Polly Pippin and The Tunnel of Death (13 page)

'My God,' said Hamish. 'Who were they?'

'I don't know, but they seemed to be on the
same side as us, I think?' Piers added.

As Xavier closed the door, he looked round.
'We are in a Rebel stronghold. How the hell did we get here? And I
seem to have lost most of my energy power.'

'It’s no secret how we got here. That bloody
fool Rekrap told us where he had sent Piers.' Before he could say
another word, Piers and Hamish heard Xavier shout.

'Look out behind you!'

But Event and Salute were too slow. They
turned round as a horde of Rebels attacked. Piers rushed to the
door to join the fight, but Hamish grabbed him. He put his fingers
to his lips.

'Quiet! We have no chance against them.'

'My God,' said Piers. 'Who are they?'

'I'm not sure, but they have powers beyond
our understanding. We can only hope the ones on our side have the
same powers.' Hamish said.

They stood quietly, waiting to hear who
would come bursting in the door.

'Should we go outside? It's been quiet for
some time,' Piers asked as he peered through a dirty window. He
looked round at the snow-covered ground. 'Do you have any idea
where we are?'

'Probably Iceland. It's where I was heading
before terrorists shanghaied me. They killed my co-pilot, or so
they said. Then I woke up in luxury. I thought I was in a very
expensive hotel. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen came in,
followed by a young lad pushing a trolley covered with exotic foods
and expensive Champagne. She was trying to get me to change sides.
The problem is, I'm not on any side. I didn't even know there were
sides.'

'Goodies and baddies?' Piers questioned, 'or
are all of them baddies?' He frowned and shook his head.

'I know it sounds ridiculous Piers, but I
was told I am a Freeflyer from the First Universe.'

'A Freeflyer?'

'Yes, and it was Rebels from the Dark
Universe who took over my plane. I refused to succumb and called
them mob murderers.' He smiled. 'That's all I remember till I woke
to the beautiful woman.'

'And the other bloke?'

'Xavier? Well, he said he was a Freeflyer
and had been given the same treatment as I was.'

'Which was?'

'The beautiful woman treatment.'

'That's a joke. One minute I'm in Polly's
cottage and the next dumped in the snow. I missed out on the
beautiful woman bit.'

Hamish started to laugh, and Piers joined
in, all the time protesting it was not funny.

'Well, at least it seems we're on the same
side. Hey, do you think I'm a Freeflyer too?' Piers asked.

'Could be. Otherwise, why have you been sent
here?'

'Fair comment. So what now? We can't stay
here, we'll freeze to death.'

'First, I think we should reconnoiter the
place. You see if there's anything of use in here, and see if we
can make a fire.'

'Righto! I'll look for something to eat, I'm
starving,' Hamish said.

Piers looked at Hamish. 'That reminds me of
my best mate Miles, he's always on the scrounge for food.' He let
out a huge sigh, they had parted on bad terms.

~

Their luck was in, Piers managed to light a
fire, and Hamish found some frozen food. ‘Pardon the pun,’ he said,
which made them laugh again.

As they sat round the fire eating, Piers
asked, ‘What do you think they did with your plane?’

‘I don’t know. I wish I did. Look I’m
shattered Piers, I have to sleep. Can we finish the food and sleep
on it.' Hamish said.

After they had finished eating, Hamish
shared out the blankets, piled more wood on the fire and pushed the
table in front of the door.

'I think we should tie one of our ankles
together with some rope. Just as a precaution, I would rather not
be left here alone,' Hamish said.

'I would rather be here with Polly,' Piers
said with a grin. 'But, at a push, better you than no one.'

Hamish knew how Polly felt about this lad. I
wouldn't mind having him as a brother-in-law, and his sister Gemma
is cute. And with that thought, he joined Piers in dreamland.

Après the hotel lunch

It was late when Alison followed Polly down
to the kitchen, where she was making toast for breakfast.

'Where did you get to, Polly? Everyone was
very concerned.' Alison sounded upset, and she was. 'It was
embarrassing and sort of spoilt the dinner party.'

'Sorry Ali. Barbara was getting on my
nerves. She is so stupid, talking about Piers, she knows I still
like him. Anyway, it was great I did. I met the major investor, and
he liked me. And guess who rang me?'

'Who?'

'Piers.'

