I was calculating how much work to pack. The train journey to Aberdeen took three hours, and the return trip the same. If we sat together, I would probably spend much of the time chatting with CI and ET. However, we didn’t have seats booked, so we could end up far apart, even in completely different carriages. In that case, I would need plenty to entertain me, and certainly more material that I had already stored in my rucksack.

I told CI to wait for me while I dashed back up to the library to collect the book that I had put on reserve. She assured the others that I would easily be back in time to catch the train.

However, I was waylaid on my way to the library by a slim, dark-haired sportswoman called Rachel. She persuaded me to act as her target while she practised shooting spears and catapults. I would certainly die for the cause, but Rachel was generous enough to let me choose the coloured cards that would be sent out to announce my departure from this world.