A few seconds later, we saw it – this huge, dark brown creature with a staggering set of antlers on his head, around five or six feet wide. The moose was both gigantic and irate. It walked slowly towards a wooden frame and butted it with its antlers.

Standing on a rock I could make out a handful of men near the moose, all of them with their hands up in surrender. One of them was waving something, evidently trying to get the thing to back away, but with the effect of making it more pissed off. Clive seemed to think the waving thing was a great idea, though, because he pulled off his jacket and started flapping it above his head, shouting and yelling.

Suddenly a huge gunshot sounded, a terrific, echoing blast that made me jump. I spun around and saw a man at the back door of the red house holding a large rifle with smoke coming out of it. Tom. A sound of hooves on the ground signalled the animal’s departure, and all the men clapped and cheered.

Tom walked down the steps towards me, one hand holding the rifle, the other extended towards me. ‘Sophie,’ he said, beaming. ‘So glad you could make it.’

I smiled nervously, and shook his hand. ‘You scared off the moose,’ I observed.

He nodded, just casually reloading a long silver bullet into the chamber of his enormous rifle. ‘Sorry about that. He’s been a bit of a nuisance these last few days. I’m hoping that was enough to see him off for a while.’

Clive came marching back up the hill, grinning. ‘You missed,’ he said to Tom.

‘I wasn’t aiming for him,’ Tom answered, gesturing for me to come inside.

‘Pity,’ Clive panted, mopping his brow. ‘I heard moose tastes delicious.’

Inside the red house, or Granhus, as it appeared to be named, Gaia raced up to me in the kitchen and wrapped her arms around my knees as though we were long lost friends.

‘Sophie!’ she yelled. ‘I’ve missed you so much!’

‘You have?’ I said. I wanted her to say it again. I don’t think anyone had ever said that to me before.

I told her I had a present for her, and she got so excited I fretted I’d built her up for something big – like a scooter, or maybe a pony. I presented her with the little pair of tweed trousers I’d made from one of Meg’s cushion covers for Gaia’s teddy bear, Louis. ‘To go with his waistcoat,’ I said, and she gave a squeal of delight.

‘He’ll love them!’ she shouted. ‘Come and see your bedroom!’

Maren appeared then, telling Gaia to wait just a minute. She asked if my journey was a pleasant one, and would I like a cup of tea?