For a while she seemed to be doing all right. But the buckets were fast and, unlike Dave, she had never learned to dodge them properly. One after the other they came at her, these great iron monsters, swinging round, riding the tracks up and down like fiends from hell. People were shouting at her; others on the outside gesturing frantically, confusing her until she couldn’t concentrate. Now, all she could see was Dave. And the girl.

Suddenly, alerted by all the commotion, Dave finally swung round and saw her, and his eyes widened like saucers. She could read his mouth, saw the word ‘JESUS!’ Leaping on to the ride, he yelled something to Tom, who was desperately trying to stop the machine, but once you let the beast loose, it was hard to call it to heel. ‘For God’s sake, stand still!’ She knew what he was saying. ‘Hold on to the pillar!’ Now the girl had turned and was looking at Sandra, her eyes filled with horror.

Sandra knew her then, and was devastated. ‘My God! It’s Lottie Tattersall!’ The realisation threw her off-balance, leaving her momentarily vulnerable.

When the bucket hit her, she was thrown like a rag doll. As she fell, she saw them both; Dave running at her, hopping from one bucket to the other like he was born to it, and Tom, frantically weighing down on the lever to bring the monster to a halt. And Lottie, her hands to her face, a look of sheer terror in her eyes.

After the first, swift blow, Sandra felt nothing. Crunched between the tracks, she was helpless. The iron chairs swung at her time and again, pinning her there, defenceless against the crippling blows. And though there were those who risked their own safety to get her out, there was nothing they could do.

By the time they got to her, she was showered in her own blood, her poor body twisted and broken. ‘God Almighty!’ Falling to his knees beside her, Dave took her tenderly into his arms. ‘Sandra, Sandra! What in God’s name were you thinking of?’ He could feel the life ebbing out of her.

She smiled up at him, her eyes swimming with tears. Dave was holding her. That was why she had come here; the only reason. ‘For you,’ she murmured, her voice so soft he could hardly hear it.

He shook his head and pressed her to him. ‘You fool.’ His voice broke with emotion. ‘You bloody fool!’

Safe in his arms, she looked up and saw Lottie. She didn’t mind. Not now. Not when she was the one carrying his child. And so she smiled on Lottie, and felt his mouth close gently over hers. And nothing mattered any more.

After the furore came the silence. A hushed, awe-filled silence, and a sense of horror that something so terrible could have happened right before their eyes.

The ride limped to a halt and people milled round. Some were rooted to the spot, unable to speak, others screamed and then quietly sobbed. One old man had gone for help, but it came too late. The police, the ambulance – all were too late.