Connie nodded; she was scared. ‘Mostly. He comes for three nights in a row . . . I’m so frightened I defecate in the bed . . . I wake up drenched in sweat with the stench of shit . . . I call for my mamma . . .’

‘It’s all right Connie, the Devil isn’t real.’

‘I close my eyes tightly and just keep repeating I’m in heaven, I’m in heaven. I find a staple on the floor and scratch it into the glass of the window, convinced that will stop him coming. I’m in heaven.’

Connie was breathing rapidly.

‘It’s all right, Connie. You’re past that now. You are safe. Tell me what happens on the day you escape . . .’

Connie sighed again and frowned and slowly rocked herself back and forth.

‘It’s pouring with rain outside and a group of us are watching the downpour through the window in the canteen. It’s like Armageddon out there and I wonder if it really is the end of the world. It sets a lot of people off; they’re dancing on the tables. Not me. I’m standing there with Lin, watching it, but I have this ache in my chest, in my heart – a real pain and it won’t go away. I can’t stop thinking of my children . . .’

‘And what happens?’

‘Suddenly there’s a loud crash from the reception area and raised voices and the whole herd of us rush over to the door to see what’s going on, myself and Lin included. Two men in boiler suits are freaking out. One of them is holding up the end of a pipe which has just burst and is now hanging from the ceiling, water gushing down on to the lino. The Christmas tree lights flash like crazy for a bit and then go out completely. We stand there in a huddle watching the gushing water fill the hall; it’s fantastic, it’s exciting, it’s sheer chaos. The security guy on the door is shouting at us, swearing, telling us all to leave the area, but it’s impossible, people are already paddling in the water and one plucky old bird, she has to be about eighty, she’s trying to swim . . .’

Connie began to smile, to laugh. ‘It’s mayhem. Several staff rush down the corridor and are trying to get people back to their rooms and the plumbers are trying to stop the water from going into the main block. Lin and I have moved over to watch the proceedings through the internal window in the canteen where some of us have been told to wait. Lin sees the opportunity: just for a moment there is no one on the door. The security door is open and the guard has abandoned his booth to talk to the plumbers outside while they get their kit from the van.