‘I believe I did,’ Geryon said mildly. ‘Simply having the talent is not enough. I brought you here in part to find out what kind of person you were. Some minds – most minds, I should say, most of humanity – are so closed to the idea of the supernatural that they wrap themselves in a blanket of normality, and when anything leaks through they make up little stories to explain it. “I was dreaming,” say, or “I imagined it all.” If you confront such a mind with incontrovertible proof, there is always the risk that it will simply crack.’ Geryon spread his hands. ‘I had no wish to bring you here simply to drive you mad.’

‘Are you sure you haven’t?’ Alice said, a bit testily. Privately, though, she was relieved to discover that Geryon had known all along she would sneak into the library. In a way, it meant that she hadn’t really broken the rules after all.

Geryon smiled. ‘Quite sure,’ he said.

Alice paused, considering. ‘What about Emma, and Mr Black and the others? Are they . . .’

‘Readers? No. They are my servants, as they claimed to be.’

‘And they know about all this?’

Geryon nodded. ‘Don’t blame them for not letting you in on the secret. I gave them very strict instructions. If you’re angry, be angry with me.’

‘I don’t think I’m angry,’ Alice said, examining her own feelings with mild curiosity. ‘But what happens now?’

Geryon’s face was suddenly grave. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘you have a choice to make.’

‘Choice?’ The mug of cocoa was empty. Alice set it aside and gripped the blanket a little tighter. ‘What kind of choice?’

‘A Reader’s life is a dangerous one, for herself and everyone around her.’ Geryon scratched his whiskers. ‘It is not, truthfully, a life I would wish on anyone, and I will not force it on you. But neither can I leave you untrained and helpless, blundering about with the power to open doors and no idea what lies behind them.’

‘It doesn’t sound like I have a choice,’ Alice said. ‘If I have the talent, I have it, like it or not.’

‘Not necessarily. I could erase your memories of what happened, and ensure you never stumbled onto the secret again. Your life would go on as before, and you would always have a place here. I would make certain that you were happy.’

Alice felt her skin crawl. ‘You mean you’d cut my skull open and fool around in my brain?’

‘In a manner of speaking. But you would feel no pain, I assure you. It is the only chance for a normal life you have left.’

Alice closed her eyes. It ought to sound attractive, she guessed. If I could just forget about all of this, forget everything and just be a normal girl . . .