"LIKE THE SONG GOES..." ""THE DAY I WAS BORN"." "TO THINK "SHE" WAS ME..." "VANITY OF VANITIES." "RAISE RAVENS (CRIA!" ")" "MY MOTHER AND I." "MAITE'S MOUTH OPEN, LIKE ALWAYS" "I love you, I love you..." "I want you." "You are tickling me, Anselmo..." "Be patient, Anselmo." "Love... my love..." "I love you..." "I love you more than anything else in the world..." "I love you... kiss me... my dearest..." "Anselmo." "Anselmo." "What's wrong?" "Anselmo." "I can't breathe..." "I'm choking..." "Anselmo!" "Anselmo!" "Oh, my God..." "My God..." "Daddy..." "Daddy..." "What are you doing here?" "I can't sleep." "I see." "You can't sleep." "Do you know what time it is?" "It's terribly late." "Come on, to bed." "Goodnight." "Look what I've brought you..." "You're a real glutton..." "Rosa." "When is my First Communion?" "I don't know." "You'll still have to wait a couple of years." "Your turn now, Ana." "Come on." ""l teach myself, lady hake."" ""Let's see if it works..."" "Let me do it, Rosa." "What happens if I bite your neck?" "And... what if I kiss your neck?" "And... what if I bite you here again?" "And... what happens if I kiss your ear?" "Very loud." "Ana..." "Ana!" "May I know what you're thinking of?" "Is it true than my mother always wore this cross?" "Of course." "Grandma gave it to her." "This cross keeps the devil away." "And the vampires too." "Ready!" "They are ready, miss!" "Let's see." "At least they look decent." "Thanks, Rosa." "Behave yourselves." "Irene, come here." "First thing when you enter the room, you kiss your father." "Then you pray for his soul." "Understood?" "Understood, Ana?" "Come on now, Maite." "When is my First Communion?" "Not now!" "I was sleeping quiet when I heard voices." "When I got into the room I saw he was dead." "And then Mummy appeared." "Mummy is dead, Ana." "Thank you very much." "You're the eldest, Irene, you first." "Now you, Ana." "Come on, Ana." "Come on!" "I don't want to." "We'll talk later." "Now you, Maite." "Take her." "I can't reach him." "One day that my mother was cleaning the house, she took a metal box out of the wardrobe and gave it to me saying:" ""Throw this out, Ana, it musn't be here."" "Besides, it's useless now." "I asked her with curiosity what was inside it." "She said it wasn't my concern." "I asked her if it was poison and she told me smiling," ""Yes, a horrible poison." "You can kill an elephant with just a spoonful of this powder."" "And then she said, "Come, come, throw it out"." "I was very shocked and I don't know exactly why I didn't listen to my mother and kept the box." "Because I wanted to kill my father?" "I've asked myself that question 100 times and all the answers I can think of now, twenty years afterwards," "are too easy and unsatisfactory." "The only thing I remember clearly is that I was then convinced that my father was responsible for the sadness that embittered the last years of my mother's life." "I was convinced it was only him who provoked her illness and death." "My mother..." "According to the people that knew her well, my mother could have been an excellent pianist." "Ever since she was a child she showed a particular gift for music and everyone foretold a brilliant future for her." "For many years she devoted herself to the piano and she even played in public concerts." "In one of them she met my father." "They fell in love, soon got married and my mother gave up the piano to devote herself completely to us, her daughters." "I think she always missed those times and regretted giving up a profession that could have been a liberation for her." "Nevertheless I also think now that she feared becoming just a mediocre player despite all the prophecies." "And so she chose a quiet and organized life instead of facing such a responsability." "Irene, no one ever taught you how to eat properly?" "It's better to hold the fork this way." "And it's easier." "Ana, please, the knife!" "I wonder why you don't know good table manners." "Maite, keep you mouth shut when you eat!" "Nobody taught me." "Don't be foolish." "Your parents never taught you how to act at the table?" "I always eat this way." "What did you say?" "Nothing." "If you have anything to say, say it clearly." "I dislike half words." "Irene, the fork." "Daddy never taught us how to eat." "And what about your mother?" "My sister never taught you how to eat?" "My mother died before I was born." "Who told you that nonsense?" "I ask you please to listen." "Following you father's will," "I've taken charge of your education." "That means that from now on, you are under my protection." "Grandmother is