‘Yes, as was promised, of course,’ he said. ‘In fact, you must excuse me as I’m on my way now to complete the paperwork.’

‘Of course, I mustn’t keep you, except… well, I note the water rate has gone up again.’

‘Has it? That’s not my area of expertise, you’ll understand. I will say that progress has to be paid for.’

‘Yes, indeed.’

‘What are we without progress? Back in mud huts. Savages scratching in the mud.’

‘Spoken like a true engineer, John.’

This didn’t sound like a compliment. ‘Thank you,’ said Gunson. ‘We’re really getting very wet standing out in this. It’s blowing a gale, too. I must go on.’

‘Time waits for no man.’

‘Good health.’

‘And to you.’

Gunson hurried on. He felt he’d come off better from the exchange. But his genial mood had been snatched from him and carried off like a stick in the overflowing gutter he had just had the misfortune to step in.

Chapter 4

Silas came to a cotton mill, its wheel snug against the outer wall and turning smoothly. He was close enough to hear the discordant notes of water splashing and dripping off the wooden slats. He passed a row of stone cottages and a church with a round turret, like a castle battlement, but with no spire. The church in his village had a tall spire. He could hear the thin wail of a newborn. Somewhere hidden, a dog was barking. Shandy pricked up her ears at this, but continued to pad placidly by his side.

Silas was weary now, focusing all his energy on putting one foot in front of the other. He had hoped to reach the town, but now daylight was fading, and he was prepared to bed down in a barn if it came to that.

The wind resumed its harsh assault when Silas walked out of the hamlet and started up a sloping road fringed with gorse. He looked down, for Shandy. The dog was no longer at his side. Had she decided to abandon him? She could be running back across those hills even now. Silas spun around, his throat already constricted with regret that he’d lost his faithful companion.

A hundred yards back, Shandy sat on her hindquarters in the middle of the road.

‘Come on, lass,’ he said. She tilted her head, one way then the other, but didn’t move. Silas went back to her and tugged at her ruff. ‘I’m tired an’ all but we can’t give up here.’ Saying the words was enough to boost his resolve. ‘We’ll knock on a door, hey? Next place we come to.’

He straightened and clapped his hands.

Shandy turned her back on him and lay down, chin on paws and snout poked forward, facing back the way they’d come.

‘Come on, girl.’

The constant moan of the wind in his ears was penetrated by the rattle of wheels over stones and a cab appeared, pulled by two horses and coming from the direction Silas had just left behind. The vehicle filled the narrow lane. Shandy stood up and barked, then came to Silas’s side. He grabbed hold of her and shrank against the hedge to allow the carriage to pass.