‘Would you like amulets in case you want to visit again?’ Bob offers this to us, holding out a couple of silver amulets. ‘I presume you know how they work. You just keep them in your mouth and – '

‘No,' Marra, Aar, Mr. Om and I say together. We’ve had enough of this place.

‘Yes,' Niffy says simultaneously. Then she looks down at the floor, as though she's ashamed of herself. ‘It’s just that . . . I can talk here. It may not seem like much to you guys, but it’s wonderful for me. I don’t want to go back to being a mute.’

I rake aside my copper-red hair. ‘Nothing good will come out of this place, sis,' I tell her. ‘It’s not about the way you talk, but about the people you talk to. What say you teach me sign language next time I visit {Undisclosed}?’

Niffy smiles at me. She does have a pretty smile, I won’t deny that. ‘Sure,' she says. ‘If a person like Aar can learn it, then you’ll get the grasp of it in no time.’

‘Hey!’ says Aar. ‘I can hear you!’

I start to giggle, and so does Niffy. Es joins us with caramel on her mouth and no inkling of what we are giggling about.

Marra rolls his eyes. ‘Girls.’