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　connected　made　soft　implacable　noises；　confirming　that　he　continued　to　live。

And　far　below；　in　the　bowels　of　the　hospital；　Robbie　Weedon’s　body　lay　frozen　and　white　in　the　morgue。　Nobody　had　acpanied　him　to　the　hospital；　and　nobody　had　visited　him　in　his　metal　drawer。

III
Andrew　had　refused　a　lift　back　to　Hilltop　House；　so　it　was　only　Tessa　and　Fats　in　the　car　together；　and　Fats　said；　‘I　don’t　want　to　go　home。’

‘All　right；’　Tessa　replied；　and　she　drove；　while　talking　to　Colin　on　the　telephone。　‘I’ve　got　him　…　Andy　found　him。　We’ll　be　back　in　a　bit　…　Yes　…　Yes；　I　will　…’

Tears　were　spattering　down　Fats’　face；　his　body　was　betraying　him；　it　was　exactly　like　the　time　when　hot　urine　had　spilt　down　his　leg　into　his　sock；　when　Simon　Price　had　made　him　piss　himself。　The　hot　saltiness　leaked　over　his　chin　and　onto　his　chest；　pattering　like　drops　of　rain。

He　kept　imagining　the　funeral。　A　tiny　little　coffin。

He　had　not　wanted　to　do　it　with　the　boy　so　near。

Would　the　weight　of　the　dead　child　ever　lift　from　him？

‘So　you　ran　away；’　said　Tessa　coldly；　over　his　tears。

She　had　prayed　that　she　would　find　him　alive；　but　her　strongest　emotion　was　disgust。　His　tears　did　not　soften　her。　She　was　used　to　men’s　tears。　Part　of　her　was　ashamed　that　he　had　not；　after　all；　thrown　himself　into　the　river。

‘Krystal　told　the　police　that　you　and　she　were　in　the　bushes。　You　just　left　him　to　his　own　devices；　did　you？’

Fats　was　speechless。　He　could　not　believe　her　cruelty。　Did　she　not　understand　the　desolation　roaring　inside　him；　the　horror；　the　sense　of　contagion？

‘Well；　I　hope　you　have　got　her　pregnant；’　said　Tessa。　‘It’ll　give　her　something　to　live　for。’

Every　time　they　turned　a　corner；　he　thought　that　she　was　taking　him　home。　He　had　feared　Cubby　most；　but　now　there　was　nothing　to　choose　between　his　parents。　He　wanted　to　get　out　of　the　car；　but　she　had　locked　all　the　doors。

Without　warning；　she　swerved　and　braked。　Fats；　clutching　the　sides　of　his　seat；　saw　that　they　were　in　a　lay…by　on　the　Yarvil　bypass。　Frightened　that　she　would　order　him　out　of　the　car；　he　turned　his　swollen　face　to　her。

‘Your　birth　mother；’　she　said；　looking　at　him　as　she　had　never　done　before；　without　pity　or　kindness；　‘was　fourteen　years　old。　We　had　the　impression；　from　what　we　were　told；　that　she　was　middle　class；　quite　a　bright　girl。　She　absolutely　refused　to　say　who　your　father　was。　Nobody　knew　whether　she　was　trying　to　protect　an　under…age　boyfriend　or　something　worse。　We　were　told　all　of　this；　in　case　you　had　any　mental　or　physical　difficulties。　In　case；’　she　said　clearly；　like　a　teacher　trying　to　emphasize　a　point　sure　to　e　up　in　a　test；　‘you　had　been　the　result　of　incest。’

He　cowered　away　from　her。　He　would　have　preferred　to　be　shot。

‘I　was　desperate　to　adopt　you；’　she　said。　‘Desperate。　But　Dad　was　very　ill。　He　said　to　me；　“I　can’t　do　it。　I’m　scared　I’ll　hurt　a　baby。　I　need　to　get　better　before　we　do　this；　and　I　can’t　do　that　and　cope　with　a　new　baby　as　well。”

