As soon as he was freed, Adi fled to the back seat of the car where the chill of the air conditioning closed in around him. The driver released the handbrake and nudged the car forward onto the deserted road and, as they accelerated towards the crossroads, Adi felt a distance opening up between him, the family, the village and his old life. It was as if he and they were each holding the ends of a length of elastic and, with every metre travelled, the strain and pressure of holding on grew more and more unbearable. Soon he would have to let go. But not yet. Not yet.
Now. Now. You must. And he did let go, and his entire body jolted as though struck by lightning. Adi swivelled around for one last look as the driver switched on the indicators to make a left turn. He saw that they all were sti
