বিশম অধ্যায়: বিশেষ মামলার দলের বেতন

"দলনেতা, ভিতরে..."
বেশ কিছুক্ষণ না যেতেই অফিসে ঢুকা তদন্তকারী আবার বেরিয়ে এলেন, লিউ দলনেতার দিকে হতাশ চোখে তাকিয়ে।
"কি হয়েছে?" লিউ দলনেতা ভ্রু কুঁচকিয়ে বললেন, তার অধীনস্তরা এমন ছোটখাটো কাজও সেভাবে করতে পারছে না কেন?
লিউ দলনেতা ঘরের ভিতরে ঢুকলেন, তখনই তিনি দেখলেন হান জিয়াজুন ভাইকে ছাদের ছাদে হুক দিয়ে শক্ত করে বেঁধে রাখা হয়েছে।
তদন্তকারীরা যতই চেষ্টা করুক না কেন, হুক যেন ঢালাই করা হয়েছে, একদম অটল।
তারা আবার আত্মশক্তি ব্যবহার করতে সাহস পাচ্ছিল না, ভয় হচ্ছিল কারো ক্ষতি হবে।
লিউ দলনেতা নিজে এগিয়ে এলেন, তার অস্ত্র—দুষ্টপ্রাণ নাশক ভেলাটি ডেকে আনলেন, তবে যতই তিনি কাটাকাটি করুক না কেন, হুকটিতে একটুও ক্ষতি হয়নি।
"এটা হয়তো একটা মরণোত্তর বস্তু," লিউ দলনেতা শ্বাস ফেলতে ফেলতে বসে পড়লেন, তার দৃষ্টি দরজার বাইরে তাকিয়েছিল।
এই সময় ফং তিয়াননিং এবং ছোট প্রাণ ‘ছোটবাও’র মধ্যে ‘মুখোমুখি’ অবস্থা চলছে, কিন্তু এই ছোটবাও ছাড়া নাম ছাড়া আর কিছুই জানে না।
"তিয়াননিং, তুমি কি ওকে নামিয়ে আনার কোনো উপায় জানো?"
ফং তিয়াননিং ঘরের ভিতরে গিয়ে মনে মনে বলল,
"যেহেতু এই মরণোত্তর বস্তু তুমি তৈরি করেছ, নিশ্চয়ই সমাধানের পদ্ধতিও তোমার জানা।"
"আমি মায়ের জন্য লক সোল হুক মিটিয়ে দেব, মা আমাকে রেখে দাও, ঠিক আছে?"
ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের চোখে কিছুটা শীতলতা এল।
"তুমি আমার সঙ্গে শর্ত আলোচনা করার অধিকার পাওনি।"
ফং তিয়াননিং মনে করল, হৃদয়ে যেন একটা অভিযোগ বয়ে বেড়াচ্ছে, এটা ছোটবাওর অনুভূতি।
"মারার তিনময় সত্য আগুন লক সোল হুক পোড়াতে পারে," ছোটবাও দুঃখজনক স্বরে বলল।
"ছোটবাও লক সোল হুক দিয়ে তার আত্মা আটকিয়েছে, তাই সে বেঁচে থাকতে পারছে।"
ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের হৃদয় নরম হল, এই ছোটবাও যে খারাপ নয়, তাছাড়া তার কর্মপুণ্যও যথেষ্ট ভালো, হংমং পবিত্র তরোয়ালও তাকে আঘাত করেনি...
"তাহলে থাকো।"
"ধন্যবাদ মা!" ছোটবাওর কণ্ঠস্বর উত্তেজনায় ভরে উঠল।
ফং তিয়াননিং: ...
সত্যিই তার কথা বিশ্বাস করলাম।
ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের মুখে গম্ভীরতা, কিন্তু একথা না বলায় লিউ দলনেতা ভাবল সে কোনো সমাধান করতে পারছে না।
সে ঠিক তখনই স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্সে ফোন করে সাহায্য চাওয়ার প্রস্তুতি নিচ্ছিল, তখনই ফং তিয়াননিং হঠাৎ দুই হাত দিয়ে মন্ত্রপাঠ করতে শুরু করল, কয়েকটি নীল আভাসময় আগুন হুকের দিকে ছুটে গেল।
লিউ দলনেতার হৃদয় মুহূর্তেই ধক করে উঠল, সেটা তো আগুন, যদি কারো ক্ষতি হয় তাহলে কী হবে!