‘But　I　was　so　determined　to　have　you；’　said　Tessa；　‘that　I　pressured　him　into　lying；　and　telling　the　social　workers　that　he　was　fine；　and　pretending　to　be　happy　and　normal。　We　brought　you　home；　and　you　were　tiny　and　premature；　and　on　the　fifth　night　we　had　you；　Dad　slipped　out　of　bed　and　went　to　the　garage；　put　a　hosepipe　on　the　exhaust　of　the　car　and　tried　to　kill　himself；　because　he　was　convinced　he’d　smothered　you。　And　he　almost　died。

‘So　you　can　blame　me；’　said　Tessa；　‘for　your　and　Dad’s　bad　start；　and　maybe　you　can　blame　me　for　everything　that’s　e　since。　But　I’ll　tell　you　this；　Stuart。　Your　father’s　spent　his　life　facing　up　to　things　he　never　did。　I　don’t　expect　you　to　understand　his　kind　of　courage。　But；’　her　voice　broke　at　last；　and　he　heard　the　mother　he　knew；　‘he　loves　you；　Stuart。’

She　added　the　lie　because　she　could　not　help　herself。　Tonight；　for　the　first　time；　Tessa　was　convinced　that　it　was　a　lie；　and　also　that　everything　she　had　done　in　her　life；　telling　herself　that　it　was　for　the　best；　had　been　no　more　than　blind　selfishness；　generating　confusion　and　mess　all　around。　But　who　could　bear　to　know　which　stars　were　already　dead；　she　thought；　blinking　up　at　the　night　sky；　could　anybody　stand　to　know　that　they　all　were？

She　turned　the　key　in　the　ignition；　crashed　the　gears　and　they　pulled　out　again　onto　the　bypass。

‘I　don’t　want　to　go　to　the　Fields；’　said　Fats　in　terror。

‘We’re　not　going　to　the　Fields；’　she　said。　‘I’m　taking　you　home。’

IV
The　police　had　picked　up　Krystal　Weedon　at　last　as　she　ran　hopelessly　along　the　river　bank　on　the　very　edge　of　Pagford；　still　calling　her　brother　in　a　cracked　voice。　The　policewoman　who　approached　her　addressed　her　by　name；　and　tried　to　break　the　news　to　her　gently；　but　she　still　tried　to　beat　the　woman　away　from　her；　and　in　the　end　the　policewoman　had　almost　to　wrestle　her　into　the　car。　Krystal　had　not　noticed　Fats　melting　away　into　the　trees；　he　did　not　exist　to　her　any　more。

The　police　drove　Krystal　home；　but　when　they　knocked　on　the　front　door　Terri　refused　to　answer。　She　had　glimpsed　them　through　an　upstairs　window；　and　thought　that　Krystal　had　done　the　one　unthinkable　and　unforgivable　thing；　and　told　the　pigs　about　the　hold…alls　full　of　Obbo’s　hash。　She　dragged　the　heavy　bags　upstairs　while　the　police　hammered　at　the　door；　and　only　opened　up　when　she　considered　that　it　had　bee　unavoidable。

‘Whatcha　wan’？’　she　shouted；　through　an　inch…wide　gap　in　the　door。

The　policewoman　asked　to　e　in　three　times　and　Terri　refused；　still　demanding　to　know　what　they　wanted。　A　few　neighbours　had　begun　to　peer　through　windows。　Even　when　the　policewoman　said；　‘It’s　about　your　son；　Robbie；’　Terri　did　not　realize。

‘’E’s　fine。　There’s　nuthin’　wrong　with　’im。　Krystal’s　got　’im。’

But　then　she　saw　Krystal；　who　had　refused　to　stay　in　the　car；　and　had　walked　halfway　up　the　garden　path。　Terri’s　gaze　trickled　down　her　daughter’s　body　to　the　place　where　Robbie　should　have　been　clinging　to　her；　frightened　by　the　strange　men。

