Page 15 - The Devil's Arsonist

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Monday Evening, 28 November 1994, The Bell Inn, Woodham Ferrers, Essex
As was now my custom, I sought out the wise counsel of ‘Young Ned’ on the evening of my
return from Lavenham, in the anticipation of a better understanding of all that my vision had
revealed. The passage of time at the Bell Inn for me is no longer in hours, minutes and
seconds; but in pints of ale and measures of whisky. No watch or clock is needed, for I have
only to look at the depletion of bank notes in my waistcoat pocket for me to tell the time. On
this eve, three pints passed before I had finished my account of what took place earlier; and
three more before sagely judgement was pronounced upon it.

“I was right weren’t I, a vision did come and most revealing too…You have learnt much this
day…First, you have entered the mind of the man you last were, Jack Lauraine. He did talk
much about himself, though much remains untold of him. This were but his first day in
Lavenham town and spoke nothing of what was to come in the coming days before he died...
Second, no hint of evil did I read in him, for he appeared to be a godly soul, but did this come
in the days of which we are ignorant…”

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