"It had not rained in several weeks and as Namish dismounted from his bicycle, the dirt track sent up a cloud of scorched dust. ‘Quick,’ Sameer said, getting to his feet, ‘come with me. We have a problem.’"

'The Governor's Gin' transports the reader to colonial Ceylon in all its dark extravagance. Menace sets in as the governor's guests and their increasing demands continue to weigh on his Sri Lankan staff. There is a looming question for young Namish, which becomes clearer and clearer as the day progresses. This month's story is by Danielle McLaughlin, winner of the 2012 Trevor-Bowen Prize and the Merriman Competition in memory of Maeve Binchy.

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"It had not rained in several weeks and as Namish dismounted from his bicycle, the dirt track sent up a cloud of scorched dust. ‘Quick,’ Sameer said, getting to his feet, ‘come with me. We have a problem.’"​

"It had not rained in several weeks and as Namish dismounted from his bicycle, the dirt track sent up a cloud of scorched dust. ‘Quick,’ Sameer said, getting to his feet, ‘come with me. We have a problem.’"