The dual-tone rise and fall of the village sirens blanketed the night, and the hurried fall of feet rushed upstairs. Mam came into my bedroom in a whirlwind, shouting ‘Get up!’ and I scrambled from under the blanket. I shoved my feet into my slippers and Mam threw my dressing gown around me, bustling me out before I had the chance to put it on properly. ‘Mask!’ she said, and I snatched my mask from the peg by the door. We raced downstairs and turned along the dark hallway, heading for the kitchen – and I stopped dead. There was a figure standing in the doorway. Silhouetted against the lamp that burnt on the table. Mam bumped right into me, shoving me towards the figure. ‘Don’t stop,’ she said as she steadied herself. ‘Go!’ ‘Come on, you.’ Arms reached out to stop me from falling, and I looked up into Mr Bennett’s face.
