He might have succeeded but for the chorus of support that followed. Advancing down the left-hand aisle, Ella Kailet shouted, ‘I came all the way from London to find out what happened to me here! For pity’s sake, you can’t stop us talking about it! Something happened here that drove me mad!’ ‘And a lot of other people too!’ For a second Steven didn’t realize it was his own voice that had rung out from the platform. Then he realized that Nigel was scowling at him, and the archdeacon was looking like thunder. And the parish councillors, par force majeure, were resuming their chairs. He sought desperately for a way to excuse his intervention, and realized abruptly that there was no need. Shouts of approval were greeting it. Several people were on their feet, waving their fists. Loudest, and attracting most attention, was Tom Fidger. ‘Doctor! We won’t hold it against you that you had to spin that reassuring yarn! It’s just what most of us have learned to expect around here!
