The Mahabharata Secret by Christopher C Doyle Read Free Book Online Page B

conclusive. We only realised that we might be on to something when someone in the agency made the connection between the Murphy tap, the video clip and some documents recovered from Pakistan in a raid on a Lashkar-e-Taiba hideout. According to those documents, there is an LeT leader based in Pakistan by the name of Farooq Siddiqui. And we all know that LeT has links with Al Qaeda, possibly even ambitions of supplanting Al Qaeda as the foremost Islamic terrorist organisation in the world.’ He paused to let his words sink in.
    ‘As you say, there could be any number of Farooq Siddiquis in India,’ Blake resumed after a few moments. He leaned forward to emphasise his words. ‘The documents that named Farooq also mentioned a grand LeT terror plan, though there were no details. What if it is the same guy? Farooq Siddiqui, the scientist, swapping his lab coat for an AK47 and becoming an LeT leader? What if the reference in the Murphy tap wasn’t to an Indian with this name, but to a Pakistani? And suppose the partner referred to in the call is LeT? Perhaps Murphy has been assigned to work with them on the project in India? It is plausible, since Murphy has connections in the Middle East as well.’
    ‘Worth considering.’ Imran looked at Vaid thoughtfully.
    ‘If there is a link, we need to find it.’ Vaid concurred. ‘Kidwai, this one’s your baby. Check on it and see if there is any substance to it. When you find Murphy, put a tap on his phone. We need to know who he speaks to. If our speculation is correct, there may be something really big underway and we need to stop it. I’ll brief the Home Minister personally.’
    Imran nodded. He had already begun planning his course of action. But two questions nagged at him.
    Why was a renegade Pakistani nuclear scientist part of LeT? And what was he doing in India?

8
    Day 5
    Jaungarh Fort
    Vijay shook his head and frowned. The Nine Unknown Men... now, why did that sound familiar?
    ‘Who are they’? He asked.
    ‘The Brotherhood of the Nine Unknown Men is an ancient secret society, perhaps the oldest in the world, going back 2,300 years.’ White stopped, as Vijay sat bolt upright, his eyes widening with surprise.
    ‘You have heard of them, then’. White remarked.
    ‘No, I haven’t,’ Vijay replied slowly. ‘But that number—9— was in an email my uncle sent to me on the day he was murdered. I didn’t understand what it meant, but when you just spoke about the Nine , it suddenly struck me. I wonder if uncle was referring to this secret society.’
    ‘Your uncle certainly believed in the existence of the Nine,’ White said. ‘He told me so on several occasions. You say he sent you an email about the Nine?’
    ‘Go on,’ Vijay said impatiently, ‘please tell me more about this secret society.’
    For a moment, White looked as if he wanted to find out more about the email Vijay had mentioned. Then, he glanced around the room. ‘You have all heard of Emperor Asoka the Great.’
    It was a statement more than a question, but Radha nodded. ‘He was the legendary Indian king who lived in the third century bc. A fierce warrior who is said to have killed his brothers to ascend the throne, he fought bloody wars to expand his kingdom to cover almost the whole of present day India—except a bit of the south—and present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. His last conquest was Kalinga, present-day Orissa. Thousands of soldiers on both sides were killed in the battle for Kalinga. Asoka is believed to have been overcome by remorse at the death and destruction he had caused, which led him to renounce violence and convert to Buddhism. History records that he was a great king, devoted to the welfare of his subjects. He spread Buddhism beyond India. His son Mahindra went to Sri Lanka. He put up edicts in stone all over the kingdom, propagating the law of Dhamma .’
    White smiled. ‘Very good. You certainly know your ancient Indian history. Asoka ruled from 260 bc to 223 bc. And