'You're kidding.'

'No. He rang me, and I said we should meet
in the cottage. But when I got there, the film crew and Mr Rekrap
was there. I nearly died.'

'Really? And what did Piers say to that? He
was probably hoping to be alone with you.'

'Well, he was, and when he saw the crew, he
threw the biggest tantrum and walked out… as if it was my
fault.'

'Did you say anything to him?'

'No, he didn't give me a chance. Anyway, the
film is more important to me than he is.'

'You liar,' Alison said. 'Polly, admit it,
you are in love with him. Otherwise, you would go off with
Brad.'

'Get real. If Brad were the last man alive,
I wouldn't be seen dead with him.'

'Except on the silver screen,' Alison
replied, and they both dissolved into peals of laughter.

'Yes you're right, Ali. More toast?' And the
giggles started again.

Brad the baby

Brad considered himself to be the unluckiest
man alive when Harry the Hand dragged him to Polly's party in the
cottage. And then that ghastly hand made him play Romeo to Polly,
and he thought Piers was going to punch him on the nose. And then
to add insult to near injury, he was dragged up a none-too-clean
chimney, and then dumped back in the cold, wet ditch, where the
hand had probably thrown him. It took him ages to get back home and
clean up. And he didn't stop crying for ages, so he had swollen
eyes and had to wear sunglasses for days. Everyone, it seemed, was
cross with him, so he was sulking as well. The phone rang, and he
reluctantly answered it.

'Brad, I don't know what happened to you,
but get over it.' It was Steve. 'That bloody investor and Hamish
are getting on my nerves. They both want a part in the movie.
Rekrap, the clown, follows me around like a lovesick dog. I think
he has fallen in love with me, or the movie industry or both.
Besides that, where the bloody hell have you been?'

'You don't want to know.'

'Yes I do,' Steve snapped back.

'Okay, don't be angry with me. What time are
you going to be at the studio? I will be there, and when I explain,
you will probably apologise.'

'Brad, if you're bleeding from a thousand
cuts or in a wheelchair with no legs, I still wouldn't apologise.
And you had better show, or you'll be one or both of those. Within
an hour, Brad.'

'I'll be there, I promise.'

'You had better be.' And Steve slammed the
phone down.

'You will be sorry one day, Steve Almighty
Smith,' Brad said. 'Today, I am going to ask Polly to marry me, and
that will get me in Zack and Knox's good books. I will also ask if
I can become a full Rebel. I'm not going to be pushed around
anymore. Also, I will promise Commander Rekrap a big part in the
movie and get him to sack Stevie baby. I can direct and star in
this movie. It's a cinch. What can go wrong? Nothing.' And he
started to sing, 'Lucky, lucky, lucky in love.'

It was lucky no one was within earshot, as
he sounded like a cat drowning, and that would have spoilt his
image. He looked at the clock. 'Oh dear! I'm going to be late, and
Steve will kill me!' He was nearly in tears again!

He was out of dreamland and back to his
usual cowardly self. He had to do something, so he scurried out to
his Ferrari and drove like the wind to the film studio.

Byzantine Crescent etc, etc.

Sreip and Selim decided it was time to visit
Lord Knightly. As they approached, their feelings were running
high, they were hoping their sons Piers and Miles would be
there.

'Welcome, welcome! What a lovely surprise.'
Lord Knightly stood and hugged the Freeflyers.

The first thing Sreip noticed his son Piers
was absent.

'Come and join us. I know you love my
breakfasts.'

'It's good to be here,' Sreip said. 'But
where is Piers?'

'Well, he phoned Miles last night and said
he was going to spend some time with Polly. So he's probably still
with her.'

'I'm a tad worried,' Miles butted in. 'He
hasn't answered his phone. It's very unlike him to be off the air
for so long.'

'Right Miles,' said his father, Selim. 'We
are going to check out Byzantine Crescent as soon as breakfast is
over.'

'Mind if I come too?' Miles asked.

'Not a problem,' Selim said. And they got
stuck in the greatest breakfast in the world.

'Uncle, may we borrow your car? I came on my
motorbike.'

'Of course. Let me finish my coffee, and
I'll see you to the door.'

It felt strange for the Freeflyers to travel
by car when they could have flown to Byzantine Crescent in seconds
of earth time.