also going to live in this house and we'll both do our best to give you all you need." "You may find this hard at the beginning, but I'm sure that if we all try, we'll get on well, isn't that so Maite?" "I have to tell you that I've found the house a shambles." "From now on I want things tidy, and to achieve that, it's necessary for all of you to make an effort." "I want the house to be ready before the end of your vacation." "Can I count on your help?" "May I leave the table?" "Yes." "May I leave the table, aunt?" "Of course!" "I presume we'll get on well." "All men are the same, all of them." "You'll realize when you're a woman." "All want the same." "You are lost if you yield to them." "Your father himself..." "was quite a man." "He was mad about women." "I had to run away from him more than once." "He really had wandering palms." "What a man..." "I could tell you..." "The quarter of Santa Cruz." "You're a red carnation." "You're my godess..." "You gave me a burning kiss." "Ay Mari Cruz, Mari Cruz." "Ay Mari Cruz, wonderful woman." "In the Santa Cruz quarter, you're a red carnation, you're my goddess, you gave me a burning kiss." "A burning kiss, Mari Cruz." "The woman who used to I ive next door..." "I can't help bursting with laughter... one day, suddenly, she realized she was three months pregnant." "Everyone kept asking her who the father was but she wouldn't say." "She swore time and again she hadn't slept with anybody." "She said..." "Do you understand what I'm saying?" "Not a thing." "Well..." "Here..." "Hold this end." "That's it..." "She said that one day she was walking by a building site and something fell inside her blouse." "She felt something inside her clothes." "Do you know what it was?" "A mouse." "She said that mouse was her baby's father." "Have you got anything for Roni?" "How can you have such an animal!" "Give me lettuce." "Take some from the fridge, but not too much." "What floor is it?" "The third floor." "But they're on vacation." "Did you send him the letter?" "Yes, but he didn't reply." "He doesn't love you." "What do you know?" "You're a fool." "You're the fool." "Look at Roni so soft and chubby." "Lovely little thing." "Maite..." "Maite, honey..." "What do you want?" "Look for some." "Is this any good?" "Do you know who is downstairs, Ana?" "That good-looking friend of Daddy's." "And this one?" "Yes, yes." "Mark it." "Could you turn the music down?" "I'm going now." "Where are you going?" "I have dozens of things to do." "I'll be back before Rosa." "Take care of your grandmother." "Especially you, Irene." "Can we go with you?" "Not now." "I'm in a hurry." "Irene, since you're the eldest, take care of things around here." "If anybody phones, say I'll be here in a couple of hours." "All right?" "Be good." "Do you want to dance?" "I think grandma's calling." "What a nuisance!" "I'll go." "Poor thing, nobody cares about you." "They leave you here on your own." "Let's go!" "Do you want to see the photographs or do you want the prayer book?" "You want to see the photographs." "Anything else?" "I'll put the song on." "Are you coming with us, Ana?" "Where?" "Come on, don't be so boring." "I'm not boring." "You're the boring one." "May I come with you?" "Yes." "All right." "Does it suit me?" "Help me!" "Too big for you." "lt doesn't matter." "I shall never wear this." "You won't be able to run." "Why not?" "Because..." "Give me the broom." "How are you, dear?" "You are late." "What have you been doing up till 11:00 in the evening?" "Please, don't start again, I'm dead tired." "I've had an awful day." "Indeed!" "You can't lie to me." "Do you think I'm stupid?" "Don't start again." "I come home looking for a little rest." "You're upsetting my life." "Oh, God!" "What have I done?" "Don't try to fool me, hypocrite..." "Do you think I'm stupid or what?" "I know very well who you've been with." "You've been with... with Rosa." "With Rosa?" "Yes, with Rosa." "Nonsense." "You and your stupid jealousy." "I love only you, but sometimes my patience comes to a limit." "This is going to finish." "You'll soon see." "The children, please, Amelia." "They are asleep." "And anyway, I don't mind if they wake up." "They'll learn who their father really is." "A rascal." "That's what you are." "Stop talking, Amelia, please." "I shout as much as I please." "Who do you think you are?" "Gosh!" "What are you doing?" "Nothing." "We were playing." "I'm playing the maid." "Come here, Ana!" "What's that behind you?" "Give it to me." "My wig." "And you used my rouge." "You too, Irene." "Go to the loo and wash your faces." "Hurry