Everyone stopped breathing for a heartbeat and the scene froze in Samantha's memory, like a still from a film. The huge man cowering in the corner, his hands raised in the sign of the evil eye, Mrs Winton looking up at him pleadingly, the waiters halted in mid-serve, their trays suspended above their heads, the customers staring in horror and disbelief at the boy beside her - and Rupert himself, trembling like a young deer, backed against the wall with his hands flat out behind him.
Then time sped up again. Rafa slumped down against the wall. His sons put down their trays and ran towards him; the customers began talking again, mainly in whispers, with many glances and gesticulations towards Rupert. Samantha heard the word 'mantequero' repeated many times.