by Logan Jacobs
It was another lovely day, and I stopped for a moment to soak in the clean air and the bright sunlight. I still felt good after last night’s marathon romp, and so it took me a moment to realize that something was wrong with the square.
“Where’s the bus?” I demanded as I stared at the spot where I had left the Haunted Tour minibus.
“Uh,” Becka faltered. “Maybe….”
But she couldn’t come up with any good way to finish that sentence, and we both stared at the various streets with mounting dread and confusion.
“How are we supposed to get all these people back to Peterborough without the bus?” I demanded.
“And the machine gun,” Becka added.
“At least we still have the rifles and the Glocks,” I replied.
“And the ammo,” Becka said. “But… maybe Hae-won moved it? So it wouldn’t attract attention?”
“I hope so,” I said. “Damn, the engine I heard backfiring earlier must have been the minibus.”
“Do minibuses backfire?” Becka asked.
“After everything that one’s been through, it probably does,” I sighed. “Well, shit.”
The door to the pub opened at that moment, and the first few people from our little group emerged and looked around the square. One of the women spotted us and waved, and I waved back.
“Let’s find Hae-won,” I sighed. “And then talk to Rory. Or Mick. Maybe he knows if there’s another bus around here that we could use.”
“Why would someone steal the minibus?” Becka asked as we started across the square. “No one’s traveling right now after the government advised everyone to stay put.”
“My money’s on the saleswoman,” I said. “Maybe Mick didn’t have anything they could use. Or maybe she thought they’d be safer with the machine gun.”
“But don’t you have the keys?” Becka asked.
I dug around in the pocket of my jeans and pulled out the keys.
“Seems Hae-won isn’t the only one who knows how to hotwire cars,” I replied.
“Good morning,” the woman who waved said as we drew near. “Did you move the bus to a safe location?”
“Uh, yeah,” I replied. “Something like that. We’re just going to make sure we have everything we need and then go get our ride back to Peterborough.”
The woman nodded, as did the other three people with her, and then the foursome moved over to an ancient bench and sat down to wait. Becka and I stepped inside the pub, and I spotted Brills and the rest of the group at one of the tables. Hae-won was behind the bar with Rory, deep in a discussion about something.
“Ah, there you two are,” Rory said with a wink. “I wasn’t sure if you would turn up for breakfast.”
“We ate,” I replied. “But we do need your help with something else.”
“Oh?” Rory asked.
“Do you know if there are any other buses around here?” I asked.
“Any…?” Rory began. “Oh, dear. What’s happened?”
“The minibus isn’t in the square,” I explained. “And I heard an engine backfire earlier this morning. I think someone took it.”
Rory looked toward Brills and his companion, and then she shook her head.
“That woman,” Rory sighed. “She came back yesterday in a bit of a bother. Mick said he might be able to find a car for her, but he wanted to talk to the owners first. He said it probably wouldn’t be ready until later today, and then he pointed out that she might be safer sticking with you. She wasn’t too happy with that assessment, let me tell you. If you had been here when she came back, she probably would have bitten your head off.”
“She was very angry,” Hae-won agreed. “I stayed in the kitchen just so she wouldn’t see me and start yelling at me.”
“As it was, she complained to everyone who stepped into the pub,” Rory added. “I lost some good customers because of her. No one wanted to stay and listen to her screech.”
“We should go talk to Mick,” I said. “If he thought he could find a car for the redhead, then maybe he can help us.”
“I’ll keep everyone occupied,” Rory assured me.
“Here,” Becka said as she handed the hoodie covered with mini skulls and crossbones to Hae-won. “So we look like a team.”
Hae-won took in the hoodies we were already wearing, then slipped on the one Becka had selected. Satisfied that we looked like we at least all worked at the same store, Becka gave an approving nod and then led the way back to the street. We smiled at the people still sitting on the bench, then jogged toward Mick’s shop.
The garage door was still closed, but I could hear someone moving around inside. There was a clank as some sort of tool hit the ground and then a muttered curse.
“Mick?” I called quietly as I knocked on the garage door. “It’s Jason. We need your help again.”
I heard footsteps shuffling around on the other side of the door, and a moment later the door started to rise. Mick peered at us as he wiped his hands on a rag, and then he grinned when he took in the hoodies we wore.
“I see you found Benny’s stash,” he laughed. “Are you hoping I’ll have a flag you can fly from the bus?”
“Not exactly,” I said with a shake of the head. “It seems someone has stolen the bus.”
“What?” Mick asked in disbelief. “Why would anyone do that?”
“We have a suspect,” I replied and I cringed at how much I sounded like the cop in a cheap TV show. “But it doesn’t matter now. The bus is gone. I was hoping you might know if there’s somewhere around here where we could find another bus.”
Mick scratched at his thinning hair, which left a streak of black grease on his blonde scalp.
“None that would be easy to get to,” Mick replied a moment later. “And I don’t think Mrs. Bartram, that’s the woman what drives the school bus, would be willing to give up hers. But if you give me some time, I could probably find enough cars to get you all there.”
