I love maps. It is, I think, quite natural to love maps when you grow up in a lighthouse. I got a gold star in the first geography lesson I ever had at school: I found the work so easy, so natural, because the maps and the smooth-rolling surface of the globe made perfect sense to me. It was the world seen from above – the blue of the sea, the green of the land, the jigsaw-edges of the coastline: the whole world looking exactly as it does from the top of our lighthouse.

As Pa’s map of Britain took shape, he told us about Dartmoor and Exmoor and wild ponies and golden beaches with rocky coves. I tucked my knees up on the kitchen chair and stretched my jumper down over them. I gazed out of the window into the drizzle, thinking about galloping across different clifftops, exploring new rock pools and caves. I imagined watching the sun setting over the sea instead of rising from it.

‘Will the other children in the village be going too?’ Mags said. ‘I mean, will everyone be going?’

‘We don’t know yet,’ Pa said. ‘But if our coast becomes dangerous, it would certainly be the most sensible thing.’

‘What would happen to our school?’ I asked.

‘Well, in most cases so far, the school teachers have accompanied the evacuees. I think normal school would probably be closed for a while . . .’

I couldn’t help grinning at this – No school! Mags indulged me by pulling a silly, excited face.

Pa shook his head at us.

‘Girls, this is very important,’ Mutti said, ‘Please!’

My insides lurched as I realized that my mother was trying not to cry.

‘Sorry, Mutti,’ I mumbled. She looked so fragile all of a sudden. Pa put his hand on her shoulder.

‘I just . . . I really do think we need to be prepared,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t bear to be parted from you both, but . . .’ She trailed off, and her eyes settled on Mags. ‘It’s not just about the risk of attack, my darling, is it?’ We looked at her, waiting for the other reasons, but none came. She twisted her hands together, took a long, trembling breath and turned towards the window. Did she know something we didn’t know? I wondered if it could have had anything to do with her sneaking out of the cottage so early in the morning – following a mysterious figure across the misty clifftops. Something has happened that has made her think we will be safer if we leave Stonegate.

‘You think we should go, don’t you, Mutti?’ I said.