‘You can,’ she replied with a voice that was surprisingly soft. ‘No children though,’ she added as if Ben might have forgotten. ‘I can’t have you talking to the young ones.’

‘Of course,’ he replied.

‘And only until dark?’

‘If that’s what you want,’ Ben agreed.

He tried to ignore those watching him from all sides. Some edged closer, unsteady from either unease or excitement. One drew his face so close to Ben’s that he could feel and hear his clogged nostrils, like a beast breathing by his cheek. He didn’t acknowledge him. He didn’t flinch. Ben played that smile like a violinist on a sinking ship.

‘Okay.’ The woman nodded, looking at those who had yet to utter a word. ‘Let’s meet who you’ll be talking to.’

Ben had no say in the matter. And he was in no position to complain, even though there were a few faces that he’d rather not share a stable with for any length of time.

‘Nora,’ the woman announced pointing to another who could have easily passed for her sister, ‘you’ll let this young man listen to you.’

Ben extended a hand that she didn’t accept. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nora, it really is. I’m sure you’ve as many questions for me as I do for you.’

His pleasantries passed over her like a cloud, shading where he had hoped to bring light.

‘Aye,’ she replied, looking over his shoulder, ‘you’ll want to be talking about what exactly?’

‘Oh, don’t worry, I’m not going to ask—’

‘Get the children away,’ she shouted, shaking her hand at someone further up the clearing. ‘Mary,’ Nora said irritably, turning to the woman doing the introductions, ‘would you ever keep an eye on the young ones. You know the way it is.’

‘That’s quite all right,’ Ben stammered. ‘I’m happy to sit with just the adults.’

‘Happy, will you be? We’ll see how happy you are once you’re gone from here.’

A name was uttered and its bearer would nod in response. This was Mary’s way.

The villagers were shy and openly lost as to how they should behave in the company of strangers. And yet, in the early overtures of friendship they were not opposed to the idea of sitting with Ben, though most didn’t seem to understand what was being asked of them.

The man from earlier had loitered around when he was introducing himself, watching everyone that he spoke to as if taking a mental note. Life might have been a whole lot easier had Chloe knocked him out. He was that one wasp on a sunny day that wouldn’t fuck off.

‘Is Nu not supposed to be away from here?’ a voice asked.

‘No,’ Mary replied, ‘I trust her more than most.’