‘Snakes?’ Toni asked. ‘Are there snakes, Sweeney?’

‘I doubt it. Nothing terribly virulent, anyway. And snakes, too, will keep out of your way if you make enough noise crashing through the brush. Shall we investigate the interior, do you think, or shall we make our way along the shore?’

‘The shore,’ Toni said, ‘please. It’s nicer, anyway.’

She spoke with the easy assurance of a woman who was used to having her whims as quickly obeyed as others’ commands. Katey felt like opposing her, but the prospect of going up among the trees was undeniably less attractive than that of walking along the sands. She was still making up her mind to say something when Billy intervened again.

‘Be a lot easier round the coast. There won’t be any paths in there, except pig-paths. And they’re not easy to follow. Dead simple getting lost, too.’

It was the same tone – breezy, almost verging on the truculent. Katey said sharply:

‘We’ll ask your advice when we want it, Billy.’

He grinned at her. ‘Very well, ma’am.’