There was a third path. Could Jack make him his own, give him the gift of eternal life? Was that something that Tom even wanted? To become like Jack, to have control of things beyond the knowledge of any, living as a darker shadow among shadows.

The lurcher appeared at the door and regarded him inquisitively with her bright black eyes. She was a welcome appearance. ‘I know what you want,’ said Tom and swung himself down onto the ground.

Kit had said it was safe to go out into the woods: the Samdhya wouldn’t try anything for a while, not after what they’d seen Jack do. They always retreated when they’d pushed him too far. That was why they would never properly attack the house. They knew the pain it would cause the Captive.

Tom was glad to leave the oppressive mustiness of the farmhouse. Zita was in her room, listening to records, and Kit was tending to the vegetable patch, weeding methodically. Tom raised a hand in greeting, and the boy simply nodded back. As he crossed the north bridge, he turned and saw someone flash past a window, but whether it was Jack or Zita he could not tell.

He did not care if Jack saw him go. Or at least, that is what he told himself.

There was in his mind half an idea to check the bounds by himself and see if he could find another way out of the farm’s land which didn’t mean going straight down the drive or over the fields in front of the house.

His geography was hazy, but he knew that Suffolk was mainly flat; there was the church steeple to the north, and there must, he surmised, be more villages or hamlets around. If he needed to, he could run in any direction and find somewhere. They were not that far from civilisation, though at times it seemed as if they were entirely sealed off.

He remembered Zita’s apparition at school. Jack had known he was at Downshire; Tom had seen the prospectus himself on the table. But would Jack be able to locate him? How far did his powers and his abilities reach? Would he be able to send Zita after him and bring him back somehow? Could Jack do similar things? The thought of encountering some wraith-like version of Jack made him shudder.