Prologue:

Inside the small, dimly lit air conditioned

chamber, a large square table was

surrounded by five chairs. Seated upon the

chairs were five people. All their attires

were black with long hoods pulled over

the heads. They concealed the five

faces perfectly, apart from the persons'

lips and chins nothing was visible to the

naked eyes. Long arms save the wrists

covered with black fabric rested upon

the smooth surface of the mahogany

table.

       Leaning forward a little, they were

animatedly engaged in their conversation.

Their soft voices sounded a bit loud in the

calm atmosphere. Occassionally one or

two of them would tap the table,

approving a word or sometimes an entire

sentence spoken by the guy seated

in the centre. He was the leader of this

little group. Always alert to the slightest

change in the surroundings, his gang took

him very seriously. His very presence

inside the chamber was nothing less than

an assurance, a belief that their work

would not be spoiled. They came together

for discussing their further strategies

regarding progress of the stone stockist.

  

   Suddenly the air in the room shifted and

everything became still. Underneath his

hood, the leader's hawk like eyes began

darting to and fro. Quickly getting up from

his chair the man lunged at the window,

drawing the blinds away. Squinting to get

a clear look, he banged his first on the

hard stone wall, cursing under his breath.

The rest of the group were utterly baffled.

They could not understand their chief's

behavior or his restlessness. But the frown

over his forehead and the lines of worry

covering his face were enough to clarify

their doubt. Something was bothering

their leader. He had certainly sensed some

terrible problem which was likely to prove

very destructive for them in the near

future.

          Mustering a bit of courage, the man

at the front took slow and careful steps

towards his chief. Clearing his throat

softly,...