‘I knew about the coal industry. We learnt about it in Geography. But I didn’t know anything about the tin.’

‘They marched in Westminster. Jago went on a coach overnight. I helped him paint a sign saying, Save Cornish Tin Mines. But the day they marched the space shuttle blew up so nothing got in the papers. He said it wouldn’t have made any difference because mining was already dead. And he got to see Big Ben so it wasn’t a wasted trip.’

‘Tamsyn?’ It was Max calling. ‘Can you come here a moment?’

I stood and walked over to them, retying the ends of my shirt which had worked loose.

‘Hey, Tam,’ my brother said.

‘Hey,’ I said, shielding my eyes from the sun.

‘I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the work Eleanor mentioned to your mother.’ Max cleared his throat. ‘And unfortunately she’s had to have a lie down because of a migraine.’

Edie arrived beside me. She held out her hand towards my brother, sunglasses perched on her head. ‘I’m Edie,’ she said.

Jago regarded her hand, unsure, I think, what he should do. I watched as he seemed to work it out, and after wiping his hand on the back of his jeans he shook hers. ‘Jago,’ he said quietly.

‘Cool name.’

Jago dragged his hand through his hair. ‘Most people think it’s weird.’

Edie raised her eyebrows. ‘I’m not most people.’

I suddenly felt excluded. It was as if I’d been banished to my spot on the cliff and I touched my cheek in response to the phantom pressure of the binoculars. I suddenly wanted to shout at Jago. Tell him he was trespassing and that if he wanted to sunbathe beside a pool, he had to find his own. This one was mine.

‘I need to get back to my work, but I think it best you come back as we discussed. I’ll tell Eleanor you’ll be up tomorrow with your mother. If you’re sure that suits you?’

Jago nodded then looked at me. ‘Mum said to bring you home.’

‘I’ll walk.’

‘You’ve got to see Ted.’

‘Shit,’ I said under my breath. ‘I’d forgotten. Okay. I’ll leave in a bit.’

‘She wants me to take you back on my bike. He’s only there until six then he’s off to the Men’s Club.’

I swore under my breath.

‘Your bike?’ Edie said. ‘As in motorbike? I thought I heard one.’

Edie followed us out. When she saw my brother’s bike she whistled through her teeth. ‘Oh, how cool! Jesus. The freedom. You could just leave whenever you want. Go anywhere. God, I’m so jealous.’

Jago didn’t respond to her, but passed me his helmet which I strapped on before climbing up behind him.

Edie put her hand on my arm. ‘Will you come up tomorrow, Tamsyn?’

Almost as if a switch had been turned on, my disappointment at being told I had to leave was replaced with intense excitement. I grinned at her and nodded. Jago turned the engine on then revved it unnecessarily.