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children, babies too. Scared, desperate and invariably poor.
Thank God they were always skinny enough not to capsize
the boat. Last time, which was only a week ago, the Coast
Guard had pushed them back into Turkish waters. He only
hoped that the seven he left out there in the sea were now
safe in a prison. Naturally, he received no payment for that
job. He shook his head to push these thoughts off his mind
and focus instead on his wife and toddlers. And the stack in
his back pocket. He downed his warming beer.
“OK,” he said as he slammed the mug on the counter.
“Daybreak at east pier. Tell Faruk I’ll be there.”
Another lifeless nod from the middle-man.
Kaan waved a banknote at the bartender and told him to
keep the change. He then left the Hut without another
word.
The air outside was chilly. A storm was looming in the
distance.