'Shut up, Selim. It's your head that's on the chopping block, and I will happily swing the axe, and then swing it at Piers and Hamish.' Bean smirked. 'Wouldn't you like to know where they are?'
'Not interested where they are, Beany old man. Do what you like with them.'
'Bloody liar!' Bean screamed.
'Bean, what sewer did your little mouth crawl out of?'
Bean was getting angry, and Selim knew when he got angry, he totally lost control, and that was what he was waiting for.
'What are you, Bean - a hero or a coward? If Sreip treated me the way you are treated, I would shove a stick up his you know what. Everyone laughs at you Bean - your lot and us. You are the laughing stock of the two universes.'
And finally that did it. 'You'll be sorry when you find Piers and Hamish frozen to death in the Iceland death shack!' Bean screamed.
'Bean you couldn't organise a -' and before Selim could say anything ruder, Bean rushed at Selim, he was going to strangle him with his bare hands. Selim sat well back in the rickshaw and waited. Forgetting what was between him and Selim, Captain Bean ran full tilt into the circle of restraint. The energy of the circle wound round him and spun him twenty feet up in the air. Before Bean landed, Selim was out of the rickshaw and off. He had to find Commander Rhettnor and using his direction finder, he knew Rhettnor was in the great hall.
Exploring the unknown
The bear cub was clamouring all over Steve, after his food. 'Piers, take control of this animal. It's just about grabbing the food out of my mouth. Ouch! The little bastard just bit me on the nose.'
Piers laughed as he got up and picked up little Daphne, tempting her with bits of food from his plate, and Hamish was doubled over, laughing.
'That wasn't funny Hamish,' Steve said as he rubbed his nose.
'Oh, but it was,' Piers said. 'It was hilarious Steve.' He was still trying to control the laughter bubbling out of his mouth.
'It may well have looked funny,' Steve said, 'but it still hurt.'
'You have to think about it Piers. What are we going to do with little Daphne, the eating machine?' Hamish said. 'And we have to get going soon, or we will run out of food. I know we have to care for the cub, but what the hell are we going to do with it now?'
'Yeah,' Piers said. 'We have to make a decision to get out of this place.'
'You're right,' Steve said. 'And as I've said many times, we still have to decide which tunnel to go down. We can't risk it out there.' He pointed out of the window. 'If one bear was out there, there is sure to be more, and if they are all as hungry as that little thing…'
'Shall we toss for it?' Hamish laughed, and the cub, loving the noise of the laughter, pounced on him. 'We'll have to take him with us. We can't leave him to fend for himself, he's not old enough.'
'You're a good man Hamish,' Piers said and patted him on the back. 'So now that's decided, which tunnel?'
No one wanted to make that decision and all of a sudden Piers jumped up. 'I know! Let the cub decide,' he said. 'He will have the natural instinct of the safest way to go, all animals do.'
'Bloody good idea Piers,' Hamish said. 'Let's finish packing what we need and get going. I've got a bad feeling about this place.'
'You and your bad feelings,' Steve said. 'But this time I think we all have those feelings, and I can't wait to explore those tunnels.'
While they were talking and laughing, they were working hard, tying everything up in neat bundles and making a sling carry it on their backs. Piers made a harness for Daphne, who was very obliging and would do anything, provided someone rubbed her tummy. Eventually, everything was ready. It was about midday as the boys and Daphne dropped down into the cavern, for the last time they hoped.
'Okay, give Daphne a little slack and see where she goes,' Hamish said. Piers loosened the harness, and they stood back to see where the cub would go. The little bear sniffed at the first tunnel, it seemed to like the smell of the water, but did not go in. Piers pulled it away and led it to the last tunnel. The little bear did not like that one at all and backed off quickly.
'Probably because of the heat,' Steve said. 'After all, it is a polar bear.'
'You would be right,' Hamish said.
'So it looks like the middle one after all,' Piers said. 'And if I hadn't helped her mother, we wouldn't have little Daphne to decide our fate, would we?'
'That's small compensation. Let's hope she's right.' Steve laughed. 'I must admit she's cute though.'
'Wait,' Piers said. 'I don't know why, but something is still holding me back.'
