Georgio’s strong voice was loud in the quiet room and he bellowed, ‘What’s the matter with you lot? They were scum, shite, they were child-killers. We done the country a fucking favour, saved the taxpayers millions looking after them. The papers will know who they are within hours. We’ll be fucking heroes! The average person on the street will be right behind us! What’s the fucking matter with you lot? I’ll take the blame, and I’ll be proud to take the fucking blame. They were a pair of shitstabbers. The same with Lewis. He frightened the shit out of everyone. Now me and Ricky will be in charge, things can loosen up a bit.’

Benjy came back in the room with the bucket of faeces and Georgio laughed delightedly.

‘I can’t wait to see the bastard’s face, can you? This’ll teach him to put nonces and beasts in with the real men, won’t it! Someone take down the sweatshirt. Let the Governor see what he’s caused.’

Hanningfield looked at the wardens around him.

‘How is it that no one noticed that the interior camera was not in use?’

The wardens all looked down at their feet.

‘Sometimes we lose contact for a few minutes. It’s an old system, Mr Hanningfield. We have our little hitches.’

‘Little hitches! Is that what you call them? Four men dead, as far as we know, and you talk about bloody hitches!’

‘With respect, sir, the perimeter fences aren’t exactly the greatest either. The cameras there are sometimes in completely the wrong direction. That’s how the other three went walkabout last year, remember, so don’t blame us because the money ain’t being spent on this place. Our job’s hard enough as it is. You should try looking after that lot!’

Hanningfield said in a tightly controlled voice, ‘You have more experience than I in these matters. Please let’s save all this for later, shall we?’

Mr Hollingsworth said calmly, ‘We have to separate the ringleaders, that’s the first stage. We have to get them off the Island. Bring into force the GOAD.’ He glanced at the Governor and said snidely: ‘To you that’s the Good Order And Discipline rule. Once the others know they’re gone, we’ll soon sort them out. We’ll get the leaders off on a laydown. It’s Section 43. We can remove them from the prison without escort in times of crisis - and I think this is a crisis, don’t you?’

A loud shout came from the wing gates and a warden came into the main office, saying, ‘They’re calling for you, Mr Hanningfield. They want you, sir.’

Hanningfield looked at the monitor screen showing the carnage in the rec room and Hollingsworth smiled as he saw the man’s face go pale. Then he said jovially, ‘Well, best not to keep them waiting, eh?’