and grab some dog food for Liquorice. Quietly, I sit in the bedroom area with the other children, trying not to wake them.
This is the first time in weeks that I feel safe enough to take a moment to myself. I take my family photos out of my backpack and the tin. As I browse through my mother’s passport, I see stamps of places she visited. This must’ve been from before I was born, because I’ve never been abroad. I’ve always wanted to travel, to see what was beyond our village. But now, all I want to do is go back there.
Flicking to the last page, I notice a photo of my mother from when she was younger.
A piece of paper drops out onto my bed. I unfold the note and begin to read it.
Dearest Jada,
If you are reading this, it means I have gone to live with saints in heaven. I am sorry. I wish I could be there for you.
Remember everything that your father taught you and what I told you. Always protect yourself, no matter what. You have to protect yourself. Get out of this country. It's too dangerous for you, for a child. Yes, you are a child, but you have to be strong when you are in this country. Once you get out, you will be a child again. I believe your father is still alive. God will bring you both back together. Trust your heart. I will always watch over you and love you.
Goodbye, Jada. God bless my beautiful daughter xxx
My mother … I feel so alone right now. I miss her so much, and the words in the letter bounce around as my eyes fill up with tears and roll down my face. I will never see her again. But there is a little bit of hope… she thinks Father is alive. I have to find him. He’s the only family I have left.
Haytham and Liquorice are both watching me. Great. I’ve only just met him, and I look like a bubbling mess! Liquorice walks over to me and licks my tears away. It makes me feel a little bit better. Haytham kneels down next to me and picks up the photograph of my family.
“You look just like your mother,” he says quietly.
I sob more.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Unable to speak, I just pass him the letter. It explains everything without my having to say anything. Haytham reads it quickly and looks over toward me.
“I’m sorry. Zak’s and my fathers were taken too. They killed Zak’s mother and set his village on fire, and killed his brother in front of him. Tilly is all he has left, until he finds his father. All the children’s parents have been killed or kidnapped. You are not alone in your grief, and you are not alone with us. We are your family now.” Haytham places his arm around me. He’s so caring for a young boy.
I guess he and his mother have probably said these words a lot over the past few days or weeks. It’s comforting to have someone hug me, even a stranger.
“Thank you, Haytham. How long have you been traveling?”
“At least two weeks.”
Haytham continues telling me his story of how he ended up here.
Chapter 22
New Friends.
GERARD
19 Years Earlier
“Sergeant Gérard Mynatt reporting for an interview with Captain Marshall,” I inform the receptionist.
A faint smile appears on her face, then she looks down to a large book. Slowly she moves her hand over the page, then looks up at me.
“Sergeant Gérard, please take one step away from the desk!” she orders.
I quickly do as she says, and she returns her attention back to the book, apparently still looking for my name. Jesus, how many interviews do they have in one day? Did I think that Mossad was a selective group?
“Sergeant Gérard Mynatt, please take a seat. Captain Marshall will be with you shortly.” The receptionist raises her hand and points to the brown leather couch behind me.
“Thank you.” I nod like an excited school girl. I take a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm. I don’t want to blow my chances by acting like a nervous idiot.
The main door opens, and a man around my age walks over and heads straight to the reception
This is the first time in weeks that I feel safe enough to take a moment to myself. I take my family photos out of my backpack and the tin. As I browse through my mother’s passport, I see stamps of places she visited. This must’ve been from before I was born, because I’ve never been abroad. I’ve always wanted to travel, to see what was beyond our village. But now, all I want to do is go back there.
Flicking to the last page, I notice a photo of my mother from when she was younger.
A piece of paper drops out onto my bed. I unfold the note and begin to read it.
Dearest Jada,
If you are reading this, it means I have gone to live with saints in heaven. I am sorry. I wish I could be there for you.
Remember everything that your father taught you and what I told you. Always protect yourself, no matter what. You have to protect yourself. Get out of this country. It's too dangerous for you, for a child. Yes, you are a child, but you have to be strong when you are in this country. Once you get out, you will be a child again. I believe your father is still alive. God will bring you both back together. Trust your heart. I will always watch over you and love you.
Goodbye, Jada. God bless my beautiful daughter xxx
My mother … I feel so alone right now. I miss her so much, and the words in the letter bounce around as my eyes fill up with tears and roll down my face. I will never see her again. But there is a little bit of hope… she thinks Father is alive. I have to find him. He’s the only family I have left.
Haytham and Liquorice are both watching me. Great. I’ve only just met him, and I look like a bubbling mess! Liquorice walks over to me and licks my tears away. It makes me feel a little bit better. Haytham kneels down next to me and picks up the photograph of my family.
“You look just like your mother,” he says quietly.
I sob more.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Unable to speak, I just pass him the letter. It explains everything without my having to say anything. Haytham reads it quickly and looks over toward me.
“I’m sorry. Zak’s and my fathers were taken too. They killed Zak’s mother and set his village on fire, and killed his brother in front of him. Tilly is all he has left, until he finds his father. All the children’s parents have been killed or kidnapped. You are not alone in your grief, and you are not alone with us. We are your family now.” Haytham places his arm around me. He’s so caring for a young boy.
I guess he and his mother have probably said these words a lot over the past few days or weeks. It’s comforting to have someone hug me, even a stranger.
“Thank you, Haytham. How long have you been traveling?”
“At least two weeks.”
Haytham continues telling me his story of how he ended up here.
Chapter 22
New Friends.
GERARD
19 Years Earlier
“Sergeant Gérard Mynatt reporting for an interview with Captain Marshall,” I inform the receptionist.
A faint smile appears on her face, then she looks down to a large book. Slowly she moves her hand over the page, then looks up at me.
“Sergeant Gérard, please take one step away from the desk!” she orders.
I quickly do as she says, and she returns her attention back to the book, apparently still looking for my name. Jesus, how many interviews do they have in one day? Did I think that Mossad was a selective group?
“Sergeant Gérard Mynatt, please take a seat. Captain Marshall will be with you shortly.” The receptionist raises her hand and points to the brown leather couch behind me.
“Thank you.” I nod like an excited school girl. I take a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm. I don’t want to blow my chances by acting like a nervous idiot.
The main door opens, and a man around my age walks over and heads straight to the reception
Similar Books
