‘You’re a thirsty bunch,’ said Pearly. He was introduced to a tall, slender guy who swayed slightly as he talked as if in response to the gusts of noisy conversation all around them. A geologist who lived in Australia and who’d been a classmate of Richie’s. He was talking of the difficulties faced by the mining companies, and Pearly leant in to listen, finding himself bending back and forth to match the speaker. His hearing wasn’t great at the best of times, and within that hubbub he finally gave up. He put a hand briefly on his brother’s shoulder and inclined his head as a sign he was moving on.

It was all going well, and for a time Pearly just eased his way through the crowd without objective, pausing to talk casually as he went. It pleased him to see the first event of the celebrations such a success, and not all of the pleasure came from his own part in ensuring that outcome. Nevertheless, when he came to the main door, open to the summer night, on impulse he went out into the cool and quiet of the town hall gardens. For some distance the artificial light and bee swarm noise followed, but then both dwindled and he could stand alone by a rowan tree at the entrance to the carpark. ‘A chance to hear yourself think, Pearly,’ he said. The street lights were sufficient to give an outline of the scene, defined or shadowy according to proximity, but not so bright as to fade the stars that formed a glittering pin cushion of the sky.

Eleven-thirty, and he was about to go back inside when he saw someone come from the hall and stand by the globe light at the base of the steps to light a cigarette. It was Andrew Nisse, and he stood with his head back to take a long pull, hold briefly and then exhale with even greater deliberation. Pearly hadn’t realised that Andrew smoked. He hadn’t when he’d come to dinner. It seemed out of character for a man so much in control of himself and life. In the deep shadow of the rowan tree, Pearly watched. Andrew continued to inhale deeply, as if in defiance of the known harm incurred, and with each long release of breath the smoke drifted in the illumination of the round light beside which his free arm rested. Two men came from the hall, made cheerful comment as they passed, but Andrew just gestured with his cigarette. When they were gone, Pearly walked back to the steps and Andrew smiled in recognition.

‘It’s such a damn crush in there, isn’t it,’ Pearly said. ‘You need a breather.’

‘It’s the noise too.’ The heat also: Andrew took off his jacket and draped it over one arm.

‘I had no idea you smoked,’ Pearly said