Cormac peeped over the covers.

‘Please tell me you’re teasing me, Annie. Harry’s not downstairs, is he?’

‘No, I’m not! I’m right here, you lazy wee bastard! Now get up and let’s go for this jog you promised me.’

Cormac pointed to Harry’s yellow and pink attire.

‘You were right, Annie. It’s a fat man in a ridiculous tracksuit!’

Annie talked through clenched teeth.

‘Dad, I didn’t say that!’

‘Don’t be shy, darling. Tell the nice fat man what you said.’

‘It’s all right, Annie. Your old man is only stalling. Now are you getting up, or what?’

Cormac lifted himself from the bed. He felt his head pounding, his arms aching, and his legs like lead.

‘Listen, Harry I’m really sorry, but I don’t think I’m capable.’

The relief on the big man’s face was obvious.

‘OK, then, change of offer. What do you say to a nice bacon and egg soda, cup of strong tea and a gentle walk?’

Cormac’s mood lifted.

‘I’d say that’s a marvellous piece of negotiation on your part. I’ll be down in a minute.’

‘Appalling!’

‘What?’

‘Appalling!’

Harry and Cormac looked quizzically towards Annie.

‘That is the word I used to describe the smell in your room and that thing that Harry’s wearing. Now are you two going for your walk? Because I was thinking of going back to bed for an hour or two before we go to Maggie’s for lunch.’

‘Where are we going, Harry?’

‘Oh, I thought we would just stroll out towards the dam. Just like old times.’

‘One minor point, Harry. We’re not going to rob the Johnsons’ orchard, are we?’

‘Not this time, my friend. I’ve still got the welts on my arse from my Da’s belt. I wouldn’t care, but it was Liam who did it. I just carried the apples.’

‘You were an accessory to the crime and guilty, I’m afraid.’

‘Jesus, Cormac! Remind me not to call you if I ever need a good defence barrister!’

As they walked, Cormac was staggered by how close the bond remained between them. He felt an instant connection again with Harry. So much had happened since they had last spent any time together. Of ‘the three musketeers’, Harry was always the sensible one, the calming influence; the voice of reason. Cormac was the thinker, the idealist; the dreamer. Liam was the wild one, always in trouble, always thinking with his fists. The big man spoke with an unusual urgency.

‘When are you planning on going back, Cormac?’

‘I’ve got an official function at Hillsborough Castle at the end of the week. Apart from that, I’ve got two weeks but I think perhaps I might go home sooner. I’ll speak to Annie; see what she wants to do. It’s a bit strange for me. I’ve always been really terrified at the thought of spending any time here because of the threats. Now I’m actually here, though, that’s not what is bothering me the most. My biggest problem is that I am acutely aware that I’ve let down so many people: Tom, Maggie, you, Bernadette….’