—It’s Nara’s brother. The mother seems keen on her son. She agreed to her daughter’s death. I wonder if she’ll agree to the death of her son.

Nara had turned almost as pale as her mother. Borovik whispered in Leo’s ear:

—I’ll wager I can get a name within five minutes.

Like a sultan calling for food, Borovik clapped his hands together.

A guard entered carrying a stainless-steel tray. On it was a single bottle of orange soda, the liquid luminous in the gloomy cell, the colour of the Fanta label a faded blue. The guard set the tray down on a table. He pulled a bottle opener from his pocket with all the formality of a waiter in a luxury hotel. The steel soda top clinked on the floor. Borovik stepped forward and began to drink straight from the bottle in long gulps, a thin orange line leaking from the side of his mouth until the bottle was finished. He placed the empty bottle on the edge of the table and let go. The bottle fell, as was intended, smashing in two. Borovik picked up the largest remaining portion by the neck, creating a jagged glass fist. It was a crude threat, breathtaking in its savagery, exploiting the notoriety of this place. Leo had seen enough. Without saying a word he walked out, brushing past the shocked figure of Nara, leaving the cell. Borovik called out to him from the door but Leo didn’t look back. Passing the exiled interpreter, Leo said:

—They need you.

Soliciting the help of a guard, Leo left the wing, keen to get outside, finally managing to gain access to the dusty ground of an empty exercise yard. He walked to the furthest corner and sat against the wall, closing his eyes, his legs stretched out in sun, the rest of his body in shade. Having not slept last night, he was tired and in the pleasant heat he quickly fell asleep.

***

When Leo woke up, the angle of the shade had changed and there was sunlight across half his body. Using the back of his hand, he wiped his mouth. It was only now that he noticed that he was not alone. Nara was seated not far from him, on the dusty ground of the exercise yard, her back against the wall. He had no idea how long she’d been there. Squinting at her, he noted that she had not been crying. Leo asked, his voice croaky:

—And?

—My mother loves my brother. She gave us a name.

Nara had changed. She was different. She was numb.

Greater Province of Kabul

City of Kabul - Sar-e-Chowk Roundabout

Same Day