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bbed　me。’

There　was　a　tiny　glimmer　of　pride　in　his　embarrassment。　He　had　been　anxious　to　see　Gaia；　he　wanted　to　tell　her　that　a　grown　woman　had　pounced　on　him。　He　had　hoped　that　they　might　laugh　about　it；　the　way　that　they　laughed　about　Maureen；　but　that　she　might　be　secretly　impressed；　and　also　that　in　the　course　of　laughing；　he　might　find　out　exactly　what　she　had　done　with　Fats；　how　far　she　had　let　him　go。　He　was　prepared　to　forgive　her。　She　had　been　pissed　too。　But　she　had　not　turned　up。

He　went　to　fetch　a　napkin　for　Lexie　and　almost　collided　with　his　boss’s　wife；　who　was　standing　behind　the　counter；　holding　his　EpiPen。

‘Howard　wanted　me　to　check　something；’　Shirley　told　him。　‘And　this　needle　shouldn’t　be　kept　in　here。　I’ll　put　it　in　the　back。’

XII
Halfway　down　his　packet　of　Rolos；　Robbie　became　extremely　thirsty。　Krystal　had　not　bought　him　a　drink。　He　climbed　off　the　bench　and　crouched　down　in　the　warm　grass；　where　he　could　still　see　her　outline　in　the　bushes　with　the　stranger。　After　a　while；　he　scrambled　down　the　bank　towards　them。

‘’M　thirsty；’　he　whined。

‘Robbie；　get　out　of　it！’　screamed　Krystal。　‘Go　an’　sit　on　the　bench！’

‘Wanna　drink！’

‘Fuckin’　–　go　an’　wai’　by　the　bench；　an’　I’ll　gerra　drink　in　a　minute！　Go　’way；　Robbie！’

Crying；　he　climbed　back　up　the　slippery　bank　to　the　bench。　He　was　accustomed　to　not　being　given　what　he　wanted；　and　disobedient　by　habit；　because　grown…ups　were　arbitrary　in　their　wrath　and　their　rules；　so　he　had　learned　to　seize　his　tiny　pleasures　wherever　and　whenever　he　could。

Angry　at　Krystal；　he　wandered　a　little　way　from　the　bench　along　the　road。　A　man　in　sunglasses　was　walking　along　the　pavement　towards　him。

（Gavin　had　forgotten　where　he　had　parked　the　car。　He　had　marched　out　of　Mary’s　and　walked　straight　down　Church　Row；　only　realizing　that　he　was　heading　in　the　wrong　direction　when　he　drew　level　with　Miles　and　Samantha’s　house。　Not　wanting　to　pass　the　Fairbrothers’　again；　he　had　taken　a　circuitous　route　back　to　the　bridge。

He　saw　the　boy；　chocolate…stained；　ill…kempt　and　unappealing；　and　walked　past；　with　his　happiness　in　tatters；　half　wishing　that　he　could　have　gone　to　Kay’s　house　and　been　silently　cradled　…　she　had　always　been　nicest　to　him　when　he　was　miserable；　it　was　what　had　attracted　him　to　her　in　the　first　place。）

The　rushing　of　the　river　increased　Robbie’s　thirst。　He　cried　a　bit　more　as　he　changed　direction　and　headed　away　from　the　bridge；　back　past　the　place　where　Krystal　was　hidden。　The　bushes　had　started　shaking。　He　walked　on；　wanting　a　drink；　then　noticed　a　hole　in　a　long　hedge　on　the　left　of　the　road。　When　he　drew　level；　he　spotted　a　playing　field　beyond。

Robbie　wriggled　through　the　hole　and　contemplated　the　wide　green　space　with　its　spreading　chestnut　tree　and　goal　posts。　Robbie　knew　what　they　were；　because　his　cousin　Dane　had　showed　him　how　to　kick　a　football　at　the　play　park。　He　had　never　seen　so　much　greenness。

