Kip looked at him, puzzled, and then realised what he was talking about. He unslung the Retriever from around his neck and handed it over. Mr Lazarus slipped the device into his waistcoat pocket. Then Kip unbuckled the leather holster containing the Communicator and Mr Lazarus dropped it onto the workbench.
‘That thing conked out,’ Kip told him. ‘At a very awkward moment.’
‘I’ll have a look at it,’ Mr Lazarus replied. ‘It probably needs a few adjustments. There now. All done. Come along, you two.’
They made their way down the stairs of the auditorium and out into the foyer. The last stragglers were wandering through the exit, many of them looking extremely confused. Kip overheard one guy telling his friend that Terror Island had to be the most ridiculous film he’d ever seen. What was all that stuff about the little girl? And what about that weird bit where everything went into reverse and then speeded up again?’
His friend nodded. He couldn’t understand why Nessun Dorma had started playing really loudly during one sequence, drowning out all the dialogue. Who were those two kids who seemed to pop up out of nowhere right at the very end of the film? And why did they look so maddeningly familiar? Kip made sure that his face was turned away as the two customers walked past him.
‘So, what did you both think of the experience?’ asked Mr Lazarus.
‘Scary,’ said Kip. ‘Very scary.’
‘And very emotional,’ added Beth. ‘You really felt like you were in it.’
‘So it wasn’t all bad news?’
‘No,’ murmured Beth. ‘It was a real adventure. One that I’ll never forget.’
They reached the exit doors and stepped out into the cool night air. Kip found himself glancing nervously up and down the darkened street.
‘Relax,’ said Mr Lazarus. ‘There are no Neanderthals here. Unless you count them.’ Across the road, a party of people waiting at a bus stop were staring at Kip and Beth open-mouthed. Clearly they had just watched the film.
‘I wish they’d stop staring at us like that,’ muttered Beth.
‘I don’t know,’ said Kip. ‘I think it’s kind of cool. It’s almost like we’re movie stars now.’
‘Yeah. For one night only,’ said Beth.
Mr Lazarus looked at the two of them sternly. ‘I hope it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Tell nobody about your little adventure. If people like the ones across the road ask, “Wasn’t that you in the film I watched last night?” tell them they must be crazy. This has to remain our secret.’
Headlights illuminated them suddenly and Dad’s car moved quietly into the vacant parking spot in front of the cinema. He wound down the window and looked out at them.
‘How’s that for perfect timing?’ he called to them. Dad did a double take. ‘Good grief, Kip, you look filthy!’ he exclaimed.
‘Er … yeah, it was quite messy cleaning up tonight. A lot of … spilled popcorn. Beth gave me a hand.’ Kip took the opportunity to change the subject. ‘Rose fell asleep ages ago,’ he said. ‘I guess it is kind of late for her.’
‘Pop her in the back seat,’ suggested Dad. ‘Beth, I’ll drop you at your place on the way home.’
‘Thanks, Mr McCall.’ Beth opened the rear door and Kip laid his sister gently on the back seat, then slid in beside her.
‘How’s Grannie?’ Kip asked as Beth walked around and climbed into the passenger seat.
‘She’s fine,’ Dad told Kip. ‘I managed to get a message to your mum. She came to the hospital and is staying on there a bit longer, just till your gran is properly settled.’ He looked out at the smiling face of Mr Lazarus. ‘Any problems tonight?’ he asked.
Mr Lazarus shook his head. ‘None at all. In fact, it was a great success. Very nearly a full house. I’ll lock the takings in the safe for the night, before I er … head for home.’
‘Thanks,’ said Dad. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you.’
‘My pleasure, Mr McCall. I hope you know that as far as the Paramount is concerned, I will do everything in my power to keep it going.’ Mr Lazarus raised a gloved hand. ‘Now, I’ll say goodnight to you all.’ He glanced at Kip and winked slyly. ‘Sweet dreams,’ he said. He walked back to the entrance and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
Dad shook his head. ‘You know, sometimes, you’d almost swear he lives in that cinema,’ he said. He started up the engine and drove away. They travelled the short distance to Beth’s house in silence and stopped outside. Beth opened the door and climbed out.
‘Thanks, Mr McCall,’ she said. ‘Goodnight.’
Kip opened his door too.
‘I’ll just say goodbye,’ he said and Dad gave him a meaningful look, but Kip ignored it and walked with Beth along her garden path to the door of her house. They stood there for a moment. It was a clear night, and a crescent moon sailed in a nearly starless sky, so different from the huge full moon and the millions of shimmering stars they had witnessed in the skies over Terror Island.
‘That was … fantastic,’ said Kip.
Beth nodded. ‘I’ll say. Think Rose will remember any of it?’
‘I hope not,’ said Kip. ‘I don’t want to be the one who has to explain everything to Mum and Dad.’
There was a long silence before Beth said, ‘It was amazing though, wasn’t it? I mean, it was so … real.’
Kip nodded. ‘Like watching a great movie,’ he said. ‘Only better.’
‘I was, like, terrified. But at the same time, it was kind of cool.’ She thought for a moment. ‘And, boy, did we kick Neanderthal butt!’ They laughed.
‘Of course, we can’t ever do it again,’ said Kip. ‘It was way too dangerous.’
‘I guess,’ agreed Beth. ‘Unless …’
Kip looked at her.
‘Unless what?’ he asked.
‘Well, unless it was a film that wasn’t so deadly. You know, a comedy, or something …? A film where people don’t get eaten.’
‘We’ll have to see what comes up,’ said Kip. ‘Let’s sleep on it.’
Beth nudged him in the ribs. ‘Hey, I don’t know if they give Oscars to people who visit movies, but you should get one for that little speech you made on the roof. When you told Rose you cared about her, and all that?’
Kip smiled.
‘That’s because it’s true,’ he said.
Beth raised her eyebrows and gave him a disbelieving look.
He smiled. ‘Sure she can be a pain, but you know what? I meant every word of it. What was it your mum likes to say? You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone? Well, for a minute there, it looked like she was gone and I didn’t like the idea, not one little bit.’
Kip glanced at Dad’s car, realising he was probably impatient to get home, but he wanted to linger just a moment more. He’d talk about the adventure with Beth tomorrow in the full daylight, but then it wouldn’t seem quite so real. It would be like some dream he’d had. Right now, it was still almost close enough to touch.
‘You were great, by the way. For a girl, I mean. You know, the way you handled yourself in there? When that Neanderthal was throttling me, the way you …’ He made a slashing motion with one hand. ‘Well, thanks, anyway.’
‘No worries,’ said Beth. She smiled. ‘It’s late. I’d better go in.’ She leaned forward and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. He felt himself colouring up, but somehow couldn’t stop himself from grinning with pleasure.
‘See you tomorrow,’ he said. He turned and walked down the path to the car. He climbed into the passenger seat beside Dad.
Dad gave him that knowing look.
‘Now tell me she’s not your girlfriend,’ he said.
But Kip didn’t say anything. He didn’t care what Dad thought. He didn’t care about anything. He had been to Terror Island and lived to tell the tale. Now he just felt absolutely exhausted.
He leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes and he was fast asleep by the time they reached home.
Philip Caveney, Night on Terror Island
Night on Terror Island Page 15