E "The Room" Final Part.

We proceeded to tell Humphry the whole story in detail from start to
finish. Humphry did not interrupt nor did he show any emotion. We
finished and waited, after what seemed like an eternity he spoke. In
his opinion there was obviously a simple explanation to the room, and
we had all missed it, but it had to be simple. With regards to Walter's
comments on the door sign being turned round. The door being found
open. The kneeler in front of the altar, and ghostly visions at night,
purely tricks of the mind of an old sick man. He would be interested to
hear our views, after some very serious consideration, and
investigation.

Four days later Ken and I met over a drink in the private room of the
hostelry where I was staying. Ken wanted me to start, I hoped that
didn't mean that he had expected me to come up with the answers. I
explained that I had explored the history of St. Oswalds in some
detail.

There had in fact been a religious building of sorts on this site since
records began, this meant that it covered the black death era, the
inquisition, and reformation among other events. What this told us I
did not know, nor did I particularly want to go down the path of
tortured bodies, sealed in buildings, awaiting somebody else to
liberate them centuries later. Ken's route would be the best bet I was
thinking. His was the structural path.

He then told me that he had discussed the room with an architect friend
of his. The architect had told him that particularly in old stone
buildings, if there is no circulation of air possible in a room, i.e.
the area is sealed for some reason. But there is any access however
slight, from beneath the building into the room. Then it could indeed
become very cold, much colder in fact than the normal air
temperature.

This would explain we both thought, the sudden equalisation of
temperature, following the initial cold blast on opening the door to
the room. We both relaxed a little.

This of course was the answer, and seemed to settle most of the
questions; maybe the new vicar was correct after all. We arranged to
meet him the next day, and explained our findings. His only question
was to ask why we hadn't we tried to find the sensible solution
straight away. He wasn't at all patronising and stated that now the
room would be checked, and sealed from below. There would be no
possibility of air access from under the room, and he would wager that
there would be no more temperature variations. With a grin on his face
he offered to place a bet to that effect.

Both Ken and I declined to take his offer.

It was perhaps two months later than Ken called me in Scotland. I had
just sewn up all my lose ends, had sold my small cottage, where I had
originally intended to stay. (Just lets say it was my yearning for
Yorkshire and dislike of carnivorous midges that made me change my
mind) and I was ready to move south to look for somewhere
permanent.

Well I don't think there is need to tell you what Ken said in detail.
Humphry had been to see him, yes, the wall outside the room was getting
colder. The new vicar had suspected it over a number of weeks, he had
been removing his barricade at night unknown to anybody else, and
checking. He asked Ken if he would contact me to see if we could all
meet to discuss it. He certainly didn't want to keep anything to
himself as Walter had, he explained.

And so it was two days later Ken, Humphry, and I met in the hostelry
where I once again had booked in. This of course put paid to our
theory, i.e. no air flow into the room from beneath, the fact that the
door was now unsealed---The theory well and truly in tatters.

For the first time Humphry looked a little shaken.There was nothing now
I wanted to add, and Ken felt exactly the same. Consequently the
meeting dissolved into chit-chat, and a short time later we parted.
Humphry had assured us he knew what to do, and neither of us decided to
ask him what his intentions were.

Two weeks later the job was done, the room no longer existed. The
vestry now embraced the area of the old room, the connecting, and outer
stone walls had been removed, the extended vestry was all newly
decorated, it was light and airy and of course there were no doors,
just drapes which would be always open, apart from pre and post
services times.

We are now up to date. I have bought a cottage near the church, Ken and
I are still best friends and Humphry is often seen out with us. He has
also had some work done! On the left side of the church, (the part
overlooked from the vicarage), a small chapel has been added. The
table, chair, and crucifix from the room have been put into the chapel
along with other seating. Anybody can use the Chapel in private for
whatever reason, and any animals are welcome with their owners on
Wednesdays.

In the small Chapel is a plaque, which reads "This Chapel is dedicated
to the loving memory of Walter, and his friend Elgar".

By the way --- Humphry confided in Ken and I, that he still finds the
kneeler in front of the altar on Sunday mornings! Fortunately he hasn't
asked us to investigate, he just tells us he thinks it is Walter
getting his own back.

I cannot finish the story without telling you this---

Wagner, has a habit of disappearing from time to time, I won't tell you
where I always find him! But I will tell you he is the only dog that
Humphry will allow in the church grounds unaccompanied!

End.