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stared confusedly. ‘I’ve got to get out. But I don’t know how. What’ll he do if I run, Ko?’
    â€˜Lovey, there are people who can help you. You go down to the Women’s Refuge. They’s good people. I know them, cos of my sister, y’know. I could take you there, when the boys are out.’ Ko’s voice betrayed what she really thought, that no social worker or cop could stop Evan if he went after Hine. They might catch him later, but by then Hine would be smashed up or dead.
    â€˜I don’t know what to do, Ko. Some days I just want to walk out into the lake and never come back.’ She had dreamt it, dreamt of swimming in deep water, while dark shapes swam below. She stared out across the lake. There was a log floating there, but somehow it seemed like a huge black eel, circling and waiting. She shuddered and looked away.
    A young Pakeha or maybe part-Maori boy was walking past, with a redheaded woman who looked like his mother. Their clothes were clean and neat, and she had her arm around his shoulders. There was something about him that caught the eye, something subtly strong. He was probably only her age, but he seemed a world apart. He looked straight at her, with concern in his eyes. She felt a sudden flash of resentment and shame, to be seen like this.
    I bet he’s never been smacked over. I bet nothing bad has everhappened in his prissy little life.
    Piss off , she mouthed, then buried her face in Ko’s shoulder. She stayed there a long time, and when she looked up again, mother and son were gone.
    â€˜What shall we do, lovey?’ asked Ko. ‘You want to take a walk down to the refuge?’
    Hine almost agreed. But then she thought about Evan and she wasn’t so sure any more. He kept her safe from all the other dark things. He needed her, she made him calmer, she made him happier … he told her so. Her place was with him. He was her Guardian Devil. She loved him, didn’t she? ‘I dunno, Ko. I … I need to think on it a bit, y’know. I don’t want to do the wrong thing. You know what I mean?’
    Ko looked at her sadly. ‘Okay, deary. I gotta get back and put Filli down for a sleep. You stay here if you want. I’ll get Ronnie to help clean up when he gets back, eh.’
    Hine nodded, and bowed her head. She kissed Brandi and waved them off, then just sat and stared at nothing. Time passed and she couldn’t remember a single thought crossing her mind. People probably went past, maybe some of them looked at her, but nothing registered.
    Finally, a gentle wuffling intruded on her thoughts. There was a dog, a black-and-white sheepdog like Dog from the Footrot Flats cartoons, worrying at something that lay in the tidal sands. Then it looked up and trotted towards her. She shooed at it half-heartedly, but it came right up, nuzzling her gently, so she relented and let it curl up against her. ‘You better not have fleas, boy,’ she told it.
    It looked at her indignantly, as if it found her remark offensive.
    â€˜Okay, sorry!’ She smiled and patted it. It licked her face, and she felt herself relax for the first time that day. So she hugged the dog, and before long, the gentle waves of the lake and rhythm of the traffic had blended into a lullaby.
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    She woke suddenly, and found the sun was dipping towards the western horizon. The dog was still with her, and it tugged at her sleeve, as if trying to persuade her to follow it home. She shook it off. ‘No, fella! Go home! I’m going this way!’ It took a long time to convince it that she was not going to follow it. Crazy dog! I wonder who owns it?
    She hurried home — there was another booze-up tonight and she should have been helping Ko get it ready. Shit! Evan’s gonna be mad as!
    When she arrived, one of Evan’s Rottweilers charged down the path to meet her, scaring her to a halt. The door slammed open and Evan strode down the path