Nasiriyya – The awakeningLoud blows, like those from a bombing, were echoing around Elisa’s head. She realised she was still asleep, and tried to fight her way out of the bottomless pit she believed she had fallen into. She tried to shake herself awake, but nothing. She felt herself embroiled in an oppressive darkness. Then there were more blows. With a superhuman effort, she managed to open one eye. A dazzling light caused a stabbing pain in her brain. It was as though someone had pushed a sharp needle straight into her eyeball. A voice seemed to be calling her from a long way away.
“Doctor Hunter. Can you hear me? Are you all right?” Hisham, Elisa’s assistant, was knocking at the door and shouting to her at the top of his voice.
“Yes?” she wheezed in a thin voice. “Who is it? What’s ha
