What did he look like?
French.
I don’t understand what you-
Like a French actor maybe. One of those ones from the seventies or eighties? Unshaven, rail-thin and scruffy at the edges, but cool with it in a rumpled blue suit, black lace-up shoes; like he’s been out all night and doesn’t care who knows it. His nails were clean and long. That’s all I remember. I didn’t get a good look.
What was he doing when you saw him?
Walking and watching, mostly. Step a few paces from here to there, stop, and then wait and look around, like that, you know?
And that’s all you-
I saw him reach into an inside pocket of his jacket. He took something out—a few times—put them in his mouth. You could imagine the crunch.
Okay. I think that’s all for now.
I thought one might have fallen on the ground because I saw him hesitate, look around his feet, yes? As soon as he’d moved on I went over there.
If there’s anything further, we’ll be. Wait. Why did you do that?
It was an insect. On the ground right where he’d been standing.
There are a lot of insects in the park. Even at this time of year.
I’ve not seen anything like this. It was metallic blue and silver. Sort of furred like a centipede. Or is it a caterpillar.
You think the man in the park was eating centipedes?
I said it was furry like that. Like whatever one is like that. I think caterpillar? It was shaped more like a beetle, though, is what I’m saying. A hairy beetle.
Right. As I said. If we require more information, we’ll-
I have it with me in this matchbox. Do you want to see?