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The Cannibal
131
silence. Two body-guards of the Chief Minister went breaking the silence of the night to the magnificent mansion of the leading citizen of the city. On hearing their heavy foot-steps the guards at the door of the mansion were startled. They became alert and uttered a code word. Without any hesitation the body-guards of the Chief Minister approached them and said :
“We have to meet your master".
"At this time of the night ?" "The Chief Minister has sent him a secret message”.
One guard at once went into the mansion and came back soon. He told the Chief Minister's body-guards to follow him. At once, the two body-guards were taken to the chamber where the leading citizen of the city was waiting for them. They saluted him; and conveyed to him the Chief Minister's message.
The Citizen put on a formal dress; recited Shri Namaskar Mahamantra and proceeded to the Chief Minister's house along with his body-guards. At the same time, before setting out, he ordered his guards to inform the other representatives of the people also to come to the Chief Minister's house, at once.
Within a short time all the representatives of the people gathered in the house of the Chief Minister. The leading citizen of the city went into the Chief Minister's house accompanied by them. The Chief Minister came forward a few steps, received them and requested them to be seated.
“Dear sirs ! The abductor of children has been arrested and kept in prison".
“Excellent!” The leading citizen said admiring the step taken by the Chief Minister.
"But the cannibal is, indeed, a strange one. You or I have never even imagined that he would commit such an enormity”.
“Dear Chief Minister! What do you mean? Who is that cannibal ?"
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