Every now and then, between long pulls on his after-dinner beer, the Major repeated, ‘Never mind, son.’ He wanted the whole business forgotten. On the train back to London the next day Roland was silent. Alissa took his hand. ‘Do you hate him?’ It was the only question. He said, ‘I don’t know. I just don’t know.’ After a while and more silence, she added, ‘Don’t hate him. It will make you unhappy.’
