“Oh, not really, I’m afraid,” said Lauren, worrying about how the words were coming out. She sounded like she was lying, but it was true. Her stomach felt like it was full of stones. She forced another wet globule into her mouth. Swallowed. Smiled. “It’s nice, though.” Weirdly, the lie sounded more convincing than the truth had. Don’t gag, don’t gag. More water, but the goo had stuck on her teeth, coating them in starch.

“What about your pudding?” said Pauline, “Don’t you like steamed sponge and custard?”

In this heat? Who ate custard in summer?

“Not much of a sweet tooth,” said Lauren. The nurse was still looking at the bowl of yellow-and-red, which reminded Lauren of a film she’d seen once in which a zombie ate its own ear during a dinner party. After a moment, the nurse was still looking; she licked her lips. “Do you want it?” said Lauren. “Help yourself.”

Without further hesitation, Nurse Pauline reached over and picked up the bowl and the plastic spoon. She sliced off a huge chunk of the sponge with the side of the spoon and shovelled it in, custard dripping from her lower lip. Don’t gag, don’t gag.

“Yum,” said Pauline, before she’d even swallowed. Lauren turned away. The sparrows had gone.

Nurse Pauline finished the dessert in four or five spoonfuls, then replaced the bowl on the tray in front of Lauren, who stared at the smeary yellow streaks and the spit-slick surface of the plastic spoon.

“That filled a hole,” said Nurse Pauline, patting the front of her uniform.

It wasn’t too late. It couldn’t be. She had seventy-two hours to convince them she was fine before they committed her to any more treatment. The clock would have started at lunchtime, when she’d been admitted. Time was ticking. She turned to the nurse.

“I think I’m ready now.”

Pauline said, “Ready?”

“Yes,” said Lauren, “to see the boys. They must be hungry; they usually feed at this time.”

“Are you sure? We don’t want another performance like last time. It will only upset the little poppets.”

“I know, I think I was just … overwhelmed. I’m ready now. I’d love to see them.”

Pauline considered for a while. Then she made a quick note.

“Right,” she said, “OK. I’ll get Susan to bring them up from the nursery.” She stood up and unlocked the door to lean out, but kept a foot in it to stop it closing completely. Lauren could hear her exchanging muttered remarks with another nurse over the two-way radio. Why couldn’t she do that in front of Lauren? What was she saying, exactly?