Chapter 31

They caught their one o'clock plane and arrived home as darkness fell just after six thirty on Sunday evening. Elizabeth was home, watching television with Jamie as they dragged their suitcases into the house. The evening news was grim, and as they listened Lauren realised that they were lucky to have any electricity. The gloss on her assignment in San Falino was fading fast; the uncollected sacks of rubbish she had seen in San Serra now making sense along with the darkened villages they had sped through. The news reports showed mountains of rubbish collecting in village squares, with local residents walking past with dirty handkerchiefs covering their faces to ward off germs.

Gustav translated as much as he could, saying that state schools had closed because of a holdup with their funding. They watched in silence, their weekend dampened by the apparent suffering of the population. The Nationalists were scarcely mentioned, bringing Lauren to believe that the majority of the problems would have materialised with or without their assistance.

They ate in the dining room, pleased for once to be all together, even if it was only until the morning. Both Jamie and Emma went to bed before nine o'clock. Lauren sensed that Elizabeth needed to talk to her, and waited in the kitchen by the sink.

"Lauren, it's as we feared. The country is becoming ungovernable. You know there's a general strike starting next week?"

"Yeah, I heard on the news" said Lauren.

"Even if it's short, the country is in such bad shape that the situation

will be very volatile. People are already hungry. Soon you'll see pictures of sick babies who can't get milk or medicine. The papers will love it."

"Election or not, there will be problems" said Gustav.

Elizabeth turned to her, touching her shoulder. "We have no right to keep you here, and think it's best if you return to Switzerland as soon as you can"

Lauren was shocked. The idea of returning hadn't even crossed her mind. "But Emma and Jamie, who'll look after them?"

"We'll find someone local. If it came to a war then we would quite likely become refugees. Neither Gustav or I would fight, obviously, and we could only move away on foot until we came to Venezuela or another friendly country."

"The trouble is, that's what everyone else would do as well." added Gustav.

Without a second thought, Lauren looked straight at Elizabeth and stated her wishes. "Elizabeth, I want to stay. I know I don't fully understand the dangers, but I could never return without knowing that you were all safe." She listened to her words, wondering if she had really said that, so sincerely, so defiantly in the face of reason. Elizabeth and Gustav opened their mouths, about to protest in unison. Lauren held up her hand, imperiously demanding silence. "Anyway, I have a Swiss passport, just like you all have. They won't do anything to us, will they?"