Chapter 39

"They took me to the jail in Malaga." Salva was sitting in Rosalba's back kitchen, wincing slightly as she removed the dressings. "It was unspeakable. Every so often they took people out and shot them. You never knew when it would be your turn. I was so glad when they took me to work in the labour camp."

Rosalba raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.

"It was near Madrid. You wouldn't believe it." Salva gave a dry chuckle with no humour in it whatsoever. "We were building a monument to El Generalcissimo."

Rosalba instinctively looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was in earshot.

"I was one of the lucky ones." Rosalba raised her eyebrows again. "Most of them died." Salva looked down at his exposed feet. They were looking quite pink and healthy.

"No real harm done," Rosalba said. "The flesh is coming back. I think they will be as good as new in a week or so." She began to put on new dressings.

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