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‘Colin；　you　know　what　you’re　supposed　to　do；’　his　mother　was　saying。　She　sounded　exhausted。　‘Please；　Colin—’

‘We　had　dinner　with　them　on　Saturday　night。　The　night　before　he　died。　I　cooked。　What　if—’

‘Colin；　you　didn’t　put　anything　in　the　food　–　for　God’s　sake；　now　I’m　doing　it　–　I’m　not　supposed　to　do　this；　Colin；　you　know　I’m　not　supposed　to　get　into　it。　This　is　your　OCD　talking。’

‘But　I　might’ve；　Tess；　I　suddenly　thought；　what　if　I　put　something—’

‘Then　why　are　we　alive；　you；　me　and　Mary？　They　did　a　post…mortem；　Colin！’

‘Nobody　told　us　the　details。　Mary　never　told　us。　I　think　that’s　why　she　doesn’t　want　to　talk　to　me　any　more。　She　suspects。’

‘Colin；　for　Christ’s　sake—’

Tessa’s　voice　became　an　urgent　whisper；　too　quiet　to　hear。　Fats’　mobile　vibrated　again。　He　pulled　it　out　of　his　pocket。　Krystal’s　number。　He　answered。

‘Hiya；’　said　Krystal；　over　what　sounded　like　a　kid　shouting。　‘D’you　wanna　meet　up？’

‘Dunno；’　yawned　Fats。　He　had　been　intending　to　go　to　bed。

‘I’m　in’　into　Pagford　on　the　bus。　We　could　hook　up。’

Last　night　he　had　pressed　Gaia　Bawden　into　the　railings　outside　the　town　hall；　until　she　had　pulled　away　from　him　and　thrown　up。　Then　she　had　started　to　berate　him　again；　so　he　had　left　her　there　and　walked　home。

‘I　dunno；’　he　said。　He　felt　so　tired；　so　miserable。

‘Go　on；’　she　said。

From　the　study；　he　heard　Colin。　‘You　say　that；　but　would　it　show　up？　What　if　I—’

‘Colin；　we　shouldn’t　be　going　into　this　–　you’re　not　supposed　to　take　these　ideas　seriously。’

‘How　can　you　say　that　to　me？　How　can　I　not　take　it　seriously？　If　I’m　responsible—’

‘Yeah；　all　right；’　said　Fats　to　Krystal。　‘I’ll　meet　you　in　twenty；　front　of　the　pub　in　the　Square。’

VII
‘Fuckin’　shurrup；　Robbie！　Shurrup！’

Krystal　had　dragged　Robbie　to　a　bus　stop　several　streets　away；　so　that　neither　Obbo　nor　Terri　could　find　them。　She　was　not　sure　she　had　enough　money　for　the　fare；　but　she　was　determined　to　get　to　Pagford。　Nana　Cath　was　gone；　Mr　Fairbrother　was　gone；　but　Fats　Wall　was　there；　and　she　needed　to　make　a　baby。

‘Why　wuz　’e　in　the　room　with　yeh？’　Krystal　shouted　at　Robbie；　who　grizzled　and　did　not　answer。

There　was　only　a　tiny　amount　of　battery　power　left　on　Terri’s　mobile　phone。　Krystal　called　Fats’　number；　but　it　went　to　voicemail。

In　Church　Row；　Fats　was　busy　eating　toast　and　listening　to　his　parents　having　one　of　their　familiar；　bizarre　conversations　in　the　study　across　the　hall。　It　was　a　wele　distraction　from　his　own　thoughts。　The　mobile　in　his　pocket　vibrated　but　he　did　not　answer　it。　There　was　nobody　he　wanted　to　talk　to。　It　would　not　be　Andrew。　Not　after　last　night。

‘Colin；　you　know　what　you’re　supposed　to　do；’　his　mother　was　saying。　She　sounded　exhausted。　‘Please；　Colin—’

‘We　had　dinner　with　them　on　Saturday　night。　The　night　before　he　died。　I　cooked。　What　if—’

