Bill Broady

Eternity is Temporary

Portobello Books, 2006.

When they reached Primrose Hill, Evan could feel the parched earth crumbling under his feet. Pushing the chair up the steep slope, however, was surprisingly easy. He felt a pleasant glow radiating from the small of his back...The path to the summit was lined with cast-iron Victorian street lamps, each one individually numbered in sequence. "I'm surprised they're not named after famous battles," said Adrea.

In the scorching summer of 1976, two care assistants are taking wheelchair-bound Terry out for an evening's respite.

They became aware that they were not alone. At the edge of the lamps' weak radiance, white shapes could be seen on the grass: partially-clad human bodies, variously entangled, rolling around. They heard little cries of pleasure or mock outrage, and a sound of breathing so distinct that it seemed everyone must be inhaling and exhaling together. Adrea noticed that all the pairs were the same distance apart, as if they had been planted there by the parks department: she wondered if they might be individually numbered too...

A week later an outing to the Zoo provides a treat for the other inmates of the 'residential home for the elderly'.