5th Column

Everyone keeps guessing about the grenade affair
"Thaaththa", Bindu Udagedera asked, "who do you think threw the grenade?" "I thought that was one mystery the Police managed to solve very quickly…" Percy, Bindu's father said.

"How can you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked, "they are still looking for the culprit…""But Satellite has already publicly announced that the Green Man from the Diyawanna area was responsible for it…"

"Ah, they said the Greens were responsible for the rising world price of oil too," Bindu argued, "and besides, I don't think the Greens are capable of doing anything these days…""That is true…" Percy agreed.

"And thaaththa, there are many others who could have done it…" Bindu suggested.
"Who are they?" Percy wanted to know.

"Velu could have organised it just to show that the majority community also commits terrorist acts…" Bindu proposed.
"Yes," Percy agreed, "his agents are anyway roaming Colombo, throwing grenades and shooting their opponents…"
"The Reds could have done it too…" Bindu proposed.

"Why would they do that?" Percy was puzzled.
"Why, thaaththa, the Buddhist monks whom they hate would always get the blame if an incident occurred, so they could have done it just to make sure everyone blames the monks…"
"Now you are thinking like a politician…" Percy said.

"Or else," Bindu suggested, "the Blues themselves could have organised it…"
"Now why would they want to do that?" Percy asked, "they have enough problems to deal with already…"

"But thaaththa, no one now talks about the rising cost of living, the threat of resuming the war or the never ending strikes. They are only interested in finding out who threw the grenade…"
"That's true too…" Percy conceded, "and that will distract most people until the next cricket series starts…"

"For instance," Bindu said, "the Con Doctor could have done it…"
"Why would he do that?"
"Why, thaaththa, he claims he is a descendant of Dutugemunu and so he may be against Indian superstars…" Bindu said, "and anyway, he doesn't really need a good reason to launch an attack on a place of entertainment…"

"That doesn't sound very convincing, Bindu…" Percy said.
"Then, the Crown Prince could have organised it…" Bindu proposed.
"Why would he do that?" Percy demanded, "this is a blow to tourism for which he is responsible…"

"But thaaththa," Bindu pointed out, "he has also been charged with contempt of court. Maybe he thought people will have pity on him and discharge him if tourism suffers as a result of the incident…"

"Now, that is a bit far fetched," Percy said, "but then, the Crown Prince was never a great thinker, was he?"
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "there is only one person who we know for sure didn't do it…"

"Who is that?"
"Why, thaaththa, that person is SB because he was in jail and couldn't have done it…"
"Shh…" Percy said, "you shouldn't say things like that…"

"Why is that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"In SB's case, you are guilty unless proven innocent," Percy said, "So, when you say he is innocent, you may be charged with contempt of court and sent to prison for two years…"
Bindu decided to remain silent after that advice.

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