‘There’s no tooth, I told you,’ said Brian, and he sounded impatient. Pike didn’t like it.

‘Don’t be answering back, lad. I’ll put you over my knee.’

‘We were finishing off anyways,’ I said, and I realized that I still had the tooth in my hand, digging into my palm like it were trying to bite through.

‘They rebuilding the tomb, are they?’ asked Pike, staring at the patch of dead earth and not seeming to hear what I’d said. ‘I’ll be watching ’em. Mekking sure they do right by Fairfax.’

I couldn’t help but ask him what he meant. ‘Fairfax? But it’s the Kinmont plot.’

He looked at me like I was daft. ‘Fairfax were the only one gave a damn about the place. He let me mow between the stones when I were little. Me and Christopher. Meant summat to him.’

I gave him a proper looking over. There were raindrops landing in the muddy puddles at his feet. There were dozens of ruts in the shabby, muddy track and the one that ran behind him caught my eye. It weren’t big thick trenches like you’d get from tractors or proper cars. They were fancy thin treads, like you’d get on a modern car. In places they were filled with rainwater but elsewhere it was clear to make out that a snazzy, sporty car had driven down the muddy track and then reversed out the same way.

‘We’d best get in before it starts again,’ I said, and it was an effort to sound like meself.

‘Nah, ye’ve got something to do first,’ said Pike. ‘Brian, give us that tooth, lad.’

Brian shook his head, all cross again. Exasperated. ‘I haven’t got a tooth. It were a game.’

‘We’ll not be having any more games, then,’ said Pike.

I’d seen him like this before. He were no different to the lad he was at school. He could turn on you like he had rabies. One minute he’d be quiet as a mouse and the next he’d be trying to get his thumb inside your eye.

‘All right there Pike? You dressed for it? It’s gonna be coming down.’

He turned at the sound of the voice. Harper’s lad. Big smile on his face and a box of tools in his hand.

‘Away now, Paddy,’ said Pike. ‘The bogs are over the river if you’re feeling homesick. Nowt here for you.’