Darkness And Dogs

Vault Of The Ages, Chapter 1.

Without electricity, darkness seeps back indoors. The long single room of the farmhouse is lit by a fire in a stone hearth and by:

"The soft light of home-dipped tallow candles..." (p. 15)

When the fire has been built up:

"A wavering red light danced through the room, weaving a pattern of huge rippling shadows in the corners from which Arn looked superstitiously away. The farmer's eyes gleamed out of a face that was half in darkness..." (p. 16)

During an after-dinner conversation, Arn, a farm worker, fears the darkness not only outside the house but also inside the room with them. However, he and his fellow worker, Samwell, must take a brand from the fire to check the sheepfold when the wild dog howl comes closer. It is confirmed that these now dangerous animals are descended from domesticated dogs that had run loose at the Doom. There are indeed things to fear in the outer darkness, both animals and men, as the text will soon confirm.