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He was astonished ‘No obedience? How on earth…’ He shivered – as host could shiver ‘Neverto In a Christian ceremony, where it is widely considered that there is life after death, why do the vows state a couple will only last until death us do part?’

‘Ree’

‘No! You foolish girl!’ he bawled

Taken aback by his vehemence, I flinched

‘Ivy,’ Winter said in a warning undertone

‘Don’t worry He’s just … loud’

Winter glowered ‘We can leave whenever you want’

‘It’s not a problem’

Grenville shook his fist at ?’

‘If you stop shouting, then I will,’ I replied calht now, it seems like you need me a whole lot more than I need you Calm yourself down’

Grenville spluttered but he at least seemed to realise that I was serious There were plenty of other ghosts I could talk to Theyto stand there and be shouted at for no reason

He took a ise,’ he said stiffly ‘The tioodthe country descend into chaos while being unable to do a thing about it We cannot eat We cannot touch We cannot feel’ He paused ‘Not physically anyway’

‘I can see how that would put you in a bad mood’

Grenville grunted ‘Indeed’ He twitched ‘The point I a in the after-life as they do in life itself People don’t realise what da so done about it’

I scratched ive it a shot’

‘I sincerely hope you will do better than that Besides, I am not finished’

Genuinely fascinated about what he was going to say next, I gave him my full attention ‘Go on’

‘Other cultures revere their ancestors’

I nodded ‘You want reverence Check’ I paused ‘Hoould you like that?’

‘Do you knohat the Chinese do?’

‘Er…’

‘Speak properly, girl! “Er” is not a word! The Chinese provide sustenance for their forebears They have shrines in their houses They s and they treat their ancestors with respect! And what do we get? A couple of graveside visits if we’re lucky and then we’re consigned to history’

‘You want a shrine?’ I turned my head to the wall ‘You have a portrait People pass by it every day It can’t be that bad’

Grenville’s bushy eyebrows drew together ‘This is not just abouton behalf of all of them’

‘All ghosts want shrines? Or portraits?’

‘They want to be remembered!’

Ah That made sense ‘Okay’

‘I’m still not done’ He fixed me with his yellow stare ‘This part is the most important We want our descendants to release us fro us in this…’ his mouth turned down ‘…place That e can move on We will tell you who to talk to and what they need to do They will do it and ill pass on to the next plane’

I was thoroughly confused ‘The next plane? Aeroplane?’

A spasuish crossed Grenville’s features ‘Why you? Out of all the people we could have had, why did we get you?’

‘I’rumbled

He shook his head in irritation ‘The next plane of existence! The place where we are supposed to be!’