"Where are we going now?"

"The only place left," Noll answered as they walked.

Mai frowned at his cryptic answer.

"Your parents were Santa before you were, right?"

"Martin was before Gene, yes."

Mai fell silent, unsure how much she could ask without being insensitive.

"Were you born here? In the North Pole?"

Noll almost chuckled.

"No," he said, once he had regained his composure. "We were not."

"But—"

"We were born in America," Noll interrupted. "Sons of two immigrants."

"But Martin and Luella?"

"Adopted us. Let me explain."

Mai imitated zipping her mouth shut.

"We grew up near Boston, in Massachusetts. When we were seven years old, our mother drunk herself to death. Our father came home, saw our mother and just left."

Mai's mouth fell open in horror.

"We did not do very well for ourselves. Neither of us was strong enough to move our mother's body. So we lived with it decaying in the dining room. It was a long walk to the next town and we'd never been before by ourselves. So we stole food from the local farms. We had never really been to school or even learnt English properly as our parents had used Japanese at home."

Mai's mouth, if possible, dropped a little further.

"Martin found us. We were both starving, barely surviving. He brought us back here. They had been unable to conceive a child of their own so they took us in. We had never known what it was like to have real parents."

Noll sighed.

"Truth be told, Martin was initially suspicious of me as I had been on the Naughty List. When I said 'we' stole food, I meant that I did while Gene kept a lookout."

"And that's why you don't like the Naughty List…" Mai surmised.

"Can you really call a starving child 'naughty' for stealing food?" Noll shrugged. "Madoka was training to be a teacher under an old man who passed away a few years ago now. We were her first students."

Mai smiled.

"Not particularly good students, I should add. We were both intelligent children eager for knowledge, but that did not stop mischief. Gene liked to make trouble. I sometimes wondered if he did it to test the boundaries. To see how much trouble he could make before Luella and Martin threw us out. It took a long time for either of us to get used to the idea that they would not."

They turned into another corridor.

"Then, three years ago, Martin decided he wanted to retire. That year he took Gene with him on his Santa rounds. Gene was to be his replacement."

"Did that upset you?" Mai asked quickly.

"Not at all. In case you have not noticed, my general manner is not ideal for merriment."

Mai laughed as Noll gave her a small smile.

"You did alright," she mumbled.

"Thank you, but I assure you, Gene was made for the job. His temperament is much lighter, more jovial. Madoka gave him lessons and Martin trained him on the job, while I worked in the coal mine and later with other behind the scenes work as Head Elf. A position from which I learnt many of the responsibilities of Santa, just in case a stand in was required, like now."

An icy blast hit Mai in the face as Noll opened a door. He led her out into the night, pointing to a house about twenty metres away.

"What's that?" Mai yelled over the wind.

Noll mouthed something back, but Mai could not hear him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her through the night and into the house.

Inside was toasty and warm. The interior resembled a picture postcard cottage. There were low-slung beams and a roaring fire in the fireplace. Pictures above the mantelpiece showed a happy family on various different occasions; parties, outings and the like.

"What is this?"

"Santa's house," he said. "Perk of the job."

"You get your own house? While everyone else lives in dorms?"

"I do not like it either, but no one else seems willing to get rid of the tradition," Noll admitted. "Though while I have been in charge I have kept an open door to anyone who needs it. Except, of course, to my private room."

Mai nodded in understanding. He gestured her to take a seat on a squishy sofa.

Noll potted around and made tea.

"Why have you shown me this?"

"So you know where you may find me over the coming days if you need anything."

"But can't I just ask—"

"Of course you may ask whoever you please," Noll stated. "But sometimes having connections in high places can be helpful."

"I'll have you know that Santa's Mum likes me," Mai teased.

Noll rolled his eyes.

"Luella likes everyone."

"Really?"

"Yes. Even when someone misbehaves, she always gives them a second chance."

Mai sipped at the tea. She was starting to feel tired. A lot had happened in the last few hours.

"Why do you still live here?"

"Because this is Santa's—"

"No," Mai interjected. "Wasn't this all your brother's? Isn't it weird moving in here? So soon?"

Noll frowned at Mai.

"Why would it be weird?"

"Well, isn't your brother dead?"

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