NO ORDINARY ROOM

by Bill Williams

  ‘Hold on,’ Rufus called out as he followed Sligo out before stepping back to close the door. At least the splintered door frame would help convince the Tranters that their house had been broken into and so it wouldn’t matter if Sligo had damaged something and it would also explain the scorch marks on the rug.

  Sligo was still rambling when they got inside the Cranleigh house, but Rufus managed to guide him to the settee and it rocked when Sligo slumped down on it. Rufus had already decided what to do and quickly read through the instructions on the mission sheet and telephoned the emergency number. He had almost given up when his call was answered and he told the person at the embassy that Agent, Slytexasboy, was injured and needed code 774 help.

  Rufus felt relieved after making the telephone call, but was soon having fresh concerns when Sligo stopped rambling and went into a kind of trance and there was no response from him when Rufus clicked his fingers in front of Sligo’s face.

  * * *

  Rufus saw the car headlights at the end of Hog’s End Lane and it looked as though the family from next door and Sligo’s American helpers might be arriving together. He gave a sigh of relief when the cars stopped outside and he could see that one them was a private ambulance and the other wasn’t the car from next door. The four Americans came bustling in as though they’d come to put out a fire. The two men dressed in white medical uniforms attended to Sligo and within seconds one of them had removed a syringe from a bag and plunged it into Sligo’s arm. The short man with dark cold eyes, who seemed to be in charge, asked Rufus to give a brief summary of what Sligo had been doing and then looked at the other non medical man before declaring with a heavy sigh and shake of his head, ‘What a mess.’

  The short man proceeded to instruct Rufus as to what he must do and say when the family from next door returned and stressed that his help would benefit Anglo American security and keep their mutual enemies at bay.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Kevin was glad when he turned his car into Hog’s End Lane because it had taken much longer than expected to get home because of a major accident just near the halfway point. Even Jamie had joined his sister in the land of nod for the past hour, exhausted by their exciting day at the beach. There would be no late film for them, or anyone else for that matter.

  ‘Heh up, Debs, something must have happened at old Rufus’s,’ Kevin said when he saw the private ambulance and the large car pulling away from outside the Cranleigh’s house.

  Debbie had been dozing rather than sleeping and rubbed her eyes before asking, ‘Do you think it is for old Mrs Cranleigh?’

  ‘I doubt it, not unless their lodger has pulled a few strings. That ambulance and the car were American.’

  Kevin pulled up outside their house and turned towards the back seat.

  ‘We’ve home, kids.’

  Debbie leaned over and gently shook the sleeping brother and sister.

  Kevin and Debbie were out of the car and the children were still struggling to wake up when Rufus approached.

  ‘I’m afraid there’s been a burglary at your house,’ Rufus said, trying to remember what he’d been told to say by the American.

  ‘What!’ Kevin shouted out and then shook his head in despair because it was the last thing he needed after the problems with his car

  ‘I’m not sure if they’ve taken anything, but they made a bit of a mess. My lodger saw the intruders going in and he tackled them, but they have done a bit of damage and I’m afraid they got away.’

  Kevin looked serious for once when he asked Rufus about the ambulance.

  ‘Oh, that was for my lodger. He’s just got a few cuts and bruises. The Americans who came to help him said that they’ll be in touch. They’ll inform the police and they said that they would pay for any damage or missing items.’

  ‘Why would they do that,’ asked a puzzled Kevin.

  Rufus was nervous once more when he said he thought his lodger worked for the embassy and the American didn’t want any fuss or publicity.

  ‘Anyway, it’ll save you claiming on your insurance and the Americans have got more money than sense.’

  Kevin was about to say, ‘What insurance!’ but instead thanked Rufus and told him that he hoped his lodger would be all right. Rufus didn’t tell Kevin that he didn’t expect to see his lodger again.

  Kevin and family were apprehensive when they made their through way through the damaged entrance, but were soon were relieved when they couldn’t see any obvious signs of damage inside apart from some burn marks on the rug near the stairs. When Kevin saw the badly damaged camera on the stairs he picked up the broken bits intending to throw them in the bin.