'Piers, please be reasonable. We have just about run out of food…'
'I know, but some evil force somehow put us here, and will most probably come back and get us. I for one would like to be here when they come back. Alternatively, we could get rescued.'
'And bears could fly. Be reasonable, Piers,' Hamish said.
'Yeah, okay, you're right. So the middle tunnel it is.'
Steve walked to the middle tunnel first. 'Okay, Piers, pick up little Daphne. I don't want her running on ahead.'
Because the entrance of the tunnel was narrow, they could only just squeeze through one at a time. Steve handed Hamish the end of the rope.
'Right,' he said. 'I'll go first Hamish, you follow and Piers can bring up the rear with little Daphne.'
Steve entered the tunnel, and once he got through the first narrow opening, the tunnel seemed to lighten up with every step he took.
'Okay, Hamish, I'm through that first narrow bit, and it's looking good.' Hamish gave the other end of the rope to Piers.
'He put his arms round Piers and the bear. 'See you on the other side, old son,' he said.
Piers responded. 'See you Hamish.' They grasped arms. 'You have become a good friend.'
Hamish squeezed into the tunnel, it took a little longer than Piers expected, probably because he was a little larger than Steve. 'I'm through Piers!' he shouted. 'Come on.'
Piers sat on a rock, wrapped Daphne's harness lead tightly round his arm, adjusted the bundle on his back and walked towards the tunnel. Suddenly he was in total darkness. He ran his hands over the wall where the tunnel entrances had been. They had vanished. 'Hamish! Steve!' he yelled as he pummeled the wall till his fists bled. He leaned against the wall. 'Oh my God,' he whispered. He was alone in the dark with the little bear.
One step forward - two steps back
Selim walked into the great hall to the sounds of astonishment. No one - but no one - had ever escaped from the Rebels before. Commander Rhettnor ran to meet him.
'Selim, Selim, my boy,' he said with tears in his eyes, and he threw his arms round him. 'Thank all that's good! Selim, we thought you were a goner… gone for good. How did you get away?'
Selim could hardly talk, he was still suffering from the recoil of the circle of restraint. God knows what Bean must be feeling. 'Uncle,' was all he could manage to say.
'Take him to recovery,' Rhettnor commanded two Freeflyers who were standing close by. 'And where is Xavier? Find him and tell him his nephew is here safe.'
'He is on his way to Iceland, sir, trying to find the missing UFOs.'
'Still get in contract with him and get him back here. The rest of the Freeflyers can continue the search. We need every senior Freeflyer available to find Miles before he slips between the universes into the void. We can't lose that boy. The worse thing is, even the Rebels do not know where he is. Well, what are you waiting for? Go, go!'
'Yes, sir,' several voices answered the Commander, as they lifted and flew out of the emergency window.
More mishaps
Lord Knightly was expecting a visitor for morning tea. He had got out the best tea set and had the usual selection of the best cakes money could buy. The girls love cakes, he thought as he arranged them on the plates.
The doorbell jingled. Creek the Butler answered it and announced Lord Knightly's daughter Gemma.
'Good morning Daddy. Any news from Piers or Miles?'
&n
bsp; 'Not yet, but it's only a matter of time. Come and sit down. Look, I have your favourite cakes, darling.'
'Daddy I'm not five. Still, they are my favourites. Coffee please Daddy? Milk, no sugar.'
The doorbell jangled again. 'Are you expecting someone else today, Daddy?'
'No, I'm not,' Lord Knightly said and looked up expectantly.
'Good morning, sir.'
Sreip, come in. Happy to see you. Gemma, you know Commander Sreip.'
'Miss Knightly,' Sreip said. 'And may I introduce Captain Jamie Brummell Sir.'
The Captain saluted.
'Captain Brummell, my daughter Gemma, please come and sit down. Morning tea is in session.'
The Lord waved his hand at the table, and they all sat. The conversation flowed freely as Gemma passed round the cakes, and everyone took one.
'So any news Sreip?'
'Event is leading a scouring party to find Piers and Hamish. He knows approximately where they are. Do you have a map of the North Pole, Sir?'
