That certainly explains the severed hand. Stella isn't squeamish, far from it, but thinking of the idea of someone who would intentionally do this to a child leaves her feeling cold and a little ill. The amputation appears to be the most serious injury, and the fact that it was already bandaged helps — but undoubtedly she's lost more blood than Stella can see, and she needs emergency medical attention straight away.

Already she's thinking of what might have happened. Was it intentional? An accident? If the former, why would the attacker bandage the wound afterward? Guilt? Remorse? There are a lot of scenarios here, and unfortunately none of them are of the especially pleasant sort.

She'd had her phone in her coat pocket when she'd come here, but a cursory check tells her the battery has run out. Stella can't in good conscience leave the scene, but there's a public telephone booth a short distance away. In the end she stands up and, keeping Kitty carefully in her sight, goes over to the phone to call emergency services. The conversation is a short one, and within a couple of minutes she goes back, kneeling down next to the girl to wait, smoothing strands of her hair off her forehead with her fingertips. "I've called an ambulance," she says, still not sure if Kitty can hear her but not especially caring. "Everything's going to be all right."

The air is a little cold, and after a moment Stella takes off her own coat — black wool, lined with satin — and drapes it over Kitty as an additional layer. She has no intention of letting her get to the hospital only to lose her to untreated shock.