  Debbie was stroking the cat when Kevin passed her and she said, ‘Poor old Ohmslaw is a bit jumpy, perhaps all the commotion frightened him.’

  Kevin didn’t comment on the cat’s state, but he was thinking that a dog might be more useful if there was a danger of being robbed when they were away.

  Jamie had sprinted upstairs once he was inside and he shouted down that the computer room had been broken into. Jamie anxiously checked the various pieces of equipment, but at least nothing was missing, except his school book. Why would anyone want to steal his homework book?

  CHAPTER TWENTY–EIGHT

  Jamie had never seen a car as big as the one that was parked outside his house when he returned home from school and continued admiring it as he stood on the doorstep before heading inside. He carried out his usual routine of throwing his school bag under the stairs before going into the living room.

  ‘Here’s the young genius now,’ Kevin announced. ‘I was just telling Mr Runsfeld here about your hobby and I showed him your computer stuff. He’s from America and he told me that they invented the computer.’

  It had been two days since the break in and his dad still hadn’t fixed the door to the computer room. Kevin had laughed when Jamie had suggested he nailed it shut and muttered something about the crown jewels.

  Jamie managed to stop himself from groaning at the thought that his sacred room had been violated by a complete stranger. What would Uncle Stanley have thought?

  Ed Runsfeld was fifty four years old and small for an American. He had slightly squinty eyes and a thin face, but his smile seemed genuine when he greeted Jamie.

  ‘It’s a fine hobby that you’ve got, son. The future is in computers and you should have a head start according to your dad, although he tells me that he knows nothing about them himself.’

  ‘You didn’t switch my computer on, did you, Dad?’ Jamie asked anxiously.

  Jamie was relieved when his dad replied that he wouldn’t know how to, but it was short lived when he told him Mr Runsfeld was an expert and he’d turned it on.

  Jamie couldn’t hide his anguish and Mr Runsfeld looked uncomfortable for a moment before offering his hand to Kevin. ‘Well, Mr Tranter, if you are happy with the financial settlement than I’ll be on my way. I’ll pass on your wishes and thanks to Ben Sligo.’

  Kevin replied that he was well satisfied and offered to show Mr Runsfeld to the door and told him that he was sorry about the camera being taken away during yesterday’s bin collection.

  When Kevin returned he smiled at Jamie and kissed the cheque before he spoke in a reasonable impression of an American accent, ‘One thousand pounds for the damaged door frames and that scruffy rug. The Americans sure are generous, buddy boy.’

  ‘Dad, I wished you hadn’t shown him the computer room. You know how special it is to me. I hope he didn’t actually use the computer.’

  ‘He only played with it for a few minutes while I made him a cup of tea. It was amazing the way his hands whizzed over the keyboard and he seemed to know where to look without any hesitating. It was a bit like watching someone play the piano.’

  Jamie was thinking about what he might have seen in such a short time. He was certain that the American would have commented on the specification figures if he had seen them, unless he had thought they had been ‘doctored
’ by Jamie for a bit of fun.

  ‘You look upset, our Jamie,’ Kevin said when he saw the anxious look on his son’s face, but before Jamie could reply the door was opened by Debbie who had just returned from her walk.

  ‘Hello, Jamie love,’ she said and settled for just placing a hand on Jamie’s shoulder rather than giving him a hug and then asked Kevin how long the American had stayed.

  ‘He’s only just left, but not before he handed over a cheque for a thousand pounds. The doors weren’t really damaged, just the frames and maybe the lock fitting. We will be able to have a really good weekend away with what will be left over and make up for our disappointment. Apparently that smashed camera belonged to the lodger next door and the American feller had looked disappointed when I told him I’d thrown it in the bin.’

  Jamie took up his dad’s suggestion that he go and play on the computer and headed upstairs, but before he did he had to correct something the American had said.