কিন্তু ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের আগুন যেন চোখ ছিল, সরাসরি হান জিয়াজুন ভাইয়ের হাত এড়িয়ে গেল।

"পটাক।"
দুই মিনিটের কম সময়ে, লক সোল হুক ধীরে ধীরে খুলে গেল এবং ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের হাতে পড়ে গেল।
পরবর্তী মুহূর্তে, লক সোল হুক কালো ধোঁয়ার মতো হয়ে ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের হাতার ভেতরে ঢুকে গেল।
হান জিয়াজুন ভাইকে দেখতে ব্যস্ত লিউ দলনেতা ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের অদ্ভুততা লক্ষ্য করল না।
"মা, এটা খুব ভালো লাগছে!" ছোটবাও উত্তেজিত কণ্ঠে বলল।
ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের মুখে কিছুটা জটিলতা দেখা দিল, ছোটবাও জন্মের সময়ই কাগজের স্ত্রীর ক্ষোভ শুষে নিয়েছিল।
এখন আবার লক সোল হুকের মতো মরণোত্তর বস্তু ‘খাচ্ছে’, ফং তিয়াননিং মনে করল, ছোটবাও হয়তো ক্ষোভ শুষে শক্তি অর্জন করছে।
ঠিক আছে, যেহেতু ওকে থাকার অনুমতি দিলাম, এখন ওর দায়িত্বও নিতে হবে।
অতএব ভবিষ্যতে আরও কিছু খারাপ আত্মাকে ধরে ছোটবাওর খাবার দেব।
ফং তিয়াননিং লিউ দলনেতার সঙ্গে স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্সে ফিরে গেল, যাওয়ার আগে দেখল তার নিজস্ব বাসা থেকে ক্ষোভ সম্পূর্ণ মুছে গিয়েছে।
ফং তিয়াননিং অবশেষে মন থেকে শান্তি পেল, ভাবেনি যে এই বাড়ির ক্ষোভের উৎস আসলে ছোটবাও।
"তিয়াননিং, তোমার কাগজের স্ত্রী এবং আগের কয়েকটি অদ্ভুত ঘটনার রিপোর্ট কাল আমাকে দিয়ে দিও।"
রিপোর্ট? ফং তিয়াননিং লজ্জায় নাক মুঠল, এই বিষয়টা সে ইতিমধ্যেই ভুলে গিয়েছিল।
"লিউ দলনেতা, আমি কি বেতন পাই?" ফং তিয়াননিং হঠাৎ ভাবল, সেই দিন খাওয়ার জন্য টাকা ছিল না, তাই উত্তেজিত হয়ে লিউ দলনেতার দিকে তাকাল।
ঈশ্বররা উচ্চপদস্থ হলে বেতন পায়, কিন্তু মর্ত্যের দুষ্টপ্রাণ শিকারীরা তেমন আয় পায় না, এখন সে খারাপ আত্মা ধরার জন্য কি বেতন পায় জানে না।
বেতন? লিউ দলনেতা কিছুক্ষণ জন্য সাড়া দিলেন না, এই শব্দটা বেশ পুরনো, কিন্তু তিনি ফং তিয়াননিংকে স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্সের সুবিধাগুলি জানিয়ে দেননি।
তাদের স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্স হলো সবচেয়ে ভালো সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠান, তদন্তকারীরা প্রতিদিন জীবনের ঝুঁকি নিয়ে অতিপ্রাকৃত ঘটনা মোকাবিলা করে, তাই টাকা অবশ্যই কম হওয়া উচিত নয়।
"আছে, আমাদের স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্স অতিপ্রাকৃত ঘটনার মাত্রা অনুযায়ী পুরস্কার দেয়।"
"নিম্ন, সাধারণ, মধ্যম, উচ্চতর অতিপ্রাকৃত ঘটনার জন্য পুরস্কার যথাক্রমে ১০,০০০, ৫০,০০০, ১০০,০০০।"
"বিশেষ শ্রেণির অতিপ্রাকৃত ঘটনা আবার ১, ২, ৩ স্তরে বিভক্ত, পুরস্কার যথাক্রমে ৫০০,০০০, ৪০০,০০০, ৩০০,০০০।"
লিউ দলনেতা গুনতে গুনতে বললেন, ফং তিয়াননিং স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্সে যোগদানের পর এক মাসেরও কম সময়ে একবার তৃতীয় স্তরের বিশেষ ঘটনা, একবার উচ্চতর ঘটনা, দুইবার সাধারণ ঘটনা সমাধান করেছে, এতে হলুদ চামড়ার মানুষ এবং কাদামাটি মূর্তির ঘটনা অন্তর্ভুক্ত নয়।
"মোট ৭০ লাখ, যেখানে কাদামাটি মূর্তি এবং হলুদ চামড়ার মানুষের স্তর এখনো নির্ধারণ করা যায়নি।"
"আমি রিপোর্ট করব, নেতৃত্ব মূল্যায়ন করবে।"
লিউ দলনেতা ড্রয়ার থেকে একটি কার্ড বের করে বললেন,
"এটি তোমার বেতন কার্ড, ভবিষ্যতে সব বোনাস এই কার্ডে জমা হবে।"
লিউ দলনেতার চোখে আগুন জ্বলে উঠল, কারণ সেটা ৭০ লাখ টাকা, তিনি ছয় মাস পরিশ্রম করেও এত টাকা জমাতে পারেননি, অথচ ফং তিয়াননিং এক মাসের মধ্যে পেয়ে গেল।
ফং তিয়াননিং মাথা নেড়ে কার্ডটি নিল, সত্যি বলতে সে কার্ড ব্যবহারে পারদর্শী নয়, তবে থাকা ভাল না থাকার চেয়ে।

"ঠিক আছে, এখানে藏书阁 কোথায়?" ফং তিয়াননিং প্রথমবার এখানে এসে বুঝল সে এখনকার মর্ত্য সম্পর্কে একদম অজানা।
"藏书阁? তুমি কি লাইব্রেরির কথা বলছ?"
