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Short Fat Stubby Finger Stories PRESENTS:

THE UNIVERSE WHISPERS – IT’S NO LONGER DEAD –

SO WATCH OUT FOR THE CREATURE – UNDER YOUR BED

Episode 36

Martin sipped thoughtfully on his drink for several seconds before replying to Joseph’s suggestion.  “You know, old chap, I think you might be right about that wild fellow that we ran into at the farm … absolutely right.  I really hadn’t given much thought to him before.  I dismissed him as some sort of parasite living in a desolate part of the farm, perhaps in the barn, or maybe somewhere else and feeding on whatever he could steal.   Or maybe he is just a tramp down on his luck and in need of somewhere to sleep.   When you think about it, he may have scared the girls a bit, but he didn’t actually hurt anybody. we did that to ourselves   Yes, old chap, I think that you are right – as usual.   We must make contact with this man because maybe he does know what happened to Rosetta’s father.  Yes, when you think about it he very well may have witnessed what went on, but was too scared to come forward.   Well done, my friend.

   Well, thank you, Martin.”  Joseph glanced at his watch … it was a quarter to eight.   He had forty five minutes to return to his room, have a quick shower, and get dressed, but he had no intention of discussing his plans with Martin so he would just have to find the right time to go to make his move to leave without giving anything away that would make Martin suspicious about where he was really going. 

   “Martin, another thing, we searched that farm as best we could – and a six foot high, jewel encrusted, gold plated statue is not an easy thing to hide in a bedroom or a kitchen cupboard.  But that was the house, the barn is a completely different matter.  It is a rather large barn, it is poorly lit, and poor lighting can cast long shadows.   I suggest we do leave as early in the morning as we possibly can to ensure we have time enough to thoroughly check for the light switches before Mary arrives.   That means we really have to make sure we have some strong torches tomorrow in order to do so.  The garage should carry them, but seeing as how our garage attendant is sitting a few tables away, and is not dressed in his mechanic’s boiler suit, I would assume that the garage is closed for the night … so it is important that we remember to get them in the morning before we go to the farm.   To come back again will just cost us more searching time.  So I am afraid that I will have to excuse myself for an early night when I finish this drink – to ensure the old grey cells are full capacity, to quote Poirot, of course.”

   Martin smiled at Josephs little jibe, and agreed that Joseph was right in his thinking and he too would need to do the same thing.   They carried on discussing their plans for around a further ten minutes, and then Joseph swallowed the remains of his slowly sipped drink and excused himself to Martin.   He had exactly thirty five minutes to prepare himself before gently tapping on Rosetta’s door.

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