
‘Oh Alistair…’ The lilting voice danced through the trees, cold and mesmerising, a siren’s song. ‘Alistair Ward. Come out and play, Alistair. I promise I won’t kill you. Or perhaps you are already playing. Hide and seek, is that what you want to play with me?’ A burst of melodic laughter filled the air, though there was no warmth to it. Pressed up against the thick trunk of a gnarled