CHAPTER VI 



URI 



OH, beautiful Uri, surrounded by snow-giants, 

 bathed in glorious sunshine ! What heavenly peace, 

 for already the last night wave of tourists is rolling 

 on its way to Baramula and Srinagar ! 



The deserted breakfast-table alone still shows 

 signs of their presence. Alas ! another tonga drives 

 up and deposits a late guest. I share the table-cloth 

 with him and pass him salt and bread. He thanks 

 me with a nod of his head, a very thin, narrow head 

 with swollen eyes that look as if he had borrowed 

 them, and a red nose. 



One can't ply a book with questions ; but there is 

 not a single human being who has not some small 

 thing of interest about him, which a discreet question 

 will persuade him to impart an idea, a well-chosen 

 word, some unusual information, a new way of 

 looking at everyday affairs, or something ! 



Therefore, out of curiosity, or because I felt 

 bored, I began to talk to my vis-a-vis. I asked him 

 where he was going. He made no answer, only 

 looked at me, cast his eyes up to the ceiling, hunted 

 for his handkerchief, and sighed deeply. 



16 



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