The farmhand watches for a moment. He looks John up and down, and I know he’s considering setting about him. John holds his ground. I can barely breathe.

He laughs, an unconvincing sound. ‘You all have a happy fate today, being that I am needed for my tasks in a urgent manner and may not dally here to finish with you.’ As though we have not the wit to know he has no task at this time of night. He begins to step away, his eyes never leaving John’s face. Daren’t turn his back. ‘But ’tis a delay and no more. I shall return, and do not think you have ’scaped me.’

At last he runs off, almost tripping over in his haste to leave. We watch him go.

They tell stories of John in the village. Of terrifying powers and an evil spirit. Of an ability to summon demons to carry out his work. He, they fear more than any of us. And yet he has no skills of magic. I’ve always envied the simplicity of his life, and he the purpose of mine.

I turn to him now. We both are breathing fast.

‘John – I …’

He nods, pats my shoulder once. Together we walk home.

We creep in as quietly as we can. The house throbs to the rhythm of Mam’s snoring and Annie’s snuffling sleep-breathing. It’s warm in here, the air a fog of moist breath and the familiar scent of their warm bodies. My home, not the crumbling walls and drifting roof of this house, but the solid presence of those within. When I live in a new house, I will take my home with me.

We make no sound as we enter. John steps to his mat, curls under the blanket. I wonder if he is feared, shaken as I am. Turning towards my bed I almost fall backwards in surprise at seeing the little figure in the doorway.

‘What have you bringed?’ Annie asks, words distorted as she breathes out a yawn. Expecting that I have been with Daniel and brought back a parcel of food. How I wish it were so.

I put my finger to my lips. There is a little left from our last meeting, and I fetch the cloth from its place in the corner and lay it out. She runs and leaps over John, her bare foot just missing his head, scrambles on to a stool and leans on her elbows to inspect the food.