“What is that infernal racket?”

He glanced around the room, but the machinery seemed to running smoothly, if a little erratically. “It can’t be a hangover, I haven’t touched a drop in months. But that ratta-tap-tap won’t seem to stop and I am sensing the impending onslaught of a massive headache!”

He scanned the room once more and his eyes lit upon a piece of paper that seemed to be slowly settling in into his favourite chair; it definitely hadn’t been there a moment ago. He stepped over and picked it up. “Ah, I see now. Indeed I do see.”

5:27

High up in the tower room, a soft light glowed a steady green and then flashed orange twice before resuming its steady emerald tone. In the dark room the orange flashes lit up the room like erratic lighting, but there was no one there to see.

A thin film of dust had begun to collect on the surfaces of various objects in the room. There was no indication that anyone had occupied the room in several weeks, and the door was slightly ajar, occasionally gliding gently back and forth in response to the slight breeze from the high windows. A bottle with dark amber liquid lay on its side on the side table. A dirty glass sat beside it.

The light flashed bright orange again twice, but there was still no one to see.