Luna stretched her arms high and waved madly to her father. ‘He lives, Papa, he’s safe!’

The congregation gasped as one, and Luna heard cries of ‘miracle’ and ‘God save us, preacher’. The monk put Pippo down and patted him on the back, smiling as though it had all been a game. Mamma Lucrezia crossed herself and fell to the floor in supplication, weeping and murmuring, ‘Thank you, Mother Mary,’ at the sight of her son alive. Pippo ran to where the family stood and crumpled into his mother’s arms.

Then Papa appeared. He dropped to his knees beside Pippo and took his son’s face in his hands, searching it intently as though he could see any injury to his very soul. The boy stared back with large, shock-ridden eyes and began to whimper. Mamma Lucrezia cradled him and refused to move at the sound of the bells that preceded the consecration of the Host so that only Papa stepped forward.

Once the final prayers were done and Luna and her family could leave, she saw a group of worshippers huddled close around where Pippo had been dropped, as though expecting more miracles from the shadow of her brother’s near death. She shrank from the sight; it was God they ought to be supplicating before, not this preacher’s cruel trickery.

The crowd was flowing easily towards the doors and Luna saw her parents just ahead. She felt unsteady and moved carefully, using her walking stick despite the closeness of others. Then she heard a voice that made her shiver.

‘They let the vermin back in after all,’ the young man said, leaning in so that his heat was on her back.

Luna ignored him though the hairs on her neck prickled. It was the same lout who had taunted her in this very spot the last time they had come to Mass in the cathedral, the same one who had killed the dog in the street.

‘They did not tell us to watch out for maggots and rotten peg-legs.’

‘Yet here you are,’ Luna said under her breath then swallowed hard. Her legs felt more unstable than usual and she was still trembling, but she would not be drawn into another ugly exchange. She’d be out of the church doors soon enough. She just had to keep her tongue silent for a few more minutes. She leant on her stick.

The man pointed to it. ‘I hope Signore Fusili beat you with that.’

She shook her head; what madness this vile man spoke. Still, they were out now and the fresh air took her away from his spite. Luna breathed deeply as she scanned the square for her family. She saw them not far off, standing with Signore Palagio and his wife. Pippo was holding tightly to Mamma Lucrezia’s hand and Luna waved to him as she made her way down the stone steps.