Once the two of them were outside again, Regan took Emmeline’s arm. The right one, for in her left hand Emmeline carried a torch. Soon it would be dark, everything would turn into black fog. The torch shone their way and kept the fog away from them. Regan did not want to come too close to the fire. Emmeline said fire could be very bad. Her wonderful Emmeline, whose thoughts never got muddled and who was the most precious creature there was. The only creature there was. Had there ever been other creatures? Regan wondered. Had it not always been Emmeline and her? No, she remembered. Before Emmeline there had been Silence.
Tell me about before, Emmeline! she said. It was quiet around them. The buildings were nothing but shadows; they squatted in the night like forgotten Gods.
You know all a
