by Barney Broom
Podric spent his every spare waking hour in the Lighthouse computer lab. One afternoon working at the bench after school, Cosima Light appeared with Dog.
“So, you and Daddy are big buddies now – reinventing those little kiddy computer games he so loves to play with…”
Cosima picked up one of her father’s old virtual reality visors and put it on.
“Ooh… the world according to escapism. Can I come in?”
Dog nuzzling into his crotch, Podric tried to push the enormous animal away.
“He doesn’t.”
Taking off the visor, Cosima looked at him.
“What?”
“Like to play them.”
“No…?”
She put the visor down on the bench.
“You do though, don’t you? Surely it’s time you started playing other things…”
Provocative, Cosima’s lovely face was very close to Podric’s.
“Don’t you want to play with me or are you still only really a kid?”
The look on Podric’s face was intense. Time seemed to stand still. Somewhere in the depths of the Lighthouse, a door opened and the lift activated. Although his senses were heightened, when thinking back on the scene, Podric couldn’t quite work out how Cosima had left without Alannah ever realising she’d been there. He could hardly believe she had; only Dog’s continued presence served as a reminder.
“There you are, you great thing. Wondered where you’d gone?”
Alannah straightened one of the Facel Vega pictures.
“Too bound up in what you’re doing to hear the phone?”
Glancing at Podric, the housekeeper mistook his look for a preoccupation with work.
“Ah, the computers. When they get you, it seems like a drug. Come on, animal.”
Alannah and Dog exiting the lab, it was several seconds before Podric regained his normal equilibrium. Even when his composure did return, his concentration was fractured and a short while later, he packed up his things and went home.
Walking back to Briony Close through Drinkwell that evening, Podric initially thought no one was in the house, Number 5 being in darkness. Then, searching for his key, he remembered his mother had said that she would be late that night attending an evening meeting at Tweeney’s. They had adopted her ‘waste disposal sucks’ publicity campaign and were working up a media launch. Podric wasn’t sure where his sister was but assumed she would be out with one of her friends. It was a surprise, therefore, when coming into the hall that he heard Amy’s voice.
“Don’t turn the light on, Pod.”
Podric looked up. Catching a glimpse of Amy on the landing, she briefly flashed a torch.
“Come up.”
Doing as he was bid, Podric climbed the stairs.
“I’m in Mum’s room.”
Podric went into his mother’s bedroom to find his sister standing on a stool peering out at their little garden.
“Someone’s in your shed.”
“Saw them, did you?”
“Yeah.”
“What do they look like?”
“Didn’t get a clear view but— There – see that?!”
Keeping her voice low, Amy was excited. Podric saw a brief flash of light.
“Who do you reckon it is? Someone on the run – a serial killer?”
His sister’s particular imagination was operating in its ever-original vein.
“Better call the police.”
“Can’t you do something like you did to the bully the other day?”
Ideas flashed through Podric’s mind. What he’d done on the sports field had been programmed but there was no time for that now. Hearing things being smashed in the shed, he quickly came to a decision.
“Dial emergency!”
Running from the room, Podric jumped downstairs and ran through into the conservatory. Unlocking the door, he charged across the garden and yanking open the shed door, discovered Barney Sturridge busily destroying his computer equipment. Momentarily surprised at being disturbed, Barney looked round. Podric took the chance to grab a garden hoe and thwack his nemesis. The bully, being much stronger than Podric, wasn’t disadvantaged for long, and crouched to charge.
Diving back out into the garden, Podric slammed the shed door behind him. A second later, a pair of shears smashed through the timber. Barney began wrenching the door from its hinges. Podric spied his old football lying in the grass.
The shed door came flying off. The villain stood in its opening.
“Ha! Thought my destruction of your nerdy junk might rouse you; no techno crap to save you now, Moonface.”
“Oh, I don’t know? Your ball skills were well off the other day. Maybe you’re better at goalkeeping? Catch!”
Throwing the football at the bully, Barney instinctively ducked. Podric’s view was suddenly blocked by a macaw’s large wing. Eamon was on the loose again!
The beautiful bird dived and squawked, completely freaking Barney out. A car’s headlights materialised in the drive, followed by another sporting a revolving blue beam. The surreal trilogy of his mother, the police, and Mrs. Bickerstaff appeared. That said, Podric was never happier at being reintroduced to the recalcitrant bird!
Led away by a policeman, Barney seemed almost relieved to be free of Eamon, who swooped and squawked around the garden, showing off.
“Came in handy, didn’t he, my boy?”
Officer Ravilious was less impressed.
“You got a license for that buzzard?”
Insulted, Ivy Bickerstaff’s lonely lower molar wiggled excitedly in her otherwise-tooth free gums.
“He isn’t no buzzard, you ignoramus. Don’t you call my scarlet beauty that!”
