‘I . . . I am sorry for having doubted you. This deed occurred long ago, and belongs to a past that neither of us can change. The time for such secrets between us is over, and I thank you for sharing the truth with me.’ She turned to go, but hesitated for a moment. Speaking over her shoulder without looking at him, she said, ‘I can well understand that this must have been a terrible burden for you to bear for all these years. I can see now, too, that throughout my life, your hand was ever present, and not the least when my life was in danger.
‘My mother . . . I am not sure, but I think that she would have approved of you, regardless what happened.’ With that, she left.
It was long before Pran followed. In the meantime, poking idly at the fire, watching it with unseeing eyes, he relived old and bitter memories, while feeling the after-effects of profound grief and guilt. Yet his thoughts turned often to Malina, and when they did, he found himself shaking his head with admiration for what that young woman had become. And in the same breath, discovered that, though the burden of guilt of what his own people had become still remained squarely on his shoulders, its weight seemed much less than it had done for a very long time.