Sam Youd as John Christopher

The thought had more than once crossed her mind that Walter, if he had any influence at all with the gangs in Pallister, might be able to help them. At first, though, they had all...

Hilda had the girl’s back bared, and looked at it. It was horrifying enough – marked with great weals which had bled in several places, one of them bleeding afresh where she had been knocked....

A pack of yobs swept along the street ahead of them, as they came within sight of Pallister Wall. Martin prayed for them, and knew Spruce was also praying. God’s Will would be done. That...

Her hand came round as he turned his head to look at her, still laughing, and cracked against the side of his face. Jane said involuntarily: ‘Oh, no!’ She saw Rod start to move across...

‘How do you plead?’ the yob asked Rod and Micky. They did not reply. He looked up at the Commander. ‘What does that mean, m’Lud?’ ‘Call it Not Guilty. Get on with it, Nipper. What...

‘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...

The attitude of the yobs to the family seemed largely one of indifference. As long as they kept out of their way, they did not bother about them. Their organization and code of living probably...

James let the tumult die, and went on, starting quietly: ‘This was Caesar’s world, Brothers, and we rendered unto Caesar. We ministered unto the bodies of the poor, and washed our hands of their souls....

Twice, on his way to the Scouts Hall, Martin saw a rat. The first was only at the end of the road from his lodging, a greyish streak scuttling along the side of a house....

Once, as Rusty was plodding along the road, he heard a familiar faint sound to the east, rapidly growing as spinning tyres ate up the distance between. He wondered about pulling off, but there was...