Jan, it should be noted, was not normally the kind of child to find himself in a creepy mansion well toward sundown.

But between not being able to read and a less-than-perfect sense of direction, it was where he was when the sun got low enough on the horizon that he needed human companionship. He tapped on the door of the closest house that seemed occupied tentatively, not having much of a plan beyond the hope the people inside were nice.