Martha had heard his small boots kicking against the wooden door from across the yard, and she had run to him then just as she was trying to reach him now.

The police radio crackled again: “Subject located in the basement.

Male, adult.

Alive.”

Martha stopped breathing for a moment as tears filled her eyes.

Officers soon emerged from the dark entrance of the building.

Two paramedics followed closely with an empty stretcher, but Christopher was not lying on it.

He was walking out between them, supported under both arms, moving forward through sheer determination.