‘No, no, no, I cannot take money from a man who is here to help my country.’
When the hurdle of accepting money had been overcome, Iqbal insisted that Daniel was offering far too much. Sofia knew there was a fine balance to be drawn here. Too much money and Iqbal would feel it was charity; not enough and he would be offended that Daniel didn’t think highly enough of his work. Daniel insisted again that Iqbal was a master craftsman and that it would be offensive for him to pay anything less than the notes on offer. With an amount finally agreed on that pleased both men, they said their goodbyes.
‘That was kind of you,’ Sofia said, as she walked with Daniel to his car.
‘I needed the sole repaired.’
‘Still, it was kind.’
As they stood outside Ahmad’s shop making arrangements for their trip the following day to Jamal Mina, Sofia was aware that Ahmad and Hadi were perched back on their stools, listening. ‘And I’ll get back to you regarding the midwives,’ she said, trying to make their plans sound businesslike.
‘Thanks. Oh, and I also need to thank you for returning the dictionary. You didn’t have to, you know.’
After returning to Kabul from the village, Sofia had visited the MSF office, ostensibly to return Daniel’s scarf and dictionary but in reality wanting to know where he was. It surprised Sofia to learn no one in the office knew because he still hadn’t returned from the mountains. If Sofia wanted to leave the dictionary, scarf and a message, the receptionist would be happy to pass them on to him when he returned and before he left for his new posting at MSF headquarters in Geneva. Sofia left the dictionary and took the scarf. There was no message, she said.
‘I’ve still got your scarf, you know. I’ve grown fond of it, but you can have it back if you want.’
Daniel laughed. ‘That seems like an offer I’m meant to refuse.’
‘It is.’
‘Then you must keep it.’
‘Well, if you ever change your mind you know where it is.’
Daniel hesitated before getting into the car. ‘I was wondering if you’d like to have a drink? I’d like to hear what’s been happening in your life since the mountains. I’d also be interested to hear what convinced you to stay in Afghanistan.’
She smiled up at him. ‘Oh, that’s easy. You did.’
Daniel looked confused. ‘I changed your mind? Really?’ She nodded. ‘Then we definitely have to have that drink. I need to hear about this.’
There was no way she was going to turn any of that into a business arrangement for Ahmad and Hadi’s benefit. As Sofia walked back to her surgery she was smiling until she remembered Farahnaz and what she had to do.
Taking the stairs two at a time, she crossed reception to knock on Jabril’s surgery door.
‘We’ve got a problem,’ she said as she entered, taking one of the patient seats on the opposite side of the desk. By the time she’d finished telling him about Farahnaz’s brother, Jabril was slumping in his chair.
‘This is not good,’ he said, shaking his head.
‘No, it’s not. Do you think the disappearance of the four boys is related?’
Jabril sighed. ‘I don’t know, possibly. Let’s hope someone has taken them as free labour. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time kids have been stolen to work in factories or on the poppy farms in this country. If these boys are in a village somewhere someone’s sure to notice them, but will they say anything? Probably not. We need the police to make their disappearances public.’ Jabril began patting down the strands of hair combed over in an attempt to cover his bald patch, a sure sign he was worried.
‘Do you really think they’ve been taken for free labour?’ she asked.
‘No,’ he said, shaking his head and resting his hands on his desk. ‘No, I don’t. We can only hope that they’re still in Afghanistan and that they’ve been taken by someone who intends selling them on to a rich man, because that might give us time … at least for these last two boys. If he’s an agent he’ll probably want to train them in dance and make-up to raise their value before selling them on. If we’re lucky he might also need to leave them virgins. I’m sorry about my bluntness, my dear,’ he said, blushing.
‘It’s okay, Jabril. I’m a big girl.’
‘If we’re looking at some sort of paedophile ring there just might also be the possibility of buying the boys back – if we find who’s taken them, that is.’
‘If only the police would take this seriously,’ Sofia said, feeling her anger rising.
‘Yes, of course, but whatever happens, Sofia dear, you must promise me that you’ll keep out of this. If it turns out to be some sort of ring taking these boys then it’s far too dangerous for you to be involved. Leave it to Taban and me, and hopefully the police.’
‘Speaking of which,’ Sofia said, brushing off his warning as she rose from the chair, ‘do you want to ring Chief Wasim to tell him about Farahnaz’s brother or should I?’
‘I’ll ring him.’
‘And I’ll give Taban a call to see if she knows anything about Rayi’s disappearance. Okay, I’d better go. I’m supposed to be giving a talk to one of Zahra’s women’s groups for lunch today about my work with the midwives and I haven’t organised any notes.’
Jabril pulled a face. ‘Be careful. Those women’ll eat you alive.’
‘They’re okay,’ Sofia said with a smile. Opening the surgery door, she turned back to look at Jabril.