‘Colin；　you　didn’t　put　anything　in　the　food　–　for　God’s　sake；　now　I’m　doing　it　–　I’m　not　supposed　to　do　this；　Colin；　you　know　I’m　not　supposed　to　get　into　it。　This　is　your　OCD　talking。’

‘But　I　might’ve；　Tess；　I　suddenly　thought；　what　if　I　put　something—’

‘Then　why　are　we　alive；　you；　me　and　Mary？　They　did　a　post…mortem；　Colin！’

‘Nobody　told　us　the　details。　Mary　never　told　us。　I　think　that’s　why　she　doesn’t　want　to　talk　to　me　any　more。　She　suspects。’

‘Colin；　for　Christ’s　sake—’

Tessa’s　voice　became　an　urgent　whisper；　too　quiet　to　hear。　Fats’　mobile　vibrated　again。　He　pulled　it　out　of　his　pocket。　Krystal’s　number。　He　answered。

‘Hiya；’　said　Krystal；　over　what　sounded　like　a　kid　shouting。　‘D’you　wanna　meet　up？’

‘Dunno；’　yawned　Fats。　He　had　been　intending　to　go　to　bed。

‘I’m　in’　into　Pagford　on　the　bus。　We　could　hook　up。’

Last　night　he　had　pressed　Gaia　Bawden　into　the　railings　outside　the　town　hall；　until　she　had　pulled　away　from　him　and　thrown　up。　Then　she　had　started　to　berate　him　again；　so　he　had　left　her　there　and　walked　home。

‘I　dunno；’　he　said。　He　felt　so　tired；　so　miserable。

‘Go　on；’　she　said。

From　the　study；　he　heard　Colin。　‘You　say　that；　but　would　it　show　up？　What　if　I—’

‘Colin；　we　shouldn’t　be　going　into　this　–　you’re　not　supposed　to　take　these　ideas　seriously。’

‘How　can　you　say　that　to　me？　How　can　I　not　take　it　seriously？　If　I’m　responsible—’

‘Yeah；　all　right；’　said　Fats　to　Krystal。　‘I’ll　meet　you　in　twenty；　front　of　the　pub　in　the　Square。’

IX
The　journey　took　Krystal　back　to　her　childhood。　She　had　made　this　trip　daily　to　St　Thomas’s；　all　on　her　own；　on　the　bus。　She　knew　when　the　abbey　would　e　into　sight；　and　she　pointed　it　out　to　Robbie。

‘See　the　big　ruin’　castle？’

Robbie　was　hungry；　but　slightly　distracted　by　the　excitement　of　being　on　a　bus。　Krystal　held　his　hand　tightly。　She　had　promised　him　food　when　they　got　off　at　the　other　end；　but　she　did　not　know　where　she　would　get　it。　Perhaps　she　could　borrow　money　from　Fats　for　a　bag　of　crisps；　not　to　mention　the　return　bus　fare。

‘I　wen’　ter　school　’ere；’　she　told　Robbie；　while　he　wiped　his　fingers　on　the　dirty　windows；　making　abstract　patterns。　‘An’　you’ll　go　to　school　’ere　too。’

When　they　rehoused　her；　because　of　her　pregnancy；　they　were　almost　certain　to　give　her　another　Fields　house；　nobody　wanted　to　buy　them；　they　were　so　run　down。　But　Krystal　saw　this　as　a　good　thing；　because　in　spite　of　their　dilapidation　it　would　put　Robbie　and　the　baby　in　the　catchment　area　for　St　Thomas’s。　Anyway；　Fats’　parents　would　almost　certainly　give　her　enough　money　for　a　washing　machine　once　she　had　their　grandchild。　They　might　even　get　a　television。

The　bus　rolled　down　a　slope　towards　Pagford；　and　Krystal　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　glittering　river；　briefly　visible　before　the　road　sank　too　low。　She　had　been　disappointed；　when　she　joined　the　rowing　team；　that　they　did　not　train　on　the　Orr；　but　on　the　dirty　old　canal　in　Yarvil。

‘’Ere　we　are；’　Krystal　told　Robbie；　as　the　bus　turned　slowly　into　the　flower…decked　square。

