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MY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER

'Yes, so I noticed. Your little Italian friend was leaving in quite a hurry,' he commented, looking up at the ceiling to where Roberto's marijuana smoke hadn't yet dispersed. I saw the Devil Major's nose twitch at the smell. He didn't say anything, but the first thing he did was to inspect the contents of the ashtray. Fortunately for me, Roberto always made his joints by hollowing out a cigarette because it was very difficult to find rolling papers in La Paz. The Devil Major was disappointed not to find any evidence in the ashtray, but he knew that something had been going on and was determined to keep searching.

'Please stand in the centre of the cell, inglés,' said the lieutenant, who always stood beside the major, copying everything he did.

'Yes, teniente.' I threw the sheets back and bent down to get my slippers from under the bed, hoping I could flick the packets somewhere. However, the lieutenant was watching me too closely.

'Don't touch anything,' he commanded. He wouldn't even let me put on a jacket when I complained of how cold it was. I stood in the middle of the room in my pyjamas, holding the packets loosely in my hand so as not to look suspicious.

The police began their requisa. Normally, the high-ranking officers didn't participate in the actual search, but the Devil Major was so sure he would find something this time that he joined in. I knew it wouldn't be long before they would want to search me. When the major turned to look in my underwear drawer, I saw my opportunity. He had his back to me and the others were also busy going through my possessions. Because he was bent forward, the side pocket of his big coat was gaping slightly and I dropped the packets in just as he stood up and turned around.

The Devil Major hadn't seen what I had done, but he must have sensed my movement. He narrowed his eyes and looked at me suspiciously. I pretended that I had been looking over his shoulder, but he and the lieutenant knew from my startled expression that I was covering something up. To divert their attention, I glanced down at the ground when the major wasn't watching. I knew, however, that the lieutenant still had his eye on me.

'Lift your feet, inglés,' he commanded confidently, as soon as he saw me look down.

'What for, teniente?' I said, pretending to look worried that he had caught me out.