  ‘By the way, Dad, the Americans didn’t invent the computer or the Internet, we did.’

  Kevin shook his head and said, ‘Trust the Yanks to try and claim credit for everything. You learn something new every day. I know we invented cricket and football, but I never knew about us inventing those other things, especially the Internet. Although I think George Stephenson who invented the steam engine was an Englishman.’

  Jamie told his dad that they could continue the history lesson later and headed for his computer room.

  Kevin was in the hallway when he heard the anguished cry from Jamie. It wasn’t what he had expected; in fact it was just the opposite. Kevin shrugged his shoulders and he Debbie went to investigate why Jamie had cried out, ‘Where’s my computer?’

  Kevin and Debbie had joined Jamie in his room and they had been surprised by Jamie’s reaction before Kevin replied, ‘Your old computer is probably in the dump by now.’

  ‘No!’ Jamie screamed.

  ‘We thought you’d like your new computer, Jamie,’ Debbie said and was clearly disappointed by Jamie’s reaction.

  Jamie looked at the ordinary looking PC that occupied the spot where the Stanley Machine had been when he left for school.

  ‘I do like it; Mum, but I didn’t need a new computer. My old computer was……’Jamie paused, not wanting to say too much about it and explained. ‘There’s lots of my data on it, like my school projects and other things that I wanted to keep. That’s why I’m upset.’

  ‘I threw the computer in a skip at the farm and the skip is being picked up this afternoon, but there might just be a chance it’s still there and not been taken to the dump yet.’

  ‘Do you think so?’ asked a hopeful Jamie who was thinking that at least he had no need to worry that Mr Runsfeld had seen Uncle Stanley’s special computer.

  ‘We might not be too late. Come on, let’s go and see if we can rescue it,’ Kevin said and hurried down the stairs followed by Jamie.

  When the car engine failed to start at the third attempt Jamie was sharing his mum’s annoyance with the old car.

  ‘Come on, Betsy, stop messing about. You will start this time,’ Kevin ordered.

  The engine burst into life and sent out a black cloud of smoke that was worse than usual and hadn’t been seen since it had been serviced.

  Rufus was trimming his front hedge and coughed with the effects of the smoke that billowed into his garden as the car pulled away. He shook his head and muttered something about he may just as well live in Birmingham.

  On the way to the Rosser farm Kevin explained that Mr Rosser had upgraded the office computer and offered him the old one, which wasn’t that old, because he knew that Jamie was interested in computers. Kevin and his mum had thought he would be pleased.

  ‘I already told you and mum that I am pleased, Dad, but as I said I’ve got some important stuff on the old machine and I would like to keep it as a backup machine. Why didn’t you just leave it where it was?’

  ‘I was going to, but I thought it would clutter the place up, especially that big display and then someone in the office mentioned that you are not just supposed to just dump them anywhere. Apparently it’s something to do with them containing toxic material. So I thought it would be less complicated if I let the skip hiring people take care of it. Anyway, I’m sorry if you end up losing your school work.’

  They were within half a mile of the farm when Kevin spotted the skip wagon ahead. He slapped the dashboard and shouted out, ‘Looks like we’re in luck, kidda.’

  The anxiety left Jamie’s face as he realised that all was not lost. He didn’t like lying to his dad about his school work being on the computer when the real reason was all about his communication with Daniel being lost and not being able to play the awesome games. If he told his dad about some stuff connected with Uncle Stanley’s computer like Soupinpota, Koolebron and the real reason for having a yucca plant in his special room he would likely end up with another appointment to see Professor Morris.

  Kevin had slowed down once he had seen the skip. There was no point in risking an accident now that they would arrive at the farm before the skip was loaded, or at least that’s what he had thought.

  ‘I don’t believe it,’ Kevin cried out when he saw the farmhand signalling for him to stop. There was a herd of cows crossing the road further ahead and the skip wagon was nowhere to be seen.

  Kevin took one look at the anxious Jamie, glanced in his mirror and slammed on the brakes and put the car into reverse.

