The Interpreter

Miriam Diallo has spent twelve years as a French-to-English interpreter at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. She is invisible by profession — the voice in the headset, never quoted, never named, contractually prohibited from having opinions about what she translates. She has interpreted testimony from war criminals, survivors, and bureaucrats with equal precision. She is very good at disappearing. That changes during the pre-trial hearing of General Alain Kabore, accused of orchestrating mass killings in a West African border conflict. During a recess, a technical error leaves Miriam's headset live. She hears Kabore, alone in the holding room,...