Well-rested, Jake rose early, breakfasted, and went for a walk. The crisp, clear morning air invigorated him, so he decided to hike along a public footpath rather than the road. The only footpath he knew without consulting a map was the one he had already walked. It took him to the b****y Field, and he followed it willingly. Afterwards, he reflected on this decision and wondered if there had been any element of choice or, more likely, some unnoticed compulsion.
Whatever the case, Jake strode along the footpath, his mind free of bothersome thoughts, enjoying the sweetness of the dew and the bird songs. At a certain point along the path, he spotted a small, white bone. He stooped to pick it up to verify whether it was from a human finger – he tried to remember his biology lessons at school.