A　woman　came　striding　across　the　field；　with　her　arms　folded　and　her　head　bowed。

（Samantha　had　been　walking　at　random；　walking　and　walking；　anywhere　as　long　as　it　was　nowhere　near　Church　Row。　She　had　been　asking　herself　many　questions　and　ing　up　with　few　answers；　and　one　of　the　questions　she　asked　herself　was　whether　she　might　not　have　gone　too　far　in　telling　Miles　about　that　stupid；　drunken　letter；　which　she　had　sent　out　of　spite；　and　which　seemed　much　less　clever　now　…

She　glanced　up　and　her　eyes　met　Robbie’s。　Children　often　wriggled　through　the　hole　in　the　hedge　to　play　in　the　field　at　weekends。　Her　own　girls　had　done　it　when　they　were　younger。

She　climbed　over　the　gate　and　turned　away　from　the　river　towards　the　Square。　Self…disgust　clung　to　her；　no　matter　how　hard　she　tried　to　outrun　it。）

Robbie　went　back　through　the　hole　in　the　hedge　and　walked　a　little　way　along　the　road　after　the　striding　lady；　but　she　was　soon　out　of　sight。　The　half…packet　of　remaining　Rolos　were　melting　in　his　hand；　and　he　did　not　want　to　put　them　down；　but　he　was　so　thirsty。　Maybe　Krystal　had　finished。　He　wandered　back　in　the　opposite　direction。

When　he　reached　the　first　patch　of　bushes　on　the　bank；　he　saw　that　they　were　not　moving；　so　he　thought　it　was　all　right　to　approach。

‘Krystal；’　he　said。

But　the　bushes　were　empty。　Krystal　was　gone。

Robbie　started　to　wail　and　shout　for　Krystal。　He　clambered　back　up　the　bank　and　looked　wildly　up　and　down　the　road；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　her。

‘Krystal！’　he　yelled。

A　woman　with　short　silver　hair　glanced　at　him；　frowning；　as　she　trotted　briskly　along　the　opposite　pavement。

Shirley　had　left　Lexie　at　the　Copper　Kettle；　where　she　seemed　happy；　but　a　short　way　across　the　Square　she　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　Samantha；　who　was　the　very　last　person　she　wanted　to　meet；　so　she　had　taken　off　in　the　opposite　direction。

The　boy’s　wails　and　squawks　echoed　behind　her　as　she　hurried　along。　Shirley’s　fist　was　clutched　tightly　around　the　EpiPen　in　her　pocket。　She　would　not　be　a　dirty　joke。　She　wanted　to　be　pure　and　pitied；　like　Mary　Fairbrother。　Her　rage　was　so　enormous；　so　dangerous；　that　she　could　not　think　coherently：　she　wanted　to　act；　to　punish；　to　finish。

Just　before　the　old　stone　bridge；　a　patch　of　bushes　shivered　to　Shirley’s　left。　She　glanced　down　and　caught　a　disgusting　glimpse　of　something　sordid　and　vile；　and　it　drove　her　on。

XIII
Sukhvinder　had　been　walking　around　Pagford　longer　than　Samantha。　She　had　left　the　Old　Vicarage　shortly　after　her　mother　had　told　her　she　must　go　to　work；　and　since　then　had　been　wandering　the　streets；　observing　invisible　exclusion　zones　around　Church　Row；　Hope　Street　and　the　Square。

She　had　nearly　fifty　pounds　in　her　pocket；　which　represented　her　wages　from　the　café　and　the　party；　and　the　razor　blade。　She　had　wanted　to　take　her　building　society　pass　book；　which　resided　in　a　little　filing　cabi　in　her　father’s　study；　but　Vikram　had　been　at　his　desk。　She　had　waited　for　a　while　at　the　bus　stop　where　you　could　catch　a　bus　into　Yarvil；　but　then　she　had　spotted　Shirley　and　Lexie　Mollison　ing　down　the　road；　and　dived　out　of　sight。

