40
Watlingford Public School, Oxfordshire – Three Hours Later
The walled kitchen garden at the school was bathed in early evening light. As Eli knelt by his wheelbarrow making a show of weeding a patch of the chocolate-coloured loam he watched a worm undulate around a clod of earth. It was unfortunate. The worm made him think of decomposing bodies and Red Cap’s wife.
These dark thoughts were disturbed by footsteps on the path and Eli was wrenched back to the present and the job in hand. Turning he glanced up to confirm that it was Sahar, and no one else. Eli composed his expression as he stood up.
‘Marhaba, shaheed al hay,’ he bowed and gestured with his arm towards the seat. The girl glided towards the wooden bench with careful dignity.
‘Marhaba, Abu Marwan,’ Sahar said.
‘We have li