Terri　flew　from　her　house　like　a　fury；　with　her　hands　outstretched　like　claws；　and　the　policewoman　had　to　catch　her　round　the　middle　and　swing　her　away　from　Krystal；　whose　face　she　was　trying　to　lacerate。

‘Yeh　little　bitch；　yeh　little　bitch；　what’ve　yeh　done　ter　Robbie？’

Krystal　dodged　the　struggling　pair；　darted　into　the　house　and　slammed　the　front　door　behind　her。

‘For　fuck’s　sake；’　muttered　the　policeman　under　his　breath。

Miles　away　in　Hope　Street；　Kay　and　Gaia　Bawden　faced　each　other　in　the　dark　hallway。　Neither　of　them　was　tall　enough　to　replace　the　light　bulb　that　had　been　dead　for　days；　and　they　had　no　ladder。　All　day　long；　they　had　argued　and　almost　made　up；　then　argued　again。　Finally；　at　the　moment　when　reconciliation　seemed　within　touching　distance；　when　Kay　had　agreed　that　she　too　hated　Pagford；　that　it　had　all　been　a　mistake；　and　that　she　would　try　and　get　them　both　back　to　London；　her　mobile　had　rung。

‘Krystal　Weedon’s　brother’s　drowned；’　whispered　Kay；　as　she　cut　Tessa’s　call。

‘Oh；’　said　Gaia。　Knowing　that　she　ought　to　express　pity；　but　frightened　to　let　discussion　of　London　drop　before　she　had　her　mother’s　firm　mitment；　she　added；　in　a　tight　little　voice；　‘That’s　sad。’

‘It　happened　here　in　Pagford；’　said　Kay。　‘Along　the　road。　Krystal　was　with　Tessa　Wall’s　son。’

Gaia　felt　even　more　ashamed　of　letting　Fats　Wall　kiss　her。　He　had　tasted　horrible；　of　lager　and　cigarettes；　and　he　had　tried　to　feel　her　up。　She　was　worth　much　more　than　Fats　Wall；　she　knew　that。　If　it　had　even　been　Andy　Price；　she　would　have　felt　better　about　it。　Sukhvinder　had　not　returned　one　of　her　calls；　all　day　long。

‘She’ll　be　absolutely　broken　up；’　said　Kay；　her　eyes　unfocused。

‘But　there’s　nothing　you　can　do；’　said　Gaia。　‘Is　there？’

‘Well　…’　said　Kay。

‘Not　again！’　cried　Gaia。　‘It’s　always；　always　the　same！　You’re　not　her　social　worker　any　more！　What；’　she　shouted；　stamping　her　foot　as　she　had　done　when　she　was　a　little　girl；　‘about　me？’

The　police　officer　in　Foley　Road　had　already　called　a　duty　social　worker。　Terri　was　writhing　and　screaming　and　trying　to　beat　at　the　front　door；　while　from　behind　it　came　the　sounds　of　furniture　being　dragged　to　form　a　barricade。　Neighbours　were　ing　out　onto　their　doorsteps；　a　fascinated　audience　to　Terri’s　meltdown。　Somehow　the　cause　of　it　was　transmitted　through　the　watchers；　from　Terri’s　incoherent　shouts　and　the　attitudes　of　the　ominous　police。

‘The　boy’s　dead；’　they　told　each　other。　Nobody　stepped　forward　to　fort　or　calm。　Terri　Weedon　had　no　friends。

‘e　with　me；’　Kay　begged　her　mutinous　daughter。　‘I’ll　go　to　the　house　and　see　if　I　can　do　anything。　I　got　on　with　Krystal。　She’s　got　nobody。’

‘I　bet　she　was　shagging　Fats　Wall　when　it　happened！’　shouted　Gaia；　but　it　was　her　final　protest；　and　a　few　minutes　later　she　was　buckling　herself　into　Kay’s　old　Vauxhall；　glad；　in　spite　of　everything；　that　Kay　had　asked　her　along。

