‘What about the cat?’ I asked. ‘You said the story was about a cat.’ ‘Yes, my mother brought a cat to the island. Carried it ashore in a basket, she did. ‘Tibbles, the cat’s name was. Had kittens as soon as we landed. And once they were off her milk, they shot through. Had plenty of birds to eat, they did. Birds that had never seen a cat. And ’cause the wrens couldn’t fly, they were easy targets …’