‘Win?’ It was Doreen Hurst from the next sector – off duty, judging by the fact she was wearing lipstick and a mouton coat. ‘I was just passing. I’ve heard about Smiler and the others. What can I do?’

‘Nothing here, but we’re going to need another incident post at the other end of the crater, otherwise there’ll be endless traffic jams, so you can set that up. If Polesworth’s well enough, he can come and give you a hand; if not, we’ve got to get someone from your own sector. See if you can find a clear route for vehicles in and out of the east side of the square, and somewhere for them to park up. I’ll get one of the messengers to bring you a mac and a helmet.’ She pulled out her notebook and started on a list. Terry was back, and she followed him to a house at the far end of Archer Street, which, despite having had its entire front hedge blown into the parlour through the bay window, had a working telephone.

‘Someone’s here for you, Warden,’ said the Boy Scout when she emerged from the house, and there was Avril, holding a couple of lanterns, a laden canvas bag over one shoulder.

‘How’s Polesworth?’ asked Winnie.

‘He seems a bit shaky, but he says he’ll come back to help. How about the others?’

‘Won’t know until Heavy Rescue arrive. The rocket we heard earlier is using up half the resources – the Borough Incident Officer’s over there, and the mobile office, but they said they’ll divert anything that isn’t needed our way. Meanwhile, they’re liaising with Holloway. I’m going to use this house as our Incident Post so can you get a lantern lit before you go?’

‘Go? I’m not going, I want to help.’

‘Terry, there’s a spare warden’s coat and helmet in Post 9. Take them to Doreen Hurst, who’ll be up at the far end of the square, trying to set up a post – you know her, don’t you? Don’t try to edge round the crater, go round the back of the houses. Take the field telephone and one of these lamps and flags as well. And ask Doreen what she needs.’ He shot off again, a good lad.

‘I want to help,’ said Avril again.

‘All right, but you have to do as I say. I mean it, Avril. If people just muck in, all we get is enthusiasm and chaos and everyone doing the same thing.’

Avril started to say something and then saluted. ‘You’re in charge, sis.’

‘We need somewhere for people to go who can’t get back into their houses. Go and find the vicar of St Agnes – his name’s Howells – and ask for the use of the parish hall as a rest centre. End of this road, turn right, the church is halfway down; he’ll be somewhere around there. When you’ve done that, come straight back to me.’

Avril ran.

Within forty minutes, the streets around the crater were seething with vehicles. Torch-beams flicked across the ruins, and the hiccup of a generator indicated the arrival of a set of floodlights loaned by the US Navy. During the Blitz they’d had to do all this in near-darkness, the digging teams of Heavy Rescue erecting canopies to conceal their lights; now, as daylight brilliance suddenly bathed Ashington Gardens, Winnie saw a flock of starlings rise in confusion, circling and banking in the broad white beams, their shadows interweaving across the broken terraces.