'Yes I have, all the maps are in my office.' Lord Knightly stood. 'Come with me, Sreip. Let's see what we can find. Bring your coffee.'
Jamie stood. 'No. You stay here Captain,' Sreip said.
'Yes Sir,' Jamie said. He looked at Gemma and was delighted to spend some time with her without her father and Sreip.
~
'So, how long have you known Sreip, Jamie?' Gemma asked.
'Only since,' he looked at his Earth time alert, 'seven this morning, and my friends call me JB.'
'Just today. How come, JB?' Gemma said shyly.
'Well, it was a mistake.'
'A mistake?' Gemma smiled. 'How come a mistake?'
The first time Jamie Brummell saw Gemma Knightly, he'd thought she was lovely. Now when she smiled he was in love.
Chapter 11
One Step back…
Alison woke first. When she opened her eyes, she wasn't sure where she was, and then she remembered they were in the cottage. 'Polly, wake up. We have to get some breakfast for our gypsy visitor.'
'What's the time? Oh God, it's eight thirty.' They jumped out of bed and ran up the garden path. When they got to the door of the crypt, they were surprised it was closed. Polly pushed and pulled, but it was locked up tight.
'That's odd,' Alison said. 'How are we going to get in?'
'I don't know. Have you got a key to the front door?'
'No.'
'Bugger! We're locked out,' Polly said. 'Let's walk round the front. Maybe Zola the gypsy will let us in, if she's still here.'
But no matter how much they yelled and banged on the door, no one answered. 'Locked out of our house. I don't believe it,' said Polly.
'We'll have to break a window to get in,' Alison said.
'And what if the gypsy's dead?'
'Polly, what a dreadful thing to say, she probably left first thing this morning.'
'Get over it Ali. Which window shall we break?'
'No, there's a ladder round the side. I could climb and get in through a bedroom window.'
'Great idea, Ali, but I'm a bit fitter than you, so I'll climb up. Or maybe we should stay together there's no knowing what happened in there.'
The girls ran round the side, grabbed the ladder and, with a great many squeals and giggles, set it up against the wall where the window of the bedroom was. They started to climb up.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you.' The girls looked down to see a timeworn, very thin man. He had long black hair that stood up straight from his head. His eyes were big and sunken so far in his head they looked like two black sewer holes. He had no lips, and when he spoke, his mouth formed a perfect circle. He was dressed in black sacking, and his fingernails were six inches long.
'What do you mean?' Polly said and looked defiantly at the old man.
'That ladder will collapse before you get halfway up,' he said and pointed.
The girls checked it, and sure enough, there was a big crack halfway up the ladder that did not look at all safe.
'Why are you in our garden?' Alison asked.
'Your neighbour heard you banging the door and calling you were locked out. Mrs Hart had left her a spare key, and here it is.'
'How marvellous. Thank you so much,' Polly said. The three of them walked to the front of the house, and Polly opened the door. She said thank you again to the old man, who waved his hand as he shuffled away.
~
'Alison, you put on the kettle, and I will go and see if gypsy Zola is awake.'
'Okay,' Alison said, and walked into the kitchen. She was going to lay the table for breakfast and tried to move the gypsy's basket off the table. It would not budge. As she was struggling to lift it, Polly came in.
'She's not there,' Polly said. 'How strange.'
'Yes, and she left the basket, and it's so heavy I can't lift it.'
Polly pushed Alison out of the way and grabbed the handle. Try as she might, it did not budge an inch.
'See?' said Alison.
There was a knock on the door, and the kettle started to sing.
'It's probably the gypsy coming back for her basket. Let's see if she can pick it up,' Polly exclaimed.
Polly heard the excited sounds of Lily and Lucy as they rushed into the kitchen and threw their arms around her.
'We're going to be staying Polly,' Lily said, and she jumped up and down with excitement. All the girls joined hands, cheered and danced round in a circle.
'So, you're all here together at last.' The girls looked up to see Gypsy Zola standing in the doorway.
~
'We couldn't find you Madam Zola,' Polly said with a smile. 'Come and join us. We are just about to have breakfast. And your basket is safe here we did not look in it.'
