I should have got between them but I was fixed to the spot, and before I knew it Langdon had exploded from the floor, throwing all his force head first at Caleb. He roared in fury as he rocketed at him. A memory of Spenser the silverback hurtling at Caleb in the jungle came to mind. Then, Innocent had tried to intervene. Perhaps it was lucky that I was too slow. Langdon barrelled straight into his son, knocked him flat on his back and pinned him down by the throat. His free hand rose, his fist making a club, and struck Caleb once, twice, again and again, about the head. In a frenzy Caleb’s knees slammed up into his father’s chest, but my uncle wouldn’t let go. He was possessed. The weight of those punches, the sound of them – I swear he’d have killed Caleb if we’d let him.

Without realising it, I’d picked up my chair, and now I swung it at Langdon’s side with all my might, knocking him off Caleb’s chest. The hand gripping my cousin’s throat came free. As Langdon tried to right himself, Amelia grabbed his collar and hung on so hard buttons popped off his shirt. This sent him off balance just long enough for Caleb to get a leg free, bunch his knee into his chest and aim the sole of his foot at his father’s bloody face. When he unleashed the kick it flipped Langdon over. He was stunned. Caleb sprang up and lashed out with his other foot, a penalty kick across Langdon’s temple delivered with a viciousness that made me gasp. The blow knocked my uncle out cold. He didn’t even attempt to break his own fall. His head bounced once on the dirt-encrusted floor, and he lay still.

Caleb dropped to his knees beside his father, wide-eyed with shock at what he’d done. He was clutching his own throat, coughing horribly, fighting for breath. ‘Go!’ he croaked. ‘Find Marcel. He’s with the bikes. I told Francis to give him fuel.’

I heaved Langdon onto his side, thoughts clashing. Call a doctor? Try to help? No! Help Mum and Dad. Do as Caleb was insisting. Flee. Stay. What had I just witnessed? Caleb obviously hadn’t planned to fight his father, but he’d thought to organise Marcel, and when Langdon struck him his response had been savage. A dam had burst. I felt for my cousin, for Langdon even. I don’t mind admitting I had no idea what to do.

‘That’s right, put him in the recovery position,’ Amelia said, helping me with Langdon. She had her fingers pressed flat against his neck. ‘His pulse is strong,’ she announced, very matter of fact. ‘Who knows how long he’ll take to come round? We should probably do as Caleb’s suggesting …’