I put my hands on his shoulders and shoved, hard. He stumbled backwards, and I thought I caught a spark of fear in his eyes.

‘Where’s my dog?’

‘Don’t touch me,’ he said, but I could see sweat gathering on his brow.

I ran out of the post office again, and up and down the street, calling for Scotty. Two roads back, I found him in a ditch, his leg bent back at a peculiar angle and blood dripping from his muzzle. Next to him, a large rock was red and sticky; he was completely still.

‘Scotty,’ I said, crouching beside him in the ditch, ‘can you hear me?’ I was crying so hard I almost didn’t hear the whimper. I wiped my arm across my eyes. ‘Scotty?’

He looked at me then, dragging his eyes open through a crust of blood and dirt, and feebly lifted his tail in greeting.

‘Good boy,’ I said, through my tears. ‘Good boy – you’re going to be alright.’

I lifted him up, cradling him in my arms, and started to run towards The Norfolk. I could feel his heart pounding against his chest, but he didn’t cry or bark; he was a brave dog.

People stared at me as I passed them. One of the boys must have guessed where I was going and run on ahead, because by the time I reached The Norfolk, Auntie was coming down the steps with a blanket and a wet cloth.

‘I’ve sent for the vet,’ she said.

We laid Scotty out on the veranda on the blanket, and Auntie dabbed at the blood.

‘I don’t think the cut is too deep,’ she said.

‘What about his leg?’

‘It looks broken.’

I lifted Scotty’s head into my lap, and he licked my hand, the whites of his eyes showing.

‘It’s going to be alright,’ I told him again.

‘I’ll get some brandy,’ Auntie said. She hurried into the hotel. I could feel my insides twisting in anger, and my skin was crawling. It took every effort to remain sitting there and not take off in search of Carberry.

A young, tired-looking man appeared next to me. ‘What happened here then?’

‘Dr Harvill, you’re here.’ Auntie came back out with a bottle of brandy and a glass. ‘I think Scotty’s leg is broken.’

‘I don’t think he’ll want any brandy for it,’ Dr Harvill said dryly.

‘This is for Theo.’

Dr Harvill crouched down in front of Scotty, gently placing his hand on Scotty’s head. ‘There, there,’ he said. ‘Let’s take a look at you.’

I gulped down the glass of brandy Auntie poured me and stood up.

‘Can you wake my family?’ I asked.

‘Of course.’