He made a grimace and shrugged. ‘It’s a salutary reminder of priorities. My right leg is held together by metal but it’s far better than anyone expected it would be, and after the last operation it’s still improving. I might not make a very good stab at climbing Everest and I wouldn’t choose to jump off a wall, but there’s not much in the way of ordinary mobility that I can’t manage now, even if I’m not as nimble as I once was. I try not to limp because it can become a habit, but if I’m tired or have walked too far, I know I still do it.’

‘Do you know anything about the other driver?’

‘I didn’t know him personally, thank God. He was an elderly man – a widower, I believe, but in perfectly good health. Someone’s father and grandfather; lots of people’s friend – many people attended the trial. The press had a field day: Wealthy Playboy Businessman Kills Much Loved Local Senior Citizen . . . that sort of thing, though I’ve never actually been a playboy. I suppose it would have been even worse if it had been someone young, or the parent of small children – but you can’t start weighing people’s lives in a balance of dispensability. He didn’t deserve to die, his relations didn’t deserve to be bereaved and I didn’t deserve to live.’

‘But you are alive,’ she said, quite fiercely. ‘So you’d better make use of the rest of your life. Wasting it won’t bring him back.’

‘Yes,’ he said, looking at her with respect. ‘That’s exactly what my old mum says too. That’s why I’m here.’

‘I guess we’re both on a quest,’ she said. ‘Looking for new lives; banishing shadows. What a challenge! I haven’t killed anyone but I’ve messed up big time . . . my own life and other people’s.’ She gave a sad little shrug. ‘I’m a litter lout – when things get difficult I usually run away and leave a mess behind. Perhaps I’ll tell you sometime.’

‘I hope you will. I’d be honoured.’ Christopher looked at his watch. ‘Meanwhile, I’ve burdened you quite long enough. We’re going to have to hurry or we’ll be late. Thank you for listening, Marnie. I feel much better for telling you.’ He touched her arm lightly and let his hand rest on her arm for a moment.

‘Thank you,’ he said again. ‘Thank you more than I can say.’

As they walked quickly back together towards the Old Steading, Marnie wished she’d asked him what had happened to the girlfriend with whom he’d had the blazing row.

Chapter Eleven