He walked past William, back to the oak cabinet in the corner of the room.

He reached deep into his right coat pocket, took out a small brass key, and slid it into the lock on the bottom drawer.

The brass lock clicked open.

He pulled the heavy wooden drawer out along its wooden runners.

Inside was a heavy black plastic case fastened with two thick steel latches.

It had been buried beneath three wool field blankets ever since the afternoon he walked away from his last military posting.

He snapped the two side clasps open with a loud metallic crack that rang through the quiet room.