She stared at them. Giles stared impudently back, but reluctantly got up as slowly as possible. She left the room and went across the corridor and pushed open Louise’s door. The curtains were drawn and Louise was still in bed.

“Come on, young madam, time to get up,” she said as she opened the curtains.

“But Mummy,” came a voice from under the blankets, “we don’t have to get up for ages. I can miss breakfast if I want.”

“No you won’t.”

“But Daddy lets me when you’re away.”

“No he doesn’t.”

“He does.”

“Well, he shouldn’t. Now get up.”

A surly grunt. With that, Amy pulled off the sheets and blankets with one vigorous tug.

“Mummy! What are you doing? How dare you? Stop being such a fascist!”

Amy paused.

“What did you call me?”

“A fascist.”

“And what is a ‘fascist’ exactly?”

“Why, don’t you know?”

“No, I don’t. I’d like you to tell me.”

Louise stayed silent.

“Go on,” Amy urged. “What’s a fascist, Louise?”

“Give it up, it’s just a word.”

“No, I won’t. Come on.”

“Well, it just means that you’re really bossy and stuff.”

“Does it, now?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t ever call me a fascist again, do you hear? You’ve obviously no idea what it means. I’d rather you called me a bossy cow than called me that.”

Louise went silent, shocked by her mother’s intensity.

“OK, OK—sorry.”

“Good—now get up.”

Amy went back downstairs. Fascist indeed. Where had she got that from? Presumably they all called their teachers that.

She sat down and picked up the envelope. She slit it open with a spoon handle. It was from the Ministry of Defence—so that was the insignia. There were at least a dozen sheets of neatly typed pages. Even before she read it, she knew what it would be about.

Dear Miss Lockhart,

I am writing to you concerning your father, Captain John Lockhart….

Her eyes started to fill. She had waited nearly a quarter of a century for this, and it was hard to believe it had arrived. She looked out the window. Another soldier fell down.

AUGUST 1934

The graffiti makes it clear they are not wanted.SMASH FASCISTS!GET RID OF BLACKSHIRT THUGS! If he were alone, he would be feeling scared, but with his band of brothers he feels strong, ready to give these Jew bastards what-for. They have it coming, that scum, they really do, taking away their jobs and charging all those high prices. They’re out for revenge, and some Hebrew blood will be spilled tonight.