‘Do you know precisely what your employer does?’ Manicki asked at one point in the long, lazy afternoon.

They had been discussing the privileges meted out to the few. Or, at least this was what Laure gathered from quickfire translations. Big cars, private medical treatment, the larger apartments. Laure replied that, as far as she knew, he represented his pharmaceutical company in France.

‘Don’t be taken in,’ said Manicki in more than passable English. He was lying flat on his back in the grass. ‘He’s probably doing some industrial spying. That’s why he gets the big flat and you. It’s worth it to them for the information he brings back.’

Manicki’s theory made sense. The suspicions, vague and half-formed, which had been chasing around her mind came together. To her surprise, she felt sharp disappointment. His treatment of Eva apart, she was beginning to like Petr and felt that he treated her fairly. But, as she had to concede, she had a habit of taking everything at face value. That Petr might not be on a level was more than possible.

‘Watch out for him,’ Manicki added.

The sleepy drawl had changed into something more challenging and she wondered if he meant: you should not be with us.

Laure was due to catch the train back to Prague in the evening and, reluctantly, went indoors to pack. When she emerged, the conversation had become heated.

Tomas made room for her on the bench. ‘Leo is arguing that the lines of conflict are no longer between the rulers versus the ruled but running through individuals. In other words, people don’t know who they are. What they are.’

Back home, this would have not been the sort of conversation that would have gone on. Where’s the dope pick-up? Who’s drinking where?

She slotted her arms through the straps of her rucksack. ‘I don’t understand.’

Tomas came to her aid, settling it into the small of her back. ‘What Leo is trying to say – and badly as always—’ Leo aimed his sandal at Tomas who ducked. ‘What Leo is saying brilliantly as usual is that deception and division is quite natural to us all.’ He adjusted a strap. ‘Take the ordinary man.’

‘Or woman.’

‘Or woman. Someone, say, who runs a fruit and vegetable stall in the city. Or a butcher’s. Do you notice anything about them?’

‘Slogans in their shops. Like “Workers of the Word Unite”.’

‘Now, does this man – or woman – believe in the international worker solidarity? Almost certainly not. No, what he or she is saying by displaying the slogan is: I am behaving as you, the State, wishes. Therefore, you must leave me in peace. So, it doesn’t matter what he or she believes.’ He spun around. ‘Am I right, Leo?’

From his prone position in the long grass, Leo grunted.