yourduty?' the Colonel asked sharply.'Sir, you said Khrishna said we mustperform our duty,' one of them said.'I didn't say that, stupid! Borg saidthat. Why don't you carry out your responsibilities?''Sir,' Borg addressed the Colonel, 'foryour information my name is Yogi Satyananda.''Please carry out your responsibilities,'the Colonel said to the officers,looking even more disturbed as thoughBorg's words were a potent imprecationagainst him.The officers were mystified. Theyhad been asked to bring Borg to theColonel and they had done so. Theirduty ended there. Now the Colonel wastalking about responsibilities.'What responsibilities, sir?' one ofthem asked.'Fools! You went to . . . Why don'tyou take him to his room?''His room sir?' another officer asked.'Don't you understand . . . therewhere people are kept until they aretried?'In order to assist the Colonel, Borgrose and saying, 'I know where the cellsare,' walked out of the room, followedby the officers.The Colonel was sweating. He didnot want to take on the responsibilityof having Borg locked up. The man hadchanged, changed utterly. One neverknew what forces he could invoke toharm him. He had informed BrigadierBecket of his intention to have Borgarrested and he had approved. Thereforeultimate responsibility lay with him.The telephone rang. It was the Brigadier.'Colonel, what information did youget from Borg about political activitiesin Lenasia?''Nothing, sir.''Nothing? What is happening toRosevale? Don't you fellows know howto get them to say what you want themto say? What have you done to Borg?''He is locked up, I think, accordingto your instructions.''My instructions?''Brigadier . . .'Listen, Colonel. As soon as you getBorg to say what you want him to say,let me know.'The Colonel put the telephone down,but it rang almost immediately.'This is the Morning Star. We havereceived information that YogiSatyananda has been arrested. Is thistrue?''No ... he is not under arrest, buthas been allowed to rest in a room.''Until when?''Well . . . till tonight perhaps.''Can you give us any reason for hisdetention?''He is not in detention and I am notobliged to give any reason.''Is he held under the State SecurityAct?'The Colonel put the telephone downangrily and began pacing his office.In the afternoon an orderly broughta newspaper to the Colonel's office.Thick black headlines lashed his eyeslike vipers: Yogi Satyananda Arrested.Huge Demonstration Planned in Lenasia.The Colonel tore the newspaperand flung it into the litter basket.'Lies! lies! The man is not underarrest!' he shouted.Several officials from nearby roomscame rushing in.'What is the matter, sir?' they allasked.'Nothing!' he shouted. 'Stay in yourrooms until I call you.'They rushed out, but a messengercame in, out of breath.'Sir, a procession of demonstrators ison its way here. It is led by a man in asaffron robe.''How did he get out?'The messenger took a step back.'Who, sir?''The man in the robe.''Get out from where, sir?''Get out of this building?' theColonel screamed.The messenger ran out of the office.There was going to be trouble now,the Colonel knew. He had sensed that assoon as Borg had come into his office.He was now leading a demonstration toRosevale. But how had he managed toget out of his cell and return to Lenasia?The Colonel was afraid to think. EasternSTAFFRIDER, DECEMBER 1980/JANUARY 1981 37