They set up an impromptu clinic in the Assemblies church: the creatures had destroyed everything even vaguely technological they could find, smashed Pastor Matt’s lectern to splinters and scattered the chairs hither and yon, but otherwise there was no real damage. Matt Williams, too, was among the missing. Had he tried to use his faith as a shield, like Madeleine? Privately, Ellie doubted the thought had even occurred to him, but didn’t say so to Milly and never would.

The creatures had left the now-familiar charcoal symbols on the walls, which Milly pressed a couple of survivors into scrubbing off – hard going with only cold water available, but it was Milly’s church, and she wanted all signs of the things removed – as she set about organising her makeshift hospital, rounding up volunteers to act as nurses. Some tended the injured; others combed the village with a shopping list of supplies.

Seeing that small, determined figure about its work, Ellie felt a wave of affection and pride. That’s my friend, that. She shook her head. Good job no one knows what a mard-arse you are under it all. But there was good in the world: remembering that was always important.

Going house-to-house along the High Street looking for any survivors they’d missed, Laura Caddick ran into the Robinsons, Ernie Stasiolek, and the survivors they’d found along Blackfield Grove and Smithy Lane. Ernie trudged on to the church alone, shoulders bowed, eyes hollow and red. Ellie wished to God there was something she could say, or indeed that she believed in God. Sometimes she found the idea of one terrifying and at others comforting; this morning fell decidedly into the second category. Although like Richard’s death it raised the question of why this had been allowed to happen. And the only answer was Milly’s: It’s a fallen world, Ellie, love. A fallen world.

Ellie squeezed Ernie’s shoulder; a wave of sudden emotion threatened to make her weep, but thankfully passed. She still had work to do. “I’m sorry, mate.”

“I got home,” said Ernie. “All the doors and windows broken. Those signs everywhere. Maz, the kids...” He gestured, helplessly. “Just gone.”

“Ernie, I’m so sorry.”

His face crumpled, then straightened with an effort. “Whatever you need, to fight them. You tell me, right?”

Ellie nodded, glancing around the church. “We need to be ready for tonight.”

“We’ll need a fire, then. Fires, plural. Big ones, to last the night.”

“And to keep everyone warm. Safety in numbers.” Ellie looked around the church, wondering how many survivors they’d find on Church Street. Which reminded her. “I’ll catch you up.”

“Where you going?”

“Got a promise to keep.”