The Adversary Read Online Free PDF Page B

finally.
    â€œShe seemed okay,” Luvsan said. “I mean, worried, as you’d expect, but relatively calm in the circumstances.”
    Doripalam nodded. He wondered just what “relatively calm” might mean, given these particular circumstances. A missing teenage son. Disappeared on his first significant journey away from the family. A puzzling final phone call which indicated that he had found a new job. And then nothing.
    â€œI read the transcript of the interview,” Doripalam said. “She seemed calm enough but she wasn’t giving much away as far as I could see.”
    â€œShe answered the questions fully enough,” Luvsan said. “But you’re right. There was something closed about her.”
    â€œYou think she was hiding something?”
    Luvsan shrugged. “I’d guess not. But it’s hard to be sure. People behave strangely when they’re worried. And I think she holds us partly to blame for not making more progress.”
    â€œShe might be right,” Doripalam said. “That’s certainly what the press think. But it’s hard to make much progress when we don’t even know for sure that a crime’s been committed.”
    â€œYou think he might have just taken off on his own?”
    â€œHe’s a teenage boy,” Doripalam said. “I don’t think it’s beyond the bounds of possibility, do you?”
    There was still no sign of life or movement from the
gers
. Doripalam realized that both of them had been stringing out the conversation in the vague hope that someone might emerge from one of the tents, relieving them of the necessity of entering the
gers
themselves.
    â€œIt doesn’t look as if there’s going to be a welcoming committee,” he said, finally. “I think we’ll need to take a look for ourselves.”
    Luvsan nodded and then, in an unexpectedly loud voice, called out: “Hold the dog!”
    It was the traditional greeting, called as one approached a
ger
as a visitor. Doripalam had always found it mildly absurd, and here—with no sign of life, canine or otherwise—it sound ridiculous. There was no response, so he walked slowly forward and pulled open the door to the leading
ger
.
    He blinked, peering into the darkness. He ducked and stepped into the tent, moving slowly to allow his eyes to become accustomed to the gloom. Luvsan followed a few steps behind.
    The
ger
appeared to be deserted. There were a few pieces of furniture in there—some brightly colored chests, a cupboard, a low table with a white cloth thrown across it. Opposite the door, there was a single bed covered with a garish tapestry.
    â€œNo one here?” Luvsan said, stating the obvious.
    â€œDoesn’t seem so,” Doripalam said. “The place is very tidy. Doesn’t look as if anyone left here in a hurry.”
    â€œBut it looks as if they did leave,” Luvsan said, stepping past Doripalam into the gloomy interior of the tent. “Not much sign of life.” He pulled open one of the brightly painted cabinets. Inside, the shelves, lined with old newspapers, were empty.
    Doripalam turned and stepped back out into the bright sunshine, blinking from the glare. There was a stiff breeze now, whipping through the scrubbygrasslands, and Doripalam realized that, despite the brilliance of the morning sun, he was feeling cold.
    He walked across to the neighboring
ger
and, without bothering to call a greeting, he pulled open the door. As his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, he saw that this tent was as empty as the first. Again, it was tidy, still furnished with garish cupboards and tables. But there was no sign of habitation.
    â€œJust the same?” Luvsan said from behind him.
    â€œExactly the same. Tidy but deserted.”
    â€œHow long do you think they’ve been gone?”
    Doripalam shrugged. “No way of knowing. I spoke to Mrs. Tuya—when? Four days ago.”
    â€œAnd