The accumulated warmth from the day sifted up from the grass sward. She lit a cigarette and smoked reflectively and recollected a conversation at the chata where Leo had explained that at the election the previous May, 99.39 per cent had turned out to vote and 99.94 per cent of them had voted for the carefully selected government candidates. Then she thought about the marionettes back at the theatre, hanging on their pegs waiting for their call to life, subversive or not. Fighting for a cause could be addictive. . . and she was beginning to see this picture.

‘You think a revolution is going to happen? In the future? Never?’

‘Difficult questions. But revolution certainly won’t happen if people like me leave.’

The boat was joined by two others and the trio sat serenely on the water in the evening sun, casting starbursts of light.

She felt him drawing away into a place where she was not welcome.

‘You said yourself there were cracks. You’ve told me about the opposition to Soviet troops in the country when they invaded in 1977, and you’ve talked about the resistance going on now. But you also said getting rid of the regime is a long way off. You have a life. Shouldn’t you give yourself the best chance to lead it?’

‘Keep your voice down,’ Tomas said, sharper than normal.

‘Are we quarrelling?’

‘Don’t be silly.’

Carefully, she ground out her cigarette, wrapped it in a scrap of paper and handed it to Tomas. He glanced down at the pathetically small package. ‘We’ve made a Czech in you, Laure.’

‘Of you.’

‘Of course, of you.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘Why are you trying to teach me English?’

‘Why do you think?’

He laughed. ‘Shall we go back to where I live?’

Tomas had never invited her to his place before. ‘Yes.’

‘It’s not comfortable. Will you mind?’

They walked back up from the river, turned into the street that ran parallel to it and headed for the bridge. A couple of cars came up behind and they stood back to allow them to pass. Suddenly, Tomas gripped Laure’s arm so hard that she almost cried out.

‘Do you see that white building ahead? Get there and turn into the courtyard and wait for me. Do as I say,’ he hissed into her ear. ‘Don’t ask questions.’

With that, he turned and walked back the other way. Obeying his instructions, she walked briskly towards the white building, one of the older ones by the river, and did not look back even when she heard a screech of tyres and inhaled a whiff of burning rubber. Car doors slammed.

Fear almost made it impossible to move. What if Tomas was picked up? What if she was?