“I’d like a wash,” said Silver, and he went out to find a bathroom. No one tried to stop him. Somewhere in the flat a clock chimed eleven. Outside in the street, as if on cue, the fire engine (or police cars or ambulance) sirens began to howl. Andrew went over to the window and stood there as if giving himself up.

“They aren’t coming for you,” I said. “We’re not your enemies. We’ve come to help you. We thought we could do things for you.” I introduced myself, adding that we lived together. “I’m Clodagh and he’s Silver. We’re on your side. And we haven’t told anyone.”

It was plain, naturally, that Andrew didn’t believe us. He nodded, he stared at me, saying nothing. Alison came back with the wine, already opened, and four glasses on a tray. Before pouring it she went up to Andrew and sat on the arm of his chair. She did a strange, unexpected thing—well, strange to do in company. She put her arm round his neck and kissed him full on the lips, an open-mouthed kiss, a kiss of passion, as if she was saying to him, this may be the last time, or the last time before things change so terribly that we shall become different people.

He responded, but less warmly. Perhaps he was embarrassed. I had a feeling that if it went on he would push her away. She drew away from him and got up. The wine was poured. As she filled the last glass, finishing the bottle, Silver came back, his face clean but covered with angry blotches. Suddenly the boy in the next room cried out, a piercing yell. It was the sound a two-year-old makes in fear, in a bad dream, but with the volume of which a child of eight is capable. Alison ran to him.

“He’s quite disturbed and he doesn’t sleep well,” Andrew said. He sounded very tired. “He wants to be in his own home. He hates not being able to go out.” Lifting his glass, “Cheers,” he said. “Did you mean that? About being on our side?”

“Of course. Why not?”

“How did you find us?”

“Our friend saw you. He recognized you.”

“We go on roofs,” I said. “That’s what we do, it’s our thing. We’ve watched you through the window. We didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“Everything frightens us,” Andrew said.