Stop for now. Chuck the newspapers and the 1930s books into the back of the car. Then pack up those main things that I’ve found – the spinning-wheel, those two photos, the Viner-Codex book, the map and the title – and get back home.

I’ve made a good start on this, but there’s a long way more to go. And before I go much further, I need to find out what’s going on with the house itself.

—

What the heck are those two diggers doing there, down in the far field? Looks like they’re ripping out the hedges – got a right old bonfire going down there already. Do they have any right to be doing that? What’s going on?

Yes, I definitely need to find out what’s happening about the house and land. Right now.