EXCERPT The first thing to hit him, more disturbing than the scent of burning wood and the coolness of the brisk night air that he sensed afterwards, was the total darkness. He noticed indistinct noises some way off in the distance as he allowed his left hand to run along the cool, grainy surface next to him, like rough sandpaper punctuated every so often by what felt like embedded haystalks. Greisen decided he would feel his way along the wall, but he had no idea where he was, or which way might lead to the Soroushs’ place…