15
The house knew. I followed the path it showed me, towards what looked like a huge cupboard in one of the rooms. Then I grabbed a chair, stood on it, and introduced my hand into the half-inch gap between the cupboard and the ceiling. It seemed like that gap shouldn't have existed, but the bit of wood covering it had been carefully removed to create that hiding place. I couldn't introduce my hand there, because it was too big. Only a child could put their hand inside.
"I think I might need a stick or something," I said, "to take it out."
The house, eager to help, just pushed the book out for me, and I took it, extending it to Azrikam. Who was staring at my feet.
"Why aren't you wearing shoes?" he asked.
By standing on my tiptoes like this, I had uncovered my feet, the long, wide skir
