‘Ah!’ He stepped forward and opened a cupboard. I shone the light over the racked guns. Well, not guns, really – more like catapults for shooting spears. I took one that looked powerful and selected three spears. Shooting pistols causes loud bangs and I had an idea it would be better to be as quiet as possible on the mainland. The ability to kill silently at a distance appealed to me.

I said, ‘How old are you, John?’

‘Seventy-four, sir.’ He paused. ‘Why, sir?’

‘I’m going to the mainland and I’d like someone to come with me. I don’t know the ground over there and I’ll be likely to stumble into trouble alone. I need someone who can direct me to the telephone exchange.’

There was a silence before he said, ‘I can do that, sir.’

As soon as he spoke I regretted opening my mouth. It was a completely unfair position to put him in and I had no right to do it. It would have been a hell of a thing to ask someone half his age.

I shook my head in the darkness. ‘No, forget it. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s too much. You stay here and look after Mrs Salton. Miss Tomsson is elected for the job.’

‘Miss Tomsson? Is she well enough, sir?’

‘She’ll have to be,’ I said unsympathetically.

‘But sir – you don’t know where the telephone exchange is.’

‘Draw me a diagram,’ I said.

II

When we got back, Leotta was on her knees by Jill. If it hadn’t been for the bandage on her arm and a few splashes of blood on her clothes, I’d have said she was fully fit and ready for action. I squatted down beside them. ‘How are things, Jill?’

‘Not too good,’ she whispered. ‘I’m okay if I don’t move.’

‘I’m going out to roust up a doctor. You just lie quietly.’

Leotta said, ‘Where are you going?’

‘Ashore. It’s time the telephone exchange was opened up for outgoing calls. Come on.’

I stood up and she scrambled to her feet. As I turned away she caught my arm. ‘Me?’

I laid a comforting hand on hers, where she was clutching me, then I turned away and crossed the room. ‘John, can you fire a pistol?’

‘I never have done, sir. You just point and pull the trigger?’

‘Take the safety catch off first.’ I gave him the pistol with the full clip as Leotta arrived at my side. I said, ‘It’s possible that someone will come looking for Bette. You’ll have to hold the fort, John.’

‘I’ll do my best, sir.’ His voice was as quiet and tranquil as though I’d asked him to serve the midday rum punch.

‘Before you shoot, make sure it’s not us coming back.’

‘I’ll turn on the lights outside,’ he said. ‘There’s a switch by the door.’