AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Do you know their names?’
‘Only some, like Keller.’
‘Tell us about the crossing.’
‘Another boat was leaving at the same time but did not come with us. People were shouting because some men had swum out from the beach and were trying to take over the other boat, but Keller helped fight them off.’
‘What time was this?’ asks Carlson.
‘I don’t know. It was dark. I was seasick. Besart told me to sit at the front and to watch the lights on the shore and I would feel better. The stars came out and the wind dropped. Keller steered us along the coast.
‘I must have fallen asleep. When I woke, we had changed direction and waves were lifting and dropping us into holes in the sea. I asked Besart how much longer and he kept telling me to be patient.’
Evie interrupts and corrects the interpreter. ‘His brother said to him, “You waited for the little thing. You can also wait for the big thing.”’
The interpreter nods to Evie, but I can tell he’s annoyed.
Arben continues. ‘We stopped and swapped fuel tanks. That made people sicker because of the fumes and the movement. I slept again, but woke to a bright light shining in my eyes. It came from the deck of a boat. The men on board were shouting at us, telling us to turn back.’
‘These men – they spoke English?’ asks Carlson.
Arben nods.
‘You have to answer for the recording.’
‘Yes.’
‘How many men did you see?’
‘Two, maybe more.’
‘Did you see their faces?’
‘Only shadows.’
‘What did they say?’
‘“Go back! Turn around!” Besart said we were going to England. “Not tonight,” said the man.’
‘Is that all?’
‘They swore at Besart and told him we’d all drown. One of them pointed to Jeta and another girl and said they could come to Britain, but the rest of us had to go back. Besart refused.’
‘Did you notice any markings on the boat? Numbers? Letters? Flags?’
The interpreter explains this to Arben, who begins another drawing. The only sounds in the room are the air conditioning and his pencil scratching on the page. The lines form and join, rendering a squat-looking boat with a central wheelhouse.
‘A fishing trawler,’ says Carlson. ‘Did you see a name?’
‘No.’
‘What happened then?’
‘They threw a rope across the water, saying they would tow us back to France. Besart threw it back. They sprayed us with hoses. Sea water. It was cold. People were yelling. We were scooping water out of the boat with our hands while Keller steered away. The boat followed. Then it went quiet. We could no longer hear the engines or see the lights. Keller wanted to slow down so that we could empty the water, but Besart said we should keep going. The stars had gone. Nobody talked. We prayed.
‘The sky was beginning to grow light when the engine stopped. Keller said there was water in the fuel line. He and Besart began trying to fix it. That’s when we saw the boat again.’
‘The same one?’ asks Carlson.