up!" "And don't do it again." "So you played the maid didn't you, dearie?" "Hands up." "Fine." "We'll spend next weekend in the country." "How's that?" "Super." "But where?" "In Nicolas Garate's villa." "You know who he is?" "The one who was in the garden the other day." "Amelia's husband." "Take your trousers off." "Have you ever been there?" "We went once with mummy and daddy." "There were horses... a pine grove, and I think also a river." "It's a splendid property." "We'll have a lovely time, you'll see." "And off..." "The other leg..." "Have your bath now!" "It's burning." "We'll cool it down." "Don't be a naughty girl." "Come on, Maite." "Crouch down." "Crouch down, Maite." "Now your head." "Maite, my dear." "Nicolas was your father's best friend." "A very good man." "They were both in the Army together." "Amelia was with Daddy when Daddy died." "What did you say?" "Amelia was in bed with Daddy when he died." "Let's see." "Tell me that story." "Amelia was with your father..." "Are you being serious?" "Who told you that?" "Ana saw them together in bed." "Teller!" "I understand." "You saw..." "What did you see?" "I didn't see anything." "Of course not!" "Telling lies is horrible!" "Some lies can do a lot of harm." "You're still too young to realize the seriousness of certain things." "What's it all about?" "One day Daddy said to Mummy that Amelia was very pretty." "Mummy said that she wasn't that beautiful." "I think Amelia is very pretty." "Very pretty." "That's true." "I can't understand how some people say... childhood is the happiest time of one's life." "It certainly wasn't for me and that maybe is why I don't believe either in a childlike paradise or in the innocence of children." "I remember my childhood as a long interminable and sad time, filled with fear." "A fear of the unknown." "There are things I cannot forget." "It seems unbelievable how memories can be so... so strong." "So strong..." "My mother was ill in bed." "At the time I didn't know that her illness was incurable nor that she had been sent home from the hospital to die." "My two sisters were with aunt Paulina and grandmother, who didn't live with us then." "My father was out." "I don't know where." "And Rosa acted as a nurse." "I want to talk to the doctor." "It's very urgent!" "It's from Rosa." "Yes, doctor, it's Rosa here." "She's very ill." "Come as soon as possible, please." "She's suffering a lot." "I don't know what to do." "Yes, at nine o'clock." "It's all a lie." "Nothing exists." "Nothing exists." "They've cheated me." "I'm afraid." "I don't want to die." "I don't want to die." "I'm afraid." "I don't want to die." "It hurts." "It hurts!" "It hurts." "It hurts!" "Clam down." "They're going to give you an injection." "Rosa!" "lt won't hurt anymore." "Come on, please..." "It hurts." "What are you doing here?" "Go and play." "Ana..." "What are you doing here?" "I don't feel sleepy." "You don't feel sleepy?" "Have you tried counting sheep?" "I see." "May I stay with you?" "Do you know what time it is?" "It's very late." "I don't feel sleepy." "Why don't you play that song?" "This is not the time to play the piano." "Please, Mummy." "All right." "But you'll have to go to sleep afterwards." "Really?" "You promise?" "Yes, I promise." "The song you like... is this one, right?" "Not really?" "I don't know." "Blow." "Here." "Is that the one?" "What about your promise?" "Off to bed now..." "Give me a kiss." "Another one." "Kiss me like in the movies." "Now like the eskimos." "And now kiss me..." "Like a bear!" "A bear!" "Listen, she-bear, to bed." "Come on!" "That's enough of bears." "Are you still up?" "I told you I would be back late." "Go to bed." "I can't sleep." "I was waiting for you, Anselmo." "I want to talk to you." "If you don't mind, we'll talk tomorrow." "I'm going to bed." "We have all day tomorrow to chat." "I don't want to chat all day tomorrow." "I want to talk to you now." "What about?" "I don't know." "Tell me what you've done." "Did you have a good time?" "Yes, very good." "A very good time." "I can't go on." "I can't go on, Anselmo." "I've reached the limit." "I can't go on." "Stop talking nonsense, Maria." "What you have to do is to find some pastime." "I don't want a pastime." "You can't sit here all day." "I want to be dead." "I want to die." "I want to be dead." "Come on, Maria." "Take it easy." "I'm sick." "I'm sick." "Nothing is the matter with you!" "Nothing, absolutely nothing!" "Help me." "Help me, I'm sick!" "How can I help you if I don't know what you've got?" "Tell me about yourself." "I'm on my own all day..." "Love me!" "Love