Polly Pippin and The Tunnel of Death (7 page)

'And what if they don't believe us?'

'Don't panic, Knox. Commander Rekrap said
they've been, I don't know, hypnotised or something so that they
won't know the difference. It's our chance to capture them.'

'I still say we should wait.'

Knox pulled a face of disgust and looked in
the mirror. 'It's amazing how much we look like those boys, but
much better looking, of course.’ Knox sighed. ‘I shall miss my
handsome face.'

'One physiological jab, and voila -
identical doppelgangers. Aren’t our scientists are fantastic,' Zack
said.

'Yeah, that was the easy bit. But the
memory… their life from childhood, the memory they have had
implanted. We have to remember that.'

'Haven't you read the brief yet?' Zack
pulled a face and threw it at Knox.

'Zack, it's five thousand pages long.'

'Oh, come on. It will only take you ten
minutes if you concentrate, Knox. Don't be a baby.'

'Piers is so excited the idiot, he told me
these girls are throwing a welcome home party for us in Byzantine
Crescent. Of all the places, can you believe it Knox? Apparently
the Liddles as well as Commander Rekrap helped organise it. You
have to hand it to him, despite the fact he's as mad as the
Liddles.'

~

One hour and fifteen minutes later, the
Rebels were on a flight from Australia to England.

Knox was enjoying the flight, even though it
was so slow he could have flown round the world and back a hundred
times. 'Where are the Liddles?' he asked, 'I haven't seen them for
ages.'

'The cheeky little buggers, you would never
guess what they've got up to. They wandered into the girls' kitchen
like two cute little kittens. The girls adopted them and called
them Miss something or the other. What they don't know they're
spying on them for us.'

'And they don't know they are lie detectors,
or as Harry the Hand calls them, Liddles,' Zack added. 'I sent them
a message, so they will be waiting for us when we get to
London.'

'And Harry the Hand?'

'Oh, he will turn up when he needs
something. He changes sides as often as the Liddles, but he always
comes back.'

'Only because he's frightened to death of
you, Zack.' They both laughed. Knox thought for a while. 'Where are
we staying? I don't believe we should stay with Piers and Miles.
And what are we doing about Daddy darling? We can't risk him
turning up.'

'Lord Montague Giles Knightly, the pretend
dad? You're going to love this. We organised a trip. He's on a
mission in the Middle East for the United States of America,
fighting terrorists. The Freeflyers don't know it yet, but it was
organised by a couple of rogue Freeflyers.'

'Let me guess who they are. Freeflyers Event
and Salute.' Zack grinned.

'You're good,' Knox said sarcastically. 'And
isn't it great, now they are on our side. They have become Rogue
Zens?'

Who's to Blame?

Leaders from every orb in the First Universe
had felt strange vibrations from Earth, and a meeting deep in the
bowels of Zenithal had been called.

'What happened? How did the world get mixed
up with these time shifts? Who is responsible, Rhettnor?' Lord
Sullivan said, he sounded angry, and he was.

'It all started when two of our trusted
warriors, Event and Salute, became Rogue Zens,' Rhettnor said.
'They invaded Byzantine Crescent with the intention of disrupting
life as it's known on Earth.'

'It's hard to believe… Event and Salute, our
most beloved Freeflyers have become Rebels. I'm devastated. How
could that happen, Rhett?'

'I don't know Lord Sullivan. No one saw it
coming. Anyway, getting back to our problem. I think Sreip and
Selim should sort this out. They discovered the Planet Earth, they
asked us not to colonise, and we ignored them. They have proved
they knew better.'

'Rhettnor, you know usually I'm your man,'
Lord Sullivan said. 'But we are all aware your son and nephew have
a vested interest with two Earthbeings, called love, and babies
were born. So now even I would be reluctant to vote for what you
say.'

Rhettnor was exasperated as if that one
thing caused all the trouble. 'They might have had a "vested
interest" as you say. But they also have a long and caring love for
Earth, and I'm sure they would not make any decisions that would be
for personal desire or gain.'

'But once they did, Rhettnor, once they
did.'

An agreement could not be reached, so a
compromise was agreed to.

'I move Sreip and Selim spend two years'
Earth time seeking a solution,' Rhettnor said.

'And if they don't?'

