‘Go, my friend – please. Before you die.’

19

Michael wanted to be silent, but the man was staring at him as if waiting for the next question.

The smile slowly faded, and he looked away. As for the train, it had found another bridge, and this one took them past factories and factory yards. Most seemed to have closed, but it was hard to say for some had the occasional vehicle outside. The sun really would be setting soon, and they passed a great stack of tyres.

‘We lived in a very rural part of the country,’ said the man, not needing the question after all. ‘My father’s house. Very large house, with a lot of land. He was a wealthy man.’

‘Why did he come to England?’

‘I don’t know.’

The man laughed.

‘We ask him that question, my brother and me. He came when I was ten years old, my brother was eight. “Why did you bring us here, Daddy?” That is always the question. He was rich, but there was no money, and the farm was very poor. He took a job in the foundry and two weeks ago… he died.’

‘He died?’

‘Ninety-three years old. He died in the hospital.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Now we have to go back, of course – to have the memorial. We bury him here, but the memorial will be a very big programme, near Lahore.’

‘You have a big family?’

‘Me? I do, yes. My father had just two boys. I have five. Two girls, five boys.’

‘That’s a lot of mouths to feed,’ said Michael. ‘How old are they?’

‘My oldest is twenty-eight. My youngest is at school, still. Sixteen.’

Michael found himself nodding.

He knew very little about Islam, but all his expectations were being confirmed, and he wondered how he could ever penetrate such an extraordinary culture. He would be asking questions for ever. Why this? Why that? The man spoke good English, but Michael presumed he spoke his own language at home, and was no doubt more eloquent and comfortable speaking it.

‘You grew up in Pakistan,’ he said.

‘On the farm, yes,’ replied the man.

He laughed.

‘My brother and I, and our friends. We would set off early in the morning with a little food. My mother would not see us again until sundown. That was in the holiday, that was… if we had no chores. Playing all day. Swimming. Walking. Climbing.’

‘Fighting?’

‘Fighting? No. Yes. Sometimes – I don’t know.’