Page 64 of 154
suppose must have been a pre-programmed routine check rather than curiosity. I don’t recall any great surprise when I came across five mysterious metallic objects inside the bag that resembled batteries. Each was cylindrical with copper coloured coating and roughly the same size as batteries normally used for radios or walkmans. I don’t remember where these things came from or ever putting them in my boiler cupboard but their whereabouts were etched firmly in my mind. I placed the objects back into the carrier bag and rolled it neatly into my jacket pocket. What I remember about those objects was that they were not particularly interesting to look at or feel but they held a tremendous significance for the meeting I was about to attend. I left my flat that evening with this sudden gift of tunnel vision free of any usual concerns such as switching off the gas/closing the street door etc. Nothing mattered other than what I was about to do. It was a frosty night with hardly anybody around which I suppose was a blessing considering this hypnotic state I would have been seen in. I just remember walking much further than I normally would particularly as public transport was available. Instead I seemed to be heading to an area devoid of traffic, more towards the remote areas I had visited so many nights beforehand. This time it wasn’t the actual park I ventured to but a small road leading off from it, a non- residential road that I instinctively knew was where I had to be. When I arrived, I saw a car parked further down the road that the same instinct hinted was there to collect me. I could never really explain this intuition, but at that time, a brief memory flashed past me about how I used to nickname this feeling the “spider sense,” an intuition used by the cartoon Spider Man. It’s funny how I had forgotten that. Perhaps the memories of being in this state only resurface when actually returning to that state much like that of a continuing dream. l approached the parked car, which I couldn’t identify because of the darkness, but there were people waiting inside, the driver, an up front passenger and I think two men in the back. I estimated about 4 and surmised they were all male but I cannot be certain. They saw me approach welcoming me in with the back door swinging open. I slid in next to one of the back seat passengers and recall genuine hospitality as I arrived. I do not recall knowing any of these people. Gideon was not amongst them. These people certainly acted like old friends. I remember reciprocating their friendly conversation, but for the life of me, I cannot remember what was said. 64 Ido remember the car pulling away from the kerb and not making any