Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
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‘It’s not your fault. I now realize it was a stupid idea to rent out the cottage. Chris warned me there might be problems, but I wanted to take the contract abroad and I needed someone to look after Tinder. I really didn’t think they would bother you. They know me well, but I thought they would stay clear of a stranger, which, according to Chris, they did at first.’ Jan nodded. ‘Then it seems they got braver and braver as they got used to you. I switched off the motion-sensor light upstairs just in case they came to explore, but you turned it on again and saw them.’
‘Sorry,’ Jan said again.
‘I’m not blaming you. They obviously felt safe and knew you wouldn’t harm them – well, not in a physical sense. But, of course, what they can’t appreciate is that they would be harmed dreadfully if news of their existence got out. Anne has tried to tell them, but they don’t understand. They’re only children.’ Camile stopped. ‘That’s it, really.’
Jan took a moment before she spoke. Did she believe them? Yes. ‘I knew something weird was going on, but never in a million years would I have guessed what it was. What happens now?’
‘We continue as we have been.’
‘Who else knows about them?’ Jan asked.
‘Until recently just Chris, myself and Anne. But Ian Jennings, a father to one of them, has found out and is taking steps to close the clinic permanently. He can be trusted. He understands no one must ever find out. As I hope you do.’
‘Does Lillian know?’ Jan asked, looking at Chris.
‘No,’ he replied. ‘She and my brother believe our child was stillborn and that’s what broke up Camile and me. No one can know, for the sake of these little ones and those like them who haven’t been born yet.’
‘There will be others?’ Jan asked, horrified.
‘There will be until all those who have been affected have stopped having children. Ian is contacting them all now.’
‘And what will happen to those children who haven’t been born yet?’ Jan asked.
‘Some will die straight away,’ Camile said sadly. ‘And Anne will look after those who survive. Chris, Ian and I will do what we can to help.’
Jan nodded solemnly. It was an incredible story, and if she hadn’t seen the children herself she would never have believed it. But she accepted the explanation she’d been given. ‘Anne won’t be able to take them into the woods when your new tenant is here,’ Jan said. ‘It will be too risky.’