The mention of Cecil stung as well: Carlos was entirely aware that what Cecil had done was one of the bravest things Carlos had ever seen, and that he was repaying Cecil's sacrifice with denial and lies. It was a very sore spot, if the dark look Carlos cast at Nasir was anything to go by.

All the replies Carlos had, all the rehearsed lines, all the explanations and cold denial, all of it dried up in his throat. Carlos was just left to watch Nasir go, unable to summon up any kind of meaningful retort. The argument was over.