The Wave. Virginia Moffatt

together. Of bringing us all together. I have a momentary rise of panic when I think what that means. I push it firmly back in its box. I am determined I will not let fear ruin this evening.

      ‘Fuck,’ says Yan, interrupting my thoughts.

      ‘What?’

      ‘The BBC is saying that a few years ago the government cancelled the National Disaster Early Warning Unit. They’re saying that it could have saved us…’

      Fuck indeed.

      ‘That’s assuming it would have worked,’ says Margaret.

      ‘Of course it would have worked,’ says Harry sharply. He glowers at Margaret who blushes for some reason. Time to change the subject.

      ‘Let’s play a get-to-know-you game,’ I say with my best hostess voice. ‘How about we share our favourite memory?’