There’s a note taped to the package.

Dear Malky,

Sorry I disturbed you. I lay awake wondering whether I should, but then I thought this was too important.

Do you remember the first time you shared your dream with Seb? You said you remembered the smell of yak’s butter.

And then yesterday – at school – you said you had smelled it again and you had a sort of ‘flashback’.

And again – in our garden, when you suddenly smelled our tea.

And finally – Mr McKinley lighting the cigarette but not smoking it.

Smells and sounds can often trigger the deepest memories. I love meditating under the soft flapping noise of our prayer flags, for example.

And so inside this packet is some yak’s butter. Open it, smell it, leave it open near you.

You are a good person, Malky Bell. You deserve to succeed, so I hope this helps.

Your friend,

Susan

And now I really am tired. I fumble to open the packet, and, as soon as I do, the sharp smell of the yak’s butter begins to fill the room.

I get back into bed and close my eyes. And this time I really do fall asleep, while the Dreaminator hangs above me almost completely still.