She must have understood me for she held up her hands which were bound with rope. So she was tied to the bed. That’s why she hadn’t been able to comfort her boy. I picked and pulled until the knot had loosened and she was able to throw off the restraints. She hauled herself out of the bunk and dropped down on to the floor. When she rose, I saw her eyes were clouded. Did she recognise me? She looked thinner than before, her body wasted and hunched. The white patches had spread and those on her arms had merged into one another.

‘The key, where is the key?’ I began, but she was already dragging herself towards the far side of the room. I turned in the direction of where she was headed. Yes – why hadn’t I seen it? – a single key hanging from the wall on a dirty string. I raced to collect it and went to the cage. At the sight of his mother the child had become calmer and watched me wide-eyed as I turned the key and the cage door swung open. I reached inside and he took my hand so I could draw him out. He was covered in his own filth. Only someone truly evil could have done this to him. I picked the boy up and placed him in his mother’s outstretched arms. Weak as my sister was, I knew she’d have all the strength she needed to bear him out of here.

I touched my fingertips to my chest. ‘Zillah,’ I said.

She mimicked my actions. ‘Nosizwe,’ she said.

‘I want to get you out of here, Nosizwe.’ I reached out my hand to her. ‘Come with me, please.’

‘Ngisacela ungcede nalaba enginabo?’ she said. She looked around at the other captives drugged in their bunks. What about them?

‘Yes, I have come here to help all of you. My friend will take you somewhere safe, she will be waiting for you outside, but we must go now.’

Nosizwe turned away from me. I didn’t understand why until she leant down and started to rouse her fellow prisoners. She whispered to them, words I didn’t catch. Her tone was reassuring. I realised she was telling them that if they went with me, they would be safe. I ran into the bright room and took one of the scalpels. They could saw through their bonds quicker with this. I should have thought of it sooner.

‘We must go,’ I urged Nosizwe again when everyone had been woken.