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James nodded. Nyssa looked at his features and remembered another, older face - thinner and longer, but still the same. James wasn't her brother, she knew that much as a certainty. But why did her mother say that he was? Perhaps it was some after-effect of the accident, yet she couldn't remember suffering any memory loss. Then again, would she?

Nyssa could feel her thoughts tying themselves into knots.

`Before, you said nothing here is what it seems. What did you mean?' she asked.

`Come with me,' James replied, running ahead of her on the path between the trees. 'Come on! I'll show you the others.'

`The others? What others?' Nyssa called, hurrying after the boy.

The sun had passed its peak when Doulton was ready to travel back through the gateway. By now the water level had fallen still further, so the rocks of Corra Linn towered over what was left of the river. The pontoon jutted out uselessly over the slowly drying banks. The general gathered most of his men by the water's edge. Those who had already been to the Other Side were making preparations for the Queen's visit, tidying the camp and erecting a special tent should she choose to stay for the night. Doulton marched back and forth as he addressed the troops.

`Men, you are about to embark on the greatest adventure of your lives. On the Other Side you will see sights to amaze and astound. You may well be greeted by your dearly departed. They welcome all those who make the journey to the afterlife. Whatever happens, you must retain discipline. Follow my lead and no harm shall befall you. Are you with me?'

`Yes sir!' the soldiers shouted back in unison.

`Very well. Make ready to swim down to the gateway. It is now only a few feet below the surface and can be reached without special equipment. Dismissed!'

Private Johnson grinned broadly. At last he was getting a chance to see what Thorny had witnessed on the Other Side.

This was going to be the adventure of a lifetime.

James had brought Nyssa through the gardens and under a boundary marker to a tall stone building at the edge of the family estate. The circular tower was featureless and foreboding on this side, just a handful of gaps in the stone letting light inside.

'They keep the others in there,' James said, pointing at the hole just above the ground.

`Who are they?' Nyssa asked but the boy did not reply.

James was too busy scooping up pebbles and rocks from nearby and tucking them into his pouch. She dropped to the ground and looked inside. The cell was small and square, just big enough for a man to lie down without his head or feet touching the walls. It was dark inside and difficult to see how many men were being kept within the chamber, but Nyssa counted close to a dozen squeezed into the limited space. They were clothed in grubby red tunics and dark blue trousers, their faces wretched and terrified, even in sleep.

One of the men stirred, looking up at the hole in the wall. He seemed startled to see a face peering down at him. The man stood and approached Nyssa, reaching up a hand towards her. 'Are you an angel or a demon?'

`Neither,' she replied, pushing her hand between the bars to touch the tops of his fingers. `Who are you? What are you doing here?'

`Please, you must help us. We have to get back!'

'Get back? Where did you come from?'

`The other side - we have to get back to the other side!

Demons with the faces of our loved ones have been torturing us with visions, even in our sleep. Please - you must help us, Nyssa!'

That startled her. 'How did you know my name?'

`Don't you remember? We were -'

`What are you doing here?' an angry voice demanded.

Nyssa turned round to see a figure looming over her, the bright sun overhead turning her accuser into a menacing silhouette.

'This place is forbidden, even for you, my child'

`Father, I didn't know, I -'

Ènough!' Tremas snapped. 'Well, you're here now, what's done is done. I suppose this day had to happen. Come!'

Tremas strode away round the