Having checked every room, Bernice quickly assembled the basics: camping stove; tent; bottle of rather fine Aldebaran brandy; and shoved them all into a bag. She’d brought them along for outings, but the comfort of the cottage had kept her here.

She crept downstairs. She wanted to warn Alexander about what was going on, but having warned one person, where could you stop? She suspected that, soon enough, the whole town would know that there were aliens about. ‘I say!’ a voice called, and Benny spun to see Constance knocking on the window. The woman frowned when she saw the way Benny was dressed. ‘I say, do let me in, they’re behind me!’

Benny swore ten times as she pulled the bolts out, and hauled Constance inside.

‘Who’s behind you?’ she asked.

‘Why, the police. What on earth are you dressed like a man for? I mean, I’ve dared to wear the odd pantaloon myself, but what have you done to your hair? Those trousers are positively obscene, darling.’

‘Never mind my trousers, Constance. I might be being chased myself.’

‘Yes, I heard. You poor dear. I think that’s why they’ve called in extra police. They arrived in a motor van. We both were heading here, and I managed to put a bit of a lead on with my bicycle when they got trapped behind some sheep, but⁠ —’

‘You’re saying the police are on their way here?’

‘Yes, because you were, you know, interfered with. At the pub. Bernice, if they see you in that get-up, they’ll have you locked up in an asylum and let that thug who did it off with a warning!’

‘They locked him up?’

‘No, they’re still after him. There were veterans from three different regiments at that inn. They competed over him, but he still got away. I think it was while he was being dragged to the police station by the Dragoons.’

‘Sounds nasty. What about the little girl?’

‘He hurt her too, didn’t he? She was driven to hospital. Out of the frying pan, I’m afraid…’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Why, the place seems to be on fire. That’s where the fire brigade are going. All go in town today.’

Benny shook her head. ‘You don’t know the half of it. Do you know where I can find a gun?’

Constance looked at her shoes, abashed. ‘A gun? Do you mean to shoot him? I understand the urge, but don’t you think⁠ —’

‘I wasn’t molested, Constance, at least not in the way you mean. I need to defend myself, and you know where I can find the means to do that.’ Benny put her hands on the young woman’s shoulders and stared into her eyes. ‘Don’t you?’