There is no way out, says Mummy Noreen. Do you think we haven’t tried? Me and Joy have both been where you are now. We both thought there was a way out. We were both wrong. And so are you.

I don’t know why, but I couldn’t holt my whisht any longer, so I spake up.

I want to get out, says I. I want to see the real world.

Mummy Joy put her arms around me and pulled me close to her. Says she, Och, darling, I know you do. And some day you will, I promise.

Says I, When?

And Esther said it too. When?

Some day, says Mummy Joy.

Says Esther, What if some day never comes?

Then at least we survive, says Mummy Noreen.

Esther moved forward to the edge of her bed, staring at Mummy Noreen, her eyes all sparkling and hard.

There’s a way, says she. I know there is. We just need to think and come up with a plan.

I felt Mummy Joy’s arms get tighter around me.

So you come up with a plan, says she. What if it goes wrong? What if someone gets left behind? What about this child? What do you think they’ll do to her?

There was a hammering on the door up above, and Daddy Tam shouts down, Put that lamp out and get to bed.

Mummy Joy helped me change into my nightdress and put me to bed, even though I could do it myself. She pulled the blanket up to my chin.

Says she, Don’t you worry. We’ll keep you safe.

She bent down and kissed my cheek, then she went to the lamp and blew it out. I listened to the creaks of the other beds as everyone settled down, then their breathing as they went to sleep. All except Esther. I could hear her on the other side of the room, even though she made no noise at all. I could feel her there, staring into the dark. I know, I used to do that too when I lived in the cellar. It was so black you knew wild things had to be hiding there, watching you. Those things, their eyes can see in the dark. They can see what you’re thinking, even if you hide under the blankets. They don’t mean you any hurt; they don’t care about you. They just watch.