Prue put her bag down beside one of the stag-men. She couldn’t think of them as second lifers. They weren’t like the Guild personifates, made with care and kindness; these were made to look fierce, to be powerful and domineering. They were fighting machines.

“Come on, let’s make a start,” said Edwin.

Soon they’d picked up a jumble of frequencies. Edwin turned the dials and although he took longer than Craftsman Primrose, he eventually managed to isolate a wildspark signal. Prue called Craftsman Primrose over, who had already awoken another three in the time they’d harnessed one. She carefully connected the wiring and the eyes ignited.

“Where am I?” This one was a female, young, perhaps in her twenties.

Primrose repeated the words he had said to the previous stag-man, then left them to finish up while he went to harness another.

Sweat beaded on Prue’s brow. “The transmitter was so close. I could almost grab it.”

“I saw it, but you can’t risk it,” Edwin whispered. “We’ll leave it towards the end, when there’s less chance he’ll realize it’s gone. Then I’ll take it while he is focusing on getting the last one to imprint. Come on. Let’s get this done.”

The next stag-man awoke speaking another language. “I think we’ve done something wrong?” Prue said.

“No, just carry on; it happens from time to time. It’ll just follow the others.”

They harnessed two more young females, then an older man. They were getting quicker every time. Prue checked her watch. It was seven o’clock. By eight they only had another dozen to go.

It was Prue’s turn to isolate the frequency. They danced across the screen and she turned the dials, until one remained. She called out to Craftsman Primrose as they fixed the final wire into place. The piercing eyes ignited.

“Where am I? What’s happening?”

The ground suddenly crumbled beneath Prue’s feet. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It couldn’t be true! She swallowed hard and reached for the table to steady herself.

Utterly helpless, Prue watched as Primrose said the words to the stag-man then turned to them. “Hurry along, now. Not many left to go.” Then he joined Finblewick who had just harnessed another.

Prue stared at the stag-man before her in disbelief. “No, please, no,” she gasped.

“Prue? Are you all right?” Edwin said, but his voice had become distant.

She tried to focus. Surely she’d misheard? “Can you hear me?” she whispered, grasping the stag-man by the face, her voice shaking.

“Yes. Where am I?”

“Say it again.”

“Where am I?”

In panic, Prue looked over at Craftsman Primrose, but he was busy with another stag-man.

“Prue, you’re scaring me,” said Edwin.

“I recognize that voice,” Prue said breathlessly.

“What? But that’s…”

“A chance in a million,” Prue said.