Six

The young Sherpa was four when his father died.

‘There was an incident with the forklift,’ is what he’s been told his whole life. ‘In the council warehouse, as they were loading up the Caterpillar parts.’

Now he hears the old Sherpa saying:

‘These people…’

And, although it’s unclear if he’s the intended recipient of this brief message, he nods at once. A gesture of understanding, of empathy.