A/n: And a double 221 to get things cookin'! Hope you're liking this arc so far. ^.^
"Holmes, there are few things I'd rather than enjoy a summer's day doing nothing in particular with you, but I think I should fetch a timetable so we know our options."
"By all means, Watson; very nice of you."
The train station was a small brick building, attractively laced with ivy vines rustling in the breeze. The man in attendance provided me with a timetable, as well as several suggestions of places to visit if I went into town.
As I stepped outside, it caught my eye for the first time—a glimpse of white through the foliage across the tracks.
"Holmes?"
"Still here, Watson. Blast! missed again…"
"What d'you suppose that is, over there?"
He dropped his handful of pebbles. "Shall we find out?"
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We pushed our way through young saplings and past ancient oaks, crushing ferns underfoot and inhaling the scent they offered up. Holmes gave an interested "H'm!" as a white-washed shack came into view. It was crudely made, and had no lock on the door.
We saw everything plainly once inside, for light filtered through a hole in the roof. Masses of dark green ivy vines snaked through a crack in the wall.
There was a mug of some liquid on an old table—might have once been tea. When I looked closer, I found an abandoned spider web embroidering the space between the mug and handle.
Those were my observations, and I watched quietly as Holmes made his.
"It does appear nature was left to do as it liked here," he murmured. "The liquid in the mug baffled me for a moment, as it should have evaporated long ago, but look up—yes, a large crack. Naught but dirty rainwater in that mug."
"Can you estimate how long this building has been abandoned?"
Holmes rubbed his chin. "That's hard to say offhand, but I'd estimate not more than a few months. There are no dead leaves on the floor, so this is the first summer the plants have intruded. Did you notice the wasps outside?"
"Yes, what of them?"
"They could easily fly through the hole in the roof and chew the table, or build a nest in the corners--but they've not attempted the latter, and made little progress on the former."
Holmes tapped the edge of the table, and when I bent down I could see a nibbled roughening. "How can we know for certain?"
"A visit to town may be in order. But first, a little more inspection. I have a feeling there is more here than we suppose."
He turned to a corner of the room, and I noticed a stack of boxes.