“Name it.”

“Tell me why Fermín says you owe him an explanation. An explanation about what?”

Alicia lowered her eyes. “Many years ago, when I was a child, Fermín saved my life. It was during the war.”

“Does he know?”

“If he doesn’t, he suspects it. He’d given me up for dead.”

“Is this wound you have from then?”

“Yes,” she replied, in a way that made him think it was only one of many wounds Alicia was hiding.

“Fermín has also saved me,” said Daniel. “Often.”

She smiled, and made as if to get up. “Sometimes life sends us a guardian angel.”

Daniel walked around the table to help her, but she stopped him. “I can manage on my own, thanks.”

“Are you sure those pills haven’t left you a bit . . . ?”

“Don’t worry. I’m a big girl. Come on, I’ll walk with you to your front door. It’s on my way.”

They walked together to the door of the old bookshop, where Daniel pulled out the key. They looked at one another silently.

“I have your word,” said Daniel.

She nodded.

“Good night, Alicia.”

She remained there, motionless, watching him with that glazed look. Daniel didn’t know whether to attribute it to the drugs, or to the bottomless pit he could sense behind those green eyes. When he was about to go in, Alicia stood on her toes and brought her lips close to Daniel’s. He moved his face away, and the kiss brushed his cheek. Without saying a word, Alicia turned and walked away, her silhouette evaporating in the shadows.

* * *

Bea had been watching them from the window. She’d seen them come out of the café on the street corner and approach their front door when the midnight bells rang out over the city’s rooftops. The moment Alicia drew close to Daniel and he stood there, stock-still, lost in her eyes, Bea felt her stomach turn. She saw her get on her toes, ready to kiss his lips. Then she stopped looking.

She went slowly back to the bedroom and stopped for a moment outside Julián’s bedroom. He was sound asleep. Bea closed his door and went on to her bedroom, then got back into bed and waited to hear the door. Daniel’s footsteps moved stealthily along the corridor. Bea lay there in the semidarkness, staring at the ceiling. She listened to Daniel undressing at the foot of the bed and putting on the pajamas she’d left for him on the chair. She felt his body slip in between the sheets. When she turned her head, she saw that Daniel had his back to her.

“Where were you?” she asked.

“With Fermín.”

16

Hendaya offered him a cigarette, but Fernandito refused it.

“I don’t smoke, thanks.”

“A wise man. That’s why I can’t understand why you don’t call your father so he can come and fetch you and bring your papers. Then all this could be resolved. Or are you hiding something?”