'Did you try to move it?' the gypsy said icily.
'Yes,' both Polly and Alison said in return.
'I wanted to lay the table,' said Alison.
'I'm glad you told me the truth,' said Zola as she sat at the table and pulled the black basket closer. Polly and Alison stared in disbelief.
'I'll make the coffee,' said Lily to break the tension.
'No, you just sit down. I want to speak.' The gypsy waved her arms to the empty seats, and the girls sat. The two Liddles, Minx and Manx, jumped on the table. 'Ah, Zack's Liddles, and where is your master?' the gypsy said.
The Liddles sidled up to Zola and whispered in her ear.
'Minx, Manx, come. I have your favourite sweets,' Polly stood and called. The Liddles changed colours but stayed with the gypsy. 'Minx, Manx!' Polly called again.
'Polly, sit down at once, and if you are not quiet, I will banish you to a place you will not like. Now shut up and listen to what I have to say.'
'How can you be so horrible?' Alison said, 'after we invited you into our home and were nice to you.'
'I said sit and be quiet, all of you,' she said. 'Don't make me lose my temper.'
'How dare you? Get out of my house at once,' Polly said and walked round the table to grab the gypsy and throw her out.
But before Polly got close, the black basket started to open. A dirty, grey, foul-smelling mist drifted round the table.
'If you do not want anything bad or painful to happen to your friends, Polly.' And while she was speaking, the mist formed hands and drifted round the girls' necks, tightening as she spoke. 'I suggest you sit back down.'
'Come here, Polly, please,' Alison said desperately. Polly walked back to her seat and sat down. The mist disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
'Right, now listen very carefully to what I have to say. It not only affects you round the table but everyone you have ever known and loved. Do you understand?'
'No, I don't understand!' Polly yelled. 'Get out of my house!'
'Polly, I have warned you twice. On the thrice, I will put a curse on you and all you come to love, and I promise you, they won't like it at all.'
'Polly, please,' Alison whispered. 'Sit down. Let's hear what she has to say.'
&
nbsp; 'Your cousin is very wise, as are your friends.'
'We're not frightened of you or your party tricks,' Lily said.
The gypsy was rearranging her shawl and did not see who spoke.
'Who dared to speak?'
No one answered.
The gypsy cackled. 'Do you think I don't know it was you, Lily?' she said. 'However, I will let it pass… for now. But if any of you speak, move or upset me again, I will punish Lucy.'
Now she had total control, no one would do anything to hurt Lucy.
'Right, it's time. Now where is my helper?' and she lifted the lid of the basket. The old man who had given the girls the key slid out. He was as flat as a piece of paper and stood behind the gypsy.
'Now let me see what else I have in my basket. Heh, heh, heh.'
The girls had no idea what was going to happen, so they all joined hands.
The polar bear
Piers stood stock-still, he was in a state of total shock. How could a whole wall move just like that? It can't. He cuddled into Daphne. There must be a logical answer. An earthquake? Or did the wall just move on its own? He looked in his bundle. Luckily, he'd been given the tools to carry - probably because he was the youngest and strongest - and in amongst them was a torch.
'Thank the Lord,' he said. He switched on the torch, and after examining the wall and finding it rock solid, he walked back to the trap door. After a great deal of swearing, pulling and pushing, he managed to push the trap door back open. He lifted the bear cub up first and climbed up into the empty shack.
~
There is a lot of provisions, and bedding left, so unless I go mad from loneliness, I can at least survive. But, my dear little bear cub, what about you? Piers looked at the cupboard in the back of the shack. He found and made some porridge for them both. When they had finished, Daphne licked the dishes and the saucepan as clean as a whistle. 'Saves the washing up,' Piers said. And surprising himself, he smiled.
Piers knew he was probably miles from civilisation and suddenly felt incredibly lonely. The short brightness of the day gave out an eerie light and absolute tranquility - nothing like what he was used to in London. It was bitterly cold outside, so he again reasoned that the bear, even though it was young, would know the way better than he would. But the way to where? So while Daphne was licking the final plate clean, he rifled through the cupboard.
Polly Pippin and The Tunnel of Death Page 14