‘Yes, but just because it’s fair doesn’t make it right.’

‘Perhaps, June, but when it comes to justice, one must sometimes choose what is fair to all over what seems right to oneself,’ said Father.

June coloured. ‘I wasn’t questioning your decision, Father. I just think—’

‘That it wasn’t right? I happen to agree with you. But tell me, June, who decides what is right?’

‘Well, shouldn’t you?’

‘And what happens when I do not know the answer?’

‘You could ask someone,’ said Theo, looking up at him.

Father smiled at her. ‘Wise counsel, indeed. And I often do. But Theo, often situations arise that aren’t that simple, when nobody knows what the right thing to do is. Or even more often, when everyone does, only they all want different things. What then? Should I just go ahead and do what I think is right, even though I know it may not be?’ He shook his head.

‘No, it is not always possible to tell what is right and what is wrong, at least until it is too late. On the other hand, one can usually see what is fair. The people understand this, too. This is why I believe it is important to remember that if you have a duty to them, it is to give them what they want. And above all, what people want, and expect, is fairness.’

He smiled round at them again. ‘But I think that’s enough politics for one day. Albert, how do you like our valley?’

Albert, who was still casting his eye from sight to sight like a child beholding a see-through candy machine for the first time, started at the sound of his name. ‘Oh! Yes! It’s very interesting,’ he said. ‘Although it’s all a little confusing, to be honest.’

‘Oh, you’ll pick it all up in no time. Here you will find people of all kinds, from everywhere.’

‘Everywhere?’

‘Isn’t everyone here from—’

‘From the City? No, not at all. Several are, yes. But not all, not by far—I myself have never been there.’

‘But—but—where are you from, then? Where are they from?’

Father smiled. ‘Me? Oh, not very far away. As for everyone else, I could not possibly tell you each and every individual’s antecedents, Albert. Suffice it to say that what you have grown up regarding as the world is, in fact, less than the smallest fraction of what there is. In time, you will understand. Now, where is your tent, Theo? This is a much longer walk than I had anticipated. I am not getting any younger. Or is this a plot to kill me and take my place?’

She giggled. ‘It’s not far. Level One.’

‘Level One? Now I am convinced it is a plot,’ he said, smiling. ‘Lead the way, then.’

‘All right,’ she said. ‘C’mon!’