Mike stood up, dripping, and held out his arms for the sheet that served as a towel. She wrapped it around him and held his warm body for a moment. He was much younger than her other brothers, and his face puckered as he stepped out of the tub. Blood was running down his legs in rivulets from his knobbly knees, and Evelyne looked up into his face.

‘You all right, Mike? Shall I get the disinfectant?’

‘No, I can’t stand the stinging.’

Sighing, Will eased his body into the water.

‘My God it feels good, don’t it, Mike? Ahhh, this makes it all worthwhile, will you soap me back, gel?’

As she rubbed his back, she could feel the scars under her fingers. Mike sat huddled by the fire and watched her, and she gave him one of their secret, intimate smiles. He looked down, his long eyelashes looked as if they were resting on his cheeks.

‘Did Lizzie-Ann ask about me?’

Evelyne scrubbed and soaped, her skirt sopping.

‘She did mention that she couldn’t sleep for thinking about a certain person with no front tooth. Could that be you, our Will?’

‘Is that the truth, gel? Aw, yer having me on, but if you get the chance tell her what a fine-looking man I am naked.’

With a mock gasp of shock, Evelyne slapped him. He stood up and took the towel from her, wrapping it around his waist. He was indeed a fine-looking boy, even with the tooth missing.

Evelyne busied herself setting the table and pouring away the dirty bath water. Will brushed his hair, saying he would just parade on the front doorstep for a while.

‘Will you get dressed, Mike, lovey, you don’t want to catch cold now?’

Mike looked furtively around to see if Will had left the room then turned back to the fire. His voice was soft, lilting.

‘It’s so black, Evie, it’s indescribable. You push your hand out to feel it, and it goes right through the solid blackness. There is no gleam of light, no shadow. It is so black — like a massive weight on you, all around you as hard on the eyes as bright light.’