‘Just mooching, following trails, seeing where they’d take me.’

‘All alone?’ Jeremy said.

‘What are you worried about, Beany? D’you think this place is haunted? Wha-ha-ha-ha!’

‘Less worried about ghosts than about bumping into the gangs or the IRA burying their dead.’

Rave considered it. ‘That’s a very good point. Still, there’ll be no burying or murdering done tonight. Nobody likes to work in bad weather.’ Again, he raised his arms, threw his head back and looked straight at the moon. ‘Tonight this place is ours.’

‘Only because no one else is mental enough to be up here.’

‘You don’t like it?’ Rave seemed disappointed.

‘I do, it’s deadly but I’m freezing to death here.’

‘Let’s fix that.’ Rave walked on.

‘Oh, come on!’ Jeremy said, running up behind him.

‘Being up here is like living in space, Beany.’

‘It’s late, Rave.’

‘It’s not far.’

‘What’s not far?’

‘Salvation.’ Rave slapped Jeremy on the back and grinned.

‘Well, don’t run off like a bleedin’ billy goat again.’ Jeremy was worrying about getting down from the mountain.

Rave put an arm around his shoulders. ‘We’ll do the last bit together.’

His arm felt heavy and good. Don’t sink into him. Don’t sink into him. Oh, Jesus, is that a hard-on? Now? In the poxy rain and cold? Why can’t you just be normal? ‘Get off,’ he said, and playfully pushed Rave away.

For a second, Rave seemed hurt. ‘I don’t have fleas.’

‘As if.’ Jeremy grabbed his friend roughly around the shoulders, then shoved him away. Rave smiled.

If only you knew.

‘You’re getting stronger, Beany.’

I wish.

They walked on. The path was narrow and Jeremy could feel branches sweep close to his face but the ground was more even, as though it was an actual pathway. Rave walked ahead, Jeremy close behind. It was pitch dark again but dry, the trees either side forming a canopy over the boys.

‘So, you and Casey did it?’ Jeremy said. That will take my horn down.

‘Yeah. So?’ Rave said.

‘So you didn’t tell me.’

‘I don’t tell you everything.’

‘Clearly.’ Jeremy removed a stray twig from his mouth.

‘Why? Do ya not believe me?’ Rave said.

‘Course I do.’

‘So what’s the problem?’

‘No problem.’

‘You should do Deirdre. It’s great.’

‘Shut up.’

Rave laughed. ‘According to Casey, she’s gagging for it.’

‘Seriously, Rave, shut up.’

‘I’m only saying.’

‘Yeah, well, don’t say.’

‘What’s crawled up your arse?’ Rave said.

‘Anything could have in this bleedin’ jungle.’

Rave laughed. ‘We’re nearly there, I promise.’

They walked on in silence. Jeremy had no idea what was waiting for him, and although he was fascinated, mostly he worried about getting home. Ma will be home before me. I’m dead. I’m so dead. Suddenly Rave was running.