me!" "I'm ill!" "Here we go again!" "Your wretched illness!" "You're not!" "I'm ill!" "I told you I won't let you blackmail me." "You just want to ruin my life." "Listen." "I'm sick of complaints and accusations." "I am the way I am, so leave me alone!" "Ana..." "What are you doing, Ana?" "Where are you coming from?" "Tell me, where are you coming from?" "I went to have a drink of water." "Why did you go to the kitchen?" "I was thirsty." "Come on!" "Go to bed!" "Goodnight, Ana." "Goodnight, aunt Paulina, sleep well." "I'll leave the light on in the corridor." "Call me if you need anything." "Sweet dreams, Ana." "You're a naughty girl." "You always sleep with the blanket off." "Goodnight, Mummy." "Still awake?" "I can't sleep." "You can't sleep?" "Have you tried counting sheep?" "I see." "May I stay with you?" "Yes." "Shall I tell you a story?" "Yes. "Little Almond"." ""Little Almond"?" "Let me think..." "Once upon a time, in a distant country there was a very small girl, so small that she looked like an almond and they used to call her Little Almond." "One day, when she was sleeping in her bed..." "Little Almond woke up." "Her bed was very small too." "Mummy!" "Mummy!" "Mummy!" "What's up?" "Mummy!" "What's wrong, Ana?" "Mummy!" "Go to your bed." "What's wrong with you?" "Calm down, nothing's happened." "Calm down." "What's wrong?" "You had a dream." "What's wrong, Ana?" "I want to die." "I want to die." "I want to die." "Don't be silly." "You were dreaming." "You had a nightmare." "I'm going to tell you a story." "Don't you want me to?" "Let's see..." "Which story shall I tell you?" "Oh, I know, "Little Almond"." "Once upon a time in a distant country, there was a girl who was so small..." "I want you to be dead." "How can you say such a thing?" "I want you to die." "I want you to die!" "You're wicked because you don't do what you should do." "And you make aunt Paulina," "Rosa and my sisters suffer." "You're wicked because you don't do what you should do." "You're disobedient and you're a thief." "One day you took away a pen from your friend Sofia." "Not all my memories of that period are sad." "Among my happiest recollections, I remember one in particular:" "that weekend." "To tel I the truth..." "I can't think why it has remained so vividly engraved on my mind." "I don't know but I found myself free, new, different." "On that trip I was wearing a pair ofjeans with flowery pockets and a flowery blouse and red buttons and a navy blue cardigan." "Aunt Paulina drove." "Irene had the front seat because she was the eldest." "Maite and I sat in the back seat." "How are you?" "Was the trip fine?" "Hel lo!" "How are you?" "Hello, pretty one." "Don't be afraid of the dog." "Don't be afraid." "How are things?" "Hello, my sweet." "Are you afraid of the dog?" "Figaro, here!" "The property owned by Nicolas and Amelia was magnificent." "A heaven of peace which seemed to be out of this world." "It was difficult to keep up a property like that." "Later, they sold it and came to Madrid." "Congratulations for your cook." "lt was a great meal." "Fantastic." "But you never cook yourself?" "No, I'm terrible at it!" "I now understand why my father was fascinated by that woman." "Amelia was a very warm woman, affectionate and sensual." "Every time she smiled her face shone..." "And she had very dark skin which one felt like touching." "Irene, why don't you go out to play?" "I'm reading." "Irene..." "Do you like the book?" "It's yours, but on one condition." "What condition?" "You all have to go out and play." "Enjoy the fresh air, there's none in Madrid." "Go on!" "What do you say?" "Thank you." "Let's go, Maite." "No cheating and don't look." "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10," "1 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20!" "Ready or not, here I come!" "I've seen you, come out, I've seen you." "In which tree?" "That one." "Come out, Maite, and don't cheat." "You have to die now." "Come on, die!" "I saw you, Irene." "You're behind the bushes." "Come out... and die." "I'm dying." "Guardian Angel, my sweet companion, do not leave me alone or I will be lost... revive my sisters Irene and Maite." "Let's go, Maite." "You coudn't live here?" "It would be a hustle to go every day from here." "Go with your sisters!" "I want to be with you!" "Did you quarrel?" "Yesterday it took me only 35 minutes." "Go and play with your sisters." "Have you seen how tall Ana is?" "Time flies." "It's been 8 years since we met in Burgos." "Remember?" "How long were you posted in Burgos?" "Just enough time to study at the Cavalry