‘Here – have a gander.’ He’d folded back the carpet and removed three or four short boards from the floor. ‘I’ll put the big light on so you can see better.’ He got up. As he moved towards the switch by the door I made a dash for the window. The light came on. I grabbed for the drapes as he whirled with an oath, coming for me. I wrapped my arms round the curtains and swung on them. There was a creaking, splintering noise as the rail tore loose at one end and swathes of heavy fabric came down on both of us. Sobbing with terror I clawed myself free, slipped my pack and swung it at the window. The pane cracked but failed to shatter, and before I could take a second swing he was on me.

The strength of the insane. I’d come across that phrase, and now I found out what it meant. I’m not a small guy and he was a lot older but I couldn’t break free. I bucked and writhed and lashed out with my feet, but he’d wrapped his arms round me and his grip was like bands of steel. My feet left the floor and he carried me across the room like he’d carried the cat, except he didn’t croon or nuzzle, and when we reached the hole in the floor he threw me down and fell on me like a wrestler. I was pinned, lying on my stomach with my head overhanging the hole. A draught rose from the hole, carrying a cloying, sweetish smell. After a few seconds my eyes adjusted to the dimness and I saw them.

There were seven, laid out in a row like sardines. He’d done something to their heads – they were all like his – you couldn’t tell if they were girls or boys – but I recognized Ginger by his clothes. His face was – well, I wouldn’t have known him from that. I gagged, twisting my head to one side. ‘Let me up!’ I screamed. ‘I’m gonna puke.’

He laughed, ‘Puke away, soldier. You’re the one’ll lie in it, not me.’

I vomited into the horrible grey dust and he laughed again. ‘Get it all up,’ he roared. ‘It’ll do you good.’ His weight bore down on me so I couldn’t breathe. Black shapes floated in front of my eyes. I was losing consciousness.

‘Gerroffme!’ I gasped. ‘I’m passing out.’

‘That’s the general idea, Link,’ he hissed. ‘This is your passing-out parade.’ He laughed wildly. ‘Passing-out parade – geddit?’

He was killing me, slowly, asphixiation. My mouth yawned as I strove to suck in enough foul air for one last try. ‘They know I’m here,’ I croaked. ‘My friends know I’m here.’