"They were making noises and everything." Kevin Kurien is chewing a lollypop, trying to sink his teeth into it without breaking it apart.

"You're joking. You're a complete liar. Everyone knows that," a very smug Vincent Jose says.

Jonny Varky says nothing. He is intrigued, even a little aroused by the story he's hearing, but he thought he saw something move.

The three boys are sitting on a rock, naturally outcropping the Periyar river, basking in the afternoon sunlight. Their feet are dangling off the edge, the larger ripples sometimes making contact with their messy white sports shoes. It is Wednesday. PE day.

"Okay, then tell me why you got out of bed at all then, to see all of this." Vincent prods, evidently keen to explore this firther, though he doesn't want to let on.

"Let me just finish the whole story, you prick. I'll tell you then."

There is a tense silence. Jonny suddenly realizes they are waiting for him. For some sort of confirmation. "Oh? Oh yeah, tell me the whole thing, da."

Kevin rubs his hands together.

"They're watching TV before I leave to finish my homework. Seriously, Papa and Mama are out at some Engineer's Forum dinner and Chechi's sitting in the living room with Jojichachen."

"How long since the wedding?" Jonny feels he should probably ask questions to show that he really is interested.

"A year soon. Anyway, I left my schoolbag downstairs. So I came back to the living room and there they are in front of the TV, doing it."

"Doing what?" Vincent asks, all pretence of cool dropped. His eyes never leave Kevin. He is absently and very sensually stroking his earlobe.

"You know. The thing."

"Details, arsehole." Vincent prods.

"Hmm," Jonny adds. "Details."

"Chechi wasn't wearing her nightie-

A dull snap rings through the across the river. The other two turn their eyes riverward. Jonny has been looking for a long time.

"Something's happening. Or something going to happen," he says.

"What're you talking about?" Vincent says. "What's happening? Nothing's happening. Just some old man playing with his gun like last year. Finish the story, Kevin."

Kevin says nothing.

"I think we should leave now."

Jonny's voice is quiet. Pensive. Lacking entirely of the boisterousness he could command so easily. "I think there's something in the water."

"There's nothing in the water," Vincent says. "Finish the story."

Kevin stands up and turns around. He looks like he is about to dismount the rock. But then he clambers back to his seat again. Jonny keeps looking, his eyes like hawks'.

A fish gently floats up the middle of the vast river. And then another. And then another. They float upwards till the entire surface of the water is pocked with dead fish.

Vincent goes first. Jonny expects him to run away but he stands his ground, waiting for his friends to reach him. They begin the walk back up the church road again, not looking back and not talking.

The road is absolutely deserted, which is not common for this time of day.

"Why did all the fish die?" Kevin asks.

"Who cares?" Vincent says. "We're safe. I'll ask my papa."

The boys look down and walk slowly, Jonny's lollypop almost sucked dry.

Just when they were out of the little lane, their feet breaking out into open road, Jonny turned.

He saw a man, stripped nude and on all fours. He was milking a goat slowly and methodically in the middle of the road. He turned to Jonny and smiled.

Jonny didn't sleepfor another week. 

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