Academy." "Ana..." "Go and look for your father and tell him we have to be in Madrid by 9 o'clock." "You're all wet, pissy girl." "Now your corset, and don't give me a dirty look, I don't like that." "It's not your time yet." "Yes, yes, I know what you want." "But you'll have to wait." "You're impatient, that's what you are." "Come on." "You're biting me." "What a girl!" "Greedy, you're really greedy." "Rosa, do children have any hair when they are born?" "It depends." "You know by the pains." "With Jacinto I had the most horrible pains." "When the mother has a lot of pain, the child will be hairy." "How many sons did you have?" "Four." "The last one died." "I know the one who is in Germany." "That one, Maria, who lives in Barcelona, and Jacinto." "Don't you remember him?" "We saw him in the village." "No, I can't remember him." "You have to put it on this way." "Let me do it." "See?" "You got it?" "I remember when you were born." "Your father was very annoyed." "Three daughters." "They had to use forceps to get you out!" "What's that?" "You didn't want to come out so they had to force you." "The doctor, the anesthetist and the midwife." "They couldn't get you out of your mother's womb." "How about that?" "If you look carefully in the mirror, you'll see some marks here." "Here?" "Your mother wanted to breast feed you but she was too pale and delicate." "So the one who really reared you was me." "Did you breast feed me?" "Oh, no." "With a bottle." "You've got a big bosom, why don't you show it to me?" "Do you think this is the circus?" "Show it to me." "I'll count up to five." "One... two... three... four... and five." "How big!" "Let's see what that old hag wants." "This one?" "This one then, isn't it?" "Do you want a closer view?" "Is that Mummy?" "If it's not Mummy who else can it be?" "A sister?" "Your mother?" "A friend?" "The postcard of the lake." "You were in Switzerland with grandfather when you were young." "And this hotel reminds you of the honeymoon." "Sunrise over the lake was beautiful." "There were swans." "One could see the mountains covered with snow." "This was your window." "You..." "You want to die?" "Do you want me to help you die?" "Wait, I'll come back at once." "Look, I keep it here." "It's a horrible poison." "You can kill an elephant with just a spoonful of this powder." "A terrible poison." "Fatal!" "Don't you want it?" "But a moment ago you said you did?" "Why not?" "As you please." "Roni." "Roni." "Are you sick?" "What's wrong?" "Poor little thing." "Poor Roni." "I'll take care of you." "You'll get well very soon." "He's dead!" "Take the picture." "In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost." "Amen." "Our father which art in Heaven, hallowed by thy Name..." "What happens when someone dies?" "Leave me alone!" "Come on, I've done you so many favours." "He just dies." "He dies?" "I don't understand something:" "How does one die?" "I've no idea." "In the name of the Father..." "What are you doing?" "Nothing." "Your aunt is home?" "I don't know." "I think so." "Wash your face, otherwise your aunt will get angry." "Thank you." "When I married her, I made a mistake." "At the time I thought that" "Iove could overcome everything and that things would be all right." "I soon realized how wrong I was." "Yes, my marriage has been a total failure." "Everyone carries his burden as best he can." "But I'm not prepared to put up with it." "Certainly not!" "Maybe I'm boring you with my problems." "Not at all." "It's not important any longer." "Well, tell me, what do you do?" "Me?" "I don't do anything." "I stay at home all day." "As long as the children don't go back to school." "I think you should go out more often." "You just can't lock yourself up between these walls all your life." "A woman like you, still young..." "Thanks, Rosa." "Where are the children?" "We are tidying things up." "This house is out of control." "I've never seen such a mess in my life." "If it wasn't for Rosa..." "Anything else?" "Don't touch the cupboard." "I'll do that myself." "Any more tea?" "Thank you." "Get out of here!" "When did the Spanish Civil War end?" "I think it was in 1939." "What did Daddy do during the war?" "I'm not sure." "Your mother told me that he volunteered." "And later fought besides the Nazis in Russia." "There he was wounded in the leg." "Leave the gun" "where it was!" "It's mine." "Leave it where it was." "Daddy gave it to me one day." "Ask Irene, isn't that so, Irene?" "He gave me this rifle and gave Ana that gun." "And me the flag of the Legion." "Stop that nonsense." "Weapons are dangerous." "Don't make me