‘Just tell me the number and we’ll sort this out, right now,’ Dad said.

Mr Jones shook his head and dropped his chin to his chest.

Dad pocketed the phone. ‘My boy is home less than a day and you arseholes come after him,’ he said.

‘It’s just kids mucking around,’ Mr Jones said, head still down.

‘I know what they get up to, Andy,’ Dad shouted. ‘But why is it that you lot always had to go just a bit too far?’

The heat from the barbecue rippled the air between the men. James went to break the silence, even reached one arm up to placate them now that the truth was out, just as Mr Jones shouldered the barbecue over. It landed against the open hatch with a crunch and burning magazines spilled inside the yacht.

The gas tank caught on the edge of the hatch and held. Dad shouted for Mr Jones to hold it but he moved too late and the agent stepped away as it toppled out of sight and the hose ripped free.

Mr Jones aimed one arm at James and one at his father, eyes flicking between them to see who would move first. Before anyone could make that choice, the gas ignited with a blast and forced them all to cover their eyes.

James’s father pushed him aside, dived for the rear of the boat and disappeared below deck. James followed as Mr Jones dashed around the other side of the mast, making for the dinghy.

In the kitchen, bright gas flame was shooting out of the bottle which was spinning on the floor outside Tony’s room. Burning papers from the barbecue had spilled everywhere and sparks were littering the maps.

Dad started ripping open the cupboards below the sink. By the time he’d uncovered a small extinguisher, fire was catching on the seat cushions. He aimed the stream of foam right at the gas bottle, dousing everything for a moment, but the flare burst back into life.

‘Take this,’ Dad said, handing James the extinguisher then wrenching a pair of metal buckets stowed by the steps. ‘Andy and I will fill these,’ he shouted, and disappeared into the open air.

Daniel spotted the tinnie a few lengths back towards the shore, with Andy struggling to row in a straight line.

He shouted. Andy paused and waved.

‘Get back here!’ Daniel yelled.

‘Thought I should go for help,’ his mate said.

Andy managed to spin the small boat around, so Daniel clambered down the yacht’s ladder, scooped up a bucketful of the greenish water and hoisted it back into the galley.

‘Look out!’ he shouted at Jamie, who wasn’t having much luck putting out the glowing blue jet coming out of the gas tank.

Daniel emptied the bucket onto the flame. Steam immediately filled the small space, but he didn’t pause to see if his efforts had worked.