The narrative follows a Civil Surgeon, known as Dumoise, who lives a secluded life with his wife in a remote Indian station. Their isolation is disrupted when a typhoid epidemic strikes, leading to the wife's illness and eventual death. Dumoise, overwhelmed by grief, is encouraged to take leave and embarks on a walking tour to Chini, seeking solace in nature. During his journey, he stops at a desolate dak-bungalow in Bagi, where his bearer, Ram Dass, claims to have seen the spirit of Mrs. Dumoise, who delivers a message about meeting him in Nuddea. Dumoise, skeptical yet intrigued, returns to his station only to receive a telegram ordering him to Nuddea due to a cholera outbreak. Despite his reluctance, he prepares to leave, dismissing Ram Dass's pleas to stay. Ultimately, Dumoise arrives in Nuddea, where he succumbs to the cholera epidemic, reuniting with his deceased wife. The story explores themes of love, loss, and the supernatural, highlighting the fragility of life and the inescapable nature of fate.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1918 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama