I turned to look at the man who’d spoken. He looked back at me. His look said he knew all my secrets, and found them unedifying.

“Who’s this then, lad? Your eldest?”

The others laughed.

“Didn’t like that, did she?” said another.

We went around the corner, out of sight. I could feel the malevolent force of the men at my back. I wished I’d let him come alone.

“They were rude.”

He glanced over my shoulder.

“I told you. The rules are different offshore.”