The fifth man killed her. She was old by then, and the islanders opposite had been advertising her skills, even as far as the mainland. This man, stupid as he was, had come over to eclipse her fame. He was a monk, as she saw from his tonsure. There should be only one healing hermit in this stretch of sea. He bludgeoned her to death. She saw it all, but felt nothing. Since he had dispatched her as she dreamt, he set her free, and she sent him mad with her screaming.

The island of apples which men call ‘The Fortunate Isle’ gets its name from the fact that it produces all things of itself ... There, nine sisters rule by a pleasing set of laws, those who come to them from our country.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, The Life of Merlin (Latin), c.1140

6
Mariam

JUDGE: Before I call my next witness, I would like to address the public directly. Mariam Maher cannot be here in person. She will give evidence by video-link. While she does so, there will be no calling out. I am aware that during the press coverage of this inquiry, and the events directly preceding it, Mariam Maher’s story has been bandied this way and that. I will not tolerate name-calling or misbehaviour. I hope this has been properly understood.

MARIAM: Should I speak?

JUDGE: Please, in your own language. We have a translator here.

TRANSLATOR: Not her mother tongue, excuse me. We will speak in our national language, which is Urdu.

MARIAM: I came to England with my marriage. My husband was a businessman. The centrepiece of his collection was an alarm clock which played the call to prayer. He had a very wide range of burqas – all the usual black tents, and some Afghan shuttlecocks in several lovely colours – though these were more for show. He stocked a wide range of moralising pamphlets, green cloths and wooden stands for the holy book; as well as prayerbeads, amulets, and other such superstitious items. I liked but was surprised by the things blessed by association with saints; and not that he kept them hidden from most of his customers. The last thing he wanted was for Faisal Enterprises to be tainted by accusations of shirk. ‘False worship’, that dreaded slur. [Waits for translator.]

TRANSLATOR: She was married to a travelling salesman.