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Getting ready
for the big match
"Thaaththa",
Bindu Udagedara asked, "has peace dawned now?"
"Why, Bindu," Percy, Bindu's father queried, "What
makes you think that the war is over?"
"Why, thaaththa, they are opening roads, removing mines and
resuming flights."
"But that does not mean the war is over, Bindu" Percy
cautioned.
"Why do you say that?"
"They haven't even started talking yet."
"But thaaththa, Bindu argued, "everyone is so optimistic
these days."
"I know it is not fashionable to be pessimistic about peace,"
Percy said, "but the reality is that nothing definite has been
agreed upon.
"Is that why some people are opposing the peace talks even
before they have begun?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Who is that?"
"Why, thaaththa, the Reds are opposed to any deal with the
Tigers."
"That is because they feel that the Tigers will never reform."
"Twelve years ago, most people felt the same way about the
Reds too."
"And remember," Percy recalled, "Satellite said she
would talk even to the Devil, when she struck a deal with the Reds."
"But thaaththa", Bindu asked, "has anything really
changed between Thimpu and Thailand?"
"A lot of lives have certainly been lost", Percy agreed,
"but the country has also become more tolerant now."
"Will that bring them closer to arriving at a solution?"
Bindu asked.
"We must hope so, for everyone's sake." Percy said.
"But thaaththa, what will Satellite do then?"
"Why", Percy asked, "what is Satellite's problem?"
"Why, the Green Man is taking Satellite's plan for a negotiated
settlement and is claiming all the credit for it."
"And didn't the greens oppose Satellite when she tried to do
it her way." Percy remembered.
"Yes thaaththa," Bindu agreed," but she tried to
do it on her own without talking to the Tigers."
"Does it really matter who takes the credit, as long as the
country benefits?" Percy asked.
"Let's hope that both Satellite and the Green Man think that
way." Bindu said.
"And Velu too." Percy said.
"But thaaththa, perhaps he will this time." Bindu said.
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, he has even agreed to a cricket match being played in
Jaffna."
"I don't think that is such a good idea."
Percy said.
"Why do you say so?" Bindu queried.
"Why, considering all the demands that Velu is making, he might
want a separate cricket team and want Murali to captain that team."
"And what would we do without Murali?" Bindu said, "we
wouldn't be able to win a single match."
"I'm worried about the bigger match." Percy declared.
"And what match is that?"
"Why, the match between the Green Man and Velu."
"Why are you worried about that, thaaththa?"
"I think, the Green Man will eventually run out Velu, but the
decision will be referred to the Third Umpire."
"And what will happen then?"
"And Satellite, the Third Umpire might say 'Not Out'."
Bindu didn't disagree with that.
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