Gaia’s　betrayal　had　been　brutal　and　unexpected。　Pulling　Fats　Wall　…　he　would　drop　Krystal　now　that　he　had　Gaia。　Any　boy　would　drop　any　girl　for　Gaia；　she　knew　that。　But　she　could　not　bear　to　go　to　work　and　hear　her　one　ally　trying　to　tell　her　that　Fats　was　all　right；　really。

Her　mobile　buzzed。　Gaia　had　already　texted　her　twice。

How　pissed　was　I　last　nite？

R　u　going　2　work？

Nothing　about　Fats　Wall。　Nothing　about　snogging　Sukhvinder’s　torturer。　The　new　message　said；　R　u　OK？

Sukhvinder　put　the　mobile　back　into　her　pocket。　She　might　walk　towards　Yarvil　and　catch　a　bus　outside　town；　where　nobody　would　see　her。　Her　parents　would　not　miss　her　until　five　thirty；　when　they　expected　her　home　from　the　café。

A　desperate　plan　formed　as　she　walked；　hot　and　tired：　if　she　could　find　a　place　to　stay　that　cost　less　than　fifty　pounds　…　all　she　wanted　was　to　be　alone　and　ply　her　razor　blade。

She　was　on　the　river　road　with　the　Orr　flowing　beside　her。　If　she　crossed　the　bridge；　she　would　be　able　to　take　a　back　street　all　the　way　round　to　the　start　of　the　bypass。

‘Robbie！　Robbie！　Where　are　you？’

It　was　Krystal　Weedon；　running　up　and　down　the　river　bank。　Fats　Wall　was　smoking；　with　one　hand　in　his　pocket；　watching　Krystal　run。

Sukhvinder　took　a　sharp　right　onto　the　bridge；　terrified　that　one　of　them　might　notice　her。　Krystal’s　yells　were　echoing　off　the　rushing　water。

Sukhvinder　caught　sight　of　something　in　the　river　below。

Her　hands　were　already　on　the　hot　stone　ledge　before　she　had　thought　about　what　she　was　doing；　and　then　she　had　hoisted　herself　onto　the　edge　of　the　bridge；　she　yelled；　‘He’s　in　the　river；　Krys！’　and　dropped；　feet　first；　into　the　water。　Her　leg　was　sliced　open　by　a　broken　puter　monitor　as　she　was　pulled　under　by　the　current。

XIV
When　Shirley　opened　the　bedroom　door；　she　saw　nothing　but　two　empty　beds。　Justice　required　a　sleeping　Howard；　she　would　have　to　advise　him　to　return　to　bed。

But　there　was　no　sound　from　either　the　kitchen　or　the　bathroom。　Shirley　was　worried　that；　by　taking　the　river　road　home；　she　had　missed　him。　He　must　have　got　dressed　and　set　off　for　work；　he　might　already　be　with　Maureen　in　the　back　room；　discussing　Shirley；　planning；　perhaps；　to　divorce　her　and　marry　Maureen　instead；　now　that　the　game　was　up；　and　pretence　was　ended。

She　half　ran　into　the　sitting　room；　intending　to　telephone　the　Copper　Kettle。　Howard　was　lying　on　the　carpet　in　his　pyjamas。

His　face　was　purple　and　his　eyes　were　popping。　A　faint　wheezing　noise　came　from　his　lips。　One　hand　was　clutching　feebly　at　his　chest。　His　pyjama　top　had　ridden　up。　Shirley　could　see　the　very　patch　of　scabbed　raw　skin　where　she　had　planned　to　plunge　the　needle。

Howard’s　eyes　met　hers　in　mute　appeal。

Shirley　stared　at　him；　terrified；　then　darted　out　of　the　room。　At　first　she　hid　the　EpiPen　in　the　biscuit　barrel；　then　she　retrieved　it　and　shoved　it　down　the　back　of　the　cookery　books。

She　ran　back　into　the　sitting　room；　seized　the　telephone　receiver　and　dialled　999。

‘Pagford？　This　is　for　Orrbank　Cottage；　is　it？　There’s　one　on　the　way。’

