Patti takes the cauldron off the fire and ladles out cups. She hands a cake to the Queen, who lights it in the flames and hands it back. Patti breaks off and distributes the smouldering crumbs. Around the circle people eat and drink.

The innermost row leans away as Mel circles the fire, swinging her mantle. It catches someone in the chin.

‘Beltane is here!’ the Queen shouts at the crowd. ‘Beltane is here!’ And then she points her torch at Chris, brushing him with the flames. He moves only when they get close to his face – and the Queen laughs.

‘He is the god of the forest,’ she bellows. ‘He is known by many names. Pan, Herne, Cernunnos, the Green Man. He is the god of the forest and at sundown he will capture the Maiden.’

The horn sounds again.

The Queen turns to Mel. ‘RUN.’ She laughs as Mel tries to escape the circle. The crowd pushes her back in.

‘She is the Queen of the May… Ceridwen… goddess of the fields and flowers. She is… Mother Earth herself,’ shouts the Queen as Mel runs round the fire.

Mel’s lungs are protesting and the blood drums in her ears. She can’t hear the Queen’s words any more. She is dizzy from running in a circle and breathing in smoke. She sways and almost falls into the fire. Someone pulls her out again and pushes her forward but she can’t run any further. She stops. Around the circle the drumming and shouting stops and everyone is still. They all look at her, flames reflected in their faces. The Queen takes a step towards her, fixing her with her eyes. So does the horned god.

She looks into his eyes. There is a crackle of electricity as she takes his outstretched hand. They step around the fire and he takes her other hand too and they walk through it. The crowd cheers. He leans into her ear and whispers.

He lets go her hands, lifts the headdress over his head, scans the circle for Pete and holds it out to him. Hands from the crowd push Pete forward. Pete takes the headdress and puts it on. The crowd screams and whistles.

‘What did he say?’ says Pete, under cover of the shouting.

Mel shakes her head.

The drumming begins again.

Mel looks at Pete. She begins to walk round the fire and so does he. She reaches out to take his hand and feels the snap of the current again. She looks in his eyes and there is something like fear there; it pulses through their fingers. Over his shoulder she sees a blurred shape like his shadow but larger.