“I was barely awake, and the light was dim . . . I knew because he had threatened me before. Said he would kill me if I told the story of our past. I knew, as the fingers pressed down, as I felt my heart jump and my breath falter, that he had come to carry out his threat. But I have said nothing. I have spread no stories about him, good or ill. There was nothing to say. Until tonight, all I could remember about this man was that he boarded Freyja as a crewman.”

I felt cold all over. “When did Knut threaten you?” I asked.

“Soon after we came here. Early days, when I could remember almost nothing. He thought I was dissembling, biding my time before I chose to tell. He said if I spoke of what had happened he would slit my throat.” A silence, as his audience exchanged shocked glances. “And when he believed I had disregarded his warning, he threatened you, Sibeal. It was the day when you found that man’s body. Knut said . . . ” Felix cleared his throat. “He said he knew you and I were friends. He told me how you liked to walk on the cliff paths, alone. He . . . he suggested an accident might befall you.” He looked up, and straight across toward Knut, who watched him, tight-lipped. “I did not understand what dark secret could drive a man to such baseness. Not then. So I planned to leave Inis Eala as soon as I could, knowing that if I was gone, I could tell no secrets, and you would be safe, Sibeal.”

“I have a question for Knut,” Gareth said.

Johnny nodded.

“Knut, if this is true, what stories were you talking about? As far as I know, Felix has hardly left the infirmary since he was washed up on Inis Eala, and barely exchanged a word with anyone save the healers and Sibeal. I’ve heard no tales at all about you or your past beyond what you told Johnny, and nothing at all suggesting ill-doing. I’d wager that when I say that, I speak for all the men. They think highly of you.”

When Kalev had translated this, Knut fixed Felix with an icy stare. “He lies,” he said. “I made no threats. His story is sheer fantasy.”

“So we have one man’s word against another’s,” said Johnny. “Sibeal, we’d best hear the rest of Felix’s account.”

I had a host of questions, but they would have to wait. Conducting this conversation as Johnny needed it to be done was my best way of helping Felix in the long run. Dear gods, whatever he was going to tell us, let them not call him a liar.

“Felix, we’ll go back to tonight. You told us you woke to find Knut with his hands on your throat. What happened after that?”