"Thanks," Vikki said as May gave her a plate of casserole. It looked like the last of the pot, but it was food and it looked great. Mouth watering, she took a bite and grimaced. It was possibly the blandest thing she'd ever tasted. She swallowed, decided not to complain and had another mouthful. At least it was hot and started to calm her raging stomach.

"Chickens aren't all that hard to keep for eggs," she said. "There could be a chicken farm just outside, but since we've not looked, we don't know about it yet. What about the other stuff though? I mean, from what I've seen of the kitchen this stuff's properly packaged, it's not the result of some cottage freehold. I think you're right, there's contact with the outside world somehow."