angry." "Once mine always mine." "Don't be so silly." "Ask your aunt how she likes you keeping that gun." "Let's see what she says." "How could I forget?" "It was in Burgos, Summer 1965." "You were stationed there." "You still love me." "You've always loved me, Paulina." "I love you." "I've always been in love with you, my darling." "Why don't you knock at the door?" "The door was open." "What do you want?" "Rosa says that this gun is not mine." "What are you doing with that gun?" "Put it down!" "Leave it to me." "Let's see, Ana..." "That's a boy's toy, isn't it?" "Daddy gave it to me, it's mine." "Ask Irene." "Of course he gave it to you." "Can I see it?" "It's very beautiful." "It's a Luger." "A Parabellum 38 calibre..." "Come on, let me see it..." "Let me see it, just for a second." "Beautiful." "You don't have to worry." "It won't be loaded." "Look, you pull here..." "I can't go on!" "I can't go on!" "I'll send them to a boarding school!" "Paulina, I love you." "Can't you turn the music down?" "Dead." "Dead." "I want her to be dead." "Ani." "You're very sweet." "Not at all, aunt." "I pricked my finger!" "You're as clumsy as your mother." "Hold the needle properly." "Let me do it." "You have to hold the needle like this, see?" "You see?" "Now you do it." "Every day you look more like your mother." "How am I like her?" "Sometimes you move like her." "Even when you talk I feel I'm hearing her voice." "She had to suffer so much." "Because of her illness?" "Not only that..." "One day I'll tell you a few things." "Your mother deserved a lot better." "She was a saint, a real saint." "She used to tell me everything." "And some of the things were really shocking." "I remember one day your father had to leave, to Segovia, I think." "Your mother stayed up all night waiting for him..." "What are you saying?" "Nothing, Miss, nothing." "I don't like your gossiping about my sister." "She's dead and we ought to leave her in peace." "Don't let's go on about it in front of the girls." "You should know that." "Ana, come here." "I'd like to know something." "You remember your mother well, don't you?" "Yes, sometimes yes." "I don't want you to think I'm taking her place..." "What does that mean?" "That I only want you to feel happy in this house." "And not to miss anything." "But I can't give you affection if you're not prepared to receive it." "It's not easy for me, Ana." "Not at all." "Rosa, go and look for Maite, please." "She has to try the dress on." "You're trying to get rid of me." "Yes, I want to be left with Ana." "It only concerns her and me." "This is too much, who does she think she is, the idiot!" "May I leave, aunt?" "No." "You stay here until I say." "Do as you please!" "Poor little thing." "Poor little thing." "Come on, girls, get up, it's 7 o'clock." "To school." "Come on." "Irene, don't pretend you're still asleep." "Come on." "Come on!" "Leave me alone!" "Hey!" "I don't want to go to school." "Me neither." "What's this?" "Do you think holidays last forever?" "Don't tickle me." "Don't be so messy!" "What a disaster!" "What are these children doing?" "Good morning, aunt." "Good morning, Irene." "Irene, did you sleep well?" "Very well, and you?" "Beautifully." "Good morning, Rosa." "Good morning, Miss." "Come on, Maite." "Here." "That's my girl." "And you Ani, did you sleep well?" "So-so." "Take your shirt." "Only so-so?" "Why?" "Did you have any nightmares?" "We walked through many streets... suddenly we were in the countryside." "In the far distance there was a dirty house." "Which seemed to be abandoned." "The car went up to it." "Two men got out, one of them said:" "How was the hunt?" "The other said:" "Very good, look what I've brought you." "They took me out of the car and pushed me into the house." "There was a dirty kitchen, a very old pan and a few other things." "Then they took me into one of the rooms." "And locked me in." "Later they brought me some food." "I didn't eat it." "Because I thought it had been cooked in that old pan." "They asked me my telephone number." "And I gave it to them fearing that they would kill me." "They phoned but Mummy and Daddy weren't in." "But Mummy and Daddy are dead." "Not in my dream." "They were looking for me." "The men said they would ring again in a half an hour." "But if they weren't in by then they'd kill me." "I was terrified." "Half an hour later they phoned again." "They weren't in, they still hadn't arrived." "So they said:" "We have to kill you now." "They tied me up with rope to a wooden column." "And pressed a gun to my temple." "When they were about to shoot," "I woke up."