Gorse was one of the worst for fire, the old dead bushes perfect as household kindling. Dry as bone, its branches could alight in seconds. If any of the sparks crossing the lochan should meet this bank . . .

Eventually emerging from the trees, he found himself yards from the jetty where Naomi had come to swim. Shocked by the vision of the far shore burning, he didn’t immediately see them.

For there were two figures in the water, one almost submerged.

What was happening took some moments to make itself plain. Even before it did, he was wading into the water, cursing his fire gear but knowing he couldn’t attempt to remove it if he was going to reach her in time.

She re-emerged, spluttering from the water, her hands clawing at the man’s jacket, his face, anywhere she could get a hold.

Too intent on what he was doing, the man was unprepared for the sudden presence of Greg behind him. Grabbing his shoulders, Greg wrenched him off her.

Startled by the unexpected onslaught, he released his hold on Joanne and she sank swiftly below the surface of the water.

Greg swithered between letting go of the man to grab for Joanne and his desire to kill her assailant. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw there was someone else in the water, wading swiftly towards them.

As Joanne resurfaced, coughing and spluttering, Greg set about doing what he had always intended. To kill the bastard who had hurt her.

‘Greg! Stop!’ Two voices shouted.

Yet still his fist met that face, again and again, sinking it further into the water with every blow.

He heard Joanne’s pleas, but still he could not stop.

Then Josh’s hands were firmly on his shoulders, pulling him away. ‘Enough, mate. Enough.’

Moments later, as he dragged a spluttering Richard to the surface again, he heard Josh’s shouted warning that the gorse on the nearby bank was ablaze and they had to get out of there, fast.

The whooshing sound that followed his warning was repeated as the fire began to leap its way along the length of the dead bushes behind them.

Abandoning Richard, Greg went to Joanne, wrapping her in his arms, checking she was okay.

‘We’ll have to wade along the shore towards Ard Choille. Can you manage that or shall I carry you?’

‘I’ll manage,’ she told him.

The choking smoke from the blazing gorse was already catching at their throats.

‘Right,’ Greg said, fixing his mask over her face. ‘Now, hold on to me,’ he ordered.

He began to wade through the shallows, stumbling over hidden rocks, holding her fast to him, never looking back to see what had happened to her attacker, but aware Josh would, despite his feelings towards Richard, be helping the bastard evade the fire.