Slivovic

[W]hen I reach the bridge and begin to run across it, I will pray that the sniper who killed old man Samir yesterday and little Lejla the day before, is looking the other way, or moving position as the snipers do, or warming his fingers round a mug of hot coffee, or glancing up and downing a slivovic.

It is almost impossible to attend a meeting, visit someone at home, or even call upon the sisters at the monastery and not be offered slivovic. Morning, noon, or night … it doesn't matter. When my meeting with the pcelari ended, Mesam presented me with a gift. It was a bottle of slivovic.