“Best place for you.”

“Mate – seriously, I don’t know about that.”

“Cheapest and best.”

“Mmm.”

It seemed unreal at first, almost impossible for Max to imagine himself sleeping here with these abandoned children. But it was a very enticing scene, an obvious melting pot of cultures – a writer’s paradise.

And here he was – right in the centre of it.

Mate…

Admit it…

It’s perfect.

But no – surely not.

No way was he going to sleep out in the open like these poor kids – not on his first night in India.

“It is a great spot…” he admitted.

“For you.”

9.8

He’s here…

Somewhere…

He must be...

There he is with that cheeky smile, mouthing those words.

What are those words?

Max was speaking to her – it was important, more than important, it was urgent… but strain as she did she still could not hear him.

Try to listen…

She was boiling with frustration – trying, but hearing nothing.

He’s fading away, waving –

“Good-bye.”

A surge of energy ran through Rita’s body, culminating in a sudden jerk of awareness – she burst awake in a lather of sweat.

Good-bye?

The dreaded realization flooded in as she opened her eyes and looked around –