But　by　the　time　they　had　reached　the　bypass；　Krystal　had　found　what　she　was　looking　for：　a　bag　of　heroin　concealed　in　the　airing　cupboard；　the　second　of　two　that　Obbo　had　given　Terri　in　payment　for　Tessa　Wall’s　watch。　She　took　it；　with　Terri’s　works；　into　the　bathroom；　the　only　room　that　had　a　lock　on　the　door。

Her　aunt　Cheryl　must　have　heard　what　had　happened；　because　Krystal　could　hear　her　distinctive　raucous　yell；　added　to　Terri’s　screams；　even　through　the　two　doors。

‘You　little　bitch；　open　the　door！　Letcha　mother　see　ya！’

And　the　police　shouting；　trying　to　shut　the　two　women　up。

Krystal　had　never　shot　up　before；　but　she　had　watched　it　happen　many　times。　She　knew　about　longboats；　and　how　to　make　a　model　volcano；　and　she　knew　how　to　heat　the　spoon；　and　about　the　tiny　little　ball　of　cotton　wool　you　used　to　soak　up　the　dissolved　smack；　and　act　as　a　filter　when　you　were　filling　the　syringe。　She　knew　that　the　crook　of　the　arm　was　the　best　place　to　find　a　vein；　and　she　knew　to　lay　the　needle　as　flat　as　possible　against　the　skin。　She　knew；　because　she　had　heard　it　said；　many　times；　that　first…timers　could　not　take　what　addicts　could　manage；　and　that　was　good；　because　she　did　not　want　to　take　it。

Robbie　was　dead；　and　it　was　her　fault。　In　trying　to　save　him；　she　had　killed　him。　Flickering　images　filled　her　mind　as　her　fingers　worked　to　achieve　what　must　be　done。　Mr　Fairbrother；　running　alongside　the　canal　bank　in　his　tracksuit　as　the　crew　rowed。　Nana　Cath’s　face；　fierce　with　pain　and　love。　Robbie；　waiting　for　her　at　the　window　of　his　foster　home；　unnaturally　clean；　jumping　up　and　down　with　excitement　as　she　approached　the　front　door　…

She　could　hear　the　policeman　calling　to　her　through　the　letter　box　not　to　be　a　silly　girl；　and　the　policewoman　trying　to　quieten　Terri　and　Cheryl。

The　needle　slid　easily　into　Krystal’s　vein。　She　pressed　the　plunger　down　hard；　in　hope　and　without　regret。

By　the　time　Kay　and　Gaia　arrived；　and　the　police　decided　to　force　their　way　in；　Krystal　Weedon　had　achieved　her　only　ambition：　she　had　joined　her　brother　where　nobody　could　part　them。

Nearly　three　weeks　after　the　sirens　had　wailed　through　sleepy　Pagford；　on　a　sunny　morning　in　April；　Shirley　Mollison　stood　alone　in　her　bedroom；　squinting　at　her　reflection　in　the　mirrored　wardrobe。　She　was　making　final　adjustments　to　her　dress　before　her　now…daily　drive　to　South　West　General。　The　belt　buckle　slid　up　a　hole　tighter　than　it　had　done　a　fortnight　ago；　her　silver　hair　was　in　need　of　a　trim　and　her　grimace　against　the　sunshine　blazing　into　the　room　could　have　been　a　simple　expression　of　her　mood。
。电子书
When　Miles　acpanied　her　to　the　hospital；　she　could　let　him　do　all　the　talking　to　Howard；　which　he　did；　keeping　up　a　steady　monologue　of　Pagford　news。　She　felt　so　much　better　–　both　more　visible　and　more　protected　–　with　tall　Miles　walking　beside　her　down　the　chilly　corridors。　He　chatted　genially　to　the　nurses；　and　handed　her　in　and　out　of　the　car；　and　restored　to　her　the　sense　of　being　a　rare　creature；　worthy　of　care　and　protection。　But　Miles　could　not　e　every　day；　and　to　Shirley’s　profound　irritation　he　kept　deputizing　Samantha　to　acpany　her。　This　was　not　the　same　thing　at　all；　even　though　Samantha