Rhett was reluctant to answer.

'And if they don't?' The question was asked
again, this time more urgently.

'We reverse time till before we
colonised.'

'And then?' was the call.

'Maybe we try again. I personally think the
Earthbeings will probably never learn.' Rhett looked round the
hall. 'My brothers, we are not entirely innocent. I am sorry to
say, we have tainted Freeflyers amongst us. Anarchy seems to be
infectious!'

'So what will Sreip and Selim be to
Earthbeings - Gods?'

'No. They will be, "The conscience of man".
We have to decide the best way to save Earthbeings and all
Freeflyers ending up prisoners in the Dark Universe's outer
reaches. I know our best hope is Sreip and Selim.' Commander
Rhettnor said, his hands behind his back, crossing all his
fingers.

'Well, it's all we have, so let us hope it
works,' Lord Sullivan said sadly. 'Let us hope.'

~

A voice came from the door. 'Enough of this.
It's time we started to play dirty.' The guardian of Earth, Lord
Montague Giles Knightly, walked in, followed by Mrs Hart, The
Keeper of Byzantine Crescent.

'Lord Montague, so good to see you, but I
wish it were in better times.' Rhettnor stood and warmly hugged his
friend.

'Before you ask, I was sent on a bogus trip
to the Middle East. Bloody Rebels got into our communication link…
again. Thank goodness everything is safe and Bristol fashion back
in London. The boys are in their respective beds, as are the girls.
Lily and Lucy are staying with them. And Ape, our latest trainee
initiated Freeflyer, is now in Hamish's memory as an Air Force
buddy. He is on high alert for invaders to Earth from Egregious. We
are calling him in now to get him up to date.'

The second party

Hamish and Ape were sitting in a corner of
the Brown Sugar Café drinking coffee, and although it was early and
empty, they were whispering.

'Hamish, you really have to take control of
your sister. Another party? What is she thinking?' Ape was
frowning.

'You tell her. She won't listen to me.'

'Unfortunately, I won't be around. I'm being
called away for a very important meeting. In fact, I should be
there right now.'

'Is it to do with what you said about Rebels
from another universe? D'you want me to come with you?' Ape knew
Hamish was teasing him.

'No, you stay here and protect the girls.
Look Hamish, I'm new to all this. There is much I don't know. I do
know, however, something evil is about to happen.' Ape stood. 'Pay
the bill Hamish,' he said grinning. 'And if I can get back for the
party - I will.'

They shook hands. 'Can't wait for you to get
back mate,' he said, and in the second he turned round to call for
the bill, Ape had disappeared. Hamish finished his coffee and was
just about to leave when Piers and Miles, followed by two men,
walked in.

'Hamish,' Piers said. 'Come and meet our
brothers. Stay and have a coffee with us.'

These must be the twins that were in
Australia, Hamish thought, and as he approached the group, an
unpleasant shiver went down his back.

'Hi. You must be Zack and Knox.' Hamish put
out his hand, which both men ignored and sat at a table. Piers and
Miles were obviously very embarrassed. 'Sorry Hamish,' Piers said.
'They've had a long flight, and I know for a fact Zack doesn't
travel well.'

'I understand,' Hamish said. 'Look, I won't
stay for coffee, thanks Piers. I'm coffeed out. Well, see you at
the party.'

'Can't wait,' Piers and Miles said in
unison.

'Give Polly my,' Piers hesitated, 'regards,'
he said. He had wanted to say 'my love' but decided it might not
impress Hamish.

Hamish walked outside and decided to go
directly to Byzantine Crescent. Somehow he had to cancel this
party.

~

The house was abuzz with activity. The four
girls were in the kitchen deciding what food to serve. 'I hope it
ends better than the last party,' Polly said.

'Yeah, everyone left,' Alison said. 'And I
can't remember going home with Hamish. And talk of the devil.'
Alison broke into her own sentence as Hamish walked in.

Hamish tried everything he could to get
Polly and Alison to cancel the party, but nothing worked. The boys'
twins were tired after the long flight, he said. The twins would
want to be alone to catch up, he added. Ape couldn't come and he,
Hamish, wouldn't come! Nothing worked.

