Читать книгу Crocodile Tears онлайн

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Outside, the wind is starting to blow; he shudders, he’s cold, he covers himself as best he can and grips the shiv with both hands, as if trying to squeeze juice from it.

The footsteps become faster, they sound closer and louder, implacable, nearby, at his side, almost above his bed. Diego sits up and the movement causes his blanket to fall to the floor. He wants to shout, to stand up and run but he can’t; a sense of vertigo paralyses him, renders him mute. The rectangle of light from the door illuminates a small patch of wall to his right, just enough for him to see a shadow-puppet hand wielding a dagger. He wants to jump, to flee, but he is pinned to the mattress by panic.

A terrifying cry echoes around the cell. The shadow hand rises and falls rapidly, it falls five, six times, then falls once more. An awful scream, then another, nervous mumbling, laboured breathing followed by an icy silence that lasts for many seconds.

There are footsteps in the corridor, hard boots pound on the hard floor, a bolt clangs, the door opens, there is shouting, the lights go on. Diego closes his tender eyes against the blinding light, the shouting continues.