Chapter 20I'm woken at six in the morning by the sound of the siren. The siren is a wartime relic that's still used today, as it's the easiest way of summoning the emergency services. I leap out of bed and reach for my mobile phone as it starts to ring. When I answer it, I'm informed that there's a major fire at the farm belonging to the Sabatiers. I dress quickly, scrape a comb through my hair, shout goodbye to Patricia and make for my car. I'm still sleepy as I drive through the narrow, empty streets of the town, then up into the mountains.
I can see the smoke from quite a distance away and I can taste it in the air. As I get closer to the fire, I detect the distinct aroma of burning c******s. The cloying, sweet smell is not unpleasant and I can understand why people might smoke it. As
