THE START OF AN ADVENTURE (continued)

I'd made enquiries to see if anyone knew Karl, so that when he arrived we might recognise him. At about 3.30 pm the door opened and a youngish chap entered, 'glasses', 'skinhead haircut', late twenties, early thirties, this could be the man himself. He looked around and noticed us at the bar and came across and asked, "Are you Peter"?  

We'd now made contact with the writer of the email that started this whole adventure off. I got him a pint and we stared to talk tactics with regard to our impending visit.  At 4pm it was decided that we'd head off to see if our 'target' was at home.

The first thing was to get across the A12. This was an adventure in itself. It was right on a corner in such a position that you could only see in one direction. There was a police officer standing by his car near the small village post office. Not to control traffic. I think his main purpose was to call ambulances to pick up the pieces of strangers to Blytheburgh who tried to cross the A12 at 4 pm.

We eventually got to the other side, more by luck than anything else. One sad copper no doubt. We proceeded up a side street that was full of the most picturesque old buildings I'd seen. Ivy everywhere, flowers untouched by marauding vandals, and within 100 metres not a sound from the traffic that a few moments earlier was trying to kill us all.

The house we were approaching was huge, at least 40 metres long at the front, painted a shade of yellow that was not out of place. All the windows seemed to be original lead lights, and the front door would have been a challenge to anyone trying to make an unlawful entry. Solid oak, large metal studs and hinges, heavy lock. You don't see doors like that in B&Q.

Karl knocks at the door, nothing. Again he knocks and again there's no response. Could our journey have been in vain? Karl says there's a light on in the study so someone's home. He looks and says that the occupant is asleep in his chair. Another knock and the sound of barking dogs can be heard. A look through the window and movement is confirmed.