29 The field of the brahmanas
Something briefly disturbed. A bubble of time swelled up out of nothing, and then burst, ceasing.
‘It is you...’
The stream fluttered and splashed.
‘Karna...’
The idle flickering of fish turned suddenly into a monstrous shoal, an outline, curves, corners...
‘Karna!’
The sound glided off the touch on his neck. He opened his eyes.
‘Draupadi! ’
‘No, it’s not Draupadi... Sorry.’
Karna stared at the face. Now that he saw that it was not Draupadi, he could no longer see Draupadi in the face; nor any longer did he want to see Draupadi there.
‘Where am I?’
The eyes stared straight back into his. The hand was still touching his neck.
‘Why, you are in heaven, of course.’
‘In heaven?’
‘Yes. You are dead. You were eaten by a tiger. Don’t you remember?’
Kar
