THE scribe had borne down hard, his pen strokes reversed in high relief amongst the pinholes dotting the back of the card. Lana Pedersen’s fingertips explored the Braille-like bumps as she read:

To Let. Drumcarroll. 2-storey stone & slate farmhouse, orchard & out-building, on 6 acres. Shared access to peat & pond. Negotiable. Ring D. Carroll on:

She compared the punctured handwriting to the message on a board that hung askew on a gatepost guarded by...