THE VISIT. PART 3.

The preliminary processing finished, they made our way to where the visit would take place, and spent more time waiting for the final processing to begin and be completed, before they could make their way to see their expectant guest. In order to get to this second processing point, they had to exit the reception, turned right and travel along the footpath to the pedestrian crossing, and then make their way across the road to the building opposite. 

Turning to their right they travelled for about 10 yards, before climbing up the several flights of horizontally curving steps and making their entry into the narrow corridor of the building. This building was more imposing than the reception one, and its roof and external decor stood out, although, even then, it some how did not look as incongruous as might have been imagined for a building of its purpose. 

It some how blended into the surrounding environment, with other buildings not giving it the distinction of allowing it to be by itself and having a distinct aura about it; at least, looking at it from the outside.

At they joined the queue waiting in the narrow corridor, to await the second processing, the three of them, had they been au fait with and given any thought to Franz Kafka's The Trial, might have felt more than a little Kafkaesque. As they observe the staff going about their daily business, quietly, and, doubtlessly, observing all the visitors, but without appearing to be looking at them. 

They watched, somewhat impatiently, the quiet and older clerk, as he went about the business of checking each visitor's finger prints with great patience and apparent imperturbability. They might have contemplated on why fate had conspired that they should have been there, going through this process of submitting to what was going on. 

Except that, in this case, they all knew why they were there and why they were passively and cooperatively acquiescing to the process. They, after all, were there to visit some one very dear to them, and for that, they would submit themselves to whatever was deemed necessary by the authorities.

And, finally, having gotten through that hurdle, successfully, they had to await the others behind them, who were in their batch, accomplishing the same feat. Before they all made their way into the adjoining space. To allow for the outer gates to be locked, before the inner ones were open, so that they could enter the more secured area of the building.