The slanting afternoon sunlight casts patterns of light and dark in the hall. Lydia takes off her sun hat and a trick of the shadows makes it look as though she has long dark hair. Ren stops, surprised. The open doorway, the woman standing in it. For a fearful instant, he’s reminded of the pontianak, that vengeful female spirit that comes calling at the doors and windows. Instinctively he starts forward, although it’s already too late. William has let her in. You’re not supposed to let them in. But these are foolish thoughts that his master would be offended to hear. Perplexed, Ren blinks. The
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