20 Chapter 20

Rob continued, “I wanted to see if I could follow Lin. Through the gate. To find out what’s making you sick.”

He said it as if it was nothing at all. A throwaway comment about popping down to the village to go to the post office.

Matty stared at him. “What?”

“Through the gate. I want to find Lin and see if he can help us. Help you.” Rob’s voice was no different from usual. A quiet, steady rumble as if he was suggesting something ordinary and safe. Not something supernatural and therefore incredibly dangerous.

“Through the gate?” Matty said, intelligently.

“Yes. It seems like it would be the best way to find out what’s been happening. We haven’t really got anywhere with Arthur’s research.” He gestured to the piles of books crowding the room around them. “This though... I’ve learned this.”

Matty drew a steadying breath. “What else have you taught yourself? Do you think Arthur could do this?” The two questions came one after the other, spoken as soon as he thought them.