Of Dan Brown and the rest of the world

(An old post: Oct 2005)
Looking down upon the hollow object in his hands, he started experimenting its orb-like features and started estimating its capacity in cubic-centimeters. Why he holding that orb now, of all he could find, he knew not, but one thing was sure. This was his big day. If not today, he would have to wait for the opportune moment until months.
He looked at the huge gate where he was instructed to be at the right moment. He stared at them from a distance, as if studying the engravings. Uncountable thoughts ran through his mind. He knew there was nothing to get distracted. What he had to do this day had been instructed to him well enough.
To get past the line, and sneak into the front row, would be tough and could cost him untold mishaps and he would be the headlines of tomorrow's news papers. Neither he nor his teacher liked to become a public figure; And they wanted to stay out of all controversies, today, of all days. His cell phone was hidden between a piece of black cloth that was tied to his waist -and it did its duty well. It concealed it from public view well enough, no one would suspect he had been contacted about what was going on within the great walls that he was facing at the moment. The moment would come, he knew, and the caller would instruct him to take the right position and he knew he would be served well this day. It was the day he had been waiting for ever since the caller had mailed him the cell phone.
And ring it did. He knew the wait was over. He moved his hands to the phone to pick the call and heard the exact words he knew he was waiting for since hours. The rain seemed to work out in his favor. And there he made his way through the thin crowd and positioned himself well enough. He knew he would be the first one to meet the one getting out when the huge door in front of them all threw open. And it did so at the right time. Ready that he was, in the right place at the right time -he grabbed the orb and held it out pointing it at the ones getting out through the opened doors- and then the only sounds he could hear was like that of copper pieces storming through an enclosed cylinder, hitting against the walls as it made its way to its destination. His eyes gleamed, he knew he was doing his job well. Soon he was done. It was time to call the leader. He did. And told his leader, in a whisper though, "today was the day! the collection is 246 Rs 75 paisa". He grinned. And they both grinned at the end of a rather profitable day outside the Golden walled temple.