Page 6 - As the Cold Wind Blows Mark Jones

parallel universe?”

“Yes, could be.” Howard seemed miles away, thinking about what he should do, if anything
at all. He was waiting and hoping that Min would offer to help as he couldn’t do this alone.

A parallel universe drones, people being murdered for seemingly no reason whatsoever – it
was just the sort of mystery that Min would love to investigate, but the reality of it sounded very

sinister. She didn’t want to become a target for whatever was out there and end up like Mabel,
Imelda and possibly others worldwide, but she didn’t like the idea of letting Howard down

either. She looked at him and could sense his fear of living in Silwall. It was different for her in
Standford. She hadn’t seen anything unusual or felt a strange presence close by every time

she went to the door or the window.
“Okay, um, I’ll help you.”

Howard was pleased and told Min that he was aware of her concerns. She said, “Forget it,
we need to draw up a plan, find out as much as we can about what Mabel and Imelda knew

and what work they might have been involved in.”

Min had so many questions and ideas she hardly knew where to begin. Howard had clues
and images of what he had seen, but no information. It was all hit and miss. They worked

together on a strategy that afternoon, aiming to discover what the presently-named ‘drones’
had in mind for Silwall and other parts of the UK. Around four o’clock, after some lengthy

discussions, Howard began to feel uneasy and that soon turned to restlessness. He glanced
out of the window at the impending darkness and was eager now to return home, intending to
lock himself indoors for the rest of the night. Howard grabbed his coat, and as he slipped it on

he told Min to keep her door locked and try not to be seen should she look out of the window
during the night. They agreed to meet the next morning at ten-thirty as Howard thought that it

was the best time.
“Not so many drones around,” he told Min. “We can avoid their attention.”

Min said goodbye, but stood by the door to watch Howard safely board his bus for home.
She then looked briefly up and down the road as the street lights flickered into action, without

seeing anyone. She quickly and securely closed the door, and to make sure that it was locked
Min checked the handle twice for her peace of mind before returning to the living room to close

the blinds and curtains, shutting out the cold, dark and oppressive scene. Min stood in the
living room, hoping for inspiration as to where to begin her search for information. The images

6