Fats　had　forgotten　that　waiting　in　front　of　the　Black　Canon　meant　standing　opposite　Mollison　and　Lowe’s　and　the　Copper　Kettle。　There　was　more　than　an　hour　to　go　until　midday；　when　the　café　opened　on　Sundays；　but　Fats　did　not　know　how　early　Andrew　had　to　arrive　for　work。　He　had　no　desire　to　see　his　oldest　friend　this　morning；　so　he　skulked　down　the　side　of　the　pub　out　of　sight；　and　only　emerged　when　the　bus　arrived。

It　pulled　away；　revealing　Krystal　and　a　small　dirty…looking　boy。

Nonplussed；　Fats　loped　towards　them。

‘’E’s　my　brother；’　said　Krystal　aggressively；　in　response　to　something　she　had　seen　in　Fats’　face。

Fats　made　another　mental　adjustment　to　what　gritty　and　authentic　life　meant。　He　had　been　fleetingly　taken　with　the　idea　of　knocking　Krystal　up　（and　showing　Cubby　what　real　men　were　able　to　achieve　casually；　without　effort）　but　this　little　boy　clinging　to　his　sister’s　hand　and　leg　disconcerted　him。

Fats　wished　that　he　had　not　agreed　to　meet　her。　She　was　making　him　ridiculous。　He　would　rather　have　gone　back　to　that　stinking；　squalid　house　of　hers；　now　that　he　saw　her　in　the　Square。
。电子书
‘’Ave　yeh　got　any　money？’　Krystal　demanded。

‘What？’　said　Fats。　His　wits　were　slow　with　tiredness。　He　could　not　remember　now　why　he　had　wanted　to　sit　up　all　night；　his　tongue　was　throbbing　with　all　the　cigarettes　he　had　smoked。

‘Money；’　repeated　Krystal。　‘E’s　’ungry　an’　I’ve　lost　a　fiver。　Pay　yeh　back。’

Fats　stuck　a　hand　in　his　jeans　pocket　and　touched　a　crumpled　bank　note。　Somehow　he　did　not　want　to　look　too　flush　in　front　of　Krystal；　so　he　ferreted　deeper　for　change；　and　finally　came　up　with　a　small　amount　of　silver　and　coppers。

They　went　to　the　tiny　newsagent’s　two　streets　from　the　Square；　and　Fats　hung　around　outside　while　Krystal　bought　Robbie　crisps　and　a　packet　of　Rolos。　None　of　them　said　a　word；　not　even　Robbie；　who　seemed　fearful　of　Fats。　At　last；　when　Krystal　had　handed　her　brother　the　crisps；　she　said　to　Fats；　‘Where’ll　we　go？’

Surely；　he　thought；　she　could　not　mean　that　they　were　going　to　shag。　Not　with　the　boy　there。　He　had　had　some　idea　of　taking　her　to　the　Cubby　Hole：　it　was　private；　and　it　would　be　a　final　desecration　of　his　and　Andrew’s　friendship；　he　owed　nothing　to　anyone；　any　more。　But　he　baulked　at　the　idea　of　fucking　in　front　of　a　three…year…old。

‘’E’ll　be　all　right；’　said　Krystal。　‘’E’s　got　chocolates　now。　No；　later；’　she　said　to　Robbie；　who　was　whining　for　the　Rolos　still　in　her　hand。　‘When　you’ve　’ad　the　crisps。’

They　walked　off　down　the　road　in　the　direction　of　the　old　stone　bridge。

‘’E’ll　be　all　right；’　Krystal　repeated。　‘’E　does　as　’e’s　told。　Dontcha？’　she　said　loudly　to　Robbie。

‘Wan’　chocolates；’　he　said。

‘Yeah；　in　a　minute。’

She　could　tell　that　Fats　needed　cajoling　today。　She　had　known；　on　the　bus；　that　bringing　Robbie；　however　necessary；　would　be　difficult。

‘Whatcha　bin　up　ter？’　she　asked。

‘Party　last　night；’　said　Fats。

‘Yeah？　Who　wuz　there？’

He　yawned　widely；　and　she　had　to　wait　for　an　answer。

‘Arf　Price。　Sukhvinder　Jawanda。　Gaia　Bawden。’