They walked up the steps, and Miles knocked
on the door. It opened outwards once again, nearly knocking Miles
over.

'I think this door has something against
me.' Miles laughed. 'It's always trying to knock me over.'

'Alison, Polly, Hamish, anyone home?' Miles
called.

'Hi Miles. Come on in!' Alison's voice came
from the kitchen.

'I have two friends with me,' Miles said and
followed by Sreip and Selim, he walked in.

The girls ran over and gave Miles a kiss on
each cheek. Polly had all her fingers crossed. 'Is Piers with you
Miles?'

'No, that's why we're here. He didn't come
home last night. He phoned and said he was coming here.'

'Oh dear. He did, but he walked out because
some of the film crew and the investor were here,' Polly said.
'Anyway, Miles, are you going to introduce your friends?'

'Oh sorry. Polly and Alison, this is Mr
Sreip and Mr Selim.'

'Hello welcome. Miles, you must be related
to Mr Selim, you are the image of him.' Polly felt she knew these
friends of Miles. 'Have we met before?' Polly asked.

Miles looked at Selim, who shrugged his
shoulders. 'Maybe Polly, and as to Miles looking like me, I should
be so lucky. It must be the light,' Selim added and tried to laugh
it off.

'I'm sorry we can't stay,' Sreip said. 'We
need to go to the studio. But before we do, did Piers actually come
into the house?'

'Yes, he walked through. I suggested we meet
in the cottage, and we did. But as I told you, when he saw the film
crew, he walked out. He was furious.'

'Would you mind if we looked in the
cottage?' Sreip asked.

'Of course,' Polly said. 'I'll show your
friends the cottage, Miles, and perhaps you and Ali can make the
coffee?' She winked at Miles conspiratorially.

'That's an excellent idea,' Miles said. 'I'm
sure we all would love a cup of coffee.'

Polly and the two Freeflyers walked down to
the Crypt, leaving Miles and Alison alone. Perfectly organised,
Polly thought. They walked into the garden, and it immediately
sprung to life. Leaves and blossoms covered the trees, flowers
opened their petals, and butterflies and dragonflies seemed to
appear from nowhere.

'Follow the path,' Polly called. 'The film
crew could still be in there.' And she picked some flowers as she
walked behind them.

As the two Freeflyers walked towards the
cottage, they felt a strange energy.

'Rebels have been here recently,' they said
in unison.

'And they must have captured Piers,' Sreip
added.

Not wanting to scare Polly, the Freeflyers
did not change their pace and still walked down the path, although
maybe a little faster.

'Come on Miss Polly,' Sreip said, and Polly
ran ahead and opened the door.

'Minx! Manx! What are you doing in here, you
little devils?' Polly exclaimed. 'You must have a secret way of
getting in.'

Sreip and Selim rushed in to see Polly
cuddling what they knew as lie detectors that belonged to Zack.
Selim yelled. 'Polly, stay away from them! They're dangerous!'

Polly picked up Minx. 'Dangerous? Don't be
silly. They wandered into our kitchen the other day, and we have
sort of adopted them. This is Minx, and that is Manx. Why do you
think they're dangerous? Do you know what they are?'

It is an unwritten rule that unless the
situation is dire, a Freeflyer should not tell a blatant lie. Selim
knew the creature Polly was cuddling was a lie detector. They had
only one option - diversion.

'Look at the time,' Sreip said. 'We're going
to be late, Selim.'

'You're right. Come on, Polly. Let's go back
to the house and have that cup of coffee before we have to
dash.'

'You go ahead. I'll stay here with Minx and
Manx for a while.'

'Okay, see you soon I hope.'

The Freeflyers did not want to leave Polly
with the two Liddles, heaven knows what trouble they would get up
to. But they had no valid excuse to get her out of the cottage.
Before they dragged her out kicking and screaming, she said, 'would
you mind asking Alison to bring out some coffee and a treat for our
pets please? Are you sure you won't stay and have coffee?'

'Yes, of course, we'll ask Alison to bring
out your coffee. She can have it here with you. And no, as much as
we would like to, we must go.' Sreip smiled convivially. 'So… get
Miles to ring us when Piers gets home, and we can all meet for
lunch.'

'I would love that,' Polly said as she
hugged the two Liddles. 'See you soon,' she added and sounded a lot
happier than she was.