‘A friend of yours?’
Lazarus smiled at the memory.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
Dorian nodded vigorously. Lazarus removed the cloth covering the figure and the boy took a step back in shock.
‘It’s only a machine, Dorian. Don’t let it frighten you . . .’
Dorian stared at the impressive sight. Lazarus had created a metal angel, a colossus about two metres high, with huge wings. Its chiselled steel face was shrouded by a hood and its hands were enormous, large enough to surround Dorian’s head with a single fist.
Lazarus pressed a button at the base of the angel’s neck and the creature opened its eyes – two rubies that glowed like burning coals. They were staring straight at Dorian.
The boy felt his insides twist into a knot.
‘Please, stop it . . .’ he begged.
Noticing the boy’s terror, Lazarus quickly covered the creature again.
Dorian breathed a sigh of relief.
‘I’m sorry,
’ said Lazarus. ‘I shouldn’t have shown it to you. It’s only a machine. Don’t let its appearance scare you. It’s just a toy.’
Dorian didn’t seem convinced.
Lazarus hurried off to pour him another hot chocolate. When he’d drunk half the cup, Dorian looked up at Lazarus and finally seemed to relax.
‘What a fright, eh?’
Dorian giggled nervously. ‘You must think I’m a coward.’
‘On the contrary. Not many people would dare to start searching the woods at midnight after what happened to Hannah.’
‘What do you think happened?’
Lazarus shrugged. ‘Hard to tell. I suppose we’ll have to wait for the police to finish their investigation.’
‘Yes, but . . .’
‘But . . . ?’
‘What if there really is something in the forest?’
‘The shadow?’
Dorian nodded gravely.
‘Have you ever heard of a doppelgänger?’ asked Lazarus.
Dorian shook his head.
‘It’s a German term,’ Lazarus explained. ‘It’s like the shadow of a person which, for some reason, has become separated from its owner. Would you like to hear a strange story?’
‘Please . . .’
Lazarus settled in a chair opposite Dorian and closed his eyes briefly, as if he were trying to conjure a long-lost memory.