It had been one of the young ones. He hadn’t shot a bird all day and there was one, so near, and he let off one barrel and missed, and then tracked it downward, firing again. There was blood when I got there, trickling down Marcus’s wrist and spattering the ground. He was sitting on a log and his face was set and I did not know how bad it was, and I threatened to kill the boy, Alexander, so that his dad quickly led him away, Marcus calling after him saying he was all right.

I got his coat and shirt off; even I could see it wasn’t much, but I kept checking. Even though Marcus was trying to calm me down and make me stop. It wasn’t till David touched me, laid a hand on my shoulder and said evenly, “Come on, Andy, he’s going to freeze to death. Let’s get him to the doctor,” that the earth steadied under my feet.

A green Land Rover was brought round and we helped Marcus into the back. Zack was at the wheel and soon we were joined by Priss, Alice, Rob, and finally David. Zack kept apologizing, stopping only long enough to introduce the others. I had my arm round Marcus’s shoulders, one finger resting on his neck, warm and living.

“How do you three know each other then?” Rob was in the front. I could see his eyes on me in the rearview mirror. Alice had her head cocked to one side, listening.

“That summer I was on the lam and hiding out at your parents’ house, Marcus and Andy were very good to me. Only I don’t think they like me now because I disappeared without a word,” David said.

“Is that why you were staring at me in the pub that time? I thought she wanted to rape and murder me,” Rob said.

“You were half right.”

“I’m flattered.” His voice was amused. He clutched at his heart. “Anytime, Andy is it? Anytime. I promise I won’t fight.” And then quickly in response to the looks he was given, “Sorry. Inappropriate me. It’s the tension, like when people laugh at funerals. Shock. I can’t be held accountable for anything I say. Zack, you’re a total prick. Maybe we should all have sex. How about a massive loan?”

The Land Rover bumped down the track. Behind us came the game cart. There were ninety birds, including eight partridges and a mallard, plus a rabbit that one of the dogs had stumbled over and brought in. As the light failed, I watched Col become a silhouette, a straight-backed figure swaying as the pickup lurched over the ruts, a silent Charon with his cargo of dead.