The sudden silence was startling. James let out his breath. He tasted blood in his mouth. He had bitten his tongue. Mark was slumped forward on the steering wheel. His whole body was shaking and he was sobbing uncontrollably and swearing over and over again – the worst words he knew.

‘It’s all right,’ said James, putting a hand on his shoulder. ‘We’re alive and the car’s in one piece.’

Mark lifted his head from the wheel. His face was streaked with snot and saliva. He had hit his head, and a bruise was already rising on his brow. His eyes were red, but the fire had gone out of them and he looked ashamed.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘I didn’t know about your parents.’

‘I don’t talk about it,’ said James. ‘But would you like to, you know, tell me about… what’s happened?’ he said.

‘A fisherman from Rhodes…’ said Mark, looking into the distance and sniffing. ‘He found wreckage, floating, bits of the boat, burnt… and bodies… floating… my father –’

‘Dead?’

‘Yes.’

‘And your sister? Have they found her?’

‘Not yet.’

‘She may be safe, then?’

‘It’s been ten days,’ Mark sobbed. ‘If there was anyone alive, they would have been found by now.’

‘Not necessarily,’ said James. ‘There is still some hope.’

Mark looked at James, and James saw that there was no hope left in his eyes.

‘I’m sorry,’ said James, and Mark tried to smile.

‘Thank you, James,’ he said. ‘I think maybe I just needed someone to talk to. But I can’t believe this is happening…’

‘I know the feeling,’ said James quietly. ‘Now, we’d better get back before someone sees us.’

‘Yes.’ Mark sniffed and sat up straighter in his seat. ‘Do you think the car’s all right?’

‘Only one way to find out… But I think you’d better let me drive. When we get back near town we’ll park somewhere out of sight and work out what to do with the car later, when there’s not so many people around.’

Mark nodded mutely. All the life had gone out of him; he seemed numb and exhausted.

They swapped seats and James drove carefully back towards Windsor.

‘I couldn’t stand it,’ said Mark flatly. ‘Seeing all the other boys strolling through Eton with mama and papa. So happy, so normal. It was bad enough when my mother died, but now this… My father should have been here today. He always came back for the Fourth of June, every year. But not any more… Never again.’

‘Listen, Mark,’ said James. ‘I don’t know how I can help, but if there’s anything I can do – anything – I will. OK? That’s a promise’

‘Thank you,’ said Mark, his voice barely audible over the roar of he engine.

When they reached the outskirts of Windsor they went even more cautiously, keeping to obscure back streets. James was just beginning to think that they might have got away with it when he heard the honk of a horn behind him. He turned round to see a young master, wearing his black robes, following him in a car and angrily gesticulating for him to stop.