'That's why I was hoping they would go right through.'

John called:'Rodge!'

'Yes.' Roger was standing at the door of the room.

There were others in the room as well, but they were keeping quiet.

'Are the others up?'

'Three or four out here in the hall.'

Noah Blennitt's voice came from close beside John.

The and Arthur's here, Mr Custance.'

John said to Roger: 'Send one of them up to the back bedroom window to keep an eye open in case they try to work round that way. Then two each in the front bedrooms.

Noah, you can take up your place at the other ground-floor window. I'll give you time to get into position.

Then when I shout we'll let them have a volley. It may impress them enough to make them clear off. If it doesn't, pick your own targets after that. We have the territorial advantage. Women and kids well away from the windows, of course.'

He heard them moving away, as Roger relayed the instructions to them. In the room beside him a child's voice began to cry - Bessie Blennitt. He looked and saw her sitting up in an improvised bed; her mother was beside her, hushing her.

'I should take her round to the back,' he said. 'It won't be so noisy there.'

His own mildness surprised him. Katie Blennitt said: 'Yes, I'll take her, Mr Custance. You come along, too, Will . You'll be all right. Mr Custance is going to look after you.'

To the other women, he said: 'You might as well all go to the back of the house.'

He knelt beside Joe Harris. 'Any sign of them moving yet?'

'I thought I saw summat. The shadows play you up.'

John stared out into the moonlit garden. There was