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But at least he qualified as human. These lot are not like
our Brčko people. You understand, Vladan, don’t you?’ I
didn’t, but I finally remembered that my father’s name in
this town was Tomislav, and that Mediha might well be
convinced that I was as disapproving of Serbs as she was.
‘These people are different. What can you do? Misfortune
dragged them here from somewhere else, I know that,
but... sometimes their manner makes a person wonder.
God forgive me, but no one would have chased them
away from wherever they had been, if they had been a
little more considerate. Of everyone.’
‘It’s hard, living a fugitive life. People don’t handle it well.’
‘I know, believe me, I know. My Raiko and I were on the
run a lot in life. Sometimes because of me, sometimes
because of him, and sometimes because of, well, whoever
you like. We never fitted in, the way we were, never
anywhere or with anyone. And so we ended up here. We
thought to ourselves that, since I was from here, and he
was a Serb so maybe we could just... somehow. But you
know, Vladan, you know what they say. Once you move
away from your place, it’s never your place anymore.’
‘That’s right. I know.’
‘In the end, people always ask themselves whether it
might have been better if they went somewhere where