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k and steered him away； towards the sunlit kitchen。）
Outside St Michael and All Saints； the pall…bearers were readying themselves to take the coffins up the church path。 Dane Tully was among them； with his earring and a self…inked tattoo of a spider’s web on his neck； in a heavy black overcoat。
The Jawandas waited with the Bawdens in the shade of the yew tree。 Andrew Price hovered near them； and Tessa Wall stood at some distance； pale and stony…faced。 The other mourners formed a separate phalanx around the church doors。 Some had a pinched and defiant air； others looked resigned and defeated； a few wore cheap black clothes； but most were in jeans or tracksuits； and one girl was sporting a cut…off T…shirt and a belly…ring that caught the sun when she moved。 The coffins moved up the path； gleaming in the bright light。
It was Sukhvinder Jawanda who had chosen the bright pink coffin for Krystal； as she was sure she would have wanted。 It was Sukhvinder who had done nearly everything； organizing； choosing and persuading。 Parminder kept looking sideways at her daughter； and finding excuses to touch her： brushing her hair out of her eyes； smoothing her collar。
Just as Robbie had e out of the river purified and regretted by Pagford； so Sukhvinder Jawanda； who had risked her life to try and save the boy； had emerged a heroine。 From the article about her in the Yarvil and District Gazette to Maureen Lowe’s loud proclamations that she was remending the girl for a special police award to the speech her headmistress made about her from the lectern in assembly； Sukhvinder knew； for the first time； what it was to eclipse her brother and sister。
She had hated every minute of it。 At night； she felt again the dead boy’s weight in her arms； dragging her towards the deep； she remembered the temptation to let go and save herself； and asked herself how long she would have resisted it。 The deep scar on her leg itched and ached； whether moving or stationary。 The news of Krystal Weedon’s death had had such an alarming effect on her that her parents had arranged a counsellor； but she had not cut herself once since being pulled from the river； her near drowning seemed to have purged her of the need。
Then； on her first day back at school； with Fats Wall still absent； and admiring stares following her down the corridors； she had heard the rumour that Terri Weedon had no money to bury her children； that there would be no stone marker； and the cheapest coffins。
‘That’s very sad； Jolly；’ her mother had said that evening； as the family sat eating dinner together under the wall of family photographs。 Her tone was as gentle as the policewoman’s had been； there was no snap in Parminder’s voice any more when she spoke to her daughter。
‘I want to try and get people to give money；’ said Sukhvinder。
Parminder and Vikram glanced at each other across the kitchen table。 Both were instinctively opposed to the idea of asking people in Pagford to donate to such a cause； but neither of them said so。 They were a little afraid； now that they had seen her forearms； of upsetting Sukhvinder； and the shadow of the as…yet…unknown counsellor seemed to be hovering over all their interactions。
‘And；’ Sukhvinder went on； with a feverish energy like Parminder’s own； ‘I think the funeral service should be here； at St Michael’s。 Like Mr Fairbrother’s。 Krys used to go to all the services here when we were at St Thomas’s。 I bet she was never in another church in her life。’
The light of God shines from every soul； thought Parminder； and to Vikram’s surprise she said abruptly； ‘Yes； all right。 We’ll have to see what we can do。’
The bulk of the expense had been met by the Jawandas and the Walls； but Kay Bawden； Samantha Mollison and a couple of the mothers of girls on the rowing team had donated money too。 Sukhvinder then insisted on going into the Fields in person； to explain to Terri what they had done； and why； all about the rowing team； and why Krystal and Robbie should have a service at St Michael’s。
Parminder had been exceptionally worried about Sukhvinder going into the Fields； let alone that filthy house； by herself； but Sukhvinder had known that it would be all right。 The Weedons and the Tullys knew that she had tried to save Robbie’s life。 Dane Tully had stopped grunting at her in English； and had stopped his mates from doing it too。
Terri agreed to everything that Sukhvinder suggested。 She was emaciated； dirty； monosyllabic and entirely passive。 Sukhvinder had been frightened of her； with her pockmarked arms and her missing teeth； it was like talking to a corpse。
Inside the church； the mourners divided cleanly； with the people from the Fields taking the left…hand pews； and those from Pagford； the right。 Shane and Cheryl Tully marched Terri along between them to the front row； Terri； in a coat two sizes too large； seemed scarcely aware of where she was。
The coffins lay side by side on biers at the front of the church。 A bronze chrysanthemum oar lay on Krystal’s； and a white chrysanthemum teddy bear on Robbie’s。
Kay Bawden remembered Robbie’s bedroom； with its few grimy plastic toys； and her fingers trembled on the order of service。 Naturally； there was to be an inquiry at work； because the local paper was clamouring for one； and had written a front…page piece suggesting that the small boy had been left in the care of a pair of junkies and that his death could have been avoided； if only he had been removed to safety by negligent social workers。 Mattie had been signed off with stress again； and Kay’s handling of the case review was being assessed。 Kay wondered what effect it would have on her chances of getting another job in London； when every local authority was cutting numbers of social workers； and how Gaia would react if they had to stay in Pagford … she had not dared discuss it with her yet。
Andrew glanced sideways at Gaia and they exchanged small smiles。 Up in Hilltop House； Ruth was already sorting things for the move。 Andrew could tell that his mother hoped； in her perennially optimistic way； that by sacrificing their house and the beauty of the hills； they would be rewarded with a rebirth。 Wed