Isaac liked dogs, and dogs liked Isaac. When he was little and visiting the mountain cottage, his grandfather had a dog, a black-and-tan shepherd, Aldo, who climbed into Isaac’s bed at night and slept curled around him. But these were strange dogs in a strange wood, surrounding a boy who was beginning to feel like he had stepped right into one of the Grimms’ nastier tales, and as they surrounded him, they growled in a soft chorus of rumbles, dripping saliva.

Isaac bent, slower than slow, reaching for a stout branch that lay near his feet. At once, one of the dogs bared its teeth.

Isaac’s eyes met those of a mastiff. Its head reached Isaac’s waist. Its lips were curled back, exposing sharp canines. Isaac froze, his knees bent, his hand not yet on the stick, his heart in his throat.

“Canut,” came a voice from down the path. “Have you found him?”

A small blond boy appeared from among the tree trunks around the bend.

“Ah,” said the boy as he moved through the animals. “Jolly good. You’re here.”

*   *   *

Isaac straightened, still watching the dog, Canut, who moved to stand next to the boy but kept Isaac in a low stare.

“I’m Colin Drake,” the boy said. “We were told you’d be arriving. Glad I found you before dark.”

“Isaac,” he introduced himself, confused but grateful. “Isaac Wolf. Are you from Rookskill?”

“Of course. Wolf,” said Colin. “I like that. Ironic, considering.” He grinned. “Well, come on, then. Supper’s waiting.”

“I am sorry?” Isaac said. “Who told you about me?” Maybe the stationmaster had telephoned.

“Leo,” said Colin matter-of-factly. “He knows stuff.”

“All right,” Isaac said uncertainly. “Who is Leo?”

“Come on. You’ll meet him,” Colin said, and turned away. The animals surrounded Colin, leaving Isaac.

Almost out of earshot, Colin began to speak. “Yes, I know. He can’t help it. Stop, Canut. Don’t say such things. That’s mean.” Then a pause as Colin turned to another of his dogs. “Why, Josie, that’s the first time you’ve spoken. How lovely. What’s that? Yes, I feel it, too. Strange timing, don’t you think?”

It took Isaac almost a full minute to begin walking, he was so stunned. Was Colin really talking to the dogs?

Isaac shook his head and followed them. After all, this wasn’t the strangest thing that had happened lately.

A few minutes later, they emerged from the thicket of trees into a weedy meadow that surrounded a monstrous castle.

In the dusky light the castle hulked against the sky, all spikes and points and blocky stone ramparts. It had a great square broken keep, detached from the castle but for a long parapet. The castle was three stories high, a thin tower rising above the rest, and the narrow windows glared at him like black eyes set into the stone walls.