She went on: “Grandpapa told me Hoover lived with his associate director, a guy called Tolson. They went everywhere together, like husband and wife.”

Lew said: “It’s people like Hoover give us queers a bad name.”

Walli, up unusually early, said: “Hey, listen, we’re going to do a reunion concert when the album comes out, right?”

Dave said: “Yeah. What’s on your mind?”

“Let’s make it a fund-raiser for George McGovern.”

The idea of rock bands raising money for liberal politicians was catching on, and McGovern was the leading contender for the Democratic nomination in this year’s presidential election, running as a peace candidate.

Dave said: “Great idea. Doubles our publicity, and helps to end the war as well.”

Lew said: “I’m for it.”

Buzz said: “Okay, I’m outvoted, I concede.”

Lew and Buzz left soon after to catch a plane to London. Walli went into the studio to pack his guitars into their cases, a job he did not like to leave to roadies.

Dave said to Beep: “You can’t just go.”

“Why not?”

“Because for the last six weeks we’ve been fucking our brains out every time Walli nodded out.”

She grinned. “Been great, hasn’t it?”

“And because we love each other.” Dave waited to see whether she would confirm or deny this.

She did neither.

He repeated: “You can’t just go.”

“What else am I going to do?”

“Talk to Walli. Tell him to get a new nursemaid. Come and live here with me.”

Beep shook her head.

“I met you a decade ago,” Dave said. “We’ve been lovers. We were engaged to get married. I think I know you.”

“So?”

“You’re fond of Walli, you care for him, you want him to be okay. But you rarely have sex with him and, what’s even more telling, you don’t mind that. Which tells me you don’t love him.”

Once again she did not confirm or deny what he said.

Dave said: “I think you love me.”

She looked into her empty coffee cup, as if she might see answers there in the dregs.

“Shall we get married?” Dave said. “Is that why you’re hesitating—you want me to propose? Then I will. Marry me, Beep. I love you. I loved you when we were thirteen years old and I don’t think I ever stopped.”

“What, not even when you were in bed with Mandy Love?”

He smiled ruefully. “I might have forgotten about you just for a few moments now and again.”

She grinned. “Now I believe you.”

“What about children? Would you like to have kids? I would.”

She said nothing.

Dave said: “I’m pouring my heart out here, and I’m getting nothing back. What’s going on in your head?”

She looked up, and he saw that she was crying. She said: “If I leave Walli, he’ll die.”

“I don’t believe he will,” Dave said.

Beep held up a hand to silence him. “You asked me what’s going on in my head. If you really want to know, don’t contradict what I say.”