‘“February the twentieth, 2018. Dr Bishy took me into his surgery and I was told to undress. When I asked him why, he said that he suspected that the mark of the devil might be found on my body and said that I was to remove everything, even my underwear, because bad spirits were known to hide within the cavities of a woman’s body and he would need to go inside me and expel them so that – ”’

‘Enough!’

A heel breaks through the crowd, striking the lid of the laptop, stamping it shut.

‘Enough of this… this… pornography!’ hisses Elizabeth Bishy, the doctor’s wife, looming over the scene. ‘What kind of pervert encourages young girls to tell stories like that? Why on earth would you do such a disgusting thing?’

She reaches down, snatching at one of the laptop’s sleek but dented edges. Mr Hailey moves quickly, slamming his two fists onto the lid, pressing the machine hard against the floor. Diana Crane elbows through to join in the fight.

‘Because they are true!’ comes a shout, arresting this brawl.

Heads turn to the door where Leah Cedars stands hand-in-hand with the bewildered Earl. Abe Powell is at her shoulder, Reuben Springer clutching his arm. Leah looks to Abe for reassurance, the physical protection to continue – he nods.

‘Because these stories are true,’ she says firmly. She looks to the Eldest Girls on the stage who have risen to their feet, then to their mothers who look ashen, stunned. ‘My friends left the island because of this abuse. My brother left so he would not be coerced by these men.’

‘Lies!’ screams Diana Crane.

Leah nods at Jacob Crane and Dr Bishy, at the statues they have become. ‘My father sat on the Council with these men in order to keep me safe. Abe Powell sits so he will not be punished for who he chooses to love. Robert Signal and the Reverend refuse to sit at all because these men, who claim they speak for God, only bend His scripture to their will.’ She turns to the gathering of people encircling the new teacher, the laptop now held tight against his chest. ‘You know this!’ she implores them. ‘You know!’

‘And we’re supposed to listen to you, are we?’ snarls Diana Crane. ‘A daughter who condemned her own father?’

‘I condemn your husbands,’ Leah snaps back.

Sarah Devoner and Miriam Calder fix Leah with indignant stares. Diana Crane laughs showily, and turns to address the audience.