them, might have proved to be a prominent Taliban leader but Weeks could not forget that he had been a guest here once and he was no longer behaving like a guest.The boss greeted the old man in Pashtu and the man bowed his head but did not reply. And that was another thing, the boss thought. Why hadn’t he persevered with learning Pashtu?He said in clear, slow, precise English: ‘Please stay in this room and you will be safe. There are Taliban in the house and we are trying to remove them. We are looking for information about the hostage. Then we will go and you can resume your lives.’He knew the man could not understand. He just hoped his tone was reassuring. But the old man continued to stare at him with accusation in his eyes and Weeks guessed that he was being held responsible for the death of Asad.‘I didn’t kill him,’ he said to the man, who stared back un-comprehendingly. ‘I didn’t trust him but I certainly didn’t kill him.’It was ludicrous, but it was better than saying nothing. To his surprise, the man listened and then got up creakily. He traipsed off down the open hallway. The boss understood that he was intended to follow. He warned the lads not to fire.The old man led him past walls covered with rugs and matting to the shady courtyard where no doubt the men of the house sat and talked under leaves in the daytime and stars at night. The boss remembered that this was not a theatre of war for the people who lived their simple lives here but a home that might be full of memories.The morning sun was already caning the soldiers in their heavy kit but the courtyard felt cool, as though it was air-conditioned. The leaves created green shade and there was a large stone bowl of water and a few lemon trees, branches weighed down with fruit.The man led them to a tiny mud-walled enclosure in one corner that might be a dog kennel. There was no dog now but evidently until recently there had been a very big animal here because its turd burned hot in the sun and a large chain was attached to one wall of the doghouse. The places where the chain had been dragged across the ground had been rubbed bare of vegetation and had turned to dust as fine as talcum powder.The man gestured and said something.Angus and Finn were behind Weeks.‘Maybe he wants to sell you a dog,’ suggested Finn.‘Cover me, I’m looking inside,’ Angus told them, sinking onto his hands and knees and crawling into the kennel. Its door was already open but he pushed it open further. Inside it was dark and smelly. He crawled in. There was nothing, except a mattress on the ground.‘Holy shit! Holy fucking shit!’But there was no time to show the boss what he had found because they were in contact again. Evidently the insurgents had regrouped. There were tracers whizzing in both directions. The men dived for cover. It took a moment for them to realize that no one was firing at them. The fight was going on over their heads across the courtyard and neither side had registered their presence among the trees.The boss advised the old man to get down. The man ignored him and returned to the house, walking past the rounds as though he was invisible.‘The doghouse is good cover,’ the boss said reluctantly. He crawled in, followed by Angus and Mal.‘See that?’ said Angus, his huge body concertinaed into the small space. ‘He was here! Martyn was here!’Gordon Weeks twisted round and saw the word MARTYN was scratched into the wall. He could not hide his excitement. Finn was so pleased he kept fingering the name.‘Shit, he was here! Shit, we’re hot on his trail!’The boss gave a sit rep over the radio and then the news about Topaz Zero’s signature.Angus and Finn were in their firing positions, lying in the dog’s doorway now. Finn nodded to the turd.‘Glad to see Marty finally had that crap.’‘The shit’s old. He left at least a day ago,’ said Angus.‘But at least he’s still alive!’ said the boss from behind them.Angus grinned. ‘We’re going to find the old bastard. We might even get to him before they cut off his bollocks!’‘He liked you,’ said Finn. ‘All that shit about your dad . . . He pissed me off big-time for telling you but he did it because he liked you.’‘Know what I was thinking when he told me?’ Angus said. ‘I was wishing that Martyn Robertson
STEVE DIDN’T ARGUE WHEN LEANNE ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WANTED him to come home from Headley Court for a day. Since everything he did and said felt hurtful now, she took his failure to put up a fight as indifference.‘For heaven’s sake,’ said Jenny. ‘You’ve turned into one of those things in rock pools at the seaside that close up when you touch them. They even close up when they feel your shadow.’‘Sea urchins?’‘No . . . I’ve forgotten. My brain can’t remember more than the time of the next feed. Anyway, I’m trying to say, stop being so touchy. Steve’s happy to spend a day at home. You’re happy he’s coming. Act happy. The old Leanne would have been laughing and joking all the way down the M3.’Jenny was changing the baby’s nappy. Vicky and the twins were watching TV. Leanne, who was folding washing for her friend, paused thoughtfully.‘What did the old Leanne do if Steve went all silent on her?’‘I expect he did it all the time and she didn’t even notice because she was too busy being a stand-up comedian.’‘I don’t do funny any more.’‘Well, start again.’Leanne sighed. ‘I’m going to ask Kylie at nursery if she’ll take the boys for the whole day.’‘Oh, Leanne, I wish I could help . . .’ Jenny gestured around the room. It was strewn with discarded clothes, pink toys and dirty washing. ‘Now Mum’s gone, it’s chaos here.’‘The boys’ll be fine with Kylie.’‘She split up with her boyfriend. Ben. The one who lost a leg. People are saying nasty things about her for not sticking by him.’‘Not me,’ said Leanne quietly. ‘I don’t blame her.’She was nervous when she arrived at Headley Court to pick up Steve. She half expected to find that he had forgotten or wasn’t ready, and as she parked she prepared herself to get upset. She sat in the car in a disabled parking place near the guardhouse, chewing her lip. It was a windy autumn day. Each gust buffeted the car and threw rain against it. She jumped when her phone rang.‘Anemones!’ said Jenny’s crisp voice.‘You what?’‘Sea anemones. They’re the things that pull in all their petals if they see your shadow because they think everything wants to hurt them. That’s what you mustn’t be, Leanne.’‘So how am I supposed to be again? Just remind me, Jen.’‘Big, noisy, happy, loving, lots of fun, very funny. In other words, just yourself.’‘Christ. I can still do big. But that’s about all.’‘Oh, and sexy.’Leanne swallowed again.‘At the moment we’re two people who don’t fancy each other.’‘You can change all that.’‘Jen . . . listen. I told you I saw his leg. What’s left of it. His stump. I told you I saw it in hospital. But I sort of didn’t because it was still bandaged. I haven’t really seen it yet.’Jenny sighed.‘You’ll have to see it some time.’‘Yeah.’ Leanne’s voice was very small.‘Just brace yourself and tell him he’s still gorgeous and don’t start looking sorry for him. And if he tries giving you shit, don’t burst into tears, for God’s sake.’‘Right.’‘Just put your arms around him and tell him he’d better watch out or you’ll rip off the other leg.’Leanne guffawed.‘Christ, Jen. I’m not such a good actress.’‘Leanne, today you’re going to win an Oscar.’Leanne closed her eyes and took some deep breaths. She started to get out of the car and then paused. She hammered out a quick text: ‘
Agnieszka watched the rain. The wind was throwing it against the window. It was just a matter of time before she heard the familiar sound of water pouring from the leaking gutter.She could see the road, dark as a long, cold river. A car passed, moving slowly, its lights on although it was morning, its windscreen wipers waving from side to side. Luke started crying. She did not turn away from the window.‘That how I feel, Luke. Just like you,’ she told him.Someone walked along the pavement, body doubled against the wind, towing a child along in hat, coat and scarf. The child was crying and objecting but its mother was pulling it along anyway.The car that had passed stopped now. It was parking outside. She saw it was a sports car but she watched it without interest. A man got
