I came away from his house with several jars of honey from his bees, a box of eggs for Maren (I hope she doesn’t tell Tom!), fresh bread, and some chocolate. He had to give me one of his old rucksacks to carry it in. Not only had I forgotten to bring a bag but I also had no money … He insisted I take it all anyway and I promised to pay him next time. I think he just enjoyed the chat. As did I.

When I got back Tom was waiting. More of the same. Maybe it’ll get better once the house is built.

Won’t it?

   21   

FOREIGN AGENTS

Then

The days are creeping deeper into winter. It’s a new year, a new start. In the mornings Aurelia sees fresh snow laying itself pale and sparkling across the leaves that carpet and skirt the trees. By lunchtime the sun has retreated, and she envelops the girls in their snowsuits and takes them for walks in the persistent night. It isn’t just time and light that have different qualities out here – the dark is something else entirely. Here, the dark is a country, or an island that is revealed once the tide of daylight has retreated.

This morning, wind carries ice in its fist. The trees are black figures against weak light. Tom hands her a hard hat and her puffer jacket and leads her through the woods to show her the progress they’ve made on Basecamp. He wouldn’t say much but told her to bring her camera, so she’s excited – after weeks of delays, failed deliveries, damaged materials, not to mention the craziness of attempting to build in the dark, perhaps they’re back on schedule.

She looks back at Granhus and spies the gang of big black crows that hang out on the roof. A whole forest to choose from and they pick the roof as their home. They’re like living pieces of the darkness. And what a racket they make! They keep waking Coco when she’s just settled for a nap. She’s had the pest control guy out five times now and it just seems to make them more determined to come back.

‘You can open your eyes now,’ Tom says, but Aurelia’s already opened them and is amazed. The house is erected on ten-foot-tall wooden pilings – tree trunks – with a winding set of stairs leading to the structure. With a gasp she takes the stairs quickly, where a huge set of glass windows throw back her reflection.