‘Does　she　live　in　Pagford？’　asked　Krystal　sharply。

‘Yeah；　in　Hope　Street；’　said　Fats。

He　knew；　because　Andrew　had　let　it　slip；　where　she　lived。　Andrew　had　never　said　that　he　liked　her；　but　Fats　had　watched　him　watching　Gaia　almost　constantly　in　the　few　classes　they　shared。　He　had　noticed　Andrew’s　extreme　self…consciousness　around　her；　and　whenever　she　was　mentioned。

Krystal；　though；　was　thinking　about　Gaia’s　mother：　the　only　social　worker　she　had　ever　liked；　the　only　one　who　had　got　through　to　her　mother。　She　lived　in　Hope　Street；　the　same　as　Nana　Cath。　She　was　probably　there　right　now。　What　if　…

But　Kay　had　left　them。　Mattie　was　their　social　worker　again。　Anyway；　you　weren’t　supposed　to　bother　them　at　home。　Shane　Tully　had　once　followed　his　social　worker　to　her　house；　and　he’d　got　a　restraining　order　for　his　pains。　But　then；　Shane　had　earlier　tried　to　heave　a　brick　through　the　woman’s　car　window　…

And；　Krystal　reasoned；　squinting　as　the　road　turned；　and　the　river　dazzled　her　eyes　with　thousands　of　blinding　white　spots　of　light；　Kay　was　still　the　keeper　of　folders；　the　score…keeper　and　the　judge。　She　had　seemed　all　right；　but　none　of　her　solutions　would　keep　Krystal　and　Robbie　together　…

‘We　could　go　down　there；’　she　suggested　to　Fats；　pointing　at　the　overgrown　stretch　of　bank；　a　little　way　along　from　the　bridge。　‘An’　Robbie　could　wait　up　there；　on　the　bench。’

She　would　be　able　to　keep　an　eye　on　him　from　there；　she　thought；　and　she　would　make　sure　he　didn’t　see　anything。　Not　that　it　was　anything　he　had　not　seen　before；　in　the　days　that　Terri　brought　strangers　home　…

But；　exhausted　as　he　was；　Fats　was　revolted。　He　could　not　do　it　in　the　grass；　under　the　eye　of　a　small　boy。

‘Nah；’　he　said；　trying　to　sound　offhand。

‘’E　won’　bother；’　said　Krystal。　‘’E’s　got　’is　Rolos。　’E　won’　even　know；’　she　said；　although　she　thought　that　was　a　lie。　Robbie　knew　too　much。　There　had　been　trouble　at　nursery　when　he’d　mimicked　doing　it　doggy…style　on　another　child。

Krystal’s　mother；　Fats　remembered；　was　a　prostitute。　He　hated　the　idea　of　what　she　was　suggesting；　but　was　that　not　inauthenticity？

‘Whassamatter？’　Krystal　asked　him　aggressively。

‘Nothing；’　he　said。

Dane　Tully　would　do　it。　Pikey　Pritchard　would　do　it。　Cubby；　not　in　a　million　years。

Krystal　walked　Robbie　to　the　bench。　Fats　bent　to　peer　over　the　back　of　it；　down　to　the　overgrown　patch　of　weeds　and　bushes；　and　thought　that　the　kid　might　not　see　anything；　but　that　he　would　be　as　quick　as　he　could；　in　any　case。

‘’Ere　y’are；’　Krystal　told　Robbie；　pulling　out　the　long　tube　of　Rolos　while　he　reached　for　them　excitedly。　‘Yeh　can　’ave　all　of　’em　if　yeh　jus’　sit　’ere　fer　a　minute；　all　righ’？　Yeh　jus’　sit　’ere；　Robbie；　an’　I’ll　be　in　them　bushes。　D’yeh　understand；　Robbie？’

‘Yeah；’　he　said　happily；　his　cheeks　already　full　of　chocolate　and　toffee。

Krystal　slipped　and　slid　down　the　bank　towards　the　patch　of　undergrowth；　hoping　that　Fats　was　not　going　to　make　any　difficulties　about　doing　it　without　a　condom。

X
Gavin　was　wearing　sunglasses　against　the　glare