فصل 36

36

Liv hears the noise rise up, like a cloud of birds, around her. She sees the journalists crowding round the old lady, their pens waving like antennae, the judge talking urgently with the lawyers, banging his gavel in vain. She stares up at the public gallery, at the animated faces, and hears the strange trickle of applause that might be for the old woman or for the truth she isnt sure.

Paul is fighting his way through the crowd. When he gets to her he pulls her to him, his head dipped against hers, his voice in her ear. Shes yours, Liv, he says, and his voice is thick with relief. Shes yours.

She lived, she says, and she is laughing and crying at the same time. They found each other. From his arms, she gazes around her at the chaos, and she is no longer afraid of the crowd. People are smiling, as if this has been a good result as if she is no longer the enemy. She sees the Lefèvre brothers stand to leave, their faces as sombre as coffin-bearers, and is flooded with relief that Sophie will not be returning to France with them. She sees Janey, gathering her things slowly, her face frozen, as if she cannot believe what has just taken place.

How about that? Henry claps a hand on her shoulder, his face wreathed in smiles. How about that? No ones even listening to poor old Bergers verdict.

Cmon, says Paul, placing a protective arm around her shoulders. Lets get you out of here.

The clerk appears, pushing his way through the sea of people. He stands in front of her, blocking her path, slightly breathless with the effort of his short journey. Here, madam, he says, and hands her the painting. I believe this is yours.

Livs fingers close around the gilded frame. She glances down at Sophie, her hair vibrant in the dull light of the court, her smile as inscrutable as ever. I think it would be best if we took you out the back way, the clerk adds, and a security guard appears beside him, propelling them towards the door, already speaking into his walkie-talkie.

Paul makes as if to step forward, but she puts a hand on his arm, stopping him. No, says Liv. She takes a breath and straightens her shoulders, so that she seems just a little bit taller. Not this time. Were going out through the front.