It took a few moments for his eyes to grow accustomed to the gloom. When they did he found that he was in a large hallway. It was deserted, and had the coldness of a place that is rarely used. The few pieces of furniture that were dotted about the flagged expanse of floor seemed like desolate wrecks. They were worn and broken. Garbage had collected in the corners, and the place smelled of damp.
Jeb Stuart Ho moved noiselessly across the hallway towards a wide, and probably once stately, staircase that curved round the far wall. A rapid scuttling sound made him freeze and look round. A pair of small armadillos, disturbed by the unexpected human presence, burrowed for shelter under a collapsed chaise longue. He smiled at their desperate efforts to get away from him. The animals who lived in the temple never displayed such fear and alarm. It was obvious that conditions at Wainscote were very different. He began carefully to climb the stairs. It looked as though the inhabitants of the house must live much further inside the building, and rarely visit the outer areas.
The top of the staircase opened out into a large gallery, which, like the hall below, showed the ravages of neglect. A rat peered out from behind a length of rotting curtain and fled squealing at the sight of the dark figure that had invaded its domain, More squeals and rustles came from inside the walls, as the news of the intruder circulated through the rat community.
A number of corridors led off the gallery. They were dim, bare and uninviting, each one identical to the next. Jeb Stuart Ho knew that he could only make a random choice. The middle one looked as though it might possibly lead more directly to the interior of the house. He started down it, still watchful for any sign of life.
Nothing happened for a long while. Jeb Stuart Ho walked patiently on, past occasional doorways that opened into more empty, deserted rooms. All he could do was follow the twists and turns of the corridor until it reached its ultimate destination. If it ended in a blind alley, he would simply go back and try one of the others. His information said that he would find his guide inside this building, and temple information was nearly always accurate.
After walking for some minutes, he came to a point where the corridor made a right-angle turn. Jeb Stuart Ho had become less careful. The unchanging corridor didn’t seem very hostile. As he turned the corner he saw a dark figure coming towards him at the far end of the passage. His protective senses came to life, and he sprang lightly back, pressing himself against the wall. The figure did exactly the same thing. Slowly, Jeb Stuart Ho moved away from the wall. Again the other figure matched his own movements. He smiled as he realized that it must be an image of himself. The entire end of the corridor was one large mirror.
Then someone laughed. Jeb Stuart Ho spun round, his hands flashing to the hilt of his sword. A girl stood leaning in the doorway of one of the empty rooms. Her hair was very black and hung almost to her waist. It partially hid her small pale face, but Jeb Stuart Ho noticed that it was like that of a self-indulgent child, and only the dark shadows under her eyes gave away her real age. That and her body. Even in the long red satin dress it couldn’t be mistaken for anything but that of a mature young woman. He lowered the sword. She laughed again.
‘You look a little ridiculous.’
‘Ridiculous?’
No one had ever called Jeb Stuart Ho ridiculous before.
‘Jumping at your own reflection. Pulling out that sword.’
‘I’m sorry. I was being careful, that’s all.’
The girl moved towards him. He saw she had an ornamented goblet of some kind of white metal in her right hand. She raised it to her mouth and sipped from it. Her movements seemed very controlled and deliberate. She swayed a little as she walked. It was as though she was very drunk, but also very accustomed to it.
‘Did you drift away from the party?’
‘There is a party?’
‘There’s always a party. Everyone knows that. How is it that you don’t know it?’
‘I have only just arrived here.’
‘You came from outside?’
‘Yes, I came from outside.’
‘You’re not making it up?’
‘What reason would I have for making up something like that?’
‘Some people will do anything to draw attention to themselves.’
‘I don’t want attention.’
‘Most people do.’
‘Do you?’
The girl fiddled with, her drink.
‘I suppose so. I’m no different to the rest.’
‘Then why do you come to these empty rooms? There’s no one to see you here.’
‘They frighten me.’
‘That would seem a reason to stay away from them.’
‘I like to be frightened now and then. Don’t you? Don’t you enjoy a thrill of fear?’
Jeb Stuart Ho carefully put away his sword.
‘I don’t think so. I’ve never considered fear as a source of enjoyment.’
‘It can be terribly exciting.’
There was a long pause while Jeb Stuart Ho considered this new concept. The girl took the chance to move up close to him.
‘Are you going to rape me?’
Jeb Stuart Ho raised his eyebrows.
‘What is rape?’
‘You don’t know what rape is?’
He shook his head.
‘It’s not a term I’m familiar with.’
‘You’re teasing me?’
‘No.’
‘You really don’t know what rape means?’
‘No.’
‘It’s when a man forces a woman to have sex with him against her will.’
‘Why should he do that?’
The girl looked at him as though she was talking to an idiot.
‘He enjoys it, of course. There’s usually an element of brutality involved.’
‘Why should anyone enjoy hurting another person?’
The girl shrugged.
‘I don’t know why exactly, but there’s plenty who do.’
‘Know why?’
‘Enjoy hurting people. There’s plenty of people who enjoy pain, for that matter.’
Jeb Stuart Ho shook his head.
‘I’m not sure I understand.’
The girl gestured towards the weapons hanging under his cloak.
‘You look like you ought to. You could kill a lot of people with that stuff.’
‘I’m trained to kill. It is my vocation. I am aware it may be necessary at times, but I don’t enjoy the act.’
‘Then why do it?’
‘We all have to do things we don’t enjoy.’
‘I don’t, why should I? I don’t think I’m enjoying this conversation any more.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault. I don’t enjoy many things for long. I get bored.’
‘I thought you said you didn’t do anything you don’t enjoy.’
‘That’s right. I don’t.’
‘But …’
‘There are times when I don’t do anything. I frequently don’t do anything. I think I’ll go back to the party now. I’m bored with being out here.’
She looked up at Jeb Stuart Ho.
‘Do you want to go to the party?’
He shook his head.