That was hardly the reply I wanted, of course. It was the first time Silver had said anything to me that jarred. But did I really expect a relationship of perfect unblemished accord? We said no more. We picked up our bag of books and writing pads and jigsaw puzzles and our bag of videotape cassettes and magazines. Jason was waiting for us, actually outside the window. He made me squat down so that he could put his arms around my neck and hug me. I didn’t think it very safe for him to be on that balcony, which wasn’t really a balcony at all but an eighteen-inch-wide shelf with a three-foot-high parapet. The ground, a concreted area supporting a few wilted plants in stone troughs, lay fifty feet below. I marveled at these parents, for it was as parents that they saw themselves, who sacrificed everything, home, careers, income, liberty, for the sake of a child, yet failed to take the elementary precaution of warning him against risking his life on that narrow shelf.

Of course, you could see how much he loved being out there. That ridge of masonry with its dusty floor was his garden, his park, his playground, his freedom. The fresh air, and it was fresh enough up above the treetops, made him unconsciously take deep breaths. But he came in with us willingly enough and the pair of red-and-blue trainers we had bought him distracted his attention from the open air. His large dark liquid eyes widened and he smiled, then laughed out loud. The book we had brought specially for him was a real book without illustrations and, wearing his new shoes, he settled down immediately to read it. Alison said it was past his bedtime and he asked her if he could read his new book in bed.

Rather reluctantly, after Jason had been taken away, Andrew started to pay us for what we had brought. I say “started” because Silver tried to stop him, saying that many of the things were our idea, he hadn’t asked us to get them. I don’t know if Andrew was mean by nature or if circumstances had made him cheese-paring, but he accepted Silver’s offer with relief. Deeply disapproving, I said nothing, but the indignant glance I gave Silver told him everything I felt. With Alison’s permission, I went into Jason’s bedroom to say good night to him and, giving him a kiss, reflected on how much he undoubtedly loved Andrew and Alison, how happy he was with them, and wondered what would become of him when he was taken from them, as inevitably he would one day be.

Or was it inevitable? Was there perhaps a way?

Chapter 25

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