Banking around and coming to rest on top of the shed, the macaw’s fabulous coloured plumage feathered out. Podric managed to get hold of Eamon’s cord and handed it to Ivy.
“Saved you this time, huh?”
The stout Mrs. B was proud.
“A lucky second escape. Hope neither of us needs a third.”
Minutes later things were quieter. Their mother made tea, as brother and sister began clearing up the wreckage Barney had caused.
“The football trick was good.”
“Bird that did it for him, though.”
“Combo then.”
They put the broken door against the side of the shed.
“Pity he wasn’t still wearing his footy boots. You could have given him a real dance – even more fun than the bird of parallel.”
In the darkness, Podric smiled at his sister’s misuse of words. It had been an eventful evening.
11
The World of UAR
It was the last Saturday before the end of the term and Podric had completely forgotten he was due to meet Catherine. A text from her reminding him of the fact, Podric had promised Archie he’d finish off some details on Agrolution. Explaining this to Catherine prompted the response that she’d ‘like to see where you work’.
Standing in the Moons’ garden, a mug of coffee in his hand, the shed was still as he and Amy had left it. Straightening out a few pieces of timber, Podric heard a scooter approach the house. Walking round to their short drive, he discovered Catherine parking a metallic green Vespa.
“Want a coffee?”
“Thought you were going to work? I can give you a lift!”
Tapping a spare helmet attached to the rear seat, she took Podric’s mug.
Entering his house, Podric reappeared in less than a minute with his backpack to find Catherine standing beside what was left of the shed.
“I can see why you moved to Mr. Smoothie games partner’s quarters. Cyberspace get you?”
“Something like that.”
Going into the shed, Catherine righted a smashed computer unit.
/> “This was your workshop.”
Podric didn’t reply. Catherine studied one of his old virtual reality headsets.
“Some attack. I hope whoever did this was caught.”
Not normally keen on imparting anything private, Podric felt an intimacy between them.
“You know who.”
Catherine looked at him, her expression transforming into one of incredulity. Close now, their intensity was strong, but it wasn’t weird like it had been with Cosima. They kissed.
“He didn’t hurt you?”
“Saved by a bird.”
“Ha-ha. Were the police involved?”
Podric nodded.
“Always bad that one, but he’s been worse since you arrived. You’ve got to him in some way.”
Tempted to ask if he, Podric, got to her, they kissed again.
Heading out of Briony Close, Catherine and Podric had only just turned onto the main road when a Facel Vega appeared, travelling too fast. Taking immediate action, Catherine guided her scooter onto the pavement as the beautiful car swept by completely out of control. Seconds later, it collided with the village sign. Seeing steam pouring from the broken radiator, Podric clambered off the scooter and ran over to the car. Managing to get the driver’s door open, he discovered Cosima behind the wheel. She appeared to have suffered no physical damage (the FV had no airbags) and got out. Standing precariously, Cosima grabbed Podric then saw he was with Catherine.
“A little girlfriend for a little boy?”
Cosima’s grip on Podric weakened as she slid down his legs. Podric realised she was drunk.
Driving back from the supermarket, Alannah pulled over. Shocked at what she saw, the housekeeper was quickly centre-stage.
“Is she hurt?”
Podric leaned closer to Alannah.
“Smell her breath.”
Alannah did so.
“Drunk. Picked her moment. The doctor will kill her.”
“Where is he?”
“On his way back from town. He stayed the night at his club.”
“You’d better call him. I’ll stay with the car if you can get her home.”
Whilst leaving the scene of an accident wasn’t strictly correct procedure, no one else being involved they decided to get Cosima back to the Lighthouse. Helping her into Alannah’s car, she was a sorry sight.
“Made a nice mess of the sign.”
Catherine was philosophical.
“And the car.”
Looking at the beautiful Faciella, Podric was rueful. Out of all of Archie’s Facel Vegas, the Faciella was the prettiest.
***
Several hours later, working in Light’s lab, Podric completed the necessary work on Agrolution. He and Catherine were about to leave when Archie returned from the railway station where he’d put a sobered-up Cosima on the train to her mother’s. The honourable Charlotte currently living with her boyfriend, a wealthy Colombian diplomat, at his house in St. John’s Wood, Archie had called his estranged wife informing her that their daughter totalling his car was the last straw; she would have to leave.
‘You’re always so dramatic!’ Charlotte’s retort betrayed her irritation, but Archie managed to get a commitment from her that she would meet Cosima at Paddington.
Sitting in the laboratory, the eventful day behind them (or so they thought), Catherine relaxed in one of the high-tech leather chairs, a glass of sparkling water in her hand. Sitting in the other, Archie nursed a large whisky and Podric, perched on a bench stool, had a can of beer.
“It’ll do well… your game. I’m sure.”
Catherine sipped her drink.
“Mostly down to the skills of your hero.”
