Anatomy of a Soldier by Harry Parker

Author:Harry Parker [Harry Parker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780571325849
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2016-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

One day the women were singing softly, stitching the bridal dress, when Faridun came home early from work.

‘Where is Father?’ he said.

‘In the back field,’ his mother said. ‘Why?’

‘The soldiers are here. They want to speak to him.’

‘What do you mean, here?’ She pulled a thread through the silk in her lap.

‘They’re outside now. Right here, Mother.’

‘Did you bring them here, Faridun?’

But he had already left.

‘We should finish,’ she said.

She made the women and girls leave the room, tidied all the fabrics and needles from me and waited.

Kushan Hhan came back with his son.

‘What is happening?’ she said as they entered.

‘The British soldiers are here, Aadela,’ my owner said. ‘They have come to speak to me.’

She held a length of fabric to her chest. ‘Why are you here, then? Go out and see them.’

‘I have invited them in,’ he told her.

‘You will not, Kushan, I will not let you bring them into this house.’

‘They have asked to see me. We cannot forget our traditions, Aadela.’ He looked out of the door.

She was frightened. ‘It means nothing to them.’

‘Go and make tea, Aadela,’ he said firmly. ‘And do not show yourself.’

‘Do you do this for power, Kushan? It is reckless.’

‘Go,’ he said. ‘Please.’ He glanced at his son. ‘Faridun, bring in the foreigners.’

The boy brought the soldiers in. There were only three of them. The first walked in after Faridun. He was dark and massive and his aerial rattled off the top of the doorway. Once he’d taken his helmet off and pulled a band from his head and smiled, he didn’t seem so huge and strange. He placed his equipment and his rifle down by the door.

Kushan Hhan beckoned him over and they sat on me across from each other. Another soldier waited outside the door and the third man came in and sat with them. He spoke first.

‘This is Captain Tom. I am his translator,’ he said. ‘He thanks you for allowing him into your home. It is very generous of you.’

‘Tell him he is welcome,’ Kushan Hhan said and smiled, touching his hand to his chest.

The young soldier nodded. He was hot and his trousers were damp with sweat. He spoke to the translator.

‘He says he has placed his men around the house for our protection. He is sorry to have to do this. He hopes it does not mark you out.’

‘It is fine: I understand.’

‘Captain Tom is from the base beyond the village.’

‘Tell him I know the base well. I have been there before to meet with them,’ Kushan Hhan said. ‘But each time I go there it is a different man in uniform I speak to. I have never seen your captain. How long has he been here?’

The interpreter and the soldier talked.

‘He has been here for two months. He apologises that they are always changing, but it is beyond his control. I myself have had to speak for three different groups since I have worked with them. They never stay for very long.’

‘Where are you from?’ Kushan Hhan asked the interpreter.

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