12

'And what's the point of that?' Tom asked, shivering on the pier.

The magician smiled at him: smiled as coldly as the wizard in his story. 'Need I really say? Rose can never leave Shadowland. Kiss her all you want, Tom, but don't believe a word she says, for she has no idea of the truth.'

'That's a terrible… ridiculous… lie.' Tom began to walk away from Collins down the pier.

'I don't blame you for being angry with me,' the magician called out into the fog between them, 'but whatever you do, don't forget my warning. Don't take her too seriously.' Tom was now at the iron ladder. As he set his feet on the first rung, he heard the magician call, 'Our lives take many different turnings, Tom, and today's king is tomorrow's goat. Don't be fool enough to think it cannot happen to you.'