Part 1, Bloodlights Summary

Seven-year-old Cyril (Cy) Parks wishes his eyes could lie so his troubles would be over. He averts his eyes from sick people coughing into basins to the distant horizon and thoughts of his father, lost years ago at sea. Most visitors to his mother's seaside resort, the Bayview Hotel on Morecambe Bay, suffer from tuberculosis and Reeda Parks can see beyond the horror in ways her son cannot. These guests pay her bills.

One day Cy sees vivid images in the discharge basin and forgets to feel disgusted. Perhaps it is prophecy, or perhaps the devil has painted this little picture. Cy's next confusion comes from secretly watching mother care for sobbing women who visit in the middle of the night. Reeda has a helper who Cy recognizes.

Any trouble in town usually involves Cy and two pals, Jonty Preston and...