'Shut up Hamish. I've already spoken to
Piers, and he said they couldn't wait, and right now we're busy. We
want to impress the boys this time, we want to make it up to them.
They own a film studio, and I want a part in that new movie being
filmed in this house. So sod off.'

'I won't sod off Polly, and I'm telling you,
it's not going to happen either. And any more of that talk and I
will personally cancel the party.'

'Hamish, if you do, I will never talk to you
again.' And knowing Hamish would not cancel the party, she added.
'And I will tell Barbara you are in love with her and want her to
have your babies.'

Everyone broke into spontaneous laughter.
Hamish chased Polly round the table, caught her and gave her a head
rub with his fist. The rest of the girls jumped on him and held him
down while Polly grabbed the scissors and threatened to cut his
hair to the scalp if he didn't agree… and help.

'Okay, okay, I give in!' he yelled. 'You can
have your stupid party.' Polly gave him a kiss on the cheek, which
he didn't want, and they allowed him to get up, provided he
promised he would not say another word.

'Right girls, make him a cup of coffee, and
put him back on the party list. Barbara can make up the
numbers.'

He didn't want the coffee and was grumpy
when he left, but no one noticed or cared.

'I didn't tell you, but we got a card in the
letterbox yesterday,' said Alison. 'I put it under a fridge
magnet.' She grabbed it and read. 'Special deal, the best food the
world can provide.'

'Hang on,' Polly said. Somewhere deep in her
memory, she had heard something like that before, but she couldn't
quite remember when.

'Delicacies from the Exotic
East.

Exquisite crystal provided for the
best French Champagne. All free for the first customer to ring and
book a party.'

'Quick! Where's the phone? We could still be
first,' Alison said. And she ran to the phone and dialled the
number. 'Hello, hello,' she said. 'We're ringing about the offer on
your pamphlet.'

'Yes, congratulations! Yours is the first
phone call.'

'Really!' said Alison. She gestured to the
girls to come over and listen.

'Yes, you are very lucky. Our delivery boy
delivered your leaflet first and did not get any further. He fell
over outside your house and sprained his ankle. We took him to the
hospital and said we would deliver our leaflets when he was better.
So it's your lucky day.'

'Oh, we can't take advantage of your
misfortune,' Alison said. 'It's okay. But just as a matter of
interest, how much do you charge?'

'If you love our food and will agree to
advertise for us, still nothing.'

'Hang on please,' Alison looked at the eager
faces round her and told them what had been said.

The answer was unanimous. 'Of course! Do we
order, or do you surprise us?'

'We promise you will be very surprised,' the
voice said, and they exchanged details. 'How many people? What date
and what time?' The voice wrote it down and put down the phone. He
gave his partner the thumbs up. 'We're in,' he said.

As it got close to the day of the party,
everyone was getting very excited. Piers and Miles didn't stop
talking about it, and their Rebel twins, Zack and Knox were also
very excited, but only because they could not wait to get into the
house and kidnap the girls.

We meet again

'Somehow we have got to get an invitation to
that party,' Sreip said.

'You tell me how. You're the genius,' said
Selim.

'That's not funny,' Sreip said as Selim
grinned. 'Commander Rhettnor ordered us to protect Byzantine
Crescent.'

'Then who is protecting the boys from their
Rebel twins? They're on to us, you know. The Rebels Zack and Knox
have flown in from Australia and have met Piers and Miles.'

'I warned Papa this could happen,' Sreip
said, 'and now the four of them are going to the party, so the
Rebels have an invitation into Byzantine Crescent.'

'You can guarantee Harry the Hand will be
keeping watch out front.' They both pictured Harry the Hand and
smiled because that's all it was - a large hand.

'It's amazing how much that hand gets
around. He's Zack's favourite, you know. Find him, and the Rebels
will be close at hand,' Selim said.

'Well, that bit of information is a little
obsolete being as we know the Rebels will be at the party.'

'Okay genius, how do we get in?' Selim
asked, with a touch of sarcasm.

'I know! What about a party-gram?'

'A party-gram? What's that?'

'I was sent one once, and they're
great.'

'So, what is it?' Selim asked again.

'Well, we dress up. You can be Alice in
Wonderland, and I will be the Mad Hatter. Pendragon can be the
White Rabbit, and Kylin can be the Cheshire cat. We go to the door,
get invited in and do a little show,' Sreip said.