One by one they came and offered their allegiance. Placing their hands on her head, the way a father does to his child, each man gave his blessing. Women were strange creatures, difficult to gauge, impulsive and emotional. But some, the ones who were pure, like their mothers, could see into men’s soul and beyond the naked, shivering wreck that housed them. They found themselves wanting to protect her and, in so doing, win her favour. They were afraid both for her and of her.

The meeting was over. One by one, Bazigh Khan showed each man out until only Jia Khan remained. ‘That was smart,’ he told her.

She smiled at him gently, putting her hand on his. ‘Now, Uncle,’ she said, ‘sit by me and tell me everything my father knew about the Jirga and its weaknesses.’

CHAPTER 23

She knocked on the door and waited. No answer. She rapped harder, her knuckles bearing the brunt. The sound of footsteps and the turning of a key followed. She could see he’d been sleeping. His hair was ruffled but he was dressed. She understood this was why he’d taken so long to open the door: he’d been searching for his clothes.

He stood aside to let her in.

‘Coffee?’ he asked. She nodded.

She watched him moving around the kitchen looking for clean cups, trying to find milk, all the things one does when someone drops by unannounced in the middle of the night. She noticed his body was still taut and lean and it made her glad she’d driven over.

‘I couldn’t sleep,’ she said, taking the cup. ‘I keep thinking about Ben and what state he must be in…’ She paused, waiting for him to speak, but he didn’t. He just kept looking at her, wondering why she was here now, after all these years, and in the middle of the night. She was worried about her brother, which was understandable, but her concern for him while still no mention of her own son angered him. He wanted to ask her why, but he was afraid that she would leave, and he had waited so long for her to come to him this way.