“Well, it’s not like we have any other choice,” I sighed. “I’m not crazy about splitting everyone up into cars, but if two of us are in the front, and maybe one of us rides in the last car with Corporal Grant, we might be okay.”
“I’ll start making calls and knocking on doors,” Mick said.
“So what do we tell the lot back at the pub?” Becka asked.
“Just say I’m taking a look at the engine,” Mick replied. “It looked a mess when you arrived yesterday.”
“And I will talk to the Corporals,” Hae-won added. “I will tell them what happened and what we are trying to do.”
“I don’t think Corporal Grant is going to be very happy,” I mused. “They lost the jeep and the machine gun.”
“I’m sure Walston will understand,” Becka said.
“About the jeep, maybe,” I replied. “But losing the machine gun to a civilian who stole the minibus?”
“Right, because Walston hasn’t encountered anyone like that,” Becka snickered.
“It will be okay,” Hae-won said. “We’ll just be careful how we explain it.”
“I’ll let you deal with that,” Mick said as he stepped out of the garage and started to close the door. “I’ll go and talk to the fellows over at the Ford shop.”
“Do you want company?” I offered. “Just in case there are dinos hunting this morning?”
“I’ll be fine,” Mick replied. “You can head back to the pub. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Are you sure?” I pressed. Mick was our only real shot of finding enough cars, and I wasn’t crazy about him wandering the streets without some sort of protection.
“Don’t worry,” Mick insisted. “I’ve figured out how to get around without attracting any attention.”
The mechanic waved us away and didn’t move from his spot by the garage until we were nearly back to the square. I saw him turn and head in the other direction, and then he ducked into an alley I hadn’t even noticed before. I started to follow, but Becka grabbed my arm and started
to pull me in the opposite direction.
“Leave him be,” the Brit instructed. “There’s probably a reason he doesn’t want anyone along.”
“Even with dinosaurs on the loose?” I asked.
“You can never be too careful,” Becka replied.
We made our way back to the pub, and we stopped by the four people on the bench.
“Mick’s taking a look at the engine,” I said. “It might be a bit before we’re underway again.”
“Is there enough time for another pot of tea?” one of the men asked.
“Probably,” I replied.
The foursome stood up and followed us back inside. They moved toward one of the tables and settled in while the girls and I moved toward the bar.
“They’ll be expecting tea, I suppose,” Rory said with a nod toward the others.
“How did you know?” I asked with a grin.
Rory shook her head and retreated into the kitchen to prepare the kettle. Brills gave me a questioning look, but I shrugged and mouthed the word mechanic in his direction. I have no idea if the engineer really understood, but he nodded and went back to whatever discussion he had been having with the other people at his table.
“The corporals are still in Rory’s apartment,” Hae-won said as she slipped behind the bar.
“I’ll come with you,” I said. “Becka, will you stay here and keep an eye out for Mick? And try to keep everyone calm as well.”
“I can manage that,” she replied as she poured herself a pint.
“Isn’t it early for that?” I asked.
“Do you want them calm or not?” she sniffed as she headed toward the tables.
“She’ll be fine,” Hae-won giggled. “We’re the ones with the more difficult task.”
I followed the blue-eyed Korean into Rory’s private domain. The apartment was larger than I’d expected, and it featured a picture window that looked over a tiny private garden overflowing with roses and flowering vines. The TV was one of those heavy, pre flat screen era monsters that sat on a low TV console. There was a sofa covered in a bright flower print, framed pictures of the royals scattered around the walls, and a coffee table at just the right height to cause damage to the shins.
The kitchen was small, though I imagined Rory could probably do most of her cooking in the pub’s kitchen if she so wanted. We passed the bathroom, which was a good deal larger than the one I had used that morning, and I caught a glimpse of both a walk-in shower as well as a clawfoot tub. The last room was the bedroom, which was larger than the rooms upstairs, though it was dark and full of shadows.
Corporal Terry was on the bed, awake and alert, and Corporal Grant sat in a chair nearby. The doctor was there as well, with a thermometer in his hand and an expression of pleasant surprise on his face. The doctor looked like a country doctor, with a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, an uncombed mass of white hair beneath a flat cap, a tweed jacket, and a doctor’s kit and cane resting on the top of the dresser.
“You’ve done quite well,” the doctor stated. “I’d feel better if you would rest another day or two, but I know you want to return to your station. I’ll leave you with enough medicine to get through the next two days.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Grant said from the chair.
The doctor nodded as he turned toward the old fashioned leather bag and dug through the contents. He pulled out a plastic bottle, checked the label, then poured some of the contents into a small paper envelope. He wrote the instructions on the envelope, then he passed it to Corporal Grant.
“Same as before,” the doctor said.
“I’ll take care of it,” Grant assured him.
“Well,” the doctor declared. “I’d best be on my way. Old Wilkey will wonder where I’ve got off to.”
The doctor nodded to Hae-won and I as he walked by, and I waited until I heard the door to the pub close before I said anything.
“The minibus was stolen,” I said without preamble.
