He could only make out the frame, but in his mind’s eye he saw the housewife and the child and the wonderful perspective of the tiled floor. A burst of flame to his right brought his head slowly round to where the kitchen had stood .. Mary would be at that end. He wasn’t aware that anyone had joined him until he heard Martin whimper, “Oh! Grandpa. Grandpa.” Joe turned slowly and looked speechlessly at Hazel and Elizabeth. The girl was crying and for a moment he envied her: he wanted to cry, he wanted to fling himself down on the ground and beat his fists into the earth. Oh! Father. Father. Why hadn’t he insisted on his father’s living downstairs ? But would that have made any difference now? Why hadn’t he stayed with him a little longer this evening and helped him pack away the efforts of a lifetime? Well, there had been Elaine. Elaine. Elaine. Always Elaine. Blast her! Blast her to hell! He recalled the look on Mike’s face: it was as if he had known what was coming. They all turned slowly away from the smoking rubble and looked down the drive from where was coming the sound of a heavy vehicle and also the ringing of an ambulance bell.
