‘It’s no problem.’
‘No, I’ll do it. Now, Zahra,’ he said, sounding brighter as they descended the steps onto the paved central courtyard of the garden where the crowds were milling in their finery, ‘can we please debate the merits, or otherwise, of Minister Massoud another time?’
Zahra shrugged as if it the subject was of no interest to her. ‘I’m not debating anything.’ She smiled sweetly as she waved to another friend. ‘Nothing to debate.’
As Sofia took her scarf off to drape around her shoulders and heard Jabril’s sigh, she began looking for Daniel again. Like Jabril, she knew there was no use arguing with Zahra once she’d made up her mind about someone or something.
As people continued to enter the garden from behind them, they were pushed forward along the central tiled courtyard lined by blooming Afghan roses and ending in a fountain. With dusk beginning to fall, the lights along the path and the fountain had come on, bathing the garden and its well-jewelled patrons in a warm glow.
Finding himself momentarily free of the demands of greeting friends and acquaintances, Jabril wandered off in search of Minister Massoud. Standing on tiptoe, Sofia used her height to look out over the crowd that was now spilling out from the central courtyard onto the grass and paved areas beyond the rows of pines. She began to think he wasn’t coming.
‘Seen him yet?’ Zahra asked, also taking her scarf off to drape across one shoulder.
‘No.’ Sofia relaxed down, deciding she should abandon her search. He was not coming. ‘Do you know something about Massoud that we should?’ she asked Zahra.
‘I only know his wife’s frightened of him.’
Sofia raised her eyebrow in interest, encouraging Zahra to continue, but she simply shrugged. ‘You can intuit things by the way someone talks about their spouse – or the way they don’t talk about them.’
Sofia knew that was all she was going to get from Zahra. In a city that loved gossip, her friend was an exception.
‘Did you know about this new security?’
Zahra shrugged again. ‘We’re paying Rashid and Tawfiq to keep you safe. Makes sense to get them to do their job.’
‘I thought we were paying Rashid to keep my patients safe.’
‘That too.’
Taking Sofia’s elbow, Zahra drew her off to one side, away from the crowd to under one of the trees along the perimeter of the walled garden. ‘This thing about Farahnaz’s brother and these other missing boys … I think it’s best if you don’t get involved any further.’
‘I didn’t go looking for this, Zahra. Farahnaz came to see me. What else could I do?’
‘I know, I know, it’s a terrible business and, of course, you did the right thing by telling Jabril, but if I may speak plainly on another matter …’ Sofia didn’t think Zahra spoke anything but plainly on any matter. ‘I wish you had not given that talk to the women yesterday. It didn’t go down well.’
Sofia didn’t need to be told that. It had been painfully clear, but she still believed it had been the right thing to do. ‘You don’t think they liked being reminded of the pitiful lives of these children and the dangers they face every day?’
Zahra didn’t look impressed. ‘No, Sofia, they didn’t like a young Western woman reminding them of their country’s inadequacies, or telling them what they should do about it. Don’t you think they know these things? These are intelligent women: politicians, aid workers. They’re not stupid. They know what’s going on.’
‘Then why don’t they do something about it?’ As soon as the words were out Sofia knew how ridiculous and offensive they were. She was not surprised by the rebuke that followed.
‘Have you wiped out the practice in Australia? Have they wiped it out anywhere else in the Western world? We are no different to anywhere else, I think.’
Sofia felt the fire leave her belly. ‘Point taken. I’m sorry I put you in that position.’
‘It’s got nothing to do with whatever position you think you put me in. I can deal with that, and I know you only meant well, I really do. And, of course, I understand your outrage.’ Zahra reached over to squeeze Sofia’s arm. ‘We’re all outraged, Sofia. Appalled. Disgusted. I also understand, and appreciate, that you don’t usually interfere, but I have to say to you, as my dear friend, that in this matter you went too far and what you did could put your life in danger.’
‘I thought you knew and trusted these women?’ Sofia said, looking surprised.
‘I do, but I don’t know who they talk to and neither do you. The wrong word in the wrong ear … Well, you don’t know where it could lead. This place is a small town and it loves to gossip.’
‘I didn’t know what else to do,’ Sofia said, feeling deflated. It had been a long day and she’d been so looking forward to seeing Daniel again, but he obviously wasn’t coming.
With the expanding crowd spreading out toward them, Zahra pulled Sofia further away until they were under the shadow of the wall. ‘Do you remember I told you that when Jabril and I decided to return to Afghanistan after living in the US we agreed that we wouldn’t try to fix the whole country?’ A waiter in traditional Afghan dress arrived with a smile and a tray of juices and mocktails. Choosing a drink, Zahra waited for him to move away before continuing. ‘We took chances under the Taliban that I’m not willing to take anymore. Jabril was to help the men in the square in his practice and I would work with women. That was what was agreed. That was all we were going to do.’ She took Sofia’s arm again. ‘Don’t you see, this is why I’m so upset with Jabril about this paedophilia campaign thing. We promised not to put ourselves in danger again, and I don’t want you putting yourself in danger either. This is why I don’t want you to
