The Uninvited

told me last time we spoke. Her parentsfound a stash of dishwasher salt in herbedroom. If other kids do too, there couldbe other parallels. Let’s find out.’ Shestarts typing again. Her fingers fly over thekeyboard like a pianist’s. She pressessend and looks up. ‘OK done.’ She looksat her watch. ‘I told Naomi we’ve madesome connections, and asked her to callus. With your Professor Whybray, if he’sthere. In the meantime, here’s what we’vegot,’ she says, pointing at the napkin. ‘Anepidemic of some kind.’‘Pandemic,’ I correct her.‘Involving children and adults. Theyattack something they care about. Be it acorporation or a loved one. And theneither refuse to speak or blame a figurefrom their local folklore.’