The mayor walks the width of the stage, letting the crowd see – his left arm is bare and clean. Longsight moves to show the four witnesses who stand on the stage, each looking stunned and as though they want to cower, but Longsight makes them each examine his arm. They look, they are even allowed to touch. At this, the memory of being in Mayor Longsight’s study and running my fingers over his scar shudders through me. I could not deny that miracle and I cannot deny this one either.

He is at the side of the stage near to where I am standing – close enough for me to see. There is no mark, no evidence of a tattoo that has been tampered with – no evidence of a wound at all. Just clear, brown skin. It is as though his body absorbed the ink and took it away.

I look for Obel. He must know the answer to this riddle, I think. But I can’t see him anywhere. And then, just as the tension feels like it will snap our necks, a rumble of thunder drowns out the shouts. Mayor Longsight stands on the stage, face raised to the sky and arms outstretched. As if answering his call, the rain begins – fat drops that hammer so heavily it is as though a tap was switched on. As though a waterfall opened above us. And Mayor Longsight stands perfect beneath the stream. His sin washed away, like mud from weary feet.

Jack Minnow looks down from the stage and gestures to Karl, who is standing guard next to me. Karl pushes me towards the stage. I turn to Mel and her face shows fear. Minnow looks at me with twisted pleasure, as though he is watching a hunted creature walk right into his trap. Now I understand why he warned me. I am to play a part in today’s performance.

I am left standing on the steps up to the stage, Karl gripping tightly on to my shoulder. Jack Minnow steps to the front of the watery stage where Mayor Longsight still glories in the praises of his people. Moving close to the microphone, Minnow begins to speak.

“We know that in our hearts, each of us now long for this – we can only dream that we would be one of the lucky ones that our great Mayor Longsight would take on ink for. But today, we will mark our mayor with the most heinous sins. You will see the full extent of his power and his grace as he takes on the crimes of one of our most depraved citizens.”

That is me, I think dully. I am shoved forward by the guards. And then Karl murmurs something in my ear. It sounds like, “Don’t be afraid.” I freeze, but when I look at him his expression is impassive.

“Come, Leora,” says Minnow. He turns to me and his face is cruel. “Come.”

I take a step forward, and then another.