‘Oh；　thank　you；　thank　God；’　said　Shirley；　and　she　had　almost　hung　up　when　she　realized　what　she　had　said　and　screamed；　‘no；　no；　not　Orrbank　Cottage　…’

But　the　operator　had　gone　and　she　had　to　dial　again。　She　was　panicking　so　much　that　she　dropped　the　receiver。　On　the　carpet　beside　her；　Howard’s　wheezing　was　being　fainter　and　fainter。

‘Not　Orrbank　Cottage；’　she　shouted。　‘Thirty…six　Evertree　Crescent；　Pagford　–　my　husband’s　having　a　heart　attack　…’

XV
In　Church　Row；　Miles　Mollison　came　tearing　out　of　his　house　in　bedroom　slippers　and　sprinted　down　the　steep　sloping　pavement　to　the　Old　Vicarage　on　the　corner。　He　banged　on　the　thick　oak　door　with　his　left　hand；　while　trying　to　dial　his　wife’s　number　with　his　right。

‘Yes？’　said　Parminder；　opening　the　door。

‘My　dad；’　gasped　Miles　‘…　another　heart　attack　…　Mum’s　called　an　ambulance　…　will　you　e？　Please；　will　you　e？’

Parminder　made　a　swift　move　back　into　the　house；　mentally　seizing　her　doctor’s　bag；　but　checked。

‘I　can’t。　I’m　suspended　from　work；　Miles。　I　can’t。’

‘You’re　joking　…　please　…　the　ambulance　won’t　be　here　for—’

‘I　can’t；　Miles；’　she　said。

He　turned　and　ran　away　from　her　through　the　open　gate。　Ahead；　he　saw　Samantha；　walking　up　their　garden　path。　He　called　to　her；　his　voice　breaking；　and　she　turned　in　surprise。　At　first；　she　thought　that　his　panic　was　on　her　account。

‘Dad　…　collapsed　…　there’s　an　ambulance　ing　…　bloody　Parminder　Jawanda　won’t　e　…’

‘My　God；’　said　Samantha。　‘Oh　my　God。’

They　dashed　to　the　car　and　drove　up　the　road；　Miles　in　his　slippers；　Samantha　in　the　clogs　that　had　blistered　her　feet。

‘Miles；　listen；　there’s　a　siren　–　it’s　here　already　…’

But　when　they　turned　into　Evertree　Crescent；　there　was　nothing　there；　and　the　siren　was　already　gone。

On　a　lawn　a　mile　away；　Sukhvinder　Jawanda　was　vomiting　river　water　beneath　a　willow　tree；　while　an　old　lady　pressed　blankets　around　her　that　were　already　as　sodden　as　Sukhvinder’s　clothes。　A　short　distance　away；　the　dog…walker　who　had　dragged　Sukhvinder　from　the　river　by　her　hair　and　her　sweatshirt　was　bent　over　a　small；　limp　body。

Sukhvinder　had　thought　she　felt　Robbie　struggling　in　her　arms；　but　had　that　been　the　cruel　tug　of　the　river；　trying　to　rip　him　from　her？　She　was　a　strong　swimmer；　but　the　Orr　had　dragged　her　under；　pulled　her　helplessly　wherever　it　chose。　She　had　been　swept　around　the　bend；　and　it　had　thrown　her　in　towards　land；　and　she　had　managed　a　scream；　and　seen　the　man　with　his　dog；　running　towards　her　along　the　bank　…

‘No　good；’　said　the　man；　who　had　worked　on　Robbie’s　little　body　for　twenty　minutes。　‘He’s　gone。’

Sukhvinder　wailed；　and　slumped　to　the　cold　wet　ground；　shaking　furiously　as　the　sound　of　the　siren　reached　them；　too　late。

Back　in　Evertree　Crescent；　the　paramedics　were　having　enormous　difficulty　getting　Howard　onto　the　stretcher；　Miles　and　Samantha　had　to　help。

‘We’ll　follow　in　the　car；　you　go　with　Dad；’　Miles　shouted　at　Shirley；　who　seemed　bewildered；　and　unwilling　to　get