  ‘In the words of the SAS, Never say die.’

  Jamie was rocked back in his seat before he had a chance to tell his dad that the SAS motto was, He Who Dares Wins. He was wondering what his dad was up to, but it soon became clear when he changed gear again and headed the car though a gap in the hedge and into a large field.

  ‘Hang on tight, Jamie, we’re going to take the real scenic route to the farm.’

  Kevin’s quick thinking meant that they were just pulling up behind the skip wagon when it passed through the farmyard gate. The rough ride across the fields couldn’t have done Betsy’s suspension any good, but at least they had made it in time. Within a few minutes Kevin had rescued the computer and its associated bits from the skip and a date with the crusher. Some of it was covered in old vegetation and the case was scratched. Jamie just had to hope that it wasn’t damaged inside.

  * * *

  Later that night, Jamie fibbed again when he reported that he had recovered the data which was much to the relief of his dad. The really good news was that Uncle Stanley’s computer hadn’t suffered any ill effects and Jamie was able to make contact with Daniel.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Kevin handed the key to Rufus, ‘Thanks, Rufus, for looking after the moggy again and let’s hope the burglars don’t pay us another visit while we are away, otherwise Steaderton might end up on that Crime Watch programme on the telly. We’ll be back on Sunday night and don’t you go watering my veg patch with weed killer.’

  Rufus ignored the remark and said that he hoped that they had no problems with the car, but he had his doubts minutes later when he heard the rough sound from the engine as the car trundled off.

  ‘Will we get there this time, Daddy?’

  ‘Of course we’ll get there, Princess,’ declared Kevin with his usual confidence. ‘Won’t we, Mother?’

  There was no reply from a pensive looking Debbie.

  ‘I said we’ll get there this time, won’t we?’ Kevin repeated.

  ‘Of course we will,’ Debbie replied, trying to sound convincing.

  ‘Can we stop at the same beach near where the car broke down, Dad? Its ace swimming in the sea there,’ Jamie asked, recalling the day a few weeks earlier.

  ‘I told you last night that Pamela from the office at work recommended some place called Crowley’s Door. Apparently it doesn’t get crowded and it’s even better than the other place.’

  When there was a lull in the conversation, Kevin turned on his rock and roll music and raised t
he volume. Jamie and Leanne moaned, but they soon had their heads buried in their magazines. Despite the loudness of the music Debbie’s mouth dropped open, but her gently snoring was masked by the music.

  * * *

  Kevin was about to change the radio station when he spotted the sign pointing to Crowley’s Door that was the turn off recommended to him by Pamela, but he was soon regretting it as the road became narrower and narrower. He flinched as he waited for the car to scrape against the hedges either side of the road and was on the point of stopping when he looked ahead and saw that the road seemed to narrow even further. Kevin turned his head to speak to Jamie, who still had his head buried in a computer magazine, but decided not to and then Kevin sighed with relief when he suddenly entered the open ground and saw the sea ahead. He definitely wouldn’t be going back the same way if he had a choice and he would be having words with Pamela. Perhaps it was her little joke because he had just driven through what must have been an optical illusion and it had frightened the life out of him. For a moment he had felt that the car was about to be crushed.

  Kevin’s shout of, ‘Shake a leg,’ was greeted by yawns from Debbie and Leanne.

  Debbie was first to respond with, ‘Look at the view.’

  ‘Wow,’ was Jamie’s response. Leanne was less than excited when she asked, ‘Have we got anything to eat, Mum?’

  ‘What are you like, Leanne,’ Debbie answered. ‘Of course we’ve got something to eat, but you’d best wait until after you’ve had a swim.’

  Kevin was surprised that there no other cars were parked where he pulled up which probably meant that they would have the beach to themselves. They unpacked the car and Kevin and Jamie were carrying most of the contents of the boot when they headed towards the sign that read ‘Steps to the Beach’.

  The family started the trek down the manmade steps, pausing to take in the magnificent sight of the ‘door’ and the beach below.