I wanted to see the fire temple and Bukhara’s fortress that had once contained a vast library of ancient manuscripts. From there onwards was straightforward: two nights in Dushanbe in Tajikistan, where forged paperwork would be available. Then keep moving south and east, through the world’s deep places: Kashmir, maybe Nepal. I would fix myself, regain equilibrium, until the day came when I looked up, met someone’s gaze and they looked away. It would turn out that they’d been asking after me. That night I’d unlock my room and the man would be sitting there, white and well spoken. ‘Elliot, excuse the intrusion, rather hoped you’d be able to lend a hand.’ No introduction is necessary. ‘Not much money in it,’ he explains, ‘but you might find it diverting. Needs someone like you: a field man.’ And I’ll show some reluctance before agreeing, mainly out of curiosity. Just to see, I’ll tell myself. What else is there to do?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to:

Matthew Plowright, Tom Nuttall, Gulliver Cragg, Olga Nikonchuk, Yulia Erlykina, Stephanie Cross, Calum Murray, Thomas MacManus, Kuralay Kabdeshova, Rahat Tuyakbaev and his friend behind the bar, Clare Smith, Veronique Baxter, Judith Murray, Rana Feghali, Joanna Lillis, Ranjan Balakumaran, Neil Arun, Robin Forrestier-Walker, the Young Roots team, and one individual who has asked to remain anonymous.

Very special thanks to Suzie Kim Jihyon.