I’d expected an angry outburst from the soldiers, and while they both looked surprised and then angry, neither said anything for several moments.
“How do we get to Peterborough now?” Grant finally asked. “We can hardly walk there with all these people. We’ll attract some dinosaur’s attention for sure.”
“Mick thinks he can find enough cars for us,” I replied.
“That’s not much better,” Grant pointed out.
“But we can probably outrun most dinosaurs if we have to,” I said. “Look, I know it’s not ideal, but I figure if I’m in the first car with one of the girls, and you’re in the last car, we can make this work. We have enough weapons between us that we can take down anything that attacks.”
“The machine gun?” Terry asked.
“Gone as well,” I admitted.
“It was that saleswoman, wasn’t it?” Grant demanded.
“We think so,” I said. “I haven’t seen her yet this morning, or the others who wanted to go with her.”
“If I ever find that woman,” Grant muttered.
“And we’ll help you,” Hae-won agreed.
“For now, we’re stuck with a convoy,” I said. “And given the average size of a car in the UK, I’d say we’re looking at four or five cars probably.”
“Michael will have to lie down,” Grant said.
“I can sit up,” the corporal on the bed protested.
“We’ll see what Mick can find,” I replied.
We talked to the soldiers for a few more minutes as we tried to work out the best way to arrange the convoy. When we’d worked out a plan, Hae-won and I returned to the front part of the pub, where we found Becka playing darts with several of the engineers and a few locals. It was still early in the morning, but everyone had a pint and someone had turned on the radio. Staticy music floated in the background, some girls group with lots of bass and heavy accents. I studied the room while Hae-won floated toward the window as casually as she could.
“Any sign of Mick?” I asked the Korean as I sidled up next to her.
“There are two cars parked by the square,” Hae-won replied. “I would guess that Mick left them.”
A few moments later, we watched a third call pull into line behind the other two, this one a gray hatchback that was missing its back fender. Mick got out, checked his cell phone, and then trotted away toward one of the streets we hadn’t ventured down yet.
Rory brought me a cup of coffee and a cup of tea for my companion while we sat near the window and watched. Becka kept the rest of the group entertained until Mick had five cars lined up along the street. Two of them would really only hold two people comfortably, and none of them looked like they had a back seat big enough for Corporal Terry to really lie down on, but with any luck, we wouldn’t be in the cars that long.
Mick looked over the array of cars, then started toward the pub. I stood up as quietly as I could and snuck to the door. I stepped outside and waved toward the mechanic, who waved back. A moment later, he joined me by the door and passed over five sets of keys.
“Well, it’s not much to look at,” Mick said, “but once I explained what had happened, all sorts of people started to volunteer their cars. These were the best of the lot, honestly.”
“They’ll get us to Peterborough, and that’s all that matters,” I said. “I’ll just tell the brigadier to return them to you when he can, and then you can see that they make it home.”
“That’s fine,” the ginger-haired mechanic replied. “Though, I don’t think most are expecting to get them back.”
“Thanks, Mick, for doing this,” I said.
“Weren’t nothing,” Mick said shyly. “I’m just glad to repay the favor after what you did. I finally heard from my girl.”
“How is she?” I asked. “Does that mean the good people of Coates have taken control of the town again?”
“Oh, aye,” Mick agreed. “I’ve already told her that I’ll come get her and bring her back here.”
“Be careful if you do,�
�� I said. “We encountered a giant snake along the way, and there’s no telling what else might be out there.”
“Well, I’ve been working on a plan with some of my mates who have family in the area as well,” Mick said. “We’ll be okay.”
“I guess I should go round up the rest of our group,” I sighed. “I worked out car assignments with Corporal Grant based on who was most likely to be a decent driver, but I have a feeling that will all get switched around a few times before I can get everyone on the road.”
Mick laughed, and we shook hands before the mechanic started back to his garage. I studied the square and the sky, but somehow we were still dinosaur free. Maybe we had managed to kill the main predators in the area, but then I remembered the portal we’d seen, and I knew we couldn’t rest easy.
I stepped back into the pub and rang the bell that Rory kept behind the bar. The crowd gathered to watch the darts match quieted down and slowly turned to look at me. It was a bit disconcerting having all those people look at me like they expected me to have all the answers, and I cleared my throat to give myself enough time to steady my nerves.
“Sadly, Mick wasn’t able to do anything about the minibus,” I announced, and the group moaned in reply. “But, he’s been able to find some cars for us to drive. So, even though we have to split everyone up, we should have enough room for everyone.”
“I don’t have a driver’s license,” one of the women announced.
“That’s fine,” I said. “We’ll let you ride in the passenger seat. Now, Becka and I will be in the lead with Mr. Brills in the back seat.”
Brills and Becka both nodded in agreement.
“We should have two people in the next car with Corporal Terry in the back,” I said as I eyed the group.
“I can drive,” a man volunteered.
He was a short man with gray hair and a thin mustache, but both Grant and I had pegged him as a regular driver who would probably be steady on the road, even if we did cross paths with something. I sighed in relief that he had volunteered, and I pointed to the nondriver.