Helen impulsively holds out a fragment of cashew, Sipsworth grabs onto her finger and pulls himself into her palm. Helen doesn’t know what to do, but is afraid to move in case her sudden action hurts him. The house is now creaking like old timber, and outside in the street, she can hear glass breaking. Helen notices her hand trembling—not because she’s holding a live mouse, but because it’s the first time she’s been touched by another living thing for over twenty years.
