‘Why don’t you have a lie down in your room? I’ll come by in an hour or so and see what you want to do about a meal.’

While David rested in 217, Pearly in 221 rang Helen, then Anne at Rawleigh and Gates, then was unsuccessful in establishing his notepad WiFi connection despite following the instructions in the hotel folder. ‘Always the bloody way,’ he said to himself and rang the desk. A Chinese woman who looked barely sixteen came and accomplished the task within seconds.

‘There you are then. All set now,’ she said in the soothing tone of a retirement home nurse.

With connection achieved and a larger screen than his phone’s Pearly made a quick flip through the day’s emails, apportioning priority, replying briefly when necessary, and then he went to check on his companion.

‘I’m feeling rather better. I had a bit of a rest.’ David was at the small desk and had his notepad working. Pearly didn’t admit to his own difficulty.

‘Well, there’s nothing official until the morning, so that’s good.’

‘It must be just some bug I’ve picked up. I felt nauseous in the car after Ashburton. I still don’t think I can face a full hotel meal, but don’t let me inconvenience you.’

‘I’m happy with something light. We’ll make up for it tomorrow. There’ll be places in the mall just down the road, or I could bring something back for us, or we could eat in. Whatever.’

‘No, as long as it’s okay with you I’d prefer the walk. The fresh air will do me good. I won’t stay long, but you don’t have to come back with me. Maybe you’ve got people you want to catch up with. I’m happy to do my own thing.’

‘There’ll be plenty of catching up tomorrow. A quiet night suits me fine.’