Thomas Moore

(Dan Grundy)

    Now you remember the comet, that was one thing, and of course all the shooting stars that night about two weeks ago. Some locals had told you that they saw one shooting star explode, and many others had reported hearing the explosion and still others say that part of the forest near Llangadfan caught fire, but it was not until that Harker fella arrived from London two weeks ago that you really thought any more of it. You were in the Cann Office Pub in Llangadfan sitting facing the door way as usual in order to keep an eye on who came in, in case you needed to make a quick exit out the back. This Professor Harker, an astronomer, had asked about the comet and showed great interest in stories of the explosion. You understand he was staying in that cottage owned by the now deceased Joseph Lewis, right in the middle of the forest.

    It was not until you were arrested last Thursday that you gave it any further thought. While out setting traps on Lord Willis' land you were jumped by his gamekeepers. They set the dogs on you, then hearing your accent they took an even greater dislike to you and give you a good thrashing. Eventually they called the local bobby, PC Gray, who came and arrested you and threw you in the lock-up. There you stewed waiting your appearance before the magistrate when, on Friday evening, PC Gray came to your cell with an offer to let you off with a caution if you do him a favour. It seemed that astronomer, Harker, had gone missing and a couple of his colleagues were on the way from London to try and find him. PC Gray is to assist them and wanted you to show him the way through the forest to the cottage (being a townie recently posted to the area and concerned they will all get lost). It is not an area you are greatly familiar with, but you knew it well enough and certainly you did not wish to turn down his offer.

    On the Saturday morning you headed off to Llangadfan where you were to meet with these fellas from London. At the pub it seemed a full entourage of them had turned up, a right mixed bag. Adding to this, just as you were all about to set off, some snooty type, an estate agent he said, stopped PC Gray and advised him that he had been appointed by the executors for the late Joseph Lewis to sell the property and was due to show it to some potential buyers (an Earl and his fiancée who were sitting to one side of the pub with their servants). The key holder in the village had informed him that a man who had been renting it (the very same Harker you were now about to look for) had failed to return the key. This estate agent now wanted Gray to show him the way to the property and also assist in removing the trespasser.

    So that is how you have now found yourself walking through the forest in the company of a police constable, and various others. After two hours you start to recognise a few landmarks and know that you are getting near the cottage...