‘That’s right, I’m still captured,’ said Damen. ‘Your eyes say, “For now,” ’ Laurent said. ‘Your eyes have always said, “For now.” ’ And then: ‘If you were a pet, I would have gifted you enough by now to buy out your contract, many times over.’ ‘I’d still be here,’ said Damen, ‘with you. I told you that I would see this border dispute through to its finish. Do you think I’d go back on my word?’ ‘No,’ said Laurent, almost as if he was realising it for the first time.
