I’ve read the reports.You killed your father’s rival in London and then put him out to pasture himself.You can just ask them for me and they’ll open the door.She shakes her head.You’ve got to have something to offer.What have you got that they want? he says.Her fingers dig into the wet earth.She holds two handfuls of soil for a moment, looking at him.I told myself I’d keep my head down, she says.He says, But that’s not you.I’ve read about you. He hesitates, then chances his luck.I think you’ll help me because it’s nothing to you to do it.Because you’re Roxy Monke.She swallows.Yeah, I am.At dusk, more of the women return to the camp, and Roxanne Monke bargains with the blind woman for Tunde’s life.She has a small plastic bag of drugs that she dangles in front of the leaders of the camp.She asks for something, but is turned down.She gestures her head toward him.Fine, she seems to be saying, if we can’t make a deal this way, I’ll take that boy instead.The women are surprised, then suspicious.There is a little haggling.The blind woman tries to argue.In the end, it doesn’t take too much to persuade them to let him go.He was right about how they see Roxy.And he is not particularly prized.If this woman wants him, let her take him.These people are not mad enough to want to stay here now that the soldiers are close by.They’ll take up their encampment in two or three days and move toward the mountains.They bind his arms tightly behind his back.They throw in the bag he was carrying for nothing, just to show her some respect.Don’t be too friendly with me, she says as she pushes him to walk ahead of her.Don’t want them to think I like you or that I got you cheap.His legs are cramped from his time in the cage.He has to take slow, shuffling steps along the forest path.It is an age until they are out of sight of the camp, and another eon until they cannot hear the noise of it behind them.With each step, he thinks, I am tied and I am in the hands of Roxanne Monke.He thinks, She’s a dangerous woman at the best of times.What if she’s just playing with me?Once these thoughts have flashed across the mind, they can never be put back.He is silent until, a few miles along the dirt track, she says, I think that’s far enough, and takes a small knife from her pocket and cuts his bonds.He says, What are you going to do with me?She says, I suppose I’ll rescue you, get you home.I’m Roxy Monke, after all. Then she breaks into a laugh.Anyway, you’re a celebrity.People’d pay good money for this, wouldn’t they?