They couldn’t agree on that, but also hitting the ducks proved—particularly if you were feeling a little wobbly to begin with—rather more difficult than Jake had anticipated, and he kept missing. Unfortunately, once he’d started, he was not the type of man who, like Cormac, would simply have raised his hands and laughed about it; instead he gave the carny more and more money, while Lissa stood at the side faintly embarrassed, and Jake’s ears got redder and redder, and the anger made him even shakier on the trigger and the entire thing went from fun to awkward rather quickly, particularly when a small group of boys appeared from nowhere to laugh at him.

“Aye, gies it another one, mister! You’re a really good protector of ducks, aye!” shouted one.

“Aye, he’s one of those environmentalists,” said another. “Protecting species everywhere.”

Jake cursed at them and looked ready to lose his cool altogether, until at last, after paying out far more than the cheap nylon toy could possibly have cost in the first place, he retrieved the white tiger and handed it over, looking bashful.

“Well,” said Lissa, trying not to smile too much in case it looked as if she were laughing at him. “Thank you, I suppose.”

“S-so listen,” said Jake, stuttering slightly. “There’s a wee barbecue happening down by the loch. You fancy it? There’s a nice bonfire and that . . . um . . . music, I think . . .”

Just then Ginty and her friends appeared out of nowhere. Lissa still had only a vague idea of who she was. She was looking absolutely impressive, that much was clearly true, in a pair of skintight black leggings, enormous wedge heels, an off-the-shoulder cropped pink top that showed off her nice round shoulders and vast bosoms, and more hair than Lissa had ever seen on a human person. It tumbled down her back in great blond waves, all the way to her bottom. There seemed to be no end to it; it looked like at least four people’s hair. Coupled with the breasts (natural) and lips (much less so), in the normally dressed-down life of the village and the beginning chill of even the sunniest of Highland evenings, she stood out like a rare orchid. It wasn’t a look Lissa could have ever worn herself, but she couldn’t help but be impressed at the commitment it took. Ginty’s huge pneumatic lips were polished to a high sheen, and her eyebrows were perfectly shaded brown geometric shapes that looked carved into her forehead.

“Hi, Jake,” she said seductively, tossing her hair over her shoulders.

Lissa smiled. She clearly expected Jake’s tongue to unravel like a cartoon fox’s.