এই ব্যাপারে লিউ দলনেতা আগ্রহী হলেন, তাদের স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্সে দেশের সবচেয়ে সম্পূর্ণ তথ্য ভাণ্ডার আছে, আকাশ-পাতাল থেকে দানব-ভূত-প্রেত সবকিছুর তথ্য আছে।
"তুমি কী ধরনের তথ্য খুঁজছ?"
"শিক্ষা, আমি পড়াশোনা করব!" ফং তিয়াননিং গম্ভীর মুখে লিউ দলনেতার দিকে তাকাল।
লিউ দলনেতার ঠোঁটে হালকা হাসি এল, ফং তিয়াননিংয়ের কথায় কোনো আপত্তি ছিল না।
সন্মানিত ফং পরিবারে থাকা মানুষ এখন পড়াশোনা করতে চায়, ফং তিয়াননিং যে কেমন, মিথ্যা বলার সময়ও সে মনোযোগ দিয়ে মিথ্যা বলে।
"যাও, এখান থেকে বের হয়ে পশ্চিম দিকে একশো মিটার হাঁটো, সেখানে লাইব্রেরি।" লিউ দলনেতা ড্রয়ার থেকে একটি ছোট লাল বই বের করে বললেন,
"এটি তোমার পরিচয়পত্র, এটা নিয়ে তুমি লাইব্রেরিতে ঢুকতে পারবে।"
ফং তিয়াননিং ছোট লাল বইটি নিল, তখন দেখল এতে তার ছবি এবং নাম লেখা আছে।
"ঠিক আছে, দুই মাস পর নতুন সদস্য মূল্যায়ন হবে, পাস করলে তুমি সম্পূর্ণ আমাদের স্পেশাল টাস্ক ফোর্সের সদস্য হয়ে যাবে, কেউ তোমাকে নিয়ে যেতে পারবে না।" লিউ দলনেতা ফং তিয়াননিংকে ডাকলেন, ইঙ্গিতপূর্ণভাবে বললেন।
তিনি সত্যিই চান ফং তিয়াননিং এখানে থাকুক, তার পরিচয় নির্বিশেষে। কিন্তু চিন্তা হয় তার炼气期 স্তর দেখে।
"তিয়াননিং, তোমাকে ভালো করে চর্চা করতে হবে,炼气期 দিয়ে নতুন সদস্য মূল্যায়ন পাস করানো যাবে না।"
ফং তিয়াননিং অবাক হয়ে তাকিয়ে বলল,
"লিউ দলনেতা, আমি ইতোমধ্যে筑基期 মাঝামাঝি পর্যায়ে পৌঁছেছি।"
"কি!"
লিউ দলনেতা চমকে উঠলেন, চোখ almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost almost অনেক বড় বিস্ময় প্রকাশ করলেন। সাত দিন আগে সে炼气初期 পর্যায়ে ছিল, এখন কীভাবে筑基期 এ পৌঁছাল?
সাত দিন ধরে ফং তিয়াননিংর কোনো খোঁজ নেই, হয়তো বাড়ি গিয়ে修炼 করছিল?
কিন্তু এত দ্রুত উন্নতি হওয়া খুবই বিস্ময়কর।
না, সম্ভবত সে আসলে炼气期 নয়, কেবল法器 ব্যবহার করে নিজের修为 লুকিয়েছে, যা তাকে ভীতু মনে করাতে চায়।
অসাধারণ গভীর ষড়যন্ত্র!
ফং তিয়াননিং লিউ দলনেতার ভাবনায় অগোচরে হাত নাড়িয়ে অফিস ছেড়ে দিল।