And they set off once more, leaving the room by a different doorway, taking another set of steps, downward this time, until they reached yet another walkway. Below he could see the central courtyard with its groups of people, and the flames of the brazier, and he saw it all through a dirt-covered, rainbow-flecked lens. Yellow dots of light drifted through the air, inches from his face. And on they went, the older man following the girl, until she slipped into another flat, and took a flight of steps that seemed to be set in the floor of the living room itself. He couldn’t make head or tail of it – where on earth was this place? Which rules of geometry did it follow? He called her name: ‘Esme?’ But she made no answer, only walked on, along a dark corridor now. He was scared suddenly, not knowing the way ahead, or whether he would ever get out of here, this night or any night, intact or otherwise, mindful or mad. And they walked on until the corridor ended at a sealed door. The dark was lit by a number of glowing yellow dots. They looked like fireflies. He could feel them on his face and hands, and he brushed at them.

Esme stopped, and held aloft the key. ‘This might shock you, Mr Hobbes, or scare you even. But I believe it has gone too far, and we are being harmed by it, and I want you to do something about it. Will you help me?’

‘I’ll try. But I don’t know—’

She shushed him once more. ‘I’m taking you to see Fabian.’

‘Fabian?’

He had heard the name before somewhere. His mind could not fix on the details.

Esme explained: ‘Fabian used to be the leader of our clan, and the boyfriend of Nadia. She’s the woman in the photograph, standing next to your son.’

‘Is Martin here? You said you’d take me to him.’

Esme ignored his plea. Her face took on a cruel aspect. ‘Nadia is horrible to us. She sets rules for everyone, and many people here are willing to be told what to do. It saves them from life. But I didn’t come here to be told what to do.’

‘No, I see that. You wanted to escape?’

‘Yes, yes! To escape. Not to swap one set of rules for another, even stricter.’

‘I understand.’

Esme nodded. But she was hesitant now, and her will was faltering. ‘Fabian died,’ she said. ‘An overdose. And then Nadia took over.’

‘When did this happen?’

‘A year ago. And ever since …’

And Hobbes saw now that Esme was fearful, dreading what might lie ahead.

He said gently, ‘Don’t worry. Is Martin close by?’

‘I think so, yes.’

‘Take me to him, that’s all I ask. And, in return, I’ll help you all I can.’

She looked into his eyes, he into hers, in the shadowed light of the corridor their eyes shining, white, blue, black. Esme blinked. Was she weeping? He whispered to her, a wordless sound. She nodded and took a deep breath. The key turned in the lock and the door opened. Esme went through first, Hobbes following. But she stopped at the inner threshold and urged him on with a small gesture, and he did so, walking forward.