arms.
Masha meant to leave him to his fate. It was the only sensible thing to do. But
as she rounded the corner, she heard him moaning. And then she thought she heard
him say something about a jewel.
She stopped. Was that what he had put in something, perhaps a bit of cheese, and
thrown to the rat? It would be worth more money than she’d earn in a lifetime,
and if she could, somehow, get her hands on it … Her thoughts raced as swiftly
as her heart, and now she was breathing heavily. A jewel! A jewel? It would mean
release from this terrible place, a good home for her mother and her children.
And for herself.
And it might mean release from Eevroen.
But there was also a terrible danger very close. She couldn’t hear the sounds of
the pursuers now, but that didn’t mean they’d left the neighbourhood. They were
prowling around, looking into each doorway. Or perhaps one had looked around the
corner and seen Benna. He had motioned to the others, and they were just behind
the corner, getting ready to make a sudden rush.
She could visualize the knives in their hands.
If she took a chance and lost, she’d die, and her mother and daughters would be
without support. They’d have to beg; Eevroen certainly would be of no help. And
Handoo and Kheem, three and five years old, would grow up, if they didn’t die
first, to be child whores. It was almost inevitable.
While she stood undecided, knowing that she had only a few seconds to act and
perhaps not that, the clouds slid below the moon again. That made the difference