Archie had a slug of his. Maybe it was because he felt he’d lost his daughter or because he’d already had a couple of glasses of scotch or because Catherine was attractive, but Archie seemed to like having her around. Podric kept it light.
“The ultra-override engine’s yours.”
“Ha! Glad I made some contribution.”
Archie drank some more whisky.
“Has he told you about the mad crazy idea that really drives him?”
Podric didn’t look pleased. Catherine’s eyes narrowed-catching his shift in mood.
“What’s not my business, isn’t my business.”
Archie laughed.
“Attractive and a philosopher – impressive in one so young.”
He stood up.
“I need to make some calls. You should confide in your girlfriend Podric. Maybe she’s got an angle on it?”
He went out. The only luminescence coming from the beam of a microscope, the room was in shadow.
“I must go.”
“Yup, I’m done.”
Podric finished scrutinising a couple of components.
“I think you should stay.”
She put a hand on Podric’s arm.
“I need to get back. It’s actually my first time out on the wheels…”
“What about later?”
“Not tonight, I’m afraid. Some domestic stuff at home. Boring but…”
Podric looked at Catherine.
“What he said…”
“You don’t have to say anything, Podric.”
They kissed.
“Well… Maybe he’s right in a way.”
Picking up two minuscule electronic parts of a tiny hearing aid, Podric stood up and crossing the lab, placed them in a tray.
“You know enough about me being a computer games ninja. Maybe you know a bit about how tired I am of them…”
Podric turned back to her.
“Have you ever wanted to escape reality – and go somewhere different?”
“Often.”
For some reason this surprised Podric, but he continued.
“I’ve been bored with games for a long time. Recently I’ve been working – trying to make something different – so amazing it’ll change my life.”
For a second or two he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
“What I want to create is an alternative reality inside a game where a player exists within the adventure. You’ll think it’s crazy, but I’ve partly proved it. I came up with this Outside-in Reality – seeing real life and a game at the same time, but it’s crude. I know I can get what I want though. I can feel it!”
“Mind games, then.”
Podric laughed.
“You could say that – but not exactly.”
He had a swig of his beer.
“Since then, I’ve been working on trying to manipulate the creative process, create a kind of techno pathway to an alternative reality one, but it’s difficult.”
“I would think it is.”
He looked keenly at Catherine for any sign of mockery, but her face was completely serious.
“So, you’re within a game’s world – like you’re living in it.”
“Uhuh. I’m also profiling other people in – people from school, friends and family – who can appear as characters in whatever game I’m inside.”
“Would they know where they were?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t got in yet.”
Catherine stood up.
“Well, it does sound pretty far-fetched.”
“That’s fair. It would be. But think of the adventures…”
“More than real life’s?”
“What do you think?”
“I think I’d better make a move.”
She picked up a small bag she had with her.
“It’s been an interesting day. You more than lived up to expectations, Podric Moon.”
She kissed him lightly on the cheek and headed for the door.
“By the way, his daughter, Podric – she’s beautiful.”
“She’s also crazy.”
Catherine smiled.
“Travel safe in your alternative reality. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you there sometime, and if you do include me, make sure it’s an interesting game.” With that, she was gone.
From his den window, Archie gazed out at Catherine departing down the drive on her little Vespa.
“Why can’t I have a daughter like that?”
“Because you spoiled her, that’s why.”
Putting on several practicals, Alannah wasn’t having any of her boss’s indulgent self-pity. Emerging from the lab, Podric helped himself to another beer. Archie looked around. Dog leaped about beside him.
“Nice girl. You’ll be alright there.”
Though Catherine was the best-looking girl at Wendbury High, Podric felt it was far too early to think of a future. The way Archie was speaking about her, it was as if he already envisaged a pipe and slippers!
“There’s no doubt this has been the worst day of my life.”
Alannah looked at Podric and rolled her eyes.
“What are you most upset about, turfing your daughter out or the fact she pranged your car?”
Staggered at Podric’s utterance, Alannah burst out laughing! Archie didn’t.
“You little shit. I’ve a good mind to turf you out.”
“Well, the contracts are signed and you’ve got your game. Guess we could part company.”
“Thought you wanted to get your ultimatum reality rubbish sorted?”
“I do. Can I go and get on with it before you tip me over the parapet?”
“Piss off.”
Podric went out.
“Little shit. ‘Am I more upset my darling girl’s gone or that she bust up my Faciella?’”
“He’s got a point.”
“Not you as well.”
Archie poured himself another drink.
“Podric’s been the best thing to come into your life in years. You’ve been more motivated since he appeared than you have since I’ve worked for you.”
Alannah finished tidying the room and prepared to leave.
“If you want my opinion, what your daughter got was long overdue. It took something like damaging one of your precious cars to make you realise that. Now stop feeling sorry for yourself and go and help Podric.”