Finding her question rather curious, Bragi glanced at the lady long enough to catch a pair of concerned brown eyes. She sounded almost as if she had been through this kind of thing before, such was the calm professionalism of her question. And that, despite everything, made Bragi relax. At least slightly.

”Since yesterday evening”, he replied, only to quickly add — ”I realise that doesn’t seem like long, but for Marian it’s an eternity, and in a new place as well…” He felt his panic rising again, and stood upright, fidgeting, trying not to chew his lip. ”Do you know of any local places where cats might roam?”