‘They’re armed, aren’t they?’

‘They’ve got some guns. We could get hold of some, ourselves. I know where to lay hands on a couple of shotguns, for a start.’

Windle fiddled with his pipe, not looking up. ‘I couldn’t do that … get mixed up with weapons. I mean, as a local government officer …’

Rod asked:

‘Is it more important not to get mixed up with weapons than to help protect the community in which you live from being terrorized by a gang of thugs?’

‘It’s not the way I look at it, Mr Gawfrey,’ Windle said. ‘No-one around here is being terrorized at the moment, anyway, apart from you. It will clear itself up.’ He finally looked at Rod. ‘If the police couldn’t stop them, what do you expect us to do?’

‘There are more of us.’

‘I’m sorry.’