Episode 8 - Chapter 100

 They think me stupid. They think me a fool. They say I'm out of touch with the modern era.

Ha. Let them think that. Let them see me as some derelict grandpa, sitting in his rocker, half off his rocker, spittle dripping from chin. Let them chase after their shiny new things. The important things don't change, no matter how many gadgets they have.

Human nature. That don't change, whether you've got an app for that or you beat it with a stick, it is what it is. Selfish, greedy, venal. Oh, the odd individual comes along and makes them look noble, let's them think they're noble, but deep down there's a different truth.

The Forest. That don't change either. Doesn't have the power to reason, just acts on blind instinct.

They think I'd pursue my quarry with giant pens and sentient landscapes? How little they've learned. Distractions. All distractions. There's only one way to hunt anything. Find out where your quarry is going and get there first.

Episode 8 - Chapter 99

 Once again, Curly nods.

“Look,” Raven says firmly, “I don't care if we're being watched, in fact I've taken it for granted. Can you take me to the damned house or not?”

Curly nods again.

“Well can we please get on with it?” is Raven's response.

Curly takes him by the hand to lead him through the field. They walk like this for a few minutes, until a mound of rubble, the remains of a derelict building, come into view. Curly drags Raven into the centre of it to find one remaining wall on which he proceeds to outline a door with his finger.

Raven takes the hint, producing the chalk from his pocket to draw a door.

“It's that simple, is it?” he asks.

Curly shrugs in reply. Still holding his hand, Raven opens the door, picturing the desired destination in his mind. They step through, to find themselves looking at the home of Edward and Mary.

In front of it is a bent, crippled shadow of a man. “Oh Corvus,” it says, “You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 98

 Curly nods again, if anything even more enthusiastically.

“Okay,” Raven says in response, “The trees have ears.”

Curly shakes his head at that, a frown etched deep on his brow.

“They don't have ears?” Raven asks cautiously.

Curly cups both of his own ears then extends his arms full length, his fingers twitching slightly as he begins to turn.

“Everything is listening,” Raven says in reply, to which Curly nods, then points at his eyes.

“You mean we're being spied on right now?” Raven guesses.

Once more Curly nods, then points at his wrist, where he draws a circle with his finger.

“We're being spied on,” Raven continues, “All the time?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 97

 Curly nods enthusiastically in response to Raven's question.

“You do?” Raven asks, “Well do tell.”

Curly shakes his head, just as vigorously.

“You can't tell me?”

Curly shakes his head again.

“I see,” Raven says, “You wont tell me?”

Curly nods agreement.

“Because it will confuse Robert and Fiona when Larry and Mo say the same thing?”

The midget shakes his head again.

“Then for the love of the mountains why?”

Curly points to the woods in the distance.

“The trees?” Raven asks. “You wont tell me because of the trees.”

Curly nods once more, tugs at his ear, then nods again.

Raven scratches at his chin in confusion for a moment or two while Curly repeats his actions: pointing at the trees then tugging at his ear. Understanding, when it comes, is like a slap to Raven's face.

“You wont tell me,” he says, “Because the trees are listening?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 96

 Although he's gently bemused by Robert's words and gesture, Raven nonetheless responds in kind.

“Let's hope so,” he says, taking Robert's hand and shaking it firmly. “I've had enough of this place to last me several centuries.”

That last comment throws Robert for a moment. “Centuries...” he says to himself, then, as he turns away from Raven, “Of course.”

“Hmmm,” Raven ponders. “Look after yourself, lad,” he calls to Robert's back, “I'll see you at your parent's house.”

Robert raises his arm and waves, but doesn't turn or speak. Raven thinks he cuts quite a sad figure as he walks away, hand in hand with a midget.

“Right then,” Raven says to Curly, “Do you have any idea how I might find that house?”

Episode 8 - Chapter 95

 “So I'll just sit tight, shall I?” Robert asks, “Wait for you to find mum and dad's house and we can all get out of here.”

“You're sure this is the right place?” Raven inquires, “We don't have room for errors.”

“I am absolutely certain,” Robert tells him, “You take Curly with you, send word when the time's right. There's an old ruin somewhere hereabouts, you should be able get out through that.”

He looks around for a moment. “Come on Mo,” he says to the midget, “Let's find somewhere to sit while we wait.”

He's about to walk away when an odd notion taps his brow. Turning back to Raven he offers his hand. “Good luck old bird,” he says, “It's almost over now.”

Episode 8 - Chapter 94

 “Somewhere safe it is,” Raven says as he turns the door handle and steps through, dragging his companions behind him.

“Well then,” he continues, as they all step into a sunny meadow, “What have we here?”

“This is it,” Robert says excitedly, recognizing the field immediately. “This is the meadow where I came in!”

“Or it's the collective memory of it,” Curly and Mo assert.

Robert looks round, turns round, taking in the full panorama. “No,” he tells them, “This is the memory prison, or whatever it was called. This is my exit point.”

“How can you be so certain?” Curly and Mo want to know.

“Look around,” Robert gestures at the fields around them. “We're the only ones here.”