Cockroaches(116)

“Open wide,” Harry said.

The roar of the juddering machine drowned the traffic beneath them, the yapping megaphone and the sound of the vibrating iron ladder. Harry leaned over Jens with his legs apart, his face still raised toward the sky and his eyes closed. It was raining.

Harry slumped into the sand. Lay on his back and gazed up at the sky; he was on the beach, she asked if he would put some cream on her back, she had such sensitive skin. Didn’t want to get burned. Not burned. Then they were there, loud voices, boots on the concrete and the greased click of guns being cocked. He opened his eyes and was blinded by a light on his face. Then the torch moved on and he glimpsed the outline of Rangsan.

Harry caught the smell of his own gall before the contents of his stomach filled his mouth and nose.