It’s a low blow. Dan’s fiancée ran off with a Hogarth fulla last year. The fact he was black hadn’t helped anything, and Dan knew everyone was laughing at him, especially his own mates.

‘I’ll kill you!’ He steps menacingly forwards.

I use my shoulder to keep Sam at bay and push Rhi back so hard she goes over onto her bum.

‘Go on then, hit me you coward! No real man would raise his hand to a woman, let alone a little girl.’ Masculine pride wars on his face. He can’t decide if he wants to hit me more than he wants to prove his maleness and disdain. I almost have him, till Mick ruins it.

‘You gonna let some little Abo whore tell you what makes a man? Or you gonna show her like that last one?’ Dan starts forwards again and I have to scuffle with Sam to keep him back. I get jack of it and turn on him.

‘Stop it!’ we shout. I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I’m not going to hide behind anyone and let them take the consequences for my plan. Sam’s fear for me is eroding my bravery, letting my own fear leak back in. I have to shore it up and hold it all in. Fight till the last.

‘Tace!’ Rhi’s scream has me turning and I feel the knuckles brush my cheekbone. Dan’s massive fist doesn’t land. I’d turned in time. It’s enough to send me staggering back. Sam swings at Dan. This one lands and Dan wobbles backwards as Mick runs up. He comes in hard. Sam’s already under his fist and landing a gut punch. I can see Dan straightening, ready to join the fight.

Spinning on my heel I sprint to the tree line. I saw something back here, something big. Solid. Fuelled by anger I run to where I remember seeing it. I was looking so hard at the ground I can’t have been wrong!

More whacking sounds as fists met flesh. I have wings on my feet and my heart in my throat as I spot the massive tree limb that’s been brought down by a lightning strike. The tree looks dead but it’s recent enough that the shattered limbs are still whole and strong. Using my entire weight, I wrench a thick limb off. I blink and am back in the clearing. Sam’s on the ground, the two men laying into him with their massive boots. Rhi is screaming. Eric spots what I’m carrying and jumps off the car. Too late. I race up behind Mick, lining him up like a softball, and swinging for home. There’s a sickening sound like a watermelon hitting cement and he drops.