page58 (2/2)

‘Is he … gone?’

I nod

She closes her eyes and ss violently as she tries to regain control of her emotions

I kneel beside her and cover her clenched fist with h I’ht, her hands are freezing

She opens her eyes and nods ‘You did well, my child You did well’ Her voice breaks on the last word and I throw my arms around her neck

‘It wasn’t er’

A ghost of a slad it wasn’t you A child shouldn’t have to kill her own father, even if he is a monster’

‘Noah did it’

‘So he made it there How is he?’

‘He’s wounded, but he’s alive’

‘Where is he now?’

‘I don’t know the full details, but it’s soypsies’

She nods distractedly ‘Where is your father now?’

‘They’ve taken his body away’

Her lips press down so hard they are a thin straight line ‘To be disposed of how?’

‘I don’t know I didn’t ask, but it has to be in such a way that it is never found’ I don’t tell her about the pig fars

She looks down at the floor ‘Did he … suffer?’

‘No It was instant One bullet’

‘Was he angry with me?’

I stroke her hair ‘He died not knowing you helped me’

A great sob racks her body It comes from her very core and makes her hands tremble so uncontrollably I become scared

‘Oh, Baba,’ I cry helplessly ‘Don’t cry so hard Please You’ll become ill’

She reat effort to calm herself, but tears flon her cheek ceaselessly